Nothing Stays the Same
By jessebelle
A/N: Yay, I went and saw GOF again on Thanksgiving and still loved it. Would have updated sooner, but I was too busy with my new LAPTOP! My mother decided I deserved an early Christmas present and bought me one so now I can write pretty much everywhere! So, hopefully more updates will be a result. Now, I'm sure you want to know what's happening with Harry, so, here you are!
A/N: Hello again my dear readers. I hope you've all had a nice holiday. I had a good Christmas/Yule and got a lightsaber, pajamas, and the Harry Potter Scene It game. Now i just have to rope somebody into playing it with me. Can you believe 2005 is nearly over? The year's gone by so fast, but it was chalked full of Harry Potter, so that's okay. Between Half-Blood Prince and Goblet of Fire, can we Potter fans complain? Didn't think so. Anyway, i'm hoping the new laptop will mean more updates and that the new year will be full of inspiration. That means more writing! So, hope you all have a fun, safe, and happy new year's eve and i hope you all have a wonderful new year.
huggles and snuggles,
jessebelle
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It was dark when Harry finally opened his eyes. But even in the dark he could tell where he was, the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts, after all, he spent enough time there that he recognized the bed and the ceiling. However, he didn't recognize the weight on his side. Turning his head, and using a lot of energy to do so, he found himself staring at the sleeping form of his Potion's Master. What in the world?
Then he realized that Professor Snape had been the one to find him. He wondered why the headmaster wasn't here instead, hell, even McGonagall would've made more sense, but he supposed that Snape had been given the job of watching over him since he'd found him.
Then it hit him, why he was there; his uncle had gotten drunk and… No, he didn't want to think about it. But now he was worried, what would Snape think? Madam Pomfrey? He could tell he'd been healed so they definitely knew of his injuries, but did they know, did they even suspect how he'd gotten them. His mind raced to come up with a suitable cover story, after all, he'd never said Vernon had done this to him, and no one saw it happen. He could lie. Maybe the death eaters got to him, or maybe a group of muggles beat him up when he was at the park. Yeah, that would be the best way to go, that way no one got in trouble because of him.
He didn't seem to realize the affect his thought sere having on him physically. Do to Madame Pomfrey's pain potion, he could barely feel a thing, but he knew it had been bad. He didn't realize that by moving he was jolting his injuries, that by breathing he was jolting his broken ribs that hadn't been wrapped yet due to his other injuries. He also didn't realize that his heart beat was speeding up rapidly, his anxiety eating away at him. What would everyone say when they found out. He was the boy-who-lived, he shod have been able to deal with it, but he was weak, so weak. How was he going to beat Voldemort. Then his eyes saw the Hogwarts crest hanging on the wall. One look at the badger and his tears started. Cedric! "Kill the Spare." He was a murderer, and Cedric's death was his fault. He should have been selfish; he should have taken the cup himself. Maybe he deserved what had happened. He wished he could feel the pain, he deserved it. His strong feelings of guilt and his magic intertwined and like a tidal wave the pain of his injuries came rushing back as his magic negated the affects of the pain potion. Oh, it hurt, it hurt so bad! His body shook with suppressed sobs that he didn't release. In his mind he deserved it, but it hurt, so bad. Hs fault, deserved pain-
"Stupefy! Petrificus Totalus!" The two spells managed to both knock him unconscious and stop the trauma he was inflicting on his body. However, Severus' yells served to awaken Poppy, who came running into the room, wand out and alert. She put it away upon seeing Severs with his wand out and pointed at Harry, but was still upset. "What are you doing? The boy's been through enough and how you have to curse him?" Her voice was slightly hysterical, but she saw the seriousness on the potion's master's face and calmed down. No matter his temper, se knew he'd never curse a student without reason.
