It's My Life
Harry had the worst night of sleep in a long time, and had wished by 3:00 am when he woke up that he'd let Draco go Severus for some pain relief. Harry did end up leaving the dorm to use the bathroom, but it was to throw up twice and end up sitting on the floor until the nausea passed. Harry crawled back into bed by 3:30 am and had been awake until the lights went on at 6 am. Harry didn't worry with a shower as he did the night before, but he got dressed in his robes and waited in the common room for his friends to be ready.
"You alright, Harry?" Pansy asked as she was down first from her dorm room.
"Yeah, I just didn't sleep well." Harry admitted.
"Don't forget to tell Professor Snape about yesterday. When he came here, we only mentioned that it was Dumbledore and Umbridge, also that you were furious." Pansy reminded.
"I'll tell him later when classes are over." Harry replied as he was rubbing his wrist.
"Harry, you're hurt…" Pansy gently took Harry's wrist and inspected the indented nail marks that were likely from Dolores Umbridge. Pansy saw where some spots had broken skin, but were already beginning to heal. There was also the bruising from a hard grip. "You don't deserve this kind of treatment."
"I'm okay. I've lived through worse, Pans," Harry stated. "Don't worry about me. I'm a survivor."
"We're your friends, we can worry." Pansy smiled.
"I know and I'm grateful." Harry nodded.
"Well, who is hungry?" Blaise announced as he meandered down the stairs with Vincent, Gregory, Theodore, and Draco.
Harry truly wasn't, but knew Severus would be on him if he didn't eat. "Starving," Harry responded.
"Then let's go!" Theodore urged them.
Without another word, they left the common room with Harry ending up leading them through the corridors and up to the great hall to file in with everyone else. Harry sat down with his friends and kept pretty quiet as breakfast appeared before them all. Severus was in his place at the head table, catching Draco's eyes and silently asking if Harry was alright. Draco slightly shook his head to the man, mouthing, I don't think so. Severus could see it easily, Harry's depression was probably acting up with everything going on. Not that it ever truly went away, but this meant his recovery was going backwards and he needed to step in for the welfare of his ward.
. . .
Breakfast went through quietly, friends talking among one another. Severus ate, but watched Harry the whole time. The teenager ate in silence and he saw Harry occasionally reach up and press his palm to his forehead. The scar had to be hurting him for Harry to put a hand to it with his head bowed. Harry looked tired and barely ate anything, which Severus only expected if the boy wasn't feeling well or just too miserable. Severus wanted to know what happened with Albus and Dolores because even Minerva was looking angry, her lips in a thin line. Severus had glanced over to see Albus and Dolores talking, not knowing what about, but their glances at Harry said that he was topic.
When breakfast ended, Harry was one of the first up with his things and leaving the room. Classes carried through as always, but when it came time for potions; Severus planned to hold Harry back and talk to him. Right now, he was waiting for classes to dismiss so Harry's year could come in and hurry through; he hoped time would stop dragging on. It was only 2:00 pm. Meanwhile, when classes did end and students rushed the halls, Harry had broken off from his friends when they passed a bathroom and he entered.
"Something's wrong, Draco…" Pansy said gently. "I talked to him this morning; his wrists are bruised and have nail marks in them. He's miserable, and said he didn't sleep well."
"I think everything is getting to him." Theodore mentioned.
"I don't imagine it wouldn't be. Before he only had to worry about the dark lord, now he has to deal with the usual Defense teacher problems and Dumbledore. I think the only teacher who didn't try to attack him was Mr. Lupin, even though he technically did, it wasn't his fault." Blaise remarked.
"I'll go check on him," Draco went into the restroom and saw that nobody else was in there but him and probably Harry. "Harry?"
"Yeah?" Harry replied. He sounded awful.
"You okay?" Draco questioned.
"I'm…Fine. Just go to class, Dray. I'll catch up," Harry told him.
"You don't sound alright, Harry. Why don't you let me take you Madam Pomfrey? I think you're getting sick." Draco offered.
"I told you, it's just stress…" Harry remarked. "Go on, you're gonna be late."
