This story is the product of my own mind (muddled though it may be). The characters are, sadly, not mine. They belong to J. K. Rowling. I just play with them, and bend them to my will occasionally. Occasionally they see fit to take over the story, and then I am at the mercy of their will. Warning: Child Abuse.

A Promise Fulfilled

By: Mikee

Part 4

Severus' POV


After dinner I decided it was time to try out my new invisibility potion. After all, Harry would be safely ensconced in the Hospital Wing for the next three of four days. If it didn't work as planned, this would give me a chance to refine it.

I took a dose and immediately felt a warm tingle throughout my body. Looking down I saw my hands fade and disappear. Suddenly I realized… with a sick sinking feeling… that I had to be naked for this to work. Damn! I wish I had bought an invisibility cloak when they were sill being made. Maybe there is yet a way to get one. I'll have to look into that. Merlin help me if the potion wears off before I can return to the safety of my cambers. I must take care to pay close attention to the sensations this potion creates. I can't afford any mistakes.

All my years of silent stalking will pay off if this potion is as effective as I hope it will be. Oh, to be silent and invisible… what terror I could wreak on wayward students. Ah well, now was not the time to indulge my… hobby. I made my way to the Hospital Wing to find Albus already there. He sat next to the boy, holding and stroking a hand, whispering to Harry that he would be all right.

I moved to the end of the bed and Albus nodded to me. I almost died. There I was completely naked, standing out in the open in the Hospital Wing. Albus had the nerve to smile, and wink at me… WINK at me! He rose quietly from his chair, still holding Harry's hand and whispered to me that it was okay, I was indeed invisible. I must work on getting a cloak…!

Albus resumed his post, and I stood guard at the foot of the bed watching Harry sleeping. He was drifting in and out of consciousness, but no longer shaking. He began to talk in his sleep, and my breath caught most painfully in my chest to hear what he had to say…

"There will be no foolish wand waving or silly incantations in this class." (1)

My words came crashing back to accuse me. Albus raised an eyebrow, and just looked at me with questions burning in his eyes.

"As such, I don't expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science and exact art that is potion making, however," (1) Harry's words, my words, trailed off.

The words didn't come fluidly, but haltingly, hauntingly… and I found myself quite relieved he had neither my inflections, nor my timing.

Harry picked up where he left off, "for those select few who posses the predisposition…" (1)


Harry fell silent again, and I remembered to breathe. Albus smiled. I wonder what he is thinking when he smiles. Is he planning my demise, or some new torture for me in the guise of helping him with his newest… pet project.

I whispered a question to Albus asking if Madam Pomfrey had given Harry anything for pain or sleep. Albus shook his head "no," and advised Madam Pomfrey was concerned about Harry's head injury, and she didn't know how he would react to either. He was about to ask who had done this when Harry began talking again.

"I can teach you to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper in death." (1) Harry stirred and his face became taut as he finished that last sentence.

Albus stroked Harry's hair, and whispered soothing words of care. I envy the ease with which Albus can calm frightened, hurt children. Children hell! He can soothe almost anyone.

I was snapped from my musings when Harry began again, "Mr. Potter, our new celebrity…" (1)

Another long pause, and Albus glared at me. This statement, I guess, didn't amuse him. Hearing it from Harry's own lips, it no longer amused me, either. I gave Albus a look of apology. He smiled, and that damned twinkle was back, if only for a moment. His eyes clouded again as he looked upon Harry's once again battered body.

"Tell me" Harry spoke again, "what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood? Don't know, well let's try again… Where would you look, Potter, if I asked you to find me a bezor?" (1)

My mouth fell open. It appeared he had been listening after all, and knew the whole drill… letter perfect. If I hadn't been invisible, I'm sure my cheeks (all four) would have been crimson… perfect for a Gryffindor, but atrocious for a Slytherin. Albus smiled a half-smile. I wonder what that smile means.

Silence was once again breached when Harry continued, "What is the difference between Monkshood and Wolfsbane?" (1) Another long pause as I held my breath knowing what was coming, and come it did, "Pity, clearly, fame isn't everything, is it, Mr. Potter?" (1)

Albus was not amused, but he didn't appear to be distressed either. At least I don't think he was. My heart sank. I remembered my promises. I had failed before I had even had the chance to try. My promise to Lily lay bloody in that bed. My promise, what, just hours old it seemed, though I knew it was two weeks, to Harry lay waste, broken in that bed. I have no business looking after a child. Teaching children is one thing, but being responsible for one small boy is more than I can manage. I turned to leave when a small voice stopped me.

"Professor, I don't know."

I turned back around and faced the bed. Harry was still asleep, re-running today's class, supplying his answers to me. I made my way to his bedside across from Albus. Knelt beside the bed and whispered in Harry's ear, "For your information, Potter, asphodel and wormwood…" And Harry spoke with me, "make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Dead… a bezor is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat, and will save you from most poisons, and as for monkshood and Wolfsbane they are the same plant, which also goes by the name of aconite… Well why aren't you all copying this down?" (1) We finished my speech together, Harry and I. This time Albus smiled, and twinkled. Damn his twinkle.

I stayed by Harry's side several more minutes until I felt the faintest tingles in my hands warning me the invisibility potion was about to wear off. Albus wrapped his robes around me to preserve my modesty, and bade me stay a little longer so he could excuse himself for a few minutes.

I took the time to hold Harry's hand, stroke his sweaty forehead and whisper to him. I told him it was my fault he was hurt, and how sorry I was that I had failed him. I told him I was going to do everything in my power to see that it doesn't happen ever again. This time I didn't promise that it wouldn't ever happen again, but that I would do all I could to try to prevent a repeat.

Albus had returned. I wonder if I learned how to stalk silently from him or if he from me. He returned just in time to hear Harry struggle to respond to me. We understood though when he said, "It's fault not yours prosessfor." He's still just a little muddled, but he will be sorted out soon enough, I dare say.

Back in my chambers, wine in hand, eyes glued to the ever-present fire, I found myself thinking about Harry. I wondered how it is his sorry excuse for relatives hadn't broken his spirit. I knew he had made two friends, so he has the capacity to be friendly.

I wondered if he still had the capacity to love, or if it had been beaten out of him. I wondered if he even knew what love was any more. I knew he had been loved by Lily and James, but that was ten years ago. Could there have been enough time to imprint on his young heart, and malleable mind what love was, and how it felt to give and receive it? Would he be receptive to it when it presented itself to him? Could he accept it from his most hated and feared Potions Master, for surely as my name is Greasy Git, uh.. Um.. Severus Snape, I have grown to love the boy.

What about trust? Could he trust? Could he trust adults? Surely adults had done the most damage to him, physically, mentally, and emotionally. His fat cousin, what was that whale's name… Dooly? What part, if any did Dooly play in Harry's plight. Ah yes, I remember Dudley. How appropriate. The whale did look rather like a dud.

My thoughts drifted to his new friends, Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley. I wondered if Harry trusts them, they have only known each other a short time. I will have to speak with them. I need to find out if the legendary Gryffindor loyalty burns within them, and if so, does it burn brightly enough for them to help Harry, my Harry. If so, I will take them into my confidence, and explain my position. Harry will need their support when I bite too hard in class, as surly I will, though, Merlin, I wish it weren't necessary.

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(1) Taken from the movie "Harry Potter"