Previously:
Looking back, Minerva let a small smile slip, "Well, as long as Poppy's finished with Harry for the moment, I wish to see him. I may not have shown it to him at all, but he's one of my favorite students just like his mother was, and I'm going to make up for that now, I'm going to show him that I truly do care. From now on, I'm going to be there whenever he needs me, so if you gentlemen would allow it, I would like to start now."
Without looking back, Minerva left the office quickly, and under a silent agreement, the other three left quickly after her, all headed in the direction of the hospital wing.
Chapter 4 – Waking Up and A New ArrivalEntering the hospital wing, Minerva gasped at the sorrowful sight that met her eyes. Harry lay peacefully, probably in a dreamless sleep, looking most innocent at the time. His face seemed to be just bruises and cuts from something, all of his skin that showed seemed to be painted with different shades of purples, browns, greens, blues, and blacks.
He moved slightly in his sleep which snapped Minerva out of her musings, she quickly moved over to one side of his bed and took one of his hands in hers. Whispering soothing words to the small boy, she new that she would be there from that moment on. She would do anything in her power to help him get through this, and also the troubles ahead. When he found out about having a father, she would be there if he needed to talk, she'd be there if he needed anything at all.
Silent tears started to stream down the usually strict professor's face, her anguish at allowing something like this to happen to this innocent young man apparent on her face. She thought that if she had paid more attention to how he had acted maybe, just maybe she could have saved him from this pain. As Minerva lost herself in her thoughts, she didn't realize that Albus, Remus and Severus had entered the hospital wing and were now seated around Harry's bed.
Severus took the seat across from Harry and took his other hand into his. He realized that this would be extremely difficult for the both of them. But, he would do everything in his power from now on to make sure that Harry was happy, he would give everything to make sure Harry was safe, even if it meant giving up his own life.
He suddenly got this feeling in his chest, one he had only had once before, when he found out Harry was indeed his son. It was now extremely stronger. Severus finally identified it as pride, pride for Harry. An emotion that he never would have thought he would have for anyone, let alone Harry Potter. With the pride came love and with love came a happiness Severus had never imagined before.
He would never allow Harry to go back to those awful muggles, Harry would have a home where someone loved him from now on, if Harry would have it that is. Severus hoped with everything he had that his son would one day be happy without the burden of the world laying upon his shoulders as it did now, that Harry would one day be a normal teenager, that only had to worry about wild hormones and school work. But deep down, Severus knew that Harry would never have an average adolescence, that Harry would always be singled out for what he had done, and for he will do. Everyone knew that Harry would be a great wizard, he was already on his way to being one, and some people even speculated that he would be even stronger than Albus Dumbledore, the one who had defeated Grindewald in his prime.
Looking back at his son, Severus realized that Harry would have a harder time with this than anyone, he would be ridiculed if it got out that 'the boy-who-lived' was actually a son of a death eater, he would be singled out not only as his feat of defeating the Dark Lord before he was able to walk, but because of his parentage. At that moment, Severus fully realized the full consequences that this information would have on the wizarding world. He realized that no matter what, this information could not get out until it was fully necessary or the Dark Lord was finally defeated.
As Severus contemplated on his thoughts about his son, Remus was equally concerned about Harry's well being. He considered Harry like a nephew that he never got the chance to know, he felt that it was mostly his fault Harry had gone through what he did because, he himself, Remus, had not been brave enough to go to Albus sooner. He knew that Harry would most likely be mad with him about breaking his promise and telling two people, actually three people now. Remus knew that he had to do it and it was for Harry's own good. Even if Harry didn't realize it because he was mad at Remus, Remus would always be there to help protect him from the dangers of the world from now on, he wouldn't allow Harry to go into anything alone ever again.
Harry would one day forgive Remus, even if it happened to be a while before it actually happened. Remus would always care for Harry. Ever since he saw Harry on that train, he had a deep feeling towards the boy. It wasn't just because he looked like his father, but the boy had a certain innocence surrounding him, inside and out, he felt attracted to him like he was to no one else. It wasn't in a romantic way it was just like he was attracted to his father, it might have been the werewolf in him, but Remus had always sensed something about both the Potters that attracted him to them…in more of a family way then he had ever felt towards his parents.
The final member of the room was also lost deep in thought, some of them similar to the others' thoughts, but others completely different. He had already known the full extent of consequences Harry's parentage would bring up ever since he had first found out. He would always be there for the boy like he had been in the past, most likely even more now, he looked at the boy as his adopted grandson, just like he looked at Severus as an adopted son. He truly did regret what he had done while putting Harry into the Dursley's care. At the time, he really did think it was for the best. Now Albus knew the truth, he realized now the terrible mistake he had made. But now it was too late.