"So will you, but Uncle Sev will understand if I'm with you." Draco stated. "Come on, let me help. And it's not just stress, Harry…Don't think I don't know about you throwing up this morning." Silence. "Let me take you to the hospital wing."
"I can get there on my own. Will you just…Go to class. Tell Severus for me…" Harry asked.
"Alright…Let me know. As soon as class lets out, we'll come see you. Expect that Severus might too." Draco informed, then he left the bathroom to meet with his friends. "He's going to the hospital wing and we'll see him later. Let's go."
Getting to the potions room last, they quickly found their seats as Severus took a quick survey to find that Harry wasn't among them. Instead of making a big deal, or calling the boy out, Severus simply started the lesson and everyone got to work. Class finally ended at 3:30 pm and Severus watched as Harry's friends were preparing to leave.
"Draco…" Severus stated. The teenager moved over to his godfather. "Tell me where he is."
"Unless he was sent back to the dorm to rest, I expect he's with Madam Pomfrey in the hospital wing, Uncle Severus…" Draco responded.
"He's ill?" Severus questioned.
"We don't know, sir," Pansy spoke up.
"What she means is that he didn't sleep well last night, and got up sometime in the middle of it to throw up. Draco followed to check on him, that's how we know. He was in the bathroom for thirty minutes before returning to the bed and he never went back to sleep. That was around 3 am." Blaise informed.
"He barely ate breakfast, or lunch," Gregory added.
"And on our way here, he broke off to the restroom. I went in after him and he said he was fine, but I told him he wasn't. I offered to take him to the hospital wing, but he said it was stress and not to worry. After a minute, he told me to go to class and let you know that he was going to Madam Pomfrey on his own." Draco told his godfather.
"Thank you. I will check on him…" Severus stated.
"He might be back in the common room already…" Theodore reminded.
"That's why I'm only calling the hospital wing to ask Madam Pomfrey if he's still there…" Severus drawled. "Off with you lot."
Unable to argue, they left as Severus went up to his office and tossed some powder into the fireplace. "Hospital Wing, Hogwarts."
"Severus! So lovely to hear from you. Is this a call to warn me another student is on their way down after some potions accident?" Poppy greeted.
"No problems today, Poppy. I'm inquiring about Mr. Potter, who was absent from my class. I was informed by Mr. Malfoy that he went to see you." Severus asked.
"Ah, yes…He did come by at 2:15 pm saying that he didn't feel well. I examined him, but found no illnesses. I asked about his symptoms and he said fatigue, headache, no appetite and slight nausea, but did admit to throwing up early this morning and just before coming to see me. I honestly think it's stress, Severus. The poor boy never catches a break. Nevertheless, I sent him back to his dorm to rest after giving him headache relief and stomach soother potions." Poppy enlightened.
"Thank you, Poppy." Severus responded.
"Send him back if he gets worse." Poppy remarked.
"Of course." Severus backed out and relaxed in his chair.
For now, he would let Harry rest. The teen probably was stressed out and angry, but that's why Severus wanted to know what happened. It could wait; he'd probably see Harry for dinner and they'd talk after that, provided Harry was up for it. Severus wasn't just his teacher, but his guardian, so he had to ensure the boy was alright before anything else.
. . .
The hours ticked by as Harry did indeed sleep soundlessly for hours after getting back to the dorm. When dinner time came, Harry remained asleep, so they left him be. Severus saw when Harry didn't come to the meal, so this now meant he'd have to go see the boy himself. Harry becoming sick was a bad thing, especially if Voldemort found out. After dinner, Severus was in his room and going over a couple things first. He would see Harry before curfew to talk to him; it couldn't be avoided. At 9:30 pm, Severus left his desk and went to leave his room, but there was a knock on the door. Severus opened the door to find Harry standing there.
"Harry," Severus said calmly.
"I need to talk to you about something from last night." Harry said softly. "If you have the time, of course…I know it's late."
