The child stumbled when they apparated, clearly not expecting the disconcerting feeling of being squeezed through a tube. To Severus, it was normal, a lifetime of apparating making the discomfort almost nonexistent. To the child unconsciously clinging to his arm as he took deep breaths, it was highly unpleasant.
But now, they stood in the small entry way of his house on Spinner's End, unchanged from the half an hour he'd left it. Had it really only been 30 minutes? Severus wondered mildly. A lot can happen in just 30 minutes apparently. The boy, realizing that he'd been clinging to Severus, quickly released him and took a step away. The professor took no offense. He'd dealt with many an abuse case, though arguably, none as bad as this one. He knew that the child would not be comfortable in close proximity with adults. And him. People were rarely comfortable near of him. Which was how he preferred it.
He strode through the narrow hallway into the small and dingy living room. He wasn't one for entertaining guests and spent almost 10 months out of the year at Hogwarts so the house in general had a cold, un-lived-in feeling. The child had followed him silently without prompting, always the same distance from him. He gestured towards the sagging couch.
"Sit. I need to change out of this muggle clothing. Then we will discuss what will happen." He strode out of the room with his usual grace, not looking back to see if the child had done as he'd said.
Boy stood frozen on the spot when the man – Snape – swept out of the room. He was at a loss. The man had given him an order, to sit. Normally, he'd obey without hesitating, sitting being a comfort They rarely allowed him. But the man had gestured to the couch when he'd ordered him. And that broke one of the Rules: Don't Sit On The Furniture. They insisted that the furniture was for normal people and besides, he was much too dirty to sit on Ma'am's almost sterile furniture.
So now, he would either break the Rule of Always Obey or the Rule of Don't Sit On The Furniture and he wasn't sure which one the man would be angrier with. Sometimes They did this too, give him an order that made him break a Rule. Sometimes it was accidental, since They couldn't remember the Rules as well as he did, and sometimes it was on purpose, so that either way they would have an excuse to punish him.
Making a quick Pro-Con list of obeying each Rule, he decided to stick to the Rule of Always Obey. That one was usually the safest one to follow and the man had gestured to the couch, like he had expected Boy to sit there. Taking a deep steadying breath, Boy perched gingerly on the edge of his seat, his entire body tense. He'd know if he had made the right choice when the man came back.
Severus took the time changing back into his comfortable wizarding robes to steady himself, pulling his Occlumency shields around his mind and emotions more firmly. His chat with Petunia hadn't allowed him to fully vent. Going to Azkaban would have been counter-productive after-all. And the child downstairs needed him. Or someone. He'd have to contact Dumbledore immediately but he felt himself hesitating.
Not wanting to analyze the reasons for his hesitancy, he decided that he'd contact him after he made the boy more presentable. Get him some food, proper clothing, a bath…
Nodding at his plan, he straightened his robes and went back downstairs to the child waiting for him.
The boy was sitting on the couch like he'd said, but looked extremely tense and uncomfortable. Severus frowned mentally. Using the same calm hopefully soothing voice that he'd used when coaxing the child out of the cupboard, he spoke.
"Little One." For some reason, he couldn't think about the boy's real name. Like, admitting exactly who he was would make it that much worse. The child sprang from his seat, his bright green eyes wide. He glanced at Severus before turning his eyes down, submissive. It rankled at Severus. His parents had been anything but submissive.
"Little One, you are safe. It is okay." He assured. It got no response, but Severus knew that everything he got would be an uphill battle. "This is my home. I grew up here." He had no idea why he was telling the child that. It wasn't necessary. Slowly and carefully, he walked into the room and sat in his armchair by the unlit fire. "Please, sit back down. We have much to discuss."
The boy sat with some trepidation. Severus mentally sighed. When the child was as comfortable as he was going to allow himself to be – which wasn't comfortable at all – Severus started speaking.
