Disclaimer: Don't own it.
Author's Note: Ok, I have a few things to say about reviews, but don't worry, nothing bad ;-) just thought that a few needed a response. First, I need to apologize for not being clear about what Hagrid meant last time. I really didn't mean to imply that he wouldn't know anything about his parents, only that there are a lot of things that he won't, them not being alive and all. Anyway, I'm really sorry about that. It was late and I just wanted to get the chapter up but I'll try to be better about that kind of stuff. Second, my story is really more about Severus than Harry. While Harry is a main character and will definitely be more in the story later on as a way to develop Severus' character, the main focus will be on Severus. But thank you so much for the reviews. I really appreciate them and they keep me going :-) Ok, sorry that this was so long…
Summary: Don't want to give it away, so just read it ;-)
Chapter 5
Severus lay in a hospital bed looking out of a window that stood across from his bed. His visitors had left and Madam Pomfrey had busied herself with other things after she had made sure that he had consumed every last bit of the broth that she'd brought him earlier. He was feeling a bit queasy, trying to keep it down.
When he heard the bustling noise of her long robes getting closer, he turned his head to the side. She was carrying a bundle of something in her arms.
"Here you are, dear," she said placing the bundle his bed.
"What's that?" he said eying the bundle.
"Something proper for you to sleep in. You don't expect me to let you stay here in those do you?" She waved a hand to indicate his garments then placed one hand under Severus' neck and the other under his back. "All right, dear, I'm going to need you to sit up."
"What's wrong with them?" an indignant tone could be detected in his voice as he pushed himself up gingerly with his left arm.
Sighing in exasperation, she began to unfold the bundle. "You'll be much more comfortable in these during your stay here," she said matter of factly.
Severus cocked an eyebrow and eyed her suspiciously, "What do you mean by my stay here?"
At this, Pomfrey gave Severus a triumphant smile, "Well, now that I finally have you here, you don't think you're getting away do you?" Severus' lips parted slightly as if he wanted to object. "I've been trying to get you in here for weeks. Everyone is worried about you."
"Well, they can stop worrying," he said as he finally got into a sitting position. Pomfrey was now carefully taking his arm out of the sling. He exhaled sharply as his arm fell slightly once out of the sling.
Pomfrey shot a concerned glace at him but his eyes didn't meet hers.
"Is it really necessary that I stay here?"
Pomfrey had moved to his left side and was now gently coaxing Severus' cloak off of his arm. "Now really, dear, it might do you some good to get out of the dungeons. You're looking rather pale, even for you." She was now using her wand to slip his cloak off his injured arm.
Tossing the man an exasperated look, she now turned to unbutton his black shirt starting at the neck. "Albus asked me to check up on you and you must admit that you have quite a long record of neglecting your health."
Severus' muscles were tensing awkwardly. He wasn't used to being touched. "I can look after myself, thank you."
Pomfrey rolled her eyes as she finished unbuttoning the shirt. "Why don't you humor me then?" she said with a light air.
Severus did not respond as she pulled his left arm out of the sleeve, exposing the mark. Pomfrey was also silent as she flipped her wand in the air, removing the other sleeve and exposing the bruised arm and chest. Severus glanced uneasily at the woman's face, apparently not comfortable with the woman's unusual silence. He followed her eyes to his torso then quickly moved his good arm in front of himself, trying to cover up as much as possible.
"Severus…" her soft voice made known her surprise but Severus remained silent, looked away and shifted uncomfortably. The nurse moved to a spot where she could catch a better glimpse. She had known how slender the man was normally, but now he was emaciated. She tore her eyes from the man's body and then looked up to see his face. He was still looking away with an unreadable expression. She stiffened her upper lip and her words came out angrily, "How long?"
Severus drew back slightly at this but his lips parted only slightly as if he couldn't find the words he wanted to say, still avoiding the nurse's eyes.
Pomfrey reached out a hand and put it under the man's chin, turning his head so that he was forced to look at her. His eyes were almost incomprehensible, looking as though too many emotions were trying to get through at once. Pomfrey let out a sigh and loosened her grip on the man who then dropped his head immediately. For once, she felt at a loss of words.
A few uncomfortable moments passed before Severus broke the silence with a voice so quiet, it was nearly a whisper, "It makes me sick to eat." His eyes flickered back up to the woman who was standing at his side, now with a hand on his shoulder. "It started a few weeks ago. I can't keep anything solid down." He felt the hand on his shoulder tighten. He expected a reprimand. Instead, a kind smile formed in the woman's lips.
"I'm sure I have something that will help with that."
Severus took his eyes away from her but nodded.
