March - Harry, age 16

Snape sat in the chair beside the bed as he watched his child sleep, his chest rising and falling with each deep breath he took.

The man had been pressing to his child for over a month now that perhaps it was time to give up Quidditch. The teenager had suffered from several head injuries over the years, all as a result of the sport.

A small sigh escaped Snape as he shifted in his chair. Harry had taken a Bludger to the head in the morning game. A Bludger that had managed to crack the child's skull as well as knock him unconscious for what was now hours. Dinner had passed hours ago. It was now dark outside the windows and Harry had yet to wake.

Snape had worried himself into exhaustion over the course of the day, yet he could not sleep. He was not about to fall asleep and risk the chance that Harry would wake once he did.

Harry's head exploded in pain, his right arm shifting faintly before he groaned loudly. What had he been thinking? Having McGlaggen of all people fill in for Ron! He should of known better.

He took in a shuddering breath, eyes peering open and staring at the ceiling of the hospital wing. It didn't last before he closed his eyes once more, a soft "Damn..." passing his lips as he took in a few more breathes. The teen's fingers flexed, giving a soft groan. He was sure his head had never felt so terrible.

Snape heard the child mutter the word, jumping to his feet a second later. "Harry?" His voice sounded pained. "Are you okay? How are you feeling?"

"Fucking hurts." It hardly registered that he was even speaking to his guardian, eyes remaining closed. His arm rose, resting over his head for a brief moment before he hissed in pain and stopped it back to his side.

Snape frowned at the words but refrained from commenting on his child's choice of language. He was sure that if there was ever a time for it, this was the moment. "I am sure it does. You have cracked your skull." Snape's hand reached out, gently pressing to Harry's forehead in some attempt to make sure the boy did not have a fever.

Harry visibly cringed away from the touch, finally opening his eyes and looking towards Snape. He forced a small grin before it faded nearly a second later. "What time is it?"

"Nearly ten at night." Snape pulled his hand away. "I should get Pomfrey. I am sure she we will want to look you over now that you are awake."

"I don't want her to... but my head," Harry whispered much more softer, closing his eyes tightly as he looked away.

"I know." Snape's lips pressed together in a tight line. "Just give me a moment." The man gently patted the teenager's arm before he turned and moved the curtain around the bed to walk away and find Madam Pomfrey.

Harry gave a soft hum, keeping his eyes closed as he listened to Snape's footsteps move across the ward. It hurt more than he could fully grasp. "Snape," he breathed, knowing his guardian at least wasn't far. He hardly recalled the match, just bits at the start. That alone scared him.

Snape waved down Pomfrey across the room before walking back through the curtains at the sound of his name. "What is it? Are you alright?"

"Don't leave me," Harry nearly whined. He felt absolutely childish but he could hardly help the request.

"I'm not going anywhere." The man spoke the words in a hushed tone as Madam Pomfrey walked through the curtains.

"Nasty bump you have on the back of that head of yours Mr. Potter. Any aches or pains aside from a headache?"

"My whole head," Harry breathed, turning his head on the direction he knew Snape stood. Still he kept eyes closed, cringing as he could faintly see the light next to his bed light up.

Pomfrey frowned as she pulled a vial from her pocket, holding it out to the teenager. "Take all of this." She looked over to Snape. "I am afraid he needs to spend the night here. I am not comfortable letting him go with such an injury."

Slowly, Harry pushed himself up and bowed his head down. He hadn't even looked at the vial the mediwitch was holding out. "Please turn off the light."

Pomfrey nodded as she dimmed the light a great deal but did not diminish it completely. "He is going to need to take something throughout the night." She reaches into her apron pocket pulling out a washcloth and another vial. She quickly poured the contents of the vial over the cloth, gently pressing it to the back of Harry's head.

Harry had taken the vial from the woman as she dimmed the light, keeping his head bowed as he rested it against his leg. Hearing the shuffling, the teen opened his eyes slowly before they closed once more with a hiss. He jerked his head away in reflex as the cloth was pressed against the back of it.

"Take a deep breath and allow Madam Pomfrey to help you." Snape's hand rested gently on the boys knee.

With a nod, Harry tilted his head back and downed the pain reliever before holding the vial out in the direction of Snape. His head bent forward again, taking in a slow breath as he felt the cloth be reapplied against it. He cursed softly under his breath, keeping his eyes closed tightly.

"You may lie back on the cloth if you like." Pomfrey's free hand reached in her apron pocket, pulling out two more vials and setting them down on the table beside Harry. "He will need one every four hours."

Snape nodded his understanding as his fingertips gently tapped Harry's leg. "Go on and lie back."

Slowly, Harry did as instructed with a soft sigh. He blinked his eyes open, looking over towards Snape finally. A pained expression crossed his face before he schooled it away the best he could. "I'm sorry," he muttered softly.

"Hush." Snape shook his head, gently patting the boys leg once more.

"I will leave you two alone." Pomfrey gently pulled her hand out from behind Harry's head. "I will be close by if needed." The witch gave the boy a sad smile before walking through the curtains.

Harry watched the mediwitch leave before he looked back to Snape. He couldn't count on his hands how many quidditch related injuries he had over the years. For months Snape had been pressing for him to resign from his position on the team after his last run in with a bludger.

Although that one hadn't been nearly as bad.

"What are you apologizing for?" Snape's hand continued to rest on the boys leg.

"That you're here too." He grinned softly before closing his eyes with a wince. "Ow... and that I need that every four stupid hours."

"I should be offended Harry. As if I would be anywhere else." The man's fingers patted the boys leg softly before he pulled his hand away, leaning back in his chair.

Harry rested his head to the side, his arm slowly moving to rest across his stomach. "It hurts still," he muttered, shifting his head against the cloth slightly.