"Come right in," Severus stepped aside to invite Harry in. "I always have time for my snakes, especially you and Draco." He informed lightly. Once the teenager was inside, Severus closed the door and made sure the wards were set up so that they wouldn't be bothered or heard. Severus led Harry to the couch, and let the boy take a seat. "First let me ask if you're alright. Draco told me you went to the hospital wing, and Poppy informed me that she believes you're suffering symptoms of stress…"
"I'm still exhausted and my head feels like it's splitting in two…It's probably stress. Merlin knows my life has never been easy, probably never will be. I thought my only problem was going to be the dark lord, but it's turning out to be him as the least of my problems while Dumbledore and Umbridge are the mains. I never thought I'd say that, but it's the truth this year, at least…" Harry muttered.
Severus went over to his stand up cabinet and pulled out a potion, then returned to sitting next to Harry. "Here. This is a headache potion, level ten. It's got the strength of muggle's morphine to target migraines."
"I didn't know there were levels of pain potions…" Harry stated.
"Most people don't because they're all the same color and basically made the same way. The only thing that changes is the amount of the ingredients used. Headache and pain potions range from levels one to ten, with levels six through ten working to relieve migraines. One through five are your average headaches." Severus explained.
"I can't do much about your exhaustion, unfortunately…Except a Pepper-Up, but I don't want to give that to you this late." Severus stated. "Your fatigue likely comes from sleeping all day, and missing meals. But I understand that your appetite is being affected by the stress. You really should try to eat something, Harry…I can get Dobby to bring you a small bite to eat?"
"No, thank you…I know I didn't eat much for breakfast, but I still ate a little each meal. As for dinner, I dug out that nutrient potion you had me taking at the start of the term. Your spell for it to be automatic refillable was still active, so I took that before coming here." Harry mentioned as Severus gave him the headache potion. Harry downed it and gave the vial back to Severus.
"Wise thinking on your part," Severus told him. "Now…What happened last night with Dumbledore and Umbridge?"
"It started with Umbridge in her office, she kept me after class to tell me that I was failing her class and there would be a meeting with the headmaster after dinner. Then she demanded I remove the glamour on my hand. I refused, and she went to use the spell canceling charm but I told her that if she took it off; it would reveal the blood quill's work she caused and that I would go right to the papers with what she did. She seemed to back off and I left." Harry told him.
"She shouldn't have been able to see the glamour, unless Albus has been teaching her Legilimency…" Severus sighed. "But either way…It got her to leave you alone. What happened with Dumbledore?"
"That one you may just want to look in my mind at…It's easier than me explaining it word for word," Harry enlightened.
"Very well, relax yourself and let me in…" Severus instructed. Harry did so as Severus used the Legilimens spell to dive into Harry's mind and find the scene from last night. He did, of course, watch the exchange and how Harry used his idea of copying all his work and holding onto it.
Severus saw that Albus had no choice but to make Dolores change the grade to completed work and no longer failing. After that, Minerva seemed to leave and Severus pulled back before he caused Harry another headache from the intrusion. "I assume there is more to last night than just this?"
"Yes, sir," Harry nodded. "After Professor McGonagall left, Albus called me out on the glamour. I refused multiple times to remove it and he only got angrier, even going as far to accuse me of being a death eater, and that I was hiding the mark." Severus scoffed at the idea, clearly annoyed at what Dumbledore pulled. "When I tried to leave the room, he did the same thing he did as before with putting the barrier up to keep me from leaving the room. Umbridge grabbed my wrist and dragged me over to Albus, who wandlessly and wordlessly removed the glamour…And they saw the rings."
Harry lowered his head. "And how did things go from there? Did you tell him I allowed it as your temporary guardian?"
"No, Professor. But Albus did argue with me that I wasn't of age to have the rings, and only my magical guardian could sit in as proxy. He told me to take them off and I said no. Umbridge tried and she got blasted backwards. Was actually kind of funny too. It went back and forth, even Albus grabbed my wrist and told me that he'd take me to the Wizengamot to petition their removal. And…I just got so mad at everything going on with them. I got angry and cold, Severus." Harry informed.
"What happened from there?" Severus questioned.
"I remarked you dare place your hands on Lord Potter-Slytherin and then baited him to go ahead and take me before the Wizengamot. I told him that for once in the last fourteen years, he would find that he has no power over me. That he couldn't control me anymore…And I don't know what happened. He had his hands on my arms, pretty sure he bruised me…I know my wrist is from Umbridge, along with the indents from her nails that cut into my skin." Harry remarked.
