Taking Care of Her Son

Summary: A few of Harry's visits the hospital wing over the course of his Hogwarts days from Lily's perspective.

Happy Mother's Day

Two days following the arrival of Harry's Hogwarts letter, Minerva stopped by St. Mungo's to ask Lily to accompany her to visit a couple of Muggle-Borns who would be attending Hogwarts that year. Lily spoke with experience when she described the education the children will receive and how life at Hogwarts was since it was a boarding school. The parents always seemed to have a lot of questions and Lily patiently answered them all.

At the end of the day, Minerva informed Lily that Professor Dumbledore requested a meeting with her at her earliest convince. Intrigued, she floo called the headmaster that evening and arranged the meeting for the next afternoon.

What she hadn't expected was being offered a job as the school healer.

"Poppy could use some help, and with her being a matron, I thought it would be helpful to have a healer as well. If you don't want to accept it, I'll understand," Albus explained.

Of course, Lily said she needed time to think about it. She talked it over with Healer Smethwyck and Darius Smoot, the Head Potions Master, who both encouraged her to take the job. She also discussed it with James the night following the meeting, wanting to get his thoughts before she spoke to her supervisors at work.

"I'll be with Harry, that's a plus," She said.

"He'll be the only student with a parent close by," James reminded her. "But if it's something you want, go for it."

Lastly, she talked it over with Harry. She was pleasantly surprised to find out Harry liked the idea of her going to Hogwarts with him.

When September 1st came around, Lily and James took Harry to Kings Cross to catch the train. Lily promised she would see him at the feast and hugged him as if she wasn't going to see him for months. Once the train was out of sight, Lily and James returned home and flooed to Hogwarts where they got Lily's quarters set up. She would have an extra room, allowing Harry to have a room in her quarters if he ever decided to stay with her.

Over the course of the next six years, she would see Harry come in and out of the hospital wing…a lot. She even joined in on the joke that Harry should move down there to make it easier.

Anytime Harry came to the hospital wing, she was alerted if she wasn't in the hospital wing. She always looked after him, sometimes much to the amusement of Madam Pomfrey dragging him to a room.

When people would find out she was Harry's mother, Harry would always get asked how she was as a healer. He would always reply that she was kind and gentle, even with him, though sometimes she would be muttering to herself about him. The only thing Harry ever was able to translate from her muttering was that 'he's going to make me white-headed before I'm supposed.'

So when Harry did come to the hospital wing, Lily would look after him. She healed cuts, gave him potions (sometimes bribing with a chocolate frog), and took care of him if he was sick. He was her son, and he was going to take care of her son.

These are a few of those moments:

Third Year

By some miracle, Harry had only come to the hospital wing his first two years of Hogwarts with minor ailments with the exception of the two days following the Philosopher's stone ordeal.

Those she told that fact to were quite shocked. Harry was clumsy the best of times and to those who knew him well, they found it surprising that he hadn't broken a bone…yet. Anytime anyone made that comment, Lily would exclaim 'Don't jinx it!'

But over the two years, Harry had been sick with minor ailments. He had a cold once during his second year and had a few headaches and stomachaches that were very quickly taken care of with potions. There was no real reason to move Harry to her quarters when he had the cold back last fall. Instead, Lily made up a schedule during which time Harry would visit her in the hospital wing for potions. It wasn't a major cold, just a little cough and runny nose that seemed to clear up for a while, only to return when it was time for another dose.

Some people were surprised to hear that Harry wasn't sick more, considering who all he was around and the fact that illnesses would wipe out an entire year group.

But that fact changed Harry's third year.

It had started with the stomach bug he came down with in October. Lily seemed to be surprised to see that Harry had made it through the first half of Harry's third year with only the stomach bug the only illness he came down with.

From there, it was the bludger to the shoulder during the Gryffindor/Hufflepuff game that took place in place of the Gryffindor/Slytherin game for the first match of the year. It was marked as Harry's first quidditch related injury. He had stayed with Lily in her quarters for the weekend and wasn't allowed to use his left arm for a week to let it heal.

Then when the spring weather came into Scotland, Harry came down with a migraine. While he didn't make it down to the hospital wing, Lily was alerted by Ron that something was wrong with Harry. Somehow, she moved him down to the hospital wing, putting him in the windowless room in the hospital wing and staying with him all day, using dim light to check on him, give him potions, and to hold the bucket the handful of times he did throw up.

