CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
GOING HOME
Harry had a very restless night and could barely sleep. When he did fall asleep he dreamed of being carried around and people shouting. He felt a sharp pain in his arm like a needle had been inserted into it and he snapped awake again. The nurse was standing over him pressing a new I.V. needle in his arm.
"Sorry to wake you, dear." She said apologetically. "We needed to change your I.V. the old one was starting to clog." She motioned to the old needle and tubing in a tray by the bed.
Harry just nodded and lay back down. His mother had brought in a stack of his comics so that he would have something to read now that he was out of his coma. He had been reading from the first comic and continuing all the way through the series. His parents had been buying every copy as it came out and read to him every day.
It was all here. The names were different and the adventures somewhat askew but everything he had experienced on his adventures with Ron and Hermione were laying in front of him in four-color print. He was reading the latest issue.
Harvey and Roy were on the school's wizard ball team. Harmony was cheering for them in the bleachers when Harvey's arch-enemy Dario, a pale faced boy who looked down on everyone else, had sent a bewitched ball at Harvey that knocked him off his broom and onto the ground. His broom crashed into a large, ancient oak tree and shattered.
Harry shook his head. I still can't believe this! It can't be real! He was desperate. While looking around the room he had a sudden idea. If I can use wandless magic still and summon something to me, then there would be no doubt that someone's trying to trick me! He concentrated on a vase of flowers at the end of his bed and stretched his hand out to catch it.
Nothing happened. Not a spark. Not a bit of energy could be felt.
He was starting to lose hope. "Wait, I'm an animagus!" He remembered. He concentrated but couldn't transform. He was still Harry, sitting in a bed in a white hospital room with a stack of comics that seemed to be everything he'd experienced. He was alone with no friends by his side to help him.
He started to lose hope but he wrapped his memories of Ron and Hermione around him like a blanket against the depression that was slowly building in him. I wish you guys were here ... I wish you were here, Hermione, you'd figure out what was going on ... He picked up his latest comic book and stared at Harmony for a long while before he drifted off into another fitful sleep.
He dreamed that a white dog was chasing him down Privet Drive. His cousin Dudley was riding his bike with his friends laughing and throwing rocks at him. He tried to get into the house but Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon had cast a spell to keep him away from the door. He was chased through the park and he tripped over one of Mrs. Figg's cats, Mr. Paws, who hissed at him. He kept running from the white dog that was barking at him. He made it to King's Cross and couldn't get through the gate to platform nine and three quarters. Dobby was laughing at him from across the station.
"Harry Potter will not go back to Hogwarts!" He chortled.
The dog almost reached him and he ran again. Where can I go? I can't get back to school! He was looking around frantically and spotted an old Ford Anglia. Of Course! I'll fly to Hogwarts! He bolted for the car.
The door opened as he approached and as he went to get in a giant spider lunged at him from the back seat. He jumped out and went for his wand but couldn't find it. He gasped as the car lifted into the air and shot off out of sight. He got knocked down by the dog that placed his huge, hairy paws on his chest and pushed down on him over and over.
"Harry! Harry!" The dog kept saying over and over in a familiar voice.
Harry's eyes snapped open and he found his father shaking him gently. "Harry, wake up. The doctor said that we can take you back home today!" He was smiling.
Harry looked around and saw his mother standing just behind his father. She was beaming and tears were streaking down her face. "You can finally come back home with us!"
Harry couldn't shake the dream out of his head. What was with that white dog? I've never seen it before. "Um ... Mom, do-do you know anything about a white dog?"
His mother beamed at him. "Honey, he remembers Snuffles!" She bent over and hugged him. "Your memory is starting to come back!"
His parents smiled and his father pulled out some clothes for him from a green duffle bag. "We did our best to find the size that would fit you now. I'm afraid your favorite clothes are too small."
Harry smiled weakly. "Thanks." He said simply. "Um ... could I have a little privacy while I change?"
"Of course you can, sweetie." His mother was startled for a moment. "I forgot that you're older now." She gave him a quick hug and his parents left him alone in the room.
He thought that the clothes they gave him were pretty nice. A good pair of khakis and a nice button down shirt was soon on his thin frame and he slipped into the dock shoes that were on the floor. Everything fit well. Much better than having to wear Dudley's old clothes he thought. Then he realized that he probably didn't ever wear his cousin's old clothes.
He crossed the room to the door and opened it. "I'm dressed." He said. He still wasn't sure what to make of all this. Harry turned back around and pulled out his favorite copy of Tales of Fantasy, in this issue Harvey and Harmony had a private party on the top of the school for her birthday. He couldn't bring himself to fully accept what was going on.
