Nothing Stays the Same

By jessebelle

Author's Note: Hey everybody. I finally made it to 100 reviews. You don't know how frustrating it was to have 99 for sooooo long. But, Yay!. Anyway, for those of you that are still with me on this, thank you. I know my updating hasn't been, the best, but I just developed a new schedule that will but this story forward. Hopefully, it will work out. Anyway, I just want to make it known that for those of you that are expecting everything to be fine and dandy, especially with Lily and James, it's not. I promise that the family will be back together again, but, there will be conflict in the story. I think I'm going to try to focus on the whole, meeting his parents, adjusting to them being back thing, oh yah, and the whole my uncle just abused me thing. So, I'm sorry if I'm neglecting some things, but if I am, they're probably minor in the story. Anyway, thanks everyone and I promise that if you stick around, it'll be worth it. I have plans for this story, and they're good plans. On word to the story!

jessebelle

8/8/05 Author's Note: Okay, that previous note was written well almost a year ago. I am sooo sorry, but well, I've been a bit busy, okay, a lot busy. I'm not promising that I'll be able to update this story again and again, but I'll try to focus on this one. I've been meaning to get to this one for a LONG time. However, I had the day and I re read it and I love it. I'm in shock over HBP, and I'm still nursing wounds from OotP, so I'm now requesting that anyone who wants an alternate to those sad and confusing stories can read this one. Oh, and I want no reviews on how it doesn't follow those storylines, This is AU. But, there are a few good things about them that I might add, the character of Tonks for example. What do you think my chances are of getting to play her in the next movie if I move to England, pick up the accent, and dye my hair pink? Think I'd have a chance? Anyway, I started writing this chapter a while ago, and I'm now finishing it, so enjoy, and I'll try my hardest to update, before 6 months if I can. Thanks to everyone who stuck by me. Oh, and I'll be promoting this story in my other, more popular ones cuz I really like it and the more reviews I get, the faster I tend to update cuz I get motivated. Happy reading!

Huggles and snuggles,

jessebelle

It was only when he was, ironically, at Magnolia Crescent that he realized he had no place to go. He thought about going to Miss. Fig- no, Bella's house, but he realized that the Dursleys could probably find him there. He knew it wasn't safe for him to try going to the Burrow because he'd end up putting the Weasleys in danger. He was also ashamed of what had happened. He, Harry Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived, the savior of the wizarding world had been taken down by a mere muggle, one who he'd lived with for the past 15 years. What would everyone think now? He also didn't want to be more of a burden to everyone. Then there was the fact that because of his fame, it would probably be broadcasted all over the Daily Prophet.

He was winding down now. The power he'd had before was slowly draining out of him, and the affect of the injuries he'd received was catching up with him. He moved to lean against the wall and a wave of pain washed over him. Looking down at his stomach, he grimaced. It was bleeding badly, really badly. Checking out his other injuries, he slowly lifted his hand to his face and it came into contact with the glass. Flinching, his other injuries were jarred, but pulling his hand away he could see that he'd cut his hand on the glass that was stuck on his face. Breathing hurt and he realized that he must've broken a few ribs. His head became heavier, his thoughts cloudier, and his motions slower. He needed to get help fast.

Going through his list of people to help him, he ruled out Hermione since he didn't know her telephone number or her address. He also didn't have anyway to contact her. He thought about Remus and Sirius, but remembered that they were on a 'mission' for Dumbledore, or, at least that's the last he'd heard of their whereabouts. As he thought of asking someone for help, the image of Ginny crossed his mind, but he dismissed it quickly. He groaned again as he took in a breath and all of his injuries moved. Merlin, he wished he was at Hogwarts; Madame Pomfrey could have fixed him up in a minute.

Wait a minute, Hogwarts! Just because school wasn't in session didn't mean there wasn't anyone there. He couldn't imagine any of the teachers on a vacation or leaving the castle when there was a war going on. Besides, Dumbledore had to be there, right? And the headmaster would help him.

