Hello everyone! Long time no see!
I could come up with every excuse in the book to tell you why I've been taking so long, but I don't want to bore you. Let's just say a lot has happened and I haven't been able to sit down at a computer in a while to write.
As for my series Going Home. I promise that one day I will finish it. Every time in the last few months that I have had a few minutes I've tried to sit down and write something, anything, for it, but I cannot. I have major writers block. I mean, I can't even form a sentence for that story that sounds right. So someday I promise to finish it, but not right away.
This story came when I sat down today to try to clear my head. It's not perfect by any means and will have a few more chapters to it that I have already written. Hope you enjoy and let me know if I should continue or not. If I do, I'll probably post the next chapter in about a week.
As Harry sneezed yet again, his best friend looked at him worriedly and shook his head. "You really have to go to the hospital wing Harry. You have been sick since we've gotten back to school, and I think it's starting to get serious."
Harry shook his head. "Come on Ron. I'll be ok I just need to rest this weekend. I always shake these colds."
The other boy was looking at him skeptically, but nodded nonetheless. "If you say so Harry, but if this lasts longer than this weekend then I'm going to McGonagall."
The ill boy started to protest, but before he could even start Ron held up his hand and shook his head. "No arguing Harry. I don't want to hear it."
Sighing Harry nodded and began to walk to the bathroom so he could do his morning rituals. As soon, as he was in the washroom Harry grabbed a the nearest towel and went to one of the stalls. After drawing the curtain closed behind him, he tenderly began to remove his pajamas carful to avoid the cuts and bruises his relatives had given him.
It had already seen a week since coming to Hogwarts for his fourth year, and still the cuts had not healed completely. They were healing, just too slowly for Harry's taste. He knew that eventually, Ron would make him go to the hospital wing for this damn cold, but he didn't want to do so in the shape he was in. Too many questions would be asked, and he didn't really want to explain anything….or even worse what if Sirius found out.
Sirius was still in hiding and he knew if he found out what had been going on at home he would do something rash. He would get caught, and then Harry would have no chance of getting away from the Dursleys. All hope would be gone….and he didn't know whether he could survive if he didn't have the slightest bit of hope.
Suddenly, Harry bent over in a coughing fit that lasted for more than a few minutes and finished in him coughing up so much phlegm that he couldn't believe it had all come from him. Feeling weak Harry leaned back against the wall of the shower and slowly slid down to the floor so he could sit for a moment and rest.
Unfortunately or fortunately, it depends how you look at it. Ron had heard Harry coughing and had come into the washroom to make sure Harry was alright. Knowing exactly what stall Harry was in Ron pulled back the curtain and couldn't help the gasp that escaped his lips. His friend had never looked worse for wear and where had all those cuts and bruises come from?
Ron took a deep breath and then looked back down at his friend. He needed medical attention now. "Alright mate, I'm going to get Mcgonagall. You need help and I'll give it to you even if you don't want it because that's what friends do."
Harry looked up at his friend who he hadn't even noticed had entered the washroom. He was out of it and didn't know what was going on, but then looked down at himself and saw he was no longer covered. Quickly he pulled his shirt over his form so the cuts could no longer be seen. At least Ron hadn't seen his back that looked far worse than anything on his arms or front.
Vaguely Harry heard Ron call for Seamus and ask for him to get Mcgonagall. He then felt gentle hands take the shirt off his front and wrap the towel around his body and covering him completely. He then felt his folded shirt placed under his head so that he didn't need his head on the cold tile.
Just as Harry was feeling at least a little more comfortable another coughing fit overcame his body, and he was again bent over coughing his lungs out of his chest. This time though he felt soothing hands on his back, one holding him up and the other softly patting his back. That was nice. No one had ever done that for him before.
When he was done coughing he felt the hands help him back into his sitting position, but it was becoming harder the breathe. His chest hurt with every breath, and not just a little, but intense shooting pain that radiated from his chest to the rest of his body.
Focusing on his breathing Harry flinched when he felt another larger stronger hand rest on his forehead. It was so chilly, and it made his now very prominent headache feel marginally better.
Feeling Harry's temperature McGonagall turned and looked at the four worried boys who were surrounding their obviously very sick roommate. The woman pointed to Dean. "Go and run down to the dungeons, I need Professor Snape."
When the boy didn't move, she rose her voice. "Now! "
That woke the boy up and he ran as fast as he could to summon the professor. He didn't know why she wanted him to get Snape who everyone knew hated Harry, but he didn't want to cross her either.
He ran as fast as he could to the dungeons and by the time he finally reached the professor's office he was breathing so hard that he felt his lungs were on fire. Still, panting he knocked on the door and waited for an answer.
He didn't have to wait very long for the next second the door quickly opened by a very cross man. "What do you want on my Saturday morning? "
The boy still breathing as hard as he could managed to gasp out that McGonagall needed him immediately in the boy's dorm. Harry was sick and couldn't get up from the floor.