Severus saw him rub his right wrist and gently reached over to take the appendage and inspect it. "There…Was this white aura around me and whatever it was made Dumbledore let go. When I saw his hands…They were burned. This aura lashed out to force them both back with these…Whip-like tendrils. I faced the doorway and punched through the barrier, making it shatter…Then I went back to the common room after, I suppose, powered down?"
Severus stared at the teenager before him. What had caused such an outburst like that? He'd never heard of it before. "It sounds like your magic physically manifested to protect you." Severus guessed. "I've never heard of such before, but I'll look into it to find out what I can. In the meantime, you know what I'm going to tell you…This needs to be submitted to the investigation. It might be the last push to remove his guardianship permanently. Would you consent to show me your arms, if you are indeed bruised. I have a salve for that…"
Harry nodded as he rolled up his pajama sleeves and sure enough, there were handprint bruises on the boy's forearms. Severus went to get his salve from the same cabinet and apply it to the affected areas, including the teen's wrist. "You want to take the memory from my head, or should I…You probably should, I didn't even grab my wand when I left the dorm to come here."
"I will, get it in mind from the beginning. Also…As a precautionary measure, I want to take the detentions with Umbridge too. I warned her not to touch you again or there'd be problems." Severus said.
"I'm not sure if you saw the bit where Albus gave her permission to punish me again." Harry muttered.
"Has she tried?" Severus asked.
"No, but she's looking for any reason to." Harry admitted.
"If she does anything, you come right to me." Severus instructed. "Now, get the memories in mind…I'll take the one with Dumbledore first." Harry nodded as he solely focused on last night, and Severus set the tip of his wand to Harry's temple, then pull the memory strand from his head, and put it in a bottle he had ready. "Alright, now the ones with Umbridge…"
Harry refocused himself to those seventeen days of detentions, all the times with that quill and the excessive work she made him do without magic. Even all the assignments she failed and included the exchange from last night when it was proven she tried to show him as the troublemaker. Severus pulled the memories and set them into another container and ensured it was labeled, just as he did with the ones from Dumbledore.
"You're still tired…" Severus told Harry. "Is this everything that happened?" Harry nodded. "Alright, why don't you head back to the dorm and get some more rest? If you need anything through the night, let me know or come get me. Do you have any work due?"
"Just in Defense, but she assigns work every night that's due the next day…" Harry mumbled.
"Take this," Severus went over to his desk and quickly wrote out something on a small piece of parchment, then waved it dry and brought it back to Harry. "If you go to class tomorrow and the work isn't done yet, give her this. It's a signed note from me explaining you fell ill yesterday and have been excused for not making the deadline and have until Friday. If you are still feeling like this tomorrow, I want you to stay in the dorm and rest. Give that note to Draco and instruct him to take it around to each of your classes to explain why you are not present. Understand?"
"Yes, sir…" Harry replied as he took the note and carefully folded it up and held it in his hand.
"And you can use the nutrient potion until your appetite returns, but if you can eat…Please try to." Severus mentioned. "I'll check on you periodically through the day if you miss classes with this," He summoned over a small round mirror, it looked like a pocket watch, and gave it to Harry. "It's a two way-mirror, just like the one you use to talk to Sirius and Remus while here. You'll know when I'm calling; it'll give a light vibration. If you do not answer, I'll assume you're sleeping. If you end up going back to the hospital wing, inform me."
"Yes, Professor," Harry let a yawn slip.
"Good, now off you go. I'll take care of these," He held up the vials. "Thank you for coming and letting me know about what happened."
"You can't help me if you don't know everything, right?" Harry stood up.
"That's right. Good boy…" Severus nodded. "On your way." He led the teenager over to the door.
"Good night, Sev," Harry went out the door. "Oh…And Happy Birthday."
It took Severus by surprise, but the man gave a soft smile. "Thank you. The last person to ever wish me such was your mother. It means a lot…Rest well, Harry," Severus replied.