"As I stated before, my name is Severus Snape. I am a Professor. You may call me 'Professor', 'Sir', 'Professor Snape', or if you would like more familiarity, you may call me 'Severus'. You will not get in trouble for any of those titles." The boy blinked, not quite looking at his face but facing him at least. "Right now, I am on summer holidays. The school I work is a boarding school, starting in September. If you are allowed to stay here that long, we will re-address our living situation." Severus noted the child's tension when he mentioned this. Was he afraid to leave? "I am not legally responsible for you but I did make a somewhat …hasty decision when I discovered your living situation." He frowned at himself as he started to realize the full implications of what he did. He truly wasn't that rash, normally. Odd. "I will be taking care of you for as long as you are staying here, be that a day, a month, or even years. This place is safe." He knew it would take the boy a long time before he even remotely started to believe that, but he felt several reminders wouldn't hurt.
"I will never hit you. Ever." He quickly squashed the fleeting memories of his own father. "If I feel like your behavior warrants punishment, it will be through extra chores or loss of privileges, or maybe standing in a corner or something." He waved a hand in dismissal. With how still the child was being, as if he'd been hit with a full-body bind, he doubted he'd have to punish him any time soon if ever.
"There is much to do and say but there are a few things that must be taken care of first. I must get a full diagnostic of you both to know how best to heal you and for records sake." So that the Dursley's wouldn't get away with what they did. "It will not be painful or intrusive in anyway. In fact, will take but a moment." He reached into his robes and withdrew his wand, holding it sideways in a non-threatening manner. He finally got a reaction from the child. The bright green eyes had locked on to the wand, wide and almost enviously. A small hand unconsciously stroked the coat Severus had conjured for him. He suppressed a smirk. Introducing him to magic shouldn't be so hard after all.
"This, Child, is a wand. All witches and wizards have one. It allows us to channel our inner magic to preform spells and charms and the like. Such as when I conjured that coat or those shoes you now where." The boy looked down at what he was wearing, as if assuring himself they were still there. "Magic is real." Severus reiterated, in case it wasn't obvious to the boy. He frowned, however, when he saw the boy flinch at those words. He brushed it off for now. Plenty of time to figure out all of the child's ticks later.
"After I run the diagnostic, I will see what needs to be done next. It is nearing lunch time so that might be first unless you have more pressing health issues that I can see." He cast his dark gaze up and down the boy, taking in the obvious malnutrition and bruising, doing his best to ignore the sanity issues.
"To run the diagnostic, I need you to simply stand in front of me for a moment. I will run my wand over you to cast a detection spell. It will take a bit as I will be cataloguing any and all health issues, including your past health problems, such as broken bones and old sicknesses. Come." He beckoned the boy forward. He figured the child would be more comfortable being the one standing. Severus knew from experience that having an adult loom over you, even for good reasons, was daunting to abused children.
The child immediately rose and stood in front of Severus, still holding the soft bundle that probably held all his earthly possessions. He lifted his wand, ignoring the flinch he got in response, though the child kept his eyes down. He waved his wand in practiced movements for several moments, silently casting the spells. Finished, Severus flicked his wand, a scroll of parchment appearing from the tip. He caught it, putting his wand back in his robes.
I'm finished, Child. You may sit back down." Again, his words were followed promptly and silently. Severus made a mental note to be careful with what he said, as he doubted sarcasm would be taken well. Even casual comments would probably be taken literally. He opened the scroll, and read through it quickly.
It was a good thing he was used to keeping a neutral expression. The fury that had abated somewhat when he left the Dursley's was mounting with each word he read. Azkaban was too good for them. He took a deep calming breath when he finished. There was a multitude of things to think about and do, but nothing life-threatening. But the boy needed food. He'd probably be taking a Nutritional Potion for a full year with every mean at minimum. It wasn't a potion that he kept at hand but it was simple enough to make and he did have all the necessary ingredients. He'd get started while the boy ate.
He rolled the parchment back up and looked at the child still sitting as though balancing on a seat full of tacks. "There are several potions that I will need to put you on, as you are lacking many essential vitamins and minerals. I have a few on hand but need to make more. I will begin making them while you eat lunch. They will be ready by the time you go to bed so you may take them then. After lunch, we will work on getting you clean. I don't think simple soap and water will be enough." He gave another cursory glance at the child, lingering on the hair. Chances are, he'd have to shave off the whole thing.
