Chapter 8
Still working forty hours a week. Harry Potter still not mine.
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It was late when the formidable duo returned to Hogwarts. They had flooed directly to the Headmaster's Office to report their findings and their methods of correction.
"Ahh Severus, Minerva, how did the meeting go with the Dursleys?" Dumbledore asked and then summoned a house elf named Toffee to bring a tea for three.
"It went as well as can be expected Headmaster. Although Minerva did blow the door off the hinges. Set quite the standard for me to live up too. I did not know the little kitten had it in her," Severus chided.
McGonagall feigned an indignant look, "And I suppose you are much better than me Severus, punching that fat oaf in the face. Really. You mean to say you only did that because you wanted to be perceived as more intimidating than I?"
McGonagall and Severus bantered back and forth much to Dumbledore's amusement. Sipping his tea, Severus finally explained the extent of the abuse he observed after casting Legillmens on Vernon. McGonagall followed suit relaying the information received from Petunia under veritaserum.
After both his colleagues finished providing this information Dumbledore looked grave. "I see. And exactly how did you two proceed with the Dursleys after this."
McGonagall stated, "We cast the Justicia Statim Albus. And that is not enough, but neither would death have been enough for it would have been too quick, and they would not know the severity of the abuse they inflicted."
Severus interjected, "We cast for the same duration in which Potter has been in their care."
It was then explained to Dumbledore what would happen to the young Dursley and where he was at during the duration of their meeting. Severus assured Dumbledore the young Dursley did not witness what occurred in the sitting room of Number Four.
"Very well. I am pleased I do not have to worry about my finest professors going to Azkaban and the matter of the Dursleys has been reasonably resloved. The next task is to find an appropriate guardian and home for Harry. But that will wait until later as we have the entire school year to do so. It has been an exhausting day for all involved. It is best we retire for the night. Thank you both," Dumbledore said.
Dumbledore was satisfied with how they handled the situation believing it to be proper punishment, and he would not have to feed them to the dementors. After all, the dementors cannot feed on those who are already soulless.
Taking Dumbledore's last words as a dismissal, Severus and McGonagall left his office.
Severus started towards his quarters in the dungeons, but found himself taking a detour to the infirmary and ultimately in a chair beside Potter's bed.
Why am I here? Severus excused this uncharacteristic behavior, I am only here because I have training as a medi-wizard and it is my responsibility to make sure the potions are working effectively. Yes, that is definitely it. I do not care about the welfare of the boy. I am here only because it is my duty.
Severus, stood watching his hand as if was betraying him, brush the locks of hair from Harry's… No damn it, there I go again Potter's head. The child looked at peace in his sleep. Severus thought, I will only stay here for a bit, an hour will be sufficient, and make sure he is sleeping because I do not want to deal with a hysterical Potter. It's not that I do not trust Poppy, because I do with my very life, but I am one to see things through. That is the only reason I am staying. Duty and responsibility. Severus then made sure the blanket was snug around the boy. To be clear, he was not tucking the brat in, he was ensuring the boy did not get cold and potentially undo all his hard work.
With this thought, Severus sat back in the chair beside Potter's bed and watched the child's breathing. He was exhausted from the day's events, and the child's breathing was rather hypnotic; unintentionally, Severus slipped off to sleep by Potter's bedside.
Little did Severus know, after he and McGonagall left the Headmaster's Office, Dumbledore left shortly behind them and made his way to the infirmary. Once Dumbledore saw Severus by Harry's bed he cast an invisibility charm over himself and watched as Severus gently stroked the locks of hair from Harry's forehead and tuck the blanket in around the small boy before sitting back down in his chair and falling asleep.
His eyes were twinkling madly and he smiled a sad, but hopeful smile watching both of his boys. He was filled with hope that both of his boys would find some sort of peace from this terrible tragedy. Not wanting to disturb them, Dumbledore left the infirmary after transfiguring Severus' stiff chair into a more comfortable one.
Madam Pomphrey woke early the next morning and immediately went to check on her only patient. To say she was surprised to see the Potions Master sleeping in a chair beside Harry's bed was an understatement. In all her year working at Hogwarts, tending to Severus when he was a student, she had never seen him stay in the infirmary willingly.
