"Harry?"
… groan
"Harry, are you all right?"
"… mrglzpsfx," said a voice.
"He's not responding like he normally does,headmaster. There's something definitely off with him."
Professor Albus Dumbledore, supreme wizard and all thatrot kneeled down to look at his favorite student. He knew he wasn't supposed tohave favorites, but in Harry's case he had made an exception. "How are youfeeling Mr. Potter? You gave us all a scare when you did not return to schoollast night. Come, it is time to wake from the land of Morpheus."
Together, Ron and Hermione helped Harry into a sittingposition near Ginny's grave. Harry had finally come around. "Who areyou?" Harry asked Hermione.
"Harry, that's not funny. If you wanted to stay hereall night, you should have let someone know. We've all been worried sick thatyou might have been attacked."
"Attacked? Why would anyone want to attack me? Iwant my mom and dad," Harry looked around frantically. "And where'smy broom?" Harry got up and started looking for his broom.
Frowning, Albus placed a hand on Harry's shoulder to gethim to stop for a moment. "Harry, do you know who I am?"
Harry squinted and made out some rough outlines."Sure I know you. You're Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts. I readabout you on the back of a Chocolate Frog card," he said while patting hispockets. "Has anyone seen my glasses? I can't find them."
Ron stared in horror at his headmaster. "Harry gothis vision corrected last year. He doesn't need glasses."
"Ron, that correction was based partly on the beliefthat it would work," Hermione stated. "That being the case, if hedoesn't think it will work then he needs his glasses. But what I'm moreconcerned with is that he said he wanted his parents. Harry? Your parents died,remember?"
"What? When did that happen? Oh, god. Does UncleSirius or Uncle Remus know?" Harry started hyperventilating as tears beganrolling down his face. "Wait a minute, how do you know? Who are all youpeople?"
A frown firmly entrenched on his face, Albus asked,"Harry? How old are you?"
"I turn 11 next month, why?"
"Ron, why don't you help young Mr. Harry here searchfor his glasses while I discuss some things with Miss Granger."
"Righto."
"Your thoughts, Miss Granger?"
"He doesn't remember us. He thinks he's 11 again. Hethinks his parents, Remus, and Sirius are all alive. If I had to hazard aguess, I'd say he's got a case of Shell Shock. He's been so traumatized by whathappened that he reverted back to just before he started Hogwarts. It's acoping mechanism."
"What are treatment options?"
"Headmaster, I am not a psychologist and can onlygive guesses here. It's possible that he may revert back to our Harry latertoday, and it's possible that he may never snap out of it. If you're concernedabout him protecting himself, then I strongly suggest we get him to startschool again this fall as a first year. He definitely needs an education."
"We may also want to change his name and appearanceso no one recognizes him. I'd better alert Nicholas and Pernelle what is goingon. They've always had a special place in their hearts for our Mr. Potter.Fawkes? Can you take this note to the Flamels? Thank you.
"While we're waiting for them, let us endeavor toget Mr. Potter calmed down and ready to travel. It appears that Mr. Weasley isnot one to sooth a troubled child's fears."
"They're not dead! I don't believe you! They're not!I talked to them last night!"
As Hermione attempted to calm down a distraught Harry,Fawkes returned with two people in tow. "Your note was cryptic as ever,Albus, what do you need and how does it affect Harry?" Pernelle said.
"Mr. Potter has been injured but we are unsure ifwas someone attacking him, or if he had a mental breakdown. All we know is thathe believes himself 10, turning 11 next month, and that he believes hisparents, Sirius and Remus are all still alive."
"What?" Nicholas said. "A mental breakdownyou say? He's too strong for that to happen to him. I'll take a look athim."
"Hello, Harry. My name is Pernelle and this is myhusband, Nicholas. Do you remember us?"
"No. I want my mom and dad. Why won't you getthem?" Harry's voice carried the strain he was showing.
"Shhhh, son," Pernelle comforted. "We'rehere to help you. The people that found you said that you might have beeninjured somehow. Why don't you sit right here while I run a few diagnosticspells, okay? This won't hurt you a bit, alright?"
"You promise?"
"Absolutely," she smiled. "You can pinchme if I'm lying. See, I've already started the first one and here comes thesecond. No pain, right?"
"No ma'am," Harry conceded warily.
"Hmmm, that's certainly unexpected," she saidquietly while looking at a 3-dimensional image of Harry's body. Numbers andcolors continually ran throughout the exam as she went from body part to bodypart.
"You're right. We need to get him back home,"Nicholas said.
"What? What is it? Does he need to go to St.Mungos?" Hermione tried to make sense of the complicated diagnostic thatPernelle had created. It contained far more information than what she had readthat healers usually worked with.
"No; no St. Mungos for him," Pernelle smiled atthe young witch. It was good that Harry's former friends still wanted to lookout for him. "Please don't worry any, Miss Granger, I am very capable oftaking care of Harry."
"Look, people, all I want is my mom and dad,"Harry pleaded to everyone there.
"Stupefy," Nicolas stunned Harry.