Chapter 11 - Poppy in Distress

Thanks a lot to my beta-readers, Orodruin and AmyLouise, for correcting my mistakes.

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to J.K. Rowling, and I am not earning anything by writing this story.

Chapter 11 - Poppy in Distress

When Poppy emerged from the fireplace, she immediately spotted the small group sitting around the table. "What are you doing out of bed, young man?" she asked and went over to her patient.

Before Harry or James could say anything, she waved her wand over Harry and frowned. "What happened here, James?" She looked angrily at her colleague.

"It's nothing, Poppy. Harry just-"

"Nothing? I beg you pardon, but I think that anything that causes you to give my patient a calming draught definitely isn't 'nothing.'"

James sighed. "Poppy, you were at St. Mungo's, and we had the whole situation under control. You know as well as I that this won't be the last time he needs to take the potion. I'm his healer as well, and the problems he had were mental problems, so I didn't see the necessity of informing you while you were otherwise occupied."

Harry didn't like to be the reason for these two to be speaking in such tones. It was obvious that both were holding back because of the audience they had. He didn't seem to be the only one who had noticed this.

Ivy came over to him and gently said, "Come on, Harry, we should get you back in bed." She slowly moved him over to his bed and helped him out of his bathrobe and slippers and into the bed.

"He is fine, Poppy. He ate a good supper and is calm now." James tried to reason with Poppy. He knew her temper, but he also knew that it was just because she was very concerned.

"I still would have liked to have been informed, James. A nervous breakdown is serious; don't play it down."

"I don't play it down, Poppy. You had been called to St. Mungo's for an emergency, and we had to act very quickly. There was no time to inform you. Harry reacted to the treatment and the potion very well, and so I saw no reason to disturb you. Of course, I would have informed you the moment you came back here, but you didn't give me a chance."

Poppy sighed. "Yes, I know. I'm sorry. The emergency at St. Mungo's... oh... never mind."

Alastor came over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Everything okay?"

"Yes, of course," she said sadly. She look up into Alastor's worried face, laid a hand on his chest, and said, "It's hard to accept that we can't help them all. It was just a child." She laid her head on his chest and breathed deeply.

"I know, my dear, but we have to concentrate on the living. It doesn't help when you rack your brain about something that can't be undone." He drew small, calming circles on her back.

James gave the two the privacy they needed and went over to Harry and Ivy. He knew that Poppy and Alastor were a well-rehearsed couple; Alastor knew exactly how to calm the nerves of his wife.

"Is she okay?" Harry asked worriedly.

"She will be in a moment, Harry. Sometimes even the adults need some comfort," James said softly. "From time to time, events throw us off track as well, but we have learned how to control our feelings, or others around us have learned how to help and support us in these moments. That's what you will learn as well while living with the Snapes and the Dumbledores." James smiled at Harry and was relieved when the tension that the boy had regained during the encounter left his body.

Poppy and Alastor had placed a silencing charm over themselves and were still talking.

"Oh, what's this?" Ivy said while she bent down for something. When she stood up again, she had a photo in her hand.

Harry grabbed his cushion and realized that the photo of his parents wasn't there anymore. "It's mine. It must have fallen down."

Ivy handed him the photo. "Are these your parents, Harry?" She asked while sitting down on the edge of the bed.

"Yes. Hagrid gave me the photo," Harry explained while looking longingly at the moving picture.

"May I see it as well, Harry?" James asked.

After having a look at it, he said, "They look very kind and friendly."

Harry beamed at James, and then he asked Ivy the question he had always wanted to ask her, "Did you know them?"

"No, Harry, they were both three classes ahead of me, and so I hardly had anything to do with them. Severus was a good friend of Lily's, but he never get along with James. But Lily and Severus had contact until... you know... until she got killed. You should ask him about it someday. I'm sure he can tell you a lot about her."

"He hated my father, didn't he?" Harry asked.

"It's not my place to tell you about Severus' relationship with your parents. You should speak with him about it," Ivy said to him and stroked his hair sadly.

"I don't think he would speak with me about them. Professor Lupin said that he hated my father and that is the reason why he treated me so coldly as well."

"That's not true, Harry!" Ivy exclaimed, "Severus doesn't hate you. I know that it was hard for him to see you because you look exactly like your father when he was young. They had big problems while they went to school, and losing your mother to him wasn't something he could easily forgive. Severus never hated you. Maybe he was unfair sometimes, but only because he saw James in you and didn't want the son of Lily to become someone like your father. Don't misunderstand me, Harry; I'm not saying your father wasn't a good man, but for Severus, he was just his childhood enemy."

