The throbbing in Harry's head roused him from sleep along with the smell of old books and some strange medicinal aroma filling his nostrils. Somehow, it reminded him of Arabella Figgs' house, only hers smelled like cabbage. He slowly cracked his eyes open and found himself on top of a bed. He blinked several times before looking around until he found his glasses on the bedside table. His arms felt heavy as he moved to grab them and put them over his eyes to see better.
With his vision clear, he looked around and saw it was a simple bedroom with all the necessary furniture and no personal decorations. It took him a minute to remember what happened before he blacked out. He tried to sit up but bit his lips when his body gave a sharp cry of protest. He was sore all over, and moving his right leg became excruciating. As he struggled to sit up, he pulled the covers off and saw the lower part of his right leg heavily bandaged.
"You suffered a transverse bone fracture in your right leg along with a concussion when you fell off that branch." A voice drawled out.
Harry looked up and saw the same dark man in the doorway carrying a tray of bottles, one of them looked like a skeleton. No longer did he wear that long billowing robe, but he still wore that long-sleeved attire that never dampened his frightening appearance.
Harry immediately tensed up as the man entered the room.
The dark man paused when he saw how the boy put his guard up. "I'm not going to hurt you." He said in a calm tone that didn't betray his emotions even as he carried that sour look on his face.
That hardly calmed Harry down as he glanced around, "Where is she?"
The dark man placed the tray on the bed side, "Carrietta White is fine, she's still sleeping right now. Where you currently are is my home in Cokeworth." He added without looking at the boy as he prepared his medicine.
"Who are you, and how did you know our names?" Harry asked the man who didn't pause in his task.
"My name is Severus Snape, I know who you are because my Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, sent me and several others to look for you when you left the Dursleys." He answered, making the boy tense even more.
"That's impossible. No one even knows of our existence and highly doubt my relatives would even bother to report me missing." Harry said with some bitterness at the thought of his so-called family.
"You're right, they would not." Severus agreed as he pulled a chair to sit beside him, "However, Professor Dumbledore was upset by your sudden disappearance. So much so that he confronted the Dursleys, quite angrily might I add." He let out a breath, "Then we met Margaret White, I found her...mental instability quite disturbing. She even had the audacity to attack me with a knife." He added with a look of mild annoyance.
Harry nodded grimly, "You must've caught her on a good day."
"You'll be happy to know that she's been sent to an institution to receive treatment for her illness. Carrie has already been informed. She won't ever go that to that woman." Severus told the boy, who appeared relieved knowing Carrie will never be trapped by that wicked woman.
He breathed shakily then locked eyes with Severus, "What will happen to me? Am I to be sent back to the Dursleys?"
"Dumbledore believes that is the only option in regard for your safety." Severus informed her, keeping his expression calm as he watched the boy's face.
Harry clenched his teeth behind his lips before he shook his head furiously, "I'm not going back."
"Potter-"
"No!" Harry cut him off, "I don't want to go back to the cupboard under the stairs again!" His eyes were wide with fear and anger, "If I'm going to die, let it be out there, not with the Dursleys!" He exclaimed, ready to run no matter how painful it will be with his leg.
Severus was silent as Harry breathed deeply after that outburst.
"Are you done?" Severus asked but didn't wait for an answer, "Good. Because you're not going back to them."
Harry's eyes widened, "But, you just said-"
"Dumbledore believes it's the only option. Doesn't mean it's the right one." Severus stated with a deep frown, "Given their less than favorable treatment of you and your preference for living in the woods rather than your relatives, you'll be under my care and supervision."
Harry had to blink multiple times upon hearing that, "Are you serious? I-I don't have to go back there?" He asked, disbelief mixed with hope in his green eyes.
"That's right. Besides, the Dursleys are dealing with their own circumstances. It would be dangerous to put you back there." Severus added, much to the boy's relief.
Harry relaxed his stance, "Thank you." He took deep breaths to calm himself down then remembered, "But what about Carrie, what will happen to her?"
"Well, considering your closeness to each other and your codependency, I thought it would be prudent to have her under my roof as well." Severus informed the boy, much to his relief.
"Now then, drink this, it's to help mend the fracture in your bones." Severus said as he uncapped the skeleton bottle and poured the correct amount into a cup and handed it to Harry.
Harry apprehensively took the cup and sniffed it. He grimaced at the burning smell and glanced at Severus, "Will this taste bad?"
"'Bad' is just the gentle way of describing it. Luckily, I have juice to wash out the taste when you're done." Severus assured him with an expectant look.
