Chapter 2: A Promise Was Broken
As Dumbledore and Snape walked through the now wide-open doorway, the scene in front of them stopped them dead in their tracks. If Harry were still conscious he would have thought he imagined the looks on both Professors' faces. Dumbledore's face was as sheet white as the bathtub Petunia made Harry scrub earlier that day, Snape's face could only be described as a combination between the fear when Lupin turned into a werewolf in front of him and the anger when he caught Harry looking at his memories in the pensieve during Harry's occlumency lessons.
"PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!" Dumbledore boomed consequently making Vernon Dursley fall to the floor with a loud thud, making the many pictures of Dudley fall off the wall and shatter. Petunia and Dudley sneaked into the kitchen and tried to get out the back door which was magically locked.
"Arthur! If the area is secure and no one can get in or out of this house, assist Severus with Harry while I take care of a few things with Petunia here." Dumbledore ordered.
Arthur and Snape rushed over to Harry to assess his condition, as Dumbledore slammed through the kitchen door looking murderous.
"Would you please go assist Professor Snape and Mr. Weasley while I have a word with your mother… ALONE." Dumbledore directed to Dudley, making the young man wet himself out of fear of the old and powerful wizard.
"Y-Ye-Yes S-S-Sir. Please don't kill my mum, sir!" Dudley stammered out with fear and tears in his eyes.
"I have no intention with landing myself in Azkaban over the sorry excuses of humans you lot are. I just need to have a word. Now leave!" Dumbledore told him with as much sincerity as he could, knowing the young man is a product of his environment.
The shout made Dudley nearly fall to the floor running out of the kitchen door and into the living room.
Turning back to Petunia, his face went from the gentle but powerful elderly wizard into something only nightmares from past students could dream up. His power was literally glowing through his rage filled eyes of pure hatred for the woman standing before him.
"HOW THE BLODDY HELL DARE YOU PETUNIA INVIDIA DURSLEY! HOW DARE YOU TREAT A CHILD IN THIS MANNER, HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO YOUR OWN NEPHEW! I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENED SHE WOULD HAVE TAKEN YOUR SON IN WITHOUT A SECOND THOUGHT AND TREATED HIM AS HER OWN. HOW DARE YOU DISGRACE YOUR ONLY SISTER IN THIS MATTER. YOU SHOULD BLOODY WELL BE ASHAMED FOR YOUR MISTREATMENT OF THIS BOY. I TRUSTED YOU-SHE TRUSTED YOU WITH HER OWN SONS LIFE AND HOW DO YOU REPAY HER? YOU LET YOUR OAF HUSBAND BEAT HIM TO NEAR DEATH. YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY ARE GOING TO PAY FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. AND I PROMISE YOU, YOU WILL. NOT. LIKE. IT!" Dumbledore roared to a terrified and shrinking Petunia Dursley.
"I-I-I-I-I-I…" Petunia tried to reply.
"I think you had better pray that the Wizemagot is lenient on you and your family. I for one, could care less what happens to you OR your husband. However, your son with a firm hand should straighten out in due time." He told her dangerously.
Snape was scourgifying the dried blood and dirt off from Harry so he could see exactly what his injuries were.
"Arthur! Conjure up a basin of warm water, a flannel, and some mild soap! We need to get these new wounds cleaned out before they get infected like the other ones!" Snape told Arthur as if he were working on a difficult potion and had an assistant.
"Uh S-S-Sir, We have some peroxide and rubbing alcohol upstairs in the first aid kit. Would that help?" Dudley stammered out, unsure if he should even speak to him.
"Yes, get them. Arthur would you please still conjure up those items. It will help get the areas surrounding the wounds cleaned easier."
Dudley bounded up the stairs like the elephant he was, returning within minutes with the entire first aid kit, including the requested items.
After cleaning the dried blood from Harry's face and body everyone was able to see the extent of the injuries Harry had sustained.
"Merlin! I have never seen this many injuries on anyone, it's a bloody miracle he's breathing on his own!" Snape said out of complete shock as Arthur's face turned as red as his hair and marched over to where Vernon was.
"HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO A CHILD. I HOPE YOU ARE SENTENCED A DEMENTORS KISS, IF YOU HAVE A SOUL THAT IS." Arthur screamed at the man while kicking him in the ribs as hard as he possibly could.
"Perhaps you should step outside to collect yourself? No worries my boy, these injuries were inflicted to save the boy. Your secret stays in this house." Dumbledore said with his usual twinkle in his eyes.
"My apologies Albus, I lost my head thinking of how this could be done to such a caring and generous young man, who is like my own. It won't happen again." Arthur replied sheepishly.
