Evening, Hospital Ward, Hogwarts - May 14, 1995

  “Master Harry…”

  “Master Harry Sir…”

  BANG.

  CLANG BANG CRASH.

  Finally the noises pulled him out of his deep sleep. He was aching all over and still blind as a bat. Though he did notice that he was seeing colours, a weird thing to notice. Blearily opening his eyes, Harry finally noticed his googly eyed friend sitting on his chest.

  “Hey Dobby, what time is it?” He managed to croak out.

  “Seven o’clock Master Harry Potter sir.” He promptly replied.

  “Why did you wake me so late?”

  “Miss and Mister Healer were examining you while you slept, sir. Should Dobby punish himself?” He asked, beginning to cringe away from him.

  “Of course not Dobby! Pass me my glasses please?” He said, “You never have to punish yourself with me. If you or I do something wrong we will talk about it. But that’s it. Understood?”

  “Master Harry is the greatest wizard.” Dobby said, eyes welling up with tears again. In awe of his new Master.

  Once Harry managed to get himself in order, he looked around for Madam Pomfrey. There was a lot still needed to be done, and he really wanted to talk about his physical recovery. Though Harry did notice that his shoes were tight and his legs a little chilly.

  Knocking on her office door, he heard a muffled call to enter. Letting himself in, he said loudly with a false sense of cheer, “Sleeping beauty has awakened!”

  Poppy scoffed, yet said with a smile “I’m glad to see you start coming out of your shell Harry. It’s heartening to see what can happen with a little support. Don’t forget it young man, I will always support you. Got it?”

  “Copy that, Ma’am General sir!” Clicking his heels with a sarcastic and lazy salute.

  Her tinkling laughter filled the room, “Ahh, before I forget Harry, this is Healer Paul Smithwick. He was the specialist I mentioned before. Doing some things mixing magical and muggle methods of physical recovery. Marvelous results too!”

  “Pleasure to meet you sir.” Harry said, walking over to him to offer a handshake.

  “The pleasure is all mind Mr. Potter. If you don’t mind me asking how are you feeling?”

  “Sore all over, though I don’t know why…and I’m hungry again. Even though I ate so much earlier!” Harry responded, wincing at the reminder.

  “Hmm, seems the Hunter Rite gave you a bit of a leg up then. Matches the results from our diagnostics too. We will have to start him on a heavy calorie diet with hunger and nutrient enhancers.” Healer Smithwick said.

  “I’ve also started working on the wizarding version of ‘Growth shakes’. My little rip-off of the protein shakes the Muggle bodybuilders are so fond of. Tastes…subpar if I’m honest, but the results have been outstanding.”

  “Hope you don’t mind taking these as part of your treatment?”

  “Sir, if you say it’s good for me, who am I to argue? I’m neither Doctor nor Healer, in this regard I’m coming to you with advice, what is the best thing I can do and is there anything I can do to speed up the process?”

  “Quite frankly, I want to slow it down. I’m not sure if you’ve noticed but you’ve started growing an incredible amount already. You can even see your ankles between your trousers and socks. Your sleeves are half an inch short too.”

  “Damn, so that’s why I was feeling cold!”

  The healer chuckled in response, “Yes, quite. Now is there anything else that you’ve noticed? Anything at all, no matter how weird it sounds.”

  “Umm, well I did notice that my vision was slightly less blurred and that I was seeing some weird colours. Not sure how else to describe it.”

  The two healers exchanged a long look, “Interesting, so you may have some improved form of vision. That’s a great trait to gain, Harry!” Poppy exclaimed. “We’ll just have to give it some time for it to manifest properly. Though it is a little concerning how quickly you’re growing. We need to get more protein and vitamins in you ASAP!”

  “Why don’t you ask Dobby to help you out? That way you can eat while we talk over your results?”

  “Sounds great, Dobby!” Harry said quietly, “Would you mind getting me a meal my friend? Would love something with salad or al dente mixed veg on the side mate. OK?”

  “Of course Master Harry. Back in a wink!” POP!

  “Right, is there anything else new from your scans I need to worry about?”

  “Nothing new…” Healer Smithwick trailed off. “But it does concern me, doing some of the deeper scans of your Mana levels, it seems that you’re experiencing three sources that are draining you one is dobby, one is your scar, the other is… unknown.”

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  “It’s low enough that we shouldn’t be concerned but we do want to get on top of it. You’ve had a rough start, so we want to get you back on track alright, Harry?” Poppy babbled, trying to put Harry at ease.

  Harry shrugged in response, “The only other thing I can think of is those Blood wards that Dumb-ass-door keeps harping on about. Though you did mention something about getting a cursebreaker and curse specialised healer in to see me yeah?”

  “B-b-blood wards?” Poppy stuttered, her face slowly flushing red. “Are you sure?”

  “Sure? No. It’s the only thing I can think of though.”

  A dark look crossed Healer Smithwicks face. “Right. That does it. I’m going to talk to Amelia about this. This cannot be borne. I refuse. This child is either leaving this school or Dumbledore is. This is a god's damned nightmare!”

  “Tell me about it.” Poppy said, a flat tone to her voice. Trying not to scare Harry. “Right, moving on, so you’re going to be spending most of your time eating and doing some work-outs, Harry. Healer Smithwick was kind enough to bring me some small books and leaflets on what equipment will be needed and how to set up a good routine for yourself.”

  “With Dobby’s help we can even create a room for you just outside the Hospital ward to make it easy to access, though the long run and obstacle course will still have to be around the Black Lake.”

