A small boy rested in his bed, covered up by his favorite fleece blanket. "He's so young." a woman remarked. He shook her head, how could anyone do this to him. She had brought her daughter, who was just two months younger than the boy, to her new job for a visit. She hadn't expected her little Hermione to meet this on her first trip there.
"What's his name, Mummy?" Hermione asked in a sweet, soft voice. She tried to climb up on his bed, but it was too high, and she kept falling off.
"His name is Harry, Harry Potter."
From that moment on Hermione Granger took to the boy like a puppy takes to it's owner. She followed him everywhere, and spent every spare second she had with him. They were only three, but they were the best of friends.
Hermione was smart for her age, she understood what it meant to be blind. She didn't understand how Harry had become blind, but that didn't matter. She helped him with everything he ever needed. Her mother was proud of the small girl, she was so pleased that he had a little apprentice to help with her favorite patient.
"Mummy, does Harry have a family?" Hermione asked on the night of Harry's fourth birthday, as they walked down the hall with a large present for him.
"Of course he does, but... they can't be with him anymore." her mother answered gently, telling Hermione the details at such a young age could harm the girl.
"Why?" she stopped walking and looked up at her mother with large, round brown eyes. Her eyes were a lot like Harry's, besides for two major differences. One, being that his were a brilliant shade of green, and the other... her mother wouldn't explain that one to her until she felt Hermione was old enough.
"Because they are in Haven, sweetie. Now, go and wake him. I'll be in in a second." once Hermione skipped off into the room, Amelia Granger collided into a wall and let her head sulk back. She took a deep breath and sighed it out. She could handle this, she'd been handling it for months. She'd grown to love the boy like her own son... but gosh, was it hard sometimes. She held in her tears and plastered on a smile.
"Happy birthday, Harry!" Hermione squealed and leaped onto his bed, she was just tall enough now. Harry smiled and reached out for Hermione's arm, which he pet lovingly.
He heard Amelia step in and looked in the direction of the sound. "Mummy?" he asked. Mummy?... He'd been calling her that for some time. He and Hermione had grown close like siblings. But it wasn't right, she couldn't replace his family. She'd have to tell him the truth some day.
"Happy birthday, Harry." he smiled at her and she handed him his gift, which he opened in a hurry. It was a black jaguar with friendly, prominent features which he could feel and recognize. "Thank you..." he whispered, it was barely audible.
Tears filled Amelia's eyes. Bringing joy to such a small child with such a small gift was so easy to do, yet it made her whole life worth the struggles and pains. She hugged him tightly and said. "I'll go get your cake!" and ran off so that the children wouldn't see her cry.
When she came back to led Harry over to a small round table, and helped him blow his candles out. "Did you make a wish?" she asked.
"You betcha!" he smiled.
"What was it?!" Hermione asked, cheerfully.
"Well, he can't tell you that, or it won't come true." her mother scolded.
"Oh, and I want it to come true." Harry said, his eyes showing the hope and desire that flowed in his little heart...
-o-0-
Seven years and three months later, Hermione ran around trying to find Harry's lost sock. "Where could you have dropped it?" she asked, huffing a bit.
"I don't know!" Harry said, his voice had changed so much over the years. It was so much deeper now, although not too deep, he was only eleven.
"I've found it!" Hermione yelled from across the room and dashed over. Harry put it on in a hurry and slipped his shoes on.
"I can't wait to go to my new home!" Harry squealed and jumped up. He almost lost his balance, but someone caught him. "Hermione... Hermione!!!???" he began to panic. The person holding him up was too strong to be Hermione. The rough hands on his skin where nothing like the bushy-haired girls, and he could smell a scent that was strong in something Harry did not recognize.
"Harry!" Hermione dashed over and helped him stand up. "Who are you?" she asked cautiously, backing away from him and pulling Harry with her.
"My name is Doctor Severus Snape." he extended his hand to her, but when she didn't take it, he coolly dropped it to his side and continued to explain. "When I heard a bunch of screaming, I came to see what all of the fuss was about."
"I've never seen you before." she interrogated.
"I don't work here, I'm just visiting a friend."
"What kind of doctor are you?" It was Harry who asked this.
"A...different kind. I must be off. Good day." he said uncomfortably, Hermione cold tell he didn't like children much. He swiftly walked out, his long autumn cloak billowing behind him.
"Are you okay, Harry?" Hermione turned to him worriedly.
