Chapter 2
A pulling sensation followed by seemingly endless spinning put Harry further into shock. The last time he had traveled via portkey was at the end of the Tri-Wizard Tournament, and he was subsequently bombarded by memories of that horrific night as the pair landed directly outside the gates of Hogwarts. Harry fell to his knees and tried to catch his breath as his entire body shook.
A gentle hand placed on trembling shoulders went unnoticed as the frail boy struggled to take in the oxygen he so desperately needed. Finally, Harry let his head hang down while he took a few ragged breaths. The potions master crouched beside the young Gryffindor and kept his hand in the exact spot he had placed it moments before. His voice was low as he spoke in his student's ear.
"I am sorry Harry, the portkey was the most efficient method of travel. The Knight Bus would have been too much of a hassle, and would have taken much longer." The man explained softly.
Severus watched as Harry took a few more shuddering breaths, before all of his mental and physical energy ran out completely, leaving the boy to sag on the ground in a heap. He picked the much too light boy up off of the ground and carried him through the gates and up to the castle. It was alarming how easy it was to carry the raven haired teen, and he could practically feel the boy's spine and ribs through his thin, oversized shirt. A red haze once again bordered Severus's vision like a picture frame, but he continuously reminded himself that Harry needed him to remain calm.
The man chanced a look at his student as he trudged up to the school. The adolescent in his arms had a pained expression even while unconscious. Tear tracks stained his face and Snape took note of a few old and recent bruises that marred Harry's neck and cheek. The lightning scar still stood out prominently on the teen's face, a reminder of the first tragedy that befell the poor child. Severus remembered clearly the moment he had received the news that the Potters had perished at the hands of Voldemort, leaving little Harry amongst the devastating carnage. He remembered looking up at the sky and cursing every god and deity in existence, wanting nothing more than to join Lily in the afterlife. It was his unrequited love for Lily Potter, and his mutual hatred of James Potter that had fueled his initial resentment towards the Potter spawn.
He recalled spotting Harry for the first time in the great hall, and immediately loathing the fact that he looked like a carbon copy of the man that once tormented him, except for the eyes. The eyes that were so brilliantly emerald; the eyes that held the life and essence of a woman that was ripped away from both the child that possessed them, and the man that stared into the inquisitive orbs. Every time he watched the boy walk through his classroom door, or saw him walking through the halls while seemingly attached at the hip to Miss Granger and the youngest male Weasley, the Potions Master was plagued by strong feelings of enmity and disinclination for the boy. Severus Snape had always assumed that Harry had been doted on by his relatives; that the boy was living a comfortable life, being brought up to be a pompous brat much like his father. However, Severus realized that he had misjudged the teen solely based on his lineage.
Walking through the front doors of the castle, Severus wasted no time in making his way to the hospital wing. He knew that Poppy would be present, organizing her shelves full of potions and salves that he had brewed specifically for her use. Despite the time, Severus did not bother knocking as he entered the room with Harry laying limp in his arms. The Hogwarts matron turned around to the sight of Severus depositing the teen onto the closest bed.
"Severus! What in Merlin's name are you doing here at this hour? And with Mr. Potter?" The nurse questioned while retrieving some potions from a nearby shelf.
"Harry," the professor started, but found his voice suddenly halt in his throat, blocked by the emotion that threatened to come out. "Harry attempted suicide just a short while ago. His relatives have been abusing him for who knows how long, and he fell unconscious after we used my emergency portkey to Hogwarts." He informed.
Madame Pomfrey listened with rapt attention, her eyes widening as Severus explained what had happened. Her eyes drifted to Harry, who lay on the bed, as pale as the sheets he had been placed upon. The woman waved her wand, casting a range of diagnostic spells, and waiting for the wand to produce the results. A few moments later, a sheet of parchment, about as long as a child's training broom, materialized from her wand. Madame Pomfrey scanned the list of past and present injuries and other ailments, her blood boiling as the reality set in of just how much pain the young Gryffindor had endured over the years.
The MediWitch handed the parchment over to Severus with a sad expression, and the man began to read.