"You ready to go home, honey?" His mother asked with a wide smile and tears starting to form again. "We've kept your room exactly the way it was before, well, we had to get you new clothes but everything else is the same."
"Yeah." He said looking at the floor. "I-I'm sorry, I still feel weird after having 'dreamt' everything that went on the past six years."
His father put an arm around his shoulder. "We understand, Harry. You dreamt we were dead and horrible things happened. We just hope that in time you can readjust to the real world and the dreams won't affect you anymore."
Harry sighed then nodded. "Um ... Do-do you mind if we stop a few places on the way home? I-I just have to see for myself that it was all a dream, you know?"
They were walking out of the room now. His mother took his hand. "Of course, dear, anything you want. Anything that we can do that will help you feel better. Ok?"
Harry smiled at this. "Thanks." He said.
After a flurry of paperwork and waiting they were finally wheeling Harry out the discharge doors. The nurses who had taken care of him smiled and waved telling him they were glad he was ok but they'd miss him.
Harry nodded and waved to them. "Thanks." Was all he could say.
His dad drove up in a nice sedan and helped him into the back seat while his mother got into the passenger side up front.
"Where do we go first, sport?" His father beamed at him.
"King's Cross Station? Is that Ok?" Harry asked.
"Sure thing, it'll take us a little bit to get there the traffic is horrible today." His father answered back. "There's a GameBoy in the back with some games for you to keep busy if you'd like and we have some sodas up here. Would you like something to drink?"
They pulled out into the busy street and started on their way across town.
"Is there any Coca-Cola?" Harry asked. He had a feeling they would be fresh out of butterbeer and pumpkin juice.
His mother smiled and reached into a cooler by her feet. She handed him an ice-cold can and a napkin. "It used to be your favorite, Harry. We have plenty, sweetie, just let us know when you're thirsty."
Harry opened the soda and sipped it slowly. It tastes like Coca-Cola. He thought. His gaze wandered to the people on the sidewalks and the other cars. They were all blissfully walking around doing what muggles do on a bright afternoon. I should be in defense against the dark arts right now ... He thought glumly to himself.
They drove for about forty-five minutes when they finally pulled into the station parking lot. Harry's heart began to race as he thought about platform nine and three quarters.
"We're here!" His dad announced cheerfully. "What do you want to do?"
"I'd like to see something in the station." Harry said truthfully. "It'll only take a minute."
The small family got out of the car and made their way through the crowd. The station looked just as Harry remembered it, down to the graffiti on one of the walls. He was starting to get excited.
"I need to go to platforms nine and ten." He announced as he set off. He knew exactly where he was going. His parents followed behind their excited son.
They arrived a few, short minutes later and Harry immediately made for the barrier between platforms nine and ten. He reached out a trembling hand and pushed against the solid brick.
NO! I can't get through! He thought frantically. He began patting the entire wall and found nothing but brick there.
"What are you looking for, son?" His dad asked quizzically.
"There's supposed to be a gateway here to platform nine and three quarters." Harry answered quickly as he kept searching, loosing hope with each connection with the unfeeling wall.
His mother placed a loving hand on his shoulder. "Honey, was that in your dream?"
Harry looked up at her face and saw her concern. "Yeah, I-I just wanted to see if I was dreaming now. I needed to be sure. I need to be." He said wistfully. "I just need to go one more place here in London. The other place I want to go would be a bit farther north." He explained.
"We'll take you wherever you want to go, Harry." His father reassured him. "Wherever that may be, we'll be there for you." He put his hand on Harry's other shoulder and an arm around his wife.
Harry smiled weakly. I don't know if I want to find out ... He thought to himself as depression started to deflate his hope.
They made their way back to the car and his father followed Harry's directions. They were soon parked on the street in front of a run-down looking building that had a sign over the door: The Leaky Cauldron. Harry's heart leapt to his throat. "It's here!" he said excitedly as they all got out of the car and went up to the shop.
They opened the doors and walked in. Harry's smile fell and his hopes hit the floor. "What's this?"
"Welcome to the Leaky Cauldron! Is there a particular comic book or card game you're looking for?" An old man said from behind the counter. "Ah, I see you have a copy of Tales of Fantasy! We just got the new collectable card game in this morning! It's getting rave reviews!"
Harry stumbled to the counter and looked at the cards. They were shaped just like the Famous Witch and Wizard cards in a package of chocolate frogs!
"Do you mind if we get a box?" He asked. His mouth was dry but his eyes were wet and starting to sting.
"I don't see why not." His father told him. "It was that comic that helped keep you alive all these years."