"I'm fine, just lost my balance is all. Let's go!" he grabbed his stuffed animal, the black jaguar, and his favorite blanket while Hermione grabbed the one remaining bag. They were off to Hogwarts Hospital for Ill and Handicapped children.
Their mother would be working there now, and considering it was a few towns over from the old hospital, Harry was being transferred there.
He longed for the day he would be able to move in with his family like a normal child. He didn't understand why he couldn't, but he didn't mind it so much. Hermione would come visit him right after school, and she would spend the whole weekend there, sleeping over on Friday and Saturday nights. He always wondered why he looked nothing like his family (when they explained what they looked like to him), and why Hermione was the same age as him. He always just figured he was adopted, and chose not to bring it up.
-o-0-
A few hours later they arrived, and Harry got settled into his new home. It was a bigger room was this last place, and he had his own privet bedroom. There were no old people to stick the place up, and the nurses seemed really nice.
He settled in bed that night and his parents kissed him goodnight. Amelia looked over to her husband, David, and smiled. She knew that this was the best place for Harry. She had only taken the job when she found out how nice everyone was, and that she could bring Harry here.
"You'll start school tomorrow." Hermione said, and hugged Harry goodnight.
"School..." Harry whispered and smiled. A real school, it would be amazing.
"Goodnight sweetheart." Amelia said and kissed him on the head once more.
That night Harry dreamed sweet dreams, and tried to imagine what the people in his school would be like.
-o-0-
His school was attached to the hospital. There was only one classroom for children his age, but he was fine with that. Anyone his age who was able to learn was there, and they had plenty of fun. His teacher was named Professor Remus Lupin, a kind, simple man who favored Harry most of all. There was something strange about Lupin, almost as if Harry knew him, but he kept that to himself. A few years went by, and Harry continued to have Lupin as a teacher, for the man refused to leave his favorite class.
-o-0-
Hermione sat on the edge of Harry's bed, swinging her feet, and reading a book entitled A Single Rose. For such a young teen, she was incredibly fascinated by Marissa and Antonia's love affair. Harry sat behind her, leaning against his head bored, reading a book entitled The Chosen with his fingers. He had never been very religious, fore he had never been to church, but he was sure he didn't want to be Jewish after reading this book... at least not the kind of Jew Danny Saunders was, it seemed like too much work.
"Harry?" Hermione whispered.
"Yes?" he looked up, right past her shoulder.
"Do you believe in love?"
"Of course I do. I love you, don't I? And Mum, and Dad?"
"I mean true love, like boyfriend and girlfriend type love."
"I guess..." Harry had never really thought about it. What was the purpose of love anyway? He was perfectly okay without it.
Although... he did feel lonely sometimes. He didn't speak in class, he was scared, because no one else was blind. They could all see him, and he couldn't see any of them. Aside from his family, Nurse Sprout (a kind, plump woman) and Professor Lupin, Harry had never spoken to anyone. Not as long as he could remember, anyway.
"I do... it's so wonderful. One day we'll find the persons of our dreams, and live happily ever after. Isn't it so romantic?"
"If you say so." Harry laughed. He was a fourteen year old boy, he didn't get a damn about love.
-o-0-
There was a knock at Harry's door a few weeks later, and he made his way, familiarly, to it.
"Hello?" Harry questioned before opening the door.
"Hello, Harry, it's Doctor Snape, do you remember me?" a strong voice said on the other side of the door. He racked his mind for a memory of that voice, and found it. He unlocked the door and opened it slightly, before making his way back to his chair where he was reading.
"You've grown." the man stated plainly.
Well, yes, it has been a few years. Harry thought sarcastically.
"Ah, yes. They told me you don't talk much." Severus stated. "But you know, I have heard your voice before. I just thought I'd come and see how you were doing. I'm going to be working here now. Not with you... but I might see you around."
Harry didn't say anything, but continued to read his book.
"Well, then, I'd better be going. Goodnight." Snape stepped out. He'd done his good deed for the day.
"Would you like your tour now?" Amelia asked when she saw the raven haired man with the ponytail walk out of Harry's quarters.
"Yes." he said coldly.
"Well, we call this Gryffindor. It's where all of our fully aware, but physically challenged patients live." she guided him around the Red and Gold colored halls until the reached a door labeled Ravencalw. "Here reside the Orphans." she whispered, fore most of the children were slipping. The colors were mostly blue in these quarters. Then they arrived in Hufflepuff. "This is the mentally challenged area." she explained. Apparently the mentally ill loved yellow. Finally they came to Slytherin. "Here's where you'll be working. "Those children who can't control their anger and other actions stay here."
