Chapter 8 (Thursday)
Harry scowled in his sleep as his eyes felt the slight touch of light. He opened his eyes to see the lights on in the infirmary and other people being seen to by Madame Pomfrey. He looked around his own blocked off bed space for the Professor but was left sad and hurt when he realized he was nowhere close.
Harry thought the man would be, but well, he hadn't asked, and well not like he was special or anything to the Professor. He was just a stupid student, a freak. That was all he was.
He sighed and jumped when he realized Madame Pomfrey was headed his way. He should be up, freak like him weren't allowed to mope around in bed. He should be up, not laying in the nice bed. He shouldn't even be in a bed. He was going to be in so much trouble.
He scattered from the bed, stumbling as his short legs found the floor and nearly sent him to the ground. He was sent backwards onto his bum as he saw the nurse was in front of him. He scooted back, knowing he was in so much trouble. How could he have been so stupid? He was daft, and a freak, and ungrateful!
"Mr Potter, you're fine. I'm not going to hurt you, I promise. I actually would like you to get back into the bed so that I may look you over. I just want to be reassured that you are healed and discuss further treatment."
Harry was shaking. He didn't believe her. He couldn't believe her. It was a trick to make him get into even more trouble. He knew this game. He had played it often with the Dursleys, but he didn't want more punishment. He was already in for it. He wasn't allowed on beds, he knew it. He was such a freak.
He scooted under the bed, feeling secure in the enclosed space, like his cupboard. He was safe, like in his cupboard. Safe.
"What is going on here?"
Harry whimpered at the angry tone while at the same time wanting to see the dark-haired man. His Professor was here. His body froze because he was scared but also wanted to examine the man with his own eyes, to know he was there to save him. He couldn't decide where to move, if farther under the bed was safer or where he could see the Professor was safer. He just didn't know anymore, and he was so confused to have woken up here all alone.
"The child has huddled himself under the bed, Severus. Please, I don't think I am getting through to him. He was very disoriented waking here this morning."
Harry listened to the nurse speak to his Professor, but none of her words mattered. She was going to lie. She had tricked him into being on the bed, he just knew it. He heard the steps coming closer and hoped they were his Professors. He wanted to see the man to be reassured. Black boots stepped up to the edge of the bed, and Harry felt his heart pounding in his chest.
The man knelt by the bed and leaned over where Harry could finally see his face. He didn't look pleased to see him, but he also didn't seem very angry either.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Harry whimpered at the scolding tone and folded his face up in his bent legs. The man was going to be angry with him then. Why had he even hid here? It was just a check-up, and they had put him on the bed. Why had he let himself act like such a freak?
"M'sorry," he bemoaned from his hiding space in his knees.
He heard a snort and peaked to see his Professor was sitting on the floor faced away from him. He felt slightly better at not having more attention on him. "I am sure this was another incident brought about by the Dursleys."
Harry nodded but realized quickly that his Professor wouldn't see it. "Yes, sir. I... well, they told me I wasn't allowed on beds. They said I would ruin them, and sometimes, they'd trick me. I thought... I'm not sure why, but I thought Madame Pomfrey was going to trick me like them too so she could punish me more."
Harry looked around nervously at that admission. Why had he even said all of that? He wasn't supposed to go around belly-aching over things. He was acting like such a little cry-baby. So what, he wasn't allowed on beds, doesn't mean he had to go acting like a twat.
"Harry, I want you to know that here, you can sleep on any bed offered to you. Furthermore, if I find out you have not been sleeping when you are supposed to, where you are supposed to, I will be very displeased."
Harry smiled shyly as he saw the Professor catching his eye. "Yes, sir. I will sleep in my bed from now on."
The man sighed and gestured with a hand. "Come out now, Harry. I will call the Matron back so she can check you over, and then I will send you to breakfast and to your classes for the day."
Harry blushed but did as the man said and left his place under the bed. The man was already standing once he escaped and helped him to his feet as well. He clenched his teeth as he felt the urge to bite his lip, but he kept himself from that and from flinching as the man helped settle him onto the bed. His Professor swiped his wand over him a few time to remove the dust from his pyjamas before moving toward the back where the nurse's office was.
Harry waited patiently and contritely, already feeling bad for how he had acted this morning and not willing to act up more. The two adults came back to him, and the Matron smiled disarmingly at him without a hint of irritation. Harry relaxed slightly at her good mood and allowed her to wave her wand over him while his Professor stayed close to his side, watching over him.
The check-up finished quickly, and the Matron mentioned continuing on some nutrition potions during breakfast before leaving Harry with his Professor. Harry watched as the man settled into a chair by his bed and wondered when the man had conjured it. Since it had been in the last hour, he could only assume the man had sat there last night after he had fallen asleep. The thought warmed him from the inside out and left him smiling at the man.