His mind made up on his destination, he realized that while he knew where he was going, he didn't have any way of getting there. He couldn't fly since the muggles would see him. He didn't know how to apparate. He wasn't sure if Mis-Bella's fireplace was hooked up to the floo. And even if he could have done those options, they all would aggravate his injuries. Grateful that he was wearing a black cloak, it hid the blood after all, his face was also hidden from view. Knowing his only option, he slowly made his way to his trunk, his body protesting all the way.

It took him a moment, but he finally found his wand. With a loud groan, he pushed himself up to an upright position. Then he stuck his wand out and flagged down, what else, the Knight Bus. With a bang, the vivid purple, triple decker bus was before him. Unfortunately, the sudden appearance of the bus made him jump and his injuries screamed in protest.

The door opened and the familiar, spotted face of Stan Shunpike appeared. "Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. Just stick out your wand hand, step on board, and we can take you anywhere you want to go. My name is Stan Shunpike, and I will be your conductor this evening. This is our driver, Ernie Prang. So, where'd yah wanna go? "

Harry grimaced. "Hogwarts."

"All right, that'll be eleven sickles, but for fifteen you get 'ot chocolate and for fifteen you get an 'ot water bottle and a toofbrush in the color of your choice. Say, why's you wearin' that cloak for? You ain' some dark wizard or somefin'?"

Harry shook his head and shut his eyes from the intensity of the pain. "No, just cold. Uh, here." He shoved some of the wizarding money he'd had in his trunk into Stan's hand.

Being part of his job, Stan stepped off the bus and grabbed Harry's trunk. He put it on the pus after he climbed back in after Harry. Harry hobbled in and collapsed on the first bed, nearest the door. No one else was aboard the bus, and for that fact, Harry was grateful.

"All right Ern, to Hogwarts!"

"Hold on tight, we're in for a bumpy ride!"

The ride seemed to go on forever in Harry's opinion. With each bump or movement, Harry would be jostled and his injuries would hurt even more. He was slowly losing the will to stay awake, when the bus suddenly stopped. He wasn't sure if he was grateful that the wild ride had ended, or upset that the sudden stop made the glass bottle in his stomach go deeper and cut through more of it.

"Here's we are, Hogwarts, just like you said. Here, let me help you with your trunk." Stan grabbed Harry's trunk and brought it outside of the bus. They were, luckily, right in front of Hogwarts' entrance. Harry was immensely pleased, for he didn't know if he would have been able to walk the path had he been dropped off at the gates.

Slowly, with a lot of pain, Harry got up and exited the Knight Bus. He didn't look back as he walked to the door, deciding to leave his trunk where it was.

"Hay you! You forgot your toof brush an' 'ot chocolate?"

Without looking back, Harry called behind him. "Don't worry, I don't need it!"

"But you paid for it!"

Harry moved to flag him away, but thought better of it when even the slightest movement was making him close to passing out. He heard a 'bang' and he knew the Knight Bus was gone.

He stood for a moment, staring up at the castle that, in his opinion, was the only place he called home. Harry hoped that someone was there because with the way he was bleeding he knew he needed some help. Leaving his things he finally walked to the door. Like magic, which it was, they opened for him. He was grateful because with the way they were made it would have taken a lot of energy and strength to open them, and at the moment he had neither.

He hobbled inside to the entrance hall. And even though he was nearly bleeding to death, the feeling of 'home' took him over. He thought about trying to make it to the hospital wing, but knew it was impossible without assistance. Therefore, he did the only thing he could do.

"Hello! Anybody? I- Ouch- need a little- wheeze- help here!" His breathing was becoming more and more erratic, his head felt heavy and light at the same time. And for the first time, hearing the bellow of his potion's professor brought Harry a great sense of joy.

"What's all this racket? This is a school, and it's closed for summer. Unless you have an appointment-" Severus Snape's voice trailed off as he caught sight of the visitor. He was coming up from the dungeons after nursing a Potter/Black headache, the likes of which he hadn't had for 15 years, when he'd heard the call for help.

