-1Chapter 32 Broken Trust
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Harry raced after the Snitch and wrapped his hand around the tiny gold ball … just before he passed out!
While unconscious he fell twenty feet down and landed in the pitch to a bone shattering thud. The same weak spot in his left arm that he had broken previously had snapped. It brought him back to a harsh reality filled with pain. He couldn't hold back a blood curdling scream that escaped his lips before he clamped his mouth shut. Everyone was on him, some people cheering, some people asking if he was okay. It seemed half his team mates hadn't seen the fall and didn't even know he had been injured. Dean grabbed his broken arm and tried to lift him up. Harry screamed again and everyone realized something was terribly wrong.
Ginny was the first to notice his arm hanging at a funny angle. She yelled for everyone to back off then knelt down next to him on the pitch. "Harry, your arm is broken! Stay still until Madame Pomfrey comes to help."
Harry couldn't talk he was in so much pain. His arm was not the worst of his problems. His vision was double and his head was throbbing like a jackhammer inside. He reached out with his good hand towards Ginny and realized he was still holding the snitch. He opened his hand up and the tiny gold ball flew away. He couldn't quite see Ginny as his vision was so bad but he stretched his hand towards her anyways in hopes that she would hold it. Ginny took hold of Harry's hand and the last thing he remembered was her warm soft grip.
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Harry woke up in the infirmary surrounded by his friends and Madame Pomfrey. His arm was throbbing and he felt as if his head wanted to explode.
"Harry you're awake!" came Hermione's relieved voice. "We were really worried about you."
Harry turned his head slowly to minimize the throbbing and saw Hermione with Ginny standing behind her.
He looked Ginny in the eyes and didn't look away until she smiled. He smiled back with an unspoken understanding passing between them. She stepped forward and took hold of his hand again. Harry felt her soft fingers envelope his hand.
He held her gaze until Ron rudely interrupted, "Hey mate, you might have won the game but my sister is not the prize."
"Shut it Ron!" Ginny hissed and he was punched on the arm by Hermione.
That was enough to get Madame Pomfrey to kick them all out. After they left Madame Pomfrey assessed the damage done to Harry's arm one more time before handing him a cup of bone mend.
It tasted horrible but Harry wasn't really thinking about that. He was too concerned for what his father was going to do to him when he found out he had disobeyed him again. The bone mend made him feel tired and it was only a matter of minutes before he was sleeping.
Harry was in a deep sleep when he was once again overcome with fear as the nightmare began. In the nightmare he was in the infirmary and Severus was nowhere to be found. He felt the overwhelming feeling that he had been abandon. He was all alone again with no hope of having a family. He was forced to the bed as a dark figure approached. He wanted to run or start screaming but there wasn't anyway for him to move. A hand reached out and stroked the side of his face. He immediately woke up with a start. He sat up quickly and looked around.
He was in the infirmary but only McGonagalll and Pomfrey were there and they were standing at the end of his bed.
"What in the world were you dreaming Mr. Potter?" McGonagall asked as she made her way to his bedside.
"I-I can't remember." Harry did remember but was not telling anyone about his childish insecurities.
"Well do you remember why you risked your health and continued playing in the game after that head injury?" McGonagall was angry and clasped her hands tightly in front of her.
Madame Pomfrey added, "I'm not sure what was going through Severus' head when he gave you permission to stay in the game. He knows as well as I do that you should have been brought directly to me!"
"I have no idea what Severus is thinking these days as far as Harry is concerned," McGonagall said under her breath but loud enough for Harry and Pomfrey to hear.
Harry looked at her, wondering what she was referring to. He thought Severus was a good dad.
Madame Pomfrey wrapped Harry's arm in a sling and checked his head one more time when they heard the infirmary doors slam open.
"Would someone please inform me as to why my son has a sling on his arm?" came the cold angry voice. Harry looked up to see his father approaching with robes billowing dramatically behind.
Oh Merlin, Harry wanted to climb under the bed when he saw his father's face filled with fury.
