Chapter 10 – Hospital Records and Close Encounters
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Date: November 20, 1961
Patient Name: SNAPE, SEVERUS SILANUS
Date of birth: December 21, 1960
Sex: Male
Next of Kin/Parent/Guardian: Confutatis Maledictis Snape (father), Tenebria Melice Lestrange Snape (mother)
Sibling(s): None
Patient brought in by: Father
Seen by: Healer Arisa Britten-Toft
Patient is a child just under one year old. Height and weight are below norm. Father complains that Patient is listless, shows no interest in toys. Has failed to walk.
Physical examination performed – examination of skull revealed a hairline fracture – occipital lobe. Father reports that patient fell out of crib and that he was unaware of injury.
Pursuant to Wizard Children's Protection Act of 1956, report indicating suspected abuse filed with Ministry of Magic.
Patient discharged 11/20/61.
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Date: January 6, 1977
Patient Name: SNAPE, SEVERUS SILANUS
Date of birth: December 21, 1960
Sex: Male
Next of Kin/Parent/Guardian: Confutatis Maledictis Snape (father), Tenebria Melice Lestrange Snape (mother)
Sibling(s): None
Patient brought in by: Albus Dumbledore, Sejanus Sartoris, Gallo Penderdandis
Seen by: Healer Asphora D. LaChance
Patient is a sixteen-year-old student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Patient reportedly drank a poison identified by school Potions Master as Euphorbia resinifera or common Spurge. Antidote given while at school. Patient reportedly suffered seizures and Potions Master performed an emergency tracheotomy before transport to hospital.
Physical examination performed: Patient is underweight. His trunk and arms show significant scarring of unknown origin. Superficial burns appear on Patient's mouth, nose, and tongue. Examination of esophagus and trachea reveal chemical burns. Reopened both, repaired stoma in throat. Examination of swollen left knee revealed recent fracture of patella, which was treated.
Upon information and belief, Patient attempted suicide upon return from Yuletide Holiday at classmate's home. Poison reportedly brought from Patient's home and ingested in dormitory room.
Patient Admitted – Children's Psychiatric Ward 1/6/77.
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Asphora LaChance shuffled through the parchments of the last few days. She hadn't meant to look for prior hospital records relating to Severus, but there they were. If only the Ministry had taken steps to protect that poor baby back in 1961, we might not be treating a suicidal boy, she thought to herself. Well. Hindsight is golden, isn't that what the Muggles say?
It certainly made interesting reading. She rolled it up, ready to show it to Albus Dumbledore.
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Severus had been so agitated after seeing James and Remus that a charm had been inadequate to get him to sleep. Asphora had given him a sleeping draught that finally gave him relief. Albus Dumbledore had fallen asleep in the chair, waking at 3 am and deciding to send an owl to the school explaining where he was and stretching out on one of the hospital's unused beds for the remainder of the night.
The boy had awakened around 10 am, highly anxious due to the flood of previously suppressed memories relating to abuse by his father. Asphora had to sedate him and use a bindus charm on him so that he would not harm himself. She had spoken to him about the fork; apparently, he had found it already hidden in the chair and used it on impulse when seeing his classmates. He had told her he was sorry it hadn't been a carving knife.
Helping Severus Snape was certainly going to be a challenge.
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"He totally freaked out," Remus said.
"What did you expect – a brass band?" said Sirius Black, stuffing his face with macaroni and cheese.
"No. Seriously," Remus said again.
James Potter reached for the plate of ham. "Guy went totally nutters. Of course he's in a place full of 'em, so he was in his element."
"That place gave me the creeps," Remus commented.
"That's because it was full of creeps like Snivellus," Sirius replied between mouthfuls of cornbread.
"I guess he meant what he said before he tried to kill himself," Lily said sadly (for it was she who sat to the right of James Potter). "I'm sorry, but I still feel badly for him."
"Don't," Sirius snapped. "Maybe they'll just keep him there and we won't have to trouble ourselves with his greasy hair and big nose."
