End of Term

It was the last week of Hogwarts. Madam Pomfrey hadn't much to do since no patient was lying in any of the beds in the hospital wing, but she was still waiting. She had made it clear to one of the students that he was to meet with her at the end of term and she had begun to fear that the student had forgotten their appointment.

Out of concern that there might be some side effects from the inoculations, it would not be wise to wait until the last day. Sighing, she turned to the fireplace and threw some floo powder into it.

"Severus Snape," she called and waited.

After some time the head of the potion master appeared. "Yes? What do you need? Did someone manage to hurt himself in the last week of term?" Severus sneered.

"No. No. Everything is quiet here. In fact it is too quiet. Have you seen Mr. Potter lately?" Madam Pomfrey asked with a small line of worry between her eyes.

Alarmed, Severus' brows drew together. "Not out of lessons, why?"

"Well, he still hasn't shown up for his inoculations, and he shouldn't wait any longer as we don't know how he will react to the vaccines. Will you ask him to see me, or shall I send him a note?"

"I will talk to the boy. He will be in the hospital wing after lunch!" Severus said definitely.

"Okay, thank you. I will prepare everything!"

-xox-

Severus sighed. He should have known that Harry would forget his inoculations. Even he had forgotten about them, after all the events of the last few days. Harry wasn't happy about the fact that he had to see his relatives again, although he knew that Severus would be nearby.

Severus found Harry outside with his friends near the lake. They sat in the grass in the shadow of the old oak tree. Harry started laughing, and Severus nearly froze as it sounded exactly like Lily. It was rare for Harry to laugh like this. Obviously he loved being with his friends.

Hermione was the one who first spotted Professor Snape's approach, and she tapped Harry on the shoulder, causing the boy to turn to look at Snape.

Severus was sure the smile would vanish immediately, but it didn't. Harry still smiled as he stood up and took some steps towards the Professor.

As Severus came to a halt, all three Gryffindors were standing.

"I'm sorry to disturb your little chat, but Madam Pomfrey asked me to remind you of your inoculations. I guaranteed that you would see her after lunch."

Now the smile on the boy's face vanished. "Today?" he asked nervously.

"Yes. Today. As there is the chance of side effects you should not wait any longer."

"Side effects?" the boy repeated uncomfortably.

"There may not be any, but it's better to get them over with," Severus suggested.

Harry lowered his head and wrapped his arms around his torso.

"It won't be that bad." Severus tried to encourage the boy.

But Harry just nodded once, not looking up again.

-oxo-

"Severus!" Madam Pomfrey's voice called for the second time that day. She sounded worried so Severus assumed Harry didn't show up.

"What is it? Do I have to look for Mr. Potter?"

"Well, no. But I need your help. Would you come through?"

Bewildered, Severus nodded and stepped into the fireplace. As he left Madam Pomfrey's office, he immediately spotted Harry on one of the beds. The boy was trembling and curled up into a small ball.

"I cannot calm him down. Maybe he will listen to you. It's impossible to inoculate him in this state."

"Harry?" Severus called the boy, but Harry didn't response. "Harry! It's Professor Snape. Would you please look at me?"

But there was still no reaction from the boy.

Severus touched Harry's shoulder and again called Harry's name.

This time the boy shivered and whispered. "I will be good. I will be good. Please, don't. I will be good. I promise." It was clear that the boy didn't know where he was or who was with him.

"I know you are good. You came here as you promised, although you have fear. You are good. You are brave. I'm proud of you!"

Now something clicked in Harry's mind. Nobody ever said that he was proud of him, nobody except… Snape. Slowly Harry raised his head, peering over his arms and searching for Severus' eyes.

"Professor?"

"Yes, Harry. Care to tell me what happened?" Severus asked and sat down at the end of Harry's bed.

The boy lowered his head again. "I'm sorry," he mumbled.

Severus shook his head. "There is nothing to be sorry for. I assume you have bad memories?"

Harry just nodded.

"But you can trust Madam Pomfrey. She will not hurt you."

"I don't like needles," Harry whispered.

"Who does?" Severus returned the question.

"Why can't I just drink a potion?"

The corners of Severus' mouth twitched into a smile. He had also wondered this when he was a child. But now he knew the answer. "Because the vaccine is too aggressive for your tongue and your throat. It belongs in your blood stream and there is just one way to do that."

"Can't you just spell the stuff into me?" Harry tried again, unaware that he was asking the same questions thousands of other wizard kids had already asked.

"That's impossible. I don't know the exact location of your veins and even if I did, they are very thin, and it would be too risky."

