If you should not be here, leave now.

5. Angel's Vigill

After the first night, Poppy made no comment on the dark shadow that occupied the chair on the other side of Harry’s bed. Severus sat and watched over Harry as if he could somehow ensure the boy’s survival just by being there; it was in her opinion rather sweet. Most of the time he was absorbed in his recent acquisition, a book of what must be potions but it was written in an obscure language and it was hard to tell, but he would disappear for an hour or so just after dawn and re-appear washed and changed. When Poppy spoke to the House-elves, they informed her that he ate breakfast with them, and Poppy reasoned that one meal was better than none.

Harry’s first twenty-four hours were the most perilous, it was entirely possible that his appendix would burst, and it was highly unlikely that Harry could be saved, given the state he was in. Fortunately that didn’t occur and Poppy breathed a sigh of relief when she finally removed the offending organ. The wound healed sufficiently for Poppy to turn her attention to Harry’s other injuries and after several sustained healing spells most of the internal damage was fully healed and the worst of his broken bones had set by the evening of his first full day in her care. Harry was by no means out of the woods, but at least he was in no immediate danger and everyone, bar Severus, slept sounder for that knowledge.

Poppy kept Harry sedated for two full days after his operation. Appendix scars being one of the only injuries that magic couldn’t heal fully, it was safer. Also it allowed Harry’s body time to adjust to a normal level of nutrition.

~*~*~*~

Whilst for the majority of the time Severus had been alone in his vigil, various people had been in and out during the three days Harry had been asleep. Minerva had popped her head around the door for a few minutes but had had to rush off on another mission for the Order, and the canine duo had been in the first evening to see how the operation went. Fortunately they hadn’t hung around long, especially as Black had been giving him decidedly dodgy looks the entire time. Albus had been the most frequent visitor, and they had spoken about various things. The Headmaster was of the mind that Harry should stay with him in the dungeons for the rest of the summer, and as Severus had no better idea he was forced to agree.

Severus returned for his morning ablutions on the Friday to find Poppy changing the IV drips.

"Ah, Severus good morning. I’m taking Harry off the sedatives; he should sleep for another few hours so when he wakes will you let me know please. I'll be in my office."

Severus nodded his acquiescence, and took his usual seat, and settled down for the wait. However Poppy had reckoned without Harry’s nightmares.

Severus was in the middle of a difficult translation, his ancient Latin was a little rusty and his lips moved with the words as he tried to work out their meaning, when Harry started to scream. It wasn’t just a normal scream either, it set the teeth on edge and made you want to be sick, in other words the scream of the Cruciatus curse. Reacting more on instinct rather than thought, Severus dropped the book and moved to the bed. Harry’s arms were flailing around and his body was bent into a bow. Severus grabbed Harry’s right wrist to prevent him ripping out the IV needle, and he stopped screaming and went still, his body tensed as if he was anticipating a blow of some kind.

"It’s alright, Harry. I’m not going to hurt you," he said as soothingly as he could, and sat on the edge of the bed. Harry opened his eyes cautiously and squinted up at Severus.

"Professor Snape?" Harry’s voice was slightly hoarse form screaming and underuse. Severus reached over to the bedside cabinet and picked up Harry’s glasses and put them on. Harry still seemed to have difficulty focusing but he relaxed a bit more. Harry looked around trying to see where he was, but it was in vain. "Where am I?" he asked after a minute.

"The Hospital wing at Hogwarts, you are quite safe."

"Oh." Harry furrowed his brow for a moment, and Severus watched as the memories filtered back. The last of the tension left his body, and he looked down at his hand. Unconsciously Severus’ hand had migrated from holding his wrist to holding his hand, when Severus realised this he dropped it like a hold coal and stood up abruptly. Poppy also chose that moment to appear from her office. Embarrassment tried to fight it’s way to the surface, and Severus could feel the tell-tale warming of his cheeks, but he managed to suppress it before it could form into a full scale blush. Berating himself silently he retrieved his book from the floor, sat down and hid behind it.