It was six days later that Harry finally woke up, several days of Severus being near on frantic with worry, not sure if the boy was supposed to be sleeping so long.
Severus had made an appointment with the Goblins, with the agreement that they wouldn't meet until the boy had woken up and could speak his own part, he'd requested a home visitation even though that wasn't done too often.
Many things could be said about the goblins but they were sticklers to free will and their clients making their own choices free of manipulation, which included letting them make their own mistakes.
In his off time Severus had been reading potions texts and wizarding fairy tales to the boy, he'd read somewhere that those in a coma were rumored to be able to still hear what was happening around them and hoped that included magic-induced comas too.
Today was no different.
Severus was reading the Fountain of Fair Fortune from a well-loved version of the Tales of Beadle and Bard when the boy gave a small uncomfortable groan. Severus quickly closed the book, set it to the side, and watched with nervous anticipation thrumming through his veins, although he didn't let it show.
He observed how the boy's whole body started to tense up with awareness, the boy slowed his breath and tried to even them out again. He would be imitating sleep convincingly enough if Severus hadn't been watching him for nearly a week now, waiting for exactly this sign.
Quietly Severus pulled his wand out of his sleeve to summon his patronus, the doe dutifully leaping forwards to accept its task. He quickly sent it to Nick as their pre-arranged signal for the boy waking up while he wasn't around, then quickly hid his wand back in its sheath on his arm once again. He didn't want to startle the boy if he didn't know about magic yet, for all he knew this could be a muggle-born with no knowledge of the magical world.
"I know you are awake, but I do not want you to start panicking. My name is Severus Snape, I found you in the woods very injured. Try not to move around too much, you are still healing from your injuries," Severus explained in the quietest, calmest timber that he could manage.
The small boy's head turned towards the voice slowly and cautiously, whimpering quietly at the movement when it tugged at still healing wounds. The child's mouth opened to try to speak but he quickly closed it again, licking at his lips to try to bring forth some moisture.
"I am going to prop you up with some pillows and then help you drink some water okay?" Severus explained softly so the blind boy wouldn't panic at his touch, being very slow and deliberate where he placed his hands on the child as to not startle him too badly or cause any unnecessary pain. He still flinched a little at each touch but allowed Severus to move him up into a semi-sitting position so he could drink without choking, Severus used silent and wandless spells to conjure a cup and also fill it with some water. Guiding the boy into drinking slowly from the straw he'd quickly transfigured and praising him softly for his cooperation and trust as he obediently drank without trying to gulp it down all at once.
"Can you tell me your name? Or give me something I can call you?" Severus asked after setting the empty glass aside on the nightstand.
"They called me freak or boy …" The child managed in a quiet, raspy voice.
Severus had to hold in his anger and disbelief at the resigned expression the boy had on his face regarding the supposed names he had been assigned by whoever he used to be with, it both horrified and disgusted him to think the child had gone so long without knowing or having a name.
"Well," Severus began a little awkwardly "I won't be calling you either of those names," he sneered in disgust, "they are not proper names for a smart child such as you," Severus spoke firmly on the matter, complimenting the child in hopes he stopped looking so glum.
They would just have to learn his proper name through the goblins if he was ever given one that was.
"I'm sorry sir," the child timidly spoke up, his tone betraying his confusion.
"Why are you sorry?" Severus asked bewildered somewhat by the apology.
"I'm sorry that I don't have a good name for you to call me?" The child didn't seem confident in if that was what he should be sorry for specifically, that alone made sympathy spark in Severus' heart for the boy.
"Do not be sorry for that which you cannot control, it is a sign of weakness and more importantly you take responsibility for a guilt that is not yours to bear," Severus explained seriously but not harshly, he didn't want to scare the already traumatized child that reminded him too much of himself at that age.
"I'll try …" The child looked a little thoughtful at that, taking his words and seriously ruminating on what he said which made Severus all the more pleased. "Sir? Why can't I see?"
