Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter
( Severus Snape, Jessing Island July 18, 1991)
Because of his trial, for Death eater Activity, more than a decade ago, Severus Snape was considered one of the most well known, former DeathEater that sill walked free today. While never spoken of in polite Society, his crimes were public knowledge. During his time as a one of the Dark Lords potion masters and healers, Severus Snape had witnessed and participated in innumerable acts that would be considered cruel and detestable by the general population. Some he could privately admit to deriving some pleasure from. Severus had been barley able to deceive the Wizengamot by conjuring some false remorse for torturing his father. Though he had showed a mask of shame, the knowledge that the man was dead ,and by his own hand, was enough to make him feel positively giddy.
And it is because of this notoriety, he was hardly surprised when a ministry official from the Department of Child Welfare arrived the morning that physicals began and announced that the physicals he was to perform for the first years boys would be 'supervised and cross examined for medical accuracy'. In other words the ministry wishes to quell any possible pedophiliac tendencies with the prescience of a witness.
If they feel they must.
His first physical with Mr. Vincent Crabbe had been particularly trying.
"Mr. Crabbe, do you realize you are extremely overweight, bordering on obese?"
"Er…Does that mean I'm fat?"
I sighed in frustration. "Yes. We will be placing you on a diet, starting the day you set foot in Hogwarts. With moderate exercise your body fat ratio and weight should reduce significantly. We will owl your parents, as we suggest, for greater results, that you stay on the prescribed diet during the summer as well."
"Um, can I still eat cake?"
Only the government issued shadow creeping in the corner kept him from loosing his very temper.
The physical with Ronald Weasley had also been trying his nerves.
" Fred and George said we have to go threw an obstacle course." The boy waited for a reply to confirm or deny the rumor.
"Yes. Have they as warned you that those who fail the course will be murdered and have their remains used as ingredients in the upcoming years NEWT potions exams?" Severus asked nonchalantly. The horrific expression that appeared on the boys face as the color drained form his skin was almost enough to make him smile. Almost.
The not so subtle cough from the ministry official drove away his amusement. Pity the man had no sense of humor.
"we do not make a habit of using human remains as ingredients in this establishment. In the future, try to refrain from being so gullible." Weasley now seemed lost between relief that he would live another day, embarrassment at being so easily fooled and confusion at having heard 'the greasy dungeon bat' tell a joke.
"Now remove your trousers and pants and lean over the bed. Stomach down."
Severus turned away to prepare for the rectum check, at the same time allowing the boy some privacy. He found this part of the exam somewhat distasteful. That nitwit of a Ministry official would be paying extra attention. Though he has no reason to. If teaching these last few years had taught him anything, it was that he most definitely was not a pedophile.
Severus turnt around to find the Weasley boy still dressed, with his face tomato red, and his mouth gaping at him. Eyes wide with a scandalized expression.
"You can't touch me there! Only shirt-lifters and pedos do that kind of thing!" the boy yelled while he clutched his privates through his trousers.
If looks could kill.
Luckily for him, after today, there as only one more day of physicals left and he could be done with obtuse children and the cretin that lurked over his shoulder anytime he got within two feet of a child.
His first of the day was non other than Harry Potter. Severus had not seen him since the boy had ruined one of his favorite robes with his blubbering in Astrid Lane. Since that day he noticed that the boy had been throwing some disgustingly awe struck and hopeful looks his way.
The Potter boy had surprised him. Severus had expected a carbon copy of his father. Instead he has proved to be open and friendly; making connections with even his little Slytherins. At the same time he wasn't overly naive, as many of the spoiled little brats that entered this institution were. Aurora's rant to the other teachers about his behavior in her classroom earlier this week proved that. Many of the teachers were impressed by the logical leap he was able to take based on the little information he had gathered from class and his peers, in order to discover flaws in a government system that has been in place for more than 500 years. Its that kind of intelligence and independent thinking that Severus wished every heir apparent he sees graduate from Hogwarts would have.
The potions professor suddenly paused his line of thought as he had an actual admires the boy.
Severus suddenly wished he had a stiff drink to wash that bitter thought away.
