Spring semester had just started two weeks ago and Severus was miserable. Ever since last Tuesday he had felt horrible, his throat was hurting, and he was hot despite it still being a bit cool outside. Now rationally he should tell one of his parents or just go to the hospital wing but ….he didn't want to. Severus hated the hospital wing the only time he went up there was when he was delivering potions for Professor Slughorn.
Thankfully there was a muggle medicine he was able to get near Hogsmeade which he had pit in his trunk. Thankfully it had helped him to sleep but his symptoms persisted. Severus had managed to manage his system for another week until professor Slughorn asked him to stay after class on Thursday.
"Yes, professor did I do something wrong ?"
"Oh no no no my boy but I am concerned for you. some of your other professors have said you've seemed a bit off. We wanted to go to your parents but you are almost of age and we know you're a responsible young man so are you doing okay ?" Severus thought about telling the truth but he couldn't bring himself to do it . "no professor I'm fine honest I've just had a harder time getting back into the swing of things since break ended. " The professor looked at him questioningly "alright then you're free to go then I suppose ." now looking back on it Severus wishes he would have gone to the hospital wing because that night at dinner which he had honestly wanted to skip he sat there not having eaten when a small note appeared in front of him
'Why are you not eating Severus?' He ignored it when another one appeared, not even bothering to look at it. He told his friends he would see them later and left the great hall feeling the eyes of his parents on him. After leaving the great hall Severus began to head to his dorm but found himself disoriented and had ended up lost ….wait a minute he had been raised in this castle since he was 12 years old how could he be lost feeling exhausted he slid down the cool floor and sent a distress spell to his parents before passing out a horrid pain still hurting his insides.
Minerva had watched worriedly as her youngest son walked out from the great hall she had made to go after him when a hand stopped her "Albus what are you doing ?"
"Minerva, our boys are almost of age. If something is wrong they need to know they can come to us. We have told them so many times over and if something bad is going on with Severus I'm sure it will come out eventually ."
"You're right I just miss when they were little and we could cuddle and they needed us."
"Oh my dear they still need us they might not always need us but we need to let them become independent of us and come to us if they are in need ." right as he said that the distress spell from Severus arrived hovering and buzzing rapidly not knowing what was going on Albus and Minerva got up and began to follow the distress signal following it to a marked off hallway that was being repaired finding their son lying on the floor unconscious. they immediately rushed him to the hospital wing where poppy began to treat him.
Severus groaned as he shifted his body which ached before opening his eyes slowly realizing he wasn't in his dorm bed. "You're awake,'' someone whispered from his side. He looked over to see his mom sitting there and she looked like a wreck . "mom what's going on?"
"I don't know sweetie you apparently fainted on the way back to your dorm after dinner last night, I'm so thankful you were able to send the distress spell before you passed out otherwise it would have probably been long before we found you ."
"Am I okay?" Severus asked unsure as his mom looked down at him, moving some of his hair out of his eyes.
"We're still waiting to hear what madam Pomfrey has to say but I'm sure you are going to be just fine baby ."
"Where's dad?"
"Someones got a lot of questions this morning, your dad was here all night with me and you but the minister called him away but he promised to be back as soon as possible and no one else knows what's going on but I imagine when there is a sub in my class your brother will want answers ." she laughed and then sighed
"You know you don't have to stay with me, you're probably busy too."
"Severus I've said to this already young man, I'm not leaving you ."
"Why?"
"Why because I'm your mother, why are you asking this Severus ?"
"I don't know I mean next year I'll be of age so you won't have to be my mum anymore so I figured I needed to start doing things for myself but so far I'm mucking it all up ."
"Severus is why you didn't come to your father or me...because you think once you come of age were gonna abandon you ." tears had gathered in Severus's eyes a bit as he slowly nodded. Minerva felt her heart shatter as she hugged her son. "No honey no you are ours your father and I adopted you because we love you and your our son and you always will be way after your grown oh honey I-"
"Minerva can we talk to you " she looked towards the door noticing professor sprout standing there "of course " she then turned to her son kissing his forehead "I'll be back after a bit you stay here and listen to Pomfrey alright we will talk later okay "
"Yes ma'am " she ran her hand through Severus' hair once more smiling down at him before leaving the office. Severus watched as his mother left deciding to try and rest a bit before he was bothered again but it wasn't long before he heard the sounds of whispered laughs and shushing noises ``Try anything and I'll hex you all.'' Severus said, smirking as he opened his eyes to see his brother and his friends standing around him . "how did you know ?" James asked
"Because you all couldn't be quiet if your lives depended on it ."
"Your so rude " Remus whined as he sat down on the bed with his brother "ugh you're insufferable."
"So why are you in here Severus no one is saying what happened ?"
"I'm just a bit ill now get off my cot, " he said as he lightly kicked his laughing brother off his bed.
"Now what is all this I could hear laughing from down the hall ." all the boys looked seeing the headmaster standing there "you know what I just remembered we have somewhere to go. come on Sirius lets go ." dumbledore watched as the two boys left leaving his sons in the room with him. "Hey, dad I was just wanting to visit and ask Sev how he ended up here ."
"Ahh well, I'm sure your brother appreciates that I need to have a word with him alone if you don't mind ?"
"Oh yeah see you later Severus, bye dad" the two wizards watched as Remus left before Dumbledore came and sat on the edge of his son's bed. "I just got done speaking with your mother, she told me you think we're going to abandon you when you come of age ?"
"I don't know I mean once I'm 17 you and mom don't have to be burdened with me. "
"Severus you were never a burden son your mother and I love you that's why we adopted you, and I thought we had taught you and your brother that. I also believe we taught you to come to us if you're not feeling well and I have it on good authority that you lied to your head of house. Is that true ?"
"Yes sir ... I'm sorry. "
"Well thank you for the apology but once you're released from here you will be grounded to our quarters for the next two weeks long enough to get you back to health and learn your mother and I will always be here for you ."
"That's fair " with a groan Severus laid back on the cot. dumbledore smiled at his son feeling his forehead which was still a bit warm. He gently tucked him in "you try and rest now and your mother and I will return later alright we love you, Severus ."
"Love you too " he muttered before falling to sleep.
