Author's Notes: Right…this chapter is finally out…I assure you that I had the hardest time writing it…*grumbles*…I apologize beforehand for any OOC-ness on Sev's part…I just can't seem to get him in character…

Anyway, school's reopening soon…on Thursday. I have the GCEs coming up later in the year, and I just know that the teachers would be piling us up with chunks of work to do, if that stack of holiday homework I had to complete was any indication. I swear it's almost one inch thick! This means that you probably won't get any updates too often…I terribly sorry…stupid exams…

So…enjoy this chapter…

By the way…thanks for all the reviews…I won't be responding to them 'cos I want this out now…*smiles*

A Fallen Angel

By chibi_tenshi

I woke up once again in the hospital wing, my back aching from the awkward position I've been in all night. It seemed almost like a ritual now: wake up, stretch a little, check on Potter, eat, check on Potter, maybe read a little, check on Potter again, and sleep. I would have snorted at my near obsessive attitude towards my once nemesis. But it was choked down when I was met with bright emerald green eyes, tinged with fear, like a weaponless person caught in Voldemort's wandpoint (yes, I don't fear that insufferable fool that thinks he could take over the world by being nasty to people. I just hate him…a lot…), as I did my customary scan on Potter's well being.

I was taken by surprise, since Poppy had told me that he would probably be in a coma for at least 3-4 weeks while his body took time to heal properly. I believe I was…what some might call – gaping wide-mouthed like a goldfish in a tank, an uncouth but somewhat appropriate portrayal of my current state.

As it is, I failed to notice his attempts at calling for my attention until I felt the weak nudge against my knee.

"P-Professor Snape?" Startled out of my reverie, I looked down at the boy. It seemed to have taken a lot out of him just to voice out that short question. I had to fight down the familiar swell of rage at the thought of exactly what had happened to the poor boy and who did it to him.

I managed to grind out a harsh "Yes?", only to see him wince and back away from me. I couldn't help but sigh and reach out to pull him back gently, schooling my features into what I hoped was a concerned and reassuring gaze as I said, "Don't worry, you are safe now. Nobody would harm you."

He relaxed a little, asking, "Professor? Where am I?"

"You're in the Infirmary." At his questioning look, I elaborated, "Poppy decided to give you your own room, so you won't be bothered by some of the people from Hogsmeade that occasionally come to seek treatment."

"Hogwarts?"

I nodded. "Yes, you are in Hogwarts now."

He smiled -- a smile that seemed to light up his entire face. "Hogwarts…home…I'm home again…" he whispered, before he dug into his pillows and fell back into a deep slumber.

It was only now that I remembered that I was supposed to inform Poppy when Potter woke up. Untangling my hand from its position beneath Potter's back, I hurried towards Poppy's office.

"Poppy! Potter had just awoken a few minutes ago. He went ba-" I was rudely cut off when Poppy rushed past me and into Potter's room. Really, the woman has no manners whatsoever, even if she is a great healer.

I followed behind at a slower pace, and found her beside Potter's bed, taking his pulse, temperature, etc. I could hear her tutting, murmuring under her breath about how I should have gotten her immediately when Potter awoke, not waiting till he had fallen asleep again. I restrained myself from protesting indignantly, since it was childish and could prove disastrous to my already wavering reputation as the strict, uptight 'Greasy Git of a Potions' Master' as some students like to call me.

I stood patiently aside as she fussed over her patient, until she finally left, with the orders to make Potter drink something when he awoke, as well as stuffing some Numbing, Restorative and other various healing potions into my hands in cases of need.

I settled back in The Chair (as I've came to name it) beside his bed, propping up my book ("To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee…yes, despite popular belief, being a Slytherin does not automatically label you as a muggle-hater, and I do read muggle books if they are deemed to be worth reading…) on my lap. However, try as I might, I could not seem to concentrate on the text, the words whirling together to form a dark, un-comprehendible vortex while my mind wandered off to ponder about this enigma, also known as Harry Potter…

From what Poppy had revealed of his diagnoses, the abuse had been on going for quite a long period of time. The scars I had seen on the boy's back were at least years old, and yet, no reports had been made to the authorities about the boy's condition.

 According to Albus, who had sent people down where the boy lived to enquire around, none of the neighbors or ex-school teachers had even noticed anything wrong with the boy.

 Arabella Figg, Potter's secret keeper-cum-babysitter, claimed that she was not aware of any abnormalities in Potter's behavior, except for the fact that he is a little shy when it came to socializing.

Not even his Gryffindor friends and the Hogwarts teaching staff saw any evidences that pointed towards abuse. His own dorm-mates had never came forward to point out his scars…

This leads to showing that he was either a natural at acting, or he was used to playing pretend in front of the world in general, and I highly doubt it was the first reason. Then, one would question about when his relatives had started this bout of abuse, since you would need to be conditioned at a tender age for you to be so accustomed to covering up any signs of mistreatment. Not even muggles like the Dursleys could ill-treat a toddler…could they?

And then, there is also a question of why Potter never saw fit to inform an adult about his abusive relatives. Half the wizarding world would have their wands pointed at the Dursleys before you could say 'Avada Kedavra' for daring to harm their child wonder. Was this the reason why Potter never told – because he did not want any harm to descend upon his 'family'? I highly doubt this…after all, even if he was a Gryffindor, no one could be that self-sacrificial…right? So, why is there this nagging voice in my head telling me that this was exactly what Potter is like and I bloody well know it?

Sighing, I put away my book, knowing that I'm too distracted now to accomplish much. Somehow, I could not help but compare Potter's childhood with mine, different, but yet so much the same. As a Death Eater's child, I had my future planned out for me since before I was born. The 'right way of thinking' had been ingrained in my psyche through countless reprimands and occasional beatings…it may not be as harsh as Potter's life, but it was still bad enough as compared to others. I never had much freedom in what I really wanted to do as a child, and Hogwarts was my only refuge, the place I truly consider to be home…it seems like Potter has the same outlook…

***

Albus had been in a lot, working about his busy schedule and making time to visit. He looked more like his age now, the wrinkles showing on his weary face whenever he saw the comatose child on the bed. I think he feels guilty about leaving the boy with his abusive relatives without actually bothering to make periodic checks on his well-being.

He had been trying to get me to leave Potter's side for a while, to at least go back to my dungeons for a good night's rest. However, for some strange, unknown reason, I felt compelled to stay, especially since he tends to get really restless whenever I so much as step out of the infirmary. The fact that I promised Lily to look after her son may also have added to my reluctance to leave. Lily was my only true friend in school, a Slytherin as I am (which was why I was so surprised at her's and James Potter's marriage). I had broken my promise once, and I intend not to do that again, no matter what it takes…

***

TBC

Answers to some questions:

The story will continue normally from here right? – Yes, except for some occasional flashbacks here and there…

What the dream was supposed to mean – Remember? In chapter 3? I mentioned that Harry kept thrashing around when Sev left his side…the dream kind of explains it…Sev happens to be the 'light' thingy in the dream, though Harry doesn't know it…

Right…with that aside…how did you enjoy this chapter? Hopefully, it was ok to most of you out there…again, I apologize for my horrible personification of Sev's personality…

Anyway, I'll post the next chapter ASAP…please REVIEW!!!