Angrily Severus mumbled under his breath about the golden boy and how he was probably just faking it for attention, but nevertheless he still went into his office and gathered potions he thought he might need. Trust Harry bloody Potter to get sick when he was acting the healer of the school. Poppy just had to get sick herself and require bed rest.
When Severus had gathered all the necessary potions he looked at the doorway and saw the boy still standing there looking at him wide eyed. "I'm coming you dunderhead. You've done your job, and now you can leave."
Severus slammed the door behind him and started walking up to the Gryffindor tower. He didn't care if the boy followed or not, but it seemed that he was. Maybe the boy wanted to make sure he was good on his word and actually went to see the golden boy.
When they reached the painting to the tower, the fat lady scowled at him and crossed her arms. "You are not a lion, away with you! "
Rolling his eyes Severus drawled, "No, I am not a lion, but I am a teacher and my presence is needed inside. Now let me in! "
The woman in the painting smiled and shook her finger at him, "Ugh, ugh, ugh, not without a password."
Before Severus could answer that he didn't need a password because he was a teacher of this school a subdued voice came from behind him uttering the password. The man and turned and saw the boy had indeed followed him and maybe it had been a good thing. The less time he spent arguing with the painting, the more time he could spend with his potions later.
Slowly the door opened, and the man stepped into the room. Not knowing where else to go he turned and looked at the boy with a raised eyebrow. Apparently that was all he needed to for the boy started to lead him to where the washroom was.
All the while the pair traveled through the home of the Gryffindors Severus noticed quite a few stares directed towards him and glares towards the boy. He had expected staring at him, he was a snake out of the dungeon so to speak, but he had never expected the boy to be singled out for leading him here. Something to ponder later.
When they reached the washroom Severus saw Minerva on her knees on the floor with a small boy resting on her lap. It was a strange sight indeed, and he must have heard wrong because that could not be Potter. He was too small.
As he got closer though he saw the tell tale scar that let him know it was indeed the boy wonder and wondered just how he had gotten so…so…tiny.
Minerva then spotted him coming nearer and heard her sigh with relief. "Severus, I think he has pneumonia. He has a high fever, a racking cough, sneezing, and trouble breathing."
He nodded and knelt down next to the woman holding the boy wrapped in a towel. Gently he placed his callused hand on the boy's forehead and watched as the child flinched back at his touch. The woman was indeed correct though. He did have a high fever. A very high fever.
Carefully Severus pulled a fever reducer from his pocket robe and uncorked it. "I will need some help feeding this to him. Can you please lift him so his back is to your chest and his head is resting against your shoulder He will not like this, and he might sputter it, but we have to get as much down as possible. "
A brave voice spoke up from beside the female teacher. "It's not poison, is it? "
Severus looked over and saw that it was the youngest Weasley boy. Of course it was, nothing could be easy today. "No, Mr. Weasley. It is a fever reducer. I left my deadliest poisons down in my lab to force feed whoever blows up the next caldron. Now kindly let me work."
Ron seemed to deflate a little, but was still on high alert for his friend. Just then Harry decided to have another coughing fit and started coughing violently. Only this time he didn't just cough up phlegm, he started coughing up blood.
Severus took his handkerchief out of his pocket and held it to the boy's mouth so he had something to cough into and didn't get blood all over Minerva's clothing. He then looked around and saw all the worried boy's watching him. Just what he needed his reputation tarnished. "Boys I think it would be best if you left now. Your friend will be fine in our care."
Dean and Seamus turned to leave, but Ron and Neville just came closer and made sit very clear they were not leaving their friend no matter what. Minerva looked over at them and nodded her head. "Mr. Weasley and Mr. Longbottom please give us some space. I will seek you out personally when Harry is well again."
Neville hesitated, but then walked to the door and exited the room, but Ron stood firm where he was standing and looked down at his friend. "I can't leave him. I promised him I would not leave his side no matter what happened."
Minerva relented and gave a weary nod. She just didn't have the energy to her to make him leave. She already had one sick boy and all her energy was going into worrying about him.
Severus was annoyed though, but thought it was probably for the best to have a third set of hands. He surely hoped that the boy was not squeamish though. "Come along then and help us feed this potion to him. I'm going to open his mouth and pour this down his throat and massage it down. I need you to keep his arms down if he starts struggling so as not to hurt Professor McGonagall."
The boy gave a nod and came over to hold the boy's arms down and then looked up as his Potions Professor opened Harry's mouth and started to pour the thick potion down. Soon, after he was finished the man held Harry's mouth closed and began to gently rub the boy's throat so the potion would go down.
Fortunately, Harry seemed so out of it that he didn't even struggle against something strange being poorer down his throat. As soon as that was over, Severus pulled out another potion and began to pour that into Harry's system not even bothering to explain what it was.
Soon, though Harry's body went limp and more malleable in Minerva's arms as if he were in a deep sleep. Ron couldn't help giving the man an accusing look. What had he done to his friend?
Severus just rolled his eyes though and sighed. "It was dreamless sleep. He won't be in as much pain being that deep under and his coughing should lessen. Now, I believe we should get him to the hospital wing so I can properly treat him."