Severus began to talk as he assessed the damage done by Pott-Harry. Foolish Boy! "I woke up to see him having a severe panic attack, and the pain potion appeared to have worn off, though it should have lasted several more hours. He was hysterical and wouldn't stop moving. I thought it best to stop any more movement and stupefy him so he wouldn't feel the pain."
He looked up from his examination and gave the result. "Most of his lacerations have re opened, his ribs have definitely been jarred, and his stomach injury have been affect and even unconscious his blood pressure and pulse are through the roof. I'm thinking we need an immediate calming potion and start healing."
Poppy smiled. "Good, you've been paying attention. Let's get to work." And work they did. Harry, blissfully unconscious didn't realize what they were doing to help him. First a very, very strong healing potion was administered, and then the duo began to work. Most of Harry's cuts were finally able to be healed with magic, but a few of the deeper ones were bandaged the muggle way. Poppy. Then his ribs were removed, before being replaced with a new skelegrow that while regrew the bones faster, also made them weaker, so he still had to be wrapped for a while. They worked for the rest of the night and into the early morning without disruption. Due to Severus' constant monitoring of Harry's awareness, any time the boy showed a sign of awakening he was put right back to sleep.
By the end, Harry looked much better, especially after a few more blood replenishing potions put some color in his cheeks, but he still looked pretty bad, like he'd gotten hit by a small car rather then an eighteen wheeler. Due to good foresight, Poppy and Severus took pictured and documented all his injuries. If they had their way, Vernon Dursley would pay for every little thing he'd done.
Poppy was exhausted as she pulled off her gloves and put away her wand. She threw a tired look at Severus. "I'll go see if Albus is back, he'd want to know about Mister Potter." They'd blocked all floo connection and communication so they wouldn't be interrupted and therefore had no idea that Dumbledore was back at Hogwarts, with guests.
Severus made no move other then to sink into a chair next to Harry's bedside. "You do that, I'll stay here and-"
"Watch over him? You've become awfully attached and protective of him, Severus." She gave him a teasing smile.
"Yes, well-"
"It's all right to like the boy. After all, he's pretty special, which you can see now that you're looking past his parentage." She gave him a look.
Severus at least managed to look contrite. "Well, he does look an awfully like Potter."
"That's because he's James' son, but he's also Lily's."
Severus turned to look at the boy on the bed. He was covered in bandages, still bruised, but some color had returned to and he was breathing easier. "Believe me, I know that now."
He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see Poppy's comforting face. "He'll be fine, and you'll have time to make it up to him. I'm also sure that where ever she is, she's happy for you, and Harry."
Severus' lips curled in an almost-there smile. "You've no idea."
Poppy gave him a curious look and a pat on the shoulder. "I'll go check on Albus." Then she left, her heels clicking behind her.
Severus listened to her go, his eyes never leaving the boy on the bed.
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Dumbledore was at his desk, head in his hands when the matron of the hospital wing entered his office. It had been a long night, searching for Harry. They'd gotten to Hogwarts, following Sirius and Remus moments after they'd left Privet Drive. Then they'd begun the search.
As soon as the group had converged in his office, he'd called upon the Order of the Phoenix, which had only recently been reformed. Old friends and colleagues had come together. The Weasleys: Molly, Arthur, Bill, Charlie, and Percy, the remaining members of the Black family: Andromeda and Nymphadora, the Hogwarts professors, Nicholas and Pernella Flamel, both still alive determined to see the end of Voldemort before their long awaited deaths, Alastor Moody, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Emmaline Vance( get other order numbers) to name a few. All arrived in Dumbledore's office awaiting their instruction and wondering what was so urgent. There were only two members missing of their group, Severus Snape and Poppy Pomfrey. After trying to contact them and failing, they'd quickly decided that the matter was too urgent to await for them.
It was a circus when they introduced Sirius back, as quite a few still believed him guilty, but it was nothing compared to the reaction towards James and Lily. For over two precious hours they'd explained their return from the grave and reaffirmed their identities. Even after this, a few remained suspicious and many quite convinced, Moody surprisingly positive of their identities. It was past midnight before they'd finally gotten down to business and the real reason they were all reassembled.
