Dark Memories

Book 3 - Part 8: WWW

Madam Pomfrey stepped out of her office and found a sight she had to capture. Quickly going back into her office to get her magic camera, she came back in and snapped a picture.

Teddy was snoozing on Harry's chest, teddybear behind in the air, fuzzy tail and all. Harry's hand was resting on the back of Teddy's head, both oblivious to the world.

"I expect a copy of that once you develop it, my dear," Dumbledore whispered, resting in the adjacent bed.

Hearing his voice, Pomfrey quickly put the camera on the table and went to him, waving her wand over him.

"How are you feeling, Headmaster?" she asked.

"My shoulder feels a little tight, and my leg feels numb, but other than that, just tired," Dumbledore said.

"You should still be asleep, that's why." She waved her wand a little bit more. "But despite your poor sleeping habits, your core seems to have recovered some of its strength back. If you'd like, you can take skele-grow now."

"I believe it would be best to get it over with," Dumbledore said, deciding it best not to tell her he had woken earlier that morning and had spoken to Harry and Teddy.

He didn't want to see what she might do.

O o O o O

"Minerva, that really isn't necessary," Harry heard, quickly recognizing it as Dumbledore's voice.

"Poppy insisted," McGonagall said, this clearly at least being the fifth time she had said this. Her voice was tired, and really didn't sound up for a fight.

"But, Minerva, it's..."

Was the Headmaster... whining?

Harry opened his eyes and looked beside him, finding McGonagall sitting on the left side of Dumbledore's bed in a chair with her back to Harry. If Harry had to guess, it looked as if she was holding Dumbledore's hand, but since he couldn't see through people, he couldn't be sure.

He heard McGonagall sigh. "Albus, do you really want to stay in this bed for the rest of the year?"

"Of course not, but-"

"Then you are going to have to do as Poppy says. It won't be that bad, many people have them."

Harry raised his head a little bit to try and look at Dumbledore. He managed to peer around McGonagall to find that Dumbledore had placed his right arm over his eyes.

McGonagall shifted in her chair a little bit. "I wish there was something that could make this easier for you."

Regrowing any amount bone was painful, but a good portion of several leg bones? One of which being the largest bone in the body?! Harry didn't want to even imagine it.

"You know the skele-gro won't work right if there's anything else with it," Dumbledore said, managing to muffle a hiss at the end. "And a numbing spell would not be a good idea," he added, as if able to detect that that was what McGonagall had been thinking about casting. "The nerves need to be able to detect where the new bone is growing, so it can direct the magic accordingly-wouldn't want bone growing the wrong way."

Harry winced, and was certain McGonagall winced as well.

"Well," McGonagall said, changing the topic (or rather, going back to the previous one). "When I get back, you'll have it, and we expect you to use it! Poppy will be on all of our cases if she so much as thinks you haven't done as she said."

"If I must," Dumbledore said, sounding as if he had just given up his month's supply of lemon drops.

"You do," she said, sounding quite pleased with herself now. She got up from her chair, kissed him on the cheek, and left the hospital wing as if she was on a mission.