But on one April afternoon, Lily was about to get a surprise. Usually, if Harry did come to the hospital wing, he was often dragged by Hermione and Ron. On occasion, Ron brought Harry on his own. When Sirius and Remus started working at Hogwarts that year, they had both brought Harry down once. It was Sirius who brought Harry down when he had the stomach bug. Remus had accompanied him when he mentioned he heard his shoulder pop and it hurt. It turned out to be nothing.

To Lily's surprise, Harry came on his own. She smiled as he approached him.

"Hi Sweetheart," She greeted.

"Mum."

Harry's voice gave away he didn't feel good. Lily reached up, automatically feeling his forehead. Whatever it was, he wasn't running a fever.

"What's wrong?" She asked. "Feel sick?"

Harry nodded. "I think I ate something that didn't agree with me," he explained.

"Does your stomach hurt?" Lily asked, standing up intending on getting Harry a potion.

Harry nodded.

"Did you eat something with kidney bean?" She inquired. "Because that is one thing we know upsets your stomach."

"Any bean besides green beans and baked beans," Harry added. "Is there some in steak and kidney pie? Because that's what I had for lunch."

Lily stopped what she was doing, turning around slowly to face her son. "Harry, kidney is another thing that upsets your stomach."

"Oh," Harry groaned.

"Oh is right," Lily said, reaching for the maximum strength stomach soother. She set it down on the table in front of her, pouring out the dosage Harry needs in a measuring goblet. She turned around to take the potion to Harry, finding her son sitting on a nearby bed, his arms wrapped loosely around his stomach.

"Here, take this," She directed. "Do you want to go to my quarters and lie down or go back to Gryffindor Tower?"

Harry didn't hesitate. "Your quarters, it's quieter."

Lily nodded. "Alright."

Harry took the potion, wincing as he swallowed at the taste, accepting the cup of water Lily offered him.

"There's apple juice in the cold box. Dad brought it up in case I needed it for you. Go to my quarters, there should be some joggers or pajama pants and a shirt for you to change into and lay down. I'll check on you in a bit."

Harry nodded. "Thanks, Mum."

"You're welcome."

Fourth Year

"Mum."

Lily looked up from the file she was reading when she heard her son's voice. She noticed that Harry was alone, without Ron and Hermione.

The school year had started out fine until the first of October. Harry had appendicitis and had an emergency appendectomy. His recovery took place in the hospital wing for a few days until Lily moved him to her quarters. After his follow up with Healer Dalton, he returned to Gryffindor tower.

Even with the Tri-Wizard Tournament, Harry's name coming out of the Goblet of Fire and the events that followed Harry wasn't seen in the hospital for an injury or illness, rather as a punishment. Lily had decided instead of taking his broom, she assigned him to help her clean the hospital wing when he got in trouble for hexing a student. He had gone without discipline from the school for the circumstances, but Lily wasn't as understanding. She was following through with her threat that if he got in trouble at school, he would be in trouble with her.

"What's the matter, Harry?" Lily asked.

"My shoulder is bothering me," Harry explained. "Can I have a pain potion?"

"Yes, you can," Lily replied, standing up. "When did it start bothering you?"

"This morning," Harry answered. "I think I slept on it wrong."

Lily opened the cabinet, getting a pain relief potion. "Or it could be still healing from the first task."

Harry nodded. "That too."

Lily poured out the required dosage for Harry's age into a measuring goblet and handed it to Harry. He took it without complaint and accepted the water she offered him.

"Before you go, let me look at your shoulder," Lily said.

She led him into an exam room, where she instructed him to remove the jumper and unbutton his shirt.

"You don't have to take it fully off. Just partially" She said.

When Harry had his shirt partially off, she began examining it, like she had done when Harry took a bludger to the shoulder during the Gryffindor/Hufflepuff game his third year. He didn't really reinjure it, rather strained it this time. But the muscles like the last time were bruised.

"I think it's stilling healing. The muscles are still slightly bruised so….." Lily trailed off.

"Another week?" Harry asked.

"Or less," Lily added.

