He could not believe he was in a muggle hospital. How utterly embarrassing. Of course he knew it was the best course of action but still. He hated hospitals of all kinds be they muggle or magical. He hated the muggle ones more though. It had been 7 years after the Dark Lord's defeat by the infant hand of Harry Potter and Snape had just begun to let his guard down. More fool he. He had been poisoned, a poison of his own creation too. Which meant it was a death eater who had done it. Why they had struck now was beyond him.
He had discovered that he was poisoned when he lost the use of his legs. He had thankfully stored the antidote and was able to summon it and treat himself before his heart stopped beating but his legs had remained unresponsive. He knew, since he had created the poison himself, that it would be a full month for his legs to regain their use and full strength. No magic or potion could speed up the process.
Albus had decided that for his safety he should stay at a muggle hospital. There was a muggle doctor there with a wizard brother. He was good friends with Albus and would be Severus' doctor curing his stay. Mostly that meant he wouldn't be forced to have any muggle tests and just be allowed to rest until his legs healed. However that would not protect him from overbearing nurses or the food he would be forced to consume.
He couldn't argue with the man's logic however. Without his legs he was quite vulnerable to further attack. He had been poisoned at Hogwarts so he could not be properly protected there and St. Mungo's was horrible with security. A muggle hospital would be safe as long as he didn't use any magic to give away his position. So here he was in a quaint little muggle hospital wanting nothing more than to hex every single person he saw.
The room he was in was a two bed room. It was such a small hospital that no one had private rooms, unless they were contagious. He was, however unfortunate the fact, not contagious in any way. Thankfully at this point the other bed had remained unoccupied. He did not know what he would do if he was forced to endure the company of another. The walls were a stark white and the hospital itself smelled of antiseptic and was cold. He hated it. He had only been there for two days when his worst nightmare came true.
His new hospital room mate was brought into his room in the middle of the night. A broken femur and a broken arm, along with multiple contusions and lacerations. He knew this because the doctors discussed the boy's condition once they put him into the bed incorrectly assuming he was asleep. The boy was tiny, most likely around five years old and thin. A wild mop of black hair surrounded a pale face with a large bandage covering the forehead.
Snape wondered if he could cast a wandless silencing charm on the boy when no one was around so that he could pretend the little brat didn't exist. The next morning Snape was woken up by a doctor coming in with a muggle police officer. They woke the boy up who groaned. Snape watched through half closed eyes as the police officer sat down on the bed making the boy flinch.
"Now son. Your uncle told us what happened to you." He began. "He said that you were playing in the street and you got hit with a car and that the driver drove off leaving you in the middle of the street. Now none of the neighbors saw this so can you tell us what you remember."
The boy seemed to be considering something before trying to sit up.
"Can I have some water please?" The boy asked.
"Of course." The doctor said. "I'll go get some for you."
When the doctor left the boy sat up fully and sighed.
"I was playing outside when my ball rolled out into the street. I know… I know it was stupid to go get it…but I didn't see any cars… then there was this blinding pain…I don't remember much after that." The boy said nervously not even meeting the police officers eyes.
Snape knew a lie from a mile away and he knew the boy was lying about what had happened. The boy was a terrible liar too. Except apparently not to the police officer who just nodded and patted the boy's shoulder lightly.
"Well you be more careful next time son. I'll let your uncle know that we will start looking for the car that hit you."
"Thank you sir."
The doctor returned with a paper cup full of water which the boy took and drank from it eagerly. The doctor went over the boy's charts and told the boy that he was in for a few days stay and then he would be released to his guardians for the final part of his healing. The boy did not seem like this plan but the doctor too busy to notice merely left telling the boy that breakfast would be served in 30 minutes. Snape allowed himself to 'wake' then. The boy took to studying the room. Snape merely removed his book and began to read.