Harry frowned as he stared at the contents in his cup. Taking a deep breath, he summoned his courage while performing the sign of the cross. He pinched his nose and downed the drink. He winced as his mouth burned from the taste. Quickly giving the cup back to Severus, he clamped a hand to his mouth tightly, still pinching his nose as he swallowed it all in one painful gulp.
Severus watched as Harry slowly lowered his hands to his lap, his face calm and composed as he breathed in deeply. His composure fell after a moment as he gagged, his eyes filled with pain.
"What did I put in my mouth? Ugh, it's evil!" Harry exclaimed as he opened and closed his mouth repeatedly between gags.
"Oh, stop being so dramatic. Most children spew it out on the tiniest sip. You took it like a man." Severus said, mildly impressed by how the boy went in headfirst with the Skele-gro potion. Without much word, he poured a glass of juice in a separate cup and handed it to Harry. At the smell of something sweet and fruity, he drank the contents, crying in relief as the taste of strawberry and lemon cleansed his mouth.
"Better?"
Harry put the cup down, "My mouth still feels violated." He shivered, "What was that exactly?" He asked as Severus took the cup from him.
"Skele-gro potion. Though the taste is most unpleasant, it will help your bones heal faster." Severus informed the boy as he recapped the bottles.
A knock on the doorframe made the two occupants in the room turn to see Carrie in a fresh set of pajamas, her hair was in disarray from sleep as she stood at the entrance.
"Is it safe for me to enter?" Carrie asked Severus.
"It's alright, you came at the right time." Severus beckoned the girl to come inside as she hesitantly entered. Her face held guilt the closer she got to Harry.
"Harry, I'm so sorry." Carrie said as she carefully wrapped her thin arms around the boy.
Harry hugged her, "It's alright, trust me, I've had worse." He assured her which earned a raised eyebrow from Severus.
Harry mouthed to the older man, "What? I did."
Severus sat up and offered the chair to Carrie, "Now that you both are awake, it's high time you were told the truth." He said as he leaned against the desk.
Though confused, the children sat and waited for the man to explain.
Severus kept his face composed, "I'm sure you two are already aware of how... different you are from other people."
The kids nodded grimly as Carrie's hand found Harry's, a habit she developed during the course of their friendship when needing an anchor to keep herself calm.
"Have you ever wondered why that is?"
"Mm... Mama always said I was the spawn of a demon." Carrie answered morbidly.
"Aunt Petunia called me a freak." Harry chimed in, already used to the cruel label.
Severus bowed his head for a moment and clenched his jaw before raising his head up, "To some that is how they see it, but that is not what you are." He paused for a moment before he revealed to them, "You are a witch and a wizard."
Carrie and Harry stared at him for a moment then glanced at each other cluelessly.
"Um, sir, they don't exist." Harry stated in disbelief.
"Actually, I think my mother called me a 'witch' at some point saying how they are the devil's servants." Carrie said as she remembered during one of her mother's rants when she witnessed her oddity.
"In response to your statements; yes, Harry Potter they do exist considering how you both have used magic these last few weeks, and no, Carrie White, we are not the devil's servants." Severus explained to the children.
It took the two outcasts a moment to realize that what the man told them is true.
Harry pulled Carrie close and whispered, "You see any deniability in any of this?"
"No, I can't even argue given our circumstances." Carrie whispered back before pulling away to address the man who watched their interaction.
"Sir, if we have...magic..." Harry began, still not used to the idea of such a thing existing, "...Does that make us a danger to society? If that's the case, we can go back to the forest and not bother anyone."
Carrie nodded in fierce agreement, "Normal people don't want us around them anyway."
Severus sighed, "First off, neither of you are meant to live in the forest, that would be negligent. Second, there's a reason why I was sent to find you two." He opened the desk drawer and pulled out two envelopes and handed them to the children.
Carrie and Harry held their letters that were addressed to them. Without much prompting, they opened the envelopes and read the contents inside. As their eyes read the words, their mouths fell open as they reached the end of the message.
"'Hogwart's School for Witchcraft and Wizardry?'" Harry exclaimed as he reread the letter and looked up at Severus in shock, "Us?"
"That's right Potter, you and Ms. White will attend the school among other students to learn the art of magic." Severus explained to the children.
"Harry..." Carrie squeezed his hand, "...There are more people...like us." She said, her face filled with shock, surprise, and hope. "We're not the only ones."
Harry turned to Severus, "How many students are there exactly?"
"Over a hundred in total. Every year we get a new batch of 20-30 first years. You included." Severus estimated having over ten years of teaching the students.
"'We?' Sir, do you work there as well?" Harry felt the need to ask.
Severus nodded, "I teach Potions at the school."
