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Chapter Seven: The Pomfrey Puzzle

...

Harry woke up uncomfortable, but having had the most restful sleep he'd had in weeks. His feet were freezing but his body was warm, and whilst surface beneath him was nothing compared to his Gryffindor dormitory bed, it was miles better than his makeshift bed at the Dursley's. He stifled a yawn, stretching, eyes still shut. And then it all flooded back.

Snape knew. Dumbledore knew; he had already known. Snape saw and had healed him. Dumbledore made him sleep here; Dumbledore had already known. Dumbledore had already known. Dumbledore had already known. And Snape knew Harry knew that Dumbledore had already known! He sat up abruptly, his mind racing and chanting the same ramble of treacherous words over and over again.

The Gryffindor jumped out of bed, and slipped his shoes on. He glanced at the time and saw it was approaching six thirty in the morning. Hopefully he'd be able to get out of here before Snape presented himself. Unfortunately, luck was not on his side.

"Good morning. Mr Potter, allow me to transfigure your clothes back into your robes, then you may leave my Quarters immediately," said Snape, emerging from the kitchen with a coffee in his hand; he had been watching Potter for a few moments now. The man looked the same as ever, his lank hair surrounding his pale bony face structure. One wouldn't have been able to tell the Professor had barely slept the previous night.

Harry complied by opening his arms out, and within a second, he was wearing his Gryffindor uniform; it was feeling crisp and fresh as though just out of dry cleaning. "Thank you Professor."

"I should let you know now Potter, that in recent light of the discoveries we have found, we will have to set up a meeting with Madame Pomfrey and most likely your head of House, Professor McGonagall. It is called a Child Protection Conference. How you managed to escape their clutches up until now is beyond me, but nevertheless, it will have to be arranged. The bruise salve I want you to apply three times a day until it runs out is on the table next to you. Your contusions should have disappeared by that point, but if they haven't, do not hesitate to retrieve some more from me."

"Thank you Sir... I thought Dumbledore said no one is meant to know?" said Harry quickly, his voice turning cold as he picked up the salve.

Severus internally winced at the recollection of finding Potter awake and having listened to his conversation. "That's Professor Dumbledore to you Potter, and I would refrain from saying anything to the Headmaster for now, until necessary individuals have been informed."

"But I thought Professor Dumbledore didn't-"

"You will not go back there Potter!" Snape snapped, and Harry shut down his protest immediately.

"What I suggest to you, is to keep your head down these next few days and let the adults do what they need to do. You are very well aware that when taking matters into your own hands, things do not generally tend to go well?" said Snape, sneering down at the Gryffindor. Harry looked down, face flushed and feeling borderline mutinous. How dare he bring up Sirius like that? But why on earth was Snape… almost looking out for him?

"Very well Sir. I won't say anything to anyone," said Harry, even though he knew he wouldn't have anyway. It was simply too humiliating.

"That's not what I implied Potter; you do need to talk to someone. I'd suggest someone you can trust not to spread or accidently let it get into the media. Perhaps your friend Miss Granger?" said Snape considerately, mentally kicking himself for bringing up Black in such a cold manner. He needed to find ways to be slightly more supportive or there would be no chance of Potter complying in an open manner during his Child Protection Conference.

"Sure Sir," said Harry, replying lukewarmly. Not a chance, thought Harry pitilessly, She'd react worse than Mrs Weasley!... Wait, probably not actually.

"I have one more request of you Mr Potter; on no circumstances must you reapply a concealment charm on your wounds. Do you understand?" said Snape seriously.

"Why ever not? I can't go round with this on my face! It wasn't there yesterday was it?" replied Harry, pointing viciously at the healing bruise on his eye. Luckily due to the ratio of the vast amount of bruising ointment to the surface area of Harry's cheek, the bruise on his face had more or less disappeared. But it was the scars on his arms that Harry was most concerned about; how was he to explain those to anyone who possibly might see?

"Mr Potter, clearly you did not read into the effects of glamours very well. You have a cursed scar on your forehead; the acute implications are worse you dimwit! Therefore, any other scars and blemishes on your skin that are being concealed will intermingle with your magical core in attempt to discount the curse. It drains you! Side effects can be regular collapses, nose bleeds and even depression. Not to mention the time it takes for your magic to go back to its optimum levels whilst it struggles to equilibrate within your core once more," said Snape, scowling as his voice became louder.

