After Effects
Chapter 39
After Effects
When he awoke, he realized he was once again in St Mungo's. He went through his usual self-evaluation before opening his eyes. "Damn!" he said unable to determine the extent of his injuries.
"Decided to wake, did you?" Hermione stated tenderly.
"Why am I here?" he asked. He looked into her eyes hoping to not see worry or sympathy there. All he saw was love.
"You're going to be fine," she reassured him. "Your legs are weakened, but nothing a week or two's rest won't mend. You can still walk…although I don't recommend it for a bit, but you'll be just fine."
"Why am I here?" he asked again.
"You collapsed out in the cemetery. You are suffering from a mix of exhaustion and power surge. You expended a great deal of power in a very short time," she stated, then went on quickly, "which by the way I want to hear all about very soon, and you are not giving me that 'classified' rubbish."
Harry smiled at her. "When can I leave?"
"Not for a few days yet," she answered.
"Is Malfoy alright?"
Hermione laughed. "Yes, it was just a scratch. But to hear him the knife nearly skewered him. He wants to talk to you. Should I arrange it?"
Harry looked away from her. "I killed Bellatrix," he said evenly.
Hermione laid a hand on his shoulder. "I know," she said. "Did you want to talk about it?"
Harry shook his head. He didn't want to think, much less talk about it, but the sight wouldn't leave his mind's eye "I didn't mean to…" he said before he could stop himself. "She was getting away. Who dies from a Reducto curse? My aim wasn't off. She must have ducked at a very wrong time. Her whole head…it just…it just…it just…" Harry's voice broke. He was unable to go on.
I know, love," she said sitting on the edge of the bed reaching to hold him. He pulled away.
"Don't shut me out. I realize you are feeling guilty and ashamed, but no one else feels you have anything to be embarrassed about. I'm sure she wouldn't have batted an eye at killing you."
Harry nodded meekly and allowed her to hold him. "She's the fourth person to die at my hand. I can't believe I killed a woman! That is just so wrong!"
"Harry, listen to me. Don't think of it as killing her. Think more of how many innocent lives you saved that night."
"That night?" he asked. "How long have I been out this time?"
"Ten days," she answered. "We were starting to get worried about you."
Harry let that sink in, "Did I miss anything? How's Ron? Tonks?" he inquired.
"Let's see. Ron is fine. He is holding his own at the Ministry. He is truly enjoying the press coverage. He's been given the duty of dealing with the press in your absence, but knowing you, that could become permanent for him. Tonks is fine, too. She and Remus have been by every day to see you. Kingsley and Mr. Weasley have been by several times. Minister Bones came by earlier. Ginny wants to talk to you." Harry scowled at that. "She feels really bad about what she did to you, now that she knows the whole story. It's up to you whether you want to see her or not. Malfoy has been taken back into custody, but he seems to be changing his attitude. He won't talk to anyone until he talks to you. For someone who's been asleep for days on end, you sure have a full social schedule…"
Harry shrugged. "Set up whatever needs to be set up, but I'm not talking to Malfoy from a sodding bed!" He scowled again. "So, are Ginny and Malfoy still together?"
"It seems that way," she answered. "Does that bother you? I mean she used you to help him…"
"How can you ask me that? What does it matter to me anyway? I've got you in my life. That's all I need."
Hermione reached to kiss him. He quickly backed away, denying her quickly. She looked at him quizzically. "My breath could probably rival a troll. I need a toothbrush first, then you can try again."
Hermione conjured a toothbrush and toothpaste and turned toward the window to give him his privacy. "I'm finished," he said with a smile. She returned to her spot beside him. He was having none of it and pulled her on top of him and opened his lips to her gentle probing.
"I do hope he's awake," stated Lupin from the doorway. "Perhaps that sign I suggested could follow you?"
Hermione scrambled off the bed and stood. "We were just…er…"
"I realize that you were just 'er', should we come back later?" teased Tonks.
"How are you feeling, Harry?" Lupin asked.
"A bit tired and sore…weak, but otherwise fine," he answered grateful for the change in subject.
Lupin was surprised by the honest response. "Winky sent muffins," he offered. "Hermione, is he allowed outside food?"
Hermione looked at Harry's hopeful expression and nodded. "Not too many, love. Your stomach may not be able to handle solid food yet…" Harry grinned at his visitors and dug into the basket of muffins, selecting four. With a sheepish look at Hermione, he returned two. She smiled at him. "Let's try those two, then if they don't upset your stomach, I'll allow you two more.
"The Aurors are all abuzz about what you did, Harry. They want a demonstration as soon as you are able," prattled Tonks.
Harry's face flamed as Hermione asked what he had done. "I was certain he would have told you the whole story by now, but I realize his tongue was otherwise occupied…" said Lupin.
