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Harry Potter and the Father

Chapter 5

Will He Survive

"Shit!" said Severus Snape who could not believe his eyes, hands shaking he dug into his pocket and taking out the potions bag he carefully took the small nearly three year old out of the stinking cupboard, transfiguring something into a small mattress and three covers. Putting him down carefully, he took out a couple of potions he knew that should keep him stable until he got to the hospital wing and Poppy. Thank goodness for the fact he was always such a composed man or this would have driven him over the top. That's not to say he wasn't affected, his heart was breaking seeing the sight of his nephew in such a bad shape. He couldn't help but think what on earth would have happened if he hadn't found out. Also guilt settled in an uncomfortable pool in his stomach if he had only opened the letter right away, he would have already been out of this horrific place.

Harry didn't wake during all this just lay there limply not aware of his surroundings Severus uncorked the potion shakily he poured it in the small mouth rubbing the small delicate throat to swallow. Tears stinging his eyes, even as a Death Eater he had seen nothing as evil as this, the boy looked like a one year old not three. How could anyone to this to a child? It was just unfathomable. Even Voldemort didn't kill children or hadn't until he learned the prophecy. Even at that he had only planned on killing Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom boys of the prophecy he had never tortured any either as much as he hated to admit it Harry would have been better of it Voldemort had succeeded.

Harry opened his eyes just a tad, and saw a man making him better, he had never been pain free for as long as he remembered. Harry would have thought him scary if it wasn't for the simple fact he was helping when no one did. Despite himself Harry began to feel hope that he was saved at least. If it hadn't been for the pain he would have thought he was dreaming again.

Severus did all he could, before he delicately, wrapped Harry up in his blankets. Banishing the bottles, putting his potions bag back in his pocket. He lifted the little boy into his arms. His heart pounding a mile a minute, hoping against hope Harry would hold on for a while. He had to get to Poppy and quickly, he couldn't apparate in the house as there were wards up stopping such things. So without further ado, he walked out of the house, putting notice me not spells around them both he walked on. Avoiding bumping into any Muggles. As much as he wanted to stay and make Vernon and Petunia Dursley pay he couldn't Harry needed desperate medical attention.

Once he was clear of the wards he apparated knowing he didn't have to worry about anyone seeing him. He still had the spells around him, once he was at Hogwarts he cancelled the spells and broke out in a run, making sure not to jolt the child too much he skidded to a halt outside the hospital wing.

Bursting into the infirmary "Poppy get out here!" he demanded in a voice that would make most adults do as they were told. It also caused the bundle in his arms begin to shake. "Shhh little one, everything's alright now, Shhh" soothed Severus not caring who was there. Rocking the bundle back and forth as Poppy bewildered came though from her office wide eyed when she caught sight of the child. There was only one reason Severus Snape would bring a child that age to her - he or she was very badly hurt.

"Who is it?" asked Poppy quickly, getting the child onto the hospital wing bed making the child look even more impossibly young.

"Harry Potter" said Severus quietly. She shuddered and gasped when she saw the child, she had never seen anything like this in her life, she looked green, but she managed not to spill the contents of her stomach.

She barked "Well get two basins full of warm disinfectant water and clean all the wounds" she knew she could not do it on her own, it would take too long and by the looks of the child he didn't have long.

Severus got straight to business getting the water in the basins pouring the potions in he levitated them through to the infirmary, Poppy was just back after getting the clean cloths and nightclothes. They conjured sponges, took the disgusting rags the child had on, including one very dirty disgusting nappy. After that both healer and potions master began cleaning Harry Potter down. Severus or Poppy would sooth him if he came round.

Severus started cleaning Harry's face, which took over twenty minutes to get clean, under all the dirt and grime his faces was a colourful sunset of bruises, black purple and yellow, some fading some new. It took them an hour to finally get the child cleaned, without hurting him. They couldn't give him anything until they knew what they were looking at. Dreamless sleeping potion was dangerous with certain potions, so if he needed them it would just be a simple one. But finally he was clean, of the grime, dirt, excrement, bodily fluids, blood and pee.

Once she saw him properly she looked ready to kill someone, thankfully she didn't. Severus really needed her right now, Poppy began listing the potions she needed, which he didn't carry with him so he had to go to his quarters to get them. He didn't want Harry using year old potions anyway. He used the floo and was back up in a jiffy, Poppy was just getting Harry to swallow a sleeping potion. Not dreamless sleep, obviously Poppy needed to use a potion that went against it. Then proceeded to give him a potion for internal damage, also one to clean up after internal damage, such a blood in the kidney's, etc. where Vernon had taken great delight in kicking his nephew into the cupboard whenever the child had been allowed out.

Severus watched feeling rather sick when she began breaking his bones and resetting them again. Severus tried to stop himself thinking about anything by applying a bruise paste to the child's face, arms, legs and torso. They looked better already, unfortunately even magic couldn't get rid of anything instantaneously. The bruises would have to fade with time. The healing balm only reduced the swelling and in doing so helped reduce the pain.