Harry didn't really understand much of what Professor Snape had just said but he knew it sounded bad.

Blood drained from his face as he took in the implications. "Does this well- uh- well mean that my magic has been drained?"

"No, obviously not Potter you've only been applying charms for two days. There won't be a significant effect, but any longer than three-four days and you'd be rather exhausted; more than a week and then things become critical. Therefore it is quite essential you do not apply them."

Harry looked at Snape, guilt and fear mingled on his expression. "But Sir; whenever I went outside the Dursley's house, say to the supermarket to pick up their groceries, my magic would always clear the marks on my arms or face without me even using a wand. It just happened, because I sort of willed it to happen. The moment I came back inside though the marks reappeared. I had to manually reapply them on train though."

Snape pinched the bridge of his nose. This was a lot more complicated than he thought it would be. He stared down at the far too skinny teenager below him and found himself thinking of nutrients potions he should start making for Pomfrey to give the boy. He shook his head bemused.

"There will be an adverse effect; but not as detrimental as if you physically used your wand. Again, this can all be dealt with when we speak to Madame Pomfrey. For now just vow to me you will not apply them again; make an excuse up to your distant peers regarding any marks they see."

Even Harry wasn't stupid enough to use a spell that could affect his magic short term or chronically.

"I promise Sir," he said, turning around to leave through the office doors which Snape had unlocked earlier this morning. But before leaving immediate doors between the quarters and office, Harry turned around somewhat reluctantly, embarrassment clearly etched upon his face, "Professor – thank you. For all of this and… for not telling the Headmaster I know what he's done to me." Snape merely nodded in recognition at Potter's gratitude and watched the boy walk out. He called out quickly and Harry popped his head back into view with a questioning glance.

"Do talk to someone Potter," said Snape sternly. Harry vaguely inclined his head, blinking once before leaving the dungeons all together, no intention to talk to anyone. The feeling that was welling up inside Harry was rather disconcerting, for whilst it felt like he was receiving care and concern, Harry knew it wasn't; how could it be when Snape hated Harry so much?

...

Harry hadn't yet come up with an elaborate reasoning as to why he had not been in Gryffindor tower last night, but it appeared that he had not needed one. Ron himself hadn't been in the dormitories that night, having shared particular Room of Requirement with a certain other Gryffindor. And the other boys had just rolled their eyes to each other the previous night, assuming Ron and Harry had been on one of their usual mischievous adventures. Therefore, not a word of confusion was uttered, and Harry had escaped all questioning aside from the bruise, which Harry managed to pass as kneeing himself in the face whilst getting dressed. Ron had roared with laughter at this in the Gryffindor Common Room where he had found his two friends, whilst Hermione slapped his shoulder, a twitch nevertheless escaping from her lips.

He settled down at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, stretching his shoulders. His body hadn't felt so relaxed in a good few weeks.

"Harry, you really have lost a lot of weight," said Hermione, scrutinising him up and down. Harry shrugged noncommittally even though he knew it was the effect of the concealment charms that had been covering up the weight loss. Luckily his robes were flared enough to keep his body still discreet. Ron looked up at Hermione from his large breakfast, eyes narrowing slightly.

"Yeah; listen Hermione I'm really with you this year when it comes to NEWT study. It's so important for me to become an Auror, so getting those top grades is essential. Plus," he continued, voice lowering, "What better chance do I have than fighting Voldemort if I'm alongside the best people at defence?"

Hermione beamed, her face frightened, yet determined. "Yes, definitely Harry, definitely! We'll go to the Library as often as we can and we can set up a timetable and maybe try and get some extra reading in- you never know where it can come in use-"

"Don't forget Ron will be in the Common Room waiting for you if you ever decide to check in with the boyfriend," said Ron loudly, his ears immediately colouring after he spoke. Hermione briefly looked at Ron uncertainly, and then smiled swiftly back.

