Sorry this chapter is a bit short
Chapter 3.
Severus had chosen to keep Potter in his own house, if one could call it a house. The morbid building of Spinner's End was incessantly dusty from Severus being in Hogwarts all year long, and not coming back, due to some bad memories of the place. Severus knew that the money he made from teaching potions would likely give him the ability to move to a new home, but even with the less than savory memories of his childhood, the house was perfectly serviceable, and Severus did not have need of many luxuries. He cast a few scorgify's and cleaning charms as he went along to the dining room. Unfortunately in order to heal Potter, he would have to place him on a harder surface than a bed. Severus laid Potter out on the kitchen table. He then summoned essence of dittany, one, no two tins of bruise balm, and a few other assorted healing potions from the room downstairs that he had converted into a potions laboratory. Severus magically banished Potter's shirt to see the damage. The boy had been beaten to within an inch of his life. Angry, red, and bleeding crisscrosses of welt's marred the boy's back. Then there were the bruises. He could tell the boy had at least 3 broken ribs, if not more, and large purple bruises marred his skin. There was not a centimeter that wasn't covered by them. Severus took a moment to compose himself. This was no time to get overly emotional. Potter needed help, so he would fix it. Severus worked for hours. Apply murtlap essence, apply essence of dittany, watch the skin ripple back over the injury, apply bruise balm, apply other potions as needed. Repeat. When the boy looked mostly like a boy again, Severus finally took the boy to the small sofa in the living room, and spelled a few pain draughts into him, and he himself headed up a floor to his bedroom. Severus was so tired, he fell asleep in his clothes.
…..
Screaming. Severus awoke to screams and whimpers. Who was screaming in his house? He thought for a moment. Potter! The boy must be having a nightmare. Severus got up and walked swiftly (He did not run. Ever.) down the stairs. Potter was thrashing on the couch and muttering words he couldn't quite hear well enough to understand. Severus rushed over to the boy.
"Potter! Wake up" Severus figured that would do it, but Potter just whimpered and continued to thrash. Severus figured that grabbing the boy in this state most likely was not the most cunning of moves, but the boy was going to undo all of the hours of healing his injuries. The boy curled up, continuing that infernal whimpering that pulled at Severus's shriveled heart.
"I didn't do it Uncle Vernon!" He squeaked. Ah. that made sense. Severus tried using Potter's first name.
"Harry! Wake up." Generally Severus was against using first names, as it might ruin his sparkling reputation of being menacing, but this method proved to be effective. The boy's eyes snapped open.
…..