Peter Pettigrew chortled. "Maybe they have a Greasy Hair and Big Nose Department."
"Nah," Sirius snickered. "They don't need one. They can just stick him in the Nut Jobs Department instead."
"I think you're all horrible," Lily said. "I feel bad for him, and would help him if I could."
James sat quietly, hanging his head.
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Severus had backslid considerably since the incident in the common room the night before. All three healers on his case were alarmed by his failure to talk to them.
"He does this when it's all too much," Albus Dumbledore counseled, remembering Severus after the Great Hall demon incident. "He just shuts down for a while. I wouldn't worry too much. Just let him be for right now and I'm sure he'll come around."
"I'm also concerned that he holds his hands like that," said Sib Hammer.
Again, the Headmaster addressed his concerns. "You hold your hands like that if you don't want to be punched in the face."
Asphora LaChance smiled. "Somebody might think you were really his father, Albus. You know so much about him!"
"I wish I had been. We wouldn't be sitting here now, worried sick over the boy. Interesting reading, this parchment you gave me, Asphora."
"Sev?" said Sib. "I'm going to have to take you to another part of the hospital so we can run some tests. Come on and I'll help you out of bed. It's just on the other side of the common room."
Without moving his hands Severus shook his head.
"No c – c- common room," he whispered.
"See?" Albus said. "I told you he'd come around. Severus? Good morning."
His large dark eyes focused on the Headmaster. "G – good m – m – mor – morning, H – H –headmaster."
Asphora frowned. That stutter was getting worse, which meant that her patient was getting worse. "Can I get you something to eat, Severus? We took out the IV tube yesterday and I would like to see you try something solid."
He shook his head, and then looked glumly at both healers. He slowly slid back under the covers, pulling them up over the top of his head.
"Sev?"
No answer.
"Sev, please. I need to get you over to the other room. They're ready for you now."
No answer.
"Ice cream," said Dumbledore.
Fingers appeared over the edge of the blanket.
"All the ice cream you can eat."
Dark eyes peeked out.
"Come on, Severus," Albus said. "Why don't you sit in a moveable chair and I'll take you over for your test. And then you can eat all the ice cream you want. All right, then?"
A solemn boy unearthed himself from the bedcovers and shrugged at the Headmaster. Sib was back in thirty seconds with what Muggles would call a wheelchair. Albus and Sibelius helped him into it, and Asphora LaChance wrapped a cover around his middle and legs.
"Let's go," said Sib, winking at Dumbledore.
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The common room was sparsely populated this late morning in January. There sat another patient in a wheelchair right on the other side of the piano. He was a man in late middle age who trembled from head to toe. Some sort of neurological problem, Albus thought.
When they rolled Severus by, the man's expression went from one of total disinterest in his surroundings to outright terror.
"THERE HE IS! GODS! THERE HE IS! THE ONE WHO DID IT!"
Another healer rushed to his side, and followed his pointing finger, which was directed at Severus.
"I think he's made a mistake," said Healer LaChance. "This is a schoolboy!"
"NO! THE MASK SLIPPED! THE MASK SLIPPED AND I SAW HIM! THAT NOSE IN THAT FACE, EXACTLY! THAT'S HIM! THAT'S THE ONE RIGHT THERE!"
The other healer spoke up. "This gentleman got caught wandering too close to a gathering of Dark wizards. One of them gave him the Cruciatus Curse repeatedly. That's what we're treating him for."
Albus nodded and began to push the chair, which led to another outburst by the seated man.
"DON'T LET HIM LEAVE! HE'S THE ONE WHO CURSED ME! I'LL SEE HIS FACE UNTIL MY DYING DAY! DON'T LET HIM GO!" The distraught man began to weep.
Albus Dumbledore straightened suddenly. "I wonder," he muttered. He looked fixedly at Healer LaChance. "I wonder if he might be seeing the same face all right – just a younger version."
Asphora's mouth dropped open. "The father! The father and not the son!"
"Do you know what this means?" the Headmaster said.
"I believe I do, Albus," the healer said, a slow smile spreading across her face. "I believe I do."