Severus sighed, he wasn't a person capable of explaining such a delicate thing to a child and he had hoped Nick would have been here to answer the question more delicately than he himself could. "Oh child, I wish I had a kinder way to tell you. Instead, I will settle for honesty, whoever attacked you damaged your eyes beyond repair. You are blind … permanently," he bluntly explained, a sigh escaping his lips, no one had ever accused him of having tact or good bedside manners.
"Blind? I won't see again?" The child asked in a small choked-up voice
"No … you won't. I am so very sorry child," Severus was at least sincere in this, he wouldn't wish that on anyone, especially not a child so young.
Slowly tears started to run down the child's face and Severus felt something in his heartbreak for the little boy who now would only have vague memories of color and what the world looked like, he'd never wished harm on anyone more than he was at that moment on the people who'd done this to a child.
It was then that Severus vowed to himself that he would do whatever he could to help this boy, he didn't care who his family was or what side he'd chose in this war.
Lady Magic heard this vow and made it true, binding Severus and Harry tighter together than anyone would know for a long time, if ever. She hoped this would help to heal both of her chosen and bring them back to the path she originally wanted for them.
~SC~
By the time Nick arrived at Severus' home that day Harry had calmed down and was quietly listening to Severus read to him, Nick knocked on the doorframe to Severus' bedroom which startled both Severus and Harry "sorry to scare you both, I would have been here sooner but my last patient had exploding pustules and it was safer I handled them than the nurses on duty," Nick explained with a smirk, he observed the small child slowly tensing up at his unexpected presence.
"It is alright child. This is Nicholas Griffith, he is a doctor and has been the one helping to care for you and make you well again," Severus tried to reassure the boy, to some extent.
"Nice to meet you sir …" Harry mumbled quietly.
"It's great to see you when you are awake for once, how are you feeling?" Nick asked in his usual jovial tone, trying to seem as non-threatening as possible.
"I'm fine," Harry firmly insisted, not wanting to be a nuisance.
"Considering the amount of bruising you still have, I'm not sure I believe you," Nick skeptically pointed out, Severus observed the flush of embarrassment on the child's face for being caught in his fib.
"Nick can't help you unless you tell him truthfully when you are in pain and how you feel. I know you have only just met us so you are not sure if you can actually trust us, but I swear to you that we mean you no harm and we only want to heal you," Severus told the child in the calmest voice he could muster with his deep timbered drawl, even though he was not known for his patience with children.
Harry sat still and took in the reassurance that calming voice offered so freely, he already felt comfortable around Severus and that scared him down to his very bones. He didn't know this Nick, but for some reason, he trusted that Severus wouldn't let anything bad happen to him while he was there, even if that meant trusting this newest stranger.
"I feel achy all over and my head is throbbing," Harry finally admitted making Severus smile in pride and accomplishment, pleased that the child had confided in them.
"Thank you for telling us that. We are going to give you some rather disgusting medicine, but you need to drink it all in order for it to help … okay?" Nick explained seriously to the kid, rather impressed with how Severus got him to open up and trust them as quickly as he had.
"Yes sir," was Harry's reply, knowing that despite the taste it would do him good.
Nick helped him drink a No. 2 pain reliever and a muscle relaxant, seeing the boy's shock at the instant feel of relief made him think muggle-born instantly. Silently he cast a diagnosis charm to make sure everything else was healing as it should, letting Severus distract the child whilst he read the results.
"Tomorrow after you have rested and had something to eat we are going to bring in two people so we can see who you are, for example, your name and if you have any relatives that could be missing you," Severus watched as the boy tensed up at his words, a bad feeling started to form in his gut, "Child … who attacked you? Remember that it isn't your fault and I can't help you if I don't know everything," Severus reassured, hoping he would answer now and not wait until tomorrow.
Harry felt panic start to rise in his chest 'what if he told them and they realized what a freak he really was? What if they took him back to the Dursleys? Uncle Vernon would make sure to kill him next time, he just knew it' those were the thoughts going through his head, fuelled by his panic and worry.
