A/N- So yes, I hit the wrong key and Mondheiling's name took on a hold new meaning. It is Mondheiling, which means Healing Moon, and not Mundheiling, which is Healing Mouth. Although both are good, there is a reason for it to be Mondheiling. Thanks to Hummelbeine for pointing that error out! Shinigami- so without spoiling what happens on that front, let's just say that once school starts back, Alexis finds quite a few abused or neglected children. Neville may or may not be one of these.
Now, I still do not own. Nor is this canon complaint. It is AU with a bit of swearing, some abuse, and latent eating disorders. One of the new staff members enters and Harry has a conversation with Severus and Remus! Enjoy and let me know what you think! Also, x's are scene breaks, italics are usually thoughts!
~Case
"You will wear a path in your floor, Alexis. Think of how the poor house elves will feel." The calm voice belonged to a tall, lanky man who lounged in on of the plume armchairs with ease. His brown hair was short, his brown eyes sharp, catching every movement.
"Shut up Tim." Alexis growled, but dropped easily in the chair across from the older man's. Tim was a good friend of hers, he had guided her when she attempted her mastery. He was also one of the most renown mind-healers in Europe. "Have you decided whether to accept my offer yet?" She added causally, turning gray eyes to meet his.
"I have. I need a few...clarifications first and I have a few requests, if that is alright." Tim replied eventually, watching the younger woman carefully. She had once been his student, now she wanted to employ him. How the world changed in just a few short years.
Alexis merely raised an eyebrow at him, drumming her fingers on the arm of the chair. The house elf that popped in was not as startling as it had been her first night in these quarters.
"Headmistress Professor Miss need something?" The little elf inquired with a bow.
"A tea-tray would be nice, Minzi." She smiled at the small being, her fingers still drumming away. The house elf popped away and reappeared with a tray of tea and biscuits, before sending the young Headmistress a look.
"Headmistress needs to be kind to the furnishings!" The elf scolded, wagging a finger at the young woman.
Alexis had the decency to blush and stopped her tapping. "I apologize, Minzi. I was...distracted." The elf merely nodded and popped away. "Wonderful little blithers." She muttered, frowning at the chuckling older man. "Well? Your questions, Tim? I do have a school to run." Alexis snapped, snatching a cup of tea.
"Calm, Alexis." Tim raised an eyebrow of his own, picking up the other teacup. "You requested my presence as a mind-healer for the school, or even as head of a team of mind-healers. I will not be teaching, yes? My sole focus will be on helping and supporting the staff and students?" His quiet question echoed in the silent, large chambers.
She hesitated for a moment, mulling over the list of things still to do. She had already hired a Professor for the Healing course, as well as his apprentice. Hogwarts already had a mediwitch, but the students vastly outnumbered all of the current staff. If each Head of House had to be healer, parent, friend, and teacher to only their students, it was still odds of 100 to 1. Even adding in the secondary Heads did not lessen the amount of students in each house, nor the fact that there was an influx of incoming students this year. A team of Mind Healers, especially after this last battle, would help greatly. Even the staff could use more support. With that final thought, she nodded. "You are correct. Neither you nor your team will be required to teach, although your team is more than welcome to help Poppy explain health and puberty as well as giving a talk or two to each house on the reason we have Mind Healers. To heal minds, of course, but also as an extra sounding board for the student who just doesn't want to talk to their Heads of House."
Tim smiled at the young woman, this role was good for her. And good for Hogwarts. This was one woman who he knew would risk her own life before letting anything happen to her students. "Good. Then I can accept your terms and my team will be here no later than August 20th. However, I have two requests. The first you have suggested. I would prefer to be the primary Healer to Mr. Potter and the more severe cases that are found. I find it hard to believe that in a school of over 400, only seven Slytherins and three Ravenclaws harm themselves. I find it harder to believe that there are only two known Anorexics and both of them happen to be on staff." He remarked quietly, watching her pale slightly.
"It was not something that I first considered, but you are right, of course. It is odd. That, or we are extremely lucky. But in a school of teenage hormones and preteen drama...I do not believe we could be that lucky. I accept that request. Your second?" Alexis met his eyes for a moment before turning her gaze toward the window. She had a guess to what the second request was and she was also quite sure that she would not be able to deny him.