Well, there had been the one time about three years ago when Albus fell ill with Dragon Pox. Who knew the vaccine would not last more than one hundred and forty-seven years… But Severus claimed it was his professional duty to stay in the infirmary with Albus because he certainly did not care for the old codger.
The night he stayed with Albus she remembered Severus administering a fever reducing potion and a sleeping draught. Albus looked up at him smiling with the trademark twinkle in his eye and Severus had told him, "Drink this. It is a sleeping draught it will help you rest and it will bring me great relief as well."
Slightly confused Dumbledore inquired, "I understand how I will benefit from the potion Severus, but how will it bring you 'great relief'?"
When not in a professional setting, the two would sometimes playfully banter and Severus snidely responded, "Because when you fall asleep old man, I will not be subjected to that damn twinkle in your eye. Now drink up or I shall set Poppy on you."
Albus quietly laughed holding both hands up in defeat, "As you wish my boy. As you wish. No need to threaten... And thank you for taking care of an old man."
Severus huffed as a response and much like he was at this moment, took a seat in the chair beside Albus' bed and drifted off to sleep.
As Poppy was watching the two wizards sleep, Dumbledore entered the infirmary, "I see the boys are still sleeping."
"Yes, and Severus will not like an audience when he awakens you know. It would damage the dark image he believes he wears and we cannot see through," Poppy replied.
"Yes. You are right as usual, but I have never been one to encourage the mask he wears when the school year is not in, so I believe I will take a chair on the opposite side of Harry's bed and wait for him to awaken. I do not believe Severus would attempt to hex me with Harry in between us." Albus laughed to himself and conjured him a chair similar to Severus' and waited for the Potions Master to awaken.
Severus, slowly opening his eyes and realizing he had slept in the infirmary silently groaned. He then peered across the bed and saw the Headmaster seated in a chair smiling with his eyes twinkling like the North Star.
"Ahhh Severus, good morning my boy. I trust you and Harry slept well last night." Dumbledore then summoned a house elf to bring them breakfast.
Severus thought to himself, I had to fall asleep beside the boy's bed, and Albus bloody Dumbledore had to be the one to see that I Snarky, Sneaky, Former Death Eater and Spy, had kept vigil beside Harry bloody Potter's bed all night. Why in Merlin's name could he not have woken up before the old coot made it to the infirmary? At least then I could have made it seem as though I just arrived. But NOOOO…wait a minute. This is not the chair I fell asleep in.
Hmmm it's kinda comfy and soft, and that's a nice shade of green….Get back on track Snape and for the love of Merlin say something snarky to the meddling old man.
"Good morning Headmaster," Snape politely inclined his head.
Oh yeah Severus, way to go. That was reeeeaaaal snarky.
"I have just summoned an elf from the kitchen breakfast will be here momentarily. It is nice to see that you have taken to Harry so quickly," Albus said.
The taken to Harry comment got to Severus, "Clearly you did old man. I was here when you summoned the elf. I witnessed the exchange so I assumed the breakfast was for you and me unless you plan on trying to feed it to the unconscious brat. And taken to a Potter. Not likely. I stayed out of duty and responsibility. It is my job to care for a patient. As I am sure you recall I am a medi-wizard and I see my duties through. Now old man, is there anymore misconceptions you have this morning that I need to clear up?"
Yes, that was much better Snape. You just needed a minute to wake up and gather your bearings. You're image is still untarnished. You are still the snarky bastard of the dungeons.
Albus still smiling, "Forgive me Severus. Of course I have not forgotten your skills as a medi-wizard nor the sense of duty you hold to those responsibilities. Forgive an old man I sometimes have trouble remembering everything clearly."
Damn right old man! He bought the story.
"Yes," Dumbledore continued, "now I remember very clearly. It is your routine to stay overnight with every patient you treat who has been condemned to the infirmary for an overnight stay."
Damn it to hell! He didn't buy the story.
But Dumbledore did not stop there, "Yes, it's all coming back now. Yes every patient you treat you sit vigil by their bed all night, brush the locks of hair from their forehead, and tuck them in before going to sleep. Yes, now I remember, it's all coming back."
