Just a Little TLC
Summary: Now that Harry is home from the hospital, it's up to Remus, Sirius, and Ginny to give him some tender love and care.
Sirius walked softly to his godson's bedroom, wanting to check on him before he went downstairs. They had brought Harry home from the hospital after he had his appendectomy yesterday and Sirius wanted to make sure Harry was okay. He had thought of sleeping in Harry's room that night just in case Harry needed him.
He opened the door to the teen's bedroom to find Harry, sound asleep. He was tucked into bed with a blanket and a quilt over him.
Sirius smiled at the sight of a sleeping Harry. Quietly, as to not wake him, Sirius walked over to the side of the bed and kissed Harry's forehead before backing out of the room quietly.
Looking around the room, he noticed a few small changes from when Harry moved in with them almost two years before. There was a Weird Sister's poster on the wall above his bed, the curtains were changed out for new ones last summer, the lamp on Harry's bedside table was different. There was a picture of Harry and Ginny beside the lamp.
It was taken last summer at Ginny's birthday party.
Sirius walked out of Harry's bedroom, letting the teen sleep. He headed down to the kitchen where Remus was preparing breakfast.
"How's Harry?" he asked.
"Sleeping. I'm surprised how well last night had gone. I figured Harry wouldn't sleep as well as he did."
Remus nodded in agreement. Harry had slept through the night, only waking Sirius once when he needed a stomach soother after waking up feeling a little sick to his stomach. After that, Harry went back to sleep and was still sleeping now.
The floo flared in the sitting room and Sirius didn't need to ask who it was as they could hear who it was.
"Ron, seriously did you have to shove me into the floo and say 'let's go' before I had a chance to get my things."
"Ginny will get them, calm down. Just because you found a book about OWLs that you want to share with Harry that couldn't wait until we get back to school, doesn't mean you have to bite my head off."
Remus and Sirius shared a smile. Ron and Hermione knew how to make an entrance.
"Really Ronald, well let me….."
Whatever Hermione was meant to say was cut off with the sound of the floo roaring and a third person coming through.
"Alright you two, here, Hermione is your bag. The OWLs book can wait until we return to school and when Harry is ready to read it."
Hermione must have started to say something because Ginny had cut her off and told her that Harry would probably feel lousy for the next few days.
The group walked into the kitchen and greeted Remus and Sirius.
"We didn't wake Harry did we?" Ginny asked, fretting.
"No, he's still asleep."
Hermione looked at the shaggy-headed man, confused. "How?"
"There is a monitoring charm on his room that I placed when we came home. It had let me know that something was wrong last night and I went to check on him." Seeing Ginny's panicked expression, Sirius added, "He just needed a stomach soother."
"Oh," Ginny sighed.
"Is he okay now?" Ron asked. Everything that he, Harry, and Hermione had been through over the last five years had brought them closer together, especially over the last three years. Ron and Hermione were there for Harry like Harry and Hermione were there for him if needed. Hermione knew she could count on her boys if needed.
"He is now." There was a pause as Sirius looked up. "I think he's awake." Turning to Remus he explained, "I think he went to the bathroom."
"May I?" Ginny asked.
Sirius nodded and then Ginny headed to the stairs, walking up to Harry's room. They were allowed in each other's bedroom, as long as the door remained open.
She smiled as she stood in the doorway of Harry's room and seen that Harry was getting back into bed slowly. He stopped when he saw Ginny standing in the doorway.
"Good morning, sunshine," she greeted before stepping into the room and kissed Harry in greeting. "How are you feeling this morning?"
"Okay, stomach feels a little tender, but I'm okay. Are you here to take care of me?" he asked.
"Yes, I am. Are you hungry? I'll go and get your breakfast and bring it up for you."
Harry smiled at her. "That would be great, thanks, babe."
Ginny got up from where she sitting on the side of Harry's bed and headed downstairs. She told Remus that Harry was ready for breakfast and he handed her a bowl of porridge, with some cocoa mixed in it.
Sirius stopped her before she headed to the stairs. "Ginny, in case I haven't said it yet, thank you."
