Chapter Text
Severus stared down at the frail form of Harry Potter, looking absolutely tiny against the stark bedsheets of the hospital wing, padded restraints secured around his wrists. They were lucky. Neville Longbottom had grown worried when Harry hadn’t gotten out of bed and had opened the boy’s curtains. If they’d waited until after breakfast, Harry would have been dead. Too far gone to save. As it was, they’d barely managed to save him.
Severus ran a hand tiredly through his hair, wondering how no-one saw this coming. By all appearances, Harry had seemed to be alright, upset but coping with the loss of his godfather and the outcome of that final battle, which had ended the war just two weeks ago. Severus’ eyes slid from the boy, to his own forearm, clean of the Dark Mark for the first time in over 15 years, all thanks to Harry Potter.
“The Boy Who Conquered” Severus muttered under his breath, “How could we not have seen?”
He slumped into a chair and buried his head in his hands. The wizarding world had an interesting policy about attempted suicide. In Britain, there was a selection of 25 carers, all high in social circles, of which each attempter was assigned to one, who would take over primary care of the individual until they were declared mentally stable.
Several carers took the traditional route, finding the root cause of the suicide attempt and trying to right the wrongs done to them. Others leaned more towards the muggle route, through counselling and talking things over. Both ways worked with differing effectiveness, based off the person.
Severus looked up at the sound of footsteps, managing a tiny half smile for the matron.
“Has he woken?” Poppy Pomfrey asked softly, casting a spell over Harry.
Severus shook his head, “How did it go?” He asked, almost terrified to hear the results. Poppy had called, as per her rights as a Healer, an emergency session of the Wizenagamot, who were informed of Harry’s attempt at his own life and would vote on which carer would help the boy. Of the 25 carers, only 11 were currently available.
“They dismissed me for the voting” She said softly, “However I believe they are leaning traditional, with the suspected abuse, based off his medical scan”
Her face was pale, the grim reality of having one of her students, one of her regular patients, abused at home without her noticing. She couldn’t understand it. Every first year was meant to be given a full medical history exam, but she could never remember giving one to Harry Potter, yet her records held a copy of his medical history.
“We’ll get to the bottom of this Poppy” Severus said quietly, “But Harrys health needs to come first right now”
She nodded, holding back tears as she took in the boy in front of her, reaching out and gently moving a lock of hair off his face, “Will you be able to explain to him what will happen, once he wakes up? I fear I may break down crying.” She asked him quietly.
Severus gave a short nod, looking up as the hospital wing doors open and Minerva came racing over, having been forced to leave to teach a bunch of first years.
“Any change?” She asked, resuming her previous position next to Harry’s side, stroking his cheek lightly.
Poppy shook her head, “He should be waking any minute now, and the potions have almost finished doing their job. I won’t be able to give him anything more until his carer arrives.
As if Poppy’s words had triggered something, Harry began to stir, shifting a little before he seemed to become aware of himself, trying to bolt upright. He was stopped by two things, the restraints holding his wrists to the bed, and Severus’ firm hand in the middle of his chest, pressing him back down gently.
“Easy Potter,” Severus said quietly to him, “Don’t strain yourself.”
Harry’s eyes welled with tears, as realization hit him that he failed. “Why?” He whispered, tugging fruitlessly on the restraints.
“Why what?” Minerva asked, making both Severus and Poppy flinch, as both knew what the probably answer was.
“Why did you save me?” Harry choked on a sob, breath coming in short bursts as he cried.
Minerva held back her own tears and stroked a hand down his cheek, wiping away the beads of water.
“Because you have so much life left to live” Poppy murmured, when Minerva seemed unable to answer, spelling Harry’s glasses into place so that he could see, managing a watery smile.
They all sat in silence for a few minutes, before Severus finally cleared his throat, “I need to explain what will happen now Potter” He said, taking a few moments more to contemplate his words before being to explain.
“At this moment, the Wizenagamot is voting on a carer for you, who will take control of your wellbeing until it is decided that you can do so yourself. As you are still a minor, the chosen carer will also act as your guardian until you turn 17. Your guardianship has already been stripped from your relatives,” He took a deep breath and laid a reassuring hand on Harry’s arm when the boy’s breath hitched, “You never have to go back there again.”
Harry’s eyes widened and he shook a little, “I-I don’t have to go back?” He whispered, nearly silently.
“Never” Severus promised, squeezing his arm gently and managing a small smile for him.
The Hospital Wing floo flared, before a letter fluttered in and over to Poppy, who quickly opened and read it, her face paling slightly, “Oh my” She murmured softly, hand going up to cover her mouth.
“Poppy?” Minerva asked, rising to her feet, “What is it?”
“Harry has been assigned…” She whispered in horror, “to Lucius Malfoy.”