Hi everyone, here is the next chapter. Thanks to everyone who followed/favourited and/or reviewed it means a lot to me. This chapter is a bit short but i felt it was a good spot to end it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and/or any associated characters.
Read and review.
Both Harry and Dudley were well enough to be discharged from the hospital but they had a problem on their hands. Nobody had come forward to take care of Harry. It looked like he'd have to be taken into care and more than likely Foster care till he came of legal age.
They were giving it till tonight to find a guardian for Harry, and that was it. There was simply no point in delaying the inevitable. Dudley's aunt Marjorie had come forward to be his guardian and take care of him. That was him sorted and he had left the previous night.
Harry always knew Dudley would be leaving before him for he was loved and wanted. Aunt Marge adored him and would do anything for him so it wasn't a surprise when he left with her. He on the other hand was alone in the muggle world. Not a single soul here cared for him. He felt at home in Hogwarts and the magical world amongst similar folk. Home for the most part when he wasn't fighting the Dark Lord.
Despite the fact he was the boy-who-lived and always drew attention to himself in some way, he knew Hermione and Ron had his back. They always did and he hoped always would. With two months to go before the new school term, he knew he'd have to go wherever was seen fit for him. He wouldn't have much say since he wasn't eighteen. He'd find a way to get to Hogwarts. No matter what it took. He hoped someone from Hogwarts, anyone, would come to collect him. He didn't care who. He just wanted to feel like he belonged.
With nothing taking Harry's interest he curled into a fetal position once more. He wished for nothing more than to be saved by a member of Hogwarts staff. But things never worked out for Harry, he'd always find trouble instead. Everything good and hopeful always came to an abrupt end for him.
Dumbledore had never cared enough to remove him from his relatives' care when their treatment was far from ideal and he doubted he'd help now. Who would help him if the headmaster didn't care enough to help? He was only needed to fight the Dark Lord and apart from that he meant nothing to anyone.
The next few hours passed by in much the same blur as the previous days had gone by. With nothing more than hoping things would work out and to finally have the life, he'd always dreamt of.
When Harry came to his surroundings a strangely familiar voice filled his ears. Snape? 'No it couldn't be, Snape wouldn't be in a muggle hospital, or would he?' Harry thought to himself but was cut short by a firm knock on the door to his room.
With that, the door opened and Severus followed just behind the head of social services and head nurse on the ward. He had given a muggle name and dressed likewise when going to meet the respective staff to try get Harry Placed into his care, which took longer than he'd anticipated.
So many questions he'd had to answer, you'd swear he was on trial. Throughout it, he remained as calm as he could possibly manage. Which wasn't easy for him. If it wasn't for Harry's guardianship on the line he'd have lost his patience. Losing it with them, he knew, wouldn't have gone down too well.
Slipping in next to the other two at the corner of the room opposite the bed where Harry was sitting curled against the headboard. The sight that met Severus was one he'd never seen before. Harry looked forlorn, hands clasped around his knees. If he was telling the truth it looked like he'd been told he was never returning to Hogwarts. He could empathise with him in that respect, often feeling like that himself in his school years.
"Hello Harry, this is Paul, a friend of your parents, he has come and wants to be your new guardian." the social care worker spoke softly, moving closer to Harry.
With nothing more than a curious expression from Harry, he continued, "We've spoken to Paul at some length and have decided he's suitable to be your guardian. If you agree we can sign him as your guardian. It's your choice." He stopped by Harry's bed and regarded him with a gentle kind expression.
Questions were swirling around Harry's mind. Why was Severus here, and more importantly why did he want to be his guardian? Perhaps this was all part of some plan involving Voldemort. It wouldn't surprise him in the slightest. Nobody bothered him till he was needed to fight the Dark Lord. He'd survived when he was a baby but that wouldn't continue. He wasn't invincible or unkillable.
Taking a step closer to Harry's bedside, not wanting to make the teen any more uncomfortable than he already was, Severus spoke, "Hello Harry, after careful consideration I've decided I want to be your guardian and give you a good education and home life. It's completely your choice though."