Ginny smiled, knowing what Sirius was talking about. She had been helpful taking care of Harry. Sirius appreciated the help and knew that Ginny was willing to help. She had sat with him when he had his tonsils removed and even fed him ice cream and foods that were easy on his throat.
"You're welcome, Sirius. You know I'll always care of him," Ginny replied.
"I never worry when he's with you. I know you'll take good care of him."
Ginny smiled at the comment and then headed to the stairs, knowing Harry was probably hungry.
She smiled as she thought back to the previous Easter break. She had spent the majority of it with Harry, helping him recover. He looked pitiful when she would feed him. She even said once that Harry pretended to be weak just so she would take care of him. But she knew that this wasn't the case and Harry really felt weak.
They may have been dating for over a year, but Ginny imagined herself marrying the boy. She loved him that much.
Ron and Hermione had come up while Ginny had gone to get Harry's breakfast. Ron and Harry were deep in conversation regarding Quidditch
"What's for breakfast?" Harry asked when Ginny entered the room.
"Porridge," Ginny replied. She sat down on the side of Harry's bed. A glass of orange juice appeared on his nightstand, making Hermione jump.
The two couples talked while Ginny slowly fed Harry his breakfast. She was patient and gentle and reminded Ron of their mother. Molly would sit on a bedside and fed her sick child chicken soup and would go just as slow and gentle as Ginny was now.
Harry did nothing but open his mouth and swallow.
Ron and Hermione kept some conversation, while Ginny took care of Harry. Ginny had stopped every few bites to give him a sip of orange juice and then continued with feeding her boyfriend.
When he finished, she placed the bowl down on the bedside table and gave Harry another drink of orange juice.
"Thanks, Gin," Harry murmured.
"You're welcome." She leaned over and kissed him before gathering the bowl and cup from his breakfast to take back to the kitchen. She didn't get far as Remus had met her outside the door.
"I'll take that for you, Ginny," He said, taking the dishes from Ginny and headed back downstairs. "Let us know if you need anything," he called from the bottom of the stairs.
"I will," Ginny replied and returned to Harry's bedroom.
"I picked up these yesterday for you, Mate. Figured you could use something useful to read," Ron said, pulling out some Quidditch magazines.
"Thanks, Ron." Harry picked up the Quidditch Quarterly and skimmed through the magazine and found the Quidditch team standings for the Cup, which was coming up in a few months. "I've been meaning to get this issue."
Ginny sat down beside Harry in his bed, reading the magazine over his shoulder. She wrapped an arm around his shoulders, her hand going to his head and rubbing his head and running her fingers through his hair.
Harry leaned his head against her shoulder and let the gentle head and scalp rub, lull him to sleep.
His last thoughts before drifting off to sleep were, how did he get lucky to have a girl like Ginny?
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Ron and Hermione had left to return to the Burrow. They didn't want to stay long as Harry needed some rest and they knew he was in good hands with Ginny. They said that they would stop by later, as they just wanted to see how Harry was doing.
Ginny remained by Harry's side, watching him sleep. She tucked the blanket around him and took off his glasses and set them on the side table. Remus came up after Ron and Hermione left to check on Harry and see if Ginny needed anything.
Sirius would be forever grateful that Harry had someone like Ginny in his life. He had never seen Harry so happy, except for when he moved in with him and Remus.
Ginny noticed after some time, Harry started to groan in his sleep. She looked down and noticed that Harry's face was pinched in a grimace, almost like he was in pain.
Reaching over, she gently shook his shoulder. "Harry, sweetie, wake up," she whispered.
Harry's eyes cracked open and then slowly opened. "I need a pain potion. My side hurts," he told her.
She leaned over and kissed his forehead and whispered, "I'll go and get you one." She got up and headed downstairs, hoping she would find Remus or Sirius to get a pain potion. As she ascended the stairs, she met Sirius half way up.
"What's wrong Ginny?" he asked, seeing the concern on Ginny's face.
"Harry needs a pain potion," she replied.
Glancing up at the grandfather clock, he saw the time and realized that Harry was passed due for a pain potion. He nodded and sent Ginny back up to Harry and he would get a pain potion.
Returning to Harry, she informed him that Sirius was getting him a pain potion and would be there in a minute. True to his word, Sirius came in carrying a potion.