"Follow me." He stood and made his way to the small kitchen. He'd have to be careful about what to feed the child. Based on the diagnostic, he wouldn't be able to handle much. Severus figured a simple broth would start. He'd add a vitamin supplement to get started on countering the extreme malnutrition.
With efficient movements, he pulled out the pot and the can, opening it with his well-used can-opener. Most meals were either take-out or in a can when Severus was home. Cooking for one was rarely worth it. Letting the broth heat, he turned to get the supplement from his potions lab when he saw the child standing awkwardly against the wall.
"Sit down." He said with a raised brow, pointing to one of the kitchen chairs. There were only two. Would he have to tell the boy to sit every time? That would get old fast. When the boy sat, he quickly got the correct vial from his lab, adding it to the pot. Since all he was doing was heating broth, it was done in a few minutes. He ladled a bowl full, bringing it over with a spoon.
Setting it in front of the child, he said, "We will start with this since your body is not used to food. If you feel like you can eat more, there is some in the pot. Careful when getting some, it is hot. Eat only till you are full. If you stuff yourself, you are more likely to throw it all back up." He warned. The child was staring at the steaming bowl, hunger obvious on his face.
"Eat up." Severus said. "I'll be back in a few."
When he came back 15 minutes later, getting several potions started, the bowl and pot were both empty. And washed. And the child was in the process of drying them. Well, at least he won't be messy, Severus thought grimly. He knew it wasn't natural for a child to immediately clean up like that. The boy flinched slightly when Severus came in, freezing his movements. He looked at him with wide eyes, still not looking directly into his face. Severus squashed his annoyance at that, reminding himself that it was probably a habit ingrained from his time at the Dursley's.
"You can leave that to air dry. It's time to get you cleaned up." The boy carefully set the pot down along with the towel, following behind Severus as they made their way upstairs. There was only one bath in the house, and a small one at that. Severus pulled aside the curtain and turned on the showerhead, testing the temperature.
"I want to put you under running water first to get most of the grime off." Severus explained to the boy, who stood silently in the doorway. "Otherwise the bathwater will get too dirty to be of any real use." He gazed at the boy. He hadn't said a single word yet or offered any kind of complaint. "I don't think I have anything to really clean your hair." He said cautiously, looking for any sign of hesitance. "The best thing for it would simple be to shave it off and then let it grow back." He paused to see if he would offer any complaint. The boy simply blinked.
At least he's not fighting me. Severus grumbled. The silence would have been more than welcome with any of his own students, but on this boy, it spoke of his dark past. Letting the water warm up, Severus beckoned the boy to enter the small bathroom. "Turn to face the mirror so you can see what I'm doing." He instructed. The boy complied. He pulled out his wand and murmuring softly, ran it over the boy's head.
Like some kind of disease, great clumps of matted hair fell off. Severus saw the child's eyebrows rise in surprise. It was probably a disconcerting feeling but Severus had wanted the boy to watch him so that he wouldn't be afraid of Severus doing anything behind him. Severus knew that he'd always had a problem with people standing behind him, something that had carried through to his adulthood. It had probably heightened during the war, to be honest.
He waved his wand at the hair on the floor, vanishing it. The boy looked odd bald, his scalp the palest part of him, though not without a few old scabs and scars. Speaking of, the infamous scar on his forehead was now very visible, still red, as though it had been a recent addition. Severus would have thought it odd, but cursed scars were strange like that. He could see the child examining his own reflection, probably not something he did a lot of.
When green eyes met black ones, the child quickly looked down, hunching over slightly. Severus repressed another sigh. "Get undressed and in the shower. I'll bring special soap." He turned and left, leaving the door open.
The boy was technically 8-years-old, but Severus wasn't sure how independent he was. He would have said 'very independent' as he probably took care of himself 99% of the time, but obviously hygiene wasn't a part of that. Chances are, he'd probably have to help the boy scrub himself clean. And the 'soap' he was getting wasn't one that he would leave in the hands of any child. It was a weaker version of the soap he used on his cauldrons. Technically safe, if it wasn't swallowed or put in any eyes. But it was extra strong compared to most regular body soaps and shouldn't be left to sit on bare skin for too long. Hence the shower first.