Severus Snape was an unpleasant man, and the last people whom could make him smile had both disappeared 15 years ago, one lost to death and the other to protect the bane of his existence, however, he was a teacher, and surprisingly he did care for his students, All of his students, and seeing the swaying figure in the entrance hall, he didn't hesitate to start running to help.

As he came to a stop in front of the cloaked figure, he began to be suspicious, especially after his years as a spy, but decided to help first, ask questions later. "Who are you and what's precisely the matter?" He was surprised at the youthfulness of the answering voice.

"I was attacked; I didn't have anywhere else to go. Please?"

Severus' eyes clouded in anger, he could hear the panic in the young man's voice. He reached out to take the stranger's arm, but the boy flinched as if he were burned. "Sorry." The voice was familiar, so it was a student of his. The spy was disgusted, how could anyone do this to a child.

Snape tried again, this time talking gently. "It's all right. You're at Hogwarts, you're safe. Let me help you to the hospital wing." He gently tried to lead the boy, not knowing or seeing the extent of his injuries; that is until he pulled his hand away and saw the blood.

He gasped, horrified finally seeing the amount of blood that the cloak had been soaking up. He heard the boy's mumble of "sorry" before the youth passed out falling forward. Quickly he carefully picked him up noting how light he was, before the curiosity became too much and he pulled back the boy's hood. He only caught a glimpse of the face, barely seeing it as it was covered in glass and blood, but it only took one glance at the lightning bolt scar on the boy's head to identify him. And at that moment, all of Severus Snape's anger for the Potter boy dissolved and he became Harry, his student and child of his best friend, who needed his help.

88888888888888888888888888888888I love Eights!8888888888888888888888888888

Madame Pomfrey had been taking stock of her potions for the year when she heard the Potion Master's bellow. However, his tone was different then it had been before, more, human. Therefore she was on alert as he came bursting through the hospital wing doors, a bundle crushed to his chest protectively.

"Poppy, I need help immediately and we need to contact Albus."

The mediwitch shook herself out of her shock as she realized she had a new patient. "Sorry Severus but the headmaster is at the ministry in some very important meeting. Nothing short of an apocalypse is to disturb him."

"What about this?" And he pulled back the hood of what she could now see was a human boy, badly hurt.

"Dear Merlin! Put him on the bed now!"

Severus instantly complied. After grabbing her emergency supplies, Madame Pomfrey started to work her magic, (pun intended!) along with the potions master's assistance. "This cloak has got to go." And with a wave of her wand it was gone revealing the extent of damage of the young boy, and his identity. Unable to help it, Poppy froze. "That's not, it can't be-"

"Yes, it's Mister Potter and he needs our help, Now!"

Poppy snapped back and began to work, waving her wand to identify the damages. "He's got multiple lacerations, a couple of broken ribs, and the stomach wound. Merlin! Who did this to him?"

Severus fumed. "I don't know, but we can figure it out later, work woman!"

Poppy bristled and responded shortly. "I'll need your help. First we need to get him cleaned up, then we can take care of the glass." With a wave of her wand Harry's clothes disappeared (medical reasons!) along with all of the blood. However, the toad around Harry's neck stayed stubbornly in place. In all her years Poppy had never seen so much destruction, she sniffled as she began to work.

Severus stayed right there, fetching potions and helping. Unfortunately due to the extent of the damages, the glass had to be removed the muggle way, and so taking the glass bottle out of Harry's side was an arduous task, but they managed. After that they began to heal Harry's wounds, some the muggle way, most with magic. Throughout it all, they pumped the boy with blood replenishing potions until they'd run out.

"Severus, he still needs a lot of blood, how long does the potion take to brew?"

Severus sighed in exhaustion, while he knew some healing charms, he'd never worked this much before and he began to appreciate the mediwitch more, healing took a lot of energy. "We don't have that much time. We need to do it the muggle way."

Poppy's eyes widened. "A blood transfusion. I only did that in training, and besides, we need a donor, the blood has to match."