Harry's face turned almost raspberry. "I haven't been awake long," he defended.
Tonks related the story of the battle and how Harry had ended it. He looked in his fiancée's eyes and found the most intense look of desire he'd ever seen. He remained quiet and let Tonks finish the tale.
"I realize you won't want to talk to Malfoy from a hospital bed, but there may be little choice. He won't give testimony until he's spoken to you," stated Lupin.
Harry nodded his understanding. He wanted to get this behind him as quickly as possible as well. It would be on his terms, though. "Hermione…" he said, "When will I be able to get up and about?"
"I should think tomorrow you'll be able to sit in a chair for a bit…" she replied.
"Can I meet him out on the terrace tomorrow then?" Harry inquired.
"I can set it up, if that's what you want. I don't want to rush you," said Lupin. Harry nodded his agreement.
The next morning after breakfast, Hermione helped Harry dress and levitated him into a wheelchair and rolled him out to the hospital's rooftop terrace. Harry gingerly moved from the wheelchair to a picnic table set up there. When he was ready and looking very little like a hospital patient, Hermione sent a memo to Lupin, who brought Malfoy over.
"Potter…" said Malfoy with less malice than normal, yet definite coldness.
"Malfoy, you wanted to see me?" Harry returned casually.
Malfoy sighed and stated, "You are going to make this difficult, are you?"
"Make what difficult?" returned Harry with a smirk.
Malfoy chuckled, a sound Harry wasn't sure he'd heard before. "I wanted to apologize and… to thank you for your help. I've realized that I'm not my father and never will be. I've also realized that I don't want to be like him. I'm not Death Eater material. I may be a Slytherin, but I'm not cut out for the 'take over the world' rubbish. I don't have your bravery and let's face facts here; I'm much too attractive to be kissing anyone's hems." Harry rolled his eyes. "We'll probably never be friends, you and I, but I'd like us to not be adversaries. You saved my life. I was so greedy that it nearly cost me everything. I know I'll never repay you, but I'd like to try…"
"You don't owe me anything, Malfoy, or should I say 'Lord Mayacof'?" Harry teased with a smirk.
"Have you heard anything so preposterous in your life? Mayacof! It has no style! It sounds like asking permission to clear your throat!" Malfoy sniggered. "'May I cough? Yes, you may…' bloody ridiculous."
"Help me put them all away and I have guaranteed you certain freedoms." Harry said.
"Freedoms? I've done some very bad things, Potter. I agreed to help you in exchange for my life. You've given me that. I can live out my days in Azkaban as penance."
"You may change your mind when I tell you what I've negotiated on your behalf. I had a bodyguard named Edgar. He's a bit overboard, but he's a good man. You will remain under house arrest at Malfoy Manor. Anywhere you go, Edgar will accompany you. You'll check in with the Ministry regularly and never leave the country. In exchange, you will give testimony against all who were involved in the plot. What's it going to be, Malfoy?"
"You did that for me?" the blonde asked. Harry nodded. "Why?"
"I want to get on with my life. I want to have a family some day. What I don't want is to be constantly watching my back and worrying if my children will become targets. Help me put them away for good and we can both have what we want," Harry explained. "Think about it and get back to me."
"I don't need to think about it. I accept."
Harry nodded then signaled for Lupin to escort Malfoy back to the Ministry. As soon as they'd left Harry slumped immediately. Hermione rushed over and levitated him back into the hidden wheelchair and rolled him quickly back to his room. He was sleeping long before she got there.
Harry awoke to a conversation taking place around him. He knew he should join in or at least let them know he was listening. He was too tired. He'd join in when we was a bit more awake.
"He used a binding spell that leveled nearly fifty people? At once?" asked the male voice.
"That's exactly what he did," said another male voice. "No wonder he's exhausted. It was wicked. We were fighting, then this…I don't know what it was…like a wave…then nothing."
"The poor dear…" added a female voice.
It hit him who his visitors were. He had a roomful of Weasleys. He opened his eyes gingerly.
"Harry, dear, how are you?" asked Mrs. Weasley, tears rolling unchecked down her cheeks.
"I'm fine, just tired. That's all."
"I brought you some nice treacle fudge for after your dinner…" she offered.
"You didn't have to do that, but I'm really glad you did," he said with a grin. "I appreciate it."
"Harry… Ginny is outside. She wants to apologize. Shall I send her away?" asked Ron.
"I've heard enough apologies from her to last a lifetime. If that's all she wants, then please, tell her I'm sleeping or something. If she just wants to visit, then she can come in."
Ron, Fred, George, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley cleared out. With the door open, he could hear his fiancée's voice. "He agreed to see you, but you are not to upset him. He will tire very easily, so if his eyes start drooping, get out of there. If I hear anything that sounds like distress, I'll be in there faster than you can turn on the tears. Do you understand me?" Ginny didn't respond, but looked in the direction of the doorway. "I said, 'Do you understand me?" Hermione insisted her temper rising.