"Severus don't come in here blaming anyone else except yourself. You should have known better than to send Harry back into that game with a head injury that severe!" Poppy was not backing down from the menacing glare.
Severus looked at her with confusion for half a second before it dawned on him what had taken place. He whirled around and faced Harry with a glare. "Don't even think of moving," he quietly hissed at his son.
Harry shook his head no and pushed deeper into the pillows. He watched his father, McGonagall and Pomfrey go into the infirmary office and close the door.
The three sat down with the women facing Severus. The Potion Master was the first to speak.
"Am I to understand that Mr. Potter misrepresented my directions and continued playing in the game?" Snape's voice was wavering on fury.
"Oh yes, that is exactly what happened," Minerva said. "He played until he actually passed out and landed on that fragile arm he should have been nursing. But if you ask him I am sure he would see nothing wrong with what he did. In his eyes the end result was that he caught the snitch and won the game, giving no regard to his safety!" Now it was Minerva holding back anger at her student.
"That's it! I'm going to kill him!" Snape started to rise but Minerva pulled his arm and demanded he sit.
"Calm down professor. I'm just as upset at him as you are. You are his parent now and must come up with a well thought out punishment," Minerva reprimanded.
Snape looked towards the women and said, "You know, I should just leave and let him suffer this out alone."
"That is actually a good punishment Severus. Why not leave him to suffer out the consequences of his actions alone?" Poppy suggested. "He will probably be in here for two days and that would be a good amount of time for him to think about the error of his ways. I will be with him but he relies heavily on you and his friends for support."
"Yes, perhaps I should forbid his friends from visiting and stay away myself. Let him simmer in the mistake he brought on himself." Severus thought it cruel to leave the boy alone when he was in pain but maybe this time Harry would learn a lesson on impulse.
Harry waited nervously for his fate to be decided. Suddenly the office door flew open and slammed against the wall.
Severus stormed over to Harry with a fierce look on his face. He grabbed the front of Harry's pajamas and pulled his son towards him, "You should consider yourself fortunate that you are surrounded by people who would frown upon the punishment I wish to inflict." He threw Harry back against the pillows and stalked out of the room without looking back.
Harry was actually shaking. He knew this was the nightmare coming true. His father was so mad at him that he couldn't even be in the same room anymore.
Harry didn't know what to do but he did know he needed to get out of the infirmary before anything happened to him, before the dark figure approached. He needed to talk with his father. He was the only one who could make the nightmare not come true.
"Mr. Potter, I know Severus is upset right now but give him time. He needs to calm down before he can discuss this rationally. In the mean time, might I suggest you begin to contemplate the danger you put yourself in?" McGonagall said as she patted Harry's hand.
Harry rolled over and tucked his head down in the covers. So, the nightmare was going to come true. He could feel it. He tried to ignore his pounding head and aching arm but the pain was close to unbearable. He fought the sleep that tried to overtake him not wishing to suffer the nightmare anymore.
A few hours later he was still awake when Poppy asked him to sit up and take more potions. Even the slightest movements filled his tired body with sharp pain.
"Um Poppy, do you think you could ask my father to come see me now?"
Poppy looked at the poor boy with sympathy, "I'll send a note down and let him know you are awake but I am not sure he will come." She left the potions on the night stand and went back to her office.
Harry turned on his side once again to wait for his father. After an hour Poppy came back to his bed.
"I'm sorry Harry but Severus is busy right now. Why don't you take the pain potion and catch a little nap?"
Harry nodded but didn't take the pain potion. He knew if he took it he would fall right to sleep and get stuck in the nightmare once again. He fought hard to keep his eyes open and wait for Severus.
He watched the giant clock on the wall tick slowly as hour after hour passed. The hallways were dim and all his friends were sleeping by now. His arm hurt so bad that he could hardly keep from moaning.
Finally he made a decision to get out of this infirmary and away from the nightmare and go find Severus in the dungeon. He quietly got out of bed and not finding any shoes, walked barefoot down to the dungeons. It took him a long time since he was holding the wall for support most of the time.
