If you should not be here, leave now.

2. Road to Recovery

Severus’ knee knocked into the stretcher as they arrived in the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts, but this did not disturb its occupant as the trip had robbed Harry of the last of his consciousness.

A rather startled Poppy Pomfrey and Albus Dumbledore stared at the new arrivals for a second before they realised what they were seeing. On registering that the content of the stretcher was one Harry Potter, Poppy screamed.

"Sweet Merlin, what happened to him?" she asked shrilly, as she moved forward to prepare a bed.

"The Dursleys," said Severus darkly. He stepped back to allow Poppy to levitate the boy on to the prepared bed.

"What happened Severus?" Albus’ tone failed to hide the shock of seeing Harry in such a state.

"I went to the house, as you commanded, and found the boy in this state. It was impossible for me to allow him to stay in the care of those Muggles and so I brought him here. I also brought the boy’s things." Severus pulled out the shrunken bundle from his pocket and re-expanded it. "It appears that this is all the boy has left, he informed me that the rest of his things had been burnt." Severus managed successfully to keep most of the emotion out of his voice and face, but his eyes betrayed him, showing the anger and distress the situation had moved him to. Poppy and Albus stared at him slightly wide eyed.

"They burnt his things?" Poppy asked incredulously.

"I doubt that Harry would have lied about such a thing, so yes they burnt his things." Severus affirmed as he placed the pitiful bundle on the cabinet beside Harry’s bed.

Severus noticed that the twinkle was missing from Albus’ eyes as they stood waiting for Poppy’s assessment of Harry’s condition. He knew the news wouldn’t be good, but the way Poppy’s hand was shaking as she performed the diagnostic spells indicated that perhaps this time his worst fears were about to be exceeded.

When the Medi-witch had finished examining Harry she wiped her eyes before turning to the waiting wizards.

"I don’t know where to start, Headmaster. First of all his left arm is broken in three places and his left hand has multiple fractures, and he has a dislocated jaw. All of these injuries could only have happened very recently and indicate a collision of some sort with a solid object." Poppy began in a trembling voice.

"That would be the front door, it happened just as I arrived." Severus informed the brief silence, Albus nodded.

"Also his right ankle appears to have been crushed, but this is older than the fractures in his arm but maybe only by a day or so. He has extensive bruising of the liver and kidneys along with multiple cuts and bruises on the surface, the bruising is both old and fresh indicating a prolonged period of severe beatings as also indicated by the week old or more broken ribs. All this is complicated by malnutrition so severe that healing is impossible at this time. Harry is also suffering extreme food poisoning and acute appendicitis. I cannot operate until he has been given fluids and sufficient nutrients, which would be a period of approximately twenty-four hours." Poppy said all this without further pause, and with tears streaking down her cheeks.

Severus closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose; he himself was on the point of tears, but of rage not compassion.

"Come Severus, let us leave Poppy to do what she can." Albus laid a hand on Severus’ shoulder and made to steer him out of the ward. Opening his eyes Severus looked into the face of his friend and mentor, seeing only the grave sadness he exploded.

"And do what exactly? Tell me Albus what will happen to those…those Muggles?" Severus was nearly shouting, and spit was flying from the corners of his mouth, it was all he could do not to hex anything.

"All in good time, my friend, all in good time. Now if you would…" Albus indicated that Severus walk with him. A request from the Headmaster of Hogwarts was anything but, so Severus was in no position to decline.

~*~*~*~

When Severus returned to the Hospital wing later that evening Harry had been washed, his broken bones bandaged and intravenous drips set up. Sitting beside the bed he could smell the strong antiseptic Poppy had used. Severus reached out and touched Harry’s unbroken hand.

"I’m sorry."

The whisper barely made its way out, but Severus meant it with all his heart. Turning, Severus’ eye fell on the invisibility cloak on the bedside cabinet. Picking it up he let the contents fall into his lap. Feeling almost drawn to the Journal, he picked it up. The cover was plain green leather with the simple word ‘Journal’ inscribed upon it. Feeling not a little guilty, Severus flicked through the pages, but found that they were blank. That was until several pages in, where Harry had been unable to add the new entries to the concealment charm. The first words of the first entry stood out forcefully.

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