"Good my boy! Perhaps you should send word to your family letting them know he's in good hands?" Dumbledore asked.
"Merlin's Pants! Albus! You need to do something so Molly doesn't see what he looks like! She will come here and kill them all!" Arthur exclaimed to Albus.
"No worries my boy! As soon as I came in the room after my chat with Petunia, I cast a slight disillusionment charm on the pictures the watch displays so he doesn't look as grim for her." Albus said to him.
"Thank you so much Albus!"
"No worries my boy! Now let's get Harry back to Hogwarts so he can heal." Dumbledore said sadly turning toward the young boy. "What would you like us to help you with Severus?"
"First off, get ahold of the Aurors and WFCPS so this lot can be out of my hair." He said annoyed. Petunia could be seen anxiously looking at the blood stains on the carpet itching to get it cleaned up before it was seen, while Dudley was on the sofa watching TV.
"I will send a Patronus to Amelia Bones herself. Anything else?" Dumbledore asked the potions master.
"Not from you at the present, Albus. Arthur come here and place continuous pressure on this wound like this." Arthur went over and did exactly as he was shown while Snape was scanning the room for useful items. "Pig Boy! Go and grab the fluffiest and most absorbent towels you have, a pair of your mother's sheer tights, a neck tie- NOT a bow tie, and a large blanket. Bring them here to me at once, so we can get this bleeding under control and we can get out of here." Severus instructed Dudley.
After Dudley returned with everything needed, Snape was finally able to prepare Harry to be Flooed to Hogwarts. Snape put compression bandages on the areas he was most swollen, and muttered some basic healing spells to temporarily close the many minor and moderate gashes that were bleeding leaving the three largest ones on his right forearm, his abdomen, and his right calf. He tied the tights around Harry's right bicep to slow the bleeding in his arm, and the neck tie around his right thigh. With the bleeding in the two other wounds slowed down, he was able to continuously put pressure on the wound in Harry's abdomen. With help from Dumbledore and Arthur, he could wrap the towels around Harry's wounds and then wrap him in the blanket so he could be brought back to Hogwarts. Snape hefted Harry in his arms noticing how unnaturally light the child already was since the end of term. Turning to Dumbledore he asked him to spell some numbing potion and dreamless sleep potion directly into Harry's stomach, which of course Dumbledore happily did so.
"I'll stay here with this lot, the Aurors and WFCPS should be arriving any minute. I have already opened the Dursley's fireplace and is connected directly to the Hospital Wing through a private connection. Please, get him there and healed. Arthur would you please go along with them to make sure everything runs smoothly?" Dumbledore said without his usual twinkle in his eyes and tears filling his eyes.
"Of course, Albus, He's a fighter. I will send you word as soon as we arrive." Arthur said.
"Thank you Albus, He will recover I am sure of it." Snape said with obvious emotion in his voice.
Arthur threw the Floo powder into the roaring flames turning them bright green, and Snape with Harry in his arms stepped in first followed by Arthur as Snape called "Hogwarts, Hospital Wing. Private Entrance!" The three of them were whisked away and seconds later arrived in the Hospital Wing in Poppy Pomfrey's office.
Snape immediately rushed Harry over to the nearest bed with Poppy and Arthur following quickly behind. Snape casts the diagnostic spell on harry while Poppy and Arthur grab everything they might need. When Snape sees the results of the spell, he dropped his wand to the floor in disbelief. He couldn't believe his eyes, every single vital sign was in the red that could be, and there was no logical explanation as to how he was even still alive. When Arthur and Poppy heard the gasp and Snape's wand dropping they ran over and stood in shock looking at the spell still listing injuries. Snape was the first to come out of the trance.
"Poppy! Arthur! Snap out of it! We need to get his levels up!" Snape shouted.
"Oh Dear! I have never seen someone still alive with those injuries! We need to get his Liver repaired before he bleeds to death internally! I will do that, while you repair his wounds in his leg, arm, and abdomen since it's on the other side of the Liver with magical sutures. Arthur, you will assist me since this is an extremely delicate task I couldn't possibly do alone. Hopefully" Poppy declared shutting down her emotions.
Snape immediately began his work and started stitching up his abdomen and then his leg, leaving the worst wound, his right arm.
"Poppy, excuse me for interrupting, but I need a second opinion on this arm. It appears his bone is crushed, and his tendons are completely torn in his wrist and forearm. Would it be more beneficial to start by removing his bones and spelling Skelegrow to regrow the bones leaving repairing the tendons to later or should I repair them now and try to repair the bone, since both cannot be done at one time?" Snape questioned.
