Disclaimer: All things you recognize from the seven Harry Potter books belong to J.K. Rowling and those she has given rights to. I am merely borrowing for my own entertainment and do not earn anything for writing this story.

A/N: Hi! It's the LGBTQ+ Pride Month! Though the COVID-19's threat isn't going away anytime soon, we can still make good use of social media to show our support of the LGBTQ community. If you don't own a social media account (like me), that's okay too, because there are plenty of other ways to show support, like donating money to charities and organizations (an example is The Trevor Project) supportive of LGBTQ people. Even if you aren't homophobic but belong to a homophobic family, acknowledging in your heart and mind that you aren't homophobic and support and accept the LGBTQ community is a great thing, too—or if you don't have a social media account and don't want to donate money (or are unable to, due to personal reasons), you can just do the same. Every little bit counts, everyone, even if that bit is unseen by the rest of the world.

And now, please read on and tell me what you think! Thanks.

PS: If you go to my profile page and check my noticeboard, you will see News 1 is about Pride Month as well.

110.6.1.

A Bloody Hand: Things Just Seem to Happen Together

Chapter 12

Severus Snape stared in shock at Poppy Pomfrey, the matron of Hogwarts's hospital wing. Harry Potter, son of James Potter, possibly abused? Impossible!

"What?" exclaimed Minerva, looking outraged.

One of the two Healers of station number two nodded, looking somber. "You didn't see his back, it was littered with bruises, which we healed," said the man quietly. "The more serious wounds can't be completely healed at once, so you'll have to apply salve yourselves."

His Healer partner sighed sadly. "I'm afraid this is the result of our scans," she said, holding out a piece of parchment, which Minerva refused and Severus took, his hand shaking slightly, and scanned the list.

Harry Potter, the Gryffindor Golden Boy, Dumbledore's favorite, was most likely abused! His back was full of bruises and some bleeding wounds, which were slightly infected, and his right wrist had been sprained before and hadn't healed properly. It was the same with his right ankle. There were also small wounds on the back of his head that they had no idea where they could have come from.

The man added, "We did more in-depth scans once we found those injuries, which was when we found out about the wrist and ankle."

"I have a question though," said the woman.

Minerva, who had shut her eyes and breathed in deeply before reading the parchment with Severus, looked at her.

"Who does Mr Potter live with?" asked the woman. "We believe this is abuse because the wrist and ankle are from before he was eleven, so this could not have happened at Hogwarts. And even if it wasn't his guardians or one of them who had broken his wrist and ankle and caused these injuries, they obviously neglected him—he is nearly underweight and is rather shorter than the rest of his peers; nearly underweight is our main concern, however, for height does not matter nearly as much as a healthy weight, though it does show lack of nutrition or sleep . . . or both."

Who did Potter live with? That was a good question. Severus had only known Potter lived with his relatives, but hadn't known with whom.

Apparently, Minerva did. Her eyes flashed as she replied, "He lives with his Muggle relatives—the Dursley family, I think they're called. Worst family I've ever seen! I told Dumbledore they're no good! And no it turns out they're worse than that, they actually dared—"

The Healer woman interrupted her there. "Worst family you've ever seen?" she said. "Can you please explain that?"

Minerva paused, then said, "Last I saw them, and I'm sure it hasn't changed, they spoiled that son of theirs rotten, but I could tell that they are people who don't have a single kind or sensible bone in their body, especially Potter's aunt's husband, the fat, disgusting man. I saw them years ago, when You-Know-Who first disappeared."

The Healer man nodded in understanding. "Alright," he said. "That makes the entire thing easier."

Severus, who had been listening to Minerva with growing anger that was most surprisingly on Potter's behalf, asked, "And why is that?"