Harry pulled his shirt back on his bare shoulder and buttoned it up. He was going to change clothes before dinner, so there was no reason to tuck it back into his pants.

"Anything else I can for you?" Lily asked.

Harry thought once about mentioning the dreams he had been having about a house somewhere, but decided to tell James instead when he came up this weekend.

"No, I'm fine," Harry replied.

Lily reached over, pushing Harry's hair out of his face. "I'll trim your hair this weekend, just to get out of your eyes and away from your face."

Her finger caught a tangle, making Harry wince.

"Sorry," Lily said. "You do brush it don't you?"

"Yes, I do," Harry said. "Hagrid's class was today."

Lily nodded, realizing his hair had a windblown look. Harry had convinced her to let his hair grow out a little bit. She only trimmed it if it got in Harry's eyes and face. The only plus to the length was it wasn't a complete bird's nest it usually was. Instead, it tangled easily. But Lily was waiting for Harry to tell her to cut it before she did anything.

"That explains it then," Lily murmured. She and Harry returned to the main area of the hospital wing. As Harry headed to the door, Lily followed.

She directed him to stop when they reached the door leading to her lab. It was hidden behind a portrait like the entrance to her quarters. She slipped in as Harry leaned against the stone wall across from the entrance. It didn't seem to be long at all when Lily returned, a carrier bag in her hand.

"Here," She said, handing the bag to Harry. "I put in a few pain potions for you as well some headache calmers and stomach soothers. If you need me for anything you know where I am."

"Thanks, Mum," Harry murmured.

Lily reached over, cupping his cheek. She pressed a kiss to his forehead and sent him off with the promise she'll see him at dinner in an hour's time. Harry headed off to Gryffindor tower to meet up with Ron and Hermione and to change.

Returning to the hospital wing, Lily began to clean up. She had been asked multiple times over the last three years why she decided to go to Hogwarts. And if she wanted to be honest with herself, this was why. Taking care of her son.

It wasn't that no one could do the job better than her, no. It was because she wanted to be there for her son. Albus's offer was also too good to pass up, not that they needed the money, but rather it was the chance to be back at Hogwarts, the place where she felt she had fit in for the first time in her life. She had worked under Poppy her seventh year as her assistant and had enjoyed it.

That and the Board of Governors (that James and Sirius were a part of), felt that the school needed a healer on top of a matron and felt that Lily was the right person for the job.

The fact she could continue to see her son every day was an added bonus.

Fifth Year

Harry slipped into the hospital wing, quietly, trying not to draw attention to himself. As with any time, he came to the hospital wing, he was greeted the same.

"What can I do for you, Harry?" Madam Pomfrey asked, fluffing a pillow in her hand.

"Is my Mum here?" He asked.

Lily stepped out of one of the private rooms at her son's voice. "I'm right here," She said. "Are you sick?"

Harry shook his head. "No."

"Are you hurt?"

"No."

Lily figured Harry the reason he came was to talk. She directed him to go on to her office and wait for her. Harry listened and headed to Lily's office. It was added over the summer to give Lily a place to keep her own files and the things she needed.

Harry tossed his rucksack on the chair, leaning against it as he waited for Lily.

Lily's office was just like Madam Pomfrey's office with the exception of pictures of James and Harry. The newest additions were one of all three of them at James's swearing-in as Deputy Head Auror. The other was of Harry at the coast, sitting on the railing on the back patio, the ocean behind him with a clear blue sky and golden white sand.

Lily entered the room, closing the door behind her. "Are you in trouble?" She asked.

"Can't a son come and visit his mother?" Harry inquired.

"Yes, but you usually don't unless there is a reason," Lily reminded him.

"There doesn't have to be a reason," Harry murmured, taking the robe that went with his uniform off.

Lily nodded, leaning forward. "Okay, but I feel this is more than a social visit."

Harry looked up at the ceiling. "The last Hogsmeade weekend is coming up," He began. "Since it's the last one of the year, Hermione suggested we do some Christmas shopping and…"

Lily smiled knowingly. "And you don't know what to get Ginny?"

Harry nodded. "How did you know?" He asked.

Lily propped her chin in the palm of her hand. "I'm your mother, I know everything." She watched as Harry sat down heavily in the second chair.

"This is Gin and I's first Christmas together and I don't want to get her just any old thing," Harry explained. "I would ask Hermione, but she would suggest….."