By the time he got to the dungeon he felt sure he would collapse. He walked through the livingroom and was just about to open the laboratory door when a cold voice stopped him.
"What are you doing out of the infirmary?" Severus had a glare that made Harry step back involuntarily.
"You wouldn't come," came the near whisper.
"That is correct, I chose not to see you." Severus stepped closer to the exasperating boy.
"I didn't mean to make you mad, sir," Harry looked down at his bare feet and held his broken arm close to his body. He was shocked when Severus lunged at him and grabbed his chin roughly, forcing him to look up at the professor's angry face.
"You have absolutely no regard for my authority! I told you the game was over for you and you chose to ignore that. Why would you put yourself in such danger, Potter?" Severus had the boy up against the wall now and knew he should probably lighten his grip on the boy's face but was too angry. This boy had total disregard for safety!
"I don't know," Harry wasn't going to tell him the truth. He wasn't going to tell him he did it so Severus would be proud of him. His chin hurt and Harry tried to pull his father's hand away, "That hurts."
"You are in no position to dictate how you are disciplined after the stunt you pulled today." Severus glared at the boy then tightened his grip even more causing Harry to gasp. All Severus could think about was the danger Harry had put himself in.
"Why did you do it?"
"I-I just wanted to make you proud because I caught the snitch," Harry said in total misery.
Severus abruptly released his grip and Harry slid down the wall onto his knees. The pain became too unbearable and he crumbled onto the ground panting. He tried to hide his pain as best he could by burying his face in his good hand but failed miserably.
At first Severus just watched his son sink to the floor. He had so many mixed emotions about this boy right now. He was angry over Harry putting himself in so much danger but touched that Harry was doing it for him. Didn't the blasted boy know he was proud of him already?
Severus looked down at his son and saw he was struggling to hide his pain. He knelt down beside him and placed his hand on Harry's back before asking, "Come now Harry, did I really hurt you that much?"
It took Harry a moment before he knew what Severus was referring to. Severus thought Harry was in pain over his chin being grabbed.
"No, it's just that everything hurts," Harry sat back and looked at his father sitting on the floor with him.
"But your arm and head shouldn't hurt anymore. I gave Pomfrey special potions to take away all that pain. You took all those potions didn't you son?" Severus assessed the boy closely, no this child was in immense pain. Did his potions fail him?
Harry just looked at his father, not wanting to tell him the truth.
"You have taken the potions, correct?"
Harry shook his head, "They make me sleep." He leaned his throbbing head back onto the wall and waited for his father to yell at him.
Severus understood. His son was not even close to being healed emotionally, no matter how much the boy did not want to open certain memories. Those nightmares of Privet Drive must still be plaguing him.
"Very well, I will delay punishment until we deal with your current state. Does Pomfrey know you left?"
Harry shook his head again.
"Yes, I should have figured as much. I will add your escape from the infirmary to your long list of transgressions. I should think you would get tired of wearing my patience thin by now. Up until now I feel I have been too lenient with you. I do not plan to continue with that oversight." He began to rise as he lifted his son's good arm to help him stand.
"Come, let's head back to the infirmary where I will watch you drink the potions," Severus stated in a no nonsense tone.
Harry stood but didn't follow his father. He stayed by the wall and watched his father whirl back to glare at him.
"I said come!" Severus walked back and stood in front of his son.
"I'm not going back there Severus. I'll go up to Gryffindor if you don't want me here but I'm not going back to the infirmary." Harry knew he should tell his father about the dream but it sounded so lame even to himself.
Severus pinched the bridge of his nose and tried to calm down before handling his son once again.
"Harry, you brought this on yourself and you need to deal with the consequences of your actions by yourself. I told you not to play any longer for good reason. I am not sure exactly what sort of punishment you will incur but it begins with you suffering through this by yourself in the infirmary. And I might add that your friends have expressly been forbidden to visit you as well." Severus watched Harry's face drop and become filled with fright. The boy looked on the verge of collapsing.