When he came back to the bathroom, he was surprised to see that the boy hadn't gotten in yet. Both of his skinny arms were under the running water and he had undressed, the clothes neatly folded on the toilet lid, the shoes set uniformly next to them.
"Is it too hot?" He asked, curious. It was the first 'command' that the boy hadn't immediately followed. The child jumped and spun around, almost falling backward as he hit his heel against the side of the tub. He swung his arms in an attempt to keep his balance. On instinct, Severus reached out to steady him, but the on-coming hand caused the boy to reflexively flinch away. This caused him to lose what little balance he had and before Severus could stop it, the boy tripped over the edge of the tub and crashed into it, a great jumble of too skinny limbs.
Severus winced when he landed, knowing that there were a few bruises added to his collection. The boy lay dazed at the bottom of the tub, the showerhead continuing to spray hot water on him. Severus raised his brow. "Are you alright?" He asked in a steady voice. The child blinked up at him, seemingly not fazed by his own nudity in the presence of a grown man.
Slowly, making sure the child could see his every movement, Severus reached down, ignoring the reflexive flinch and the water that sprayed on his clothed arms, and gently helped the boy up. He could see the dirty water going down the drain and was assured that his plan for a shower first was a good one. A cursory examination assured the Professor that although it might have hurt and bruises might follow, there was no immediate health care needed.
"I brought the soap." Severus picked up the bottle that he had dropped when the boy had fallen. "You have two choices here." He turned back towards the child, who stood under the water, no real expression on his face but one hand upturned to feel the water more clearly. Obviously, the child was enjoying the shower. He even seemed more relaxed, which Severus thought odd since he was completely naked and doing nothing to hide himself. Maybe he was just too young to care.
"This soap is very strong but I believe it to be necessary. It is safe to use topically – on skin – but it is strong, and I need to be here to ensure that it doesn't get in your eyes or anything." The boy blinked, looking at the bottle still clutched in his hands. "So, you can wash yourself, while I simply stand here, for safety's sake, or, if you'd like, I could assist you in the washing so you don't have to worry. Which would you prefer?" He waited – not on baited breath – for the boy to respond. Severus was a little worried that the child didn't know how to speak.
"The second, Sir." The voice was so quiet, Severus wasn't sure he'd heard it at first. He felt odd when he heard the child. His voice was just that, a child's. It was soft and quiet, not quite a whisper but close. The boy didn't look up or make any sort of movement or expression when he spoke, which was what cause Severus' skepticism at first. When he heard him, he was both elated and relieved. Both emotions were ridiculous and Severus quickly brushed them aside. He also ignored the slight tingly feeling in his chest at the child's choice.
Washing someone was a very intimate act, so Severus was surprised at the boy's choice. He thought for sure the child would want Severus to be as far away as possible. Putting on his professional mask, Severus shrugged off his outer robe and unbuttoned his cuffs, rolling up his sleeves. He picked up one of the wash cloths he'd brought and wet it thoroughly. He kept all his movements visible and efficient. He took a large towel and set it on the side of the tub so he could sit down. Gesturing to the boy to come closer, Severus started to wipe the outer layer of filth from the child's body.
He was silent as he worked, as gentle as he could be in deference to the child's many scabs and sores, but firm enough to be useful. He could feel the child's slight shaking, no doubt with being so close to an adult in such a vulnerable way. He tried to be gentle as he prodded and directed the boy to turn or lift an arm or whatnot. The boy responded, equally silent. When he wiped his face, Severus was struck by how young he really looked. Perhaps it was the way he carried himself, or the depth of his eyes, or maybe it was just the almost visible burden of his past years, but Severus has unconsciously added years to the child. But now, trembling slightly and thoroughly soaked, trusting an almost complete stranger, Severus could see that the child was just that – a child.