Harry's private area was by far the worst, the ulcers were oozing and infected. Having to stop himself heaving Severus spread the potion on the wounds to get rid of the infections and ulcers. It was a long and messy process, but finally he could apply the skin knitting potion to stop any more infections the area was of course still red and sore looking. There was nothing more they could do about that.

"There, all bones that were broken have been fixed, try and get this in him Severus all of it" said Poppy tiredly; so far they had worked for six hours. It was nearly midnight, and using magic for extended periods of time was exhausting. Especially healing magic it was why hardly anyone became healers it took too much magic out of them.

They spent the rest of the night doing the finishing touches; they cleaned his hair and other smaller insignificant touches that had needed done. Poppy listed off potions that would need done, nutrition potion, vitamin potion, growth potion, calming draughts and of course pain relievers. Severus was forced to leave for something to eat; he went to the Great Hall and ate a small bite before he went back to the Hospital wing. He didn't want to leave Harry for long; he was too worried about him.

Harry was now dressed in a very long baggy snitch night gown, something Poppy had conjured for him. It had to be baggy so they could get it out without hurting his delicate body. Usually Poppy would have used the normal white gowns that opened at the back. She was obviously very fond of Harry and wanted him to be comfortable. Severus smoothly brushed back Harry's hair wondering what he looked like under the glamour.

Right now that wasn't his concern of course; he wouldn't be able to remove the charms until Harry was better. Doing that to him now could just be the tip of the ice berg and cause him to laps into a coma. It was very painful and magical draining not just on the one performing it but the one it's under.

"Severus! I told you to rest!" sighed Poppy shaking her head, as she wrote down on the chart.

"I know I'm sorry I just can't" sighed Severus she didn't even know why he was so concerned yet.

"I understand, Severus…where did you find him?" she asked as she called for a house elf. Ordering coffee and biscuits she sat down and waited on him talking.

"The Dursley's his aunt and Uncles" said Severus, which wasn't true anymore.

"They did this to him?" gasped Poppy, shocked.

"Yes, I got some news well…yesterday now, as it turns out Lily was my sister my twin sister" whispered Severus painfully.

"Oh dear" sighed Poppy why couldn't anything ever be easy for Severus.

"That's what I thought; in the letter she indicated that the Dursley's might be abusive. She also gave me guardianship of him, if I sign it I will become his father no one can contest it as its signed by James and Lily" sighed Severus grimly.

"Oh that's good! At least Dumbledore cannot insist he go back! But wait a minute…Severus…the blood wards" said Madam Pomfrey looking stunned.

"He has much to answer for, he promised Lily he wouldn't place Harry there if anything happened to them" said Severus furiously.

Poppy closed her eyes in horror, unable to believe what she was hearing. Dumbledore had discarded Lily's wants and placed him there after all? Dumbledore had broken a promise to a woman who had died for her son, who in turn avenged her and became the hero of the wizarding world. If there were no blood wards why had Dumbledore left him there? Dumbledore wasn't stupid he would have known there weren't blood wards.

"I see" said Poppy fury bubbling even more under her cool façade.

Suddenly Harry began stirring on the bed, obviously trapped in some horrible nightmare. Poppy went over, using a spell to stop him moving his body and undo all her work. Harry slowly woke up panicking even more when he couldn't move. Then a soft voice met his ears, telling him calm down and drink. He couldn't open his eyes right yet, but could peek through half lidded eyes. It was the same man as before, opening his mouth he enjoyed the drink, milk he believed he heard a woman's voice saying something about helping his new bones. It confused him greatly, it was taken away and Harry almost pouted. Instead a vial was pressed to his lips; he drank everything they insisted because he wanted another drink of that milk they had promised him. Finally the milk was placed in front of him, and he greedily gobbled the rest down. He flinched when a hand came out of nowhere, and was shocked when it began carding through his hair.

"It's alright little one, everything will be fine" soothed Severus, his long fingers carding through Harry's hair. Paying no mind to the flinch, even though it hurt he knew Harry couldn't help it - it was instinctive. Severus knew the pain reliever would leave Harry tired, groggily and passive.

The breathing evened out as Harry once again lost the fight for sleep; sleep was probably the best thing for him right now anyway. Your body recuperated faster when it was asleep, plus it helped if you slept off the worst of the pain. No doubt Harry was still re-growing those bones, yet he hadn't cried out.

"There that's the first lot of nutrition, vitamin, and growth potions and of course the pain reliever" said Poppy quickly putting the chart back after marking everything. The potions were too dangerous to give them Willy nilly. Poppy had to make sure she didn't over dose the child, as he was so small right now. She dropped her little pocket watch back in its place after marking the time before sitting back down looking relieved. She began sipping her coffee, after warming it back up again.

"Well Severus congratulations on a nephew" said Poppy smiling brightly.

"At least something good come out of it" sighed Severus softly.

"So if Dumbledore really did care about Harry why didn't he try and figure out why the blood wards weren't working?" asked Poppy adamantly.

"I have no idea" replied Severus feeling let down by the man he thought of as a mentor.

Will Dumbledore know Severus is Harry's Uncle and hoped to avoid it? R&R