"I understand. I'll only be a minute. I just…" replied Ginny.
"He doesn't want any apologies, either," added Ron. "For once in your life, respect his wishes."
Ginny bowed her head in shame and stuck her head into the partially open door. "Harry…" she asked meekly. "May I come in?"
Harry looked at her and nodded.
"I won't stay long. I just wanted to make sure you were alright," Ginny said.
"I'm fine. How are you doing?" he returned.
Ginny looked surprised that after all she had done, he still had asked. "I'm fine, too. The Ministry has ordered me to do community service for my role in this whole thing. It's been very good for me. I've seen witches and wizards with real problems. It's made me view things much differently, especially after my Veritas Serum trap. I thought I wanted to hear all about the final battle and knew you wouldn't tell me. I thought I needed to do it to confirm that Draco was right all along. I've taken a good hard look at the things I did to you to solve my problems and I didn't like what I saw. I can't believe I've been so, selfish and shallow and egocentric and superficial and selfish and…feel free to stop me at any time…"
Harry gave a small smile that didn't reach his eyes. "You forgot manipulative, exploitive and quite honestly, a real bitch…"
Ginny smiled back at him. "I deserved that. I know you don't want an apology, so I won't give you one. Just know that I want to very badly. I was terrible to you. You were so lovely to me when we were together."
"We weren't really together, though, were we?" he corrected.
"You thought we were; which makes what I did even worse…"
"It doesn't matter now. I have a future to be getting on with. What's happened in the past is just that. I'd like to forget it. I was surprised when the article came out, though. You kept the classified stuff quiet. Even so, I'm very happy with the future I have planned and I'm eager to get out of here and start living it."
"I hope you and Hermione find all the happiness you deserve. Seeing the two of you together, glowing with the love you share, makes facing the mistakes I made a tiny bit easier." Harry looked away from her uncomfortably. "I also wanted to thank you for asking for lenience for me. Why didn't you tell them I stole the serum and used it on you? Dad told me what you said and it wasn't mentioned. Harry… why? Why wouldn't you want me strung from the highest tree?"
"What was the point? I've experienced public humiliation more times than I can count. Why would I wish that on a Weasley?"
"Well, I don't understand it, but thank you anyway. I'll go and let you rest. Get better soon, alright? I will make everything up to you, I promise."
Harry looked at her strangely, much like he looked at Luna on occasion. "Keep your promises, Ginny. All I ask is that you leave me alone."
Ginny nodded sadly and left as Ron entered the room. "How's it going, mate?"
"She's going to be alright, I think," Harry stated.
"Yeah, everyone has to grow up sometime,"
"Except Peter Pan…" Harry offered.
"Who?" asked Ron. "Anyway, I need a quote from you. The press has been murder."
"Tell them that I'm fine, looking forward to getting out of here and will be returning to work shortly," said Harry.
"That's rubbish. We've used all that. They want something juicy…"
Harry got a wicked gleam in his eye. "Tell them that I, personally, believe that I have the sexiest Healer on staff."
"Why, thank you, Mr. Potter," laughed Healer Strankford as he entered the room. "I never knew you felt that way…"
Harry grimaced at the much older and very male Healer. "I meant Hermione..."
"Yes… Healer Granger…I've been helping her with her rotation so she can spend more time here. I see that my efforts have paid off. You are looking much better."
"I feel fine, just a bit tired,"
"I'd say more than just a bit, but that's to be expected. I seem to remember advising against dueling. Did you ever have any intentions of following my advice? No, don't answer that. It could have been much worse. I need to run some more tests on you physically, as well as your magical abilities, then if all checks out, we'll see about getting you released tomorrow." Healer Strankford gave Harry a raised eyebrow before leaving the room.
"Hear that, Harry? You're getting sprung tomorrow! That's just what I needed for my next press conference!" Ron gushed before exiting as well.
Harry settled in for a quick kip before his next visitors came. His eyes flew open at the sound of a whispered, "Colloportus…" Hermione smiled wickedly at him and moved toward his bed.
"I'm off work and didn't want to go home without seeing you," she purred. "Are you too tired? I can just…"
"Don't you dare…" he interrupted, as he pulled her down to where he lay. "Have you ever done it in a hospital bed?"
"Done what exactly?" she asked in return. "You need to save your strength. Anyway, Harry, there are instruments for monitoring all over the room. We can't…not here…"
Harry smirked at the woman in his arms, retrieved his wand from under his pillow and muttered an incantation. It was as if a cloud enveloped the room.
"I can hardly see you…" she complained.
"Just close your eyes, love," he said as he carefully removed her clothing. "You don't need to see, just feel…"