When he finished his first rub down, the boy was already several shades lighter. His skin was so much paler that he'd realized, paler than his own. Severus doubted he'd spent much time in the sun, if any. He took out the soap and a new wash cloth – the first unspeakable dirty – and started the process again. He saved the face for last, knowing it was the most delicate part of this. He could see that every time the soap was rubbed into a sore or tender cut, the boy suppressed flinches of pain, never crying out. Finishing, he instructed the child to thoroughly rinse his body for any bits of soap not washed off, especially his cuts and sores.
Severus could now see that the child was almost bone white. Time outside would do him a world of good. He collected the used wash cloths and the bottle, mentally remarking on the odd feeling now that the boy was clean. It was like the difference of buying a potion already brewed from the shop versus brewing one yourself from scratch. Not knowing exactly how to label the feeling, Severus set aside the dirty laundry, the child's t-shirt and coat included, and turned back towards the boy.
He was standing under the warm water, his eyes closed. Severus could see the ghost of a contented smile on the boy's face and wondered at the youthful appearance he'd taken. He was still bruised and scarred, all skin and bones, and impossibly pale, and bald, but he looked for all the world like a small child enjoying bath time.
Speaking of –
"I'm going to start your bath now. You are mostly clean but a good soak can't hurt." The boy's eyes – those bright green eyes – popped open and the child gazed up at Severus with something that might have been excitement if you looked hard enough. He still didn't look directly into Severus' eyes though. Progress. Maybe.
Severus plugged the drain and turned off the showerhead, letting the bathtub fill. The child immediately sat cross-legged in the slowly rising water, looking just like any other child excited for a bath. Severus wasn't sure what possessed him to do it, he would later claim that the boy needed all the soap possible, but he drew his wand and with a quick silent spell, suddenly bubbles, large and slightly pink, were rising along with the water.
The child gave a soft sound of exclamation, staring wide-eyed at the bubbles. With a tentative hand, he reached and prodded them. He gave a sharp gasp at confirming their reality, and snapped his head up to look at Severus. In the eyes.
Severus was a little startled to see those green eyes practically boring into his own dark ones. He was very startled to see the depth of emotion in them. Jerking himself out of a trance, he cleared his throat and muttered, "Be sure to turn off the water before it overflows. When the water reaches about here." He tapped one of his long fingers at a point a few inches below the top of the tub. Not waiting for a response, since he probably wouldn't get one, he spun around, grabbing the laundry and extra-strength soap, and marched out of the bathroom.
He was not indulging the child's obvious desire to spend as much time as possible in the bubble bath. He just had a lot of things to do and not having to worry about where the boy was, was convenient. Honest.
He scowled as he stirred the potion, this one a bone-strengthening one. Trying to repair all the damage that had been inflicted on the child would call for several potions, every day, for quite some time. That boy was lucky he was a potions master. He turned towards another softly-simmering potion, this one to act like a mouthwash to counter the gum disease and tooth-decay. Before he forgot, he noted on a parchment nearby to get the boy his own toothbrush and toothpaste.
On the parchment was a long list of items that the child was lacking and had to be bought. All manner of clothes being on the top, followed quickly by shoes. A reminder to set up an eye appointment since the diagnostic revealed a high level of near-sightedness. Children's shampoo and soap for future bath times when the boy's hair grew back. A few towels as well since Severus only had the bare minimum of his own, which were all being used for the child today. Bedding, since Severus again didn't have any to spare and conjured items eventually faded.
Chances are, the boy didn't have any reading or writing skills. He doubted that the Dursley's had let the boy go to school. Not in the state he was in. So, a note to check on his literacy skills to determine what level home-study books and supplies would be needed.
And then, Severus hesitated. He didn't want to go and spoil the child, lavish him with toys and treats and such. But the boy needed some kind of stimulation and Severus was a busy man. So, a note to look into appropriate toys to keep him occupied when not studying, preferably a few that would keep him outside because he was in desperate need of some sun.
He assured himself that it wasn't just because he felt bad that the only toys the boy had was a couple of broken and misshapen army men. And apparently a few crayon stubs, since, admittedly and unashamedly, Severus had opened the small bundle that the child had brought with him. It would have been enough to make a dragon cry. The two drawings had been telling as well, even only being three colors, the child had drawn himself in between two adult figures, obviously to represent his own lost parents, and a building that looked suspiciously like a school, with the boy surrounded by many other small figures, representing what was probably friends.