"No! Please Severus, I'll do any other punishment. You can lock me in my room or even hit me but I just can't go back to the infirmary," Now Harry was on the verge of losing it. Not just because of the amount of pain he was in but also due to the nightmare becoming a reality right before his eyes.
"Hit you? For Merlin's sake Harry I'm not going to hit you! Why is the infirmary such a horrible thought to you? You've spent half your school career in there! Madame Pomfrey dotes on you like a child and your meals are brought to you in bed. You act as if I'm sending you to Azkaban!" Severus grabbed Harry's arm and pulled him along towards the door.
Harry yanked his arm away and collapsed onto his knees on the floor. He dropped his head into his hand and fought to hold back tears. He just knew that going to that infirmary also meant losing his father.
"Harry, son what is going on?" Severus dropped down next to his son and pulled him into an embrace. He noticed the boy trying to mask the pain he was in but failing miserably.
Harry pressed his forehead into his father's chest and clutched onto the Potion Master's robes.
Severus raised his wand and pointed it at the laboratory door, "Accio, Harry Potter's healing potions."
The door creaked open and four vials of potions floated into Severus' hand.
"Relax son. I want you to take these and then I'll sit with you while you sleep." Severus watched as Harry obediently drank all four potions without question and his face became more relaxed.
"Could we just stay out here on the sofa?" Harry didn't want to take any chances of his father leaving him locked in his room.
Severus was so confused about Harry's reluctance to go back to the infirmary. He would have to find out if something happened while Harry was there earlier. He helped his son stand then walked with him to the sofa. Severus sat down and pulled Harry down next to him. Harry's breath hitched over that move and Severus reminded himself not to be so rough with the boy. He looked at his son's face and saw the deep red imprint of his fingers still on Harry's chin.
He felt regretful over hurting him and said, "I do believe I owe you a hot chocolate and chocolate frogs." Severus flicked his wand and the chocolate treats appeared before Harry on the coffee table.
Harry smiled at his father remembering their bet but couldn't even think about eating with his stomach in knots.
"Come here, rest your head on my lap and get some sleep. We will discuss all this later."
Harry pulled his feet onto the sofa and let Severus adjust his broken arm so it was resting on a pillow. At first he felt funny about resting on his father like a child but after he laid his head down he forgot about everything. It didn't take very long for sleep to come with his father's gentle fingers running through his hair and the fire crackling warmly in the grate and the warm quilt wrapped around his body.
Not much later the floo turned green and Madame Pomfrey's head appeared. She took in the scene before her and shook her head. "So that's where he disappeared to."
"Poppy do you have a moment to discuss Harry?" Severus asked in a quiet voice so as not to wake his son.
"Yes, as a matter of fact Minerva and I were just discussing your son. Do you mind if she comes along?" Poppy asked.
"No, by all means bring her along. I so enjoyed the two of you shrieking at me earlier," Severus said in an acerbic tone.
The ladies walked through the floo and took in the scene before them as they sat down.
Severus spelled a pot of steaming tea and two cups in front of them.
"Harry is very reluctant to return to the infirmary. Has something unusual happened to make him feel this way?" Severus asked as he pushed back the hair off his sleeping son's forehead.
"No Severus, nothing more unusual than is normal for Harry," Poppy answered.
"I know I spoke with both of you earlier regarding a proper punishment for Harry's transgressions but perhaps I should come up with a different punishment." Severus studied the faces of his two mentors in parenting.
Minerva thought about this for a moment then added, "Did he seem reluctant to return to the infirmary before you told him his friends would not be allowed to visit or after, Severus?"
"Why should that matter?" Severus asked.
"Well Severus it must have occurred to you at some point that Harry would much rather stay here with you for obvious reasons." Minerva said as she indicated around the room.
"And what would those reasons be?" Severus did not like the direction this conversation was taking.
