I'm back! This isn't beta-read so please ignore any errors! Enjoy!
Severus Pov:
"Harry….. Harry!" I shout at him, trying to calm him down and trying not to think of when I ceased calling him Potter and went straight to Harry.
I catch both of his arms in my hands and pin them down on his chest, cautious of his gaping wound. For a few moments he sits there, breathing heavily, a stormy look in his eye, as if he is trying to right himself.
He blinks suddenly, owlish in his movements.
"Prof..professor?" he questions lightly, blinking rapidly as if to get rid of the pain that comes with the sudden emittance of a bright light.
"Yes, Harry," I murmur softly, my hands instinctively finding their place in his hair, running through it softly, calmly.
I quickly catch myself and remove my hands, placing them stiffly at my side, hoping the boy didn't catch my change in nature.
"What happened" he asks softly, and my heart breaks at the way he drops his head, as if waiting for a beating. It's an action I know all too well.
"You were in the hallway," I tell him, "you're injured, I just want to help you. I can give you some potions, we can.."
"Wait," he bursts out, "Please, i'll do anything. You can't tell anyone, I promise it won't affect my schoolwork or anything." He grabs onto my arm as he continues rambling.
"Harry, Harry," I interrupt him, trying once again to calm the child. "I'm not going to tell anyone as long as you don't want me too. Although I do believe it would be best to tell your head of house and Professor Dumbledore, I will not do so against your will." My hand rests on his shoulder, and this time I don't pull away.
"I promise, I will never do anything to hurt you."
To myself I wonder who I am not supposed to tell and why. I know when I was younger, my father had that rule. If I were to tell anyone the beatings would be ten times worse. I hope that isn't the case with Harry. Guardians like that are brutal, I cannot imagine the things they have done to him.
I know I need to have this conversation with him eventually. He must confide in someone about what has happened, but at the moment, I am more focused on getting him calm and healing his wounds before they get worse.
Once again I take his hands in mine and lay them against the couch. I don't want to him to feel bound or trapped, but I don't him flailing and injuring himself further.
"Harry," I say softly, "will you please let me clean your wound?"
He sniffles softly and something inside me breaks, but I ignore it.
"Will it hurt?" He asks.
"I can give you a potion that will help with the pain, but anything stronger might be too dangerous."
One look at his body and I can tell he hasn't been eating properly. It looks like he's never had a full meal in his entire life. He's thin. Too thin. If I give him anything more than a simple pain potion his body won't be able to handle it. I add that to the list of things to talk to him about, and think of ways I can slip nutrients potions into his food.
"Okay," he says softly, and I let go of his hands slowly.
I hold out the pain potion and he reaches for it with shaking hands.
"Drink it slowly," I instruct him, "It might make you feel a little drowsy, but trust me, it'll help."
He shakily tips it back and I see him shutter as the vile liquid makes its way down his throat. I don't blame him. I grew up in the wizarding world and I'm still not used to it.
After he hands me back the glass, I set it aside me and get to work on his side.
It's infected. Very infected. The skin is torn at such an angle that it is hard to magically re-connect the skin, and even then, I need to make sure there is no internal damage before I close the wound.
It is a long process, and the boy seems to almost fall asleep before I put the last of his skin together. There is a faint pink line where the wound used to be, and I know it will serve as a reminder for the rest of his life of the mistreatment he has endured.
I softly lay him back down on the couch, careful not to tug at the newly connected skin, and cover him with two blankets.
Sighing softly, I run my fingers through his hair once more, before I turn off the lights and retire to my bed chambers, my thoughts racing a mile a minute.
-PAGE BREAK-
I wake up the next morning, more groggy and grumpy than normal. My head aches my eyes burn. I don't remember why, until I walk into the sitting room and catch Harry Potter sleeping soundly on my couch.
It is then that the events of last night catch up to me.
The hallway. Harry. His wounds.
I stumble for a bit as I remember the way my heart clenched when I looked at him, and my hands in his hair, my desire to soothe him, to protect him.
I'm actually scared as all those feelings make their way back to me, and instead of being repulsed, they stay and make their home in my heart.
Sighing quietly, I lift up the blankets and check Harry's wounds. The pink line, as expected as faded into a white scar, dominant on his pale skin.
Not wanting to wake him quite yet, but also conscious of the time, I call for a house elf to bring up breakfast, not thinking that Harry was quite ready to face the rest of Hogwarts.
I make sure to order oatmeal and fruit for the boy, not wanting to overwhelm him with heavy foods when it is obvious he has not been eating properly for some time.
I revel in having a few minutes for myself, where I can think about all that has happened.
The boy has been abused, that much is obvious. I don't know by who although I have a good idea. I very well cannot abandon him. Not now. Not after I know what he has gone through. If I had had anyone when I was that age, even my dispicable potions professor, I would have ended up loads better. He needs someone, and, seeing as how no one else knows but me, I will have to fill that role.
Somewhere deep inside me warms up at the thought. I have a purpose. I am needed. I will be here for this child, no matter what obstacles come his way, and knowing what I know about this boy and his enemy, there will be many.
My thoughts are interrupted by the pop, signalling the house elf has arrived with our breakfast.
I make my way into the sitting room, and take in the sight of my most hated enemies son, sleeping soundly on my bed. James must be rolling in the grave.
My mood brightens a little at the thought.
Softly, I shake Harry's shoulder, wanting to gently wake him up, being careful not to startle him anymore than he will already be at waking up in a foreign place.
His eyes flutter a few times, before blinking, taking in his surroundings.
Slowly, he sits up. Once his eyes fall on me, he flinches away.
"Hey, hey," I soothe him, "relax". At my words and my light touch, the tensions pulls from his frame and he relaxes into my touch.
"There," I tell him, content at his reaction, "now come, lets get some breakfast and we can talk about last night."
He follows me with his head down, shuffling his feet.
At the table, he takes the seat next to me, still quiet. He looks at his food and then back at me with a credulous eye.
"Its okay," I tell him gently, "you can eat."
"Why are we eating in here, sir? Why aren't we eating with the others in the Great Hall?"
"Because, I thought you'd be more comfortable here, and it gives us time to talk a little."
At that his whole frame shifts and he tenses up. He quickly looks down and plays with his oatmeal.
"Harry," I begin, "Who did this to you," I say, motioned to the cut on his side.
"Uhh… no one… please sir…" He stutters, shaking his head.
"No," I stop him gently. "Tell me, I promise you are safe, no matter who it was, you have my word that I won't tell a soul without your explicit permission. I need to know." I pause, "please", the word burning my tongue, It has been a while since that word came out.
"Promise?" He asks me softly, catching my eye.
"I promise", I reassure him.
"It was…. It was my uncle mostly, sometimes my aunt. I guess Dudley helped a little."
My heart breaks when I hear this, my fears confirmed. To have the people who are supposed to love and care for you treat you that way, breaks a person more than anything else. A family is supposed to, above all, support and take care you. My breaks my heart that revelation and I make a pact, right here, to be that for this boy. Be his family.
Hey guys! I'm back! Hope you guys like this chapter (it's v long:) ) Anyway we might not have school tomorrow because of snow, so I might work on another chapter! Let me know what you guys think! Love ya'll - Mack