That was another matter of consternation for the potions professor. Never having children or any interest in them, he wasn't sure how to go about improving the boy's social life. He knew such things were important to grow up healthy, but his own ignorance coupled with what was assuredly a shy and abused boy, hinted at a possible lonely future. He'd have to look into that.
As he mechanically worked on the potions, lost in thought, he made sure to avoid thinking about the fact that he would have to report back to Dumbledore. Like, soon. He really should have sent a report immediately, but something stayed his hand. His own reluctance surprised him, but he couldn't find it in him to floo-call the headmaster. Or send a Patronus. Or even owl him. He assured himself that making sure the child had the appropriate potions was more important and since he'd be called to make them anyway, he'd just save himself time and effort by keeping the boy close.
Yeah, that's why.
One potion finished, he ladled it into small vials, the appropriate size for a single-serving, leaving the other potions to simmer or boil or what-have you. Not able to think of any more excuses, and since he'd left the child in bath for about an hour now, he drew himself up and made his way back to the bathroom.
He could hear the small splashing and swishing of water, so figured that the boy must have stayed in the entire time. He expected that but was still somewhat surprised when he saw just how content and – dare he say it – happy the child was. Most of the bubbles were gone by now, and he could see the pruney fingers as the child continued to play with the few that were left. Severus watched as, every so often, the child plugged his nose and dunked himself underwater, moving slightly in some imaginary game only he knew. When he came back up, Severus decided to announce himself by stepping into the bathroom, a large towel in one hand.
"Come, child. It's time to get out of the bath." He said, ignoring the twinge in his chest as he saw the boy's countenance fall in sorrow. But he didn't dawdle, standing up, shivering slightly as the cool air swept over his wet frame. Severus directed him to pull the plug, since he didn't want to stick his own arm in the water, and then helped him out so he wouldn't slip and fall. The boy let him assist, only a slight tensing and reflexive twitch giving away any apprehension at his own proximity.
Severus helped dry the boy carefully, then wrapped him up in the towel that covered him as much as the transfigured coat had, and led him out. His own bedroom was the closest, so he went in there, sitting himself on the edge of his bed. The boy stood before him, damp still, and shivering slightly. Those green eyes flickered over to a pile of folded clothes, newly transfigured pants and robes to fit the child's small frame, a jar of salve resting on top.
"I made you some clothes for now, but we will have to go shopping for a more permanent wardrobe. Transfigured clothing doesn't last near as long as real clothing but it will do in a pinch." Severus needlessly explained. "I decided on robes instead of muggle clothing since it's easier to transfigure. It's a bit like wearing a bathrobe during the day at first," He offered, thinking back to Lily's own metaphor when she started wearing them. "But you get used to it. But first," He grabbed the jar and opened it, revealing the creamy off-white paste inside. "This is a simple healing salve. I need to put it one all your open sores and cuts. It cleans as well as heals to better prevent infection. It also speeds up healing on bruises and the like. It is cold but will seep into your skin quickly enough that you can get dressed as soon as I am done without worrying about smearing." He beckoned and the child stepped closer, lowering his cape-like towel to grant Severus access.
The child watched as the salve was gently rubbed over every sore, cut, scab, and bruise that littered his skin. Which was pretty much all of him. He flinched a few times, when the cold took him by surprise, but it quickly sank into his skin, tingling slightly with the warmth of magic at work. His green eyes widened in surprise and a soft gasp escaped his lips as bruises faded and cuts sealed over.
Severus had to kneel on the floor to apply a liberal amount on the boy's feet, severally scarred from abuse of all kinds. Unfortunately, the salve didn't get rid of old scars, so the marks on his feet and back – where Severus did his best not to think about the reason behind the almost whip-like scars crisscrossing the skin – didn't fade away like the rest of the injuries.
He finished by applying a little extra on the lightening-shaped scar on his forehead, not truly believing it would get rid of it at all, but Severus wasn't sure if it pained the boy at all like some curse scars and didn't want to take the chance. Finished, he screwed the lid back on the jar and held out the child-sized underwear he'd conjured.