"Well you are more than welcome to join us. I have Ancient Runes now, so I'll see you boys later." Hermione picked up her bag and gave them a wave before leaving the table.

"I don't need to join you both, I'm not the Chosen One, so I don't need to 'know what may come in use'," said Ron amused, imitating Hermione but Harry didn't find anything particularly funny about it.

"Come off it Ron, she's only trying to help. But making a timetable does sound like a good idea this year," said Harry thoughtfully. "I think during my morning frees I'm going to create just that. I'll see you a bit later." He also picked up his bag and left the Great Hall, heading for the Gryffindor dormitories.

...

By the end of the next two periods, Harry had completed his timetable and had entirely reorganised all his notes. Still having half an hour until lunch, he lay down on his bed and stared at the high ceiling, last night's events trickling into his mind, now he was no longer working. Snape had mentioned something about a Child Protection Consultation- no, Conference. But Harry wasn't really a child was he anymore? He'd never really been treated like one either. What was the point of one when he was only going to be strictly a child for less than a year?

Harry turned to his side and pulled the bruise salve out of his pocket, staring at it. Closing the curtains around him, Harry shrugged off his robes and began the lacklustre task of applying the salve for the first time that day. It felt almost strangely relieving the fact that he was no longer the only person in the Wizarding World who knew his secret. And it was someone who deemed it offensive behaviour, unlike Dumbledore who he now knew had been aware of the situation all along. Harry felt a lot calmer than he did this morning about this shocking discovery. But although the Headmaster deemed it necessary for Harry to return to the Dursley's next year, Snape didn't want this to continue. Despite it being only one more summer, he didn't want Harry back there. And he was going to get Madame Pomfrey involved right? Harry couldn't decide if this was a good thing or not, but whatever was to happen now, Snape was right; after last year, let the adults deal with this.

...

During this morning period where Harry had been conscientiously working and organising, Snape had been teaching the Gryffindor and Slytherin third year Potions class. It was approaching the last half an hour until lunch period, and Severus simply could not wait to skip lunch and slide in a quick kip. The previous night had been quite disruptive, and though it may not show, Severus was rather exhausted. Any sleep he had managed to obtain having been filled with dreams of a certain Lily Evans berating his person for not taking better care of her son; it had been most disturbing. A letter appeared by his side whilst the students were copying notes from the black board which took Severus away from his musings. Snape recognised immediately the scrawly handwriting of Madame Pomfrey.

Severus,

As much as I protest, why do you refrain from calling me Poppy? I can understand your formal behaviour towards the other staff members to an extent, but given our frequent encounters for numerous different reasons, I expect us on at least first name basis.

And it was a pleasure checking upon your house; such a wonderful space, it's a shame you do not stay there more often!

Regarding the Child Protection Conference, I must say Severus, I am most impressed. I was waiting at least up until half-term before I could settle my nerves on what circumstances I'm going to hear regarding our fresh first years; but to unravel within the first three days of this pupil entering? It is most impressive as well as disheartening of course to think the signs must be that obvious. I do not understand your reservations but, as always, I shall put my trust in them. Therefore, I shall not inform Minnie until the date is set. It should be possible in the next two weeks. Will I be receiving a name in advance or will it be the usual form of disclosure on the day?

I'll inform you as soon as I can get the necessary documents and paperwork ready.

Poppy

Severus sighed; how would Pompfrey react when it was not one who had merely been in this school for three days, but one who had been under her and the rest of the staff's care for the past five years? He scowled at Minerva's nickname Minnie in disgust, and folded the parchment, placing it in his desk. There would be no need for further contact until the date had been set. And then Potter could be informed. Severus just hoped it would all be done in time before the Headmaster realised what Snape had done.

But then something triggered in Severus' mind that Potter had said the previous night: "Well, I'm not sure. But Madame Pomfrey had seen something when she's patched me up in the past, she questioned me once, in first year, but it was never brought up again."

Perhaps a short snooze wasn't in his fortune. This was something Severus knew he had to investigate into before turning up with Potter in the next two weeks for the discussion. It was a strict law for such discoveries to be reported and addressed, and Severus could simply not understand how Poppy, being an advocate for professionalism, could let this pass. He released the third year pupils five minutes early, much to their delight and surprise but he dampened their joy by setting an extra roll of parchment for homework. He then got up, locked his office and Potions Lab, and discreetly headed towards the Hospital Wing.

