Blind Faith

Blind faith 6 a turn for the worse

Sorry for this short chapter but this just seemed the place to end this chapter. Thank you again to everyone who left a message, some with constructive criticism and some just to tell me they like my story. Both are great! I will generally not respond to the criticism in messages in my author’s notes but try to incorporate the answer in the story itself.

So, last time:

“He will continue to hide his weaknesses form us. It is common for people who have been abused. I also ordered the house elves to keep a supply of food and drink ready at his room which hopefully will prevent him from hoarding but if we do see him let it be. He will be food insecure and keep his own little emergency store especially since he seems uncomfortable around us while eating.” Severus said sadly. Harry’s behavior was confusing him more than he liked.

All the adults felt unhappy, checking up on harry before they went to bed.

Now another chapter!

Harry woke up uncomfortable and confused. Not remembering much after he came back to the strange echo place. He felt sweltering hot and uncomfortable. Something was pushing against him firmly, trapping him in the blankets. Fearfully harry struggled to get free and get some space. Something whined besides him making the small boy struggle harder. Finally harry got free from the restraining blankets and ended up on the floor painfully, breathing hard. Jacob sensing his master’s distress whined and jumped off the bed. Harry scrambled back fearfully, mouth open in a silent scream.

Still disoriented harry got to his feet, searching for anything around him to help him figure out where he was. Frightened and shaking he stood beside the bed, turning his head to try and catch the sounds around him better. A strange clicking sound near him frightened him, urging him to get away. Using the furniture near him to get away harry fled. Something fell of the top of a dresser and shattered around his feet splattering them but harry only felt the need to get away from whatever was hunting him. Sharp things slicers his feet but harry finally found a door and rushed through it, only to find himself in a larger space.

Harry's breathing hocked hitched when he heard her voice, he stumbled backwards. His foot sliding of the top of the stairs and slowly he lost his balance, falling down the heavy marble staircase.

“Severus,” She screamed, running down the stairs to get to Harry. The two men rushed out of their bedroom wands at the ready.

“Severus, down here. He fell.” Narcissa called panicked, kneeling besides his still form. Severus rushed down, surveying the situation and starting to cast diagnostic charms over harry, trusting Lucius to protect them from what every danger coming.

“Lucius, call Mungo’s, tell them to prepare for an emergency.” Severus growled. “Narcissa, we have to prepare him for travel.” The potions master said, already spelling braces onto the boy and strapping him down to a stretcher. As soon as harry felt the restrictive bands on his body he became agitated, struggling against them regardless of his injuries. Severus quickly muttered a sleeping spell, worried Harry would hurt himself more.

Lucius came back with a portkey just as Severus was finishing up and moments later they landed in st Mungo’s emergency ward.

“Well done preparing him,” a healer said, rushing over, already casting spells over the boy as a medi-witch came over to head the adults off while harry was rushed off.

“Can you tell me what happened?” He asked, leading the worried family to a small waiting area.

“We have been fostering Harry for a few days after he was removed from an abusive family. I can go get the papers.” Lucius said. Suddenly realizing the legal ramifications that this could bring.

“He has been doing a bit better, perhaps even gaining some weight and trust.” Severus added. “Healer Deffo has been treating him.” He glanced and Narcissa, not sure what had really happened.

“I was woken by a house elf reporting harry had broken the jug of juice in his room and went to check up on him and found him in the hallway at the top of the stairs looking sweaty and panicky so I called his name. I hoped to warn him, to call him too me but instead he stepped back and fell down the stairs.” Narcissa said with a little sob. “We removed the safety wards years ago when Draco learned to walk stairs properly.” She said looking as Lucius frustrated

“All right, I will check for an update.” The healers said calmingly, smiling gently. He knew the stages that people bringing someone to the emergency ward went through. Healer Deffo hurried through 10 minutes later nodding at them but rushing past. A few minutes later the welcoming healer returned.

“Right than,” He said cheerily, ignoring the burning stares of the three Slytherins. “Now there are some concerns and we are not quite done yet. So far he seems to respond well to treatment and healer Deffo informed us of his pre-existing conditions.” The healer said, ignoring the glares. “He will have to stay here at least for a few days to make sure he is recovering. The most senior healer will be by soon to explain what was wrong with him and how we are treating it. Can I get you anything while you wait?” The young man asked them but when they all just shook their head he left the three to their own thoughts.

When Deffo came out almost an hour later he looked exhausted he almost collapsed in one of the rickety chairs with a deep sigh. Severus, Lucius and Narcissa stared at him shocked. Some minutes later they were joined by another healers in Mungo’s robes who Deffo introduced to them as healer Stakler.

“So, your foster son came in with severe head trauma and several broken bones, most likely from the fall. Considering his past he most likely has weakened bone structure which made the damage much greater. He also caught the wizarding flu, but with an already weakened immune system it manifested with high fever and lung congestion. The fever can also explain the confusion that could have caused his fall.” Stalker explained calmly. “I want him to stay for at least a day but it will probably be several because of the complications possible and the many different injuries. We need to monitor the head injury closely and get him over the flue. We will reevaluate tomorrow and give you a more definite time he can be released. We also suggest him seeing a mind healer tomorrow for an assessment considering the abuse he has gone though.”

“We wanted to wait till he recovered some communications skills.” Severus said.

“I understand that,” Stakler said, “but we don’t know how long that will take so I want him assessed at the very least to see what prognosis there is before decisions can be made on a treatment plan.” Severus nodded, understanding the reasoning and realizing it would be easier if Harry was assessed when he was already in hospital.

They were only allowed to see Harry for a moment. The boy looked pale with dark bags under his eyes and several potions were slowly being introduced into his bloodstream through tubes. Severus sat down heavily besides the bed, cradling a limp bony hand in his larger calloused and stained ones. Wondering if he should have listened to Dumbledore, if harry would have been saver locked up in a special ward and at least protected from himself.

“You did the right thing love,” Lucius said, recognizing the signs that his lover was talking himself into a hole.

“You may visit tomorrow after 9,” a healer told them at the floo gates when they flooed back to the manor. An anxious grate Dane met them when they steppe though, whining and continuing to stare at the fire place.

“He won’t come home yet, Jacob,” Lucius told the hound. Surprisingly the animal sighed deeply and followed them out.

Severus stood in the doorway of Harry’s room, looking at the glass, juice and bloody footprints hat covered the floor. Lucius wrapped his arm around his lover and with a wave of his wand set the room to rights.

“We will figure this out but it will take some learning and adjusting but we will get there.” He told the dark haired man. “Tomorrow we will recast the safety wards so this cannot happen again.” Gently he pulled Severus to the bedroom, hoping to convince him to take some rest at least.

Not everything is well in paradise.