After their food was delivered he felt the boy begin to study him. Snape couldn't decide if he should use his words to make the boy stop staring at him or if he should merely ignore the little brat. He shifted himself as best as he could to get comfortable before continuing to read his potions journal, charmed to look like some muggle novel to muggle observers.
"Hello, my name's Harry." The boy said. "What's your name?"
Snape hoped that ignoring the boy would work. If it didn't he would not be held responsible for his actions. He heard the boy shifting on his bed but did not look up from his book. Suddenly he heard a thunking noise and looked up to see the boy walking over to him.
"What are you doing? Get back into bed." He ordered.
The boy ignored him walking over to his bed until he was standing right next to him. The boy stuck his hand out, the one not in a cast, to be shaken.
"Hello, my name is Harry."
Snape glared down at the hand. The boy risked making his injury worse and all for a handshake. The boy waved the hand up and down.
"You're supposed to shake it. It's proper manners."
"You are supposed to be in that bed." Snape countered.
"I'll get back into the bed if you shake my hand and tell me your name." The boy bargained.
"No. Get back into that bed, now." Snape said darkly his tone brooking no argument.
The boy shook his head and stood there with his hand stuck out. Snape saw him shift his weight, it was obviously painful to be standing. The boy stood there for a full minute before Snape rolled his eyes and lightly shook the hand.
"Severus Snape. Now get into that bed."
"Okay Sev…sevus…Severus Snape." The boy said taking his hand back and dragging his body back to the other bed.
The left leg was in a full cast and the left arm was in a cast as well, along with a sling. Once the boy was by his bed it took him a full five minutes of struggling to climb back into it. Once that happened the boy situated himself back under the blanket and looked at him again.
"So…why are you here?" The boy asked.
Snape groaned. He should have just let the little blighter stand there.
"I fail to see how that is any of your business."
"I could just read your chart. It's right over there." The boy countered.
"You said you would get back into that bed."
"I did." The boy countered. "I didn't say I'd stay there. So why are you in here?"
"I was poisoned and my legs are paralyzed." Snape ground out before pointedly picking up his book again.
"What were you poisoned with? I've never heard of a poison that does that before."
"You are five years old. I doubt you've heard of much at all you little dunderhead."
"I'm not five! I'm eight years old." The boy contested.
"You're a very scrawny eight year old." Snape sneered.
The boy frowned.
"Are you going to tell me or not?"
"No. Stop talking to me."
He heard the boy sigh in exasperation. He was rewarded with 45 minutes of blessed silence. It was of course interrupted by a nurse come to help him to the bathroom. Nurse Sharon was a bubbly woman that Snape despised. After helping Snape she helped Harry with the same tasks before leaving them be. This seemed to have brought the boy out of his stupor.
"What are you reading?" The boy asked.
"Shakespeare." Snape ground out, that was what he had charmed the books to look like to a muggle.
"Why does it say 'Most Potente Potions' on the cover? That's not a Shakespeare story I've ever heard of."
"It is one of his lesser known works." Snape ground out.
He was not willing to believe that he was forced to spend his time with a muggle born wizard. It wasn't fair. The last muggleborn he had met and introduced to magic had been Lily and he would not be repeating that. No the boy would discover that world in just a mere 3 years. No need to alert him to it early. Thankfully the boy seemed to accept that answer. For he moved onto a new question.
"Why'd you get poisoned?"
"Why don't you shut up?" He demanded looking up.
The boy had the gall to grin at him.
"Who poisoned you? How did it happen?"
"That is none of your business."
Thankfully he was spared any more conversation by visitors. A thick blustering man with little to no neck and a large mustache burst into the room. The man did not see him unfortunately which was good as it allowed Snape to continue his reading. Except he couldn't ignore much. The boy, Harry seemed to shrink on himself.
"What did you tell them boy?" The man demanded grabbed the injured arm in a tight grip.
"I told them I got hit…hit by a car sir." The boy answered without looking up.
"Well then why am I facing an inquiry from the police you little freak?" The man growled out. "You know what is going to happen to you if they ask too many questions don't you?"
