I Don't Want to be a Hero - Second Year

Chapter Fourteen

St. Mungos & Sirius Black

Harry was astounded that a hospital as big and as busy as St. Mungos existed within an abandoned store in Muggle London. The Potions Master was recognised by the receptionist who just shooed them onto their destination. Their destination being the famous St. Mungos Research Lab.

"Just wait for me here, Harry," said Professor Snape as he watched his son settle into a chair in the corridor. "I won't be very long and then, if you still desire to do so, we shall visit Bl… Sirius Black."

"Okay, dad."

Harry watched as his father disappeared into the Research Lab, and he was alone. At first it was not terrible. Harry looked around himself, waved politely to a few nurses in pale pink robes and Healers in stately blue that passed by him. Time, though, became awfully slow and Harry began to wonder if his father was going to be consulting forever. At first he tried to sit properly in the chair, then he lay sideways across the three that were there, then he switched them into each other's places.

Tiring of that (which probably took two seconds) Harry decided to pace up and down the corridor. The first pacing was quick. The second pacing he counted his footsteps. He then sat back down in his chair. When he got tired of that chair he switched to a second one. He stayed there for only a few minutes before he went to sit in the third one.

Harry wished he had brought a book to read, but he had not so he needed to entertain himself another way.

Finally (after what was only in truth a half an hour) Harry slumped across all three seats, and fell asleep.

Professor Snape reappeared in the corridor an hour later to find his son deeply asleep, and awkwardly positioned on the chairs lined up against the wall. He woke Harry who stretched stiffly.

"Are you finished, dad?" asked Harry.

"I am," smirked Severus.

"What were you doing, dad?" asked Harry sleepily.

"There are still many diseases… illnesses that our world has not conquered, Harry. One of those is a pneumonia that weakens the bronchial tubes and the lungs. I believe that in my brewing I came up with a solution. Although I would prefer to test it upon the patient, first, protocol dictates that I share my findings with the St, Mungos Research Department."

Harry frowned. "If a potion is gonna save someone it ought to be used right away. What if the patient dies while they're… discussing tea and crumpets?"

Severus chuckled, "My thinking exactly, Harry. However, Healer Hippocrate Smethwyck is extremely competent and it was to him that I spoke. He will be using the potion on the patient this evening." Harry smiled, stretched again, and yelped at a sore muscle that had not done well on the makeshift bed.

"I think we should have brought you something to read," remarked Severus.

Harry shrugged, and shook off the kink. "Next time, I guess."

Severus nodded, "Next time. Are you ready for a visit?"

Harry nodded. He then patted his father's knee. "If you ever want to leave, dad, it's okay with me. I don't want you to get upset."

Severus was nonplussed by his son's words. He had expected to be saying the same to Harry. It warmed him, again, to know that his son was thinking of his feelings. The truth was he was not looking forward to seeing Sirius Black since he had visited him once before. This time, though, his feelings really did not matter; the visit was for Harry.

Harry walked down the corridor beside his father and wondered what it would be like to meet this Sirius Black. Harry had not spoken to Remus Lupin even though his father had offered twice to take him to meet the man. Sirius, though… Harry was curious. The school records had not been kind to Sirius and had painted him to be a callous, uncaring youth who looked upon everyone that was not a Marauder as someone to bully. The man, James' best friend, still held the record for detentions earned in one year; a whopping 213!

Still Harry thought it was important to meet a friend of his parents. At least to respect the fact that James and Lily had been friends with Sirius Black.

The Snapes reached the private room of Sirius Black and for a moment Harry hesitated. He was not sure what to expect so for that he was glad to have his father near. When he slipped his sweaty palm into Severus' dry hand, Severus did not let him go.

They stepped into the room.

Sirius Black appeared small to Harry, for an adult that was. The man had shaggy, black hair, an odd moustache and beard that circled his mouth, and through the wizard's opening hospital shirt Harry could see a variety of strange tattoos over the man's thin chest. Sirius was awake, and reading. As soon as he saw that there were visitors for him, he nearly smiled, but then he saw his boyhood nemesis.

"Snivellus," sneered Sirius.

"Table your joy at seeing me, Black. I have brought someone to see you," Professor Snape said with deadly flatness.

Sirius pulled himself up a little higher and then leaned forward to study the small boy with Snape. The child's hair reached his shoulders and around his neck. In a neat, white collar, was a tie that was unmistakably Gryffindor. His study ended though when he saw a pair of awfully familiar eyeglasses, and absolutely brilliant, green eyes.