The boy didn't realize he was being offered clothing at first, still distracted by his almost unblemished arms, but gently took them when he looked up. Then hesitated.
He looked down at the underwear, then glanced over at Severus' clothes, not seeing anything similar. He fiddled with it tentatively, not sure which way was up.
Severus couldn't even begin to explain away the breaking of his heart when he realized that the boy didn't know how to wear the article because he'd never been given pants before.
He took a breath to steady his emotions, before reaching out gently, and took the clothing back. The boy relinquished them without fuss, letting his arms and head drop. Severus held them up the right way and lowered them so the boy could step into them without straining himself.
"Take one of your feet and step through one of the holes." He explained "You may hold on to my shoulders for balance if you need to." The boy jolted in surprise before hesitatingly doing as instructed, the barest touch on Severus' shoulders, like a butterfly, allowing him to balance as he stepped into them. Catching on quickly, he stepped into the other hole and Severus pulled them up.
Not offering the robes for the boy to figure out on his own, Severus took them, instructing the child to raise his arms before sliding the soft material over the skinny frame. He had made the robes just a touch too long, but a simple flick of his wand sorted that out. The robes were a dark forest green, which Severus pretended had to do with his own house affiliation and nothing to do with the boy's bright eyes. The child ran his hands almost lovingly over the warm material. It was a short-sleeved robe, similar in style to ones that Severus had seen in passing when getting his own.
"I have a few potions to get you started on, a simple mouthwash potion to start counteracting the gum disease and obvious cavities, and then a simple nutrient potion. The other potions aren't ready yet but we can start with those." He stood and walked downstairs to his lab, the child following behind at the same distance as he always did. He got the two vials and led the boy over to the sink in his lab.
He uncorked the first vial, the mouthwash, and handed it to the boy. "Don't swallow this one. Simply wash it around you mouth for 30 seconds and spit it out in the sink. I'll let you know when." The boy emptied the vial and then flinched as the tingle of the mouthwash attacking his gums and teeth started. Obediently, he swished it around and around, while Severus counted mentally. "Now." He said when the 30 seconds were up. Immediately, the boy spat out the mouthwash, a slight scrunch-up of his features the only sign of his displeasure. Severus knew from experience that the taste and feeling were unpleasant.
He gave him a cup of water telling him to rinse out his mouth a few times before swallowing any, then made sure he drank almost a full cup. The boy was dehydrated and while there was a potion that helped counter-act the worse of the symptoms, the best cure was to ensure that the boy drank plenty of water.
He handed him the nutrient potion afterwards and was surprised yet unsurprised when the boy drank it without making his displeasure of the taste obvious. It had always tasted like pureed broccoli and sprouts to Severus. He gave the child another cup of water to rinse out the taste, before leading him out of the lab.
"This is my personal potions lab." He explained shutting the door behind him. "It is dangerous to inexperience people of any age, so do not go in without my express permission, or with me escorting you. And don't touch anything once inside." He added, with a stern look. The boy nodded.
Progress! It only took a few hours!
He led the child back to the living room and gestured for him to sit again. The boy sat, less anxiously than before. Severus suppressed a smirk. Food, bath, clothes, and some potions. The boy was already warming up to him. And a haircut, he reminded himself, looking at the still bald head. Hopefully it would grow back quickly enough. He took his own place in his armchair.
"I've taken care of your immediate needs." Severus began. "But there is still much to discuss and do. Dinner isn't until another 2½ hours. I always eat promptly at 5:30 every evening unless something prevents me such as a meeting or what-have-you. I will expect you to eat with me at every meal. Breakfast is 7am sharp. Be dressed and ready for the day by then. Your bedtime is at 8:30 in evening. Which brings us to two topics. The first is that I don't have the necessary things to fully provide for you right now. Meaning that I need to go shopping. Preferably today. However, to get a full list of the things I need to buy, I need to check your literacy level, as well as consult with Madame Pomfrey on an appropriate diet."
