Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all these other great characters belong to J.K. Rowling. I just play with them!
6. Healing.
Harry sighed in relief as they reached the hospital wing. Professor Snape led him to one of the beds and helped him up.
"It's best when you sit up with your cracked ribs," Snape said briskly, and with a flick of his wand several large pillows from the other beds in the room flew to the bed and piled up behind Harry.
Then the Potions Master opened one of the cabinets, taking out a vial of some green liquid. From another cabinet he took a small glass, and he tipped a small amount of the potion into it.
"Drink this," Snape said.
"What is it?" Harry asked.
"I'm not going to poison you. It's a pain reliever," Snape snapped. "Now, take it or don't take it, but stay here while I contact Madam Pomfrey."
Harry drank the potion in one gulp. As with most magical potions, it started to work immediately. "Thank you, sir," he said, a little louder than before.
Snape grunted something unintelligible and left the room through the other door, the one leading to Madam Pomfrey's office. Harry could hear him cast the Incendio spell to light the fire before the door closed.
It couldn't have been more than ten minutes when the door opened again and Madam Pomfrey emerged, carrying a large bag over her shoulder. Snape followed right behind her. She put the bag on the next bed and was at Harry's side in a flash, concern and anger in her face. Harry smiled with relief at her arrival. He was no longer worried, he knew her anger wasn't directed at him. Madam Pomfrey was always angry with those who had injured her patients.
"Broken arm, concussion, black eye, two cracked ribs and a number of bruises," she said as she looked him over. "And that knee isn't looking too good. Your own uncle did this to you?"
"My cousin had an accident, but my aunt thought I'd hurt him. Then later Uncle Vernon came home and started beating on me. I ran off after he threw my trunk and Hedwig out of the window," Harry explained.
Madam Pomfrey shook her head in disgust, then turned to open the bag she had brought. Harry noticed Snape frowning darkly, his eyes flashing with anger.
"You'll have to tell us exactly what happened," he snarled.
Madam Pomfrey stopped, a wad of cotton and a flask in her hands. "Not now, Severus. Go back to your office, I'll call you when you can speak with him."
Snape looked like he was going to argue, but stopped. "Very well," he sighed, and turned.
"Professor," Harry called after him. "Hedwig?"
Snape turned back. "I won't forget her," he said shortly, and swept out of the room.
Madam Pomfrey poured some of the liquid from the flask she held onto the cotton, then approached Harry. "Hold still, this may sting a little," she said as she gently daubed it onto his scalp.
"Madam Pomfrey," Harry started. "Ouch," he said then, as the liquid soaked into his skin.
"Don't talk," Madam Pomfrey told him.
The stinging quickly faded, and Madam Pomfrey took another piece of cotton with another liquid, held his eye closed and rubbed it over his face. Harry blinked his eye as the swelling melted away and vision returned. When Madam Pomfrey walked back over to her bag he started over.
"He doesn't believe me either, does he?"
"Eh?" Madam Pomfrey looked at Harry questioningly.
"Professor Snape. He doesn't believe I didn't do anything to my cousin," Harry said.
Madam Pomfrey frowned. "He believes you," she said as she returned with her wand and tapped his right arm. "Sanos Ossis," she spoke, and Harry felt a tingling in his arm. As it, too, faded, he spoke again.
"Oh, sure he does, then why was he so angry?" he pointed out.
Madam Pomfrey paused and looked up at Harry. "Look, I know Professor Snape sometimes is unfair with anyone who isn't in Slytherin."
Harry snorted.
"Well, okay, more than sometimes," she conceded. "But no teacher at Hogwarts, not even Snape, would condone this," she swept her hand at Harry's injuries.
"If you're sure," Harry replied, doubtfully.
Madam Pomfrey pulled up his shirt and repeated her spell on his ribs. "Sanos Ossis." The tingling repeated itself. "I am," she said. She put her wand down, picked up a clean piece of cotton and yet a third flask, and set to work on his knee.
Harry wasn't convinced, but he let it drop. "Who else is here at Hogwarts?" he asked instead.
"Just Professor Trelawney and Mr. Filch," Madam Pomfrey replied. "Everyone else is gone, even Professor Binns has gone home for the summer."
Harry couldn't hide his dismay. He had to spent three weeks with Professor Snape, Professor Trelawney, and Filch?
"Can I stay here?" he asked, meaning the hospital wing, not just Hogwarts.
Madam Pomfrey shook her head. "I'm sorry, Harry. I'll stay here tonight, but when I'm sure you are okay, I'll have to return home. I have a lot of work to do. Look, it won't be that bad. It is only for three weeks, and the ghosts are here too," Madam Pomfrey said.
"Don't tell me," Harry groaned.