Y/n and the potions professor - in progress

4. The truth is revealed

A/N: Hey guys! Sorry this chapter took a little extra time to post. I've been super busy with school, so from now on updates might be a little slower. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. I was wondering if there was anyone you wanted Y/n to end up with. I was thinking Draco would be interesting but also a Gryffindor like Harry or Hermione and also how Severus might react to this. So please lmk! I won't keep you any longer, enjoy:)

Warnings: Starvation, attack details, child neglect, angst

Pairings: none

He taught a few more classes, mostly helping various classes to revise for their OWLS or NEWTS since it was that time of the year. The other teachers looked at him strangely when he suddenly excused himself halfway through dinner. He made his way to the hospital wing with a portion of food for Y/n. He was greeted by Madame Pomfrey.
"Hello Severus, she's been awake for a little while, and I managed to heal her almost completely." She said to him.
He nodded, "that's wonderful Poppy." He said, without a hint of emotion in his voice. The older women couldn't help but notice that his vulnerable side had melted away, and his usual icy demeanour had returned. She continued, realising she'd been staring, "you may go and see her now Severus." He nodded and without another word, he left.

He let himself in, announcing his arrival. "Hello Y/n, how are you feeling?" he asked. She nodded solemnly. "Ok." But her voice wavered. Severus pulled out a chair next to her bed. "I bought you some dinner." He said, offering her the plate of food.
Looking at it nervously, she swallowed. "I might not be able to manage all of that."
He nodded in understanding. "Not to worry, just eat as much as you can."
She took the plate, and he watched as she ate gingerly. "So, if you don't mind, I'd like you to tell me what happened earlier. To your hand, I mean."
Suddenly he was faced with the terrible realisation she could have done it herself. But no, he convinced himself, their would be a perfectly reasonable explanation. But he certainly couldn't have predicted what she would say next.
She sighed, preparing to explain.
"I was running, and then there was a hand over my mouth. Someone grabbed me, but I managed to break free. They face was covered with a hood, so I couldn't see it. They didn't run after me, so I looked back. That was my mistake. They had a wand; it looked like elm but I can't say for sure. About 12 inches I'd say. Then they muttered something, imparies or something like that and pointed the wand at me. Then it was like there was this fog in my brain. Then I heard a smash and saw blades of glass. Then I felt this searing pain, and I saw blood. Then I blacked out." She finished.

He was silent for a few moments, trying to possibly imagine how to reply. He didn't even know what to say. She'd just confirmed that someone else had been envolved and there was a high probability it was a death eater. But why were they targeting her? He had a million questions. He knew they didn't just go after anyone for no reason, everything they did was on purpose. Hurting her was likely part of some master plan.
Luckily they didn't suspect him as a spy yet, he was sure of it.
His cover was strong. And he'd realised that spell she was referring to was The Imperius Curse, an unforgivable curse. If they could catch whoever had done it, they could be sent straight to Azkaban.

But he still needed to know why they had targeted her. There had to be a reason. Maybe it had something to do with her family? He knew he needed to find out everything he could about her parents and her foster family.
"Y/n, thank you for telling me. I'm so sorry. I just want you to know that what happened was in no way your fault." He said kindly.
Tears began to well up in her eyes, "But it was my fault! They knew my name!" She sobbed. He wanted so badly to hug her, comfort her in a way he had never been at her age. He moved his chair closer to her. "Y/n, look at me." He said with force in his voice, but not anger. "Please." Eventually she stared at him with tearstained eyes. He placed a hand gingerly on her shoulder, and she relaxed into his touch. "I want you to listen to me clearly. You've done nothing wrong. Nothing at all. What that person did to you was unacceptable. I tell you, when I get my hands on them they'll be sorry. You hear me?"
She nodded and to his surprise hugged the older man. He had not been expecting this, but returned the contact. He remembered the times he'd rarely been hugged in his life. He could probably count them all. They stayed like this for a minute and he let her cry into his shoulder.
He pulled gently away and handed her a hankerchief. "Now, wipe your eyes and clean yourself up." There's somewhere I want to take you." He said, smiling. "Get yourself ready, I'm going to talk to Madam Pomfrey." He said, getting up and closing the door behind him. He found the older woman tending to another student, and she agreed that Y/n could leave.
He walked back into her room. "You ready? He asked and she nodded.
She stood, wincing as her hand touched the bedsheets as she rose.