Harry sighed unhappily.

"Harry, what is the big deal? You faced down a lot of danger this year. One or two little stings are nothing compared with that. What are you afraid of?" Severus asked curiously.

"I don't know. I panic at the sight of needles."

"Well, you don't have to watch. I can talk to you while Madam Pomfrey-"

"No!" Harry shook his head vehemently.

"Harry, this has to be done. There is no way out of this."

"I don't want to!"

Now it was Severus who sighed. He looked into the frantic face of boy, and then an idea struck him.

"What if I were the one to give you the injection? Would you trust me not to hurt you?"

"Can you do it?" Harry asked, unsure.

"Well, I don't have as much experience as Madam Pomfrey, but I know what to do."

"And it won't hurt?" Harry asked, still skeptical.

"Not more than the sting of an insect. And I can heal it immediately afterwards if you wish. You will not feel anything when you are done, except a bit tired. So you should not have any plans for the rest of the day and if you feel in any way unwell you should come to Madam Pomfrey immediately so she can fix it, okay?"

Harry gulped but nodded. Severus took the tray with two syringes from Madam Pomfrey and placed it on the night stand.

"Where do you want it? In your arm, or…"

"In the arm!" Harry said before Severus could finish his sentence.

"But it would hurt less the other way."

Harry still shook his head adamantly.

Madam Pomfrey gave Severus a little piece of cotton which smelled of alcohol. "As you wish," with these words Severus cleaned a spot on Harry's upper arm and took up the first vaccination.

Harry stared at the long needle, and his eyes grew larger the closer the needle got. Then he squeezed his eyes shut, unable to stand the sight any longer. He prepared himself for the pain and waited. He felt a faint sting in his arm, but shortly after that he just felt Snape's fingers pressing against his skin.

"Here you go. For the second jab I need your other arm."

Surprised, Harry opened his eyes. That was it? He looked at Snape with wide eyes. As the professor took the second syringe, Harry closed his eyes again but this time he didn't screw them shut. It felt just like the first jab, and as Harry opened his eyes again he couldn't believe that it didn't hurt more. In his memories the school doctor always slammed the needle into his arm in such a way that Harry got bruises which lasted for weeks.

"Do you need healing?" Severus asked, as he watched Harry look closely at his arms.

"No, I barely felt anything," Harry said, still astonished. But then he lowered his head. Once again he had made a fool of himself. Why did he get in such a panic over some stupid needles?

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

"And may I ask what you are sorry for?" Severus asked, perplexed.

"That I freaked out."

"Believe me, you are not the first and won't be the last. Your father, for example, was the same, and he didn't have bad memories like you. He was just a coward when it came to needles. But you are no coward. You showed a large amount of trust today, and I'm proud of you."

Harry smiled shyly. "You've said that a lot in the last few days."

"Well, I am!"

A little tear of happiness escaped Harry's eye. He still couldn't believe that someone would say such a thing to him, but he knew Snape wouldn't say it if he didn't mean it. Harry felt so grateful towards Professor Snape. The professor had done so much for him already.

Severus stroked the single tear away, brushing over Harry's cheek. He was astonished at Harry's display of trust. After his talk with Harry and his decision not to spank the boy, it seemed the child had learned to trust him. Severus had never imaged that, but Harry's trust was like a gift the boy had given him.

-oxo-

At dinner Harry felt awfully tired but happy in a strange way.

"Everything okay?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah. I'm just tired. Professor Snape said I may feel like this after the inoculations. So I guess everything is fine."

"You're sure? You look a bit green in the face."

"Leave him alone, Hermione. He got an inoculation against dragon pox, and it's a normal reaction, it will vanish after a good sleep," Ron told the girl. He too had gotten a little green in the face after his dragon pox inoculation.

"But-" Hermione started to argue but stopped midsentence as Harry's face landed in his plate.

"That's also a normal reaction?" Hermione asked angrily and then shook Harry at his shoulder, but her friend didn't respond.

Ron didn't know what to say now. Hermione looked at the teacher's table for help. It was Snape who noticed her look. As the Professor caught sight at Harry he stood up immediately and rushed over.

"What happened?" he said while he felt for Harry's pulse.

"He was extremely tired and looked a bit green in the face," Hermione explained.

Carefully Professor Snape pulled Harry out of his dinner. He noticed a trace of saliva at the corners of Harry's mouth.

"Did he say anything about a strange taste?" the professor wanted to know.

"I don't think he ate anything, Sir. He just stared at his food before he blacked out."

"We need to bring him to the infirmary," Severus said and pulled Harry into his arms.