Severus chose his words carefully knowing Harry had suffered significantly at the hands of his relatives. He'd have to prove to him that he would give him a better life, much more than the Dursley's did anyway. That was only if Harry wanted to live with him that was. He'd have valid reasons if he decided not to and he couldn't blame him.
"You want to be my g-guardian... So I'll be liv-living with y-you?" Harry questioned, sounding cautious as if he wasn't sure he'd heard Severus correctly.
Harry had obviously learned to be wary of people from his experience. It wasn't the wrong way to be but Severus wanted to prove to him that he wasn't like his relatives. While Harry would heal quickly physically, mentally was going to be very different but patience was definitely needed on his and Tom's part.
"Yes, Harry, you will be living with me. If you wish you can try it out for a few weeks and make a decision then. It's completely your choice." Severus settled on calling him Harry knowing full well that calling him Potter, as he did at Hogwarts, wouldn't go well with social services. Along with his relationship with Harry.
Harry nodded and responded "really? T-thanks P-Paul." Harry added as an afterthought, afraid of the consequences if he didn't.
The Dursley's sure did affect Harry but it was something Severus was determined to help him move on from.
"Yes, Harry, you can live with me," Severus spoke regarding Harry with as reassuring a look as possible.
The social care worker interjected, stepping closer to Harry. "We can sign the forms now if you wish. If you change your mind at some point you can contact me and I'll find a different guardian for you." She looked from Harry to Severus awaiting a response of some form.
With a nod from Severus and a slight one from Harry she reached over and grabbed the papers from the cupboard. Adjusting the papers she held them in such a way that both Harry and Severus could see and read. She set to explaining the red tapings around the guardianship and everything that came along with it and got both their signatures.
With Severus agreeing to make contact if things changed with regard to Harry, he left with Harry, contact details stuffed in his trousers pocket. As he placed his hand atop Harry's shoulder who flinched, the realisation of what lay ahead became real. He'd never get over it but with help, Severus hoped to help him move forward.
After agreeing to all the red tapings around the guardianship Severus guided Harry out of the hospital toward a quiet area. With nobody around to notice, Severus lightly gripped Harry's shoulder and apparated them to Riddle Manor.
Landing in the guest room in the manor, Severus moved to face Harry. He'd have to introduce him to Tom soon but knew better than to apparate into a room where he was. Considering Tom had been the cause of a lot of Harry's trauma and problems he knew it certainly wouldn't help meeting him straight away. It would ruin his potential proper relationship with Harry. If it ever did develop that is.
Gesturing for Harry to take a seat on the couch, Severus sat opposite him. Harry looked completely out of his depth, almost as if he expected to be given orders or beaten.
"Welcome to the manor, Harry," Severus purposefully left out the word 'Riddle' knowing it'd be too much for the teen right now.
With Harry leaning slightly forward Severus continued, "you are not expected to earn your keep here under any circumstances. Just clean up after yourself but that's it. You will not be the subject of any beatings or anything of that sort."
With that, Harry appeared slightly calmer and questioned, "but I need to do something to earn my keep staying here. I'll do anything at all. I-I'm used to it."
Severus had to stop himself from visibly reacting. If the teen's relatives weren't already dead he'd have them dealt with. And painfully too. How could any supposed uncle and aunt treat their nephew like they had? Or anybody for that matter, least of all an innocent child.
"I promise you, Harry, you will not be expected to earn your keep to stay here. That will not happen no matter what." Severus regarded Harry with a smile to let him know he was genuine.
Harry nodded looking like he still didn't quite believe what was being said, but that'd take a while.
"I'll give you a tour of the manor and show you to your bedroom. Your belongings will be retrieved and placed in your bedroom. You can then arrange it to your liking if it's not to your satisfaction."
A slight smile spread across his face only to disappear as quickly. His owl, Hedwig, would be dead if she hadn't managed to get food and water for the duration Harry wasn't there to give her what little he scavenged.
He couldn't bear the prospect of losing Hedwig; nothing could ever replace her. She'd been with him through a lot. His best friend. Now more than likely dead.
Feeling tears brimming at the corner of his eyes, brought his gaze down not wanting to cause problems.
That's it for now. I always imagined this chapter going this way so it doesn't follow the typical procedures and guidelines.