Snape
"Well, Mr Potter, have you any questions?"
Severus watched as the child smiled at him so unabashedly and felt his own blackened heart warm slightly. What right did he have to receive such joy from a child? He was unaware why the boy was smiling, but he would enjoy it for the short time it remained. He was sure the child would be upset to hear that he would have to take his guardianship until another alternative could be found. Still, Severus was sure the boy could be consoled.
"Uhm, yes, sir. She said, something about potions."
Severus nodded and gave the boy a reassuring look. "Yes, Harry, you will have to take a nutrition potion for about three months to help combat the malnutrition you suffered from your relatives."
The boy's nose scrunched up. "Three months? That's a long time."
Severus smirked hearing the boy give a slight complaint. He doubted the child realized he was complaining. However, it was still nice to know that potions were universally disliked by all children, abused or not.
"It was a long time without proper nutrition, but not to worry, I will be sure you get the potion every morning with your meal. Any other questions, Harry?"
The boy looked down at his hands and shrugged. "I just, does this mean I don't have a guardian anymore?"
Severus sighed and looked briefly to the heavens for strength. "No, a friend is taking our proof to the proper authorities to oust the Dursleys from their place as your guardian. At such a time as that happens as quickly and quietly as possible, your guardianship will transfer to me for the brief time it takes us to search for you a proper guardian."
The boy looked placated. "Yes, sir."
Severus smirked standing from his place by the child's bedside and gestured to the food and clothes by the child's bed. "There you will find breakfast and a change of clothes, and your bag is at the foot of the bed. Is there anything else I can do for you, Harry?"
The boy smiled at him with a shake of his head. "No, sir. Just, uh, thanks for helping me so much."
Severus nodded and swept away from the bed, knowing he would need to get to the Great Hall as to not raise the suspicion of a certain twinkly-eyed Headmaster.
Severus arrived at the Great Hall in time to see the owl post arriving. He was happy to have received none this morning, even if he was looking forward to hearing from Lucius. He was a tad short with the man, more so than he usually allowed, but he was sure that the man understood.
It was hard for him to be this fazed by a child. He had always helped those abused children, but their plight and their emotions had never effected him to this extent.
After a long night of meditating and Occlumency, Severus had made peace with the idea that Harry could change him. Harry was Lily's son, and the boy had his own merits and his own personality. He was kind and courageous, and Severus did not want to feel bad for being helpful to a child who deserved so much more.
Severus was going to mentor the boy and make him whole so that the child faced as little adversity from his background as possible. After the boy had finally picked his guardian, Severus would even be content to continue to mentor the child. He could be a temporary guardian to the boy, but he doubted any child would want more from a man like Severus Snape.
He sighed and turned back to his breakfast. Albus seemed to be focused on other things today and was leaving him be, but Minerva was practically shouting at him with her eyes. He inclined his head to her and gestured for the alcove at the teacher's entrance.
She was already sweeping away while he allowed himself to sip from his morning tea. He finished the cup and swept from the table to the side entrance to have what was sure to be a stimulating conversation with the Gryffindor Head of House.
Severus saw her pacing and sighed as he warded the room for their privacy. He was already aware of what they would be speaking on, and he had prepared himself mentally for this kind of conversation. Poppy had obviously told her about Harry, and Severus could see from the open emotions on her face that it had eaten away at her all night.
"Minerva?"
She spun, looking at him with anger in her eyes. "Why? Why, Severus, have you not told me? Why would you even know before me? What were you doing to Harry to find out this information?"
Severus felt tense all over and arched a brow at her. What did she think of him to ask him that last question? "What is it that you are implying, witch? And, take care in your words?"
She sighed, seeming to deflate in the face of his ire. "No, no, Severus. I-I am sorry. I don't mean anything of that sort. I just... why didn't he tell me?"
Severus sighed, his anger leaving him in that breath. He could understand her reactions and would even excuse them in this case. Another change he was going to contribute to Harry Potter and his confounded effect on Severus Snape.
"He hardly told me, but luckily, I am able to see the signs. He didn't want to go to anyone, Minerva, but I have been able to get through to him."
She looked at him with pain. "Is it truly as bad as Poppy said, Severus?"
Severus wanted to reassure her, but in this, he had to be honest. He nodded and watched as the usually stern witch let a tear slip from her eye. Severus felt a tad uncomfortable seeing someone he had seen as a mentor act so well, human. He would have to get used to such actions as he was sure the boy was just as human if not more than the adult witch in front of him. "He has been healed as far as we can at this juncture, but he will be on nutritional potions for the next three months. However, his growth might be stunted irrevocably from the treatment. Time will tell, of course."
