"Albus, how dare you send that boy back to that abusive, degrading, negligent household?" Severus hollered as he burst into the headmaster's office.
"Severus, calm down, my boy," Albus pleaded.
"I will not! You knew the circumstances under which that child was removed from the Dursleys care and yet you sent him back! You sent him back without once checking on his wellbeing! You ought to be ashamed of yourself, you old doddering fool! That boy is once again severely malnourished as well as suffering from bulimia! His anxiety and depression, which were being well treated under the watchful council of a mind healer have come raging back and developed into PTSD! For Merlin's sake, you old coot, the boy has returned with broken and sprained limbs!" Severus screamed mercilessly as he threateningly backed the headmaster into a corner.
"What would you have had me do, Severus? There was nowhere safe enough for him other than the Dursley's. I had no other options," Albus claimed.
"No other options my ass! Your other option was not sending him back to a home where he was abused and neglected undoing years of hard work spent repairing the damage previously done to the boy! Merlin, you really are clueless in your old age aren't you, old man? I would've been a safer option that the Dursleys! I will protect the child! I would never hurt him! I would never do what the Dursleys have done and I'm a death eater for Merlin's sake!" Severus ranted taking deep breaths in an effort to calm himself.
"Mr. Potter will be staying in a room that has been added to my quarters for the time being so that it might be easier for me to administer dreamless sleep, monitor his diet to get his weight back on track, and watch over the progress of his injuries. I've arranged for Mr. Potter to resume meetings with his mind healer. Mr. Potter will NOT be returning to the Dursley's this coming summer. If you can not find a suitable placement for the child by Christmas, I plan to extend him the offer of being my ward. I suggest, you deal carefully with the boy. Do NOT fail him again, Albus," Severus threatened as he turned and exited the office the slamming of a door emphasizing that the conversation was over and not up for debate.
A blood curdling scream filled the dungeon and Severus shot up immediately with his wand in hand. Having a sneaking suspicion of what was going on, but refusing to allow himself to be caught off guard, Severus made his way cautiously to the new room that had been added to his quarters, wand in hand. He opened the door and surveyed the room, only then allowing a sigh of relief to escape past his pursed lips. There was no imminent physical threat to the child who lay in his bed screaming bloody murder and flailing wildly as tears poured from his eyes closed in a tortured sleep. Severus pocketed his wand, and made his way to the child. Being careful of the flailing limbs, Severus eventually managed to collect the tiny boy into a gentle embrace and pull the boy who lived into his lap. As he slowly started rocking the terrified child, Severus whispered, "Shhh, Harry, you're okay now. You're with Severus Snape at Hogwarts. You are safe now. Try to take deep breaths, child. You are no longer with your relatives. They will never touch you again. You are safe now, Harry. Severus will protect you. I will not let anyone hurt you. Try to calm yourself and remember that you are safe. When you are ready if you could open your eyes, that would ease my own worry quite a bit, kiddo." Severus whispered these reassurances over and over for what felt like hours.
After about half an hour the tears and screams subsided and the boy became relatively still with the exception of the occasional flinch. After another fifteen minutes, Severus found himself staring into Lily's green eyes.
"Potter, welcome back to the land of the living. I'm Severus Snape. You're safe here with me. I'm just going to reach across to the bedside table to grab your glasses," Severus said being careful to overexplain everything since he knew from personal experience waking up after intense nightmares was disconcerting and terrifying and confusing. Severus gently placed the child's glasses on his face and was surprised at the boy's half-hearted grin.
"I'm really sorry I woke you, sir, but thank you for being here. You make everything feel safer," the boy confessed burrowing slightly into the potion master's robes.
"I'll be here whenever you need me, Potter, no need to be sorry. You are safe now," Severus answered. He continued rocking the boy for several minutes, and was surprised when the boy's breath deepened and slowed. Harry relaxed completely in the potion master's arms. When a quiet snore escaped the boy, Severus knew the child had been able to fall back asleep without any dreamless sleep this time. He carefully removed Harry's glasses placing them where they had been prior to the incident, and then gently maneuvered the boy into a more comfortable position under his comforter. "I hope you are able to rest well, Potter," Snape whispered as he exited the child's room.
Thankfully, Harry was able to sleep in peace for the rest of the night and when morning came they both went about their days as normal, until classes came to an end. Severus made his way to the headmaster's office where George Wiley was waiting. "George, it's good to see you," Severus said.
"Good to see you as well, Severus. I was surprised to receive your message. Would you be willing to explain a bit more of what's happened?" the healer asked.
"Mr. Potter's guardian Sirius Black was killed at which time Harry was subject to abuse by the Dursley's under Albus's orders. When I confronted him I discovered his current injuries were as follows: 'Concussion, broken left radius and ulna, broken left femur, sprained left ankle, torn left rotator cuff, multiple lacerations left wrist, malnutrition, bulimia, depression, anxiety, malnutrition, sleep deprivation, self harm" and while all the physical injuries have been healed or are in the process of healing, the child needs your help to navigate his self harm, bulimia, depression, and anxiety. The boy expressed a desire to continue working with you, and I heard that you were very successful with him after he first came into Black's custody. I assured the boy I would encourage him to discontinue self harm, assuring him that I would listen whenever he felt the urge, but informing him that I would not forbid him from doing so even though I would insist he allow me to heal any wounds he may cause himself. He's staying in my quarters so that I can more easily oversee his treatment. I am discussing other options for Harry's guardianship with Albus while making it clear he will not be returning to the Dursley's care. Mr. Potter has requested that his first meeting with you take place in our quarters. He should be waiting there by now. I will be working in my lab for 2 hours and then exit to check on Mr. Potter. I will be personally compensating you for your work with Mr. Potter and help facilitate him getting to each appointment but where and when they will be held will be between you two alone from this point on. Any questions?" Severus asked.
"No, thank you, Severus. I am distraught that the boy has suffered so greatly again, and even more disappointed that I can't say I am surprised. However, I am very pleased with the help you have provided him. You are good for Harry, Severus, and I am very proud of you," George confided softly.
Severus just nodded thankful that his years of occlumency training were holding back the blush that threatened to color his pale face. "We'll use Albus's floo to get to my quarters for Mr. Potter's privacy, and at the end of today I shall grant you the passwords to my personal floo should Mr. Potter wish to continue having sessions there," Severus replied as he went through the floo first demonstrating to the mind healer what he ought to do. Soon the potion master and mind healer were standing in Snape's living room with the boy-who-lived.
"Hello, Harry? How were your classes?" Severus asked cordially.
"They went well, thank you," Harry replied quietly.
"Good, and were you able to keep down all your meals?" Severus asked.
The child blushed as he stared intently at the floor. "Umm...all except lunch. Sorry, sir," Harry answered.
"No reason to apologize, Harry. You are healing. Some difficulty is anticipated. Was it involuntary or self induced?" Severus asked.
"Th-the second, sir," Harry replied as tears pooled in his downcast eyes.
"Okay, what would you like for a snack during your meeting with Healer Wiley?" Severus asked gently.
"Could we h-have fruit with crackers a-and cheese?" Harry requested sheepishly.
"Of course, I'll have it delivered to my office. You may both follow me," Severus explained as he led the way to his office. "Feel free to make yourselves comfortable. The snacks should be delivered by a house elf any minute. There will be enough for you both. Harry, there will also be a stomach soother for you."
"Thank you, Severus," George gratefully responded.
"Thank you, sir," Harry offered at almost the same time.
Severus just nodded and then took his leave.