When Autumn Leaves

Harry had become increasingly sick. Time seemed to pass in odd intervals. The only event that Harry became aware of was being ushered into a bedroom, then the softness of a bed enveloping him. For a time, he wavered between sleep and waking. His body was wracked with shivers. Occasionally he was aware of a cool hand stroking his temple, soothing his discomfort like a mother would.


“Harry, you’ve been out for a day now.” Severus voice drifted into his consciousness. He groaned. The thought of food making him feel nauseous. “Harry, sit up now.” The coaxing, patience was stretched. Harry knew he best sit up and eat. He reluctantly forced his eyes open. A headache assaulted him.


“That would be the dehydration you’re feeling.” Harry felt the stirrings of irritation, but forced his lethargy away. He gripped his spectacles, adjusted them onto his face, and sat up slowly.


“Everything hurts.” He whined.


“I expected as much. When one’s magical core is repressed, the body must adjust to functioning without it.” Severus said matter-of-factly, and placed a tray upon Harry’s lap.


“You haven’t…you know...experienced it?”


“Fortunately, no. however, I have seen my own deal of magical bindings.” The last part was said with great distaste. It made him think of a dark time.


“When will they…err…release my magic?” Harry asked, finally gathering the nerve to think about moving on, and figure out what was going to happen to him. Severus fixed him with an even gaze.


“Till you are healthy enough to take Veritaserum and testify what happened between your relative and you.” Harry noticed a tremor in his hand with detached fascination; with all that had happened, he suddenly felt unreal. Like a playwright watching his creation, but was never allowed to be a part of it. He was horrified to think that everyone would know what had happened to him. What had been happening to him. Why couldn’t everyone leave him in peace?


“We can make the hearing private.” Harry looked up at Severus with a hopeful expression. “That is of course if the Minister will agree to it.”


Harry nodded.


“Come now, eat. We have a grand tour of the manor planned.” Severus encouraged, a calculating look in his eyes. Harry obliged, feeling slightly unnerved by the warmth he felt under the treatment of the other man. He popped a piece of bacon in his mouth, and chewed thoughtfully. Perhaps this was all a dream and he’d wake up from it, alone and in his cupboard.


He would’ve never guess in a million years that he’d feel so happy to be around Severus Snape.


He ate till he couldn’t anymore.


Severus raised an eyebrow at the remainder of his tray.


“You do realize that you’ve left more than half your food?” Harry sheepishly ducked his head.


“I feel a bit ill.”


“I’ll let this go for now. But under my care you will become acquainted with eating regularly and that includes eating normal portions.”

Harry felt his face grow warm.

A thought dawned on him,


“Where is Draco?”


“He’s working, and then sorting out the media on your case. Lord knows that the vultures would be picketing our house otherwise.” His stomach dropped. He felt like he was imposing on Severus, on Draco.


“I’m sorry…” the words were so quite that Severus almost missed them. He noticed Harry's down cast eyes. He gently took his chin in his hands, careful not to startle him.


“Harry, we want to help you.” His heart skipped a beat, and with those words, with such care, so gently, his walls crumbled. It was this gentleness he’d craved for so long. This care. Everything became real suddenly. Tears welled up in his eyes, and fell of their own accord.


“Thank you.”


He meant it.


Severus felt a sudden and strange sadness wash over him. The fragility in Harry was back. Before him was once again this broken man. He wondered how they’d all missed it, the cracks upon the façade, and he wondered how he’d once again fallen for the façade.


It grudgingly donned on him that Potter had perfected a mask of normalcy, the façade that everything was alright, and nothing bad had happened. It was so easy to forget reality when those eyes lied so prettily. It was too easy.


“Oh, Harry.” He murmured wiping the tears away.


Harry was so tired of fighting. He knew the dark eyes before him were as jaded as his. He gripped the Potion Masters shoulder, and acted without thinking. Their lips brushed.


Severus pulled away stunned only to find Harry limp in his arms. He laid him down and checked his vitals.


He wondered how he was going to put the pieces of this man back together. He touched his lips, and closed his eyes. He needed to speak with Draco.