The child was simply looking at him, his eyes focused on his chin area. There was a moment of silence as Severus contemplated the boy before him. "Can you read or write at all?" He abruptly asked.
The boy shook his head. Not sure whether to sigh or curse the Dursleys, Severus chose neither. "That makes things both easier and harder." He said, immediately casting his mind to the appropriate supplies. He'd never taught someone how to read from scratch, but a few neglected or underprivileged or simple children had passed through his house, leaving the responsibility to bring up their literacy skills to an appropriate level before assigning a housemate for continued tutoring. He would just have to start with the very basics. And the boy, while young, was old enough to pick up things quicker. Probably.
"With your dietary needs," He focused on the other issue. "I will need confirmation from you when you feel full to ensure I'm getting the right amounts. What you need is simple enough, and there are guidelines for how much, but an actual statement from you would help me the most. So," He continued as the boy sat in silence. "Whenever we sit at meals, I need you to eat as much as you can without stuffing yourself. As soon as you are full, tell me. Also, if you finish your meal and are still hungry, I need to know." He got a blink in response.
"Also, you are dehydrated. Make sure to drink a glass of water every few hours without fail. I'll get a stool for the kitchen so you can reach the upper cupboards." He mentally added it to his list. "Now, I must contact Madame Pomfrey and check on the potions. After that, we will go shopping. There is a bathroom just back there, first door on the right." He pointed down a hallway past the stairs. "I'll be in my lab, but probably no longer than a half hour or so. Knock if you need something. You are free to explore the house. There shouldn't be anything breakable but be smart about it. Don't go outside. I'll have to set up wards to better encompass the yard." He muttered to himself as he stood and made his way to his lab.
"But why exactly do you need to know something like that?" Poppy Pomfrey had always been good about asking as few questions as possible when it came to medical care. Usually because she'd been at her job long enough that she didn't need to know, but also because she knew that many students only came to her because she didn't ask questions. Every now and then, something came her way that baffled her or was odd enough to stir her curiosity. Such as Severus Snape requesting to know what was an appropriate dietary plan for someone that was suffering from extreme malnutrition.
Only about a week since the term ended, Poppy was still going over all her books and supplies. She didn't start assisting at the small health care center for underprivileged people – like she did every summer – until next week. She was surprised to see Severus' head in her office fireplace, and even more surprised to hear his reasons for being so.
He looked unfathomable, as usual, but since he wasn't actively occluding, and Poppy had known him for about 15 years now, she saw the signs of discomfort and Slytherin sneakiness he tended to exude when he had knowledge that he didn't want to share. Which was pretty much all the time but it was more pronounced at this moment.
"Is it necessary for you to know?" Severus countered in his usual drawling tone. "Suffice it to say that I require this information, now if you have it."
Poppy raised a brow at his words, but, realizing that she wouldn't get an answer from him anytime soon, she acquiesced. Going to a filing cabinet in the corner, she rifled through it before pulling out the needed folder. "I don't have a copy of this since it is so rarely needed." She warned with a sharp glare. "I expect this back at your earliest convenience. Preferably before the start of next term."
"I assure you Madame, that you will get it back by next week at the latest." He assured the Medi-witch. "Probably sooner. Thank you." He nodded to her, a gesture that looked slightly odd since all that was visible was his head. His hand appeared next to him though as he reached out to take the proffered file. Poppy nodded in acknowledgment, handing the folder over.
Without another word, Severus' hand and head disappeared, the green floo flames dying down. Poppy pondered the oddity of their communication and his request. The most probable reason for needed that information was that he had encountered someone that was extremely malnourished and wished to nurse them back to health. The Medi-witch wondered why he didn't just check the person in to St. Mungo's. Who could it be that caused Severus Snape to refuse professional help, insisting he take care of it himself?
Poppy shook her head. Most likely he needed the information for an experimental potion or something. He'd occasionally turned towards her expertise when creating, regardless of his own experience in healing, required for anyone attempting a potions mastery. That was probably it, she assured herself and put the matter out of her mind. She had to finish the last bit of paperwork and number-crunching before she could close up the hospital wing for the summer.