Chapter 10

He lay there sobbing for what felt like hours. He was sure he was quite the sight, a full grown man laying on the ground curled around the body of a small dead cat sobbing his heart out.

When he felt he'd run out of tears, he just lay there in the silence. He kept his eyes tightly close, afraid to look at the body and accept the truth. His hand continued to gently pet Potter. He pulled the body closer to his chest, wanting to keep him close.

He continued to lay there blankly. A small sound, difficult to heart even in the complete silence, caused him to slowly come out of his near-catatonic state. He listened for a moment but only hear the wind in the trees outside. He was slowly returning to his unresponsive state when he heard the sound again.

He glanced down at the cat's body. He looked the same. Dead. Because he took his anger out on a hurting child.

As he blankly stared at the small body, he thought he saw it twitch. Tossing the blanket off of the cat, his attention was now completely focused on Potter. His eyes desperately scanned every part of the cat. He held his breath.

There! An ear twitched slightly and sent his heart thumping madly. He rubbed the little body more vigorously, hoping to promote and encourage anything positive happening inside the small body to continue.

Letting out several desperately relieved breaths, he continued to scan the cat for more signs of life. He began to smile wildly when the small chest expanded weakly as a breath was finally taken.

Severus felt more tears form but pushed them back. Potter may have been somehow miraculously revived but that could very well be a temporary thing of Severus did nothing.

He carefully picked up Potter, treating him as if he were made of fine China. He absently noted that the plate of food on the floor still remained untouched. Making his way to his lab, he cradled his burden close and became gathering potions.

Potter's breathing was slowly improving but was still terribly weak. Severus set out to improve that before anything else. It took him over three hours of fighting, and two more scares before he was satisfied Potter was out of danger.

After everything, Severus was completely and utterly exhausted. His mind didn't want to sleep in case Potter's condition suddenly worsened, but his body called out for sleep, still recovering from his own brush with death. He settled for keeping Potter close by for the night.

He laid the cat carefully on the next pillow before covering it with the throw from the couch. Renewing the heating charm, he settled himself in a position where he could watch Potter carefully. It took him a long time before he dozed off into a restless sleep. The smallest noises woke him and each time he glanced at Potter, making sure he was still alive and breathing.

When Severus woke for the final time, his clock read 2pm. He never slept in past 9am. A movement to his left caught his attention. Potter was still sat on the pillow, now awake and alert and staring directly into Severus' eyes. There was something different about those eyes though, an awareness that hadn't been there before.

Tentatively, Severus said, "Potter?" He received a solemn nod.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath in through his nose. So this was how it ended. Soon Potter would be desperate to leave and his Riju would be no more.

A noise brought him out of his maudlin though and back to Potter. The weak body was slowly crawling toward him, like he was afraid of being rejected and yelled at. When Severus showed no reaction, Potter curled himself into Severus' neck. The slow rumble of purring, something that he'd never heard Riju do, echoed through his head. Despite knowing that this...this whatever this was would end soon, he simply basked in the cat's closeness. The rhythmic purring relaxed him in a way that he hadn't felt in weeks.

"I will contact the Headmaster after breakfast," Severus told him emotionlessly. "He will figure out what will be done with you until the new semester starts."

Potter stopped purring and moved impossibly closer, burying his face against Severus' neck. A small meow sounded in his ear. It sounded regretful.

Severus laid there for another few minutes before getting up. Potter stared at him from his spot before lowering his head. He stood up shakily and prepared himself to jump down off the bed. Severus turned and headed toward the bathroom.

A thump behind him brought him back to his bedroom. Potter seemed to be having trouble standing, having fallen down off the bed, still weak from his 'death' the night before.

He made his way back to Potter. Potter avoided eye contact, seemingly embarrassed by how weak he was. He didn't bother trying to stand up again, knowing it was useless.

Severus leaned down and picked Potter up without comment. If he didn't hold Potter as close as he did with Riju, neither made notice.

Severus figured he should begin to create some distance between himself and Potter so it wouldn't be as painful when he lost his quiet companionship later.

He tossed the plate of food from the previous night and made the two of them a hearty meal. He noticed Potter wasn't eating much of anything, just laying prone on the desk and staring blankly at his plate.

"Eat, Potter," Severus commanded softly. "You need your strength."

Potter nodded and began to pick listlessly at his food. Severus cleared his throat.

"Am I correct in saying until this morning, you had no recollection of who you were?" he questioned, putting his fork down. These questions could be asked later, but Severus was trying to delay Potter's unavoidable reveal to the Order.

Sighing, Potter nodded. He stood unsteadily and slowly made his way over to Severus' plate. He bowed deeply.

Taking the bow as an apology, he waved the cat off. He noted the slight flinch Potter gave at the waving hand. Frowning, he vowed to bring up this reaction when he was able to have an actual conversation with a human Potter.

Deciding it was time to go, he set the dishes to wash themselves in the sink and carried Potter over to the floo.

Onyx and green met for a few moments. Severus could already feel himself missing Riju's presence. Potter simply seemed resigned to whatever would happen to him.

"12 Grimmauld Place," he called, hiding Potter in his robes to protect his already weakened lungs from inhaling the ash. Both were swept away.