  “That’s all we can do for now until we see those two other specialists. Healer Smithwick said he would be by every other day to see how you’re getting on so we can adjust your potions and physical regimen to suit your fastly growing body.” Poppy finished her update. Still trying her best to remain calm.

  “That’s right, it’s important that you make a note of anything that you notice off with your body, OK? Balance, hearing, vertigo, taste…it could be minor or major. Just keep me updated even if you think it’s nothing important ok? I can’t help you if I don’t know anything about it.” Said a laughing Smithwick, trying to inject some levity back into the conversation. “You’re going to be in for a wild summer Mr. Potter!” He exclaimed, “A grand finish to your second year I promise.” Smithwick finished with a roguish grin which put Harry at ease.

  “My thanks to you both, I promise I’ll work hard so your work doesn’t go to waste.”

  Poppy cut in, making it clear that they had more to discuss, “Now, why don’t you go outside and talk to ‘Mione for a bit Harry? Have your food out there. Shouldn’t be long now.”

  “Sounds like a plan Poppy, you’ll bring me my potions soon?” Harry asked.

  “Of course! Start off with this hunger enhancer so we can get a second meal to accompany your potions at nine o’clock, alright?” She stood, handing me a potion before shooing Harry out of the door.

  As Harry walked back to his friend deeper in the ward, he waved a quick hello at Kingsley Shacklebolt, calling out a quick greeting. “Hey Shacks, good to see you.”

  Which left the disillusioned Shacklebolt at a loss. Whispering quietly, “Hey there kid.” Shacks was confused and wondering whether he had even cast his standard invisibility kit of spells, he recast everything just in case. No one was to know that Harry was getting favours other than Poppy. He’ll have to mention this to the boss though, it’s a big mistake to make. Especially as a Senior Auror!

  Harry missed all of Shack's confusion making his way to the back of the ward where the long term patients stayed. He knew the Hospital wing like the back of his hand now, so he made a beeline for ‘Mione’s bed.

  It always brought a few tears to his eyes to see her like this, so still and alone. Before the excitement of the past few days he was in here for all of his free time without fail. Considering the whole school considered him persona non grata it wasn’t a hard sacrifice to make. Better being with his petrified friend than spend time with fickle humans that thought the worst of him.

  Taking the nearest seat to the bed, he started talking. At first it was just inane small talk, while he settled down. Then it got serious, he talked about his feelings, how he felt different after waking up after his trip to the chamber. How he made some new adult friends, how even the adults in the school were treating him differently know with the ‘secret’ of his child abuse was out there. Considering Dumb-dumb-door was responsible for most by proxy if not directly, as was the case with the Philosopher's stone.

  He told her everything. Unloading everything that was bugging him, using her still form as a sounding board for everything that he was thinking of doing and wondering what she would think about leaving Hogwarts behind. Whether she would blame him or join him.

  Harry even mentioned some of the stories about his parent’s and what he had recently found out about his fathers family. How they were an old bloodline of Wizards and Witches that could trace their heritage back to before the dawn of the Roman Empire.

  It was a surprisingly cathartic thirty minutes for young Harry. Getting all that emotion off his chest, even wincing at the expected ‘beatings’ he was going to receive for, as ‘Mione put it, his saving people thing.

  Though he didn’t do it deliberately this time with Ginny, he definitely went out of the way to assist Dobby. Even going so far as to tort-, I mean goad, the head of a Venerable House. Probably wasn’t the wisest thing, but considering the state of Dobby and what he had gone through? Harry believed it completely Justifiable.

  It was towards the end of this rant that Dobby showed up, dressed once more in a shabby pillow case. Harry frowned at the sight, sad at his appearance. “Dobby, how are you at making clothes? Before you get scared, I’m not offering you clothes to free you from service buddy. I’m just wondering if you would like to make your own uniform?” Harry asked kindly.

  Dobby was gobsmacked. “Y-y-you would buy me clothes?”

  “Of course buddy, you’re family. I want you to look good. Since you are part of House Potter now, I want you to show everyone how well I treat people who are loyal to me.” He explained slowly.

  Necking in his disgusting potion, Harry got stuck in while Dobby thought it over. “T-t-to be honests with you Master Harry Sir, Dobby isn’t the best with a needle.” He said sorrowfully, twisting his ears in distress.

  “Not to worry then Dobby, is there any way I can ask you to access my vault on my behalf? Or perhaps you can get some money out of my trunk and ask Madam Malkins to make a uniform with my family crest on for you? Would that work?”

  “But that would be more expensive for Master Harry Sir.” he cringed back in fear.

  “Enough of that now bud, I don’t harm my family.” Harry said firmly. “Please ask her for a butlers uniform with a gold sash and a crest on its breast. Black with red trim, and a grey or charcoal shirt to match. Three sets so you have enough to stay presentable. Ok buddy?” Harry asked, “Does that sound ok? Or do you think you would need some more?”

  “No, NO! That is already very generous Master Harry. T-t-thank you!”

  “You’re very welcome Dobby, now if you wouldn’t mind going up and grabbing that money with some extra clothes for me to change into tomorrow? Oh and some PJ’s too, I’m not a fan of the Hospital wards sleep wear.”

  “Right away sir!” Said Dobby, saluting smartly.

  A quick pop and he was off running errands for his ‘Master Harry Potter Sir’. Just in the nick of time too, judging by the click clack of a multiple of footsteps. Although he wasn’t ashamed of Dobby, he could already tell that there was an added edge he could use just by ‘owning’ for lack of a better word, a house elf.

  Coming around the privacy screen even as Harry was digging into his first evening meal, was his favourite diminutive Professor…and his least favourite human on the planet.

  Snape.

  “Well ain’t this going to be fun.” Harry muttered with a scowl.

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