"Here you go, Pup. This will help," He handed the potion to Harry, then handing the cup of water to Ginny. "Has he been asleep?" he inquired.
"Yes. He just woke up," Ginny explained. Harry reached for the water, she was holding and she handed him the cup, still holding it in case Harry lost his grip on the cup
"How are you feeling, Pup?" Sirius asked after Harry had taken a drink.
"Better now." Harry looked around his room, looking for something. "Do I have something that we could play a game of cards on in here?" he asked.
"Hold on, one second." Sirius left the room, returning five minutes later with a tray in his hand. It was one that was used when they served breakfast in bed. Remus had bought it before Harry had his tonsils removed and it came in handy when one of them were bedridden.
"Thanks, Sirius." Turning to Ginny he asked her if she wanted to play a game of cards. She agreed and pulled out a deck from the bag she had brought with her.
"Hearts, Go Fish, or War?" She asked. "You choose."
Harry thought for a second and decided on Go Fish. Sirius left them to their card game, only returning a half hour later with some tea for Harry and Ginny.
"Remus is making lunch. Do you have any request?" Sirius asked.
"Tomato bisque sounds really good," Harry replied.
"Okay." Turning to Ginny he asked if she was staying for lunch.
"Sure, I can stay until this evening," Ginny said.
"Alright." Leaving them alone, Sirius headed down to the kitchen to tell Remus what Harry had asked for lunch.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
By the time Remus had lunch ready, Harry and Ginny had played a game of Slapjack, which was something that Harry had introduced Ginny to when she was taking care of him after his tonsillectomy, a game of Go Fish and halfway through a game of War.
Sirius headed upstairs to see if Harry wanted to eat at the table.
"Hey, thought I'd let you know that lunch is ready," he said upon entering the room. "Do you want to eat downstairs in the kitchen or in here?"
Harry thought for a moment. Healer Dalton said for him to try to move as much as he could. Nodding, he let Sirius and Ginny help him up from the bed and out the door of his room heading to the stairs. With Sirius in front of him and Ginny behind him, they slowly made their way downstairs.
As they passed the downstairs bathroom, they stopped to wash up before heading on into the kitchen. Remus as listened to Harry's request and made tomato bisque, a soup which had quickly become a household favorite. It was a recipe that Remus had learned from Lily. It was a family recipe and Lily had only shared it with him. He would swear that it tasted just as if Lily had made it. It was one of James's favorites that Lily made.
Because of the memories it brought, Remus didn't make it as much, but he did for Harry's benefit.
"Looks good, Remus," Ginny commented. Remus had sat the soup bowls in the middle of plates with crackers along the bowl with a smaller plate for a sandwich. Harry preferred peanut butter sandwiches with his soup while Remus and Sirius wanted grilled cheese.
Sirius claimed this was the James coming out in Harry. James had a gift, as Sirius called it, for pair foods in an odd way or in a way one would never consider.
The meal was complete with soda, a Cola for Sirius, Remus, and Ginny, and Sprite for Harry.
"Thanks, Remus," Harry said, sitting down in his chair beside Ginny.
"You're welcome, Cub. Eat as much as you want."
They settled in the meal, making light conversation amongst the group, avoiding anything to do with school as Harry had OWLs coming up and the Careers Advice meeting with Professor McGonagall when they returned to Hogwarts on Monday.
"I'll be recovered enough to play in the Quidditch final won't I?" Harry asked when he realized it was coming up in May.
Sirius and Remus looked from Harry to each other.
"The final isn't until the end of May. This is just the beginning of April. You'll be well recovered by then," Remus assured him.
"We'll talk to Healer Dalton when we go to your follow up appointment. He'll be able to tell you about when you can return to Quidditch practice," Sirius added.
Harry nodded and ate his soup quietly. He didn't want to let the team down, especially Angelina. He felt Ginny's hand on his back, rubbing in soothing circles. He turned his head towards her and noticed she was watching him closely.
"You have a potion to take after your done eating. It's the one to prevent infections. I'll give you some apple juice to kill the taste," Sirius informed his godson.
