Chapter 6: chapter6:-untold truth
"I would agree, Healer Stanhope. I am not Harry's guardian, but from what I have observed so far today, I don't think they deserve to be here for this discussion." Healer Stanhope looked back and forth between the two before stating, "alright, but I suggest we have some tea as we talk."
"Very well, I shall have the tea ready in a moment," Septima replied heading towards the kitchen to do SO.
"Would you like some assistance?"
"No, thank you, Harry, it only takes a moment with magic," she informed him. Once Septima returned to the seating area and everyone had their tea in hand, Healer Stanhope began with a question.
"Harry, what do you know of the scar on your forehead?" Harry blinked in surprise and Septima set down her tea cup abruptly. Surely, he knew how his parents died. She had not even thought to address that issue.
"My uncle said it was from the car crash that killed my parents," he replied repeating the bare minimum of the story he had been told several years ago. After watching the two women share a look, Harry added softly, "I didn't get my scar from a car crash did I?"
"No, Harry, you did not," Septima stated andwondered how she was going to explain this. She wasn't there during the rise of Voldemort. In fact, that was why her mother sent her to Durmstrang. Her mother had taken her and fled England to avoid the rise of the new dark lord after her father's death.
"How?" Harry's voice was barely a whisper and she knew she had to tell him.
"At the time there was a dark wizard named Voldemort. He and his followers killed a lot of people. One night he came to your parent's home. Your parents were killed that night, and so was the dark wizard. Many think you stopped him because he cast a killing curse at you, but you survived and he didn't. Your scar is a remnant from that curse. Because you survived, people call you the-boy-who-lived." Harry didn't know what to think. For so long, he had known absolutely nothing about his parents. He didn't remember them. Then his uncle had told him that his parents were worthless freaks who died in a car crash while driving drunk. Now, Septima was telling him that his parents were murdered by a dark wizard. A dark wizard, who had also tried to kill him, but had not succeeded.
"Thank you, for telling me," he finally managed unsure what else to say.
"I am sorry for your loss, Harry," Healer Stanhope said softly. "I asked the question because there is some kind of dark curse that remains part of your scar that appears to be only barely contained by a powerful shield of sorts. I would recommend that you have it examined more thoroughly and that
afterwarde we discuss whether or not to attemptafterwards we discuss whether or not to attempt to remove the darkness from the scar if possible. I won't speculate as to the effects of the dark curse, but I will recommend that you come to St. Mungos and have a healer who specializes in curses take a look at it." Harry nodded unsure about speaking. Buoyed by his acceptance of her comment, she continued.
"The diagnostics also show a history of neglect, and several incidents of physical abuse over what must be most of your life. I recommend nutrient potions beginning immediately to help your body with getting the proper nutrition to grow taller and help you put on some more weight. The nutrient potions cannot undo all of the damage done to your body, but should help repair most of it. I am also prescribing potions to help with strengthening your bones, and repairing some of the damage to your internal organs. I am also recommending a check up in approximately three months to make sure that everything is getting better, and to determine if further treatment is necessary," she paused for a moment, "I would also like you to talk to someone about your childhood. I haven't asked several questions that I would like to because I do not want to make this any more difficult for you than it already is. However, you should know that whoever hurt you and did not take care of you was in the wrong, and not you. You have showed a level of maturity that is rare for someone your age, and I commend you for being the young man you are."
Harry didn't know what to make of the healer's words. She knew about the abuse, and she believed him. He had not known that there was anything special about his scar, and the thought of some dark curse scared him. He also knew hedidn't want to talk to anyone about the Dursleys or living with them. He just wanted to put it all behind him. He felt his eyes tearing up, and he ruthlessly pushed back his emotions. He would not cry in front of them. It wouldn't change anything.
Septima watched as the young man shut down, his normally expressive face becoming impassive. It was the saddest thing she had witnessed so far, and she wondered if he had been punished for showing emotions. "It's okay to cry, Harry. It's been a rough day, and you're very brave to have come here with me, and to let Healer Stanhope examine you," she attempted to reassure him.
"Excuse me," Harry managed his breathe hitching, and made his way to the bathroom where he closed the door and slid down to the floor on the other side a few stray tears sliding down his cheeks. His parents were murdered. His scar held some dark curse. And Septima and Healer Stanhope knew about his life at the Dursleys. It was a lot to take in, and he struggled to assimilate all the things that had happened this morning. He scrubbed his hands across his face to get rid of the tears, and tried to focus on the good parts of the morning. Magic was real. He was a wizard. Septima was going to help him learn about his parents, and told him he wouldn't have to go back to the Dursleys. A soft knock on the door caused him to jump.
"Take as long as you need, Harry. Healer Stanhope left a nutrient potion for you to take when you are ready, and we can always go to Diagon Alley tomorrow if you don't feel up to it today," Septima said through the door careful to keep her voice calm. She could only imagine how difficult his childhood must have been. She pulled a book from a shelf and sat down in her favorite chair to wait for Harry to reappear.
Harry sat in the bathroom for several more minutes thinking over everything that had happened that morning. Someone had finally come for him at the Dursleys'. It wasn't his parents or a long lost relative, but a teacher at a school for magical children. According to her, magic was real and he wasn't a freak. Instead, he was a wizard. Then, she made him breakfast. She gave him clothes that fit. She asked him for his opinion in regards to whether or not he wanted to consult a healer. She had already helped him more than anyone else he could ever remember. And she had offered to help him so much more. It was too good to be true, and he wondered for a moment if perhaps he was dreaming. It didn't seem like any dream he had ever had. He stood up slowly and went to the sink to splash cold water on his face. Once he had dried his face and hands, he took a deep breath and left the bathroom to face his future with hope in his heart.
Author's Note: This chapter has been mostly complete for awhile but I wanted to try to stay a chapter ahead of what I was posting. I have part of the next chapter done, and I hope to finish it soon and move on with the rest. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated. There are tons of stories with Harry's introduction to the wizrding world, and I was striving for something a little different. Thank you to all of the people who have reviewed and follow the story, I hope you continue to enjoy it.