"I imagine it does. You did quite a number on that head of yours." Snape refrained from mentioning yet again that he wanted the boy to give the sport up altogether.

The teen gave a soft sound at the words. He wanted to say he didn't do this- but he was certainly the cause. "Won't make the same mistake twice."

"And what mistake is that?" Snape raised a curious eyebrow.

"Putting McGlaggen as keeper again." Harry cringed and took in a deep breath, shifting his head once more.

Snape hummed softly at the words. "Here I thought perhaps you meant continuing with quidditch at all."

He made a face, blinking and staring at Snape with a frown. "Like I would allow Slytherin to start winning."

"Your health and well being is not worth more than your pride?" Snape gave the boy a serious look.

"I'll be fine... Oliver was knocked out for a week. It was just a few hours." Harry grinned, tilting his head away so he didn't have to stare at the man's scowl. "I'm not going to quit."

"At some point it may no longer be your choice Harry." Snape swallowed heavily before continuing. "As your parent it is my job to make decisions in your best interest. Regardless of whether you always agree with them."

"I refuse to leave the team. And I'm captain now. What type of message would that send?" Harry shook his head, closing his eyes.

"I did not say you had to leave the team at this time." Snape's tone remained soft. "However, should something like this happen again..."

"I still won't." Harry felt his arm tense, keeping his eyes closed as the mere thought of arguing with his guardian now made his head hurt even worse.

Snape hummed softly at the words. "Perhaps this is a discussion for a later time."

"Mn..." Harry shifted his head before he pulled the sheet up and closer to his chin. "It hurts so bad still."

"Your head needs time to heal. A cracked skull is not an easy fix." The man eyed the teenager carefully. "Are you hungry? You haven't eaten since breakfast."

"I don't want to really move." Harry faintly shook his head, blinking and staring up to the ceiling.

"You can certainly eat in bed." Snape's eyes remained on the child.

Harry made a face of discomfort as he slowly pushed himself up, wincing as the cloth fell away from the back of his head. "Can I have shepherd's pie?"

"I think that could be arranged." Snape snapped his fingers causing a small house elf to appear at his feet. He quickly requested Harry's meal, the house elf bowing down and vanishing. A moment later the hot meal appeared on the table beside the teenager's bed. "Can you manage on your own or do you need help?"

"I can," Harry muttered, reaching carefully and gripping the plate. He pulled it closer to himself and rested it on his lap, looking down to the meal. He hadn't realized just how hungry he was until he stared at the portion of shepherd's pie. With a grin tugging at his lips, he picked up the fork a bit shakily before taking the first bite.

"Very good." Snape nodded. "I am sure that eating a meal will help you feel a bit better as well."

The teenager choose to not reply, instead focusing on taking careful bites. He winced nearly half way through, shaking his head before placing the fork down. "I can't. I need to lie down."

That cloth had helped his pain greatly, and now without it he could feel that paint redoubling quite quickly.

Snape stood, taking the plate from the teenagers lap. "Lie down and take a break." He set the plate down on the table, waving a hand and setting a heating charm over it.

Harry did so, though not before fixing the cloth to rest back on the pillow. He sighed, closing his eyes as the liquid still covering the cloth pressed against the pain.

"Let me know when you are ready to try eating again and I will help you." Snape carefully sat down on the edge of the bed, placing a gentle hand on Harry's knee.

"I think I'm done with it," Harry muttered, shoulders slouching down. "I wish I didn't have to be up here though."

Snape's hand gently patted the boys knee however, his tone was slightly stern. "Do not start with that. You are not leaving this Hospital Wing until you are well."

The teenager frowned, shifting his head to rest his cheek on the pillow. "I just hate these beds."

"One night will not kill you." Snape patted the boys knee once more. "Would you like your own pillow?"

"Please." Harry opened his eyes, staring off to the curtains that wrapped around the bed. "This is terrible."

Snape stood as he silently summoned the boys pillow from their quarters. He plucked the pillow from the air before tapping Harry's shoulder with his free hand. "Sit up properly for a moment."

"Ugh..." He did as instructed, pushing himself up carefully to lean forward. "I think I need a break from flying for a few weeks though. Maybe until the next game."

"We shall see." Snape picked up the washcloth before moving the pillow from the hospital wing and placing Harry's pillow down. He gently pressed the washcloth to the large bump in the back of the boys head. "Okay, lie back down."

Harry slowly leaned back, sighing loudly in content as his head hit his own pillow. At least some normalcy. "Thank you," he muttered softly, pulling the blanket up once more around his neck.

"Are you tired? Perhaps a nap before you need to take the potion again?" Snape moved to sit down in the chair beside the bed once more.

"I'm exhausted," Harry admitted softly, sighing as he tucked his chin under the sheet. "But I don't want to wake up in just a few hours for a potion."

"Unfortunately you do not have much of a choice." Snape's hand moved to gently rub the boys arm. "Sleep. I am not going anywhere."

"But you'll be up all night." Harry shifted his arm slightly closer to the touch, a soft sound of pain passing his lips.

"Do not worry about me. I am fine." Snape's fingertips continued to brush the boys arm. "You need your rest."

"Mmmm." He gave a large yawn, giving a small nod. "Fine." His head throbbed in pain, though now it felt like a dull ache with the cloth pressed properly against the painful spot.

Snape leaned forward placing a gentle kiss on the boys temple. "Sleep well little boy."

"Love you," Harry breathed, falling back into sleep rather easily. He was sure after that night each time he had to practice for a game would be a struggle between them. But he wasn't about to let Snape take the best thing of Hogwarts away from him.

"I love you too." Snape continued to rub the boys arm gently. "More than you know."