Albus, from now on, would look after Harry, he would be there more than in the past. Merlin knew Harry had been through enough to last anyone a lifetime. Albus knew that when Harry found out about his parentage, he would be happy, most likely shocked and angry at first, but once that wore off, he would be delighted to know he had family that actually cared for him.
Sighing once more, Albus got up and headed for the door. None one of the occupants realized he was gone until hours later when Minerva finally got out of her thoughts. The others soon followed and all but Severus had left the ward, not wanting to spend a single moment away from Harry, thinking he might miss the time he would wake up. Unknown to the three occupants of the room, Albus had left for only one reason - to get Harry's godfather here, to make sure Sirius Black was aware that his godson was safe and well, well as safe as he could be at the moment.
Albus only left some small details out. He didn't think it was his place to tell Sirius about Harry's true parentage, he knew it was either Harry's or Severus's right to tell him, he also didn't think it was a good idea to tell Sirius about the situation with Harry via owl mail, he would wait until Sirius arrived. Albus only hoped that Sirius wouldn't be too stubborn and allow his childish hate get in the way of his relationship with his godson. Sirius meant so much to Harry, even though he didn't show it that often. Albus could tell that Harry depended on Sirius to always be there for him, to always understand him when no one else did. If Sirius was to back out on Harry now, who knows what could happen.
As Poppy entered the Hospital wing, hours after everyone was supposed to leave, she was quite surprised to find Severus asleep in a chair next to Harry's bed. He held one of the boy's hands in his while he slept.
Poppy smiled softly to herself. Maybe, just maybe the greasy bastard did have a heart somewhere under his icy exterior. Looking back over to the boy, no young man, that was lying quietly on the bed, Poppy sighed. He just seemed to attract danger wherever he went. Perhaps he never got a break, but whatever reason it was for, Poppy slightly appreciated it. Harry, coming into the hospital wing so many times in his four, going on five, years, he seemed to have grown on to Poppy.
Poppy may have seemed to be strict on her patients, even more so on Harry, but that was because she wanted to make sure they had a full recovery. She did care for all her patients, but Harry, like his father, seemed to attach himself somehow to her heart.
As she moved forward to check up on the boy, she accidentally bumped into a stand next to the bed, realizing a little too late that her wand was over on her desk, bottles of Pepper-up Potion and Strengthening Potion, among others dropped to the floor making an awful racket. Muttering to herself, Poppy leaned down to pick the bottles up; luckily she had remembered to put unbreakable charms on the bottles when she first got them from the Potions Master.
Standing back up, she looked over to her patient, who was still sleeping soundly. As she moved her eyes over to Severus, she found herself looking into obsidian eyes, which held a hint of annoyance and amusement. Yet his face stayed in it's cold mask, his mouth twisted in what appeared to be a smile, yet turned out to be a slightly less cold smirk.
"Are we having trouble Poppy?"
"No, not really Severus, sorry to have bothered you. Although I would like to have an explanation as to why you are here while everyone else left a few hours ago."
Severus stayed silent before getting up quickly and stalking to the door, looking back at Harry one last time he swept out the door, not saying a word to the surprised witch.
'Well, that was certainly rude of him! I wonder what he was doing here in the first place…' Poppy wondered to herself as she quietly checked over Harry, who seemed to be having a peaceful sleep.
After making sure he was in a comfortable position, Poppy returned to her office, maybe she would finally be able to get something to eat.
Not ten minutes later, Poppy heard shuffling in one of the beds, getting up quickly she headed towards the bed where Harry lay, he seemed to have a troubled countenance, his eyes moving back and forth under his eyelids, he appeared to be having a nightmare.
Moving quickly, Poppy went over to the boys side, picking up a light blue colored potion off the stand as she went by, lifting up Harry's head she poured the entire bottle down his throat, it appeared to have worked because he settled down after a moment. Looking down at the teen, Poppy silently thought to herself about how this teenager can attract so much trouble and yet live through it all.
Settling herself down in the chair Severus had occupied earlier, she got herself ready for a long night, and hopefully the boy would survive.
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When morning arrived, and Albus walked into the Hospital Wing, he found Poppy sleeping in the chair, her head resting on the stand next to the bed; countless bottles of empty calmness potion bottles surrounded her head.
Tearing his eyes away from the Medi-witch and looking over to the bed where Harry should be sleeping, he was quite surprised to find Harry sitting up and watching himself like a hawk.
Slightly shaken at finding the boy up already, Albus settled himself into a chair on the opposite side of the bed where Poppy lay, Harry watching his every move.