She nodded, stemming her tears faster than Poppy had been able and centring herself. "What are we doing about this, Severus?"
We. Minerva already included herself on his side of things, but to say he had a side was to create an opposition. He supposed the enemy could be the Dursleys, but they were hardly a worthy opponent. If he was honest with himself, he would admit his current enemy was Albus. They would have to work around the man to get Harry into a safe home and to keep him there.
"I have someone working within the Ministry to get guardianship swapped silently."
She nodded, already understanding what the silence referred to, or incorrectly assuming it was only to do with the press. Either way, discretion was one thing Severus was sure Minerva was capable of, especially in this matter. "What is to be done with the vermin?"
Severus arched an eyebrow at her vengeful tone but smirked to himself. "I have not yet decided. Traditional methods are out as the publicity would harm Harry more than help him. Thoughts?"
She smiled like the cat she sometimes was and nodded. "I am aware of where they reside and can come up with some ideas."
Severus thought of letting her take over the punishment. It would be much less lethal coming from her, and Severus would not have to worry about being taken away from H... helping Harry. He was needed here, and he did not trust himself to be around those monsters for longer than the time it would take to gather their signatures. Even in that, he was sure he would entrust the duties elsewhere.
"I only ask to see the memories afterwards, Minerva."
She nodded and strode away. Severus breathed deeply at the feeling of near happiness that had brought. Harry could have his retribution even if he never learned of it and would never ask for it.
Harry
He could see everything: the hairs on his arms, the little scars across his hands, the threadbare look of his pants. Everything there was to see, he could see. His face hurt from smiling so much, but he was so happy he could hardly contain it.
He looked to where his Professor was waiting for him by the entrance to the eye doctor. The man's face had hardly changed from the usual stern look, but there was that smile in his eyes that Harry knew to look for. Harry bounded his way over to the man with a laugh and threw himself into the man's sternum. He heard a chuckle from behind him, and it was probably the eye doctor, but he could hardly contain himself. He could see!
Harry's Professor was a little less tense near the end of the hug, and Harry allowed himself to be moved away from the man slightly. He was still smiling as the man looked down at him with a raised eyebrow. Harry laughed because not even the man's somewhat stern face could ruin this moment for him. "Thank you, sir! Thank you so much!"
The man seemed to turn very red, and Harry realized that his Professor was blushing. Harry bit at his lip to keep from laughing and turned back to the Doctor. The man was looking at them slightly curiously and with a wide grin on his face. Harry kept himself from hugging the stranger, but he really did want to show his appreciation. "Thank you, sir! They're brilliant!"
The man nodded and patted his shoulder. "You are very welcome, young man. I hope to see you again in six months for a check-up." The man turned his attention to his Professor with a slight frown. "You will bring him back, won't you?"
His Professor glared and nodded. "Of course."
Harry could tell the man had held back from saying something snappish, so Harry patted the man's hand. His Professor looked at his questioningly before rolling his eyes. "We are going. Thank you, Doctor."
Harry smiled as he followed his Professor out of the room and through the waiting room. He waved at the receptionist and pretty much every person he saw because he could actually see them!
His Professor placed a hand on his shoulder and steered him from the room. He didn't seem angry, but Harry knew he could be short-tempered. He didn't mind as his Professor always treated him nicely. Harry was sure it was because he was his exception.
They went next to a clothing store. According to the Professor, his clothes weren't fit for a garbage heap. Harry had felt nervous when the man said they were getting more than glasses because the deal had been he needed glasses as to not hurt anyone in the Professor's class. What was the reason for clothes? He had clothes. None of them fit, but he had them. Freaks didn't need new clothes.
Harry sighed, following the man. His Professor stopped them both and looked down at him. "Why do you sound like a kettle?"
Harry grinned at the man's attempt at humour, but it didn't last as his feelings came back. He flexed his hands as he felt the need to twiddle them anxiously. He just didn't understand. This was more than they had agreed to get. He was going to be a burden.
"Sir, you said I was getting glasses today."
The man didn't seem to understand where he was going as his look did not change. "That I did."
Harry sighed, running his fingers through his messy hair in frustration. "You never said anything about clothes."
The man sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. His Professor knelt in front of him and grabbed his arms in his hands. "Harry, when we spoke on Friday, what were you wearing?"
Harry felt shame roll through him. He had been in his clothes from the Dursleys after having gone to see Hagrid with Ron. Any clothes from the Dursleys were too big and old cast-offs. He knew what they must look like to someone like his Professor, who always seemed so put together. "Clothes, sir."