The Gryffindors stared at the strange sight. The most hated Slytherin Professor carrying a Gryffindor in his arms. But the strangest thing was the worry written all over his face.

"You never do things the easy way, do you?" Severus asked Harry's still form as he hurried through the corridors with Hermione and Ron at his heels.

"What happed?" Madame Pomfrey asked as Severus called her.

"A bad reaction to the dragon pox vaccine," Severus explained, "It seems he is also running a fever."

"Oh, dear. He doesn't look good," Madam Pomfrey said.

"Why is Harry reacting so badly?" Hermione asked while the medi witch waved her wand up and down Harry's body.

"Maybe because he still underweight," Professor Snape answered. He had been shocked at the boy's light weight as he carried Harry to the hospital wing.

"Yes. I shall give him a Vitamin-Cocktail and the fever reducer. But that's all I can do. Then we have to wait and see."

"We want to stay with him!" Hermione said.

"I don't think-" Madam Pomfrey started but Severus interrupted her, "Just until curfew! Then I will take over."

The children nodded. Madam Pomfrey glared at Severus but vanished into her office without another word.

-xox-

Harry woke up in the middle of the night, sneezing. Then he yelped terrified as he noticed some sparks coming from his nose as he sneezed.

At that Severus woke and his head shot up, scaring Harry again. A second yelp escaped the boy.

"Harry, what is it?" Severus asked alarmed.

"There were sparks. When I sneezed, sparks came out. I got the dragon pox!" Harry panicked.

"Calm down, child. You are not ill. These reactions to the vaccine are similar to the symptoms of the dragon pox, but they will vanish in a day."

"Did you know this would happen?" the boy asked, still worried.

"No. Normally you wouldn't react that badly but you are still malnourished. Aren't you eating regularly?"

"I do, but I wasn't very hungry the last few days."

"It's important for you to get regular meals. If you aren't hungry then you will need a potion."

"What for? I won't be able to eat much when I'm back at the Dursleys," Harry suddenly cried angrily.

"Says who?" Severus demanded to know.

"They do. They don't want me to eat their food," Harry said.

"So you are starving yourself to prepare for these unhealthy conditions?" Severus asked.

Harry didn't answer. Severus looked sternly at the boy. "You will eat properly even at the Dursleys. Professor Dumbledore made that clear to your relatives."

The boy looked unsure. "I don't think I will have much appetite, when I'm back."

"I know, I understand. But you have to watch your health. You can get seriously ill if you don't eat properly."

Harry hung his head. A silence grew between professor and student.

"What time is it?" Harry asked suddenly.

"I don't know exactly, but I guess it's about two o'clock in the morning."

Surprised, Harry looked at Severus. He wondered why the professor was with him in the middle of the night.

"How are you feeling?" Severus asked.

"I'm cold, but okay."

Severus felt Harry's forehead. "Your skin is still very hot. I will bring you a fever reducer." At this Severus stood up and went to Madam Pomfrey's office. Shortly after he came back with a vial in his hand. He handed it to Harry and the boy drank it, making a face at the awful taste.

"Where is Madam Promfrey?" Harry asked curiously.

"I told her to go to sleep as I will watch over you." Severus informed.

"You don't have to. I mean it's nice, but… aren't you tired too?" Harry asked, uneasy.

"I'm your guardian. I am responsible for you. I will stay with you until you feel better."

"Nobody ever did that," the boy whispered, touched. "The Dursleys sent me out of the way, mostly to my cupboard. But if I was terribly ill they'd send me for a cure, as they called it. It meant they'd send me to Aunt Marge. She was happy filling me with medicine which tasted awful and if I didn't obey her…"

"Don't tell she beat you even if you were ill," Severus said, alarmed.

The boy hung his head again but didn't answer.

"I will make sure you will never see that woman again. She belongs in a madhouse."

A small chuckle escaped Harry at Severus' furious tone. It was so good to have the professor on his side. In Harry's eyes he was the best guardian in the world.

"I mean it!" Severus snapped. "I wonder how you ever got well at her hand."

"I wonder myself, but as horrible as it was, her ice bath mostly cured my fever. And when I had chicken pox she tied my hands to my back, so I couldn't scratch. It was terrible and my whole body itched, but the spots went away very fast. After two days she untied my hands, but she caught me once or twice as I scratched absentmindedly at the nearly healed skin. I begged her not to tie my hands again and she agreed, but she spanked me with her slipper for every single time I scratched."

Harry didn't notice the angry look on Severus face as he told his story. Severus was boiling inside. He wished he could give some of these tortures back to this unbelievable woman. How was it possible that someone like her could run free?