They walked out of the comic shop with an entire box of game cards. Harry was anxious to see what they were like. As soon as they were in the car and following his last set of directions, he opened a package and examined the contents.
"Hmm, the pictures don't even move." He said under his breath as he examined them. He found that he had a copy of Harvey, Roy, and Harmony in the first pack. There was a wizard that resembled Dumbledore named Bumbley and an evil looking man with snake eyes called Vadermal. The game had several pieces: Heroes, villains, spells, charms, enchantments, hexes, jinxes, and magic items.
Harry gasped. The forget-me-not cameo?! He quickly read the flavor text.
This magical pendant was given to Harmony by Harvey for Harmony's birthday.
He examined the picture closely. He could make out plaques beneath the pictures of Harvey and Harmony. They both read HOSPITAL. He looked at the card and decided that it should go in his pocket along with the ones of Harvey, Roy, and Harmony. After a minute of looking through the cards he decided to put a few more along with them.
"We're in Ottery St. Catchpole, Harry." His father said from the driver's seat. "Where do we go from here?"
Harry directed them to where the Burrow was located. They followed the road and were soon climbing the hill that separated the wizarding family from the muggles down below.
As they crested the hill, Harry strained to catch a glimpse of Ron's home. He saw a roof followed by a structure that was slightly tilting like someone had haphazardly added rooms on. His heart began to soar!
"It's the Burrow!" He shouted. "It's there! It's there!" He was smiling. It wasn't a dream after all! He was relieved.
They pulled to a stop a little ways from the precarious house and Harry opened the door and bolted straight towards the main entrance. "Mrs. Weasley! It's me, Harry!"
There wasn't an answer. He got to the door and read a sign that was posted in the window. This house has been condemned. It is unsafe to enter the premises.
Harry ran to the window and looked into a dust-covered, cobweb-filled room. Nobody had been here for years.
"It-it can't be." He said with a trembling voice. "It just can't." He turned and looked at his parents who were standing by the car watching him. "It-it ..." He fell to his knees and began to cry. His mother was there in an instant with her arms around him.
"Shh, shh, it's ok, sweetie. It's ok." She rocked him back and forth and he felt the warmth and comfort of his mother's embrace.
"It can't have all been a dream ..." He said between sobs. "My friends ... They need me. I need them. I need Hermione. I need Ron." He couldn't stand it. He hugged his mother back and let it all pour out.
"Come on, honey. Let's get home and we'll try our best to help you through this." She helped him to his feet and brought him to the car. They climbed inside and his father drove them back to London.
After what seemed like a few short minutes, they pulled into the driveway of a very familiar place.
"We-we live on Privet Drive?" He asked dumbfounded.
"Yes, 4 Privet Drive to be exact." His mother beamed at him. "We moved here when you were born." She explained.
They walked up to the house that Harry remembered far too well. They went into the front door and he looked around. There were pictures of him on the mantle as a young boy. One was of him and Dudley on a fishing trip. They were holding a large herring in front of a scale. Another one was of a birthday party and Harry had icing all over his face, smiling like a clown at the camera. There was another of his elementary school class. He was in the third row from the bottom next to his cousin.
The house was decorated in a moderate fashion. Tasteful furniture and colors were in each room. He walked slowly up the stairs and hit the creaky step on the way. He made for the second bedroom that he lived in at the Dursley's and opened the door. A large white dog looked up at him and barked before it ran at him and pinned him on the floor. It started licking him like it had missed Harry badly. Harry laughed as he finally got the dog off of him.
"Snuffles remembers you, son!" His father said happily as he brought Harry's things up from the car. "That's not your room, Harry." He opened the door to Dudley's room and went inside. "This is your room."
Harry walked slowly to the room his father had just gone in. His eyes went wide. There were posters of Harvey, Roy, and Harmony on the wall. Another with Harvey and Roy in their wizard ball uniforms on brooms. Another of the trio fighting a three headed dog. On his dresser were pictures of his Aunt and Uncle and another one of Dudley and him holding the herring. A large four-poster bed was in one corner and a computer and computer desk in another. There was a large trunk with HP stenciled on it at the base of his bed and toys were sticking out from the cracks.
"This is my room?" He said after taking it all in.
"Yes it is. We haven't changed anything but your clothes, sweetie." His mother said from behind him. "You can go on in nothing will bite you."
Harry stumbled into the room in disbelief. This is my room? He thought. He walked over to the pictures and examined them all then went to the bed and sat down on it. He ran his fingers over the duvet. This feels like my bed at Hogwarts...
His mother walked over and sat next to him then hugged him from behind. "It's so good to have you home with us, Harry. We've missed you so much since you went into the hospital."