Upon arriving, he saw Madame Pomfrey from a distance organising a cabinet of a fresh batch of potions that had come through this morning from St Mungos. She was humming softly, oblivious to the Potions master watching her. With a hint of compunction, Snape stunned the medi-witch lightly then immediately placed a cushioning charm on the ground. He entered the Hospital Wing and shielded the area from view as he approached the middle-aged witch. With a stab of repentance, he held her up and cast, "Legilimens" into her mind, placing a mental illusionment charm upon himself so he wouldn't be noticed.

It took a good few jumpings of memories before Severus had found the one he had been looking for. It made Severus realise just how abnormally often Potter had had to stay at the Hospital Wing. He finally watched a young eleven year old Harry Potter sit on one of the hospital beds, his feet not yet touching the ground. An equally young Ronald Weasley was asleep in the next bed, his hand a strange mixture of a dulling black, green and purple.

"So Mr Potter," said Madame Pomfrey sternly, "Is it true Mr Weasley had been bitten by a dog, or do you know something we don't?"

"I'm serious Madame Pomfrey," said Harry quickly eyes wide and unconvincingly innocent, "It was really a dog. A ferocious one at that!"

"I'm sure," she replied wryly, before etches of concern crossed her features. "Though dear, if I am not to know where exactly Mr Weasley has acquired this wound, how am I to know it is not infectious? You've been in close proximity to him and you may have caught something. Let me just run a quick spell Mr Potter so you don't have to remove any items of clothing, and I'll know for certain. I can also check your friend for any signs of infection."

As Harry stood up in reluctance, Madame Pomfrey took this as consent and launched a soft golden glow from her wand, analysing Harry's body. But the spell abruptly began to release quick and jagged black sparks and the medi-witch lowered her wand with uncontained shock.

But the memory changed, altered, and Snape recognised immediately the signs of a long-term Confundus Charm. With an uncontained dismay, Severus watched Professor Dumbledore appear from the misty features of the memory, sitting down next to the confused medi-witch. Snape realised immediately that there was no hope of finding the original memory if it had been the Headmaster who had used the spell.

"And there is nothing to be concerned about Poppy, I assure you each pupil in our school is quite safe and all suspicious backgrounds are most certainly looked into. He is quite well," said Dumbledore reassuringly. Poppy smiled in return thankfully, feeding off the assurance the elder man had provided her with.

Severus could see the power of persuasion the Headmaster had used with his piercing eyes - one that the muggles are known to call hypnotism - and he had to bite back the urge to pay a visit to the senile man's office immediately as he left Madame Pomfrey's mind. He settled the medi-witch onto one of the hospital beds by the potions cabinet, lightly obliviated and then rennervated her, no longer feeling any form of guilt for his actions in comparison to the revelation that had been bestowed upon him. He glanced inconspicuously at the medi-witch outside the Hospital Wing before leaving the area, to ensure she had not noticed anything had happened as she continued to bustle about the cabinet of potions.

What bothered Severus, even more so than the fact Dumbledore had befuddled Madame Pomfrey before she could pursue with her investigation into Potter, was the black sparks that had issued from the witch's wand when she performed the simple health charm. To think that the eleven year old had suffered that much from that age or possibly younger, without confiding in anyone, was sickening and scarily déjà vu in relation to his own past. The Potions Master headed back to his Office, mentally occluding these uncomfortable thoughts – this all could wait until the Child Protection Conference. For now, he had better prepare for his afternoon lessons.

The rest of the day passed fairly uneventfully for Snape aside from giving Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw first years a very long and complicated lecture on the arts of Potions, scaring them to half their wits. It was a highly enjoyable way to relieve the stress of earlier in the day, watching the first years dart about the lab with fearful expressions, not daring to look at the scary Professor in the eye. Though peace wasn't set to last for long; little did Severus know that he was to have another sleepless night due a different lonely flummoxed sixth former.

...

