AN: Again, thanks for the reviews. I appreciate the feedback. harryishot85, you should click on my name and e-mail me! This part is kind of short, but I figured I'd post a little now rather than making you wait for a really long chapter. I still don't own Harry or is world. I sure wish I did. LOL
Harry wheeled himself to the base of the staircase. He found himself with a dilemma. He was sure that he could not walk up the stairs on his own since he was apt to get dizzy. He did not want to go into the kitchen via the aid of his wheelchair because he realized he must look pathetic and sickly. So, he sat at the bottom of the stairs, trying to decide which was worse, waiting for Dumbledore to take him back upstairs or going into the kitchen and being doted upon by Mrs. Weasley.
The decision was made for him.
"Harry! You're awake!" Jane Granger exclaimed as she and her husband came into the room from the library. "How are you feeling, dear?" She kneeled beside him and made her own evaluation. "You look bad, but that's a step up. You looked positively dreadful before," she told him apologetically.
He looked at her as if he'd just been slapped. "Well, it's true," she shrugged with a small smile. "Here, we'll help you to the kitchen."
Drat. The last thing he needed was to be helped to the kitchen while looking pathetic and sickly.
"I'm okay," he argued, realizing how completely ineffective and unbelievable that statement was, all things considered.
"Let her take care of you," John suggested. "You deserve some pampering after what that bastard did to you." He put his hand on Harry's shoulder in a show of support.
Harry inhaled, putting on a brave face as Jane pushed him into the kitchen. And, there it came: an enormous burst of sympathy radiating from Hermione, Molly, Ginny, Madame Pomfrey, and even Ron and Remus. Everyone was exclaiming his name as if they had not seen him in a very long time. Madame Pomfrey was feeling his forehead one second and taking his pulse the next. Molly pushed Poppy aside to envelop him in a smothering hug. Ginny was asking if he was all right. Hermione was almost in tears again. Ron or Remus or both of them clapped their hands to his shoulder and said how good it was to see him.
"I insist that you all back away from Mr. Potter," Madame Pomfrey snapped. Everyone did so, except Hermione who's hand Harry had managed to take in the commotion. He pulled her closer to him and gazing up into her eyes said, "I missed you." That was all it took for the tears that were threatening to flow in full force down Hermione's cheeks. "Don't cry," he whispered, hugging her closely.
"I... you... he...." she sobbed. It was not like her to be so emotional, but she was very tired, drained of all her energy. Here feelings were close to the surface and it was impossible to surpress them.
Harry rubbed her back gently. "It's okay. I'm fine. I just have a bit of a headache," he told her.
"Why are you in this chair?" she asked. Her mind was whirring with notions of what the wheelchair could mean, wondering if he had some kind of spinal or nerve damage. Her heart broke at the idea that he might not be able to fly on his broom and play Quiddich.
"Oh, I, um, I get a little dizzy when I stand up. It's no big deal. It will go away." He turned to the mediwitch and pleaded with his eyes, Tell her it will go away.
"To be expected," Madame Pomfrey announced, picking up Harry's silent message. "You had a severe trauma to the head. Some vertigo, even nausea is normal at this stage of healing. If you have any double or blurred vision, you should let me know immediately, however."
"See, it's nothing to worry about," Harry soothed. "I just have to have time to get better."
"I don't want to loose you Harry. First Voldemort. Then your stupid uncle whom you're supposed to be safe with! When does it end?"
"I don't know," he answered honestly. "But it will end," he met her eyes with a decisive nod. "Then we can work on those ten kids with big messy hair," he winked and flashed her an evil grin. He really did not care if anyone else heard what he said. He knew that Ron knew about them and Ron was the only person whose reaction had mattered to him.
"You, you heard me?" Hermione blushed. Mrs. Weasley and Ginny had both sighed in the background.
"Sometimes," he answered. "And you too, Ron, you prat." He smiled at his other best friend. "So, you know about me and Hermione?"
Ron snorted. "Of course I did. It was the two of you who took forever to figure it out." His words were cheerful, but both Harry and Hermione detected the bit of doubt in his voice. They would have to work to make sure he knew they were still a Trio.
"Sorry about not telling you in person. That was the plan," he shrugged.
Ron shrugged. "It's not a surprise, Harry. Seriously." He looked embarrassed now.
Remus grinned broadly. "Ten, huh? I can't wait to tell Severus to expect ten Granger-Potter spawns in future classes." Everyone in the room chuckled.
"We may reconsider that number," Hermione said sheepishly. "I think I was overtired when I said ten."
Everyone laughed even more at that. Mrs. Weasely was positively glowing at the thought of what she would consider her grandchildren. She caught Jane Granger's eye and saw that she was pleased with the idea too.
Molly set two bowls of stew on the table. "Harry, you need to eat something. And now that you're up, Hermione has no excuse to starve herself. Tuck in!" she ordered. Impulsively, she hugged Harry again. "I'm so glad you're okay." He smiled at her, grateful for the love she was showing him.
Harry's mouth watered as the aroma tickled his nose. He didn't realize how hungry he was until that moment. "Thank you, Mrs. Weasley. This smells great."
After they finished their stew, and they both refused seconds, she served them both large pieces of chocolate cake.
"This is so good," Harry told her between bites. "What's going on with the Order? I got the feeling there was something more when you invited the Grangers to return with us."
"I honestly do not know," Remus answered, grateful that he really did not know. Harry would easily see through him if he were lying. "I just knew to bring you all back." He shook his head slightly. It was typical of Harry to be worried about the Order business when he had not even recovered from his last ordeal. It was frustrating for him to see James' son have to grow up so fast. The boy deserved better than what life had given him.
"Snape said Vol--The Big Bad Guy was plotting something." He stopped himself from saying Voldemort when he saw almost everyone cringe.
Hermione shrugged. "I guess we'll find out later. But it is really odd that Dumbledore invited my parents." She looked at them and quickly added, "Not that we're not glad that you're here. But still, it's odd."
At the mention of the man's name he appeared in the doorway. "Oh, good," he started. "I'm glad to see the two of you eating something. Once you finish, I want you both to go back upstairs for the night and rest. We have important things to discuss tomorrow. For tonight, don't think about the Order. Just get some rest."