"Yes sir." The boy whimpered obviously in pain.
"Good. Now don't expect me to visit you in this place. Your aunt and I are much too busy with important things. Don't do anything freakish." The man shook the injured arm once more jarring the injury before stomping away.
Snape had to keep himself from hexing the fat muggle. It made all too much sense. The boy, a muggleborn wizard, was being raised by magic phobic muggles. His accidental magic scaring them enough that they beat him. The boy was being beaten for having something he didn't even know about. He gripped his book tightly trying to work through his utter fury.
The boy was subdued for most of the rest of the day and it made Snape feel almost guilty. He hadn't done anything to defend or protect the boy, a boy who would be his student in three years. If he survived that long. But how to cheer up the boy? Did he even want to do that? Yes he did. He placed his book down.
"I was poisoned with my cup of morning tea, someone, I'm not sure whom put it in there. I recognized the symptoms and was able to get the antidote but not before my legs stopped working."
The boy's eyes shot up and for the first time Snape noticed that they were a bright emerald green. He was surprised that the boy didn't fall off the bed in his surprise. Instead the boy quietly asked another question.
"Why'd they poison you?"
"A long time ago I was friends with many bad people. I stopped being friends with them and sometimes they try and get revenge for that." Snape explained lightly, there was no way he was going to explain dark wizardry to the boy.
"Oh will your legs ever work again? Legs are important."
"They will, I will regain motor function in about two weeks and then it will be another two weeks before they have complete strength."
"So you'll be better in a month?" The boy asked trying to make sense of what Snape had said.
"Yes."
"I don't know when I'll get better."
"The doctor said you'd leave in a few days."
"Then he said I had to go home."
Oh. Snape sighed before he could question the boy more the boy changed the subject.
"What do you do for a living?"
"I am a teacher at a boarding school in Scotland, it's called Hogwarts."
"That's a weird name. Why'd they name it that?"
"I don't know. The school building is actually a rather large and old castle, it's always been called Hogwarts."
"How do kids go there?"
"They are chosen by our staff. You receive a letter when you turn 11 if you are eligible. No one applies to it." Snape explained.
"What do you teach?"
"Chemistry." Snape answered.
"Do you like it?"
"What? Of course I like it." Snape sneered.
"That's good. I hope that I like whatever I do when I grow up. My uncle says I'm not going to amount to very much and that I'll probably end up like my parents but I don't believe him most of the time."
"What happened to your parents?"
"They died in a car crash my dad was driving drunk. At least that's what my aunt and uncle told me." The boy said this in a tone that made it clear that his guardians rarely told the truth. "Sometimes I think I can remember that night but it's all really blurry. I was only a year old when it happened."
"I see." Snape said narrowing his eyes.
He felt some magic force in the room. A wizard if he was skilled at Occulmency can attune himself to the magical energies in any room. Snape had done so in this room to make sure to be aware if a powerful wizard came into the room. He was feeling a shift in the energies around the boy. What accidental magic was the boy doing? The boy obviously felt the change as well for he was gaping and looking at his leg and arm. Was the boy healing himself?
The wounded arm and leg glowed a bright red and then stopped. The boy gulped fearfully and looked around, obviously afraid that his uncle would return and punish him for doing something out of the ordinary. When no phantom uncle appeared the boy began poking at the leg. It was in a cast of course but the boy poked at the top and gasped.
"What is it?"
"I can't feel it anymore. Do you think that's bad?"
"It is most likely nothing." Snape said holding back how impressed he was that the boy was powerful enough to cast a numbing charm on himself.
"Oh. This happens a lot though. Maybe it is bad." The boy frowned before smiling widely.
"What?"
"Nothing." The boy said with a sneaky smile.
The boy leaned back and waited. Snape rolled his eyes and went back to reading his potions book. A doctor came in to check on the boy.
"Well good afternoon Harry. My name is Doctor Parsons. I'll be taking care of you while you are with us. How is your leg feeling?"