Draco grumpily walked across the dungeons in his green night suit, his grey socks padding across the corridor being the only sound made. It was approaching one in the morning, but Draco could barely sleep. It was only his third night back at Hogwarts, and his guard was crumbling; therefore Draco decided to turn to the only man he knew he could – his godfather.

So Draco took Severus' word seriously when he had claimed, "You may come to me at any time," whilst giving Draco the password to the portrait. Therefore he decided to pay a visit to the Potions Master at the early hours of the morning with not much guilt at all. Perhaps this ungodly hour meant he'd also manage to get a sleeping potion too, Draco thought to himself with a half-hearted smirk.

The young Slytherin was certain he was doing the right thing, he was positive; if there was someone he could trust it was Snape. His fingers brushed against the stony walls as he continued his journey from the Slytherin dorms to his godfather's quarters. His Malfoy guard was down, and in that moment, he was just a young boy, forced into the bigger evils of life. Sev could help him. Maybe Sev could persuade him. NO. Draco couldn't let him talk to his father. Draco wanted this; he wanted the power and glory he would gain if he achieved this. Or at least he thought he did. Right now, he just needed comfort - Not that he'd ever admit that.

Soon enough, Draco reached the portrait that would allow him access to Snape's quarters. It was a delicate painting of two sleeping cats, one a tabby and the other snow white. The tabby had curled itself around the lighter cat protectively in the basket they were currently snoozing in. Draco cleared his throat to awaken the two felines and he could have sworn, he thought he saw the tabby glare at him for waking them up. Draco chuckled lightly and said softly, "semper lilium, numquam decrescentes stellam". He hadn't a clue what the Latin meant, but he most certainly was honoured to know that he was the only other person, other than Madame Pomfrey and Snape himself who knew the password.

Draco entered the quarters and settled on the couch. He knew that Snape would be alerted from his bedroom that there was an intruder. He saw an empty vial on the table beside him and took a sniff; a sleeping potion. He wondered why Sev would have left it there, and sure hoped that he hadn't taken it tonight; otherwise Draco would be waiting there a while.

"Draco, what in Merlin's name – What do you want?" said a haggard looking Snape from his bedroom door. Draco jumped at the sound and almost dropped the vial in the process. He quickly regained composure and set the vial by the table, getting up quickly.

"Hey Sev… I know it's late…" muttered Draco, taking in his godfathers expression.

"What exactly have you come here to ask for at this absurd time Draco? Is it really so urgent that you could not have waited until the morning at least?" Snape snapped, walking over to Draco.

"I was just going to ask for some dreamless sleep," Draco muttered, deciding against speaking to his godfather at this present. Severus sighed softly; it was evident Snape had been too rash with him. The Slytherin wouldn't have come to Snape unless it was important.

"Is there something else Draco?"

"No. Well yes, but not now. It doesn't matter right now," Draco replied.

"Of course it matters. Draco, you know I'm here for you no matter what, and if you come to me with a problem, despite the time, I am willing to help you."

"I don't need help. I just…" Draco sighed. "Honest. It doesn't really matter."

"Draco… I'm sure it does. At least, what has it got to do with? Your father?"

Draco looked up at Snape wearily and whispered, "Yeah. It does."

Snape made an effort not to change his expression to pity. Draco hated pity. "What has he done now?"

So Draco gestured Severus to sit down on the couch with him, as began to break into a tale that would probably take up a good part of the night.

...

Chapter End

I believe this is my longest chapter yet; sorry for the slight delay, but hope the length makes up for it!

Even though I had completed this chapter last week, I've made a rule that I will not post until I am at least a third way through the next chapter and I will probably only post at the weekend. Therefore, there will be a constant flow of chapters rather than disjointed gaps in-between.

I know it didn't really fit, but I simply had to add Draco in at the end!

Thank you to those that reviewed: Luiz4200, StrightEdgeCmPunksGirl, Nekobaby1997, WestARMYrotc, pammiez x3, Allie Danger, Chameleon lover, Caraline Fisher, Talia-Elizabeth, FuzzyHyperLlama, Spellecho, sohrem666 and Murgy31! Big thank you to Julia Guest as well who gave me some incredibly detailed reviews!

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Until next time!

Best wishes

Raiise