"Some things not even adults can forget, and some memories make us do unfair things to innocents. He often regretted what he said to you, but couldn't find a way to tell you or show you. After the battle, he thought he had found a way to show you his respect. He realized that you aren't like your father. He wanted to give you a new chance as Harry and not as James' son. He tried to be there for you, and he was very concerned when you looked so worn out at the Sorting feast. When he brought you here in the hospital wing, he wanted to take care for you. He isn't a bad man, even if he can't speak well about your father. And he is very concerned about you, Harry," Ivy finished, looking worriedly at him. Her face had lost all its warmth, and she looked sad and hurt.

"It's hard. I want to see my dad as a good man," Harry said, trying not to look into the sad face of Ivy.

"I know, and that is understandable. Speak with Professor Lupin. He was his best friend and can tell you of a lot of happy memories. Severus only has bad memories about him. But that has nothing to do with you. Please don't let this stand between us, Harry. Give Severus a chance; I'm sure he won't disappoint you. He was one of your mother's best friends. Do you think she would have been friends with him if he was so bad?"

Harry was surprised. "I don't think he is bad. He was the only one who saw what was wrong with me and helped me. He didn't leave me alone, and even let Madam Pomfrey examine him for me." He leaned over and grabbed her hand. "Please don't be so sad. I don't hate him for what he thinks about my father. I just meant that I don't want to see my father like he sees him."

"I'm sure he wouldn't want you to think badly about your dad, Harry," James said. "He can tell you many things about your mom that not even Professor Lupin knows. Severus knew your mother long before Hogwarts. Maybe you can speak with him about her and share good memories. For the stories about your dad, just speak with Professor Lupin."

"That's okay." Seeing the still-worried face of Ivy, he added, "Really, Prof....Ivy." It wasn't easy to address her by her first name, but he hoped it would help the situation. He smiled shyly, and when she started to smile again, he felt much better.

"So you still want to live with us? At least for now?" she asked, squeezing his hands.

"Of course I want to," Harry said soulfully.

"Then we should check your condition, young man," said Poppy, who had finished her conversation with Alastor and now stood beside Harry's bed.

"Are you okay, Madam Pomfrey?" Harry asked.

"I certainly am, Mr. Potter, and now let me do my work," Madam Pomfrey said in a voice that made it clear she didn't want to say more.

Harry was curious about the diagnostic spell. He wanted to leave the hospital wing even though he was very nervous about moving in with the professors. What will it be like to live with them? What rules will they have, and what will happen when I break them? Not that I plan to do so, but at the Dursleys I often broke rules even when I didn't know it or want it. Harry could feel the light tickle of the diagnostic spell.

"You are still underweight, and your system needs a lot of rest. If you promise to eat regularly and rest enough, I will let you leave the infirmary."

Harry started to smile in relief, and he was about to jump from the bed, but Madam Pomfrey stopped him with her outstretched hand, "I'm not finished, Mr. Potter. By 'enough rest,' I mean that you will have to go to bed at 8:30 on weekdays and 9:30 during weekends." Harry's eyes widened in shock, but Madam Pomfrey continued, "and you have to rest every day after lunch for around one hour, or better, two. Should you not follow these rules, you will find yourself back in my hospital wing within the minute. Do I make myself clear?"

"But, Madam Pomfrey... that's too early. I'm not a baby, and you can't be serious about the nap time," Harry said, shocked.

"I'm dead serious, Mr. Potter. If you don't agree, you will stay. So it is your choice," Madam Pomfrey said in her no-nonsense voice.

"Okay," Harry said, groaning.

"Good. James or I will check on you each day for the next few days. I also want you to come to me if you feel unwell. If I find out that you have hidden something from me, I will not be so nice the next time, and I will definitely make you stay longer in the infirmary than this time."

"I understand," Harry said grumpily.

"Very well. I will see you tomorrow evening," Poppy said, this time sounding more friendly. "Please put this salve on your fading wounds once a day in the morning for at least five more days. It will help your skin to heal better, and it won't tense up so much."

"Okay," Harry said compliantly and took the salve.

Ivy, meanwhile, had retrieved his clothes from the night table. She handed them to Harry. "Let me take the salve and you change into your clothes."

It felt a little awkward because the adults didn't give him privacy to change, but he didn't want to ask them to turn away, out of embarrassment. The adults didn't look at him and were engrossed in their conversation. They spoke about what Ivy had to take care of and when James or Poppy would come to check on him. When Harry was finished, he stood nervously in front of the adults. Only when Ivy smiled at him and slowly stroked his cheek did he relax a little.

"Okay, Harry, let's go. The twins are already so excited and can't wait any longer to see you move in," Ivy said, gently guiding Harry into the direction of the fireplace.

Harry turned to say goodbye to Poppy and James, took a deep breath, and then followed Ivy into the fireplace.

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