(Harry Potter, Jessing Island July 18, 1991)
I'm excited. Really, really excited. I get to see my angel today. I can't help but wonder if he thought of me at all since he dropped me off at the train station. Probably not. He had fetched several other students to go school supply shopping. Justin Finch-Fletchley, the nice Hufflepuff boy with the curly hair, and Hermione said that the potions professor had escorted them and their families into Diagon Ally,though he left them alone to shop by themselves.
When I was called into the Jessing Manor Infirmary by the professor, i was not surprised to see another man, but I was annoyed. I had hoped that this would be time I could spend alone with my angel.
"Have a seat Mr. Potter" professor snap said distractedly while flipping through some papers.
"Hold still" he ordered as he waved his wand along the contours of my body.
He flicked the wand onto a piece of parchment.
"Mr. Potter are you aware that you underweight and height for your age? You are only 49 inches tall and 58 pounds." He said now staring at me.
"Um?" I didn't know how to answer. He did know I came from an orphanage right? Even though i had been originally placed with my aunt and her family. He must have been informed of at least some of how the Dursley's treated me. Right?
"Mr. Potter, have you ever broken a bone?" he asked, his expression darkening.
" Er, yes sir. I broke my ankle once when i was 4 and I broke my arm when I was 6." I answered nervously, my eyes shifting to the ministry official. I don't want to mention anything about my time at the Dursley's with him.
"Why have you failed to mention the the 4 broken ribs you've had. two of which heeled poorly and are likely to break again.?Or the the sprain in your right wrist that has also not healed appropriately? Or the minor skull fracture over your cerebellum?"
I never answered. I kept my head down, while my eyes shifted to the ministry official, still unwilling to let him hear my somewhat unhappy life story captured in my medical history report. My angel must have followed my line of vision.
"Mr. Pennington, please leave the examination room." my angle commanded.
Mr. Pennington seemed surprised at being addressed and sputtered a bit be fore regaining his composure
"Professor Snape, I am here under the ministry's authority to protect this young man" he said, puffing out his chest.
"The boy does not want you here." he stood from he chair and slowly creeped toward "Your presence is hindering the exam and I will ask you once more to remove yourself." my dark angle commanded darkly, aiming his wand at the other man.
Mr. Pennington paled, and started to move toward the door with more haste than necessary.
"You will be hearing from the ministry about this matter! I will not be threatened!" the man cried angrily before loading shutting the door loudly behind him.
I could only stare at my dark angle in awe. He had protected me! He did care. At least a little. My case worker didn't cared if I didn't want to share what happened to the police. The caretakers at the orphanage didn't notice that the counselors made me nervous. So he must care. And now I got to spent time with him alone. Just like I wanted. Even if its just for the next hour, my angel is all mine.
"Mr. Potter, please try to contain your unexplainable excitement" Am I that easy to read?
" I am aware of your medical history and will not force you to repeat every incident, but you will listen to your prescribed treatments" he said in a a tone gentler than what he usually uses.
"You were malnourished for serval years that are of vital importance for a young persons development. This has stunted your growth. When you enter Hogwarts you will start nutrient potions. You will not reach what was your potential height, but you will at least reach a respectable height for a young man. The malnourishment has not allowed your bones to strengthen properly. Probably why they break and fracture so easily. You will start a regiment of small doses skele-gro for a short period to correct that. This will at the same time heal your poorly mended ribs and shill fracture.
"Before we start that we need to re-break your left ankle and right wrist and set them correctly. The skele-gro will heal them quickly once they are set. " He said all this with an even clinical voice. But I could see anger in his eyes. was he mad a t me for having so much wrong with me. I'm causing so much trouble him I thought sadly. He'll start to hate me!
"Mr. Potter" he interrupted me from my self depreciating train of thought.
He had stood up and was now kneeling in front of me, a soft worried expression on his face. I wiped my face now, not even sure when I had started to to cry. Again he is seeing me cry. He must think I'm pathetic. I could count one hand the number of times I cried in the last 5 years. And now my angel has seen me cry twice in a week.
Unable to stop, I clutched to him again and cried on his shoulder. He let me. At some point he had picked me up and sat with me on the bed, holding me to his chest as I tried to get my breathing under control. I remember him humming softly to me as he rocked me back and forth. It sounded flat and I didn't recognize the tune, but it was still comforting. The last thing I heard was his voice before darkness engulfed me.
"Go to sleep Mr. Potter"
What i learned today in the Jessing Manor Infirmory:
My dark angel cares