Minerva nodded and conjured a better blanket to wrap Harry in. Gently she began to take away the towel Ron had wrapped him in, but before she could even uncover part of his chest Ron stopped her. "Please don't."
The woman looked up at the boy. "And why not? He can't be in a towel on the journey to the hospital wing."
The boy sighed. "He….he has injuries…that I don't think he wants anyone to see."
Severus looked down at the boy and then up at Ron. "Your friend is injured Mr. Weasley, and you did nothing to help him?"
Ron shook his head. "I just found these injuries this morning, and I was going to tell a professor after breakfast that Harry was sick without his consent."
The Potions Professor sighed and shook his head. "Fine then. Minerva give me the boy and I'll take care of him you can go back to your duties."
Minerva hesitated looking down at the very sick boy in her arms, but then sighed and bestowed her burden to the man next to her. "I will go fill the headmaster in on the situation. Treat him well Severus, don't be cruel."
The man snorted and watched the woman leave with slight irritation. The boy may be a royal pain in his ass, but he would not, could not, be cruel to a child when they were sick. "I will try."
He then looked straight at Ron. "Hand me the blanket Mr. Weasley. I'm going to be healing him so I will need to see eventually."
Ron hesitantly handed over the blanket and watched as Severus pulled back part of the towel covering his friend's chest. The man took in a deep breath and then closed his eyes for a bread moment, but then regained himself and uncovered the rest of the boy to see much of the same.
To say this angered the man was beyond what he was really feeling. He could not believe that this had been happening under his watch for four years….because he knew where these kind of injuries came from. It was obvious. He was being abused.
Very gently he took away the towel and began gently wrapping the soft blanket around the motionless boy. When he got to his back though he paused a moment and looked up at Ron who couldn't see just what was going on just yet, but Severus knew if the boy did the consequences would not be good. Look how he had reacted over the bruises and scratches.
"Mr. Weasley, I need you to turn around for a moment."
The boy moved to look closer at what Severus was looking at, but was blocked immediately by Severus hand. "I ask for you to turn around now. Your friend would not want your seeing this."
He hesitated slightly, but Ron did turn his back so he could not see Harry's back and what a mess it was littered with scars and newish looking welts. Quickly Severus removed the towel and wrapped the boy snugly in the blanket.
"Alright now, let's take him to the hospital wing. You will not be able to stay for his entire healing though. I will make that clear now."
Ron turned around with anger written all over his face. "I told you. I will not leave his side. Not for any reason or for anyone."
The Professor stood up and looked down at the shorter boy. "As noble as that sounds you do not want to be around when he screams out in pain. It will not be pleasant for him, and a child should not have to see that."
Ron folded his arms over his chest. "I will not leave him."
Severus sighed. "You persistence fails to amuse me. Let me reiterate this to you. You will not be in the room, and I do not care what you say. I will not allow you to embarrass your friend by witnessing his weakest moment."
The boy seemed to deflate at that and gave a small nod. The last thing he wanted to do was cause Harry any more pain.
The wizard gave a sharp nod and inwardly sighed. Finally the boy was agreeing. If only he were so persistent when it came to potions then maybe he would be somewhat decent. With that thought Severus shifted Harry higher in his arms so he could carry him more comfortably. He was definitely not happy with how light Harry was he should weigh at least two stones more.
"Come now, let's get him to the hospital wing. First though, I will cast a notice me not spell on us so the other students will not see the dungeon bat carrying the boy wonder. Can't have his reputation ruined now could we? "
Ron looked at the older man in anger. How could this man make fun of Harry when he was obviously sick and hurt? Did he have no heart?
What Ron was missing though was the worried look Severus was giving the boy in his arms. He was genuinely worried about him. This bout of pneumonia seemed particularly harsh and the wounds on his back….he knew how he had gotten those. The last thing he needed was his housemates being unkind to him because he was being carried by the 'greasy git'.
Quickly Severus rose his wand and cast a notice me not spell on the three of them and then walked over to the door. Before he opened the door though, he turned and looked at Ron who was still standing there looking at him angrily. Sighing Severus rolled his eyes. "Are you coming? "
Mumbling something Severus couldn't hear, and he probably didn't want to hear. Ron walked over to Severus and crossed his arms.
Ignoring the sulky teen Severus opened the door and hiked Harry up in his arms to make sure he had a good grip on him. The boy may be lighter than he should be, but that didn't mean that he was not difficult to carry. He then made his way down the tower with his robes billowing behind him. He may be invisible to most, but he still wanted to make an impression to the one boy who could see him.
Quickly Severus with Harry in his arms and Ron made their way down the stairs and through the lion's den to Minerva's office. From her office, they could floo to the hospital wing and avoid having to walk through the hallways.
Once they arrived the Potion Professor, walked over to the floo and then looked over his shoulder at Ron. "Mr. Weasley, kindly throw some floo powder in the fireplace. I cannot as I am carrying the golden boy."
Ron grumbled, but did as his professor asked and threw some floo powder into the fireplace.
Nodding Severus clearly said their destination and then stepped into the fire followed by Ron.
