Chapter 46: The Fourth Day
The days passed quickly for both Snape and Harry. At first, Harry was cautious and would hardly speak or look at him but soon got comfortable again around his professor. Snape was worried about what caused the turnaround in him, for it was too soon for him to feel comfortable around him again, but decided to just let Harry be for he knew he would figure it out later.
Snape was forced by a snippy Madame Pomfrey to stay in bed for three days because of his injuries, much to his annoyance. He laid there, forced under several blankets because she said he had to keep warm; it made him feel feverish without the benefit of a fever. Harry told him sheepishly that he looked very pink like a newborn baby and that had him thinking stupidly that maybe he did have a fever after all. So he laid there, grumpily grading essays and complaining to Harry about how dim-witted his students were, leaving Harry trying desperately trying not to giggle. Personally, he didn't find it funny at all. Harry sat in an overstuffed armchair that Poppy had made and no matter what he told him he wouldn't leave his side, not even to go to bed. It gave Snape a warm fuzzy feeling in his belly but he would kick him out only to find him back in his chair when he awoke. At first, he wondered how he snuck back in without him noticing but decided not to let it bother him. By the third day, he was so pleased about being freed from his bed that he even smiled at Madame Pomfrey, which scared her and sent Harry into a giggle fit.
Snape and Harry spent the fourth day going over educational plans for Harry. Snape frowned over stacks of lessons plans sent form the rest of Harry's teachers that Dumbledore had sent down. Harry also read them, asking questions about what some things were and making rude comment about the divination teacher that Snape whole heartedly agreed with.
"I mean, she's a total fraud and I am sick of her telling me I'm going to die," Harry complained, "After every class, Lavender Brown gives me these sad looks and sometimes even I feel guilty for not being dead. Then I think to myself why in the world should I feel bad for not being dead. Made her cry once for it."
"Professor Trelawney?"
"No," Harry sighed, "Lavender Brown."
Snape snorted, "Why did you make her cry?"
"You're one to talk," Harry rolled his eyes, "You make Neville Longbottom cry all the time. Besides, Pavarti and her kept whispering to each other and giving me funeral eyes so I lost my temper. It's not like I have enough people trying to kill me without them driving me nuts."
"Funeral eyes?" Snape laughed.
"You know, the looks people give the widow at a funeral." The boy gave him a funny look and said, "I didn't know you could do that."
"What?" He asked.
"Laugh."
Snape laughed harder, "Don't be stupid, of course I can laugh."
He looked alarmed, "So, should I get Madame Pomfrey? I think you have more of a head injury that I thought."
He frowned at him then snickered so much harder, "Let's work up a schedule for you instead."
Harry just nodded.
"Hmmm, I think we should work on things that will help you with the tournament instead of the normal curriculum."
"Like what?" Harry asked.
"Heavy on the defense and offense." Snape said, "I think we should work mostly with the defense against the dark arts, charms, and transfiguration. We will skip divination, history of magic, and astrology, it's not like you'll need it and we can catch up with that later. We'll go lightly over potions, herbology, and magical creatures just to go over the things you should be worried about. I'll also teach a bit on dueling and physical defense."
He looked puzzled, "Physical defense?"
"Defending yourself physically," Snape smirked. "Just standard stuff. How to throw a punch. How to fall without getting hurt. That sort of thing. Just some stuff that could help you."
"Oh, okay." He said.
"Good, now lets go do some tests to see what you can do."
Harry was a better wizard than Snape had previously thought. He was very good at defense against the dark arts; so good in fact, he was better than most grown wizards. He was average for his age level at transfiguration and charms but by watching how he moved his wand, Snape knew he could easily improve. He tested him using varying plants on herbology and potion making but he was sadly lacking in both and snape decided to change that but not anytime soon. He had better things to do and that was keeping him alive. He knew a lot about the magical animals that Hagrid had showed in his class and learned well about the dark creatures that Lupin had taught them about. Overall, Snape was pleased; teaching the boy wasn't going to give him a daily migraine.
By the time the tests were done, it was dinnertime. They discussed Snape's educational plans while having a small fest for just the two of them. Harry was still not eating enough in Snape's opinion but still much more than he was previously. The boy was excited about the spells they had talked about and was practically bouncing in his chair, smiling at the very thought. Snape was fighting the bit of smile threatening to breach his face.
After dinner, Snape sent Harry to get ready for bed because as chipper he seemed, Snape could see the exhaustion in his face. He wondered why he was trying to hide it. While he was taking a bath, Snape lazily explored Harry's room. The house elves had done a wonderful job creating a bedroom out of his spare potions storeroom. There was a large four-post bed covered in thick red curtains, a large wooden wardrobe, a scholar's desk with matching chair, low spidery tables, and several dressers. Though it was very nice room, it looked like no one lived there but Snape figured it would change as Harry got comfortable here. The only thing that showed that he was here was his trunk.
When Harry first moved in, he had the house elves remove anything that Harry could hurt himself with. There no knives, sharp objects, or poisons left in his personal quarters. He didn't want him to try to take his own life again and he knew he needed to talk to him about it but decided to wait until he was relaxed in his new home. The only left to check for was dangerous objects left in his personal things so Snape knew he would have to go through his trunk.