"Harry, do you understand that her methods were completely inhuman and pure torture?" Severus demanded.

"It felt like torture to me, but it helped me," Harry said.

"There are many other ways to cope with illness. Filling you up with medicines you do not need and harming you isn't okay. If you had told a policeman your aunt would have been sent straight to prison."

"But-" Harry started, only to be interrupted again.

"No buts. Torturing people is a crime!"

Harry jerked at Severus' hard tone. Now he noticed the angry look of his professor. While Harry wondered why Snape cared that deeply about his past, Severus went on. "It's shocking that adults can have this power over a child and silence them effectively with the threat of punishment. And it's more shocking that children don't realize when adults break the law. But how should they?"

"You already said I don't have to see her again. So it's okay," Harry tried to calm Snape down, but it didn't work.

"No, it's definitely not okay!"

Harry sighed. He would never have imaged that someone would rail against the unfairness of his life so vehemently like Professor Snape was doing now. Harry guessed the best thing to do was to let his professor rant.

Severus realized he had lost his temper and took some deep breaths to calm himself down again. He should not lose his composure in front of Harry. What would the boy think of him?

"Sorry!" Severus finally said.

Harry smiled at him and then he scrambled closer so he could hug his professor. He was happy that Snape was showing normal human feelings in his presence, not like in lessons where the professor hid his true self behind an emotionless mask.

Severus laid an arm around Harry while with his other hand he stroked Harry's hair. The boy closed his eyes and a moment later he was fast asleep again.

-o-

The next time Harry woke it was morning. A plate with breakfast was on his night stand but there was no sign of Snape or Madam Pomfrey. Wondering, Harry sat up only to notice the bed next to him was occupied. He felt for his glasses and put them on his nose and recognized the form of his professor sleeping peacefully in the bed.

"Oh good, you are awake!" Madam Pomfrey came into the room. "How are you feeling?"

"Erm… better!" Harry said.

"You look better, too. The greenish tint has vanished. You should eat at least half of your plate. And drink your vitamin cocktail," Madam Pomfrey commanded.

Harry nodded, and then looked back at Snape. No wonder the man was sleeping now, he had stayed with Harry the whole night.

"Your guardian will be all right when he wakes up, but don't be too loud. He wakes easily."

Harry nodded again. Madam Pomfrey checked Harry's fever and was pleased to learn that it was gone too.

"After breakfast, you are free to go," she informed the boy and then disappeared back into her office.

When Harry had finished his breakfast, he was unsure what to do. He looked at his professor and wondered if he should wait until Snape woke up or if he should leave the infirmary.

"What are you waiting for? You heard Madam Pomfrey. You are free to go," Severus suddenly said and opened his eyes, looking at Harry.

"You're awake?" Harry asked surprised.

"As Madam Pomfrey said: I wake easily. But why the woman had to inform you of this in such a loud voice is beyond me."

Harry smiled. He was relieved that Snape didn't wake up because of him.

"So are you trying to get some more sleep?" Harry asked.

At these words Severus sat up in the bed. "No. Definitely not here."

Harry chuckled. He had to agree that Snape didn't fit in at the infirmary.

"But aren't you tired, Sir?"

"I will survive." Professor Snape stood up and walked to the door out of the hospital wing. Harry followed him automatically.

-oxo-

The rest of the week spun by and soon Harry found himself packing his things.

"I can't believe that it's over," Ron said happily.

"Yeah," Harry grumbled. He wasn't excited to go home.

"I will miss you! I write you every day! I will ask mum if you can visit us. I would like to show you our house and my room," Ron went on.

"That would be nice. But I'm not sure I'll be allowed to." Harry had not asked Snape if he would be able to see his friend over the holidays.

Harry was in a trance-like state as he pulled his trunk down into the Great Hall. He was surrounded with happy chattering students and felt in an odd way misplaced. He was definitely not looking forward to see his uncle waiting for him at Kings Cross.

With his hands in his pocket he clutched at one little piece of paper. It was a note from Professor Snape. He would be coming to dinner at the Dursleys to see if everything was fine, at least as much as it could ever be for Harry.

---

AN: Well. That's it for now. The story will find an end here. But the sequell will be in work soon. So the story will go on. Propably not at fast as these last chapters, as my german version need my attention now. The start of the sequell will contains some similars to the second book but mostly it will stand on it's own.

In the end I will thank my beta reader kbinnz and I hope we will work together at the sequell too. And of course I thank you for reading my story and those who gave me reviews a special thanks.