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"Everyone, please settle down. If I could all have your attention we can get to the real reason I've called you all here tonight."
"You mean Lily and James being alive wasn't it?" The voice was young Miss. Tonks. He smiled as he shook his head.
He sent her and the rest of the room a tired smile. "No, while a wonderful miracle the reason we're here pertains to the other Potter."
"What's happened to Harry?" Molly Weasley's frantic voice was filled with a maternal worry that surprised no one except the newly restored Lily and James. The red-headed mother looked over at Molly, whose family was echoing her sentiments, with jealously at the fact she knew her son and Lily didn't. A squeeze from James served to remind her why they were there, her son, and so feelings aside, she turned to the matriarch of the Weasley family and answered her question.
"Um, tonight James and I, along with Dumbledore, Remus, Sirius, and Bella went out to my sister's house to retrieve Harry."
"So what's the problem?" Mundungus Fletcher asked, cranky that he'd been dragged out of bed for this.
"The problem was that Mister Potter was no where to be seen, he belongings gone, and there was," Dumbledore paused sadly, "evidence that Mister Potter may have been hurt."
"Death Eaters?"
"He was captured by Voldemort?"
"'Twas the Ministry I tell yah, Fudge's got it out for the boy."
Accusations continued to fly, some getting more serious, most ridiculous by the minute. But before the panic could continue, Dumbledore's voice rose above the others, his powerful presence commanding attention. "SILENCE!" all conversations stopped. Dumbledore nodded. "Thank you. It's been hours since anyone has seen Harry so I ask you all to remain calm so we can begin the search. As I was saying before, Harry may be hurt. He was not captured by Voldemort, nor the Ministry, but the longer he's out there alone the more likely these events could occur."
He'd then gone about assigning locations and soon everyone was gone, searching for their hero, the-boy-who-lived. Of course, not before they were questioned on his possible injuries.
"If it wasn't Fudge or You-Know-Who, then who hurt him."
Albus had been, for the first time in years, speechless. It had been Remus that'd answered, in his calm rational way. "I'm afraid at this time we cannot disclose that information, but I'm asking you all to please, do your best to find my cub, he deserves to get to know his parents." And that had been the end of that, except for the Weasley family that'd given Albus and the group knowing looks. But they'd gone too, to find their adopted son and brother.
Lily and James had been too nervous to be much help and he'd sent them to the guest quarters to await any news. And then he began the long wait. It was disconcerting as one by one, members of the order checked in with negative results. It wasn't until Arthur checked in, Molly being too upset to floo him, with the news. Harry Potter, the-boy-who-lived, was really missing.
Sirius and Remus had returned and he'd sent them to wait with James and Lily. And now, after dispatching a few members to check the rest of the world, he looked up at Madam Pomfrey. She looked tired and pale, it worried him.
"Poppy, where have you been? And what's the matter?"
She sighed and plopped down in a chair in front of his desk, unusual behavior for the normally stern nurse. "I could ask you the same thing, you look about as bad as I feel."
He shook his head. "I've been up all night after calling an order meeting. It appears young Mister Potter has gone missing."
Poppy looked up at the normally all-knowing headmaster. "You don't know where he is? You've no idea where he's gone?" She hid her smile with her disbelief.
He sighed and took off his glasses, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "No, I've checked everywhere, as has the rest of the order."
"What about Hogwarts?"
He looked up at her astonished. "What do you mean, why would I check the school?"
Madam Pomfrey gave a laugh. "Because this is his home, or at least that's how he feels."
"Poppy, if I didn't have to continue the search I'd kiss you." He practically ran to the fireplace, but as he was kneeling down, a hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"Don't bother, I know where he is."
He looked up at her so quick she was surprised he didn't receive whiplash. "You know where Harry is? Take me to him, now."