"Humm..." Green and silver, two of his favorite colors. This was more like it. What was he getting himself into? He never did like children. He'd rather deal with grumpy adults with screwed up lives that were beyond repair. However, when Miverna called him, he couldn't help but beckon to his old friend's wishes.
"I'll show you to your quarters." Amelia said with a polite smile. He had promised to live at the hospital, in case a child ever need him at an odd hour. "Here you are." she took out a key and handed it to him.
"Amelia?"
"Yeah?"
"What's with the Potter boy?"
Her face fell.
"Please do not call him that. He thinks that his last name is Granger. We'll leave it that way."
"So you consider him your son?"
"I have to... no one else will."
"Then you love him as such?"
"Of course, as much as I love my own daughter."
"Children need love... or so I hear."
She caught a slight smile start to form at Severus' lips.
"I'm sorry that he won't talk to you."
"I'll get over it." he laughed coldly.
There sure was something odd about that doctor Snape, but it would be interesting having him around.
-o-0-
A few years passed, and Harry still stayed the same. One night in December, he sat on his bed, listening to a show on the tele, when there was a knock on the door. He expected it would be Hermione, so he flicked the tele off, and said "Come in!", cheerfully.
In walked someone with heavy footsteps and a strong, different yet oddly familiar smell. "Hermione..." he whispered in almost a whimper.
"Harry, it's Doctor Snape." Severus said and sat next to the boy in a cozy chair.
Harry relaxed, but didn't say anything.
"Your mother asked me to visit you."
Harry expressed a confused look, but that was all.
"She worried for you."
He shook his head.
"I'm a therapist, Harry." Severus explained. "I help people through music, art, herbs, psychology, you name it...I do it."
Harry shook his head disbelievingly. He didn't he a damned shrink!
"I'd like to help you."
He didn't need help.
"I want to help you."
He didn't need help.
"Will you let me help you?"
He most definitely didn't need help. I thought he hated children, is that is? Is he here to torment me!? Harry reasoned in his mind.
"Can I ask you a few questions?"
No answer.
"You don't have to answer, but I want to jog your memory on a few things."
Harry sighed and gave in, nodding.
"Do you remember anything before the age of three?"
Nothing.
"Do you remember seeing, Harry?"
His eyes shot up, and for the first time, Severus got a good look at them, and what he saw horrified him. Their amazing shade of emerald green was tainted by scar tissue. Not just any scar tissue, mind you, but it was carved into a shape. Hearts... two of them... one in each eye.
"Did you know about the hearts on your eyes."
He looked back down, ashamed of his eyes.
"Don't hide them, your eyes are smashing."
He closed his eyes tight.
"Do you know about your past?"
Nothing.
"Do you know who did this to you?"
Still nothing.
"You weren't born this way."
Harry opened his eyes again... he didn't know. Severus could tell.
"So then you don't remember the lunatic man who blinded you and killed your parents?"
Great Severus, nice job... the man thought.
Harry looked up, fury in his eyes.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to... but you're fifteen, Harry, for God's sake... you had to find out sooner or later."
"Out..." Harry whispered.
"What?"
"OUT! GET OUT! NOW! MUM! MUM! DAD! HERMIONE! MUM!!! GET OUT OF HERE NOW!!!" Harry screamed in a dark and troubled voice that never cracked nor softened.
It didn't scare Severus, nothing scared Severus anymore. He quietly left before Harry's 'family' came running into the room to calm the bloody teenager down.
It's a start... Severus thought. He knows now, and he spoke... sure, he was yelling... but it's a start. Once I gain his trust I can start trying to figure this kid out... and then I can go back to my peace of the detention center, where my real job is.
Severus walked back to his corridors, not looking back, not realizing what he had done.
!$!$! So... what did you think? peeks an eye open Is it safe to come out? wipes brow Well... I kind of got this idea from the Fan Fiction "Canta In D"... the scar tissue is semi based off of that... but this is a different shape, and it has a deeper meaning. Also, the idea of him not talking is semi based off of it, but not so much to the same extreme. I'll explain more and give more credit to the author in later chapters... if you guys liked this one that is. Review!! Love Ambz !$!$!