A scream snapped Severus back to the present as he opened his eyes and turned to the distressed pre-teen that was presently taking up half of his bed. Looking toward Harry, Severus could see the sweat covered forehead and the flushed cheeks.'Harry' Severus called as he laid his hands on the shoulders that were twitching as if hit by the Cruciatus curse.
Harry, shaken out of his nightmare, looked into the dark eyes of his potions professor. Recalling the past 24 hours, Harry flinched back from his professor, asking if he could leave and go back to his common room.
Sighing, Severus answered with a no and pointed his wand at the boy, checking his temperature, seeing that it was at 101°F. "You still have a high temperature" Severus further explained as he watched the boy try to argue his point. Getting up from the bed, Severus cast a quick Tempus, noticing that he was only out for an hour, seeing the 4pm flashing in front of his eyes. 'Are you hungry? You have been asleep for over 8 hours' Severus enquired as he looked at the boy on his bed.
Harry, thinking a bit, did notice that not only did he feel hungry, but he still felt nauseous. 'I don't think I would be able to keep anything down' came his meek reply. Sighing, Severus summoned a stomach soother and requested a bowl of soup from the house elf that popped in, in response to Severus' call. Popping back with a bowl of Chicken Soup, the elf bowed low and left the teacher and pupil to the soon to be argument that Severus knew would come. "Drink this and then try to eat the soup" Severus explained as he handed over the vial of potion. Seeing the boy scrunch up his nose, he signed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Potter, the quicker you eat, the quicker you get better and out of my rooms" came a snapped response as Harry quickly took, downed and discarded the vial. Looking a bit green, Severus waited until he was sure that Harry would keep the potion down before he placed the tray holding the soup on his lap with a stern 'eat'.
Harry looked into the soup, feeling the emptiness in his stomach, he scooped up, blew and swallowed the first mouthful. Realising that the potion was working, he quickly reached for his 2nd, 3rd and 4th helpings before he started to slow down and enjoy the rest of the soup.
Severus, nodding in approval, left the boy as he made his way back to the living room and picking up the list of past and present ailments that he discarded earlier, looking to see if it would hold the mysteries to the light weight of the 12 year old. Reading down the extensive list, Severus could feel his eyebrows pinch together as he read further and further into Harry's medical past. Untreated illness', broken bones and malnourishment was the most commonly repeated on the list, making Severus growl with anger as he read over concussions and sprains.
Walking back into the bedroom, Severus could see that Harry had finished the soup and was leaning back against the pillows, eyes half lidded as he allowed the soup to fill his stomach. Glancing up at Severus, Harry shrinked into the bed as he could see the anger reflected in the onyx eyes of his professor.
Severus, seeing Harry shrink back, took a deep breath as he tried to let go of his anger. "Harry" Severus started as he perched on the edge of the bed, "I did a spell on you yesterday that would tell me all present and past ailments that you have ever suffered". Severus watched to see if Harry understood what he was meaning, continuing. 'This spell writes a list of every illness that you have every suffered, every injury and what was done to help you get over/past them' - Harry, finally realised what this meant and stared at his professor with wide eyes. Sucking in a deep breath, Harry quickly rolled out of bed, forgetting about his knee and ended up falling to the floor with a cry of pain.
'Harry!" Severus exclaimed as he darted to the other side of the bed. Picking the light child up, he placed him back on the bed as he rolled up the trouser leg and unwrapped the bandage that was currently covering the knee. "You silly boy" Severus snarled as he summoned the required balms needed and went back to work, replying and redressing the distressed knee. Harry, too shocked to do anything other then stare at his hands, shook with barely concealed panic. 'Harry' Severus called as he finished wrapping the knee. "What is wrong?" He enquired. "You know" came the whispered response. Sighing to himself, Severus confirmed that he did as he watched Harry's breath hitch and get gradually faster. "Calm down Harry, I cannot give you another calming draught just yet."
Harry stared at his professor, his eyes wide and full of fear. "You can't know, they will kill me" he whispered. "Who will kill you Harry?" Severus replied as he held the gaze of the panicked boy. "I can't" was all the Harry replied as he continued to stare at his professor. Looking as him but not focusing on him as he recalled his uncles warning before he left the car at Kings Cross, 3 month before.
Severus, staring at into the boys eyes, picked up on the surface thoughts. Seeing a purple face, viscously shouting at the boy, Severus kept the connection strong to see if anything else would be shown 'You tell those freaks what happened this summer and I will kill you, do you understand boy?" The purple voice bellowed as he shook him by the shoulders. "I won't Uncle Vernon" came the quite reply from the boy. Vernon, scoffing, slapped Harry around the back of the head before throwing Harry's truck to the floor and revving out of the car park.