"A book," Lily finished. "And you want something more thoughtful."

"Exactly," Harry said.

Lily stood up, motioning for Harry to follow her. Wordlessly, Harry stood up, picking up his rucksack as he went. He followed Lily to her quarters, entering through the portrait hole after telling Helga the nurse the password. Lily went into her room once inside while Harry waited in the kitchen area. Lily returned a moment later.

"Here," She said, handing Harry a catalog. "This for the store down in the village, I think you know the one?"

Harry nodded.

"Once you find what you want, take that with you. That way, they'll know what to look for and if they need to owl order it."

"Thanks, Mum."

"And feel free with share with Ron. He's probably in the same boat as you," Lily said, chuckling lightly.

"He is," Harry confirmed. "He asked me the other day coming out of the locker room after quidditch practice if a selection of her favorite Honeydukes candy is enough. I said I would think so, but since you're a couple now she'll be expecting something a little more than a box of different candy."

"There is always a stocking option if you would want to do that," Lily said. "My advice is Ginny will love whatever you get her because it came from you. If all else fails, I'll take off one Saturday. You and I will go home, we go to London and I'll help you find something for Ginny."

"Thanks, Mum," Harry said, hugging her.

"Now," Lily said, hooking Harry's chin with her hand, to pull his face down a little. "You look tired, try, and go early night okay."

"I'll try to Mum. See you at dinner. Love you."

"I love you too sweetheart."

Lily watched Harry as he walked away, smiling softly. She was happy to know that Harry would still come to her for advice and he had since he and Ginny started dating. When she asked him why he didn't go to James, Harry replied 'I do for some things, but others I want your advice."

Returning to the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey looked up as she passed the desk.

"Is that the first time that he has come down here for another reason besides he was hurt, injured, or sick?"

Lily nodded. "He wanted some advice on what to get Ginny for Christmas. It's their first major holiday together and he wants to make it special."

Madam Pomfrey smiled knowingly. "Does he remind of you anyone, Lily?"

Lily knew who she was referring to. Pretending to not know who she said, "I don't know who you would be talking about."

Harry would come again to the hospital wing seeking Lily's advice. But it was those moments Lily was thankful that was the reason for Harry's visit to the hospital wing.

Sixth Year

Lily thought she had escaped the night shift. She didn't like working the night shift at St. Mungo's, thought now since she works at Hogwarts during the school year, returning to the hospital in the summer, she only had to work one week of night shifts. But just because she worked in the hospital wing at a school didn't mean there wasn't night shifts.

They weren't all the time, just when they had students staying in the hospital wing. Lily and Madam Pomfrey rotated if they had a student to stay multiple nights in the hospital wing.

Tonight was Lily's turn.

A Hufflepuff fourth year was in for burns on their arm from potions and would be released in the morning. There was a third-year Ravenclaw who had broken his wrist and required a dose of Skele-grow. But the real reason Lily was staying in the hospital wing was because of the first year Gryffindor who got knocked out by a broom during a flying lesson.

Lily was concerned about a concussion and had managed to keep him awake until an hour ago when she did a final check before allowing him to sleep.

She made her rounds to each student every hour until two or three in the morning when she would put an alarming charm on the beds to alarm her if they were distress. She would check on them once more before she put a charm on the door before she headed off to bed herself. When she made the last of her notes she would then slip into the room she slept in when she did the night shift and went to sleep.

She would wake up around six in the morning to resume her watch over the students. When it was time for breakfast, she supervised the elves as they delivered the breakfast to the students in the hospital wing.

Her breakfast, however, would be delivered.

Lily looked up when the door to the hospital wing opened and Harry slipped in, a covered plate in one hand and a large cup of tea in another.

"You didn't have to," Lily said. She told him that every time. Harry had started bringing her breakfast when she did the nightshift over a year ago when he noticed Lily wasn't at breakfast. James found it hilarious when Harry lectured Lily on the importance of breakfast, the same one she had given to him many times.

"I wanted to," Harry replied.

Lily took the plate and the cup, setting it down on her desk in the main area of the hospital wing.

"Have you had breakfast?" Lily inquired, knowing the answer already. Harry always brought Lily her breakfast before having breakfast himself.