Both ladies chuckled and Poppy spoke up first, "I'm sure Harry would prefer the leniency you have with him compared to the rules I would adhere to in the infirmary. For heaven sakes Severus, chocolate frogs as a bedtime snack could hardly be healthy for a sick child."
Severus was truly taken aback at hearing that. Were they implying that he spoiled Harry and let him get away with things that the medi-witch wouldn't?
Minerva added, "Severus, just think about the way he acted at the ball? And the rules he broke today. Not to mention the way he hid in that secret passageway causing the whole wizarding world to worry. Is it no wonder that he would rather be with you then fulfill his original punishment alone in the infirmary as you had intended?"
Severus looked down at his sleeping son and couldn't help but think that there must be another reason for him not wanting to stay in the infirmary. Regardless of what the ladies said he knew that Harry was neither spoiled nor trying to take the easy way out. He unintentionally ran his fingers through his son's hair once again.
Minerva chuckled again and said, "Severus you indulge that child to any length. You better watch out or Harry will end up like Mr. Malfoy! Harry's clothes cost more than a whole year teacher salary and the new toys he has acquired would put the most spoiled child to shame."
"Minerva, Harry is far from spoiled! As a matter of fact I consider myself to be rather strict with the boy," Severus said indignantly and spelled away the hot chocolate and chocolate frogs.
"Severus his original punishment should stand. Regardless the fuss he puts up," Minerva offered.
"Perhaps," Severus thought that over for a moment before continuing, "Yes, perhaps I should force him back into the infirmary and let him suffer the consequences. I will bring him back when he awakes. In the mean time he really does need this sleep," Severus knew the decision would be hard fought by Harry and decided to get permission from Albus to apparate the boy into the infirmary. It would be easier and less embarrassing for the boy than applying a locomotor or carrying him back if it came to that.
The ladies agreed and ended the evening by walking back through the floo with words of encouragement for Severus.
As uncomfortable as Severus felt about this punishment he felt that he was doing the right thing for Harry. The last thing he wanted was for Harry to turn into a self indulged adult. Harry couldn't afford to be pampered and spoiled due to his future encounter with Voldemort. But Severus knew nothing about parenting except what he had experienced from his own father, which was not the way he intended to raise his son. Even knowing that, he often heard himself sounding just like his own authoritarian father. The way he expected Harry to be polite and obedient at all times, the way he demanded Harry follow all the rules and even the way he abhorred profanities coming from the boy's mouth, had all reeked of his own father's set of strict laws.
But those set of rules had also represented the only form of attention he had ever received from his father, thus equating to the only form of caring.
Severus would impose strict punishments to make sure the boy did not become self indulged or spoiled but he would continue to show Harry physical comfort and positive encouragement as well. His biggest obstacle at this point was balancing discipline with a new emotion to him; compassion. In many ways he felt like he was flying blind in this tremendous task of parenting The-Boy-Who-Lived.
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Harry awoke to the fire crackling and his father's hand resting casually on his shoulder. He knew his head was still on the professor's lap and was a little ashamed over how comforted he was by that. He didn't want to move and alert his father to his being awake because he didn't want his father to move away.
Harry watched the flames in the grate and thought about the comfort this man had brought into his life. He thought back to his utter loneliness that had lasted most of his life. He wondered if Severus even knew what the adoption meant to him. He thought about how quickly Severus had decided to adopt him and wanted to ask the professor about it. He was brought out of his thoughts as his father gently stroked the hair back from his forehead. Harry closed his eyes and let the feeling of being taken care of wash over him.
Severus had been reading a book as his son slept soundly. His mind kept drifting back to the conversation he had with Poppy and Minerva. He couldn't imagine why they thought he spoiled his son. He knew he probably purchased too many gifts for Harry but he was also doing it for himself. He had grown up with nothing from his father and this was his chance to rectify that by giving Harry gifts that the boy had only dreamed of. Severus got more pleasure over seeing his son enjoy the gifts then Harry did. Besides if he was really truthful with himself, he knew it was also to try and make up for the way he had treated Harry over the summer and the poison his Aunt had inflicted on the boy. And as far as the well appointed clothes were concerned, he didn't see anything wrong with his son having the best. It would be expected of him to dress accordingly as the heir to the Snape fortune.