"As you said, the staff also need support. I would like to be the Healer in charge of the staff, body and mind, although I will work with Poppy. That means that I would prefer to be your healer, and Severus', again. Of course, if you have valid objections to it, I am willing to find you a good Healer. But my Healers Oath will not allow me to watch two of my new colleagues suffer so, just as your Healers Oath does not let you ignore hurting children." Tim watched her closely, noting how quickly the young woman stilled. If he was to help Hogwarts, he first had to help Hogwarts' Headmistress.
"You will have to ask Severus, but I accept that request also." She replied finally, having found her voice again. Tim was not easily fooled, quite unlike Poppy. Tim also knew her well, he had trained her to be a touch Healer and had taken her as a patient after Albus had...found her. But she needed him here, at Hogwarts. Because as much as she would deny it, she needed the help. Hogwarts needed healing and she planned to hire the best people to heal Her.
-x-
A few hours later found her, once more, in the infirmary. She was in the same armchair as the night before, sorting through a different stack of files. Academic records, this time. Remus was sitting nearest to her, his reading the newest Defense textbooks. He had yet to find one that he liked for his fourth years. Severus, however, was pacing the length of the infirmary, stopping from time to time to stare out over the grounds. Alexis finally glared at him, looking up from her perusal of one rather dismal folder. "Will you please sit? It is quite distracting." She growled, arching a brow at him. Severus huffed but dropped gracefully back into his own seat, returning to his Potions periodical. She glared at him for a moment longer before turning back to the folder in front of her. She would swear that this child, a fourth year!, was failing nearly every class. There were even copies of some of his assignments and all of these were illegible. He was either dumber than rocks or perhaps he had difficulty learning. She made a mark on the file and set it in one pile. She had quite a few piles on the table. Some for behaviour problems, others for poor grades, and some for the Newt and Owl students. The rising fifth and seventh years all had their own pile, this was their major exam years after all. Her rising second through fourth years, the ones that did not need further investigation, went into another pile, as did the rising sixth years. She picked up yet another fourth year folder, flipped it open and groaned.
"Problems, Alexis?" Severus purred, lowering his magazine slightly.
"How does a child receive zeros on every assignment in five classes? Not even on the exams, but the assignments. Do they just decide that it is not worthwhile to turn in their homework?" She grumbled, shooting him a look.
Severus raised an eyebrow at that statement. He knew that he had given several students zeros on assignments repeatedly, but always well deserved zeros. And he was one of the hardest teachers in the school. "What is this student passing?"
"Divination. Herbology, and History of Magic, although I would discount the last one. Hopefully having a living teacher will not scare the students too badly in that class."She replied, scanning through the documents quickly. "The assignments she turned in for Herbology and Divination seem well written, so it is not, perhaps, a learning difficulty. I'm sure you will remember this student, Severus. You, along with Filius and Vector, commented that she turned in blank pieces of parchment more often than not." She scanned the sheets of notes, before setting the folder aside to be addressed later.
"Ms. Lansiken, then. A fourth year Gryffindor. McGonagall must not have had rules for homework as Filius and I do." Severus scowled, glaring at the wall for a moment before glancing back toward the sleeping child. "You mentioned new plans yesterday. Care to elaborate?" He added quietly, turning back to face her. Remus had also set down his work, turning his golden gaze on the younger healer.
"The way that Ravenclaw and Slytherin are run currently, works well. Both Houses need a secondary Head of House, however. Charity has already begged to help with Hufflepuff and Pomona agreed. Filius has asked to take one of the newest Professors, for some reason he wants to engage in a 'literary debate' with her. Which leaves Slytherin with several choices." She paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. A glance at the still sleeping child and she continued. "Both Gryffindor and Hufflepuff had little in place in the way of rules. Hufflepuff follows the creed of harm none and although Hufflepuffs are the least likely to be out after curfew, they are still without a clear system of rewards and consequences. Gryffindor has no rules, at all. The students only have to follow the school rules, and they rarely do that. Gryffindors are used to getting away with everything, but all houses need to be treated equally. Honestly, I'd rather just abolish the house system completely, but as that would add a bit of mayhem and confusion, it needs to be altered a bit. I am, however, abolishing the stupid House Cup."
"What?"
