3.

Hermione got to the infirmary in record time and threw the door open.  Madam Pomfrey looked up, about to scold, but when she saw Hermione she just stood, looking concerned.

"Miss Granger – are you hurt?"

Hermione stood hunched and breathed deeply for a few moments, then gathered her reserve strength to tell her story again.

"No, it's Harry.  He was in Hagrid's hut to feed and walk Fang and we, I mean, Ron and I, we went down to walk with him, but when we got there he was unconscious.  Madam, I think, no, I know – he was raped, and hurt pretty bad besides.  He's in bad shape and Professor Snape is on his way, but he said to tell you he doesn't have any potions on him.  I'm to go get the headmaster too."

She said all of this very fast and it was a moment before Madam Pomfrey's brain caught up.

She went around the room, collecting bottles and phials asking things like, "is he bleeding?" "Any other injuries?" and, "Is he alert?"

When she finished, she excused Hermione to get the headmaster.

"Tell him not to come down, but to come straight here – Severus, Mister Weasley and I should be enough to get him healed and up here."

Then she ran down to Hagrid's hut.  When she arrived she wasn't surprised to see Severus sitting, offering comfort to the unconscious boy – their relationship was common knowledge among Hogwarts' staff.  After having been told the state of the boy, she didn't waste time being flustered – she got straight to the healing.

She pulled the blanket off and held back a gasp – even having known, it was pretty brutal.  She cast a special spell used on unconscious rape victims to help them reacclimatize more quickly.  It by no means made them overcome their issues immediately nor completely, but acted as a kind of gradually building calming spell to buffer what had happened for a while – gave a softer edge to the immediate time after they came around.

"Enervate."

Harry started awake, eyes flickering around desperately.  He coughed dryly, and just as his eyes landed on Severus the tears came again.  When he tried to speak, his voice came out arid and hoarse.

"Severus!"

"Shh, Harry, it's okay, everything will be okay."

Severus stroked Harry's bruised cheek lightly and Harry put up a hand to grab it and hold on tightly.

"I'm so sorry."

"Shh, you've nothing to be sorry about, love."

"He said…he said you'd never want me again.  He said no one would ever want me."

Severus was heartbroken, though he tried not to show it.

"Of course I want you – I love you, Harry.  I love you."

Harry cried brokenly in relief, now able to sob, however much it hurt his chest to do so.  Severus sat down properly rather than kneeling, and lifted Harry gently so that his head rested against his chest, rocking ever so slightly from side to side.

"Shh, now, baby, shh.  I love you, baby, and it'll all be okay."

Had Harry been properly alert he might have wondered at Severus using his private pet name for him in front of people, but considering the circumstances he just found it comforting.

"Madam Pomfrey is going to help you, and then we're going to get you back up to the castle.  You're safe now, baby, he'll never be near you again."

Madam Pomfrey looked up from her collection of phials.

"You know who it was?"

Severus looked vitriolic.

"We have a fair idea."

Madam Pomfrey looked at the young man and wondered who would ever do that to him.  She didn't comment, though – that would be up to Albus and the Ministry.  Her job was to fix him back up.

"Harry, I need you to drink some things, can you do that?"

Harry nodded and soon, with Poppy and Severus' help, he was drinking down healing solutions of all kinds.  Ron was cleaning the hut so that Hagrid wouldn't have to come back to mess when he returned from France, and giving sad looks in his friend's direction every so often.

With the first phial the pain disappeared completely, and then he felt some discomfort as his ribs healed.  The bruises and small scratches faded and then with help of an incantation by Pomfrey, the scratches disappeared completely.  Another and his broken nose was fixed – Madam Pomfrey exclaiming that she was surprised he could breathe at all.  The mess on him was washed off with warm water as cleaning charms couldn't be used on people or animals, and he was given a lot of water to drink, which helped his throat a little.  He didn't say anything – just listened to Severus' comforting voice and did as he was told; the spell Pomfrey had cast was doing its job.

Wrapped back up in the comforter and Severus' arms, he was carried up to the infirmary by the quickest but least well-known route, and they didn't see anyone else, much to their relief.  They did, however, hear Professor Dumbledore's magically enhanced voice speak, reminding them all of Harry and Ron's second year at the school.

"All students will return to their house area.  Heads of house will ensure that all students are safely in their respective common rooms and prefects will ensure that they remain there until further notice.  Professor Sinistra will please act in place of Professor Snape.  All members of staff will then proceed to the staff room with no exceptions.  Thank you."

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