Disclaimer: Harry Potter, Severus Snape alas and all other characters are copyright J.K.Rowling. I just borrowed them... no commercial use is intended.
Chapter 3:A second later Snape, Harry, Hedwig and the trunk reapparated in a small room, that held a table, a chair, a cupboard and a bed. "I am very well aware of the fact that You are not overjoyed at seeing me and I can assure You, the feeling is mutual. " Snape said coldly. "Now will You show me You wrist?"
The boy just stood motionless, staring at the wall besides Snape. Snape glared at him, and grabbed the boys hand none too gently. Harry winced.
Something was gleaming in the boys dull eyes.. a tear?
"Sit down...this might take a few moments" The professor opened the cupboard and took out some vials. He opened one, that contained a green and shiny, slightly bubbling liquid.
"Here..drink this, while I take care of Your arm" Snape held out the vial to him, but the boy didn't move, he just kept his gaze on the potions master. His eyes were dull, Snape suddenly noticed.
"Do not try my patience, Mr Potter. If I wanted to kill You, I could certainly find more appropriate ways than poisoning You..." he growled.
Snape smiled sardonically, took a small sip from the vial.
"Satisfied now, Mr Potter?" he asked, with just a hint of bitterness in his voice discernible.
"Now will You sit down" he shoved Harry back in the chair, took out his wand and moved it slowly along Harries wrist while softly murmuring an incantation.
Still hesitating, the boy took the vial and swallowed the green liquid.
"Good boy.." The sarcasm was obvious. From the cupboard, Snape produced two bottles of pumpkin juice and some biscuits and chocolate.
"Now eat.." he ordered impatiently.
What was wrong with the boy? Usually Potter was not that ..obedient.. even shy? Harry Potter shy? He looked pale, too, like he hadn't had enough fresh air lately.
Nonsense, Snape reminded himself, there would be a simple explanation...
However, if the boy fell ill whilst in his custody, it wouldn't look good.
Harry blinked.
"Lie down, "Snape ordered " The healing spell makes you drowsy, that's all..."
And so it was. Harry felt exhausted, his arm still hurt and in his head, a whole army seemed to march around.
"Sleep, " Snape repeated, sounding not unfriendly, just annoyed.
Cautiously the boy lay down on the shabby bed, getting as close to the wall as he could and as far away from the dark figure at the table.
"Sleep. I wont eat Your owl, while You're asleep" The potions master snapped.
Again the boy winced, as if expecting a blow. Then he curled himself up, his face to the wall.
Snape watched him closely, until he was sure the boy was really asleep, then he quietly opened the window.
A gleaming black bird hopped instantly on the window sill, playfully tugging at Snape's sleeve.
„Quiet Corvus...you are to take a message to Professor Dumbledore"
The bird cocked his head an gave low throaty caw.
Snape offered him a piece of biscuit, that disappeared quickly. Meanwhile he jotted down some words on a small piece of parchment, that he fastened to the ravens leg.
Instantly the bird took off..
For a moment Snape watched after him, then he closed the window again and waited, watching as the boy fidgeted restlessly in his sleep.
This was not at all what he had expected. Gryffindor's golden boy, undernourished and anxious, bullied by his aunt and uncle.
Well, it wasn't his responsibility, why should he care. Dumbledore would be here in a short time and he would decide how to handle the situation.
It wasn't any of his business, not at all. Tomorrow he would be free and Potter safely at St Mungos.
Or would he? A small voice in the back of his mind kept nagging. Could he be sure the boy would be safe?
And if he wasn't...?
Snape didn't care..did he?
Did he really not care that a child was beaten and bullied?
Memories long since locked up safely behind seemingly impenetrable walls were on the verge of resurfacing, breaking the walls he had so diligently built with appalling ease.
Memories he did not want...
A sudden pop heralded the arrival of Albus Dumbledore, beside him the school medi-witch, Madam Pomfrey.
"What's wrong Severus? Has there been an attack?"
"You might say so.." Snape nodded. to Madam Pomfrey, then turned again to Dumbledore.
