As Severus appeared in the Entrance Hall carrying the limp and bloody figure of Harry Potter, everyone stopped to stare. Mutterings ensued and followed the Potions Master to the hospital wing. He left a trail of blood as he walked, Harry's blood. Thankfully, someone sensible had informed Albus and Poppy, so they were waiting in the hospital wing. Both had to stifle gasps as they took in Harry's condition.
Severus laid the unconscious boy down on the bed gently. "He has been subjected to the Cruciatus countless times. He was also given the Anhordenes Potion." Severus tried to hold back his tears as he recounted Harry's torture. Albus' eyes widened in shock.
"It's not good, Albus, the boy's barely alive. I don't know about his mental state..." Poppy said softly. She fed him a potion. "It's to slow down the effects of the Anhordenes," She explained, "but Severus, I need you to find an antidote. And quickly."
Severus knew he had to act fast before the potion destroyed Harry's entire body. Reluctantly, he left Harry's bedside.
Poppy started checking on her patient. As she peeled back the shredded remains of Harry's robes, they crackled, hard from the dried blood. His old wounds reopened and fresh blood started oozing out. Harry whimpered softly in pain. Seeing that, Poppy hurriedly fed him a pain-relieving potion.
Poppy worked quickly, healing Harry's cuts and bruises and wrapping them in fresh clean bandages while Albus fire-called the other 'teachers'.
"Severus, do you know of Potter's rescue?" Voldemort's cold hard voice echoed around the room. Severus was kneeling on the ground before the Dark Lord. He was careful no to meet the gaze of the Dark Lord, lest he tried Legimency.
"No, my Lord," Severus replied. "The Order must have found out about it." He hoped Voldemort would not see through his lie.
"It had better not be you who tipped them off, Crucio!" Voldemort cried as Severus fell writhing onto the floor. He struggled not to scream. Thankfully. Voldemort only held it for a few seconds. "Let this serve as a warning to you, Severus." He said before sweeping out the room.
Harry's head hurt terribly, like he had just undergone a stampede of wild Hippogriffs. He opened his eyes, his vision blurred without his glasses. "Wotcher, Harry" Harry heard a voice before his glasses were put onto his face. Seeing Tonks beside him, he smiled wanly.
"Harry, my boy, how are you feeling?" Albus strode in, closely followed by Kingsley, Severus, Alastor and Remus. Harry caught a sign of worry on his lover's face.
"I'm fine," Harry croaked. He tried to sit up, but his arms failed the strength and his body hurt every time he moved. Severus automatically moved to help him, placing pillows behind him to lean on. Harry sighed in relief.
"What happened there, Harry?" Albus asked, coaxing the boy.
"Voldemort... he wanted to know the contents of the prophecy. When I wouldn't tell him, he used the Cruciatus on me. There was once he cast some spell on me. It made me unimaginable tired..." Harry paused. Albus and Severus seemed puzzled, Poppy had not been able to detect any other curses in Harry's system. "Then on the last day, he gave me a potion... forced it down my throat. It was horrible..." Harry gave an involutary shudder, wincing as his stomach seized up. He leant over to the side of the bed and threw up blood. Severus quickly fed himi a potion, the same one as Poppy had given him earlier. Severus had found a temporary antidote for the Anhordenes. It slowed down the effects greatly, but still caused Harry severe pain occasionally.
"Who.. who saved me?" Harry ventured curiously. Severus seemed suddenly interested in Harry's bedsheets.
"It was Severus," came the reply from Albus. Harry looked up at the Potions Master sitting quietly at his bedside. Harry's eyes were unusually bright.
"Thank you," he whispered, before launching himself at the Professor. This action surprised both the older man and Harry himself. "Thank you," repeated the boy softly as he burrowed deeper into Severus' robes.
Shocked, Severus awkwardly put his hands around the boy, patting his back gently. "Thank you... for being there for me... Can you... help...protect me in future?" came a muffled voice. Severus was taken aback and stayed silent. He hadn't expected the boy to ... react this way.
Hearing the lack of response, Harry immediately drew back. "Sorry, um, I mean, I didn't expect you to agree... it's okay... pretend I never said it..." He stammered. He huddled on the bed, fists clenched around the sheets, trying to ignore the pain that was slowly spreading through his injured body. How could he have... blurted out his feelings just like that? He should have known that Severus' slp of the tongue before didn't mean he'd wanted an extra burden.
Immediately regretting his insensitive response, Severus reached out for the small form, drawing him gently into an embrace. "Of course I will, Harry. I will always love and protect you forever, I promise." Severus said quietly.
"Really?" the response was incredulous. Severus nodded, smiling.
The boy leant his head against Severus' firm chest contentedly. Soon, Severus heard deep breathing and realised that the exhausted teen had fallen asleep.
Beside him, a pair of blue eyes were twinkling blindingly. "I'm so proud of you, Severus," Albus said smiling.
Severus woke up later to hacking coughs from the boy snuggled in his arms. His mouth was dribbling blood and his eyes were rolled up in his head. His body was stiff, and shivering uncontrollably.
"Harry!" Severus called out. "Harry! Answer me!" He repeated urgently. It scared him to see harry in this catatonic state. "Poppy! Hurry!"
The nurse hurried out and immediately started work on Harry. A few tense minutes later, Harry was tucked in, unconscious, on the bed. Severus sighed in relief. "He's still weak from the torture, and today's emotional stress proved too great for his body to handle." Madame Pomphrey explained. Settling down on a chair, Severus clasped Harry's small hand in one of his own and waited.