What Voldemort Left Behind

Chapter 9 - The Hospital Wing

Humiliated, Harry held on to the crutch for support. He hoped that they wouldn't meet anyone on their way across Hogwarts, the last thing he needed was embarrassment too.
Worryingly, he had never heard of this happening before, although he had always been an exception to the laws of magic due to the connection with Voldemort, Dumbledore had once told him that him and Voldemort had explored magic that was "untried and untested". They didn't know what the lasting effects of the connection would be. Soon they arrived at the hospital wing which was mercifully empty apart from Poppy Pomfrey. She offered them tea and Ginny helped Harry into a chair.
"You're lucky you arrived today, it's right in the middle of the Quidditch season, all the children who got injured in the last match have recovered and they haven't started seriously training for the next. The teachers are piling homework on them at the moment which is good because it means they are safe in their common rooms or in the library where they can't get hurt. Or are less likely to anyway....."
Eventually they finished their tea, Harry vanished his when the others weren't looking as he wasn't thirsty and didn't want to attract attention. Poppy insisted he lay down for a while despite his objections, all he'd done since his magic aided nightmare yesterday was sleep and he couldn't even do that without the help of a potion. He was very frustrated with himself and he suddenly realized how stubborn everyone around him was.
Harry flinched slightly the first time she turned her wand towards him, still a reaction he had after the war. After around five minutes she stowed her wand back in her robes.
"Harry, I'm afraid I don't know what happened or why. It may be that you cannot properly deal with these nightmares..."
"How do you expect me to deal with them?" Harry said angrily, sitting up, "I'm not insane yet, which is an achievement."
"Or it could be caused by a curse," Pomfrey finished, ignoring his outburst.
Harry lay back down, he was lightheaded and had used up all remaining energy talking. Ginny glanced at him, and he noticed her blazing eyes, and he realized in that moment that he really should be paying more attention to her, she was beautiful.
"Drink this," Poppy interrupted, "it's a simple healing potion that should help slightly. Do not sit up again, do you understand?"

"Poppy," Ginny asked, "Is there a way to stop this from happening again?"

"To anyone else, I may have suggested a strong memory charm to prevent them from accessing those memories that are causing them harm, but I know you well enough to know that it would not be an option."

Harry shook his head violently, he would never run away from a problem like that, whatever he was he wasn't a coward.
"I'm kind of afraid to ask, but does Occlumency help?"
He half heartedly hoped she'd say no, that was one branch of magic that he hated, suppressing his emotions seemed like the right thing to do in this case but he found it extremely difficult and tedious. He was willing to attempt it once again if it meant protecting Ginny and his children, at least this time he couldn't have Snape as a teacher.

"Occlumency is normally used for hiding your thoughts from intruders, but I suppose it could work in this scenario... But more than that I would just suggest distractions. You have a close family and friend group, stick with them. Maybe consider going back to Quidditch."

Harry grinned, the thought of Quidditch was a lot easier than Occlumency.
"Poppy, before you go... Here." Harry handed her a handful of coins that added up to 25 galleons, £125 in muggle money.
Poppy looked shocked. "Harry, you know I can't take this. You're an old friend and I get paid enough by Hogwarts to do my job and that's not why I do this."

"I know why you do what you do. But you get paid by Hogwarts to look after the children and keep them safe, not to spend time healing me." Harry said firmly.

"I help you because my job is to heal anyone who requires it." Her voice softened, "I also have to say Harry, it's an honour to have you as my patient, I respect you enormously for everything you've done for our world. You have no idea how much most of this country would give for you to trust them to this extent. I know you hate hearing this but you truly are our hero." Harry lay there awkwardly, he didn't quite know how to respond to this but he knew she was telling the truth. Most of the Wizarding country treated him as if he were their version of the Muggle royal family, it was common for them to swear their loyalty to him or say that they were honored to do even the simplest of things for him. Some, particularly those of an older generation would even insist on bowing or curtseying to him which he found awfully uncomfortable and weird, he was only Harry, no one special, but to them that meant so much more, and sometimes letting them treat him like someone special was the best thing he could give them. Of course there were those on the flip side of things who were worse, Voldemort had gone for good 20 years ago, but there was no possible way to wipe out the entirety of his followers and everyone who supported his ideals. All of the suspected ringleaders of the Death Eaters were dead like Bellatrix Lestrange and Fenrir Greyback, or else imprisoned for life like Yaxley, Crabbe and Goyle Sr, but during the war there were hundreds or thousands of Snatchers across the country, as well hundreds of children indoctrinated with Voldemort's ideals when the Death Eaters took Hogwarts. Most knew it was wrong, with only a year spent learning to use Dark Magic, but some kept the ideals to their adult life.
There had been frequent attempts on Harry's life throughout the years, he was always the figurehead for the movement against Voldemort, a very political figure whether he wanted to be or not. People had strong opinions either way about him and they didn't care whether or not he asked for them. Luckily none of the plots to kill him had been successful so far, every time, there was someone who got a hold of the plans or they were unable to get through the wards protecting the place he was in, or closer still he was just too quick for them. They were never criminal masterminds and all had been successfully jailed for life in Askaban. This however meant that Harry still had to have some protection at all times, as did the rest of his extended family who had now become targets due to their own anti-Voldemort actions during the war. It was frustrating that after twenty years they still had to be careful, but their houses were safely warded and since many of them had completed Auror training they could act as bodyguards for their own children. Even some of those who hadn't chosen to work in the field such as Ginny, Percy and Fleur had done the training purely to protect themselves and their families.

Poppy Pomfrey had exited the side room he was in, leaving him alone with Ginny. Harry smiled mischievously.
"I charmed the coins. She won't be able to refuse them because they'll appear in her office at 9 o clock tonight so long as I've left this room, regardless of what she says, I'm paying her, I know what Neville makes teaching, and it's not a fortune let's just say. It's unlikely that they pay her more than a teacher but even if they do she's still getting my money."
Ginny laughed, her husband was generous but always made his generosity sound like a childish competition.
"Smart... but there's one very amateur problem in your great plan to pay her." Harry stared at her quizzically, he'd thought his plan was brilliant.
"There is?"
She sighed as if he was sounding extremely dumb.
"Harry...... For that to work she'd have to let you leave this room. Think back to all those times that you went off on your dangerous adventures and came back battered. How often did Poppy let you out of her sight as soon as you decided to leave?"