"That gives the students nothing to strive for, no reason to behave. You will cause madness, Alexis." Severus snarled, raising an eyebrow at the woman. Clearly she had a plan. But he was not sure if years of ingrained training could be changed overnight.
"A 'friendly' house competition is not necessary. The students need to learn to work together, and not try to sabotage each other because of house affiliation. All students need to be treated equally, but with the house points system that does not happen. Other Heads are more likely to take points for lesser infractions from houses that are not theirs, rather that punish their house by taking points. It is almost more of a competition of who has the better behaved house. If that were the case, Hufflepuff would always win. They might have few rules, but those children are too afraid of their own shadows to so much as risk the wrath of anyone. They neither loses points nor do they often gain them. Gryffindors break every school rule and yet they rarely lose the House Cup. It is an unfair system and it needs to go. There will be incentive to behave, however. How do you feel about Field Trips, Remus?" She smirked at both of the staring men, shaking her head. Perhaps her system was different and perhaps it would not work, but she'd be damned, they were going to at least try it.
"Field trips?" Remus gawked at her for a moment before getting a hold of himself. She was talking about abolishing the entire points system! It was just unheard of. But she did have a point. One that was a bit...tough to hear. To think of how corrupt the points system really was, at least under Dumbledore. "I enjoy field trips. Why?" He replied finally.
"Good. Third year students and up have Hogsmeade privileges. First and Second years do not. Educational field trips rarely, if ever, happen. In class misbehaviour should result in detention or a warning. If you have students flinging hexes or throwing random ingredients into cauldrons, sending them to a corner should quickly quell that behaviour. At least for the younger ones. Good behaviour and good grades will result in a reward we broke the students up by year group, while still allowing them to live in separate houses, we can have a different points system. Instead of losing points, the year group will try as one to gain points. A certain amount of points will result in a reward, either a field trip, an outing, a movie and pizza night, a year level party...the list goes on. The students will not lose points but neither will these points be given easily. A year group that all has E's and O's will be able to go on an outing, whereas a year group with only A's and D's will not. Each grade, per a subject not an assignment, that is an A or above will result in a point. Too many poor grades will result in no points and a ban from such outings until the students grades improve. The House system will work much the same. With rewards for good behaviour and consequences for rule breaking. It is a much fairer system to all involved." Alexis grinned at their expressions, well Remus' anyway, for a moment before turning her eyes to the little boy. "Mr. Potter, good of you to join us." She added sternly, standing and moving over to the boy. "I trust that you will not repeat any of what you heard to your classmates."
Harry gulped, staring up into warm gray eyes. "I won't, Professor." He rasped, grimacing at the pain in his throat. He tried to sit up but the professor gently pushed him back against the bed, lifting up the back of the bed so that he was supported in sitting. He gasped suddenly, meeting the black orbs of his potions professor. He had not known that was who the...Headmistress had been speaking to! Snape and the sandy-hair man.
"Calm down, Mr. Potter. Professors Snape and Lupin will not harm you. They are actually here to speak with you. Now, if I may cast a quick diagnostic spell, I shall you three." Alexis stated briskly, watching the small boy with a frown. The green-eyed child merely nodded, still gaping at his Potions Professor. Alexis shook her head, casting the charm easily. She nodded at the results, glancing toward the two men, who had stood and were walking slowly toward the bed.
"You will catch flies, Mr. Potter." Severus intoned, biting back a smirk when the child's mouth snapped shut. He met Alexis eyes for a moment, raising an eyebrow.
"You still need much rest Mr. Potter and some more of this salve. I'm sure these two men will help you with it. I will just be in Madam Pomfery's office if needed." Alexis replied to Severus' silent question, directing the last bit at the child himself. At the boy's nod she flicked her wand, causing her files to follow her out of the room, into the office.
-x-
Remus summoned two chairs, watching the young teen. The child did not look twelve, he looked closer to seven or eight. "Hello Harry." He remarked softly, settling down into his chair. Severus sat beside him in silence and he knew the man would do his best for this boy. They both would.
"Professors." Harry replied politely, frowning at the two men. Why did they want to speak to him? He hadn't done anything, had he? Perhaps Professor Mondheilig, wasn't that her name? Perhaps she had told them...but they had found him. So they knew what a freak he was. Nonono. Please don't kick me out. Please. Nonononononono...