Inside his trunk, he found what he accepted. His precious broom was on top wrapped gentle in a holey towel. There were textbooks, potion ingredients, scales, a telescope, phials, parchment, quills, ink, and other such things. He found the golden dragons egg from the first task, placed there by the house elves. He even found that odd piece of ancient parchment that had insulted him last year and he stood a good few minutes frowning at it hatefully. His clothes were very much divided; his wizarding robes were nice and well made while his muggles clothes were stained and in abysmal condition. When he lifted a fade and holey t-shirt, he wondered why he had such large clothes for all of his muggle things would never fit such a scrawny boy, then he remembered how fat he said his cousin was. Sadly, Snape decided that he must have never had anything new when he lifted up some of his underwear for even they were in a sad and disgusting state. He decided he needed some new clothes soon.
He calmly removed his potions knife and his monster book of monsters, for they were too dangerous for the troubled boy to be around. He determined would tell Harry about taking them tomorrow when he noticed four phials at the bottom of his trunk. He calmly lifted them and studied them. In each one of the vials was Regina's Solution. He wondered why he would have them. He recalled that when he caught Harry in the bathroom making Regina's Solution, he was making enough for six months. He had taking one dose in front of him there, leaving five doses. If he had taken the potion once a month as recommended he would be down to four and in a couple of days down to three. But the question was why? Why did he take it? He was a boy, not only had Snape seen his gentlemen parts but so had Madame Pomfrey and as a trained med witch there was no way he could hide anything from her. So why is he taking it?
Snape groaned and replaced the phials at the bottom on his trunk. Then he carefully placed everything back into his truck including his knife and monster book so Harry would never know he had been snooping there. He would calmly ask Harry for anything dangerous he had tomorrow. This way he would never know about Snape knowing about the phials.
He had not forgotten about the Regina's Solution and the oddness of a boy taken it that first night but he didn't think he was still currently in the position of still digesting it on possible regular basis. Snape knew he would have to do some research and make a new list. Why did it seem that boy was only made of mysteries? He would solve this one as well. After all, he was going to fix him, he thought and snorted to himself. He went to his room and began his new list.
Things We Know
Harry Potter was emotional, sexual, and physically abused by his relatives.
His uncle, Vernon Dursley, has sexually, physically, and emotionally abused him. Has raped, whipped and beaten him but facts unknown.
His aunt, Petunia Dursley, has physically and emotionally abused him. He made him clean for hours on end and stopped feeding him around the age of 11 or 12 but before that was still starving him. He has had no decent clothes. Called him freak so much he believes it himself.
His cousin, Dudley Dursley, has physically and emotionally abused him. He had repeated cut and beaten him. He and knives, including the word "freak" on his chest, caused most scars that have previously covered him.
Harry did not know he was wizard until he was 11. He was raised a muggle and did not the threat of the dark lord in his life. Every year, he risked his life repeatedly because of the dark lord. He now knows that they are connected through his scar, that his mother has died for him, and that the dark lord wants him dead. He is willing to die for what he thinks is the greater good. He is world famous for saving the world and resents it. He hates being stared at and talked about.
He is average in grades and abilities. He is a parasal tongue.
His closest friends, and the only ones he trusts, are Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. He is well liked and popular among the students. He is the seeker for the Gryffindor quidditch team and in Gryffindor house. The sort hat wanted to place him in Slytherin. Meaning he is brave, clever, and rule breaking. He is the fourth TriWizardly champion and he did not put his name in the goblet of fire.
He tried to kill himself when Ron Weasley apologized for being angry with him for being famous. He was catatonic for week when his teachers found out the abuse. Meaning he feels guilty for being famous as a result of the death of parents and always stealing the spotlight from his friends. Also, that he knows he is danger to his friends and wanted them to stay away (I.e. dark lord) but he can live without them.
He is currently having wild mood swings. In the past week he has been violently angry (my fault), distressed, angry, and is currently acting like his normal façade. Is he trying to pretend to be happy for me? Or is he really happy? In the past, he has pretended to perfection he was fine when he was in pain or in emotionally stressful situations. He has repeated lied to everyone about his life. He was willing to do anything to keep his secrets but not only fro himself but for the world. He knows he will be considered the hero and his needed reputation would be damaged is anyone in the press or authority found out. Meaning how can he save us if he can't save himself?
Things To Know
Why is the word "freak" so important? Dudley carved it into his chest. His family call s him that. He believes himself to be a freak. What does it mean to them? To Harry?
What did his uncle do to him? When did he begin to molest him? Does his aunt know? Does his cousin? More information is needed to be known about him.
Is he taking Regina's Solution? If so, why? He is not female. What effects does it have on him?
By the time he done writing, Snape was very tired. Harry had stopped by some time ago and said his goodnights. He noticed that Harry had gone to his room and the lights were out. He sighed to himself and crawled into his own bed, hoping for good dreams but knowing he was going to lack in them. His brain was still playing with puzzle pieces and no matter how he begged himself to quit thinking and go to sleep, he could not.