AN: It goes without saying, if you recognize it, I don't own it. I hope you enjoy.
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His green eyes snapped open. Taking stock of the situation he knew he was in a bed, under a blanket, and his head was on a pillow. Something was really really wrong here. The room was massive, twenty beds lined the long room and his was closest to the back. There were several windows along the far wall, giving a nice view of the night sky.
Harry blinked as he looked at the window a second time. "It's dark outside, Uncle Vernon may actually kill me this time" he said as he jumped out of the bed and in a panic headed towards the big door at the end of the room. While he may not know where to go, big doors almost always were a way out.
"I can assure you, he will do no such thing." the familiar drawl of the potions master startled the young child. "You must return to the bed to continue the healing process." He motioned back towards the empty bed.
The young boy hesitated a moment "He's telling no lies, your body is already stronger than it was. We need whatever help they are willing to give" with a brief nod, he slowly walked back and sat down on the edge.
"Sir, what happened? Where am I? Why am I here?" he couldn't stop himself, his eyes shot open and he covered his mouth before he bowed his head "I'm sorry sir, I spoke out of line"
In a move that left Poppy Pomfrey watching speechless from her door, Severus Snape kneeled down in front of the Potter child and took his chin with an index finger; looking him in the eye "Hear this, and trust me when I say this. You...did...nothing...wrong. You had what is called a 'panic attack' thanks in no part to the machinations of those who have abused you. You are currently in bed number one in the Hogwarts infirmary. You are here to get healed."
Every urge in his body told him not to ask, but the little voice urged him on "S-sir, what about my family? Aren't they expecting me back?"
Snape grimaced as he thought back to a conversation between himself, the mediwitch and the headmaster.
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"Albus, I called you here to discuss a patient that's currently in a diagnostic coma while I figure out just what's been done to him." Poppy Pomfrey handed over a parchment with a list of injuries and a timeline associated.
His eyes got wider the farther down the page he went. It started with cuts and bruising as a baby, leading up to five broken wrists in the last two years. "My word..." he mumbled as he continued down the page. "And you say this is a patient you have right now? Are you needing permission to move him to Saint Mungos? If so, you have it."
Severus Snape looked a bit green. "We can't, sir."
"And why not? If a patient needs to be transferred to a proper facility, I don't see where you really have a say in the matter." Albus Dumbledore said, the bass in his voice almost rumbling. He could be a very persuasive man when it called for.
The potions professor sighed as he looked into the hard blue eyes of his boss "You are holding the medical diagnostic of Harry Potter. This injuries have come at the hands of his family."
The color drained from the headmaster's face and the anger was replaced by a sense of panic at the thought of what the public would do. "Very well Severus, he stays here for the time being. I think I shall be having a talk with Petunia Dursley tomorrow morning. Poppy, please keep me informed of young mister Potter's condition." with that, the headmaster left the pair alone.
"I really wish I could go with him and give those vile muggles the glowing end of my wand" The aged mediwitch almost spat. She huffed and went back to her medical journal, hoping to make sure the strong potions wouldn't be too harsh on the small boy.
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"You...shall not be returning to the Dursleys." Snape said in a tone that left no question. He handed the boy a small vial of a dark liquid. "Drink this, it will help you sleep. The bed has a monitoring charm, if you need anything, just touch the top of the headboard and Madame Pomfrey or one of her assistants will be with you shortly." Harry nodded as he tipped the liquid down, he was asleep before his head hit the pillow.
The next morning he woke up rather refreshed and, for the first time that he could remember, well rested. While he has seen many things since being introduced to the magical world, he wasn't prepared for the elderly gentleman walking towards him with a tray. Harry tensed a bit as the man sat down on the bed beside his and floated the tray over.
"I wasn't sure what you liked, my boy, so I had the elves put together some of our first years' favorites." the Headmaster smiled as Harry's jaw dropped at the spread. Surely this was more than enough to feed him for a week, didn't they know he didn't deserve more than a slice of toast and some warm tap water? It costs far too much to feed him anything more.
"S-sir, I think you have made a mistake. I don't want to get in trouble for eating anything more than I deserve. P-please, just give me my toast and water and I promise I won't make any trouble for you." He squeaked out, his eyes pleading that he was telling the truth. He would do anything to avoid being sent away. "Just let me know when I can start cleaning, I'm sure there's been too much spent on my behalf already with me being in this bed as long as I have."