Madam Pomfrey's expression changed as if she suddenly remembered that she had been doing something before. She took Severus' robes and the shirt that she had brought to him. "I don't think it's a good idea for me to move your arm any more then necessary so you won't be needing this," she said indicating one of the infirmary's shirts. "However," she added, pointing to the pants that were still lying at the man's side, "I trust that you'll be able to get into those on your own." One of her eyebrows was raised and her face held an amused expression.
Severus, his annoyed air returning back to him, sighed irritably but nodded again.
Pomfrey pulled a curtain around him and walked to a cabinet that contained potions for common ailments. When the shuffling behind the curtain had died down, she pulled it back again.
"Drink this," she said, handing Severus a goblet filled with liquid.
Severus lifted the cup to his lips and sipped its contents. "Dreamless sleeping potion?"
The nurse picked up the man's discarded pants. "Yes, dear, I would like you to get some rest while you're here."
"And exactly how long will that be?" he said before draining the glass.
He immediately started to feel the effects of the potion. Madam Pomfrey moved quickly to his side and eased him back down into the bed. She pulled the blankets up to his chest and just as he was about to fall asleep, she whispered to him, "Perhaps a month or two."
* * * * *
In reality, Madam Pomfrey had only kept Severus in the hospital wing for three days. He had by then regained enough sustenance for her to be able to heal him with magic.
It was now Sunday afternoon and Severus was sitting in Dumbledore's office.
"Headmaster, there have been three summons in the past two days," he said in a strained business tone.
Dumbledore rested his folded hands in his lap. "Yes, whatever he is planning, he will undoubtedly attempt it very soon," his voice was somber but Severus could tell that the man was very deep in thought.
"The boy is in great danger," he continued, his voice losing a bit of its previous composure.
"Yes, Severus. We must do all that we can to protect him."
Severus shook his head and then buried it in his hands. "I've been in the library every spare minute that I've had. I can't find anything of use. We need books with ancient magic, not about ancient magic."
Dumbledore nodded his head. "Yes, it was ancient magic that saved him before. However," he said getting to his feet, "I am not entirely sure that ancient magic will be what saves him again."
Severus only looked at the man for a moment before also getting to his feet. The elder man was often very vague when it came to things of this matter.
* * * * *
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were walking back to the Gryffindor dormitory that evening after spending their day in the library.
Ron was rubbing his head and looking very irritated. "A whole day, wasted on homework," he moaned.
Harry sighed exhaustedly. "Well, at least it's done."
Hermione was looking over an essay. "Do you think Flitwick will mind that it's longer than the requirement?"
Ron rolled his eyes and then said sarcastically, "He'll be crying about it all night." Then, whispered to Harry, "I know I would."
Harry suppressed a laugh as Hermione eyed the two suspiciously.
"Fairy ring," Harry said as the three reached the portrait of the fat lady.
The portrait swung open to reveal a portal to a warm, fire lit room. The room seemed so inviting that the three didn't notice a shabby rat following them in through the portal.
* * * * *
It had been dark for hours. Severus put the book that he was reading down rubbed his eyes. "Nothing," he said in a tiredly.
A mound of books lay scattered about him on the desk where he sat in the Hogwarts library. Picking up a few, he stood up and walked to various book filled shelves, returning the books in his arms to their respective homes. He walked up another aisle and ran his fingers across the titles, saying aloud each one as he passed.
He stopped suddenly when another jolt of pain burned on his left arm. His right hand instinctively grabbed the left forearm where the mark marred the skin. Clenching his teeth, he stared at the spot as though he could see the mark through his hand and robes.
It must be well after midnight, he thought, but I've got to tell him. It's happening too frequently.
He stalked resolutely out of the library, toward Dumbledore's office still clutching his arm.
* * * * *
Harry stirred awake. He was sure that it was a noise that had just woken him but he couldn't make out anything in his blurred vision.
He reached over to his bedside table for his glasses. Sitting up, he put them on to search for any sign of something that would've woken him, but nothing could've prepare him for the site that met his eyes.
Wormtail was standing next to his bed with a sinister smile. One arm was clutching Ron around the neck and the sliver hand at the end of it was pushing a knife against the boy's throat. The other hand was holding a finger in front of its owner's lips, telling Harry not to scream.
* * * * *
Author's note: Thanks for reading! Hope that you guys are enjoying it :-) This will be my last post for a few days because I'm going to the lake for the weekend and we don't even have cable there… Hopefully the time will allow me to think of the next few chapters and how I'm going to work everything out with as little plot holes as possible. I have a favor to ask of you guys though. In order for me to do my next update, I need the answers to a couple questions. The first is: do you need a wand to apparate? Second, does the spell 'Enerviate' (hope I spelled that correctly) work for general reviving purposes or does it only work against 'stupefy'? Please get back to me on that if you know. Thanks and I'll try to have an update up by Monday!