Disclaimer: I don't own any recognizable setting or character in this story. All Harry Potter™ characters belong to JKR Rowling and various publishers which all aren't me. Please don't sue me!
Author: Amy2k
Title: Respond
Summary: Severus Snape is studying muggle medicine in hope to gain information, which will help him improve his own healing potions. He find's the strangest boy while visiting a muggle doctor. The boy seems so familiar, but from where does he recognise him?
Chapter 1
Dr Michael Scott was tired. His fourteen-hour shift had ended two and a half hours ago but he couldn't go home. Not yet anyway. Dr Scott was on his way to the paediatrics ward once again; he had received a message on his work pager informing him that his newest patient was beginning to wake up.
Walking into the hospital elevator he pulled out his patient's notes. His new patient was by all means a mystery, a young boy no older than 5 years, found unconscious by an early morning jogger, four days ago. No one knew the identity of the child, as no one had filed a missing persons record, or of how he came to be found just outside Surrey so early in the morning. Dr Scott skimmed though his notes reminding himself of his patient's details and injuries. The injuries in themselves were unusual for apart from a few scratches and bruises the child had seemed relatively unharmed. A later inspection had revealed signs of a blow to the head, which was likely the cause of the child's coma-like state. The child was also severely underweight, showing signs of malnutrition. But apart from the diagnosis report and other physical details, such as blood type, there were many blank spaces under 'Patient Details'. He sighed. With any luck, Dr Scott thought, the child will be able to give me some more information. It seems wrong to call the child just that, the child and even worse, the unconscious child.
He was draw out of his reverie when the elevator glided to a stop at the 3rd floor. He felt the familiar lurch in his stomach and a bell sounded as the elevator door slid open. Dr Scott stepped out into the corridor and strode over to the paediatric ward doors.
A nurse, nurse Williams, he remembered, greeted him at the nurse's station. She was a young, petite woman and a friend of his daughter's.
"Ah Grace," he greeted her. "How our young patient?" the blonde woman smiled widely at him and gestured for him to follow her towards the private room in which the young boy was being kept.
"He's been drifting in and out of consciousness for about 15 minutes. His heart rate and blood pressure are normal and he's also been given some more fluids. He's got a slight temperature but nothing serious." She led him into the small darkened room, where the figure of a small boy could be seen stirring slightly on the verge of consciousness. "I'm so glad the poor mite is coming around. I was beginning to get really worried. His parents must be in an awful state." She placed her hand on the boy's forehead once again checking his temperature. She brushed away a few strands of hair from his still closed eyes and smiled sympathetically.
"Let me take a look at him," Grace stepped away from the bed as Dr Scott approached his patient. Holding out his stethoscope he checked the boy's breathing and heartbeat. With a short intake of breath, the boy's eyes fluttered open revealing amazingly bright green eyes. He blinked wildly at his unfamiliar surroundings before focusing on the person in front of him.
"Hello there," Dr Scott said softly so as not to frighten the young boy, "my name is Michael. I'm a doctor and I'm here to help you," the boy just blinked again. Unsure of whether the boy had heard or not Dr Scot continued to reassure him. "You are in the hospital and we're going to make you better." Still nothing. "Can you tell us your name?" the boy did not respond nor did he give any sign of having heard the doctor speak. Instead he slowly shut his eyes again letting sleep claim him for the first time in four days.
Grace looked worried as the boy lay still in his bed once again. "Has he lost consciousness again?" she asked.
"No, he is sleeping naturally thankfully. It's normal that he should feel so tired. He'll probably sleep for a while." Dr Scott rose from his position crouched at the boy's bedside. "Please inform me when he wakes again and if he says anything, we really need to contact the boy's family…" he suddenly remembered how tired he was. He stood and pushed a hand through his light brown hair. Leaving the room he failed to stifle a yawn. It has most definitely been a long day he thought.
"Yes doctor." Grace replied as doctor Scott left for the night, or rather morning. She walked over to the child's bed and smoothed the covers as she had been doing ever since he was brought to the ward. "Wake up soon little one," she whispered as she too left the room.
(A/N) Sorry it's so short. It just seemed a good place to stop. Please tell me what you think. The chapters will hopefully move along a lot quicker after this one, as this one is an introduction of sorts. Please Review!
Amy2k