"I thought You would wish to be informed immediately. It seems Mr Potter is not all well. He has a broken wrist, in all probability a severe concussion and I am afraid there might be even more injuries."
"What have You done to that boy?" The medi-witch demanded with a fierce look.
" I tried to heal his wrist and fed him a potion to ease his pain and let him sleep." Snape answered, deliberately misunderstanding the irate medi-witch.
Pomfrey didn't like him any better now, than she had liked the 12 year old Severus, who had steadfastly refused to fall prey to her maternal care.
Snape allowed himself a small ironic smile, then he flicked his wand, carefully removing the boys bed cover and with another flick his clothes down to his underwear.
The boy didn't wake, as the potion had by now taken full effect.
On the right side, Harries chest was covered by a big reddish-black bruise, whilst in other places older bruises were still visible.
Pomfrey gasped for air, than she remembered her professional duty.
"This is atrocious" she murmured, still casting distrustful glances at Snape every other moment.
Dumbledore shook his head.
"This is.. terrible. What happened? How could this happen?"
"This child has been beaten and nearly starved" the medi-witch declared .
"This is an outrage."
"Severus?" Dumbledore looked at the younger wizard for an explanation.
"I cannot say for sure, but as I arrived, someone who answered to the name of Dursley was obvioulsy drunk. He smelled of beer. After I told him to sent for Mr Potter, the boy was called down..
For whatever reason, his aunt went into hysterics.I think it might have had to do with Mr Potters owl. Whatever the reason, an argument ensued during the which Mr Potters trunk as well as himself were thrown down the stairs...he had stumbled, I was informed by Mr Dursley, who continued to threaten he would kill the owl and did not at all seem very disappointed to see his nephew leave"
"Drunk..beaten? Are You sure Severus? It couldn't have been some mere misunderstanding ?"
The potions master shook his head.
"Absolutely not, headmaster"
"Albus... just look at the poor boy, there is not just one bruise, there is a dozen... I have a good mind to tell this uncle of his what I think about him.. the brute"
"If I only had known.." the old wizard whispered.
"But it was necessary..the blood wards... what else...if I just had known"
"As if children would tell..You know that Severus. You know that just too well..." the small nagging voice in the back of Snape's mind insisted.
Dumbledore sighed.
"So what are we going to do now?"
"Sending Mr Potter to St Mungos?" Snape suggested.
"Impossible.It is just too dangerous and we cannot bring him back to Hogwarts either, not now. I suggest we continue as planned.
You take Harry with You..."
"This boy is ill, he needs help...medical help. I am not a healer"
"This boy needs rest, a lot of rest.. and care" Madam Pomfrey insisted.
"Not that I think You'd care about the poor boy, but at least he would be safe with You.. and You wouldn't beat him like this brute of an uncle. He should be asleep most of the time anyway. I could come along..."
"No Poppy, You mustn't be missed. It would attract attention..."
Snape sighed with relief. Having Poppy Pomfrey around the house was the very last thing he needed.
"Severus, do You have any suggestions?"
"Not right now..apart from the fact that this" he looked pointedly at Harry ".. should be documented in any case"
"It will, Severus, it will. I promise"
"Maybe we could send one of the schools house-elves along?" Pomfrey suggested. "One that is loyal to Harry ?"
"NO. I refuse to have the infernal nuisance of a Dobby around my house" Snape insisted.
Dumbledore smiled "Dobby of course..What a brilliant idea Severus"
He nearly patted the enraged potions master on the back, so pleased he was.
Not only Potter, but also this nuisance of a house elf at his home... what a preposterous idea, Snape fumed innerly.
"At the moment, I cannot do much more. The boy needs rest. I will write down some instructions for You, Severus, and I expect them to be followed..." Madam Pomfrey declared.
"So this is settled. Will You wait here, Severus? I am going to send Dobby with some medical supplies right here as soon as we get back"
The old wizard leaned closer.
"One more time You saved the boy, Severus. Thank You..."
Before Snape could answer, the headmaster and the medi-witch had disappeared.