He looked down at his son's face and saw Harry's long black eyelashes blinking at the fire. He was slightly amused that Harry hadn't made a move to get up or make known that he was awake. He figured the boy was just enjoying the feeling of being cared for, because Severus was enjoying the feeling of caring for him. Severus knew Harry had been starved of physical and emotional support his entire life, making the boy crave it more than a normal sixteen year old would. He was contented to be the one to supply it for his son. He brushed back his son's hair with his fingers before breaking the comfortable silence.
"Sleep well?" Severus asked and didn't make any move to get up or shift.
"Yeah, I was just thinking," Harry didn't turn to look at the professor but continued watching the fire. "Professor, what made you want to adopt me? I mean I know we talked about this already and stuff but I feel like it happened so quickly."
At first Severus thought maybe the boy was having second thoughts, "Are you having misgivings Harry?"
"No! That's not why I'm asking. I was just wondering how you went from hating me to … you know, not hating me enough to adopt me."
Severus continued running his fingers through his son's hair and thought that question through a bit before answering, "First off, I never hated you. I might have thought you rather obnoxious and arrogant but that was before I actually knew you. Now I do not deem you those qualities."
"That's good to know."
"As far as my feelings towards you, I now consider myself to feel as most fathers would feel for their sons."
Harry's heart jumped a little at hearing that. Was Severus trying to say that he loved him? No, Harry chided himself against hoping to hear that from the Potion Master.
"You … you please me greatly. The decision to adopt you came quickly to me because I had actually started to contemplate your circumstances ever since your Godfather died. I knew a small part of your life with the Dursley's through Occlumency lessons and knew that you needed someone to help guide you through your experiences. At Professor Dumbledore's urging I had thought to be a mentor at first. But after I held your hand in the infirmary that first night, I knew I needed you just as much. I didn't want anyone to interfere with the support I would be able to offer you."
"What do you mean interfere?"
"I mean the blasted ministry has wanted to get control of you for years. If anything happened to Albus I was afraid they would get their way. And truth be told, I did not want Albus to control you anymore," Severus thought back to how the boy had been so ready for a true father figure.
"So, you only adopted me to get control of me?' Harry was hurt over hearing that it wasn't done out of feelings for him.
"No! Stop putting words into my mouth Mr. Potter," Severus tweaked Harry's ear and saw the boy rub it with his hand. "I wanted to care for you as a true father would, without other people trying to take control. I felt it best for both of us to make it a permanent situation from the start. Hoping you would begin to rely on me as a parent, knowing that I would always be there for you."
Harry was happy he had asked that question because the answer made him feel so good.
"Thanks Professor, for thinking of me and stuff."
Severus squeezed Harry's shoulder and rubbed Harry's ear a little. He never thought he could feel this way about anyone. It was scary to know that another person could unwillingly have so much control over his life.
"How is that arm of yours feeling?" Severus could see the purple swollen skin above the dressing applied to Harry's arm.
"Not so good sir. I feel like I fell twenty feet out of the air," Harry joked but then after noticing his Father's frown he wished he hadn't have brought that particular offense up.
Severus shook his head at Harry's attempted joke, "Well, it's a good thing you have a potion master for a father then isn't it? As much as I hate to have to disturb you, I will need to get up and get a few items." Severus helped Harry sit up and placed a pillow behind his son's back.
A few minutes after Severus went down to the lab Harry heard the floo crackling and watched Dumbledore rush out of the fire.
"Where is Severus!"
Before Harry could answer Severus walked out the laboratory door and looked at the Headmaster's face. He raised a hand to the Headmaster to keep him from speaking.
Severus handed Harry two vials and watched him drink them down.
He turned towards the Headmaster, "Let us converse in the laboratory."
"No! Stay up here, I want to know what's going on too," Harry said as he tried to sit up further.