"This one isn't going to cause me to get sick is it?" Harry asked. The last one caused him to feel sick to his stomach and he had spent the first hour after he had eaten, vomiting in the bathroom. Ginny was with him during that bout of sickness.
"No, this is different," Sirius replied. "Healer Dalton recommended apple juice as it would kill the taste, but not affect the active ingredients.
"Okay."
To everyone's, especially Ginny's surprise, Harry managed to eat the whole bowl of soup. Harry had crushed the crackers into the soup and there was none left. He drank what was left of his soda while waiting for Sirius to get him his potion.
After Sirius finished eating, he collected the potion Harry needed to take.
"We'll have to remember to give this to you after you've eaten lunch. You need to take it once a day and on a full stomach. Healer Dalton said it would cause you some stomach discomfort if you took it on an empty stomach."
Harry didn't need to ask what stomach discomfort. He knew. If he did take it on an empty stomach, he would pay for it big time. He nodded and quickly downed the foul tasting potion. Ginny lightly chuckled at Harry's facial expression as he swallowed the potion.
"That's absolutely foul," he said, hoarsely. He picked up the small bottle of apple juice and chugged it
Once Ginny was done, Harry asked Sirius if they could move to the family room where they had the television and entertainment center set up.
"What movie are we watching?" Ginny asked. She and Harry had watched some movies during Harry's previous recovery. They watched Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Last summer, when Ginny would come to Marauder's Cottage to spend some time with Harry, they would often be found in the family room, snuggled up on the couch watching movies.
"I'm letting you pick," she said when Harry paused to reply.
"I picked last time, Gin. It's your turn."
Ginny knew that there was no arguing with Harry and she walked to the cabinet where all the VHS tapes were kept. She decided to pick a romantic comedy and picked Four Weddings and a Funeral.
Remus nodded and said "Good choice," before heading to the library that he had added upstairs. There was a large den upstairs passed Harry's room and Remus had turned into a library. It wasn't the size of the one at Grimmauld Place, but it was enough for simple research that Remus liked to do.
"Mind if I join you?" Sirius asked. He loved the movie, personally having seen it with an old friend by the name of Hestia Jones. He took her to see the movie and then bought the VHS. They were currently in an on again, off again relationship.
"Not at all," Ginny said, while Harry shook his head.
Sirius popped some popcorn "Can't have a movie without popcorn," he argued.
Once he was settled and everyone had what they wanted, Harry picked up the remote and pressed play.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
After the movie was over, Sirius headed to the sitting room. He had some work for the Board of Governors to do and really, he wanted to give Harry and Ginny a moment alone. They hadn't done anything to not earn his trust and Harry more than earned it.
"That was…." Ginny trailed off. "Happy, but the funeral scene was sad."
"Want to watch another movie?" Harry inquired.
"We'll wait until tomorrow," Ginny answered.
They sat on the couch, talking quietly. Harry wasn't ready to go back upstairs yet and he and Ginny decided to stay in the sitting room. The weather was chilly, but Ginny figured Harry could do with some fresh air.
"Harry, what do you say about going outside for a second?"
Not even thinking twice, Harry agreed and got up, heading into the scullery. His navy blue jacket was hanging on a hook by the door. Grabbing it, he slipped it on and sat down on the bench to slip on his trainers.
"Hang on a second, sweetie," Ginny called, coming from the kitchen into the scullery. She kneeled in the floor in front of Harry and helped slip his trainers on so he wouldn't have to bend over to do so.
"There," she said when she finished tying the laces. They headed outside and walked slowly around the year. Harry had left his Firebolt at school, and seeing as he wasn't allowed to do any strenuous activity he wouldn't have been able to ride it.
"Thanks for taking care of me," Harry said after some time has passed and neither of them had said a word.
"You're welcome."
They walked around the back garden, close to the house. Soon, they started talking about things at school, Ron and Hermione and how to get them together, and Quidditch.
Heading to the bench in the small section of the garden that divided the Quidditch pitch and the small vegetable garden Remus has kept in the back garden, they sat down and continued to talk.
From the kitchen window, Sirius watched the young couple. He smiled as he watched them hold hands and walk around the garden. He watched them as they sat down on the bench. Seeing that Harry was fine, he headed back to the sitting room.