Before anyone could say anything, Severus came bursting through the doors, another limp bundle in his arms, his face showing his concern. Not realizing Harry was awake and Poppy was asleep, he quickly deposited the bundle on the bed, turning around he realized two pairs of eyes were on him, while another pair lazily looked around for a moment before fully waking up.
"Poppy, you have another patient, I found him outside the Entrance Hall, he doesn't look to good." He says quietly, his eyes never leaving Harry's.
Poppy, mumbling to herself about this being her vacation, headed over to the bed, realizing who it was she gasps and quickly conjures up some curtains to go around the bed.
Albus, looking slightly confused, gave Severus a questioning glance, in answer Severus just shook his head, plainly saying, 'not now, later.'
The two professors looked down at Harry who still hadn't said a word, his eyes still following their every move, which was starting to become unnerving.
Albus, deciding the silence had been long enough cleared his throat and began to speak, only to be cut off by Harry.
"No."
Looking confused at the boy, Severus spoke up for the second time, "no what?"
"No, I will not speak about it."
Understanding flashed across both men's face before Albus's took on a kindly appearance, while Severus's just turned to an emotionless state.
"Harry, we need to know what happened, the truth so we can take appropriate steps later on."
"There was a car accident, Ver-Uncle Vernon was driving me to London so I could get my school things, a tractor trailer came on and we had a head on collision."
Looking slightly disappointed, the two men nodded their heads; realizing Harry didn't want to talk about it quite yet, although they were far from done speaking with him.
Poppy came back out at the point, her face stricken. She looked from Harry, to the professors, and back to Harry again. Getting the point, Albus and Severus stood up and walked over to the other side of the room, with Poppy following silently behind them.
Poppy, giving one last glance towards Harry to make sure he couldn't hear, only to find him staring unseeingly out the window, turned back to Severus and Albus.
"Well, Headmaster since you don't know yet, that lump of clothes is actually a student, more precisely, Draco Malfoy."
At this, Albus looked over to the bed sharply, his blue eyes piercing as he went through all the possible reasons Draco would be there.
"Before you jump to any conclusions Albus, he was in a state similar to Harry's, beaten, broken and fractured bones, some internal bleeding and other odd things. Although, he appears to be having after affects from Crucio, actually, from what I can tell, it was rather a long period from which he was under the curse."
Albus nodded his head, thousands of thoughts flashing through his old mind. Looking back over to the area surrounded in curtains he stroked his long beard thoughtfully. "When will Draco wake up Poppy?"
"Honestly Albus, I have not the slightest idea. It all depends on Draco, when and if he'll wake up, just like it did with Harry. I don't know if you realize it Albus, but those two will have to get along this summer…I'm not letting either of them out of my sight until school starts again. Those two will end up helping each other out, they will most likely end up becoming friends if they get past their grudges from earlier on."
Both Severus and Albus nod their heads, acknowledging the possibility of the two enemies later becoming friends. As Poppy goes over to check on Harry, who hadn't moved a bit from staring outside the window, Albus turns his thoughtful eyes on to Severus who was watching Poppy check on Harry.
"When will you tell him Severus?"
"Not any time soon, maybe in a week when he feels better. I'll try and show him that I'm not just a greasy old git who doesn't care for anyone."
Albus's twinkling eyes crinkled as he smiled, "yes, I believe that would be a good idea. Although, you shouldn't wait too long to speak with him about this, also, I believe we are going to need more calming potions within this week."
Severus looks confused for a second at Albus's abrupt change in conversation before asking, "why would we need those?"
"It seems that Harry has needed them frequently throughout the night. There were quite a few empty bottles surrounding the stand next to his bed."
"I see, wouldn't it be more convenient for him to have a dreamless sleep potion?"
"Usually, that would be the best thing, but as you should know, Harry sometimes has dreams that show what Voldemort is up to. If he were to have a dreamless sleep, then how would we be able to know if we missed anything important?"
Severus glares at the floor tiles as Albus finishes, "I understand your logic Albus, but, Voldemort does some extreme and gruesome things most of the time…I wouldn't want anyone, let alone Harry, witnessing any of those things."
"Yes, well I dare say you do have the last say in this don't you…" Albus once again gets a thoughtful expression. "Of course, we could always give the decision to Harry, who I'm sure would make the right choice for himself."
"I agree, although, when are we going to ask him. He doesn't seem to happy at the moment, of course I understand the reason for that."
Albus nods in agreement before heading back over to Harry, who had just been finished being checked on by Madame Pomfrey, Severus following right behind him.