The man sighed again and tapped his chin. Harry took his lip out from between his teeth reluctantly. "Those were hardly allowed to be called clothes, the same as the ones you are wearing now. I am only asking you to allow me to get you a few things to last you the school year. That is all, Harry."
"But why, sir? I have clothes. They are what I deserve."
The man seemed frustrated, but he didn't change his loose hold on his arms or get upset. Harry knew the man was different from the Dursleys, but Harry was still a freak. A freak in anyone's care was just a freak. He had clothes, he would be ungrateful to ask for more.
The man seemed to flinch back from their staring contest, and Harry wondered why the man seemed to affected. Harry hadn't said anything in the last minute, but the man looked shocked.
"Harry, what are you?"
Harry was surprised. Was this where his Professor made him say what he was, confirm it aloud so that everyone knew? Harry was upset, but he resigned himself to that fate. "A freak, sir."
The man flinched again, and Harry looked up from where his eyes had dropped. The man looked so upset and red in the face. Harry wanted to move away from the man, but he had a hold of his arms. "Harry, if I ever hear you call yourself that again, in your head or not, I will have you in detention for a month."
Harry looked at the man in confusion. "But, sir, I'm a f-"
"Harry, I suggest you stop there. I am telling you, now, that what those vile creatures called you was wrong. You are no freak. They are the freaks. What they did to you was freakish and wrong. You are a normal boy. A normal eleven-year-old boy who did nothing wrong to cause their treatment of you."
Harry looked at the man and felt tears pooling in his eyes. Was he wrong all this time? His Professor said he was, and the man was usually right. Still, he had been told he was a freak for so long. How could the man be so sure?
"How can you be so sure, Professor?"
The man did something so shocking, Harry had dropped his mouth open in surprise. The man grabbed him, and well, he hugged him. It was only a moment, and afterwards, the Professor was on his feet and a foot away, but Harry was hugged by someone else! His Professor had hugged him!
"Now, I know it will take time, but I will keep reminding you that those creatures were wholly incorrect in nearly every word they spoke."
Harry smiled at the man and nodded his understanding. He might not feel confident that the man was right, but he would try to understand the man's point of view.
His Professor led him by a hand on his shoulder into the store. Harry was shocked at the size and everything around him. Muggle stores were so much larger than wizarding ones, and Harry felt himself edging closer to his Professor as they made their way inside.
They went straight to the boy's clothes and wasted no time in getting everything the Professor said. The man grabbed him a few shirts, jeans, underwear, socks, and shoes before leading him to the pyjamas and allowing him to pick two pairs of those. Harry was content with that amount, and the man seemed less irritated as well.
His Professor bought the clothes, which left Harry somewhat uncomfortable but also warm inside. He had never had anyone buy him something like this. His first pair of new clothes ever had been for school this year, but even then, he had had to buy them. It felt almost like a gift as the man handed him a set of clothes and sent him to change into them.
Harry was giddy as he pulled the t-shirt, jeans, and new trainers on, but he tried to rush and not linger. He took his old clothes with him to meet his Professor, but the man just directed him to the trash can near the entrance. Harry felt an odd feeling surge in his stomach as he tossed away the clothes that had never really been his.
His Professor grabbed his shoulder and steered the way they had come that afternoon. They entered the Leaky Cauldron and went straight to the floo, and just like when they came in, Professor Snape took him with him through the floo with a hand on his shoulder.
They were spat out in Professor's Snape's office, and Harry smiled up at the man who steadied him on his swaying feet. His Professor smirked at him before handing him his shopping. Harry took the bags with a grin and turned that same grin back to the man. "Thank you, Professor. I will be sure to pay you back when I can get to Gringotts."
The man sighed as he gestured him to sit at their chairs in the man's office. Harry took his blue chair and allowed the bags in his hands to curb his nervous habits. "I will not accept any money."
Harry looked up, shocked at the straight-forward announcement. "Why not? I can pay. I have the money."
His Professor stopped him with a hand. "It is not about money, Harry. Consider the clothes as a gift, one I would like you to take care of. Can you do that, Mr Potter?"
Harry nodded. "I will make sure they stay clean, sir."
His Professor rolled his eyes. "I do not mean you cannot wear them to their full extent, Mr Potter. I mean, do not lose them or give them away like some boys do with their friends. Please, have fun and use them as much as you like. And while I am making demands, throw away everything those vile creatures gave you. Understood?"
Harry nodded, and his Professor seemed to relax. "Good, you may leave, I am sure you have homework to attend to, but I will see you tomorrow to go over quills."
Harry nodded happily and jumped up from his seat. He was already so excited to show Ron what he had got. "Thanks again, Professor, and see you tomorrow."
The man waved him off, and Harry ran for the doors and down the corridors. He was so excited and happy. He was the man's exception, and he had been given a gift!