"Mr. Potter, you will stay right were you are at and rest," Severus glared at his son until Harry put his feet back on the sofa.
Dumbledore and Severus went into the lab and the Potion Master cast a silencing spell on the door.
"What has happened? Has Vespa contacted you?" Severus asked as he turned towards the Headmaster.
"No, no word from Vespa yet. But, the ministry floo called and would like you and I to show up for questioning within the hour. They will be sending out a few Aurors to escort us to the ministry. All they know at this point is that the girl disappeared from her school. Stanton was the one who insisted that they question you and I. But they have no clues in this case."
"Fine, when will we go?"
"We are to meet the ministry Aurors at the main gate in an hour. Are you going to tell Harry?"
"No, I do not want him to worry. I'm returning him to the infirmary. He is reluctant to go back there for some reason that is still not clear to me. I wish to apparate him soon though."
"Of course Severus do whatever is necessary. I will lower the wards until you apparate Harry into the infirmary."
"Albus, I need your promise that if anything happens to me, you will find Vespa and get the antidote then kill her. Harry isn't safe with her roaming free in this world." Severus hoped he would be the one to do it though.
"Severus you have my word." After a moments hesitation he added, "The Aurors that have been assigned to the kidnapping were hand picked by Stanton and are a vicious lot of wizards. Hold strong my son."
Severus had been to the Ministry jails before and knew what dreadful ways they had to try and get him to talk. He had prepared himself with the antidote to Veritaserum for the past week. He could probably take more torture than any wizard alive but now that he had Harry in his life he had so much more to fight for. Severus hoped he would only be gone for a day or two at most, as he knew Harry would need him.
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After Dumbledore was gone, Severus went back into the living room. He watched his son stand up on shaky legs and turn to face him.
"Harry I need to speak to you. I must go check on Charlet and would like you to stay in the infirmary until I return," Severus watched the boy's face cloud with panic.
"Can I come with you? Please?"
Severus cleared his throat and tried to keep his voice steady, "I will be returning shortly Harry. A day or two at most."
"I know but I have to go with you," Harry tried not to let his panic show but it was hard. "Please Severus?"
"Why are you acting so distressed over the infirmary?" Severus moved closer to his son, studying his face. He watched Harry avert his eyes and knew right away the boy was trying to hide something. "Harry, is there something you are not telling me?"
"Um, it's just that you know I can't sleep and I would just feel better if you let me come," Harry begged. "I'm not going back to the infirmary and you can't make me!"
"Harry, I can make you but I would prefer you went willingly." What was wrong with the blasted boy? Severus softened his voice, "You need to recover with proper care."
Harry felt himself losing control over his emotions and his eyes betrayed him with tears, "Please, I don't want to stay here alone. Please don't leave me!" He wiped his tears with the back of his hand and felt his world crumbling apart. This was it, the nightmare had come true. Should he tell his father about the dream, would it even make a difference? Probably not, hadn't his last vision about Ginny turned out to be nothing?
Severus felt his heart constrict over hearing his son begging him with such unabashed emotion. It suddenly occurred to Severus that the head trauma and possibly the poison must be contributing to Harry's emotional state. The sooner he got Harry settled the better it would be for the exhausted boy. Now he knew he had no other choice but to apparate Harry into the infirmary. With the way Harry was acting he certainly would not go willingly.
He cleared his throat once again, "Son, I have to do what is best for you."
"You mean leaving me is best for me! I need to go with you, that's what's best for me!" Harry felt so weak now and he knew something bad would happen if Severus left him. "Please Dad don't leave me. I'll do whatever you say but please don't leave." Harry didn't even try to wipe the tears from his face anymore. He could care less if his father saw him cry.
"Come here Harry," Severus said and opened his arms to his son.
Harry moved towards his father and leaned his throbbing head against his Dad's chest as his father wrapped his arms around him. Harry wasn't ready for what happened next. He heard a sound like a Muggle vacuum and felt his body being squeezed. He closed his eyes knowing that his father had tricked him and they had apparated into the infirmary. When he opened his eyes again he saw the infirmary was empty except for him and his father. After apparating like that he didn't have any energy left and just let his father lay him down on the bed.