"James?" asked Sirius quietly.

Harry shook his head. "I'm Harry." He moved a little closer to his father.

"Harry?" Sirius smiled slowly. "Harry Potter!"

Harry's lips thinned, and he carefully corrected the wizard, "Harry. Potter. Snape."

"Snape?!" Sirius blanched, and then glared at Severus. "What is the meaning of this? Why does he say he's a… a… Snape?" Sirius' voice nearly scratched across the surname.

"Harry…" drawled Severus deliciously, "is my son."

Sirius' gaze flared angrily. "Impossible! James would never allow it!"

"He did," said Harry sharply. "He and Lily both told me that Professor Snape would love me."

Sirius' scoffing laugh was a near bark. "I don't think so, boy. James hated Snivellus and he…" Sirius pointed accusingly, "called your mother a 'Mudblood'!"

"A kid calling another kid a bad name. Yeah. That never happens," Harry rolled his eyes recalling how many times he and his friends called each other names. "Besides, I don't even know what that means."

"Dirty blood!" spat Sirius. "Only Slytherins call Muggle borns such a terrible name."

"My best friend is a Slytherin," stated Harry emotionlessly.

Sirius spluttered, and then shouted, "No son of James Potter would have a Slytherin as a friend!" Sirius glared at Severus. "You're warping him, Snivellus!"

Harry looked up at his father and tugged his hand so Severus looked down upon him. "I want to go, dad. I don't like him."

"James is your father, Harry!" Sirius exploded. "Not Snape! Snape is cruel, a coward, and he's evil! He's a Death Eater!"

Harry, who had started to leave the room with his father abruptly turned around let go of Severus, and stomped up to the sick man who began to cough from the abuse he was putting his throat through. Harry waited until the coughing relaxed. He then glared at Sirius. "Severus Snape rescued me from the Dursleys, and the crazy witch. He bought me a broom to fly around his lighthouse. I have FRIENDS! Severus Snape is MY FATHER and I am HIS SON! Don't you dare call him evil, and don't you ever… EVER call him a COWARD!"

Harry snapped away, leaving the emaciated, sick man alone with his father. Severus watched his son leave with pride.

"Get out of here, Snape," ordered Sirius as he wearily drifted down into his bed. "You'll be happy to know I've some dying to get on with."

Severus turned to face his nemesis. He gazed through hooded eyes, and smugly imparted, "Do not be so content to 'shuffle off this mortal coil', Black." He then bowed rather sarcastically. "Have a good eve." Sirius shut his eyes against the black clad wizard. Severus smirked, and followed his son.

After leaving St. Mungos Severus Apparated them to Hogsmeade. They both waited as Apparition always made Harry slightly dizzy. "Dad? Why did that man think I looked like James?"

Severus studied him. "You do resemble James Potter, your father, but I also see your mother Lily in you, and not just in the colour of your eyes."

"Well," said Harry in thought, "That's all right, I suppose. They are my parents. But, Fred and George have said I look a whole heckuva lot like James. Fred said it's because we both have round glasses." Harry took his glasses off that he had had for what seemed like forever. He glared at them. "Dad, do new glasses cost a lot?"

"Not really, Harry. When was the last time you had an eye exam?"

Harry blinked owlishly at his father. "A what?"

Severus' brow furrowed. "An… eye exam. A Healer examines your eyes and then prescribes corrective lenses." Harry was absolutely puzzled. "You have… never had your eyes professionally examined?" Severus gaze narrowed and his eyes blazed once more over those damned Muggles.

"No, sir," replied Harry wondering if he had said or done something wrong. "Aunt Petunia just picked these up at a Hand-Me-Down store. I kept trying on glasses until the blurriness went away. Aunt Petunia said that they were very expensive and I wasn't ever to break them because she wasn't going to replace them." Harry took a cautious step back from his father who was grinding his teeth. His lips had also thinned, and Harry knew this meant he was very angry. "Dad? Did I say something wrong?" Harry asked in a whisper.

Severus pinched the bridge of his nose, and did his best to wipe his anger from at least appearing on his face. "No… no, Harry…" Severus relaxed the tension in his shoulders, and crouched down in front of his son. "I am not at all mad at you…" he grimaced. "However, I may visit the Dursleys and send a swarm of killer bees to sting that vile aunt of yours." To death, his mind added silently.