She sighed, "He's in the hospital wing, with Severus he-" The headmaster ignored her. He was now officially running to the doors.
"Albus, Albus get back here, there's something you need to…" her voice trailed off as he disappeared out of sight. For being over a century old he was fast. Taking a deep breath she walked over to the fireplace, prepared to floo back to her office, but one look at the couch made her sit. Severus could handle the drama, she needed a break.
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"Harry was here." Remus' eyes widened as he stood in the entrance hall. They'd just gotten back from Privet drive searching for Harry.
Sirius looked over at his old friend. The werewolf's eyes were wide and his eyes had turned golden, which only happened when both Remus and Moony were agitated. He sighed. "Of course Harry was here, this is his school, remember? He's only been going here for four years.
"I'm telling you he was here, recently, I can smell him Sirius, I can smell him and his…turn into Padfoot, you'll see."
Rolling his eyes, Sirius transformed, and almost instantly turned back. "Oh Merlin, you're right. That's his…" The normally perky man was now as upset as his friend. "But if he was here, I'd say quite a few hours ago, where is he now?"
Remus took a deep breath. "I'd say from the amount of…blood, he'd have to be in the…"
"Hospital Wing." Then without a look back, the two began running. They were just passing the guest quarters when James stuck out his head. "Padfoot, Moony, where are you headed?" But the two didn't stop, just kept on running. Sharing a look with his wife, James sprinted to keep up, Lily right behind him.
All four reached the Hospital wing merely moments after each other, do to their speed, they nearly missed the door. They managed to collide with each other, hitting the stone wall outside the hospital wing and causing a slight ruckus. That was how the headmaster found them, sprawled out on the floor and struggling to get up. A well placed spell untangled them and they were just getting ready to barge in to find Harry when Severus came stalking out the doors, more upset then they'd ever seen him.
"What is the meaning of this?" His voice was low and dangerous.
"Severus, we're here to see Harry, we've just found out about-"
"No!" The word was spoken with an authority that took even Dumbledore back.
"Pardon me, no?"
Severus pierced them all with his fiercest glare. "I said no, Harry is resting and I'll not have anyone disturb him, including you Albus."
"Severus, it's really imparities that I see-"
"Snivilus, I know you hate Harry but keeping him away from-"
"Quiet! Did you not understand the meaning of disrupting him and I'll dismember you. As I'm sure you're all aware, he's had a tough night and if any of you disrupt him in anyway I'll-"
"You don't even like him. Headmaster, just get Madam Pomfrey and-" Remus was begging the headmaster as he looked between him and the door. His senses were going wild. He could not only smell all the blood, but the worry, anxiety, and fear that was coming off his cub in waves.
"Maybe you didn't understand; I forgot how dense you all were. The boy came to me covered in a cloak, dripping in blood. I believe the original diagnosis was shattered ribs, he was covered in lacerations, and he had a bottle of muggle alcohol shoved in his chest. Poppy and I have been working all night on him, with miraculously only one set back which occurred when he woke up and panicked. He's been through hell, from his relatives might I add, and if he so much as twitches I'll hex any of you into next year."
His words stopped them all in their tracks. Lily hadn't spoken, but at her friends words she whimpered and paled, sinking in to James' arms. James himself was finding it hard to believe they were talking about his son, his little Harry. Sirius for one of the rare moments in his life acted like his name and Remus just shook with anger. Dumbledore took a deep breath, never did he imagine the horror that the boy had gone through.
Severus, glad they were finally quiet checked on Harry with a spell. Turning around he caught sight of Lily and his words came back to him. He groaned softly then apologized. "I'm sorry I said it like that, but I stand by my threat."
"Why do you care?" Sirius' words weren't even full of a trace of malice, just a tired, curiosity.
"Mister Potter is one of my students, and believe it or not I would never place any of them in danger. And even if I may not have liked the boy, seeing him, holding him in my arms covered in blood tends to brake down the barriers. I've decided to reevaluate my feelings on, Harry, especially now that we share blood."