"Regrow his bones. It will be less painful for him to experience the Skelegrow while under the dreamless sleep potion. We will have to wait a month before his tendons can be repaired or his new bones will become brittle and break easily. Numb as many nerves as you can to decrease his pain. Sadly, it won't completely the pain, but it will help some. After you do that, stitch his arm wound and wrap it. He will have to be fitted with a muggle cast when I'm finished with his Liver."
"Thank you, Poppy. I will remove the bones now. Who knew Lockhart actually used a spell that I could ever find useful." Snape replied.
After all the wounds both internal and external were repaired as best they could, Poppy fitted Harry with a muggle cast extending from his shoulder to his hand, bending his elbow at a right angle, with modifications so they can easily access the stitches as well as allow the arm to stay comfortably cool and anti-itching spells places on the entire arm. Once Poppy finished placing the cast on his arm, Snape spelled the Skelegrow followed by a variation of the dreamless sleep potion only, this potion lasts for a week so Harry's body and magical core can begin to heal.
"Arthur, since there's nothing more we can do while his injuries heal, go home and inform Miss. Granger and your family that Potter will live. One of us will inform you when he is ready for visitors." Snape said, exhausted.
"Thank you, Severus, For everything you did today. You most likely saved Harry's life, Lily and James would be so happy to know that you were the first to arrive. I know Molly and I are. Get some rest, you've earned it." Arthur said to Snape.
"Thank you for the kind words Arthur, but they are no necessary. Apparently, my sole purpose in life is to repeatedly save the Potter Brat's life." Snape said with his familiar sneer.
"Goodbye Severus, Goodbye Poppy. See you soon." Arthur said as he turned around with a big smile on his face. He knew full well that Snape's words didn't have the usual venom as they did before. If he knew any better, he'd be willing to bet he sleeps in the bed next to Harry tonight. He walked into Poppy's fireplace, threw some Floo powder down and arrived at the Burrow in moments.
As soon as Arthur arrived in the Burrow he was bombarded with questions about Harry's condition.
"How's Harry?" "Is he okay?" "How bad?" Hermione, Ron, and Ginny said all at once.
"He's going to live. It was close, but he made it. Thanks to Professor Snape. He very well might have saved Harry's life. Now, I need to talk to your Molly and Bill and fill them in on what's going on and then I am going to get some sleep, and you all should do the same. It's well after Midnight." Arthur told them tiredly.
Arthur walked into the kitchen where he found the rest of his family. He sent a Patronus to Bill saying that as long as no one leaves the Burrow they all can leave the bedroom if they wanted. Bill, Fleur, Molly, and the twins were all seated at the table having tea as they waited for Arthur to arrive home. He casted silencing charms so the kids couldn't hear what he was telling them.
"He almost didn't make it. Severus and Poppy have never seen anyone with such extensive injuries survive. His magical-"Arthur told them before he was interrupted by Dumbledore arriving in the kitchen looking every bit his age.
"Hello Albus! I was just filling them in on what's going on with Harry, would you like to join us? How did things go back at the Dursley's?" Arthur asked Dumbledore.
"The Aurors have escorted Mr. and Mrs. Dursley to the Ministry holding cells to await their trials. Dudley has been taken by the WCPS and placed in a boy's home until the end of the trials. How is he?" Dumbledore informed the table.
"He's not out of the woods yet Albus. Unfortunately, along with the obvious external injuries all over him, he was also bleeding internally from his Liver. Poppy and Severus still are amazed he made it. They have never seen someone with so many injuries live. Snape sewed up the wounds on his leg, arm, and abdomen, but the arm was so irreparably damaged he had to remove the bones in his entire arm, Using the same spell Lockhart did in his second year, and they placed him in a muggle cast from his shoulder to hand to keep it completely immobile and protected. The tendons were also damaged severely and cannot be healed for another month since his bones will be too brittle. They placed a numbing charm so he doesn't feel as much pain from the torn tendons but sadly it won't block all his pain. His magical core was nearly depleted by the time Severus scanned him and they put him in a dreamless sleep for a week so that can heal. He also has several broken bones, including four ribs, but, unfortunately, they cannot be mended for another two weeks or his body could go into shock. But in short, he's alive. Barely, but alive nonetheless." Arthur said with a deep sigh. "Severus told me that one of them will send word when he can have visitors, as in his friends, but since we are the closest to parents he has, aside from Remus who's in no shape to be given the news at the moment with the full moon, we can go and see him tomorrow, Bill you may come as well. I'm sorry Fleur, but he's too injured right now for you to come as well."
"What about us?" The twins said in unison.
