Chapter 4

Disclaimer: I do not own Dobby, Dumbledore or Snape...unfortunately , though I could use a houseelf. As usual, all characters are copyright by J.K Rowling and Warner Brothers and no copyright infringement is intended, as this work is strictly non commercial.

Several hours later, Snape was sitting in his living room, surrounded by four solid walls full of books.
A muffled sound told him, that the infernal elf was indeed rummaging in the kitchen..that was probably the only good side to all of this.. having an elf do the household chores and the cooking.
He helped himself to a small glass of absinth, which he levitated out of the small cupboard.
What a day.. how could he let Dumbledore talk him into taking care of Harry Potter...of all people.
He took a sip from the greenish liqueur. Maybe he would get some minutes of rest while the boy was still asleep in the small guest room. Very small guest room indeed..well, Potter would have to get accustomed to that, he was not a rich man. No special care for the golden boy...Snape smirked..and just then the small voice in his mind spoke up again.
"You should know better by now Severus...this boy isn't pampered.. You saw his bruises..didn't you... he'd probably be happy with that small room..if he was just treated like a human being..and not like some criminal freak..."
"Its none of my business..." Snape told himself energetically."None at all.. this..meddling elf is here to take care of him and that's all.."
Suddenly he cocked his head..there was noise upstairs? Wasn't it? He reached for his wand and rose, when with a loud crack the houseelf appeared right before him.
" You..I should have known...What are You doing up there? Rearranging my furniture?"the potions master demanded exasperated.
"No please Sir..." Dobby looked downtrodden and his ears were drooping.
"Its Harry Potter, Sir..please... Dobby cannot wake him up...and he is having a nightmare Sir.."
Snape took the stairs in a few long strides, whereas the elf scurried nervously after him.
Harry was twitching nervously in his bed, eyes closed. He murmured anxiously in his sleep.
"Please Sir..Dobby wanted to help but Dobby could.."
"Keep Your mouth shut..." Snape cut the elves explanations short, as he lent over the bed to lay his hand on the boys forehead.
It was hot and sweaty.. and, as the professor noticed, his scar seemed inflamed and red.
"This is not good at all.." he muttered."Dobby..get me that bag Madam Pomfrey packed
" This instant.."
Glad to make himself useful, the small elf shoved the big black leather bag next to the bed.
"No..please.. I don't want to..please..don't kill Hedwig.. no..please.."
To his own surprise, Snape found himself trying to soothe the boy, telling him it was alright, nobody would hurt his bird, while he took two potion vials out of the bag.
He pushed Harries back up and fed the unconscious boy one spoonful of each potion. Dobby watched with his big protruding eyes.
He squirmed at first, but then Snapes firm grasp seemed to reassure him, as the potions started to take effect.
Snape sighed "I suppose he will be better... " He turned to leave, but just as he walked through the door, Dobby tugged at his coat.
"Please... Sir..look..." he pleaded. The boy had started murmuring and fidgeting again.
Oh no.. he couldn't..sit with Potter? Could he? But before he could leave , he heard that small voice again.

" But nobody will know..he is just a kid.. a troubled kid at that...treated worse than even the son of arrogant James Potter deserves to be treated. Remember, when You were ill...and all alone?"
The elf started to smile broadly . as the potions master went back ,and quickly adopted a more innocent mien, as Snape gave him a near deadly glare, that dared him tell anybody...
Snape accioed a book from downstairs and tried to make himself comfortable in the shaky chair, that had been old and worn when he was a child.
"Dobby will bring dinner.. and chicken soup for Harry Potter... and..." Catching the look in Snapes face, he quickly disappeared..leaving Snape and the unconscious boy alone.
Snapes presence obviously reassured the boy, but still he was murmuring in his sleep, his eyelids fluttering and once he even raised his arm, as if to shelter himself from blow.
„Potter ..its al right..nobody will hurt You..." Snape was not good at soothing children and he knew it, but he could not just sit there and watch the boys nightmare. Carefully he pulled Harries arm down on the bed cover.
"Just sleep, you are ill..that's all..." at least explaining what was wrong sounded somewhat better than murmuring silly phrases like a dottering old nursemaid, after all..Potter was nearly 16..wasn't he.
To his utter embarrassment, the boy held fast to his hand and wouldn't let it go, grabbed it like some lucky charm. Snape could not pull it back without being rough, and he did not want that right now..after all, the boy needed his sleep, he was in a fever...it was just plain commons sense, letting him rest, even if it was a bit uncomfortable.
Some time later a small head with too big floppy ears showed in the door., only to witness the astounding sight of Severus Snape, that greasy git, the black bat of the dungeons of Hogwarts, ex death eater and grouch extraordinaire, sitting beside Harry Potters bed, having his hand held firmly by the sleeping boy, telling him in a soothing voice the difference between a draught of living death and a simple calming draught...

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