"What?" The words brought James out of his shock.
Severus sighed, and cursed softly. "In order to save his life, he needed a transfusion. Believe it or not, I'm the only match."
"Too true, and not only that but they've shared enough blood for Severus to legally be considered his uncle. Now, Severus, may I ask what you're doing?" Poppy was back, and staring at the scene amusedly. She was surprised at the way he'd managed to handle it so far.
"Keeping the peace. Thanks for your help by the way." Sarcasm dripped from his words.
Madam Pomfrey smirked. "No problem. Now how much have you told them?"
"Near everything."
Poppy sighed. "Alright. Harry is stabilized but I would like to keep him asleep if possible, that means you can see him, but no touching or speaking to him. I'd also ask if you can keep your panic to a minimum. Mister Potter's condition has improved, but keeping him calm is essential to a full recovery. Now, who's first?"
She surveyed the group passing over Lily and James, before double taking. "What is the meaning of this?" She turned a glare to the headmaster. "Do you know what the boy's been through, and having…I want answers, Now!"
Everyone turned to the headmaster, who sighed and began to explain. Severus took this as his cue to leave. Entering the hospital wing he sighed and sat down on his chair. Once again he found himself staring at the boy on the bed only this time his feelings mixed up even more, but one thing was clear. "If you ever call me uncle I'll use you in a potion, no matter how I may feel about you or not."
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As soon as everything had been explained, Poppy looked again to the couple then yelled at the headmaster. "You mean to tell me that after coming back from the dead and crawling out of their graves you didn't think it prudent to have me look them over? Of all the…" she took a deep breath and turned to the former head boy and girl. "Lily, James, it's wonderful to have you back but I must insist on examining you both. You can see Harry later, he's not going anywhere, but I just wish you could see him when he's, awake and happy, not on a hospital bed. Never the matter, come with me. Sirius, Remus, Albus, you can go see him, but if you disturb him in anyway I'll let Severus deal with you." She then ushered the couple into the hospital wing and to a private room blocking Harry from view.
Out in the hall, the three men shared a look then entered, determined to be as quiet as possible, or as quiet as they could be. They saw Severus in his chair, looking worriedly at a bed which was covered by a privacy screen. One smell and Remus and Severus knew it was Harry, Albus could tell by the magical signature. They approached the bed cautiously, but nothing could have prepared them for what they saw.
"Oh dear lord." Albus sat down in a chair next to Severus.
"Merlin!" Remus' exclamation was merely a hiss, but it got the point across. Sirius was surprisingly silent.
"Yes, and this is him looking better. Where's Lily and Potter?" Severus looked up at the trio who were staring at the bed in different amounts of horror.
Albus took a deep breath and answered. "They're being checked out by Poppy. Severus, if it was really this bad why didn't you try and contact me?"
Severus rolled his eyes. "We did, you were at the Ministry no doubt. I take it Black is free?"
The normal happiness that would arise in this situation was nonexistent. Sirius just nodded, his eyes never once leaving his godson. Remus managed to gain back his composure and led him to a chair before sinking down next to him. He turned to the headmaster, trying to hold back his emotions. "How, Albus, how? You know Harry, how could anyone hurt him or even want to hurt him? He's Harry."
Albus exhaled and closed his eyes; he placed a hand on the werewolf's shoulders. "I don't know my boy, I don't know." And the group continued their silent vigil, watching the rise and fall of Harry's chest as the sun rose in the distance.
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A/N: I'm afraid I won't be able to update until next year. Such a pity really. Anyway, I hoped you liked the chapter and I promise Lily and James will get to see Harry. I'm also going to try and further the plot, so hopefully that means more updates, however, you'll have to wait until 2006. I know, I know, such a long wait, but I hope you'll all make due.
Toodles, Happy New Year! jessebelle