There was a quiet feeling within him, he couldn't pinpoint it, but it made him want to trust Severus. Taking a deep breath he decided to do just that, his feelings hadn't led him wrong yet.
"My Uncle Vernon …" he felt the words catch in his throat unable to say anymore despite wanting to, oh how he wanted to explain everything to this man.
Severus felt a deep kinship with this child, there was nothing worse than the betrayal of the family that is supposed to love and care for you but instead hurts you in the worst of ways, "Oh, child. I am so sorry. Can you tell me your family's names so I can find your real name?" Severus asked, also hoping with the names of his family he could press charges as well for child abuse and attempted murder.
It took less time than before for Harry to decide that he might as well trust Severus with everything, trusting that he would use the information for his benefit and not hurt him, "Vernon, Petunia, and Dudley Dursley of 4 Privet Drive, Surrey."
"Thank you," Severus was quiet after hearing that, a memory tickling the back of his mind of his childhood friend and her older sister's wedding to one Vernon Dursley.
Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, he had this bad feeling that he wasn't going to like what was going to come from the revelations this child would bring forth.
He sat back and took a good hard look at the boy, seeing past his injuries for the first time since he'd arrived. Severus knew Petunia only had one sister, and while he did not know about Vernon having any siblings, the bone structure and dark messy hair screamed Potter.
Why would Lily leave her child with her sister? She knew what Petunia was like, she'd grown up hated by her for her magic.
This child also looked younger than Donovan Potter, the child he knew Lily had back in 1980. Had Lily been pregnant when the Dark Lord attacked them or was there something else going on? Severus didn't like not having all the answers but he knew he would find them out eventually, he just hoped the situation didn't turn out like he was thinking it would.
"You should get some more rest kid, tomorrow will be a long day," Nick interjected, pulling Severus from his thoughts.
"Yes, you need to sleep, and tomorrow we will find out your real name," Severus decided firmly.
"What if … What if I don't have a name?" Harry asked worriedly, insecurity and uncertainty rearing its head.
"Then I will give you one that will suit you," Severus reassured, it was obviously the right thing to do because the boy gave a slight smile that lit up his gaunt face.
"Will you read to me again sometime?" The child's question was quiet and timid but it gave him hope that he was getting more comfortable with him, asking for something so soon.
"Yes, I will read to you again tomorrow. Good night child," Severus tucked him in, thinking about how his mother used to do that for him when he was sick and he'd always felt so loved after. The boy didn't flinch this time when he tucked the blanket under him, Severus smiled pleased with the progress in such a short time.
Following Nick out of the bedroom moments later, he left the door cracked so he could check in without disturbing the child through the night. Hopefully tomorrow they would finally have some more answers as to who the child was and why he was left with Vernon and Petunia if he really was Lily and James Potter's child.
Out in the living area Nick said his goodbyes to Severus and left him the results of the diagnosis so he could see how well the child was healing, he was coming along very well after such a gruesome attack.
Severus poured himself a glass of scotch after Nick had flooed out, sat on his favorite chair, and just tried to relax. Tomorrow would bring uncomfortable truths and would be emotionally stressful for both him and the child, he just knew it. He felt extremely sure that the child was Lily's but now he needed to know the circumstances surrounding his abandonment if it even was abandonment. His cynicism voiced that no reason would be good enough for leaving her child to Petunia's mercy, he had zero optimism for what would be discovered in the following days.
Downing the rest of his drink as he stood, he checked in on the child and then transfigured his sofa into a bed to get some sleep.
Tomorrow he would be alert and ready for whatever challenges there would be in discovering the boy's identity, he would also be ready to provide whatever comfort he could for the boy. Severus wasn't the most touchy-feely and soft emotions type of person but he could relate to the child and he knew his harsh temperament would only be a detriment to the boy, the last thing he wanted to do was hurt that child and ruin the tentative trust he had gained.
Trust is such a precious and fragile thing after all, especially for those like him and that boy.