"I can't feel it at all. It feels like it's not even there." The boy said sounding fearful. "Is that supposed to happen?"
"Well no." The doctor said sounding almost worried himself. "I am going to call in another doctor to see if they can find out what's wrong."
The rest of the boy's day was filled with tests being taken on his 'mysteriously' numb leg. Eventually the doctors decided there was some nerve damage that they hoped would heal in time but they would have to keep him in the hospital for much longer than anticipated. Snape realized that that had been the boy's goal the whole time. When the doctors left he sighed.
"You know staying in here longer will not stop your uncle from hurting you."
"I know but if I give myself enough to time to get better then he won't be able to hurt me as much. He only hurts me when I don't finish my chores. I couldn't finish them with a broken leg but once the leg heals then I can go back there." The boy explained quietly.
"What's to stop him from breaking your leg again?"
"Nothing." The boy answered with a frown. "You can't stop Uncle Vernon, he's too big."
Snape hoped the boy's magic would transfigure the muggle into an earthworm. The man would deserve nothing less and probably a whole lot more.
"Another adult could."
"No adult wants too. I'm a freak and no one wants to help me. Besides anytime I ask for help they always seem to forget about it later. Like magic almost."
Snape frowned inwardly. Was the boy unknowingly obliviating those who learned about the abuse? It wasn't unknown for abused wizards to do so but to do it at such a young age was rare. The boy was powerful that much was certain. He would need to be careful and observe to ensure that the boy didn't do accidental magic on him.
"Do you believe in magic Severus?" The boy asked quietly. "My uncle told me it wasn't real and he hits me if I even say the word. Sometimes I think it might be real and I like to pretend that I can do magic. If I could do magic I could scare my Uncle and he wouldn't bother me anymore."
What a Slytherin sentiment. The boy was powerful enough that soon he would be able to control his outbursts.
"I believe in magic." Snape answered after a moment having to hold back a snort, believe in magic indeed.
"Really?" The boy shouted flashing the largest smile he had ever seen. "That's amazing. Is that why you're reading a book about potions? Cause they're magical?"
"Yes." Snape answered surprised the boy had even made the connection.
"I wish I had something to read. Uncle Vernon hates it when I read, says I'm wasting my time and that I'm too stupid to bother with. I sneak books into my cupboard though."
"Cupboard?" Snape asked almost too afraid to get the answer.
"I sleep in the cupboard under the stairs. It's not too bad unless you're afraid of spiders or the dark. Sometimes I steal books from my cousin Dudley and read them at night. It helps me not have so many nightmares."
Definitely Slytherin material Snape thought. He wasn't going to offer to let the boy read his book. This one had dark potions in it. He shifted in his seat he wanted nothing more than to be able to walk. It would still be another week or more before he would even be able to move them. The boy saw his movement and gave him a look of understanding. A nurse entered with their next meal and took them to the bathrooms. She stayed to talk with Harry for a little while.
"Are you alright dear?"
"I'm just fine ma'am. I'm a little bored though."
"Well I have a few books and toys at the nursing station along with a few games you could use." She offered.
"I'd like that a lot. My aunt and uncle are both very busy and I'm going to be alone a lot until I get released." The boy said faking a sad tone about the turn of events.
"Oh well don't you worry sweet heart. I'll make sure and bring you somethings right away."
The nurse patted his arm before shuffling away. Snape was impressed once again by the boy's manipulation of the nurse. The woman came bustling back with a large handful of things. Books, papers, crayons, a chess set, a deck of cards and strange multicolored cube. She placed them on the table next to the boy's bed.
"Here you are dearie. Tell me if you need anything else."
"I will thank you so much ma'am!"
The woman pinched his cheek with a smile and left without even glancing at Snape who had garnered the reputation of someone to not be bothered. The boy leaned over and easily plucked up one of the books. Opening it to the front page the boy began to read while eating his dinner. Snape did the same and the rest of the evening was spent in silence. The boy was the first to drift off. The boy fell asleep glasses still on and book in hands.
