Ever After Ch. 3
Chapter Three

The moment Snape enter his manor, he started snapping orders to his house elf. "Winky! Bring up some hot tea and saltine crackers to my bedroom. And make it on the double!" he said taking two steps at a time up the stairs and into the bedroom.

Gently, he unwrapped the boy and placed him on the bed.

The moment that the boy was out of his arms, Harry started to shiver violently.

Distraught, all Snape could do was stare down at the boy for a moment. Then he got into action. He quickly covered the boy with a thick, silk comforter in an effort to warm him. But the boy wouldn't have any of it. He continued to shiver as if his life depended on it.

Rushing to the door, he yelled out, "WINKY!"

"Coming sir!"

The little elf ran up the stairs with the tray in her little hands.

"Thank you," he muttered snatching the tray from her and slamming the door.

Almost immediately, there was a tentative knock. "Sir, you have company!" Winky called through the door.

"Well, tell them to go away!" he snapped.

"But sir, its Headmaster Dumbledore, sir!"

Using a few choice words, he told Winky to send him in.

With a flourish, Dumbledore entered the room with Poppy trailing in behind him. Immediately, Poppy began fusing over him.

After a few minutes a silence as she examined him, Snape couldn't take the wait any longer. "Well!" he snapped.

"Patience, Severus," Dumbledore cautioned. "Patience."

Snape glared at him.

Sighing, Poppy sat down on the bed and felt his forehead. "I'm afraid it's the worst case scenario. Severus, do you mind if we leave him here? I'm afraid if we move him, it might prove to be his undoing. For some strange reason, he has grown attached this place in his weakened mind."

"Well what happened to him?" Snape growled.

She looked down at the boy sadly. "He was forced. There was extensive damaged done to his rectum and he was still bleeding. I managed to stop the bleeding but with an injury such as this one, I dare not use magic. It could become contaminated."

The tray fell from Snape's lifeless hands, shattering the contents all over the floor. "Who…? He gasped out. "I'll kill them," he said in a deadly whisper.

"My guess is as good as yours. That damn uncle of his needs to be put away for good," Poppy replied. "So can he stay here?"

"Of course he can stay here!" he snapped. "For as long as he wants," he finished softly.

"Really?" came the weak voice from the bed.

"Shh, Harry. You have to keep your strength up, sweetheart," she fuses.

But it was no use. Harry only had eyes for one individual. "Can I really, Professor?"

Snape slowly approached the bed. He leaned forward and pushed his bangs from his scar with a gentle hand. "Call me Severus," he said with a small smile.

Returning the grin, he murmured, "Ssseverusss," before falling asleep again.

Snape pulled the covers up to his neck, tucking him in slightly. The boy still had to smile on his face as he slept.

"For as long as he wants," he whispered.

"Good!" Dumbledore said brightly. "You are in charge of him and I assume the Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger will be here any day now. Do try to be kind. They've been worried sick about him. A little compassion is in order here."

The twinkle was back in his eyes as Snape glared at him.

"You're not even worried." Statement.

"Nope."

"Why?"

"I know that he is going to be just fine, what with a fine guardian looking after him. I have all the confidence in the world that Harry will recover from this tragic ordeal."

"In the meantime Albus, what are you going to tell the ministry?"

"I'm sure I'll come up with something," he said breezily. "Come on, Poppy." His parting words were, "Be prepared for anything," he sang, closing the door behind him.

Snape was starting to get scared. "What have I gotten myself into?"

It was half past midnight by the time that Snape even felt like getting some shut-eye. Sighing, he pulled up a chair to the bed and transfigured it to a big fluffy chair that reclined.

With a wave of his wand, he pulled his cloak to surround as would a coverlet.

He tried to will himself to sleep but that didn't work. He tried counting the sheep that danced around in the air but that didn't work either. He even tried putting a sleeping spell on himself, but, of course, it didn't work.

There were just too many thoughts running through his mind to sleep. Growling, he threw off the cloak, bent over, and held his head in his hands. "What am I going to do?"

"For starters, you can join me on this bed," came the unexpected reply.

Snapping his head out of his hands, he stared at Harry. He wasn't even aware that he had spoken out loud. "Potter, you should be sleep." He said the first thing that came to mind.

"My name is Harry, sir, and this bed is more than big enough for the two of us," he said reaching over the touch his hand.

Severus moved his hand to where it cradled his head.

"Please, Severus. I don't want to be alone."

"You won't be. I'll be right here and I promise that you' would never be alone again," he said running his thumb along against a pale cheek.

Harry shook his beautiful, dark, brown hair. "Not the same. Want you next to me, please. Dreams…"

"Shhh," he said silencing him with a finger in his lips. He climbed into the bed next to him and pulled him into his arms. Soon they both slumbered peacefully.

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