Damn it to two hells. The old coot was in the infirmary last night. It was he who transfigured my chair while I was sleeping. And look at him, he is smiling like a mad man. Damn that traitorous hand of mine. If you ever touch the boy other than to treat him I will cut you off! Wait, I need that hand for potions. Damn it, now I'm arguing with myself. Snap out of it Snape and try to redeem yourself!
"I assure you Albus, I was not brushing the boys hair from his forehead. I was ensuring the fever had not returned and it's quite hard to do with the messy mop the boy has on his head in the way. Furthermore, I tuck no one in. I had to make sure he did not catch cold as to undo all my hard work, and it would be just like a Potter to do so. Now is there any more of my actions you wish to bring into question this morning so that I do not have to deal with them later?" Snape retorted.
Sensing Severus' level of agitation, mainly because he called him Albus, Dumbledore politely responded, "No Severus that is all I have. Now that breakfast is here perhaps we can enjoy the meal that has been prepared for us."
After finishing breakfast with the Headmaster, and leaving Potter in the capable hands of Madam Pomphrey, Severus walked to his quarters where he showered and put on clean robes.
After checking the stock of his potions ingredients, Severus looked at the clock. The boy should be awake within a half hour. Not having time to properly heal a laceration he received from a broken vial while attending to his stock, quickly cast a cleaning spell knowing the cut would be covered by his robes keeping Poppy at bay, and he would have time to heal it later. Marking down the final ingredients on the list which needed to be ordered, Severus made his way back to the infirmary.
He wanted to be there when Har…Potter woke up so he could ummm… conduct a proper examination and ask the boy questions about his injuries.
Severus reappropriated his comfy green chair beside Potter's bed and waited for the child to awaken. Poppy gave him clear instructions to inform her the moment he woke up.
About ten minutes after sitting in the chair, Potter began to stir. He reached towards his eyes, rubbing at them tiredly and presumably feeling for the glasses that had been removed when he was brought into the infirmary yesterday, and then turned towards Severus.
Harry was only able to make out a dark figure, but the smell he recognized immediately. It smelled of herbs, and amberwood, a very masculine odor. This was the smell of the one who rescued him from his cupboard. A hesitant, but genuine smile crossed Harry's face in light of this recognition and also in recognition that he was no longer in any pain. For the first time he could remember he did not hurt at all.
When Harry opened his eyes unhindered by the glasses he previously had worn, Severus could see the Mini Potter truly had Lily's eyes. James was evident in Harry physical appearance, the hair, his face structure, even his glasses were similar to James', but not the eyes, those had belonged to Lily. Severus retrieved Potter's glasses from the night table, placed them on his face and said, "Good evening Mr. Potter."
Harry not used to being greeted so nicely by an adult, or by anyone for that matter, felt his smile grow a bit more, "You…You came for me."
Severus, intrigued that the boy recognized him but not wanting to display any emotion replied, "Yes, Potter, I did."
With those four simple words, Harry flung himself at Severus, wrapped his arms around the man's neck, and buried his head in his neck. Severus heard him whisper, "You were my birthday wish."
Severus felt something hard strike him in the chest after telling Potter he was indeed the one who removed him from the Dursleys. It took him a moment to process what happened. The boy had thrown himself at Severus and wrapped his arms around his neck, and his legs around his torso. Severus wrapped his arms around the boy only to keep him from falling and possibly injuring himself again.
Stunned at the child's actions Severus thought, What is this child doing? This is Potter's spawn and he has wrapped himself around me like stripes on a candy cane. This is ridiculous. What does he mean I am his birthday wish? Nobody wishes for me I am the dungeon bat of Hogwarts I am! This is beyond ridiculous! Why am I rubbing circles on his back? Damn that traitors hand again! How do you remove an unwanted parasite? Anyone? Well, at least no one is here to witness this catastrophe. Oh no, NO NO NO NO! Damn you Albus bloody, sodding, too many names Dumbledore!
And there the Headmaster was, standing in the door way of the infirmary, yet again smiling like a mad man.
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