The night nurse came in and properly tucked the boy in before turning off the lights. The next day they started a schedule together. Now that the boy had things to occupy his time with he didn't bother Snape as much. However every time someone came in with meals the boy would pepper him with questions. The boy was there for five days in total before he healed his arm and leg. Snape learned the boy was better when a doctor came in to cut the cast off. Once the boy's leg was free he sighed.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm all better which means I have to go home now."
"I see. Is your uncle coming soon?"
"He should be here in an hour or so. How much longer are you going to stay here for?" The boy asked quietly still morose at his quick healing.
"Three more weeks." He answered.
The boy got out of his bed and walked over on slightly unsteady legs to stand next to his bed. The boy was frowning still but he had a thoughtful look in his bright green eyes.
"I have to leave soon. My Uncle is going to pick me up in the lobby." The boy explained.
Before Snape could ask for an explanation the boy jumped up and hugged him tightly. The boy whispered in his ears 'Thank you for being so nice!' and he felt the boy's magic rush into him at an alarming rate. The magic rushed in directly into his legs and they tingled almost painfully. The boy let him go after a moment and climbed off the bed. The boy patted his legs lightly. Before Snape could demand an explanation the boy was gone, having already changed into his normal clothing and shoes.
Snape waited a few moments before trying to move his legs. He found to his utter surprise that they were completely healed. He slid off the bed and smirked as they confidently held his weight. He couldn't believe his luck. The boy had healed him, knowingly healed him. Snape sighed as he thought about the boy who would be going home to abusive guardians. Snape could not help him now but in three years. The boy would survive till he got to Hogwarts certainly and then Snape could help him. The boy would most certainly be sorted into his house despite his muggleborn state. Then Snape could help him, get him out of that place, heal him. Mentor him. Just three years. The boy just had to endure three more years and then Snape could safely help him.
If Snape took him in now. Helped him now. It wouldn't work out well. If he reported the case to the Aurors they would take the boy into the system where he would live by himself. The Ministry had its own orphanage where children, unless they were adopted, which was rare, mostly raised themselves until they got to Hogwarts. They'd never let Snape take him in, he was an ex-death eater not fit to be around such young children. Not to mention the danger the boy would be in if he got close to Snape who was still playing out his double spy roll. No the boy just needed to endure three more years in that hell hole and then Snape could safely help him.
It was a sad bitter fact. The Mark on his arm kept him from saving the boy from abuse immediately. Snape removed his wand and with a few flicks of his wand dressed himself in some muggle clothing. Another flick and he was clean as well. His accounts with the hospital were already taken care of by Albus so Snape merely apparated back to Hogsmeade. He strode up to the castle and went directly to Albus' office to let him know that he was healed. The man was delighted at his quick recovery and Snape never told him that it was an 8 year old who had done it.
Three years later:
Snape had never been so excited for a sorting. He had checked with Minerva and was pleased to find that all of the invitations sent out to incoming first years had been accepted meaning Harry was coming. The rest of the staff, indeed the portraits on the walls themselves, whispered amongst themselves about the coming of the boy-who-lived. Snape scoffed. Why should he care about the arrogant spoiled Potter? The boy was most likely a carbon copy of his arrogant father.
Whenever the boy was brought up he left the room unwilling to know anything about the Potter brat. The night of the opening feast Snape sat in his chair looking among the crowds in anticipation. Only Albus knew of his excitement although the man did not know of its cause. When Minerva entered with the first years behind her, his eyes swept the crowd. He looked for a boy with black hair and green eyes, a boy who was too skinny. His eyes found him almost immediately. It was then that he realized who he had befriended in the hospital three years ago.
Now that the boy no longer had a large bandage over his forehead the characteristic scar was clearly visible. The boy looked more like James Potter now and he could see the similarities between the boy's eyes and Lily's. As if the boy felt his gaze the boy looked up and their eyes met. The eyes widened comically in surprise and then the boy smiled widely at him. The boy waved lightly at him before leaning over to whisper to his companion one, of the Weasley's spawn.
