Anna Black, The Girl Who Lived (Book 6)

3: Recovery

Anna stared blankly at the sleeping boy next to her. Harry was seated in the chair beside her bed and had his head down on the table next to it. She watched his body rise and fall and listened to his soft breaths. She felt dead inside but watching him sleep peacefully brought her an odd sense of calamity.

"Miss Black, I'm so glad to see you awake!" a young woman healer said, fake pep in her voice. She cautiously walked closer to Anna. The day prior, she had introduced herself to Anna as Maudie Laurette, Healer Trainee. She was a newly graduate, brunette with doe eyes, tiny, and was obviously a bit anxious with her internship, but covered it up with a forced positive attitude. Yes, the woman was genuinely nice, but she overdid it a bit. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I just tried killing myself and failed," said Anna bluntly. The woman flinched a bit but gave a chuckle.

"Such an odd sense of humor. I meant how is your pain?"

"Just there."

"Well..I'm sure it is..." Maudie trailed off awkwardly, not knowing what to say. So, instead of trying to make small talk, she unwrapped the bandages and dabbed a bit of a soothing potion on Anna's wrists. With the help of magic, the cuts had healed quite well, but it was obvious she would be left with visible scars.

Harry's eyes fluttered open and the young woman noticed right away, a grin spreading onto her pretty face. "Oh, Harry Potter, it's a pleasure to meet you! My name is Maudie."

"Erm, hi," he said awkwardly, lightly shaking her outstretched hand. 

"Maybe sometime we could-"

"Fuck off," growled Anna, casting Maudie a glare.

The woman narrowed her eyes slightly, defending, "I was going to ask him about your history, that's all...unless he'd like to get a butterbeer as well?"

"When can I take her home?" Harry asked shortly, grimacing. 

Maudie frowned slightly. "Oh, um...well, as soon as you're ready. She's signed out and patched up. The doctor left some notes though... She needs to start eating, get rid of the addictives - we've flushed her system, but she'll have some withdrawal symptoms, just ignore them - and keep her under suicide watch. He suggests she see a therapist because she has more of a muggle issue. 

"If there are any problems and you need to bring her back, you can do so and she'll be kept here in the mental ward for as long as need be. Dr. Smethwyck said he gave you lots of Calming Draught for her. She'll have outbursts and you need to give it to her. Don't listen to her too much, she's out of her right mind-"

"Depression doesn't make you stupid," Anna murmured. Maudie sighed and bid them goodbye, winking at Harry - much to Anna's disdain - before walking off. 

The boy got up and stretched. "I'm assuming you don't feel like being around many people, so Grimmauld Place is really our only choice. It's not the best, but we'll make it work. Let's go," said Harry kindly. Anna got out of the bed and stood up slowly, avoiding his gaze. Kreacher came from the visitor's room and apparated them back to the House of Black.

It was still dark, dull, and messy as ever, but a few things had changed. Harry's bags and owl cage were stacked up by the fireplace, and when they went to the kitchen, there were many bags of groceries. A note by them said, 

I would have cleaned as well, but I have many things to attend to.
Tuck in,
~A.P.W.B.D.

Harry smiled at the sight and turned to Anna, whose eyes were narrowed yet showed surprise. He said, "Alright, go shower and I'll make you some food, okay?"