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Date: November 20, 1961
Patient Name: SNAPE, SEVERUS SILANUS
Date of birth: December 21, 1960
Sex: Male
Next of Kin/Parent/Guardian: Confutatis Maledictis Snape (father), Tenebria Melice Lestrange Snape (mother)
Sibling(s): None
Patient brought in by: Father
Seen by: Healer Arisa Britten-Toft
Patient is a child just under one year old. Height and weight are below norm. Father complains that Patient is listless, shows no interest in toys. Has failed to walk.
Physical examination performed – examination of skull revealed a hairline fracture – occipital lobe. Father reports that patient fell out of crib and that he was unaware of injury.
Pursuant to Wizard Children's Protection Act of 1956, report indicating suspected abuse filed with Ministry of Magic.
Patient discharged 11/20/61.
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Date: January 6, 1977
Patient Name: SNAPE, SEVERUS SILANUS
Date of birth: December 21, 1960
Sex: Male
Next of Kin/Parent/Guardian: Confutatis Maledictis Snape (father), Tenebria Melice Lestrange Snape (mother)
Sibling(s): None
Patient brought in by: Albus Dumbledore, Sejanus Sartoris, Gallo Penderdandis
Seen by: Healer Asphora D. LaChance
Patient is a sixteen-year-old student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Patient reportedly drank a poison identified by school Potions Master as Euphorbia resinifera or common Spurge. Antidote given while at school. Patient reportedly suffered seizures and Potions Master performed an emergency tracheotomy before transport to hospital.
Physical examination performed: Patient is underweight. His trunk and arms show significant scarring of unknown origin. Superficial burns appear on Patient's mouth, nose, and tongue. Examination of esophagus and trachea reveal chemical burns. Reopened both, repaired stoma in throat. Examination of swollen left knee revealed recent fracture of patella, which was treated.
Upon information and belief, Patient attempted suicide upon return from Yuletide Holiday at classmate's home. Poison reportedly brought from Patient's home and ingested in dormitory room.
Patient Admitted – Children's Psychiatric Ward 1/6/77.
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Asphora LaChance shuffled through the parchments of the last few days. She hadn't meant to look for prior hospital records relating to Severus, but there they were. If only the Ministry had taken steps to protect that poor baby back in 1961, we might not be treating a suicidal boy, she thought to herself. Well. Hindsight is golden, isn't that what the Muggles say?
It certainly made interesting reading. She rolled it up, ready to show it to Albus Dumbledore.
------------
Severus had been so agitated after seeing James and Remus that a charm had been inadequate to get him to sleep. Asphora had given him a sleeping draught that finally gave him relief. Albus Dumbledore had fallen asleep in the chair, waking at 3 am and deciding to send an owl to the school explaining where he was and stretching out on one of the hospital's unused beds for the remainder of the night.
The boy had awakened around 10 am, highly anxious due to the flood of previously suppressed memories relating to abuse by his father. Asphora had to sedate him and use a bindus charm on him so that he would not harm himself. She had spoken to him about the fork; apparently, he had found it already hidden in the chair and used it on impulse when seeing his classmates. He had told her he was sorry it hadn't been a carving knife.
Helping Severus Snape was certainly going to be a challenge.
-------------
"He totally freaked out," Remus said.
"What did you expect – a brass band?" said Sirius Black, stuffing his face with macaroni and cheese.
"No. Seriously," Remus said again.
James Potter reached for the plate of ham. "Guy went totally nutters. Of course he's in a place full of 'em, so he was in his element."
"That place gave me the creeps," Remus commented.
"That's because it was full of creeps like Snivellus," Sirius replied between mouthfuls of cornbread.
"I guess he meant what he said before he tried to kill himself," Lily said sadly (for it was she who sat to the right of James Potter). "I'm sorry, but I still feel badly for him."
"Don't," Sirius snapped. "Maybe they'll just keep him there and we won't have to trouble ourselves with his greasy hair and big nose."
Peter Pettigrew chortled. "Maybe they have a Greasy Hair and Big Nose Department."