"Because if he lives with Muggles, we can keep this quiet easier," explained the Healer man. "He is Harry Potter, but he is also an abused boy or at the very least neglected boy and I'm sure he wouldn't like it at all if the public was to find out about this. If his guardians were connected to the wizarding world, it would have been difficult to remove him from their guardianship without everyone knowing about this. His guardians are Muggles though, which means we can get them to sign the needed papers and give him a new guardian or guardians quietly, without anyone knowing the real reason behind this change or even knowing about this change at first."

"And if Mr Potter wants," added the Healer woman, "we can change the guardianship after a bit to adoption."

Minerva nodded. "That sounds like a good idea," she agreed. "But first things first, we'll have to leave Potter to heal under Poppy's care and go see the Headmaster. I'm going to kill him," she added fiercely.

The Healer man said, "Do calm down, Madam, it will do Mr Potter no good if his head of house is arrested for murder."

Severus was in agreement with Minerva though. He was absolutely furious with the Headmaster! How could he have not checked on his Golden Boy? Although he didn't realize the boy was abused himself, he noted with a bit of guilt and shame.

After a quick discussion with the two Healers, the Slytherin and Gryffindor Heads of House left Potter to Poppy and the two Healers' care and hurried to the headmaster or headmistress's office.

XXX

Bam! Severus gaped in shock as Minerva punched Albus Dumbledore's face and the old man crashed against his desk, which he had moved to stand in front of some time during their heated discussion.

"What good are blood wards if he gets hurt anyway?" cried Minerva. "Albus, I'm sure we can put wards that are nearly as strong as the blood wards around the Dursleys' house around his new guardian or guardians' home!"

Silently, Severus agreed with Minerva. What use were the blood wards if the Potter boy wasn't safe in them? He was sure as long as they chose a capable wizard or witch to be the boy's guardian, it would fine, especially if the Headmaster—or Albus, as the old man kept insisting he call him—helped with the warding of the place. He didn't say anything aloud, however, as Minerva looked so very fierce and the Headmaster—Albus—looked rather … dumbstruck? Well, Severus supposed he had every right to be as Minerva had just lost her temper more spectacularly than any other time and given him, Albus Dumbledore, a bloody nose. Severus supposed Albus had every right to be dumbstruck about it; he was rather dumbstruck himself.

Severus did not want them to forget their main topic however, so he cleared his throat loudly. Minerva spun around to look at him, opening her mouth furiously before blinking and shutting it again.

"Hello, Severus," she said quietly. "I quite forgot you were here, for a moment."

"It's alright, Minerva," replied Severus calmly. Then he turned to Albus. "Albus! Minerva is right, you cannot let the boy return to those—those monsters! It is unthinkable! Why you never checked up on him, I do not know! But now that we know about his home life, you cannot possibly expect us to let you send him back there willingly."

Albus picked himself up, righted a few things on his desk, walked around it, and then sat down behind his desk. He smiled weakly at Severus, his eyes for once not twinkling. "What a time to comply with my wish to call me by my name, Severus!" he said.

Severus glared at him. So did Minerva. "This isn't the time to make jokes, Albus!" she snapped. "You heard Severus, we won't allow you to send him back willingly."

Albus smiled, his eyes suddenly twinkling once more. "Very protective of young Mr Potter, aren't you, Severus?"

Severus scowled. "I am not protective of him; no child—no one—deserves to be neglected or abused by his family."

Albus nodded, eyes twinkling. "Yes, yes, of course," he said. "And you will do anything to ensure that Mr Potter doesn't go back to his uncle and aunt come summer?"

Minerva snapped, "Of course! Anything!" and Severus nodded cautiously.

Albus smiled broadly. "That is excellent news, both of you!" he says brightly. "I think I have a solution."

"You do?" said Minerva, and Severus eyed the old man suspiciously. He did not like the look of those twinkling eyes at all.

"Yes," said Albus. "You, Severus! Why don't you become Harry's guardian?"

A/N: Okay, okay, please don't kill me. I promise I'll update again this month—maybe in two weeks' time?—though only once again. So don't kill me. I just had to cut it here.

In the meantime, please review and tell me what you think of this chapter!