Severus held out an arm. "Use mine. I saw his records; it's the same as mine."

"Severus, it's not that simple, there are forms and procedures-"

"Poppy, the boy could die!"

"I know! But besides blood, your magic has to match too, there's a test-"

"Then do it!"

Madame Pomfrey took a look at the boy on the bed and at the man in front of her. "Fine." She would just have to show him. With a few complicated wand movements, over the boy-who-lived, she turned to the potion's master and repeated the gesture. Then she waited. "If it's a match, there'll be a green light, however most likely it'll be red. Unfortunately, Harry's blood and magic type are rare and-" but what ever she said was cut off as a green flash filled the room. Her eyes widened and she and Severus almost missed the boy's reaction.

Though still unconscious, the green flash had penetrated Harry's subconscious and reminded him of his unpleasant memories. "NO, Cedric!"

Severus and Poppy shared a look, and then the potion's master once again held out his arm. "Do it, do it now!"

And with a nod, Poppy once again began to work.

Two exhausting hours later….

"Okay, he's stabilized. Now tell me what happened." Poppy turned from one bed where Harry lay to the one where Snape sat trying to get out of bed. One look from Poppy had him lying down again.

"I was coming up from the dungeons when I heard a call for help. I came up and found him swaying, though I didn't know who he was because of the cloak. He said he was attacked and he was so scared. When I touched him he flinched, that's when I noticed the blood, then he apologized and passed out. Poppy, I think it was his relatives."

Poppy had tears down her face as she stared at the potion's master. "as much as I wish it weren't true, I have to agree the attack was purely muggle, no spell damage at all. And the bottle, Severus, please tell me how someone could do something like that to a child, let alone Mister Potter!"

Severus sat up and wrapped his arms around the matron. She'd come to Hogwarts during his first year and they'd become close, like mother and son due to all of his 'accidents' during school. Therefore, he didn't mind comforting her at all; he only wished he knew the answer to her questions. "I don't know Poppy, I don't know."

After a few sniffles, the mediwitch pulled back. "Sorry Severus. Well, he's as okay as he could be. Some of his injuries may take longer to heal, but he'll survive, again. Honestly, I think we're going to have to just move him in here, he spends enough time down here anyway."

Severus smiled. "That he does, that he does. If I recall though, I still hold the record."

Poppy shook her head. "Yes, you And Remus do, it was a tie." At the mention of the werewolf's name, the day came rushing back to Severus and his face paled. Poppy became concerned. "Severus, what's the matter, was it the blood transfusion?"

He shook his head. "No, but Mister- Harry is going to have a lot more to deal with. I just hope he's strong enough to handle it."

"What do you mean? Does this have something to do with why you, Minerva, and Albus left last night? And why you've all been so, out of sorts to say?"

Severus nodded. "Yes, which reminds me, the headmaster must be alerted to the situation."

Poppy nodded. "I know, I know, but there's nothing we can do until he comes back to Hogwarts. Now, I need to do some paperwork and clean up. Rest for another couple of minute, then you can go, I know how you hate it here."

Severus nodded, then shook his head. "No, I'm going to stay if it's all right. Mister Potter will need someone here when he wakes up."

Poppy gave him a skeptical and surprised look. "All right, call me if you need anything." Then with one last glance, she left for her office.

Severus got out of bed and walked over to where his student lay, the one he'd spent years ridiculing. If only he'd paid more attention-no, he knew that this would have happened regardless of his behavior. He reached out and almost stroked Harry's cheek, before pulling back with a mental 'no'. Instead he settled himself in a chair at the Gryffindor's bedside. "I'm sorry Harry, for the way I've treated you, and for this happening to you, but you're not alone anymore, and I know your parents can't wait to meet you. Just hold in there, and if you ever need me-" His sentence trailed off.

And in Morpheus' arms, Harry Potter listened to the faraway voice and knew he was safe, that he'd be taken care of. He only wished he knew who was offering their services; because he had a feeling he'd need it.