"You tricked me," Harry whispered as he looked up at his father with large tears rolling down his face and feeling completely betrayed. He tried to push himself up but couldn't. He knew it was time to tell Severus about the dream and was just about to confide in his father when Severus pulled his wand out.
Severus didn't want to do this to his son but he had no other choice. He pulled his wand out and cast a sleeping spell on the boy. Harry couldn't fight it off and his head landed back on the soft pillow.
Severus covered the sleeping boy and squeezed his shoulder. He hated himself for tricking his son and would never forget the look of betrayal Harry had in his eyes. He walked over to the floo and went to Dumbledore's office just wanting this nightmare for his son to end.
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Professor Dumbledore was up in his office when Severus appeared out of the floo.
"How is Harry?" The Headmaster asked with concern.
"The boy is quite emotional, most likely due to the head trauma but he is sleeping peacefully now. I will be anxious to get back to him though."
Dumbledore smiled and said, "He is in good hands and will survive one night without you. Just keep your mind on the task at hand."
Severus nodded and then asked, "Have the newspapers reported Charlet's disappearance?"
"No, not yet. I suppose Fudge is going to try and keep it from getting out to the public as long as possible. It wouldn't due to have children snatched from schools with Voldemort's return so public now. Especially after the scare we had with Harry. I expect Madame Maxime is none too anxious to let it become public either."
Severus nodded his head, grateful to not have to deal with reporters.
Dumbledore called Minerva to his office and told her that Severus and he would need to leave for a day or two. He also told her that she would not be able to reach them by floo nor owl during their time away.
Severus spoke up and asked if she would keep a close eye on Harry. Minerva smiled over his nervousness and assured the Potion Master that Harry would be fine.
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Harry awoke to Madame Pomfrey lifting his head. His eyes were so heavy that he wasn't sure if he was still dreaming. He tried to ask a question but he heard his words slur together incoherently. Madame Pomfrey smiled at him and said something that sounded like another language. He tried again to ask for Severus but the medi-witch just smiled condescendingly and tilted his head back. She poured a foul tasting potion into his mouth and he tried to spit it out. He was so weak over the sleeping spell and potions that all he managed to do was get a little of it to dribble down his chin.
Madame Pomfrey saw how Harry was stubbornly trying to fight the potions and decided to give him an extra dose. She was still upset with the boy over leaving the infirmary without permission. She agreed with Minerva's earlier statement about the boy becoming spoiled and vowed not to let that happen whilst he was under her care. She poured another vial of potion through the boy's clenched teeth and watched as he tried to spit it out.
"Shame on you Harry Potter! You might be able to manipulate Severus but you cannot manipulate me. Those potions should teach you a lesson. You won't be able to move for quite a while now and give that arm a chance to heal!" With that done she turned on her heel and headed down to breakfast, knowing that her ward would not be going anywhere soon.
Harry's mind was spinning but his body wasn't responding, he couldn't move. He could feel himself begin to panic.
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Minerva had been going over some simple forms in her office when Filch ran in, out of breath.
"Is Dumbledore gone already?" asked the groundskeeper in a huff.
"Yes, Mr. Filch. What is the problem?" Minerva asked.
"Oh there's no problem. We have a visitor and she requested to see Harry Potter. She says she's his aunt."
Minerva was taken aback. It couldn't possibly be Petunia Dursley, for she was a Muggle and had no way of getting here without an escort.
"Did you check her credentials? Is she truly Mr. Potter's aunt?"
"Course I did! She is who she claims to be!" Filch was angry over being questioned about letting people into the castle who should not be there.
"Well bring her in Mr. Filch. I would like to meet her first."
Before Filch left the office, Minerva thought to ask, "Did she say what her name is?"
Filch nodded his head and said, "Yes, she said her name is Vespa Snape. She's the boy's adopted aunt."
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