Chapter one

After the fighting, Harry watched the Weasley's and Hermione head to Muriel's, then Harry slowly walked up some of the busted stairs until he came to the hospital wing. He couldn't believe the way it looked, half one wall was gone, part of the ceiling down. Harry could see the sky outside and the doors lying on the floor, rubble had been moved into the centre of the room and almost every bed with someone in it. Harry watched as Madame Pomfrey and two other healers were working on the seriously injured.

Harry sat wearily in a chair and shook his head, the ringing in his ears was driving him crazy and that was his reason for turning up in the hospital. He wasn't keen on being up here, seeing all the injured, plus he didn't want the matron to make him stay, all Harry wanted to do was sleep.

'Mr. Potter, I was hoping you'd come see me, come down to the last bed,' Poppy said wearily.

'You look and sound tired Madame Pomfrey, like me actually,' Harry pushed himself to his feet and released a groan, then slowly walked beside her.

'Yes, I think everyone feels like that, but I will rest soon. Now take a seat and tell me what he did to you.'

'All those injuries aren't bad except one. He did drop me and since I was in the great hall, I have this ringing in my ears, it's really driving me nuts.'

'You are talking a little louder, so the ringing must be loud. Let me do a few revealing charms over you and see what's wrong,' the matron took her wand out and moved it over Harry's ears, then all over his head and down his body, 'Well you do have some damage to your inner ear, but you also have a lot more injuries, looks like you're in here for a few days.'

Harry groaned, 'Do I really need to stay here, I was going to head up to Gryffindor tower and sleep, for days,' Harry sighed.

'You need potions Harry, and charms, so sorry to say, you are staying,' she moved her wand and curtains were around the bed, 'Do you have something to sleep in?'

'No, that's one thing I didn't bother with when I was away. I'll just sleep in my underwear, like I have been for months.'

'Very well, why don't you get into bed and I'll bring you some potions.'

'Thanks,' Harry sighed, waited until she left, dropped his bag then stripped off his shoes, socks and clothes, leaving his underwear on. He put his wands and glasses beside him on the small table, then climbed into bed. He's eyes were closing the moment he's head hit the pillow.

'Sorry Harry, drink these first then you can sleep.'

'Okay,' Harry pushed himself back up, drank the two potions before falling back down, 'I'm so tired that even all the noise won't keep me awake. I'm used to it being quiet, just Ron and Hermione, in a tent in all types of forests.'

'That's how you've been living, you seemed to have lost weight as well.'

'Yeah, there were times we didn't have anything to eat and couldn't get any. Now though, it's been since early yesterday morning since I've slept and eaten, but I'm just so tired.'

'Then sleep, I'll be back with more potions later today.'

'Thanks Madame Pomfrey,' Harry closed his eyes again and that was all he remembered.

Harry woke and looked around, then reached for his glasses and put them on. He couldn't hear anything and thought maybe everyone was asleep. He stretched, then stood, pulling his old jeans and t-shirt back on before moving the curtain aside. He stood there not comprehending what he was seeing and not hearing. He quickly pulled the curtains back and sat on the bed. Then he started to speak, he could feel his throat as he spoke the words, he could feel his mouth moving, but he couldn't hear the words.

Poppy stepped around the curtain, 'How are you feeling Harry?'

Harry shook his head, 'What?' he yelled.

'Oh dear,' she held up her finger, then took her wand out and started to move it over Harry's ears again, 'Oh,' she summoned her clipboard, 'Can you hear me?' she held it up and repeated those words, Harry shaking his head. She wrote again, then held the clipboard up, 'The damage to your inner ear is severe, worse than I thought. It seems to have caused your deafness. I'll keep giving you potions in the hope it heals.'

'Will they get better?' Harry yelled again but saw the matron put her hands to her ears, 'Sorry, did I yell?' she nodded, 'Okay, but will they?'

She wrote again, 'I'm not sure Harry, not until you have a course of potions and more healing charms. You said he dropped you, was it more than once?'

'Yeah, three times, first time I landed on my left side, my head hit the ground hard. Second time my right side and again my head hit the ground, then last time I landed on my back, that still hurts a bit.'

