Chapter Text
Severus held the sobbing child in his arms, again speaking gentle words of encouragement, reminding the boy to breathe, telling him it was okay to cry, and reminding him that he was there and wasn’t going anywhere.
Merlin, Severus! You’re acting like a damn Hufflepuff. He chastised himself. But he couldn’t bring himself to care. He had known this boy’s pain too well to care if his mask fell, if the stone face of a spy gave way to softer features. The boy clung to him like a lifeline, and Severus couldn’t help but run his hands up and down the boys back. He winced as he felt every rib and each notch of his spine through his robe.
“Harry, can you sit up and take some potions for us? We are concerned about your injuries and weight and would like to do everything we can to remedy these issues.” Severus asked in his low, gentle voice.
Harry removed his head from the crook of his neck and Severus was met with piercing green eyes, red and puffy from the prolonged tears. For the first time, Severus didn’t see Lily in those eyes, Lily had never known this kind of pain and sadness, it hurt to see those beautiful eyes so distraught.
“Which potions?” Harry’s voice was rough and thick, speaking through the lump in his throat. “And, you don’t need to worry about the weight, I eat enough when I’m at school. I don’t want you to waste them on me,” the boy said. Did he not see himself? He was skin and bones, if Severus didn’t know better, he would have thought he was a first-year by how small he was, not a fourth year.
“Harry, we will not be arguing about this. You will be taking the potions Professor Snape and I give you without question!” Madam Pomfrey said. Her voice was stern but filled with love, like a wise grandmother. Severus pondered that the woman most likely felt that was towards the boy and possibly many others.
Severus pulled out his wand and summoned two potions and two jars from the medical stores. He held the first up to the teenager, a small vial with an iridescent red liquid inside.
“This is a general healing potion,” he began to explain, feeling that Harry would be more likely to take the potions if he knew what was happening. “It won’t heal the extensive damage your body has undergone, but it should ease much of the pain you feel at this time.” He handed the boy they vial and watched as he down the substance without issue.
After a small grimace, the potion contained too much Bubotuber Pus to be anything close to palatable, a look of relief spread across the child’s face. As the potion took effect the Professor could see the tension begin to leave Harry’s back and shoulders.
“Good, now this is a Scar Removal Paste made with Murtlap Essence,” Severus continued, holding up a jar filled with a light blue cream. “I can see you have small burn scars on your hands, and I feel safe in assuming there are more on your person?” he questioned, though both he and Potter knew the answer. With reluctance, the boy nodded. “While this jar,” he said lifting a jar filled with yellow paste, “is a bruise healing salve, will you allow either myself or Madam Pomfrey to use these?”
Though Poppy had said he didn’t have a choice, Severus was not in the habit of forcibly using potions and salves on people, let alone children. The child in front of him was not going to be the exception, especially since Severus was starting to see that this boy was rarely given a choice on how his life and body were treated.
Harry looked at Severus for a moment before nodding again. He sat up and began to unbutton his shirt revealing his chest and stomach, his eyes cast down with shame. The area was covered in bruises and scars. The bruises surrounding his ribs had were a deep purple while the surrounding area had taken on a yellow/green tinge indicating that they were a week old.
Anger like Severus had never known coursed through him. How could someone do this to a child? Memories came to him of his father and how his body would bruise so easily, but that was nothing compared to the sight in front of him. He thought back to his childhood and the sister of his best friend, how she had taunted Lily and him for their ‘freakishness’, screeching in a shrill voice how they were a danger to society. He remembered the same girl laughed when she saw bruises on Severus’ face, celebrating that ‘at least your father is trying to beat the freak out of you, our parents won’t fix Lily’. How could Dumbledore have placed Harry with Petunia when he knew she hated magic to that extent?
“Oh, Harry.” A sad sigh came from behind his shoulder as Minerva took in the sight of her abused cub. Next to her, Poppy’s eyes were filled with the same rage that Severus felt, the two Slytherin’s both overcome with a need for revenge.
“Can you…” Harry began in a quiet whimper; he met Snape’s eyes for a small moment and then quickly looked away, blushing slightly with embarrassment. Severus couldn’t fathom how the boy had come to trust him enough to heal his battered body but, if the boy wanted his assistance then we would give it.
“Of course, I’ll start with the bruises” Severus narrated as he dipped his fingers in the yellow paste and went to work. “It will be a bit cold and possibly sting as it heals Mr. Potter, if it is causing pain you must let me know.” When he laid his hands on the boy he was once again struck by how frail he felt, the bruises were concentrated on his ribs so he could feel how tight the skin was pulled over the bones. Harry hissed at first as Snape applied to Salve but after a moment he relaxed into his touch, the tension leaving as he healed.
“My traditional going back to school gifts, my Uncle is big on traditions,” Harry said in a dry, sarcastic voice. It startled Severus how the boy could joke about such things. Maybe the boy used this as a defense mechanism? Not knowing how to respond Severus focused on his work, gently rubbing the salves and creams into the boy marred skin until he had finished with the front of the boy.
“Well, did he leave any gifts on your back as well?” he asked, knowing the answer. Harry shuffled around revealing his back to his professor, being careful to avoid eye contact. Scars covered the boys back, straight lines running at different angles, some fresh, either still a blistering red or some deeper gashes that had scabbed over, others looking years old, faded to white. The unmistakable sign of a belt being brought down.
Once again Severus felt his control begin to slip as he struggled to not scream. How had everyone, including himself, not seen this? The so-called ‘Savior’ of the wizarding world was watched by all and yet it seemed no one could see the truth of what he was; an abused little boy.
Said boy was currently fighting back more tears as he lay on his stomach before his Professor. Severus could see his lips moving and moved closer to hear the boy.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry” Harry repeated. Severus could feel his heartbreaking, a heart he had long since believed he didn’t possess.
“Hush child, you have nothing to apologize for. I’m going to use the same two balms I used on your chest, after that hopefully you can get some rest and we can continue speaking in the morning, would that be agreeable Harry?”
“Okay” was all the response he got before he continued covering the boy in healing balms. When he was finished he watched as many of the scars faded dulled in color. He knew the child's skin would never be blemish-free, the scars where too old or too deep for them to fade to nothing, but he would do his best.
“As I mentioned before, many of your broken bone did not heal correctly, so, if you consent, once you fall asleep myself and Madam Pomfrey will be able to reset them. You will not feel a thing, as I am first going to give you dreamless sleep. When you wake up tomorrow, your mis-healed bones should all be in their correct place. How does that sound?”
The small boy nodded, blushing slightly as he re-buttoned his shirt. He was obviously embarrassed by the attention he was receiving, but they could deal with his discomfort later, Severus thought. At the moment he knew it was best to get the child's body back in working order. He felt that, once Harry’s body was healed it might be easier for his mind to heal as well.
“Now, this is a Dreamless Sleep potion,” he raised the purple concoction to the boy. “This should help you get a full night's sleep, something I assume you have been lacking, and allow you to sleep through the realigning of your bones. Drink it all, Mr. Potter. We will be here in the morning to speak more. Goodnight”
With that, he turned around and beckoned the women behind him to follow him. As he walked away, he heard a faint “Goodnight Professor”, but when he turned all he saw was a sleeping boy.