"Mr. Potter!" Severus snapped, grabbing Remus' wrist. The child would only fear them more if they touched him without his permission. Surely Remus remembered this! He had dealt with abused children before, but perhaps it was a need to do something that had caused his partner to reach out. "Calm down, you silly child. We will not harm you! We will not allow harm to come to you!" He snarled, but without menace. He needed the boy to listen to him. Startled, wide green eyes met his for a moment and the child stopped shaking so violent. He also started breathing again, thank Merlin.
Harry took a deep breath, turning his eyes to his Potions Professor. The man was calm, watching him like a hawk. But he oozed safety and calm. Wait, did he say..."Professor?" He whispered.
"We will not allow anyone to harm you, Harry. Remus and I will protect you. You will not be returning to your relatives, so get that foolish thought out of that little head of yours." Severus scowled at the boy, absentmindedly patting Remus' hand. The boy was gawking at them again, gaping like a fish out of water!
"Harry?" Remus questioned softly, relaxing slightly beside Severus. That man could always calm him down, calm the wolf and bring him back to thinking, instead of acting on instinct. This pup did not know them yet, he would startle easily still.
Harry stared at Snape for a moment before glancing at the other man. His eyes, however, caught sight of their hands and his mouth dropped open. His Potions Professor was being gentle and reassuring to the strange man! He couldn't help it, he knew he was gaping but this was just...unexpected. He knew Professor Snape was human and had emotion, but to see him being so calm and loving it was just...shocking.
"Kindly stop staring, Mr. Potter." Severus ordered finally, following the boy;s gaze to his and Remus' now locked hands. "Remus and I have decided to take over your guardianship, if you would be alright with that Mr. Potter." He added. They had decided to let the boy call them by their given names and to explain some things to the child. For one, he needed to understand the seriousness of certain rules, so knowing that Remus was a werewolf would enforce that. And secondly, well in the muggle world, it was not quite acceptable to have two...male guardians just yet.
Harry gaped at them again, turning to stare at the other professor. Warm, golden eyes met his with a smile. "But why? Why would you want a freak like me?" He burst out, gazing frantically between the two men.
Well that was slightly unexpected. He had expected the boy to ask why them, but not why him. Oh how he wished he could go after those muggles! "Harry James! You are not a freak! You are a good boy who has been treated badly. We would love to have you as our child." Remus replied gently. The child stared at him for a moment and suddenly started sobbing.
Severus cursed silently, hesitating for a moment before lifting the child out of his bed and onto his lap. The boy fought him for a moment, but he merely wrapped his arms around Harry, rubbing the child's back. The green-eyed monster relaxed for a moment before clinging to him. Remus moved slightly, reaching over to rub the child's back and brush his hair away from his face. "Shh Harry. It is alright, child. Calm yourself. I know it is much to take it, but you are not a freak nor are you bad. You are a good boy. Such a good boy." Severus murmured into the child's ear, hoping the words would calm the child. It seemed to work.
Harry hiccupped, his sobs slowing. They wanted him. Him. No one had ever wanted him before. It was so...weird feeling. But his professors wanted him! As their child. It might be a trick but both men had seemed honest and Professor Snape was being nice. Once they see how big of a freak you are, they won't want you anymore. Harry scowled at his inner thoughts, resolving to be the best, well-behaved child ever. He soaked up the comfort for several more moments, before shifting on the professor's lap. He tried to move but Snape merely kept an arm around him, moving him so that he could see both of the older men. Harry ducked his head, staring at his lap. Crying like a baby! They probably wouldn't want him now. A gentle finger pulled his chin up and he was staring into dark orbs.
"No need to be embarrassed, Harry. We all cry sometimes." Severus remarked softly, conjuring a handkerchief and gently wiping the child's face. To his credit, Harry only flinched once.
"Yes Harry, we want you. If you will have us as your guardians." Remus added quietly, deciding not to mention that they were planning to adopt the child.
"Of course, Professors!" Harry grinned briefly before looking back down. To have a home, a real home, even temporarily would be a good change from the Dursley's. "I'll work hard and be good! You won't even know I'm there!"