"Nah," Sirius snickered. "They don't need one. They can just stick him in the Nut Jobs Department instead."
"I think you're all horrible," Lily said. "I feel bad for him, and would help him if I could."
James sat quietly, hanging his head.
----------------
Severus had backslid considerably since the incident in the common room the night before. All three healers on his case were alarmed by his failure to talk to them.
"He does this when it's all too much," Albus Dumbledore counseled, remembering Severus after the Great Hall demon incident. "He just shuts down for a while. I wouldn't worry too much. Just let him be for right now and I'm sure he'll come around."
"I'm also concerned that he holds his hands like that," said Sib Hammer.
Again, the Headmaster addressed his concerns. "You hold your hands like that if you don't want to be punched in the face."
Asphora LaChance smiled. "Somebody might think you were really his father, Albus. You know so much about him!"
"I wish I had been. We wouldn't be sitting here now, worried sick over the boy. Interesting reading, this parchment you gave me, Asphora."
"Sev?" said Sib. "I'm going to have to take you to another part of the hospital so we can run some tests. Come on and I'll help you out of bed. It's just on the other side of the common room."
Without moving his hands Severus shook his head.
"No c – c- common room," he whispered.
"See?" Albus said. "I told you he'd come around. Severus? Good morning."
His large dark eyes focused on the Headmaster. "G – good m – m – mor – morning, H – H –headmaster."
Asphora frowned. That stutter was getting worse, which meant that her patient was getting worse. "Can I get you something to eat, Severus? We took out the IV tube yesterday and I would like to see you try something solid."
He shook his head, and then looked glumly at both healers. He slowly slid back under the covers, pulling them up over the top of his head.
"Sev?"
No answer.
"Sev, please. I need to get you over to the other room. They're ready for you now."
No answer.
"Ice cream," said Dumbledore.
Fingers appeared over the edge of the blanket.
"All the ice cream you can eat."
Dark eyes peeked out.
"Come on, Severus," Albus said. "Why don't you sit in a moveable chair and I'll take you over for your test. And then you can eat all the ice cream you want. All right, then?"
A solemn boy unearthed himself from the bedcovers and shrugged at the Headmaster. Sib was back in thirty seconds with what Muggles would call a wheelchair. Albus and Sibelius helped him into it, and Asphora LaChance wrapped a cover around his middle and legs.
"Let's go," said Sib, winking at Dumbledore.
------------
The common room was sparsely populated this late morning in January. There sat another patient in a wheelchair right on the other side of the piano. He was a man in late middle age who trembled from head to toe. Some sort of neurological problem, Albus thought.
When they rolled Severus by, the man's expression went from one of total disinterest in his surroundings to outright terror.
"THERE HE IS! GODS! THERE HE IS! THE ONE WHO DID IT!"
Another healer rushed to his side, and followed his pointing finger, which was directed at Severus.
"I think he's made a mistake," said Healer LaChance. "This is a schoolboy!"
"NO! THE MASK SLIPPED! THE MASK SLIPPED AND I SAW HIM! THAT NOSE IN THAT FACE, EXACTLY! THAT'S HIM! THAT'S THE ONE RIGHT THERE!"
The other healer spoke up. "This gentleman got caught wandering too close to a gathering of Dark wizards. One of them gave him the Cruciatus Curse repeatedly. That's what we're treating him for."
Albus nodded and began to push the chair, which led to another outburst by the seated man.
"DON'T LET HIM LEAVE! HE'S THE ONE WHO CURSED ME! I'LL SEE HIS FACE UNTIL MY DYING DAY! DON'T LET HIM GO!" The distraught man began to weep.
Albus Dumbledore straightened suddenly. "I wonder," he muttered. He looked fixedly at Healer LaChance. "I wonder if he might be seeing the same face all right – just a younger version."
Asphora's mouth dropped open. "The father! The father and not the son!"
"Do you know what this means?" the Headmaster said.
"I believe I do, Albus," the healer said, a slow smile spreading across her face. "I believe I do."
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