Patient: Harry James Potter
Age: 14
Place of Residence: Number 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey
Ailments
Magic levels severely drained
Malnourishment
Low Blood Sugar
Cuts and Lacerations - Forearms/Upper Thighs (Self Inflicted)
Scratches - Forearms/Upper Thighs (Self Inflicted)
Substantial Bruising - Head/Neck/Back/Legs/Arms/Abdomen
Broken Ribs - 2 Right Side/1 Left Side
Improperly Healed Fractures - Right Arm/Left Ankle
2nd Degree Burns - Both Palms
Concussion (Mild)
Previous Concussion (Moderate)
Stomach Ulcer (Stress Induced)
Conclusion: Patient requires medical attention to treat physical trauma. There is no evidence of sexual abuse. Due to self-inflicted wounds, it is suggested that the patient undergo mind healer sessions. Patient must remain in bed for at least 72 hours, and may only consume soft foods. Supervision is recommended for at least 24 hours.
To say that Madame Pomfrey and Professor Snape were livid would be a vast understatement. Both adults were nearly seething with rage at the results of the diagnostic spell. Two pairs of eyes fell on the boy who had gone through so much while almost everyone in the Wizarding World turned their backs. Madame Pomfrey gently tipped the teen's head back and slowly poured the first of many potions into his mouth, making sure he safely swallowed the liquid. A few moments passed before any visible changes occurred. Harry's cheeks regained a bit of color, so they were no longer as white as his beloved owl, and his previously irregular breathing evened out into a normal pattern. The Hogwarts matron administered another potion, this time a calming drought, which caused the tension lines on the boy's face to disappear. The final potion was a dreamless sleep, to prevent the nightmares that were surely to come after tonight's events.
Severus repositioned the blanket so that the Gryffindor was fully covered, before pulling up a chair, taking vigil next to the poor boy who had nearly left this world mere hours ago. The moonlight that shone through the windows of the hospital wing cast a glow upon Harry's face. The potions professor reached over and gently took Harry's glasses off before placing them on the bedside table. Settling back into his chair, Severus noticed that without the glasses, Harry looked slightly less like his blasted father, and bared a bit more of a resemblance to his mother, Lily. To Severus, she was the one who got away. Their relationship had been damaged beyond repair during their fifth year of Hogwarts, and the ginger had fallen for James.
James Potter and his rag-tag group of friends had made it their mission to make Severus's life a living hell throughout his time at Hogwarts. If he were to be honest with himself, he was ashamed to admit that he was to Harry what James was to him all those years ago: a bully. He flashed back to all the times he had taken his anger out on the poor Gryffindor, who had not done anything wrong, and when he did step out of line, Severus had punished him more severely than was necessary. He recalled all of the times when Harry had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time, yet the boy was blamed for whatever mess he had found himself in. Severus had found that it was easier to denounce Potter than to actually hear him out and learn his side of the story.
He watched the boy intently, noting how even in sleep the young teen's breathing pattern was slightly sporadic. How could he have been so blind? Severus recalled his vow that he had made to protect Potter, and felt a wave of guilt wash over him. Lily would be so disappointed. The five words ran through his mind like a broken record. He had failed the ginger too many times. From losing her friendship in his fifth year due to an insult that he immediately regretted, to joining the Death Eaters, Severus was certain that his ex-best friend would be absolutely dismayed at the sight of him. Truth be told, he himself was disgusted at the man he saw in the mirror.
The Hospital Wing was silent, save for the soft, rhythmic breathing of the young Gryffindor. Severus could feel his heart threatening to beat right out of his chest as he kept a watchful eye on the boy, being prepared to act if anything were to happen. He stayed like this for hours, not daring to leave even as the sun began to shine through the tall windows, casting a golden glow upon the sleeping boy. Madame Pomfrey quietly entered the room and made her way over to her patient. Speaking in a soft voice so as not to wake Harry, Madame Pomfrey looked towards Severus.
"Good Morning, Severus. Any change overnight?" She asked tentatively.
Turning to greet the Hogwarts Matron, Severus sighed.
"Good morning to you too, Poppy. No, he remained asleep, though I have a feeling that the dreamless sleep didn't do much to keep the nightmares at bay." Replied the potion's master in a quiet tone that was rarely heard from the man. He saw that some of the worry lines had returned to Harry's face; a sign that the potions were beginning to wear off. His eyes, while closed, were slightly tensed, which was coupled with a furrowed brow. The poor boy had started to toss and turn, as consciousness pulled at him.
Severus looked down at his student, watching as pupils rolled behind closed lids. Seconds later, the familiar green irises slowly became visible. The professor couldn't help but lean forward in his chair as Harry slowly blinked, not quite aware of his surroundings.
"Harry?"