Lily's Charm- Severitus fanfiction

Broken

1996

Remus stepped quickly out of the Floo into the Hospital Wing, not stopping until he reached Harry. Harry was draped over Severus' chest, the entire bed shaking with his sobs. Every witch and wizard huddled near the bed was staring, their eyes popped open in shock. Paying none of them any mind, Remus turned to Poppy, who was standing helplessly behind Harry, her eyes seeming to implore Remus to move the young man.

Completely forgetting himself, Remus turned around to face the gawking Order members. "Everybody out!" he roared, and surprise flitted across all of their faces. Especially Tonks, he noted, but he hadn't time to worry about anyone's feelings right now... Nobody's except Harry's.

"Shoo," Poppy emphasized with a flicking motion of her hands, and Albus finally took charge.

"Wait in my office," he ordered softly, and with many nods, the group found their way out of the Hospital Wing. Remus didn't notice if Tonks said goodbye. He was focused completely on Harry, his chest so heavy with dread that he didn't think he was breathing properly.

He didn't know what had happened; Poppy hadn't given any details. He didn't even know how Severus had gotten to the Hospital Wing. He wished he had something to tell Harry, something to ease his mind, but as he stood there, staring at Harry, whose hands and face were tangled up so hopelessly in his father's robes, Remus had no idea what he was supposed to do.

Well, he needed to move Harry; that much was certain.

With unsteady steps, Remus put a hand on Harry's back, and Harry flinched immediately from the touch.

Remus crouched down a bit so that he was level with Harry's face. "Harry," he whispered softly. Harry didn't respond. Moving carefully, Remus put his hands slowly on the quaking shoulders to gently tug him away from Severus. But Harry yanked himself from Remus' slight grip.

"No," he snarled. "Leave me alone," Harry insisted, a sob catching on the last of his command as he buried himself deeper against Severus.

His own eyes filling with tears, for both Harry and for Severus, Remus took a deep breath, hating himself for what he was about to do, but he could see that Harry wasn't going to relinquish his hold. "Somnus," he chanted thickly, waving his wand over Harry's prostrated form. Harry's fingers slackened their furious hold, and he began to slip from Severus' chest. Lunging forward, Remus caught his young friend around the waist, and then, turning him slightly, he hoisted Harry into his arms.

Taking only two short steps to the next bed, Remus laid his delicate bundle onto the crisp white sheets. Poppy handed him a pile of warm blankets, murmuring, "In shock." And then, she moved with precision toward Severus.

Remus unfolded the thick clutch of blankets and wrapped them securely around Harry, tucking them up and around his shoulders to keep him warm. The shock, as Poppy had said, had already begun to creep through Harry's body, and it would do no good for him to get a chill. For good measure, Remus cast a Warming Charm over the blankets, and then, as the tears threatened him again, Remus dropped heavily into the chair next to Harry's bed.

--

Remembrance seeped unwilling into Harry's conscious. His eyelids seemed to be crusted in sand as they scraped against his eyeballs. His stomach swooped as he saw the high ceilings of the Hospital Wing.

Dad

Pushing himself up so abruptly that he had to swallow back the rush of vomit that coursed up his throat, Harry waited through the spinning of the silent room.

Not seeing anything but the man lying stiffly on the bed next to his, Harry slipped down slowly from his perch and crossed with even slower steps to his father's side. It was all still there... the twisted limbs, the bruises and the face... swollen beyond recognition.