Betrayals, Truths and Family
Chapter 19: A Long Recovery Ahead
Severus was sitting by Harry's bedside, holding his smaller, pale hand in his own. Harry was still asleep, he had been for twenty four hours. There was a golden dome over his bed which provided him with extra oxygen, helping him to breathe whilst his lungs were still healing. And thankfully the goblins had been klind enough to key Severus, and Draco, into the wards of the dome so that they could hold onto him, letting him know, somehow, in his unconscious state, that they were still there for him.
Though Draco was also still asleep after the magic expended in his early creature inheritance that was still, slowly, forming in him. The more magical sides of it, anyway.
Healer Greyclaw appeared on the other side of Harry's bed, looking between him and Severus with concerned eyes as she also looked at the runes on that side of the dome, telling her how Harry was doing.
"He has a long recovery ahead of him," she said softly and Severus nodded in agreement, "But I'm sure he'll pull through, with a father as caring as you, and with the rest of your family at his side,"
"I hope so," Severus muttered, his thumb rubbing gently against his son's knuckles.
"Given that his mate has come into his inheritance early, he may also. I don't know when he will if he does though. Preferably it would be when he is still asleep as the production of his reproductive organs is painful and I don't know if he will be able to cope with that after what has just happened to him, but I don't know," she said, her voice and eyes concerned as she looked over Harry's frail body.
"Do you know when he is going to wake up?" Severus asked, desperate for any piece of information regarding his son's condition.
He needed to know that his son was going to be okay. Eventually.
"I don't know that, either," she said with a soft sigh, "He has been through a lot. His body and mind need time to begin healing. And there might be chance that, given everything, his mind might decide to not wake up,"
His heart clenched in pain at the thought of his baby not waking up.
"Is there anything we can do? To help him? To make him want to wake up?" Severus said, ignoring how his voice cracked.
"Talk to him. Remind him how loved he is. That you are here, waiting, wanting to help him and look after him. Hold his hand. Tell him he doesn't have to go back to Hogwarts if he doesn't want to. At least, not until it is safe, and those who have hurt him are punished. Tell him that you are punishing them. That the Veela court, the goblins, the Malfoys, and yourself are all working on punishing them. Let him know that things will be okay, one day, hopefully soon. Just… Just let him know that you are here," she said.
"The Veela court aren't here," Severus whispered.
"Yet," she said with a grin, "They are on their way, and when they get here and hear about all that has happened with yourself and Harry they will be… well, let's just say it will be a sight to see. And when they want to get something done, they get it done quick. There will be nothing stopping them from, say, storming the school or the wizengamot when he is there and capturing him, and then doing the same for everyone else involved. You know that. They will be done soon. And Harry needs to know that. He needs to know that he will be safe, and that he is loved, and that there are people waiting for him to wake up, who will help him get through this and everything else. He needs to know he has a mate, and perhaps who it is, too. So when young Draco wakes up, he should talk to Harry, too, hold his hand, let Harry feel his magic as you are letting Harry feel yours,"
Severus hummed tiredly. He felt so very drained, lethargic. Like he was lost. He was warm and cold at the same time. And all he wanted to do was sleep, preferably with Harry in his arms. He felt like he was missing something. Like something was creeping up on him. And he didn't know what, but he hadn't the energy to figure it out.
"Are you feeling okay, Severus?" she asked gently.
"Hm, just tired," he whispered.
"Lay with him. Get some sleep. You're going to need it so that you have the energy to help him," she said, concerned, "Do you want me to check you over? I might be able to give you a potion to help depending on what is going on?"
"No, I'll be fine after some sleep," hopefully, he was certainly feeling a sense of impending doom that he didn't like, but he probably just needed some sleep, right?
He moved to lay next to Harry's small body, being careful not to aggravate his injuries too much, his arm going over the small waist.
"Is this okay? Am I hurting him?" Severus asked quietly, looking at the healer goblin with worried eyes.
She smiled at him, "You're not hurting him, no. This will only help him, I assure you,"
Severus nodded, looking back at his son wearily.
"He'll be okay, Severus," she said.
Severus hummed, "I hope so,"
"I'll leave you both to rest, and check on you every hour. Let me know if you need anything, or if you change your mind about me checking you over," she said softly.
"Thank you," he nodded.
She was just leaving them when the door practically banged open revealing Lucius, Narcissa, King Ragnok, and two older, royal, Veelas who were looking rather angry, feeling it too given the magic streaming off them. Lucius and Narcissa looked confused, and angry, and the King looked almost as furious as the Veelas.
But Severus was too tired to care.
"Excuse me, but I have three patients trying to get some much needed sleep," Healer Greyclaw growled.
"We are sorry for the interruption," the male Veela said, "However we came as soon as Lucius here sent us the letter telling us of what happened, and a few key things which are very troubling to us,"
"And I do believe that it can wait until my patients have had their sleep. Unless it is something that is life threatening, of course," Healer Greyclaw said, and Severus was having a lot of trouble keeping his eyes open.
The female Veela moved towards the bed Harry and Severus was on, her anger turning into concern, and understanding as Severus' gently pulled Harry closer to him, holding him protectively against his chest.
"I'm not going to hurt him, Severus, or you for that matter," she said softly, "I just need to know how your magic is feeling right now, is it just making you tired or is there something else there, too?" she knelt beside the bed, and Severus briefly thought of how wrong it was that royalty was kneeling next to him, but he couldn't find it in him to care as he looked at her with tired eyes.
"Why?" he said, his voice shaky.
"So we know what we need to do to help you in this moment, and over the coming days," she said, her voice still ever so soft.
Worry clenched his tired heart, "Help me with what?"
"I think that conversation can wait until you are more awake, sweetie," she said with concerned eyes, "But I really do need to know how your magic feels right now,"
"It feels… confused, and tired, and stressed, and it hurts a little, too," Severus said tiredly.
"Okay. Do you feel hot and cold at the same time?" she asked, concerned.
He raised an eyebrow at her, confused as to how she could possibly know that, but he nodded anyway.
"Okay, we'll let you get some sleep whilst we work on some plans for punishment," she said softly, looking at him with sad, concerned eyes.
He nodded again and finally let his eyes drift shut.
Hiya, how are you all today?
I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Feel free to let me know your thoughts on everything that has happened so far and where you think the story is going, etc. or for things you might like to see as the story progresses. Even if it is just something small.
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