Snape didn't know what to feel. He had wanted to save the boy, his Harry. And now his Harry had become the one he was supposed to despise. The boy would no doubt be sorted into Gryffindor like his parents and he would be lost to Snape. Snape saw that the Weasley boy was now staring at him in revulsion, obviously his older brothers had told the younger one all about him. Snape sneered down at the red headed 11 year old. Snape could almost imagine what the boy was telling Harry.
'He's the head of Slytherin. My brothers' say he's a greasy git and that he always favors his own house and treats us Gryffindors unfairly.'
Snape gripped the arms of his chair tightly. The boy would be against in him in just thirty minutes. Another emotion tore at him. Guilt. He had sworn to Lily to protect the boy. He knew full well that Potter had been abused. If he had made the connection he could have done something. Why had he never asked for the boy's last name? As Minerva called out names Snape watched the boy who looked quite nervous about the sorting. Finally his name was called.
"Harry Potter."
The entire hall erupted into whispers and the boy hunched his shoulders at the attention before walking up to the stool. The hat went over the boy's head and they waited 6 minutes for the boy to be sorted. Of course Harry Potter would be a hat stall. His heart stopped when the hat opened its mouth.
"SLYTHERIN!"
The boy removed the hat and ran over to the table amid the shouts of his house. ¾ of the school sat in shock at the sorting. His snakes however took no time in shouting out their surprise and congratulations. The boy sat down next to Daphne Greengrass and far away from Draco Malfoy. When the sorting was over and the feast had begun Severus' eyes found Harry's again. The boy beamed at him and Snape inclined his head. During the feast many of the staff shot him nervous looks. Everyone knew of his hatred of the Potter boy. He had made it no secret.
Yet things were different now. He knew full well the boy was nothing like his father. The boy couldn't be. The boy was the one who had stood on a broken leg and forced him to shake his hand insisting it was proper manners. The boy who ignored his sharp tongue and peppered him with questions. The boy who grinned at his sneers and glares. When the feast ended Snape followed his house down to the dungeons and the common room. He stood in the corner of the room while the prefects sent the first years to bed after telling them the rules and the schedules.
Harry Potter stood there in the middle of the common room as others made their way to the bedrooms. The boy obviously wanted to speak to him. When the room was almost empty except for some older students Snape stepped out of the shadows.
"Come with me Mr. Potter." He ordered.
"Yes sir." The boy said with a large smile.
They left the common room and Snape led him to the entrance to his office. When the door was shut the boy spoke.
"Why didn't you tell me magic was real Sev… Professor?" The boy almost called him by his first name but caught himself.
"It was not my place to do so Mr. Potter. Had I known that you were the boy-who-lived, I would have informed you of it and taken you to Hogwarts as soon as I was able."
"Why would that have mattered? I was still an eight year old wizard doesn't matter if I have a scar on my forehead or not." The boy frowned.
"You misunderstand. I was close with your mother and I promised her I would protect you, ensure your safety. If I had been aware that you were in danger at home I would have removed you. As it was I had planned on helping you when you came to Hogwarts. I planned on finding you this year and getting you out of your home as soon as you were in my domain." Snape explained slowly.
The boy smiled at him.
"You were going to help me?"
"I still am Mr. Potter. I must ask and you must be honest with me. Are you at all injured?"
"Yes. Uncle Vernon wasn't happy, at all, about me going to Hogwarts. He tried to snap my wand and burn my school supplies. I bought a special trunk when I went to Diagon Alley, one that won't open without a password and that can withstand lots of damage so my school supplies were safe. I was able to keep my wand safe too. Since I wouldn't let him snap my wand he tried to snap me." The boy explained with a frown. "This last month since learning about Hogwarts has been really hard."