Harry nodded. "This still feels so surreal." He said slowly. "All I've ever wanted was a normal life and here it is."
Harry's dad smiled. "I've got tickets to a football match this next Saturday, what say we all go and make a day out of it?"
Harry smiled. "I-I think I'd like that."
His parents both beamed at him.
"Great! Why don't you get some sleep? You've gone through a lot in one day, sweetie." His mother said as she kissed the top of his head. "We'll be here in the morning. Snuffles hasn't had a proper walk in ages!"
Harry smiled again. "Ok." His mother stood to leave the room. "Um ... C-could you read some of the comics to me? I-I'd like to actually hear it."
His mother stifled a sob with her hand. "I'd love to, honey. Get ready for bed and I'll read whatever you want." She smiled lovingly at Harry.
I guess this isn't so bad. I get to spend time with my parents. I thought they were dead ... He looked at the two people who were very much alive and standing in his room. "Ok." He said smiling at them.
It didn't take him long to shower, get into his pajamas and brush his teeth. He was soon propped in bed against his pillows and Snuffles was lying next to him snoring in the only way that dogs can snore.
His mother came in and lay next to him, propped into a sitting position. "Which one do you want me to read?" She asked.
"I like this one ... and ... this one." He said, pulling out his favorite issue and then one where they disguise themselves as teachers to punish Dario for picking on a poor first year little girl.
His mother smiled and began to read him the stories. She was very good as she would change her voice to fit the different characters. His head was in her lap and she started stroking his hair. He was starting to doze off when his mother got out of the bed and tucked him in.
"I love you, sweetie, and sweet dreams." She said.
"I love you too, mom." He said and he felt that he truly meant it. She let out a small whimper and kissed him on the forehead as he fell asleep.
Harry started dreaming again. This time he was in St. Mungo's with Hermione. They were walking to visit Ron. He had found out the other day that Hermione loved him and he loved her. They got to the Psychiatric ward and Gilderoy Lockhart had snuck up behind them and kidnapped Hermione. She wasn't screaming for help instead she was telling Harry to wake up and help her because she was having a hard time resisting Lockhart's charms. He turned around and tried to chase after them but a Devil's Snare reached out and snaked around his leg. He fought against the plant but it kept wrapping itself around him and wouldn't let go.
He woke with a scream and found that he was covered in sweat and the blankets had tangled around his legs and wrapped around him. Snuffles was on the floor panting and his parents rushed into the room.
"What is it?! What's wrong?!" His mother was in hysterics.
"I-I had a bad dream, I'm sorry that I woke you." Harry said quietly. "It felt real."
His mother was at his side in an instant and her arms were around him in a motherly embrace before he knew it. "It's ok. We're right here. It was just a dream."
He sighed. "I-I know, mom." He said after a few moments. "I'll be ok, really." They need me. I know they do. He thought to himself frantically.
Snuffles started whimpering.
"It looks like Snuffles needs a walk." Harry's father said. "I'll be back in a few minutes."
"Um ... Dad, Could I take him for a walk? I could use the air." Harry asked.
His parents looked at each other for a moment then his dad smiled. "Of course, of course, Harry, just let me get my shoes ..."
"Can I do it alone? I know that you've both missed me, but I still need some time to absorb it all. I won't be long, really." Harry said.
"Are you sure? You just got home from the hospital."
"I'm sure, dad. I won't be long, once or twice around the block won't hurt, will it?" Harry said with a slight smile.
His mother laughed. "No, I suppose not. Let him take Snuffles for his walk, James. He'll be alright."
"Ok. You're lucky your mother is on your side, son." His dad said with a smile. "Otherwise I'd be by your side every minute to make sure you were alright."
Harry smiled at the admission. "I'm kind of glad that mom is on my side. It would be embarrassing if I happened to go out on a date then!"
The three of them laughed for a moment then Harry was left alone to get dressed. He checked his pockets to make sure that his cards were still with him and he got Snuffles ready for their walk.
He stepped out the front door and waved to his parents. "I'll be back in a few minutes." He said before the door closed. James and Lily Potter watched their son walk down the street from the front window.
After a few minutes of walking, Snuffles started tugging towards the park. "Just around the block, Snuffles, we'll go to the park tomorrow." Harry said with a laugh and pulled the stubborn dog back onto the sidewalk. He pulled out the cards he had stashed in his pocket.
"Hermione, I wish I could find you." He whispered. "I wish I had the forget-me-not cameo so that I could see where you were."
He flipped to the card with the cameo on it and did a double-take. "WHAT?!" He couldn't believe his eyes. The plaque under Harmony said SCHOOL and the plaque under Harvey said HOSPITAL.