Caregivers

Belongs to Harry Potter's fandom. Make no money from my stories.

A/N I wonder if I should continue with this story or take it down. I would like your input. Should I continue or dump it and work on my other stories? Please let me know how you feel,




Caregivers Chapter 2

Severus stayed awake for the remainder of the night, plotting his revenge on everyone that he felt betrayed him. He shivered and rolled into a ball trying to conserve as much heat as humanly possible. Potter would be his first victim. Severus would poison Potter with a very slow-acting concoction, one for which there was no cure. One that would allow Potter hours to contemplate his death, knowing that it was his dreaded Professor, Potion Master extraordinaire, who killed him.

The growl of his stomach brought him out of his reverie. His stomach smelled the bacon,eggs and coffee before his mind did. There was bloody Harry Potter setting up his breakfast tray in the hallway. He could see the brat's eyes roll in delight with the first taste of coffee.

“You sure you don’t want some?” Harry asked offering him his cup. Severus wanted to strangle him.

“Oh, never mind,” Harry pulled back the coffee and loudly sipped it. “That’s right no shower, no privilege.”

“Have I mentioned that I hate you Potter?” Severus snarled.

“That's strike one,” Harry informed the sour man.

“What are you on about?”

“You called me Potter. I gave you a direct order to call me either Harry or Master, not Potter. Two more times and you will find yourself over my lap like a recalcitrant child,” Harry explained calmly.

“You will do no such thing Pot…” Severus decided not to push his luck, especially since he saw the stern look on Potter’s face.

Harry sighed before continuing, “Maybe I haven’t explained the situation as I should have. If you do as you’re told, you have my word that you, one day will be free of me, even though you will always remain my responsibility.”

“And I’ll have my magic?” Severus asked suspiciously.

“And you’ll have your magic! But…”

“I knew there had to be a but,” Severus grumbled.

“But Healer Thornton and I have to be absolutely sure that you will not harm yourself or the many, many people you consider your enemy.”

“Then I shall be here in this cage for a very long time,” Severus sounded defeated. “I have a life time of revenge to dole out and I will not be stopped by you or this prison you built for me. I will have my vengeance, Potter!”

“Strike two,” Harry stated softly.

Severus gave Harry one of his finest glares.

“The slave bond was to protect both of us. You won’t be able to attack me, though I presume that you'd be able to poison me if you had a chance.” Harry said, noticing the slight upturn of Severus’s thin lips. “The other reason is you’ll be unable to harm yourself. You’re a stubborn one, Snape, and would rather die than do anything I ask. This way I will have piece of mind.”

Harry paused wondering if he should inform Severus of the whole truth. He shrugged, deciding he might as well. “The most important reason is that I’ll be aware of your emotional state. If you are distressed, I will know what that distress is and be able to know how to treat you.”

Harry sighed and set aside his breakfast. He entered Snape’s jail cell and walked over to the sitting man. He looked solemnly down at the naked man and surprised Severus by offering him his hand.

“Take it, Pet Please?”

Severus looked at the proffered hand as though it was a poisonous snake. Harry offered it a second time. Severus shook his head tiredly and reached up and took the opened hand in his. He hadn’t thought he was cold but when the fingers enclosed around his fingers he was surprised how the warmth of Potter’s hand warmed him.

With a slight jerk Harry had his ex-Professor standing. He led Severus out of the cell, and for some strange reason, Severus couldn’t resist the pull of the young man. Reluctantly, he followed Harry into the small bathroom. Keeping Severus’s hand in his, he turned the water on in the shower with the other. Once he got to the temperature that he thought his pet could stand, Harry took the hand that he was holding and slid it under the water.

Severus sighed. It had been years since he had a real bath. The guards would use spells to keep the prisoners clean. Every once in a while, he would use the water that he was given to drink to wash away some of the soil. Severus wasn’t even aware when Harry started to lather soap over his extended hand. Severus tried to pull away but Harry held fast until he heard a deep moan of pleasure escaped Severus. Putting the bar of soap in his slave’s free hand, Harry stepped away.

“When you're done, breakfast will be waiting for you,” Harry said as he turned to leave, giving Severus some privacy.

Like a magnet, the water drew him under its flow. Severus stayed under the steaming stream of water until his body was scrubbed clean and the hot water turned cold.

True to his word, when Severus stepped out of the bathroom he found a twin size bed with blankets neatly folded at the end and two goose-down pillows propped up against the small headboard. In the middle of the bed was Merlin’s tome. A note from Potter was attached to the book.

‘You may read until I get home. Enjoy. Harry. P.S. Don’t put your greasy fingers on the book.’

"Greasy fingers, Severus said, looking at his hands. "Where the hell would I get greasy fingers?"