For a moment Severus brushed back his son's hair, and then he drew him into his arms. Harry threw his arms around his father's neck and hugged him back tightly. Severus then let his son go, and rose to his feet.

"As we are in Hogsmeade, Harry, there is an Ocularist we can have see you," declared Severus.

"Can I get some new glasses?" asked Harry hopefully.

"If that is what you need then that is precisely what you will get." He held out his hand to his son. Harry took his father's hand and fell into step beside him.

Harry enjoyed walking with his father but he knew he was too old for holding the older wizard's hand. It was alright, though. Harry figured it was his father that needed to hold his hand to make himself feel better. He smiled as they walked up the street and towards a shop adorned by a pair of blue eyes that blinked at passers-by.

Healer Armand Bletchley greeted them at the door. He was an affable wizard who was short, a touch rotund, and with curly, blond hair.

"How is Miles doing, Professor Snape?" asked the Healer.

"Rather well, Healer," replied Severus. "He is encouraging other Slytherins to make friends of students in other Houses. Miles does not wish Draco Malfoy to be the only Slytherin with 'outside' friends."

Healer Bletchley smiled. "Ahhh, my little diplomat, my Miles." He clapped his hands together once. "What might I do for you gentlemen?"

"I just discovered that my son, Harry, has never had an eye exam; Muggle or Wizarding. Would you take care of him?" Severus nudged his son forward a step.

Healer Bletchley bowed to Harry, and smiled at him. "Master Harry, a wizarding eye exam is similar to that of Muggles but it is done magically. If you'll take a seat over here, we shall see how your eyesight is."

Harry sat down, and the Healer removed his glasses. The first time Healer Bletchley waved his wand at him Harry flinched but his father was right behind him, and squeezed his shoulder. There was more wand waving; the Healer made a few unintelligible sounds, and then a series of runes drifted from the Healer's wand over Harry's head. The Healer frowned at the runes, studied them then stirred his wand through them so they faded away.

Healer Bletchley smiled at Harry, and then his father. "The good news is that Harry, here, has a problem with his sight that can be corrected with magic." Harry brightened at the news. "The bad news is that there is not a Healer here in Scotland or Britain that does this work. The Ocularist that specialises in this work lives in Greece in the wizarding town of Port Murem."

"We are familiar with the place," nodded Severus with a slight smile to his son.

"If you are amenable I can set up an appointment but in the meantime, Harry, you will need to wear a pair of corrective lenses that are not these." The Healer promptly vanished the old frames and lenses.

"Harry?" asked his father. "Would you be fine wearing the temporary glasses until your eyes are corrected?"

"Sure!" agreed Harry. "Can I get wireframes?"

"You may have whatever you wish," agreed Severus.

"Look to your left, Harry, and you will see a wall of frames for you to choose from. The wire frames are all made of copper, brass, silver, and pewter," directed the Healer.

"That sounds expensive," murmured Harry with hesitation.

Severus would not allow money to get in the way of what his son needed. "Go and choose a few frames while I get your appointment set up."

Harry slid from the exam chair and went over to the wall of frames while his father took care of his appointment. He studied the frames and tried not to think of the metals they were made from.

Round, oval, rectangular, square. Some with tiny scrollwork, or chevrons at the temple pieces, or a few even were decorated with dots of precious jewels. The jewels and the scrolls and the chevrons were all too fancy for Harry. He thought those might be for girls. He selected a pair of oval frames in copper, rectangle frames in pewter, and a pair of bright, shiny brass that were square-shaped.

Harry brought them over to Severus. "Dad? I found three that I sort of like. Will you help me pick a pair?"

a/n: An explanation might be in order regards Sirius Black. Animagus powers aside I am basing Black's condition upon those prisoners incarcerated in America's worst prison, Alcatraz. Medical attention was poor, at best, and dentistry was nearly non-existent. The guards were known to often physically abuse prisoners beyond their deplorable, everyday living. Although I have not found proof of it I have no doubt that sexual abuse from the guards was part of that abuse. Therefore if you consider that Sirius Black was a prisoner for 12 years, plagued by Dementors and abused by guards, and living in a prison where the conditions were even worse than Alcatraz, it is a miracle he lived at all. Therefore, it is completely plausible that a pneumonia that cannot be cured by known magical means, could be killing him.