Severus, breaking the connection to Harry, stared at him in shock. Where was the spoiled Potter with the simpering relatives? Where was the pompous and holler then thou attitude? Seeing the boy still staring into space, Severus got up to retrieve another potion of the wizard flu as well as a nutrient potion, vowing to make the boy gain weight. On his way back to the bedroom, Severus grabbed another Sleeping draught and kneeled in front of the unmoved boy.
'Harry, I need you to take these please. This one first.' Severus, softly as he could un-corked and handed the boy the nutrient potion, watching him take it automatically, along with the other two, before catching the boy as the sleeping draught kicked in. Tucking him under the covers, Severus cast another alert charm on the boy and made his way out of his quarters. He had to think and actually check up on the rest of the students that stayed at the castle this break.
Walking into the Great Hall, just as the dinner bell announced, found the rest of the student body in attendance. Doing a quick head count, Severus noticed that all bar two students were in attendance. Knowing that one was in his quarters, he recounted per house and noticed that one of his snakes were missing. Sighing, Severus made his way over to the Slytherin table, noticing that Draco Malfoy was missing. Raising as eyebrow at the table, Theodore Not looked at the professor and stated that Draco was still in the common room, not feeling very well.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, the professor nodded and strode to the front of the hall, getting everyones attention and stating that he had two sick students to look after and if anyone needed anything, to come and get him in his classroom. Seeing no one object, he nodded his head as he made his way to the Slytherin common room.
Entering the boys dormitory, Severus could see the covered shape of Draco, under the covers of his green bed.
'Dragon?' Severus called softly as he made his way over to his godson. Seeing the boy fast asleep with red covering his usually pale cheeks, Severus cast a diagnostic charm and noticed with a frown, that he too was suffering with the wizards flu. Shaking his head the obvious break that he couldn't get, he pulled the covers completely of the boy, picking him up and carrying him into his quarters to better look after both ailing boys.
Placing Draco onto his Sofa, he walked into the bedroom, knowing that Harry would still be asleep. Conjuring another bed to place into the corner of the room, he split his bed into two and went to retrieve his Godson. Settling him in the bed next to Harry, he spelled both a fever reducer and flu potion into his system before placing the same alert charm on the boy and leaving for his office.
4 hours of steady work took Severus to 9pm as he stacked all of his papers up and locked them into this desk. Walking around the castle once to make sure that all students were in bed and setting a charm on the entrances to three of the common rooms, allowing his to know if anyone left, he made his way back to quarters.
Stepping into the bedroom, he noticed that both boys were still out for the count and would most likely be until the morning. Going through his nightly routine saw Severus in the conjured bed and falling into a pitiful sleep.
Waking with a shock, Severus wondered what woke him up. Casting a tempus to see that it was 3am and glancing towards the beds of both boys. Frowning, he noticed that Harry was missing and leapt out of bed to follow the point me to the bathroom. Hearing wrenching, Severus winced in sympathy as he made his way over to his charge, currently kneeling on the floor with his head over the toilet bowl. "Harry' he called as he made his way over to him.
Seeing glazed over emerald eyes turning his way, Severus sighed as he held his hand to the burning forehead. Flinching, Harry rested his head on his bent arms as he tried to catch his breath back. His throat felt like razor blades were scratching him with each swallow and his head was pounding to the beat of an unknown drum. "Are you finished?" Came the whispered question and Harry, very glad for the quietness, nodded his head.
Helping the boy to the sink, Severus flushed the toilet as he looked over at Harry leaning his weight on the sink side, washing his face and mouth with clumsy movements. Placing the toilet lid back down, he gestured for Harry to take a seat as he pulled out more potions for the young boy to take.
Still not looking at the professor, but rather looking at his hands, Harry was quite shocked when Severus kneeled down before him. 'Harry?' Severus questioned as he waited for the boy to lift his head. Seeing the emerald eyes peak at him from behind the dark fringe, Severus made sure he showed him the various potions and balms that were laid out before him.
Pointing to three bottles, Severus explained that they were for the flu that he was currently experiencing, continuing with the balm and wrap for him knee and lastly a potion to help put right the malnutrition that his relatives had caused.
The last potion caused Harry's breath to hitch, hoping that he has dreamed the last encounter with Snape. Harry, shaking, stated that he did not need to take the last potion, his relative treated him absolutely fine and were lovely to him. Wincing at the obvious lie that he just told, he looked back down at his folded hands.
Severus, not wanting to push the issue until the boy was over the flu, nodded and asked him to take it regardless, seeing as he hasn't been able to eat as much due to the flu anyhow. Showing Harry the order that he wanted Harry to take the potions, he stated on the knee once again.
Nodding in satification, Severus noted that the swelling was going down and the bruising starting to change from a vivid purple to a healthier yellow. Redressing the knee, Severus looked up to see the boy half asleep with all the potions taken. Nodding in satisfaction, Severus helped Harry up and walked him back to bed, before drifting off himself.