Ginny had come and told him and she was taking Harry outside for a little bit and he nodded to give her his approval.
As he entered the sitting room, he glanced at a picture of James and Lily that was hanging on the wall. He looked at the picture of his best friend and brother in everything but blood. He missed James very much and Lily. He could only imagine how Harry feels about his parents. Sirius paused for a second, wishing that they could find a portrait of James and Lily that they can talk to.
"I miss you and Lils, Prongs. Very much."
Heading into the sitting room, Sirius didn't notice Remus at the top of the stairs. He headed into Sirius's room, returning the laundry and glanced out the back window. He smiled at the young couple, wishing that James and Lily were here to see this.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
After returning inside, Harry and Ginny headed back upstairs to Harry's bedroom. It was then when Harry realized he hadn't had a shower since leaving St. Mungo's. Gathering a change of clothes, Harry headed into the bathroom while Ginny helped by stripping his bed and remaking it with clean sheets. She brought the sheets she took off to Remus. They had met at the top of the stairs.
They switched with what was in their hands. Ginny gave Remus the sheets and Remus gave Ginny the balm that they had to put on the incision in hopes of it not scaring as bad as it would without it. A clean bandage was with the balm.
Ginny didn't need any instructions as she knew what the balm was for and the bandage.
She set it down on the bedside table and waited for Harry to finish in the bathroom.
The bathroom door open and Harry stepped out, dressed in a red Gryffindor Quidditch shirt and black, white and red plaid pajama pants.
"Is that what I think it is?" Harry asked, pointing at the balm
"Scaring balm," Ginny supplied. "Yes, it is."
Harry didn't argue, as he knew it was Healer Dalton's orders. They had used it on his arm after they came home last summer in hopes the scar wouldn't be so vivid. It had worked, only making it become pinker and not so red and noticeable. Even though it was a Muggle injury, technically, the balm worked.
This time, it was the normal strength balm, unlike the maximum strength they had used last summer.
There is only one thing Harry hated about it…..
"I hate that stuff. It makes the area feel numb. It made my arm feel numb when I used it on this." Harry pointed to the scar on his arm. The daily reminder of the horror he had suffered through last year. That Voldemort had returned.
"I know," Ginny said. "But this will make the one on your side not so noticeable without it. Plus, it would help the pain as well."
Harry sighed, he knew Ginny was right. He slipped off his shirt and laid down on the bed, waiting for the numb feeling at accompanied the scaring balm. He didn't feel uncomfortable be shirtless in front of Ginny, now. He was when they first started dating. Despite living with Sirius he still spent time at the Burrow.
Last summer, he spent a lot of time at the Burrow. He, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione adventured down to the pond behind the Burrow passed the padlock. It was part of the property and was where they swam when the weather got hot. Harry was nervous about being shirtless around Ginny back then but was able to get over it.
It all seemed from Harry's childhood and his self-esteem. But Ginny helped him with it, now he had a lot of confidence.
Ginny dipped her finger into the balm and got the amount that was required and started to spread it on the small red line on Harry's side. The balm was cold on Ginny's fingers, but when it came in contact of Harry's skin it warmed.
"This must be a different scaring balm. It never warmed when it made contact with the skin," Harry stated.
"Must be," Ginny agreed.
"It usually burns and then suddenly cools…." Harry trailed off and then suddenly announced, "I spoke too soon."
Ginny picked up the magazine on Harry's bedside table and started fanning the area.
"Better?" she inquired.
"Yeah," Harry sighed. Fanning the area helped. He had fanned his arm when he used it on his arm last summer.
Ginny had applied the bandage and Harry had slipped his shirt back on when Sirius came into the room.
"Did you get the balm applied?" he asked.
"Yes, we did." She handed the jar back to Sirius and took the vial he had brought up.
"Is that a pain potion?" Harry asked.
Sirius nodded, handing Ginny the cup of water. "Yes, it is."
Not needing to be told twice, Harry took the vial and then swallowed the potion. He quickly took the water Ginny handed him and swallowed it.
"Thanks." Harry looked drowsy like he wanted to go to sleep.