"Neat." Carrie said, looking interested at the idea of mixing things together.
"Don't get ahead of yourself, it's much more complex than you think." Severus warned the girl who nodded, but didn't look deterred.
"Wait, what's the date today?" Harry asked when he saw the date for the beginning of school.
"It is currently July 11. There's hardly a need for you to worry about being late." Severus informed him when he caught the look of panic in the boy's eyes.
"You were also asleep for five days." Carrie added, much to Harry's surprise.
"Five days?"
"You hit the tree branch particularly hard during the fall. Luckily, I know some healing spells to speed up your recovery. Though I had to feed you small bits of nutrients while you slept. I also noticed how malnourished you both are. You especially Potter." Severus said as he looked directly at Harry.
"Sorry, sir."
"Don't apologize for your relative's atrocious mistreatment of you. Leaving you with those Muggles was a mistake and shall not be repeated a second time." Severus said, giving them an authorities look combined with understanding.
"'Muggles?'" Carrie repeated, not knowing what that word is.
"Non-magic folk. Normal people."
"Oh." The children said in unison.
The mood was interrupted by twin growls from two small stomachs.
Harry held his stomach and covered his face in embarrassment. "Oh, why?"
Carrie hid her blushing face behind her acceptance letter.
Severus hid his amusement, "It's time you two had breakfast. I'll bring some up for you." He said as he moved away from the desk.
"I'll come down and help you." Carrie said as she made a move to follow.
"I'll handle it, you keep Potter company. I believe there was a book you wanted to show him?" Severus asked, watching her eyes light up before she left to get her book from her room.
Harry watched her leave, noting how relaxed she is around Severus. "I've never seen her so calm around another person."
"She's been awake longer than you. But it's mostly the Calming Draught I gave her last night when she had a panic induced nightmare." Severus stated, much to Harry's surprise and worry.
"How bad was it?" Harry asked, sitting straighter in bed.
"Oh, just a couple of broken windows. Those are easy to fix." Severus added as he assured the boy.
Carrie returned with a book in her hands before she sat down beside Harry.
"Chronicles of Narnia?" Harry read the title with a look of interest. He remembered borrowing that book from the library but was not able to read the whole story because Dudley took it and ripped it to pieces saying how stupid it was.
"Yeah, it's a different and magical world. Shall we read it together?" Carrie offered with a hopeful smile.
Harry grinned, "Sure."
Carrie opened to the first page and began to read aloud as Harry actively listened.
Severus left the door cracked open to give them some privacy before making his way downstairs. Once he was finally alone in the kitchen, he held onto the counter with both hands and released a breath he did not realize he was holding. That whole interaction with Harry Potter, James and Lily's only son, emotionally drained him. He could not fathom how a boy who looks like his bully with his beloved Lily's green eyes could suffer a childhood painfully similar to his own. The way he looked at him, ready to fight at the very idea of returning to the Dursleys dredged up memories of his cruel and hateful father. He too had moments where he'd rather die than spend another second with that man. The only difference however is that Harry was willing to take his chances in the forest with his friend Carrie, another child with a difficult parent like his own.
After another moment of fighting to regain his composure, he went to work on making breakfast for the two small children under his care. As he cooked the eggs, he let his mind wander to his two new charges. He thought he would despise Harry Potter, initially he believed the boy would be exactly like James during his Hogwarts years as a student. But his mannerisms and personality resembled Lily's, especially his eyes.
His mind then drifted to Carrie, a girl who suffered her own share of pain, loneliness, isolation and abuse at the hands of a parent who was supposed to protect her. In a certain light her bright strawberry-blonde hair resembled Lily's. When he first saw her walking beside Potter's son, he thought he was seeing his best friend. The way she laughed and her face light up when she smiled almost made him fall to his knees. How is it possible that the woman he loves so deeply came back in the bodies of two children.
Another thing he noticed is how close they clung to each other, as though afraid of letting go. From what he garnered from his visit to the Dursleys, Harry had a pretty isolated childhood, no affection from his so-called family and no child willing to become his friend. Carrie's circumstances were just as similar, if not more painful as Harry's. It was only natural that two children completely different from the rest would seek comfort within the other in this otherwise cruel world.
'Just like me and Lily.' Severus thought to himself, seeing the parallels between him, Lily, Harry and Carrie.
I'm stopping the chapter right here to space them out before I end up piling it on too high. I hope I didn't make Severus occ. More will be explained about Severus' involvement in finding Harry and Carrie. Thank you for following and reading this story thus far. Not sure how long my inspiration will last, so thanks for sticking with me.
Leave a review down below and tell me what you thought of this story and their interactions. 'Til next time.