Harry Potter - The awakening.

End of waiting

Lily sat and stared at her son, who was sleeping peacefully. Her mind wandered over the past few hours as she sat waiting for her son and husband to wake. Her and James had waited for three hours, with baited breath, in the hospital wing, waiting for any news, or Harry, to arrive. Finally Arthur had run through the hospital wing doors, Harry in his arms. Blood, mud and vomit had covered him from head to toe. His eyes and several cuts were infected and he seemed to be made of only skin and bone. Then Arthur told the couple that Harry was unable to speak and recognise people.

That was when James had lost it.

James had dropped to his knees and started hyperventilating. Tears streamed down his face and he started gasping for breath. Lily, herself, had felt torn. Should she run to her husband or son? She ended up running to her husband and using a subtle spell to sedate him. Once she had placed him on a bed she ran back to Madam Pomfrey and helped her to clean Harry up.

That had been five hours ago. Harry was in a magical coma, and was expected to wake up in the next few days. The coma would allow his brain and body to recover as much as possible before he woke. James had just been put into a deep sleep and he was expected to wake up at any minute.

Lily sighed. She wished that she could loose control of herself. Rant, scream and cry at the injustice of it all, but she had to stay strong for James and Harry. She knew that James and Harry had grown very close in the past few weeks. She guessed it was from the stories he had heard from Sirius and Remus. Apparently they never talked about her much and Harry had never been great friends with Sev. Lily also had to admit that she hadn't been the most talkative after finding out that Sev had died. They had been friends for years. Lily had helped Sev through his family problems, his parent's arguments and his father's abusive behaviour.

She had known for years that Sev had had strong feelings for her, but she did not harbour the same feelings for him. She loved him, but as a close brother, not as a lover. As James' head started deflate and they became head boy and girl, she had fallen in love with him. What had brought them truly together was the death of both of their parents. First it had been James' parents on the Monday of the first full week in October, then, that Wednesday, Lily's had died. Both at the hands of Death Eaters.

They had mourned together for months, the murders of their family members drawing the two together. In the middle of lessons if a subject came up that upset them, they would comfort each other, even if they weren't in the same lesson. Three months later the two were considered an item, even though it wasn't official. A month later it was official. James Potter and Lily Evans were going out. 

The school was buzzing with the news that the head boy and girl were going out. Whispers followed the two as they walked round school. Giggles were heard every time someone found them kissing in a secluded corner of the school. Everyone seemed to be delighted at the news. Apart from one.

Sev had become more and more sullen. He seemed to be constantly angry, and because of that, he and Lily had an argument. Sev had shouted and screamed at Lily, he told her that she was making a mistake and that she should go out with him instead. Lily had shouted back, saying that he was more of a brother and that she could date whoever she wanted.

Later that week Sev attacked James. Badly. James had almost lost his life after sectumsempra had been used on him. He had spent the next weeks and a half in St Mungos, and then he was allowed to return to the hospital wing, where he spent the next three weeks recovering. No one could be sure who had attacked James, but Lily's suspicions had later been confirmed just after their wedding.

The last feast of their last year at Hogwarts, James proposed to Lily. She had almost screamed 'Yes' as she jumped up from her seat at the table to hug him. 

Lily was brought out of her thoughts by a groan from James' bed. She jumped up from her seat and dashed to his side, sitting down in the seat by his bed. She grabbed his hand and ran her fingers through his hair soothingly, while he woke.

"Lily, what... Harry! Is he OK? What is wrong with him? Is he awake?" James asked, becoming frantic once more.

"James, calm down, or I'll be forced to sedate you again." Lily warned. "Harry is... He should be fine in the long run. His eyes were badly infected, his eyesight could be even worse because of that. He had many cuts and bruises, the lining of his stomach has been damaged and he has been badly starved and dehydrated. He has been put in a magical coma and is expected to awaken in the next few days. Does that answer your questions?" She asked snappishly.

"Woah, Lils, I'm sorry." James said, his voice containing bewilderment.

"It's alright for you." Lily snapped, tears coming into her eyes. "You just crying and having to be sedated, missing most of the trauma. I had to look at what they did. Not only that but my friend who I have known for years, died not long ago and I keep on having dreams about that night, knowing you were dead and having to protect Harry and I'm on my period. Of all times it had to be now!"

James slid off his bed and knelt in front of Lily. He held her hands in his and looked into her watery, emerald eyes. "I'm so sorry, Lily." He started sincerely. "I couldn't process what had happened. I'm still coming to terms with Peter... And it was too much. I couldn't process anything and my mind went into shock. Lily, I promise to help you through this. I will be there for you and Harry through this time. I know it is hard for you to loose Sna-Severus, just like it is hard for me to come to terms with Peter... And Sirius being in Azkaban, it changed him. Thankfully I have no idea what it is like being on a period, so I can't help you with that... Unless you've got period pain? I could easily get you a potion for that."

Lily gave a little laugh. It was impossible to be mad at James for a long amount of time. She stood and gestured for James to do the same. She took his hand and lead him to Harry's bed. James looked down at his critically ill son in shock and despair. What had they done to him? He seriously doubted that Harry would recover from the emotional stress of what had happened. James sat down on the chair by Harry's bed, and pulled Lily on to his knee. Lily curled up and buried her head into James' neck, while he held her.

Ten minutes later Sirius, Remus, Hermione and the Weasleys all rushed into the hospital wing, panting and sweaty.

"We came as-" Sirius started.

"Sh," James hushed, "Lily's asleep and she hasn't slept for ages. Come and have a look at Harry, I have to warn you that he looks bad and he is quite ill. He has been put in a magical coma and is expected to wake up in the next few days." James whispered.

Then Madam Pomfrey came out of her office. "James, can I talk to you?" She asked in a whisper.

"Lily's just gotten to sleep, and she hasn't slept well since Harry... you know... got taken. Could we talk here?" James asked.

"No, I'm afraid I need to show you something. If you put Lily on one of the beds, then come? Don't worry, if she wakes I'll slip her a sleeping potion." Madam Pomfrey replied, before walking back into her office.

James picked Lily up and quickly checked that she was still asleep. Once that was confirmed he lay her on top of the the covers of the bed next to Harry's and lay the blue blanket, that was at the bottom of her bed, on her. Then he made his way into Madam Pomfrey's office, hoping that whatever the news was, was good.

"James, the results of the medical test have come back," Madam Pomfrey said, her voice shaking with suppressed sobs, "and... It-It's not good."

James let out a pained groan before saying, "just tell me."

"On average Harry suffered the cruciatus curse twenty times a day. He suffered through beatings and spells that are designed to unhinge someone. It isn't at all likely that Harry will fully recover from this."

Tears freely fell from James' eyes and he sunk to the floor in sorrow. He had just come back from the dead, and now his whole life was falling apart, again. James pulled on his hair in stress, what could he do?

"James, stop it!" Madam Pomfrey snapped. "Go out there and sit next to your son. He will all the support he can get."

James nodded numbly and left the matron's office. He went back to his vacated seat and sat in it, gripping Harry's left hand in his. He would be there for his son as long as he lived.