"Are you feeling tired?" Sirius asked. Harry was falling asleep and didn't respond. "Harry?" Sirius looked over at Ginny. "I think he's asleep."
Ginny nodded, sitting down the side of the bed, raking her fingers through his hair.
Harry cracked his eyes open, looking at Ginny. "Thanks for taking care of me, Gin," he croaked.
"You're welcome."
Soon the only noise in the room was Harry's soft snoring. Ginny looked at the time on the alarm clock and noticed the time.
"I better go, it's getting late and Mum will be wondering when I'm going to be home."
"That's fine," Sirius replied.
Ginny got up and leaned over to kiss Harry's forehead.
"I'll see you tomorrow. I love you," she whispered.
"I love you too."
Harry's response made Ginny jump. She didn't think that he would say anything and though he was asleep.
Once she knew he was asleep, she headed downstairs to the floo with Sirius behind her. She had gathered her things and turned to Sirius.
"I'll be back tomorrow."
"Thanks for coming, Ginny. We'll see you tomorrow."
In a flash of green Ginny was back at the Burrow. Sirius headed upstairs and checked on Harry before heading to the kitchen to join Remus for dinner.
He decided to fix a plate for Harry as he didn't want to wake him up.
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The Easter Holiday was over and it was time to return to Hogwarts. Sirius had given Harry the option to Floo to Hogwarts or ride the Express. Harry debated it for an hour before deciding to Floo. The deciding factor was that Molly had let Ginny floo to Hogwarts with Harry to keep him company. Sirius had firecalled Healer Dalton and asked his opinion. He said whichever one made Harry more comfortable while on the floo. They had spent the whole week together while Harry recovered in Sirius's quarters.
Healer Dalton told Sirius to take the bandage off for an hour at a time, to allow the area to breathe and get air. Upon telling Harry, the teen was nervous. He was more nervous about having to walk around with his shirt off or stuck laying on the couch or his bed.
But Ginny came up an idea. Using some of her old hair bands, she fixed Harry's tee shirt by pulling the shirt up and bunching it in the back, using the hair tie to hold it.
"I will buy you more hair ties," Harry promised her when she fixed his shirt for the first time. He had decided to buy her new hair ties in return for helping through his recovery.
The first week back to Hogwarts flew by, and then it was time for Harry's follow up appointment with Healer Dalton. The night before the follow-up appointment Harry laid awake, thinking how bad his incision would scar, would it be noticeable?
That's what he feared. He felt comfortable with his shirt off in the dorms and the Quidditch locker room. But Ginny told him it wouldn't be as bad as he was thinking, and told him she would love him just the same. It oddly made him want to cry.
To hear that, his confidence increase. Ginny wanted to hex the Dursleys for what they did to Harry and his confidence.
Taking a deep breath, he got up and walked to the bathroom. The light was still on, and Harry slipped in and shut the door. Looking at himself in the mirror, he pulled up his shirt, looking at his right side.
With help from the balm, it looked more pink and not so red. "It will be okay, Harry," he chanted to himself.
He returned to bed, taking off his glasses and laid down. He was asleep when his head hit the pillow.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Harry sat on the examination table in the office of Healer Dalton. Today was his appendectomy follow up, it had been almost two weeks since the surgery. Harry was about to climb the walls, he was so bored with no activity. He wanted to go out and fly on his broom or just do something fun that wasn't sitting around on a couch.
He was positive he had gained a few pounds in the two weeks of no activity.
Sirius sat in the chair next to the exam table, reading a magazine, he had found in the waiting room and brought back with him to the exam room.
They hadn't been back very long when there was a knock at the door before it opened.
"Good morning," Healer Dalton greeted, closing the door behind him. "How are we doing?"
"I'm fine," Harry answered.
"He's been resting a lot over the last two weeks and only went to class for half a day at first and then slowly worked up to full day classes which we did this week. He's had a few bouts of upset stomach and some minor pain," Sirius added.
Healer Dalton began asking questions regarding issues they had with the scaring balm or the infection potion, was there any bouts of extreme pain or nausea, and finishing the questions with asking about how the recovery was going.
Sirius and Harry both answered the questions, with Sirius answering most of the questions. Although Harry handled the questions about pain and how he had been feeling overall since the surgery.