He then noticed a full tray of food sitting on the floor, including four strips of bacon. He looked back and forth between the food and the book. Severus's decision was made when his stomach started to rumble. He ate his meal slowly, savoring every mouthful. The sweetened coffee was heaven sent. Severus looked up and down the narrow hall. He didn’t want any one to see him when he picked up the plate and licked it clean. With a sigh of contentment, Severus lifted the tome onto his lap, readying himself for a long bout of reading. To his immense relief, under the book was a pair of sweats, a tee shirt and a pair of slippers. More comfortable than he had been in years, Severus cuddled under his blankets and read. He read until his eyes could no longer stay open.

When Harry got home, he found Severus asleep sitting up, the book opened in his lap. He studied Severus's appearance. The years in Azkaban were hard on Severus. His hair was short, unevenly cut by someone who didn’t give a damn. It was explained to him that all prisoners’ hair was kept short to control the lice problem. Regular meals would help him fill out and loose the gaunt look. Severus's teeth were damaged, lost during his incarceration, but they could easily be replaced once he saw a Medi-wizard. He’d call Poppy and ask her to Floo over and give Severus a physical. She was perhaps the only person that he did not hold a grudge against, the only person that he held in great deal of esteem. She had taken care of the ex-Death Eater through the years. She understood him better than anyone else alive. If only Dumbledore were alive. He better than anyone could enlighten Harry about his slave. Then again, most of Severus’s problems could stem from how the Headmaster treated him all of the years.

His slave, Harry mused. How he truly hated owning another person. Severus should have been praised as a war hero. Instead, he had been condemned as the next Dark Lord. Harry shook his head. He had absolutely no doubt that given the chance Severus would have a revenge that would shake the foundation of the Wizarding World. Knowing what his slave had lived through, he really couldn’t blame him. Then again, he couldn’t let Severus destroy everything that he loved.

“Contemplating my future Mr. Potter?” Severus asked stirring from his slumber.

Harry chose to ignore the ‘Potter’ comment. It wasn’t disrespectful in the lease.

“Just wondering if Poppy could come by and give you a physical this evening,” Harry saw Severus’s eyes shine at the prospect of seeing his old friend. “I’ll bring dinner after she done. Is there anything you particularly like?”

“Steak and kidney pie,” Severus almost purred when he spoke.

Harry wanted to gag. Only Severus would choose steak and kidney pie as a special meal. “I’ll see what I can do. Since you slept most of the day you can look at the book until you go to sleep tonight. Once you’re asleep it will be spelled back into my room.”

“Will I ever get to read it again?” there was something wistful as he spoke about the tome.

“We’ll see Severus,” Harry tuned and leaving his ex-teacher reading.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

“Poppy, it’s so good to see you on such short notice,” Harry hugged the Medi-witch.

“I wouldn’t miss a chance to seeing Severus,” she took her cloak off and placed it over the back of a dining room chair. She sat down, placed her hands on her knees and stared at Harry. “Now, young man, kindly explain just what you think you’re doing?”

“I’m sorry?” he questioned.

“No you’re not. You deliberately and maliciously subjected a human being to slavery. I see absolutely no reason for it.” Madam Pomfrey scowled.

“He’s ill…”Harry began to explain.

“Of course he’s ill. He has posttraumatic stress syndrome, survivor's guilt, and remorse because he killed the man he considered a father. If that’s not bad enough, he was put, unfairly I may add, into Azkaban for four years. Who would be sane after all that? Do you blame him forhating everyone around him? Huh? Do you? Really, you’re the specialist around here you should have know better. Really, Harry!”

Harry was quite surprised that she said it all in one breath. “I take it you don’t approve of our decision of enslaving Severus?”

Poppy took a deep breath, releasing some of the stress that she was feeling. “I like you Harry. I’ve never known you to hurt anyone on purpose,” Harry raised his eyebrow, “well, just the once, but that's beside the point. Severus doesn’t need to be tormented, he needs understanding.”

“You don’t know me as well as you think you do if you think I’m having fun tormenting an ill man. He needs my help. He’s like a balloon about to explode. If we don’t release some of the anger he’s feeling, not only will it be devastation to him, but also to the Wizarding World. I know he hates himself more than he hates everyone else. I know he loved Dumbledore. And you may be absolutely right, but the deed is done. Healer Thornton and I cannot go back and undo anything. He’s now and always will be my responsibility. Poppy, we could argue the point now until Doomsday. Let's just get him better…the two of us. Okay?”

“Still don’t like it,” she muttered. “Now I’ll go see Severus. I have a few books and some of his favorite chocolates for him. It is all right if I give it to him?”

“Poppy, of course it fine. Why don’t you take up his dinner to him and have a nice long chat with him. Anything I need to talk to him about can wait until then.”

“Is that steak and kidney pie that I smell?” she smiled, “Make it two plates and a nice Merlot and a couple slices of that strawberry cheesecake and I’ll go up straight away,”

Harry did as he was told and handed the Medi-wizard the huge tray of food. She waddled slightly as she walked up the flight of stairs. Turning to Harry she said, “Harry be good to him. He deserves it.”

Before he could answer, she had turned and continued on her way.