If Albus Dumbledore wasn't convinced that he was capable of making mistakes before, he was now. Most first years wouldn't have blinked twice before diving into the sweetened oatmeal, the pastries, and assorted breakfast meats. Instead, this child was begging for leniency and promising that all he would need was burned bread and flavorless water? "No mistakes have been made, my boy. You are free to eat whatever you like and however much you want of it. If you run out, we can get you more." the boy looked confused and a bit apprehensive "go on, try the turnover. When I was your age, they tended to be my favorites"
As Harry reached over the tray and picked up the pastry he heard in the back of his mind "You need your strength, these will taste far better than those potions mister Snape and the nurse had been giving us" a smile played at his lips as he bit into the flaky crust. "Lemon curd! This has lemon curd in it!" He blushed as he realized he said that out loud. Three bites and it was gone.
Blue eyes started to twinkle a bit as he watched the boy eat bits and pieces from the plates on the tray. Eventually, as with anyone who has ever stared down a plate of food, it was gone and a little belly was filled. The headmaster waved his wand and the tray was gone leaving the two. "Now mister Potter, I need to know something. Be completely honest with me when I ask you this question. Would you want to return to the Dursleys if you had the option?"
The look that crossed the young child's face said more than started to panic "But, but mister Snape said I wouldn't be going back. Please I will do anything to stay here! I can mop, I can sweep, I can...I can..." he started to hyperventilate.
"Poppy! I need a calming draught now!" Dumbledore shouted, in a flash a small house elf in a nurse's cap was at his side, a bottle in it's hands. Popping the cork, he handed it to the boy and helped him drink. Instantly, the boy relaxed and sagged in the bed. "I am so sorry, my boy. I have wronged you yet again. You shall never return to the Dursleys against your will. I promise you this." The moment soon passed and the pair sat in an awkward silence. "Since you haven't been sorted yet, you will be staying in the guest quarters for the time being. If you would like I can introduce you to some of your professors." The small boy nodded.
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The weeks passed rather quickly. Harry Potter was not used to this level of...boredom. He was used to being told when to do something, where to go to do it, and to always be on his best behavior.
He remembered being told about Herbology and eventually found himself helping out in the greenhouses more than anything. Professor Sprout fell in love with the boy and was thrilled that he seemed to truly have a gift with the plants. Between young mister Potter and what she had been hearing of the scion Longbottom, things would be looking up in the world of Herbology for the foreseeable future.
That's not to say he spent all his days in the dirt and fertilizer. The staff had become quite used to seeing mister Potter and Professor Snape talking about potions meal times when the group would eat at a round communal table in a less formal dining room rather than the great hall. Professor Snape had encouraged Harry to learn as much as he could about the ingredients and to understand what could happen if the ingredients were not properly respected.
The day was upon them. It was the day he was to be sorted and finally get his house assignment. He couldn't sleep and was almost bouncing in his seat at breakfast. Looking over the top of his half moon glasses, Dumbledore smiled as he spoke "It seems that someone is a bit anxious this morning. If I didn't know better, I would think that the glass in front of mister Potter contained Professor Vector's coffee and not the pumpkin juice that I saw him pour" Harry blushed and calmed himself down. "Now now, my boy, after breakfast come to my office and bring your trunk."
Thirty minutes later, the pair were standing in front of the fireplace in the headmaster's office, the young boy holding a handful of floo powder. "When you get to the station, the train will be directly in front of you. Head straight on and find a compartment. The elves made you a lunch, I'm sure there's more than enough if you want to share." He handed over a small basket with a lid. "Well, Harry, are you ready?" The boy grinned "yes we are" he nodded vigorously.
"Platform nine and three quarters!" Harry almost shouted at the fireplace. As the flames turned from orange to green, he stepped through.
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AN: Thought I would end this here. This wound up being longer than I had intended. Again, if you are still with me on this, thank you. Chapter five will be the train ride and possibly the sorting. Not really sure where to place him but I have my leanings. If anyone out there wants to give me some suggestions on different houses for some of the other characters, let me know now and I'll do my best.