As Harry answered the questions, Healer Dalton murmured as he wrote notes Harry's file. He turned the page to the next one and asked Harry if he was ready for him to begin the physical part of the examination.
Harry nodded, replying, "I'm ready."
"Alright, lie back."
Harry laid back on the exam table as directed and without being asked, pulling up his shirt. Healer Dalton took a look at Harry's abdomen before taking off the bandage.
"I'm going to take off the bandage," the healer warned.
"Okay," Harry replied.
Slowly, Healer Dalton pulled off the bandage and looked at the healed incision. Gently, he ran his finger over the incision, noticing that the stitches were ready to come out.
"Looks like the incision healed nicely," the healer noted. "Now, I'm going to remove the stitches and then do a quick abdominal exam."
"Okay," Sirius agreed.
Healer Dalton pointed his wand at the incision, muttered a numbing spell and slowly began to remove the stitches.
"Are you doing okay?" the healer asked his patient. "Just let me know at any one time that this hurts at all."
"I'm okay." Harry turned his head, looking down at his stomach, watching the stitches get removed. Once the last of the stitches were removed, Healer Dalton canceled the numbing spell.
"How's that feel?" Healer Dalton inquired.
"Feels good, actually," Harry replied.
"Can you feel my finger?" Healer Dalton brushed his finger in a circle on Harry's belly, checking to see if the numbing spell was removed.
"Yeah."
"Okay, now I'll start the abdominal exam." Healer Dalton pulled out his Muggle Stethoscope, placing it on Harry's skin began listening to his abdomen.
"I hear a lot of growling and rumbling. His bowels sound normal and healthy," the healer said to Sirius.
"Is there any areas of tenderness or any pain in your belly?" the healer asked, rubbing his hands together to warm them up.
"No," Harry answered.
"Okay, I'm going to start pressing your abdomen, let me know if you feel any pain, tenderness, or uncomfortable."
Harry nodded and watched the healer's hands pressing into different areas of his belly. He could feel the healer's hands pressing firmly in the middle and lower area of his abdomen. Then Healer Dalton moved to the right side and gently pressed over where the area was healing.
"His abdomen feels soft, everything feels normal and healing nicely," The healer told Sirius, who listened as the healer told him that everything was fine.
"You may sit up now," The healer told Harry.
Pulling down his shirt, Harry sat up on the table.
"Well, keep doing what you're doing, in regards to class. Now, as far as activity is concerned, go slow in reintroducing yourself to it. About Quidditch, you may fly and attend practices. Just place a shield around you to keep a bludger from hitting you in the abdomen."
"So, I can play Quidditch again?"
"What position do you play?" the healer asked.
"Seeker," Harry replied, promptly.
"Okay. Just like I said, use a shield. And," he turned to Sirius. "Floo me if you need anything.
"Thank you."
Harry followed Sirius and headed to the fireplaces to floo back to Hogwarts.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Ginny entered the Quidditch pitch later that evening. She had a note in her hand and she knew it was from Harry.
Meet me at the Quidditch pitch before sunset.
Harry.
Looking around, she noticed that no one was around. She had asked Hermione if that was Harry's handwriting just to be sure.
"Hey, babe," a voice whispered behind her.
She turned around and found Harry, freshly showered and in clean clothes, smiling at her.
Ginny smiled and wrapped her arms around Harry's neck, kissing him deeply. They broke apart a moment later.
"Ready for a fly?" Harry asked. Ginny knew what Harry was planning. They were going to fly around and watch the sunset.
It was getting dusk as she mounded the broom and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Before you say anything, no you're not hurting me," Harry said.
"Okay."
Harry kicked off and they enjoyed a moment just the two of them, watching the sunset. Ginny rested her chin on Harry's shoulder, as they watched the sunset. They hovered in silence, as they watched the sun go down.
Over the next few years, Ginny took care of Harry when he was sick. She nursed him back to health, with the assistance of Sirius and others on her own. She would even take care of him after rough Quidditch practices, helping treat any injuries he might have. She made sure that Harry got a little tender, love, and care.
Thus concluded the Appendicitis storyline.