Harry shook his head. "Not yet, I was going to drop this off to you and then go to breakfast. Dobby will bring you more tea in an hour. He insisted."

Lily knew they couldn't argue with Dobby, especially when it came to Harry.

"Thank you, sweetheart. Now go on to breakfast, I'll see you at dinner," Lily said.

"I'm going," Harry assured her.

"Have a good, love you," She called.

"Love you too, Mum."

Lily smiled watching Harry go. She sat down to breakfast as the students ate hers. She made notes from the charms she had on each student, jotting down the vitals throughout the night and other information she and Madam Pomfrey tracked.

True to his word, Dobby appeared an hour later, a hot cup of tea in his hand.

"Thank you, Dobby," Lily said, taking the cup he offered.

"Anything for you, Miss Lily, anything for Harry Potter's mother," he stated.

Lily patted him on the head and allowed him to take the empty plates and cups to the kitchen to be cleaned.

Around noon she headed to her quarters for a nap. She was back on the night shift that evening.

She entered her quarters, showered, and changed into pajamas before she climbed onto the bed. She didn't bother turning it down, she was too tired.

When she woke up around four, she found herself covered with a quilt she had folded on the foot of the bed. Confused, she looked over at the nightstand where she had a clock charmed to work without batteries. She noticed the time, realizing she had another hour before dinner. She didn't know whether she should try and sleep one more hour or to get up and get ready for the night. She didn't need to be back in the hospital wing until nine that evening.

But instead, she got up.

She walked out into the sitting area where she found on the table in the kitchenette a note.

The students are released to return to their dorms. No new students for overnight. You can have the night off, you've earned it.

Poppy

Lily smiled at news that she didn't need to return to the hospital wing. She decided to get some dinner in the Great Hall, then return to her quarters and go back to bed.

After a second shower and change of clothes, Lily headed to the Great Hall.

"Have a nice nap?" Remus asked.

"Yes, I think I'm going to go back to bed when I return to my quarters," Lily said.

Remus nodded, noticing how tired Lily still looked. "You look like you need some sleep."

"Thanks, Remus."

"I see it's alive."

"Funny Sirius, you should have been a comedian," Lily retorted.

"Get some sleep tonight Lily, and James gave me permission to slip a sleeping potion if that's what it takes," He said.

"I will," She promised.

Lily sat down at her place beside Madam Pomfrey and McGonagall. Minerva leaned over to whisper, "You look like you could have used another hour of sleep."

"I decided to eat first before I got more sleep," Lily said. "When I've not been working in the hospital wing I've been working in the potions lab and…"

"Wearing yourself out," Poppy finished.

Lily nodded, agreeing. Over dinner, she made small talk with Poppy discussing the schedule for the remainder of the week and asking Minerva if the first year Gryffindor was okay. She confirmed he was fine and returned to class that day. She asked Professor Flitwick and Professor Sprout if their students were okay.

When she finished dinner, she declined dessert and another cup of tea, deciding to head on back to bed. But first, she had a stop to make.

She stopped by Gryffindor table to speak with her son. She placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Have a good nap?"

"How did you know?" She asked.

"I stopped to check on you after lunch and you were asleep," Harry explained.

"Did you throw the quilt over me?" She inquired.

"I did and as I was leaving Madam Pomfrey was coming to tell you that you weren't needed tonight and she left a note for you. I laid it on the table."

"I saw it," Lily confirmed. She leaned down, pressing a kiss to Harry's head. "Thank you, sweetheart. I'm going back to bed, I'll see you in the morning," She said.

"Okay, good night Mum."

"Good night, Harry."

As Lily left the Great Hall, she headed back to her quarters. She knew when she next worked the night shift in the hospital wing Harry would bring her breakfast the next morning. She knew better than to tell him not to as he would do it anyway. He was kind that way. He would always look after her, something that James had told him to do since she joined him at Hogwarts his first year. Like all things, Harry took the job seriously.

In truth, Lily looked forward to Harry's visits to the hospital wing, except when he was sick. She, like any mother, hated to see her child sick. But she got lucky that over the five years Harry had been at Hogwarts he had only been really sick a handful of times. Every time, she took care of him. Anytime he ever was in the hospital wing, she took care of him.

He was her son, and she was going to take care of her son.