Jail Bird Choir

CHAPTER 6

Harry stood beside Remus in the doorway to the living room staring at the naked figure sitting on the kitchen chair in front of the fire. It had taken them a good three hours to get back to the shoreline from Azkaban and the trio had landed in a secluded dark wood to avoid the mob waiting for them. They’d apperate back to London from there and now safely at home they were at a loss as to what to do and where to start.

“He’ll have to be bathed, I can’t stand that smell.” Remus crinkled his nose in disgust at the foul unwashed smell coming from Severus.

“And you’ll have to treat those injuries some of them are going wrong.” Tonks spoke up from where she was sitting on the arm of the couch, sipping a brandy.

“There are not enough potions in the house supply.” Harry offered wondering if they should really be talking about Snape as if the man wasn’t sitting in the same room as them. Not that Snape had made any effort to acknowledge them since Harry had sat him down on the kitchen chair in front of the fireplace to warm up.

“Then you’ll have to go to the apocathary.” Remus offered dryly as he folded his arms across his chest and scowled at Snape’s back and the deep whiplashes that marked the marble skin.

“And I suggest trying the one in Hogsmeade rather than Diagon Alley it is quieter and you’re less likely to run into trouble.” Tonks offered as she sipped on her brandy. Harry sighed heavily and nodded in agreement, he wasn’t going to win any popularity contests now he’d taken in a known killer and death eater.

“Malfoy.” Harry muttered sourly knowing that the Apocathary in Hogsmeade was run and owned by one bad mannered, bastard of a wizard he certainly didn’t want to see. At the mention of Malfoy Snape turned around sharply his haunted eyes staring at Harry silently waiting for something. Harry looked to Remus for aid but the werewolf merely shrugged his shoulders not knowing what to do. Since arriving that had been the only acknowledgement Snape had made to having heard what they’d been talking about.

“He’s not here.” Tonks spoke up before Harry could mutter anything and Harry watched in shock as Snape stared at her for a moment before turning back around to stare into the fire again.

“Guess he doesn’t want to see the Malfoy’s.” Tonks whispered as she looked at Harry and Remus. Harry shrugged his shoulders but Remus’ scowl of disapproval deepened.

“Funny that, he had no qualms about seeing them before the war.” With his spitting comment Remus spun on his heal and stormed off down into the privacy of his basement. Harry sighed and slumped against the doorframe as he stared at Snape’s back and the man’s crudely shaved head.

“He’ll need feeding, I’ll go see if I can make some things to tempt him. You deal with the smell.” Finishing her brandy Tonks stood up and having crinkled her nose in disgust of the stench disappeared across the front foyer and into the kitchen to start cooking. Harry sighed heavily and having steeled his nerves approached Snape. Harry had to admit the man smelled foul and he was caked in blood and dirt and other unmentionables.

“Severus?” Harry tried gently waiting for the man to look at him but with no success. Knowing he was unlikely to get a response Harry continued undeterred. “Would you like a bath? I’ll run one for you and we can clean up some of these…” Harry trailed off as reached for Snape’s crooked hand, watching carefully as the wizard closed his eyes against the pain as Harry touched one of the bloodied nail less fingers. Harry stepped back as Snape stood up and turned towards the door. Silently Harry smiled to himself as he preceded Snape upstairs and towards the main bathroom. Harry had forgotten that Snape had spent a lot of time in Grimmauld place with the order but still led the wizard into the stark while marble bathroom. “Just stand there a moment I’ll get the taps.” Harry nervously told Snape to stay where he was as he bent over the sunken bath and began the five taps circling the bath. Rifling through the cupboard Harry found some healing salts and poured the entire bottle into bathtub watching it instantly foam and bubble in a blue haze.

“Alright you can get in.” Harry whispered stepping back from the bath to watch as Snape stepped awkwardly down into the warm water. Harry didn’t miss the wash of pain as the water hit Snape’s stumps where his toes had been. Each bloodied wound must have stung like hell and Harry felt for the wizard deeply. Still Snape didn’t voice his pain and with his blank expression back in place sunk down beneath the foamy water. “There, Remus won’t be able to throw you out because you smell bad now.” Harry didn’t care that Snape wasn’t talking to him back and continued his one sided conversation as he reached for a soft sea sponge and some antiseptic soap Remus used on his own cuts after the full moon. “I never imagined you with short hair, but you’ve got a nice shaped head for it.” Harry bit his lip as he began washing Snape’s back and neck, gently sponging away the dirty and dried blood. The whip marks began bleeding again with the dirty gone and Harry wondered if Snape was in pain. Severus never uttered a word though and so Harry carefully took his time sponging every inch of Snape’s body. Severus and he had never been really close not in a traditional friends kind of way but they had an understanding of friendship that ran even deeper than what Ron and Harry had. It seemed strange that such a strong willed, independent individual as Snape would sit quietly allowing Harry to give him a sponge bath without even flinching.

The water of the bath was bloody red by the time Harry had finished but Snape looked marginally better with the grime gone. Harry stood up and wiped his hands on the towel before holding it open in invitation for Snape. The wizard took it silently and stepped into the large fluffy material that Harry wrapped around him. With his fingers so injured Snape couldn’t hold the towel closed and so Harry clipped it together with one of Hermione’s hairgrips she’d left behind on her last visit. Snape’s wounds were bleeding profusely and the stumps of Snape’s once toes were still oozing with infection. The gangrene on the man’s ankle was not going to be washed away so easily either and the iron chain wrapped around it would have to go. “Come downstairs and have something to eat.” Harry guided Snape down the stairs and into the kitchen where the smells of soup and fresh bread were filling the house.

“He’s bleeding all over my kitchen.” Tonks put simply as she glanced at Snape’s fresh form. Harry rolled his eyes as he sat Snape down at the kitchen table and wiped a trail of blood from the floor with a piece of kitchen roll

“Yeah well I’m not a medi witch and we’re low on stocks, I’ll have to leave him with you while I go and see a blonde about some potions.” The first rays of sun were already streaming in through the kitchen window, the night lost to them in their journey leaving them tired but still going.

“I’ll feed him then, soup shouldn’t do him any harm and I doubt he’d keep down solids anyway.” Harry nodded as he crouched down beside Snape and reached for the man’s face. Snape flinched then the first sign he’d given that he was still coherent. Harry removed his hand quickly but was surprised when Snape look at him directly.

“I have to go and get something’s to heal these up, I won’t be long. Have something to eat and get some rest.” Harry smiled at Snape but there was no flicker of acknowledgement as Snape turned back to staring at the tabletop in front of him. Harry sighed but stood up and headed for the foyer. “I’ll be back and keep him out Remus’ way.” With a casual wave at Tonks Harry headed out of the door of number 12. He had to go and see Malfoy, and having seen him twice in the space of a week was just far too often for Harry’s liking. Yet he had a duty to Snape that he had to fulfill, he wouldn’t let the man suffer.

TBC>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

A/N Told you I'd update this baby quicker, it's more fullfilling as a writer to do this sort of stuff than the fluffy bunny stuff I tend to see a lot of. Anyway hope you're enjoying this, Severus may be down but he's certainlly not out and there's a few surprises around the corner *boo!* PLease take the time to review this is a little marcabe in places and I really want to know if I'm going too far this time around. Thanks for the reviews.

Cheers

RIFFRAFF