Snape's frown deepened. He motioned for the boy to sit down onto one of the chairs. Once the boy was seated Snape removed his wand and waved it in a distinct pattern. A parchment appeared floating in mid-air. A quill appeared next to it and it began cataloging injuries and health issues. Contusions and welts on the boy's back needed treatment and the boy was malnourished and anemic.
"Mr. Potter. You have multiple contusions and welts on your back that need to be treated before infection sets in. You are malnourished and anemic."
The boy nodded.
"Do I have to go to the infirmary? I'd really rather not have anyone find out about this. When Hagrid told me I was famous I almost didn't know how to handle it. People nearly mobbed me in Diagon Alley. I have no idea how people would take it if they found out how I grew up." The boy pleaded with him.
"No I can tend to your injuries here. Take off your robe and shirt. I have a salve I can apply that will close and heal the wounds as well as a pain potion."
The boy did as he commanded and Snape went over to his private stores. Removing the needed supplies he winced at the sight of the boy's ribs. He was skinny enough that they were clearly visible. His back was covered in belt marks in various stages of healing. He opened up the jar of salve and began gently rubbing it into the wounds. While he worked the boy asked questions.
"It wasn't really a poison that made your legs stop working was it?"
"No, it was a potion. It was in my morning tea however."
"Did you ever figure out who did it?"
"An unpleasant fellow by the name of Avery. He was not charged with poisoning me by the ministry but I was able to make it clear to him to never try again."
"Shouldn't you have been in a magical hospital? I asked Hagrid and he told me that wizards have their own hospital, St. Mungo's."
"I was able to give myself the antidote to the potion quickly enough to stop myself from dying. However I still needed a month to heal. We didn't know at the time who was trying to kill me or why. I wasn't able to defend myself very well and St. Mungo's has horrible security. The headmaster and I decided that I could use a muggle hospital as a place to heal and hide."
"You know I looked everywhere in my local library for the book 'Most Potent Potions' By William Shakespeare for years right? I couldn't find any references to it anywhere. I almost started to believe you were an illusion my mind had made up in that hospital."
Snape snorted. He had forgotten about that particular lie.
"I suppose you also asked Hagrid about the chemistry course offered at Hogwarts?"
"He told me there was no such thing!" The boy said indignantly.
Snape chuckled at the boy, he had finished treating the boy's back. He handed the boy a vial of pain potion.
"Drink that. The salve takes time to heal the wounds but it doesn't always feel very pleasant. Ignore the taste of it."
"What is it?" The boy asked while opening the vial.
"Pain potion, think of it as the magical version of muggle Aspirin."
The boy downed the vial in one gulp and grimaced at the bitter taste. He handed the vial back to Snape who pocketed it. Snape waved his wand a muttered a few words. The boy's back and chest were bandaged to protect against infection.
"Get dressed now. You should feel right as rain by morning."
"Thank you sir." The boy said pulling on his shirt.
"Mr. Potter. I expect great things from you. Since the moment I met you in that damn hospital I expected greatness. Do not let what happened at your relatives hold you back. If you ever have need of me come and find me. Do you understand?"
"Thank you sir. I'll try my best."
The boy was dressed and standing now. Snape waved his hand towards the door.
"Do you remember how to get back to the common room?"
"Yes sir. I'll see you tomorrow."
The boy walked towards the door and opened it. He stopped for a moment and turned around. Harry ran at him and hugged him around the middle. Just as he had three years before. He felt the boy's magic enter him slightly. However instead of healing an injury it merely made his skin tingle.
"Thank you Severus." The boy whispered.
Then the boy was gone run out of the door before Snape could reprimand him for hugging a professor. Snape smiled at the open doorway. It was going to be an interesting year. He went to his private quarters and began to plan. If he was going to get Harry out of his Uncle's grasp he needed to convince Dumbledore of the ineffectiveness of the Blood Wards. Yes, the year would be interesting but it was also going to be a very long year as well. Full of Potter surprises.