Severus bit back a sigh, looking down at the mess of black hair. For a child to automatically accept them without question...that said much about Harry's past. Alexis was right, she often was in cases like this. Harry would probably need a mind healer and Tim would be best for the job. "You will not have to work for us Harry. We do not want a child that is invisible. We want a child who behaves and sometimes gets into mischief as children often do. We will spend most of the summer here at Hogwarts, but we might be able to visit our house for a week or two." He remarked dryly, arching an eyebrow at Remus.
Remus bit back a grimace but gave Severus a small nod. "There are, however, a few things you should know before you decide to accept us, Harry. Severus and I are partners. I am also...a werewolf." He stated quietly, watching shocked eyes meet his. He knew it, knew that the child would not be able to accept him. It never occurred to him that his wolf nature was not what surprised the boy.
"You're partners? Like partner partners?" Harry gasped. That explained the hand holding and the looks they sent each other. Uncle Vernon would have a fit to know he was going to live with...what did Uncle call them? Fairies? He was going to live with fairies! He giggled into his hands suddenly.
The child was told that he would be living with his potions master and a werewolf, and yet he starts giggling? Because they were partners? Severus chuckled, catching Remus' shocked expression. He knew that the werewolf bit would not be a problem.
Harry looked up in shock. The strong chest that he was leaning against was rumbling and the Professor was...laughing. He had never heard Professor Snape laugh! See? He told Ron that Snape was human! "Professor?"
"Severus." He replied, looking down at the child.
Harry gaped at him for a moment. "Sir?"
"When we are not in class, you may call me Severus. And you may call him Remus." Severus explained slowly, smirking at the gaping Gryffindor.
"You do not have a problem with me being a Werewolf, Harry?" Remus asked quietly, not yet daring to believe it.
"Of course not Prof- Remus. Why would I?" Harry cocked his head, staring at the Professor in confusion.
"In our world, Werewolves are looked down upon by many wizards, although the person is at no fault for being a werewolf. They did not ask to be bitten." Severus scorned, making his opinion on the topic quite clear. His lover met his eyes with a grateful look. "Werewolves are much like gays in the muggle world. They are treated much the same." He added in explanation at the confused expression of the boy.
"Gays, Professor... Severus? Is that what Uncle calls Faeries?" Harry asked, turning his head to look at the Professor again. It was much harder to call his professor by his given name than it was to call the other man. He did not know the other man well, but he had known Professor Snape for a long time!
"Although your disgusting Uncle leaves much to be desired, yes. In the muggle world we are referred to as that by some closed-minded fools. You cannot tell anyone that Remus is a werewolf, Harry. But it is perfectly fine to mention that we are your guardians." Severus sighed, wishing briefly that the child was a bit older. But he quelled that thought quickly. If Harry was older, he would be harder to reach. At least he was still a child, still willing to accept being treated like a child. "And now, Mr. Potter, let's get you back into bed so that we can take care of those bruises of yours." He intoned sternly.
Harry merely clutched tired to him, refusing to budge even when Severus stood up. He wrapped his arms and legs tightly around the man, grinning impishly.
"Are you a monkey, Mr. Potter?" Severus scowled, teasing the child. He did glare at Remus, of course that man would have a magical camera hidden on his person! He glared at the camera before glancing down at the cheeky boy. "Come now, Harry. I know your body aches." He added gently.
The child finally loosen his grip, allow Severus to maneuver him back onto the bed. He gasped when he was rolled onto his stomach and the hospital gown pushed aside but stilled as the cold, gentle hands started rubbing the warm salve into his skin. He squeaked when it was rubbed into his still sore body, relaxing when the soreness quickly faded. In short order he was rolled back over and tucked under the covers once more.
"Good boy." Severus murmured, brushing the unruly hair out of the boy's eyes. Perhaps it was time for a hair cut.
"If you are well enough, Harry, we will take you to get shopping tomorrow and then move you into our quarters." Remus added quietly, watching the small boy's eyes start to flutter close, even as the boy fought back a yawn.
"Back to sleep, brat. We will be here when you wake." Severus ordered quietly, smirking when the boy finally did fall asleep. He turned silently to his partner and opened his arms. Remus was in them within a second and he hugged the wolf tightly to himself. They could do this. They would do this. This child needed healing and he had already stolen both of their hearts.
-x-