Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, no matter how much I wish I did.

Chapter Fifteen, Hidden

When Harry awoke next, he was in a bed that was not his own. He cracked his eyes, and hissed in pain at the sudden onslaught of light. He clenched them tight again and rolled over, burying his face in the pillow. He noticed it smelled of bleach or something like it before the stinging pain came filtering through his tired mind.

He rolled back, and winced again. There was nowhere he could go to be comfortable.

"Ahh, Mr. Potter, awake at last, I see," said a cheery voice.

Harry didn't want to risk opening his eyes again, so he simply asked "Where am I?" to the blinding room.

"The Hospital Wing, of course," said the voice. "I should expect so, after all that you went through. Professor Snape wanted you to go to Saint Mungo's, but there was nothing wrong that I couldn't fix."

Memories, obscured by a hazy fog, wafted back to Harry. Pain. Terror. Helplessness. Ignoring the pain at present, Harry rolled onto his side and curled into a tight ball, from which he hoped to never be moved. He pulled the covers tight around him. He never wanted to feel that ever again. He could just stay here, and be safe.

A single tear fell from his tightly clenched eye and lit on the stark white pillow underneath him, staining it gray.

"Severus," said Madam Pomfrey said in a relieved sort of voice. "Yes, the boy is over here," she said, and two sets of footsteps made their way to where Harry lay, immobile.

"Thank you, Madam Pomfrey, said Severus in his most dignified voice. Never, in all his years, had such a thing happened. House infighting was nothing new, but to be abducted and tortured...Snape was torn in two. On one hand, he would have dearly loved getting his hands on the boy who had done this to Harry. On the other, he was glad Dumbledore had stopped him from reaching him.

Snape sat down next to Harry and watched him for a moment. He was inverting. That wasn't good.

"Harry," he said, surprised at himself. The tenderness in his voice was clear and real. He reached out and placed a hand on the boys shoulder. Harry flinched. "Harry, listen to me," he said, trying to be stern and comforting at the same time. Harry's head twitched to the side slightly, showing he was listening but not much else.

"You can't do this," said Snape. "You have to-" Harry cut him off

"Why not?" he demanded miserably. "Nobody wants me here. I don't belong here. I'm just something to gawk at." Harry sputtered into racking sobs.

Snape's hand clenched. He had seen this boy before. Bruised, battered, never going to leave bed. Himself. He couldn't speak for a moment. Clearing his throat didn't help the lump that had formed.

"Please, Harry, don't do this. This isn't what you need." He was trying his best to be strong for the boy.

"Then what do I need?" asked Harry with real anger in his voice. This Harry was so different from the Harry that had been sorted into his house, the Harry he had taken to Diagon Alley, the Harry at the Orphanage.

"You need to be strong," said Snape.

Harry pulled tighter into himself before finally relaxing. Snape's hand stayed where it was. What he wouldn't have given for even just a comforting touch when he was like this.

"Everyone knows me," said Harry in a hopeless voice. "I don't know anybody."

"Then change that. The first thing you need to do is to let them actually know you. Don't let yourself just be the Boy Who Lived. Let them know that Harry exists underneath Harry Potter."

"How am I supposed to do that?" asked Harry. "They don't want to see me. They just want an idol like in the Leaky Cauldron, or a villain, like here."

Snape smiled softly. "Funny thing about school aged children," he said, sitting up straight. "They care much more about what they see than what they hear. Walking out of this place, head held high, will be far more impressive than old stories."

Even as Snape watched, a smile spread across Harry's face.

"When can I get out of here, then?" Harry asked.

"I spoke with Madam Pomfrey about that. You will need to take a few more potions, but you will be out by the end of the day. And please, try to have patients. There is a very fine difference between bravery and idiocy. I don't want you becoming a Gryffindor, now."

Harry snickered at that, and stretched out again. "Don't worry, Professor, no hope of that."

Snape patted his hair. "I'm glad to hear it."

Harry looked up at Snape. "Sir?" he asked, almost cautiously. "Who was that boy? I don't remember his name."

Snape's face clouded over. "Gregory Rowle, a sixth year. Don't worry about him, he has been expelled."

Harry nodded. "Sir, if it's alright with you, I'd like to get some sleep."

Snape nodded and stood up. "Rest well, Mr. Potter. You will have homework waiting for you in the Common Room, I'm sure."

Harry scowled, then thought o something. "H-has anyone been to visit, sir?"

Snape masked his amused expression, before saying, "Mr.'s Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and Nott have all been to see you at some time today."

Harry smiled. They actually did care.

"They brought you some sweets, but I had to confiscate them or the time being. Chocolate works against some of the potions you're having to take, you see," said Snape, and Harry huffed.

"If you care that much, the sweets will be waiting for you in your dormitory," said Snape, shaking his head. Children and their candy.

"Sleep well, Harry."

"G'night, sir."

Harry rolled over, ignoring the stabbing pains in his side.

AN: New chapter, hope you like it.