Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

HPHPHPHPHPHP

The next morning Harry was able to get out of bed for the first time. He was weak but the thought of a hot shower was too tantalizing to miss out on. With help from Madam Pomfrey he made it to the bathroom. He still had a few hours before Lily would come and collect him so he had plenty of time to soak and feel somewhat cleaner than he had.

Placing the pair of clean bandages and clothes on the white porcelain sink, Harry turned on the water as hot as it would go before beginning to undress. Removing the hospital issued pajamas was the easy part, removing the three and half rolls of bandages . . . . Not so much. By the time Harry had undone all of the white bandages, the large bathtub was filled almost too it's capacity with nearly boiling water.

After turning off the tap Harry slipped in, hissing as the almost beyond scalding water connected with his delicate skin. Despite how much the water hurt it felt so good. Harry reached for the bar of soap and wash rag left on the side of the tub before he started to scrub at his skin. He scrubbed it until it was raw and some of the wounds began to reopen and bleed turning the water around him red.

Madam Pomfrey was getting worried. Harry had been in the bath for an hour and a half which was longer than expected considering the fact his sister would be there in forty-five minutes. After a mental battle the nurse decide to check on Harry. Approaching the door the faint sounds of water splashing around could be heard. Grabbing the door knob she slowly turned and pushed the door open to a shocking sight. Harry was in blood red water with skin to match; he had decided that if he rid his body of skin he would be clean again but that thought was gone as he silently cried because it only made him feel worse.

Madam Pomfrey slowly approached Harry not wanting to stress him out even more. Grabbing the towel off of the rack she magically emptied out the tub and slowly wrapped the towel around the frail frame of the broken boy before standing him up. After making sure Harry could stand on his own the nurse began to clean and heal the rubbed raw flesh and wounds before bandaging and dressing the now sobbing fifteen year old . After helping Harry back to his bed Madam Pomfrey waited patiently for Lily to walk through the infirmary doors.

HPHPHPHPHP

As Lily walked up the stairs to the hospital wing she could not help the feeling of unease that settled within her. On her mind it had been too long since fate had made it harder to live a normal life. Reaching the door to the hospital wing, Lily pushed it open and stopped dead. The way Harry looked made Lily want to burst into tears. Harry's skin was red and angry despite the fact it was healed and even thought she was standing twenty feet away from him she could see the tear tracks that ran down his this face.

"What Happened" Lily asked as she now kneeled in front of Harry her mind not processing how she got there.

"I thought having him take a bath would be a good idea" Madam Pomfrey explained "I began to worry about him when he did not come out an hour and a half later so I went to check on him and the water had turned red with his blood."

"He scrubbed his skin off" Lily stated still looking at Harry even as she stood up "I kind of expected that but we'll work it out. Thank you Madam Pomfrey" Lily took advantage at Harry's dazed state as she placed his arm around her neck and placed her right arm around his waist to support him, then grabbed his belongings and headed to the dungeons. As soon as Lily closed the door to the Hospital wing she released Harry's waist but kept his arm around her neck because the last thing she needed was for Harry to freak out because she was touching him.

Harry was relieved as Lily let go of his waist. He had just pretended to be out of it because he could not stand what Lily would say if he had been the one to tell her what had happened. It was bad enough the second strongest person in his life had to see him so fragile and weak after something he deserved.

"Are you alright?" Harry heard Lily ask.

"I am fine" Harry said" Well, I am now"

"What exactly where you trying to do to yourself" Lily asked.

"Scrub away the filth" Harry practically whispered.

"You're not filthy Harry" Lily said in a comforting manner as they walked down the flights of stairs and numerous passageways.

"That's what you think" Harry scoffed

"You'd be surprised what I think" Lily stated as they finally reached the private quarters and Lily pushed the door open.

Having to adjust to a new environment was going to be hard and Harry knew it. But the hard part was not getting used to the rooms, but to the new person that was going to be around him, Severus Snape, the snarky potions master that hated his guts. Harry could not believe that his sister had brought him to live with the only teacher that wished he had never existed In the first place. But Harry kept his mouth shut unknowing of what else to do.

Author's notes

Thank you Voldyismoldy for your continuous help. I would love to thank my amazing Beat reader hpgirl4ever for making this as great as possible. Thanks to you two this story is possible.