Matron wrote again, 'Try to lower your voice, you keep yelling. Put your hand to your throat as you speak, you should be able to feel the difference from yelling to speaking softly.'

Harry put his hand to his throat, 'Okay, okay,' he nodded, 'Felt it, yeah, the movement is stronger when I talk louder. Um, can you keep this to yourself, apart from Professor McGonagall, at least for now?'

'Of course, now I'll get you some more potions, but drink these, they are for your other injuries.'

Harry drank the potions, 'I could use a shower and something to eat.'

She wrote again, 'Give me half an hour and I'll work the shower out. I can get a house elf to bring you some food.'

Harry put his hand to his throat, 'I have a house elf, I leave him here, I'll call him.'

She wrote and showed Harry, 'Okay, you do that and I'll get your potions, be right back.'

Harry nodded, 'Kreacher,' he waited then the old elf appeared before him, 'Oh, you've got a cut on you Kreacher, are you okay?'

'I am fine Master Harry.'

Harry bent closer, 'I can't hear Kreacher, sorry, but I was hoping for some food and a cup of tea.'

Kreacher nodded then disappeared, a few minutes later he reappeared with a tray and place it on the table.

'Thank you Kreacher, if you're okay, nod, if you're not, shake your head,' Kreacher nodded, 'Okay, thank you,' Harry waited until he left then started eating just as the matron stepped around the curtain and she handed him two more potions, Harry quickly drank them, then saw the matron nod before walking away. While Harry ate he kept tilting his head, 'Fuck, deaf, now what?' he sighed thinking about what his life will be like now, not hearing his friends voices, not becoming an auror, he can't do that if he couldn't hear. So what was he going to do. Harry finished eating, but only got through half of what was on his plate then he finished his tea before lying back on the bed thinking about what his life was going to be like now.

Harry was still lying on his bed when Madame Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall stepped behind the curtain which made Harry sit up.

McGonagall moved her wand, 'How are you feeling Harry,' the words appeared in the air in front of Harry.

'Frustrated, pissed off, angry,' Harry shrugged, then noticed the two woman touched their ears, so he put his hand to his throat, 'Sorry, I yelled again, and sorry for swearing.'

She moved her wand again, 'That is understandable, Poppy said you don't want anyone to know.'

Harry shook his head and put his hand back to his throat, 'No, not yet, I'll tell Hermione and Ron, but that's all.'

Poppy wrote on her clipboard, 'I've been doing some test and reading Harry, there is a chance you're hearing will return, but I can't say with certainty that it will. So I want to suggest something,' Harry read, then nodded before handing her back the clipboard, 'In case this is permanent, or it takes a long time for your hearing to return, I suggest you learn to lip read. It will make it easier than always writing or as Professor McGonagall did, use magic to keep writing what they want to say. This way you could have an almost normal conversation without you always having to read what everyone will want to say to you.'

Harry put his hand to his throat, 'Do you know someone that's trustworthy that can show me how?'

'Yes, someone you know actually. He helped a deaf friend when he lived overseas, but now he's here,' Minerva had the words hanging in front of Harry again, 'Charlie Weasley, he will be able to teach you. I would suggest that you stay with the Weasley's for a while then he can show you how it works and teach you how to do it.'

Harry screwed up his face, then put his hand on his throat, 'But he's bound to be heading back to Romania.'

Minerva moved her wand again, 'No, he spoke with me last night. He said he was staying to be close to the family. He asked if I might know of a job he could get while he's here. I know he loves dragons, but we don't have them here in this country. So I told him I might be able to work something out. So do you want to stay with the Weasley's and let Charlie help you learn?'

Harry nodded, 'At least I know him and the Weasley's won't tell anyone.'

Poppy wrote on her clipboard, 'Then tomorrow you can leave and I'll give you a list of ingredients for Molly to make you your potions. You will need them for a while longer.'

Minerva moved her wand again, 'I'll let Arthur, Molly and Charlie know what's going on and you'll be there tomorrow. Now as you can't hear, you shouldn't apparate alone, not yet. So I'll take you in the morning, alright.'

Harry nodded, 'Okay, thanks,' Harry sighed then saw the two woman leave before he lay back on the bed, his hands behind his head. And again thinking about what his life was going to be like now he wouldn't be able to hear.