"Absolutely not. Sorry boys, you'll have to wait with Ron, Ginny, and Hermione." Arthur told them.
"Finnnnnneeeeeee." The twins said sadly, obvious emotion on their faces.
"Fred, George, Bill, and Fleur, would you mind giving me and your parents a moment alone. I need to speak with them about a private matter concerning the trials of the Dursleys. It was wonderful seeing you all." Dumbledore told them leaving no room for argument.
After they all left, Arthur turned to Dumbledore as Molly refilled his tea. "What's the problem Albus? Are they trying to make him go back?" Arthur said with obvious hatred toward the Dursleys.
"No, No My Boy. Nothing like that! I have been asked to appoint a personal and medical representative for Harry since he's both gravely injured and is a minor. I have already talked with Severus and he has agreed to be his Medical representative since he was the first to examine his injuries as well as witnessed what was happening. I was wondering Arthur, if you would be willing to be Harry's Personal Representative? A WFCPS worker is Harry's legal representative and would like someone who has known Harry the longest as well as knows him on a personal level. Also, it is a perfect fit because your son is his best friend and Ron has been telling you all the signs he's been seeing." Dumbledore looked at Arthur hopeful.
"Of course I will be his Personal Representative. What kind and how many trials will be taking place?"
"There will be three trials in total. One for the actual abuse Harry has endured for all these years in which all three Dursley's must be present and tried. A Goblin Trial in which a representative from Gringotts will charge Mr. and Mrs. Dursley for stealing the support money that has been sent to them monthly since he went to live with them since obviously not a cent was used for Harry and was likely used to buy things for his cousin. Finally, a last trial which I am charging Petunia Dursley for breaching a magical contract between myself and her stating that she will provide for all of Harry's physical and emotional needs and will care for him as if he were her own son. All three trials you would be required to attend since you are representing Harry himself." Dumbledore told Arthur.
"I hope they are both kissed for what they did to Harry, I hope their boy learns the error of his ways." Molly chimed in angrily.
"Molly, they would need souls to be kissed. I'm not entirely certain they have one." Arthur said to his wife.
"I suppose that's true Arthur."
Back at the Hospital Wing in Hogwarts, Poppy is diligently checking Harry's vitals in shifts with Severus. Currently, Snape was sound asleep on the bed closest to Harry's so he doesn't have to keep going back and forth between the Dungeons and Hospital Wing. Poppy smiled knowing he was just using that as an excuse to be closer to Harry, but she didn't mind. It made it less lonely there. Something had changed in Severus Snape today, maybe it was just him being clinical, or maybe it was that he was actually starting to care for the boy. All she knew was that when he was awake, he would not move from the chair next to Harry's bed. She had a feeling the grumpy potions master was starting to care for him. Poppy walked over to Harry's bed and performed the diagnostic charm on him and saw that all of his vitals had improved exponentially.
"SEVERUS! WAKE UP! YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS!" Poppy shouted effectively scaring Snape so much he fell off the bed.
"Oh Dear! Are you alright? I didn't mean to frighten you!" Poppy said apologetically.
"I'm fine Poppy, now what is it?" Snape said agitated.
"It's Harry's vitals! Look! They're almost back to normal!" Poppy exclaimed.
"Hmmm. Interesting. I wasn't anticipating them to return to normal for another three days. I don't like how little he weighs. For his age and height, he should have at least another stone on him. Let's add some nutrient potion to his daily potions. Three times a day at least. Also, let's add some anti-depressants and anti-anxiety potions to that list as well." Snape said clinically.
"I agree, he's certainly recovering very well. He's a fighter. Definitely James Potter's son." Poppy replied to the stern potions master.
"Not just Potter's boy. Lily's too."
"Absolutely. Now let's get those new potions brewed." Poppy said as she walked toward her office.
Snape waited for her to leave sight and earshot and brushed the hair off from Harry's face and said "I promised Professor Dumbledore that I would protect you and now I am promising you. Harry James Potter, I will protect you and make sure you're safe for the rest of my life, or die trying. Your mother would be so proud of the man you have become. I know I am."
He wiped the tear from his eye and walked in to invent a new nutrients potion that will make Harry gain weight and heal faster.
I'm so sorry it's taken me so long to update! My great uncle passed away and it really hit me hard since my brother passed away a few months ago as well. I also was babysitting my cousins all summer (WHICH HAS BEEN A BLAST!) and I can't exactly write when I have a three year old boy and two seven year olds looking over my shoulder constantly. Anywho, Classes start Monday so I think I will shoot for having the next chapter up by the end of next month. Thank you for sticking with me and for all the comments! They really helped motivate me!
-PJ