The following morning, Minerva and Poppy stepped around the curtain to see Harry curled up on his side, facing away. They could tell he was awake and that he was crying. Minerva walked slowly around the bed, Harry saw her and wiped his face but kept is face averted.

She moved her wand, 'It will be fine Harry, you will learn to live with this.'

'I loved hearing things, my friends arguing, the sound of the water hitting the windows when it rains. I even loved listening to thunder, now I can't.'

'There is a chance it will return, please don't give up hope Harry.'

'I'm trying, but it just seems to be one thing after another,' Harry sighed, 'I should dress so we can go.'

'We'll be outside the curtain,' Minerva's words appeared in front of Harry then moved out with the matron.

A few minutes later Harry stepped out with his bag over his shoulder, 'I'm ready,' he looked at the matron who handed him a piece of parchment, 'Thanks, I feel a lot better and the ringing has stopped, like everything else,' Harry sighed again.

Poppy nodded, then mouthed the words very slowly "you're welcome"

Harry smiled, 'I got that, thanks.'

Minerva touched his arm and they walked off, Harry nodded to people he knew that were still in bed but he kept walking because he didn't want them to know he was deaf. When they got outside, Minerva grabbed Harry's arm and turned.

Harry and Minerva walked towards the house, she knocked and they stepped inside with Harry behind her.

Charlie put his hand up and stepped over to Harry, 'Watch…my…lips,' he said slowly, then nodded.

Harry screwed up his face, put his hand to his throat, 'Um, watch my lips, is that right?'

Charlie nodded and smiled, then moved his wand, 'It's very easy to learn to lip read, you just need to concentrate on the way the lips move and form words,' the words appeared in front of Harry.

'Okay, thanks,' Harry gave a small smile then saw Hermione looked anxious and hardly able to sit still. He walked over and she launched herself at him, hugging him tightly, 'You hug like Mrs. Weasley,' Harry noticed Ron putting his hand to his ear, so he put his hand on his throat, 'Sorry, I forgot to put my hand on my throat, I yell if I don't. But Hermione, don't cry, you'll start me off again.'

She sniffed and moved back then taking Harry's hand, led him to a seat and they sat down but Charlie sat opposite then touched Harry's hand.

He moved his wand, 'It will get easier and you will learn not to yell.'

Harry put his hand to his throat, 'Okay, thanks Charlie,' he looked around at everyone, 'If I yell, let me know.'

Harry watched as Hermione spoke to Charlie and he answered, he sighed in frustration knowing he couldn't hear them.

Charlie touched Harry's hand again to get his attention the moved his wand in the air.

'That will get you frustrated knowing people are talking and you can't hear what is being said. For now, we'll try to be considerate, but this is new for everyone else as well. So we will try not to leave you out of the conversation until you learn to read lips, okay?'

'Okay and yeah, I could see you talking, but I have no idea what you said.'

Hermione flicked her wand, 'I asked Charlie why you put your hand to your throat, how that helps to stop you yelling.'

'Madame Pomfrey said I can feel the difference and I can, I just have to remember to put my hand there,' Harry lowered his hand again then saw Mrs. Weasley so he pulled out a piece of parchment, 'Mrs. Weasley, Madame Pomfrey said I need potions.'

Molly sniffed, took the parchment and nodded, then she bent down and hugged Harry. When she let him go she pointed at Ron, Harry then put her hands to the side of her head like she was sleeping. That actually made Harry chuckle.

'I think you meant for Ron to show me where I'm sleeping unless you want me to sleep, I'm not tired.'

Molly smiled, shook her head, then flicked her wand, 'See, sometimes we can show you what we mean, but I was telling Ron to show you to Percy's old room. I don't think you and Ron will fit in his old room anymore.'

'Okay, thanks Mrs. Weasley,' Harry turned to Ron who stood, Harry picked up his bag and followed Ron up the stairs.

'He was crying this morning, but he seems better now and with reading Charlie's lips, it seemed to help,' Minerva said giving him a smile and thinking about how different Charlie was to how he used to be as a student. He was a trouble maker that ended up being caught in compromising positions, a lot by Albus. That memory made her smile.