Lesson's Learned 2: Gone but not forgotten

Chapter 9 A setback

**Wish it was longer but here ya go!!! Xox**    

 For 7 days, the equivalent of 168 hours, or technically 10,800 minutes, even 648,000 seconds, Harry stood vigil over Severus’ bedside. Though he was not the only one to come see him, he was the one who refused to move, to eat, to even take care of his self. All he cared was that he be there to feel the hand in his twitch, to see his brow rise sardonically, to berate him jestingly for acting like a girl. It was so far in vain. His hands began to chafe by day 3 from the constant grip on Severus’s hand. Poppy ended up having to use spells generally used for those unable to fend for themselves. Still, Harry sat there, counting the grueling seconds, screaming, crying, begging, and pleading, for Severus to come back from the dark place he was in. He resided so far into his mind that neither he, Draco, Narcissa, even Dumbledore himself could reach him.

“Dad, please, I need you.” He whispered hoarsely, his voice having given out days ago. “You have so many reasons to wake up. We have already lost so many. I can’t stand to think I will lose you too.”

     With that admission he had taken so many days avoiding, the dam behind his eyes broke once again. They were witches and wizards for crying out loud. They could keep the body functioning for the most part. Neville’s parents were a good example of that. But once a certain time frame has elapsed, the chance of Severus waking up without brain damage was slim. He had seen Dudley and his gang pick on several other kids their age. One in particular he remembered well. A kid just a few years younger than them had been in a car wreck. Thanks to not wearing his seat belt, he smashed head first into the windshield. Being as he was so small, the window did not shatter, though the impact was enough to cause serious damage. He was known to have periods of being a normal little boy but sometimes all thoughts would cease and it could take seconds or minutes for the boy to come back to himself. These were the times that Dudley and his friends liked to pick on him the most. The boys’ parents eventually realized he would not be able to handle public school and paid for a tutor. It had been several summers since Harry had seen him.

     Is that what Severus would be like if he didn’t wake up soon? Would he even remember his bride to be, his adoptive sons, his little girl who would be there soon?

    All this thinking was going to make him go insane.

“Mr. Potter, for the love of Merlin, stop this sniffling now and hand me my robe. Madame Promphrey knows I would never be caught dead in this printed hospital attire and as I am infact, not dead, I wish to get dressed and return to my quarters.” Harry slowly lifted him eyes from the covers, hardly daring to believe the voice he had been waiting so diligently to hear. Wait… Did he just call him Mr. Potter?

“It is also highly inappropriate for you to be holding onto my hand like a life raft. I can’t begin to guess what would cause you to sit upon my bedside and snivel like a child but I insist you desist right this moment.”

     With his stoic mask in place, he yanked his hand back from Harry, swung his robe onto his shoulder, and walked straight pass Draco and Narcissa with just the barest of respectful nods.

     Harry sat numbly for a brief moment before springing to action.

“No, get back here!” he screamed, lunging for Severus with all of the agility his body recalled from Quidditch. He underestimated the fact that another seeker was in the room that quickly stopped him. Harry would have fought like a wild animal had Narcissa not wrapped her arms around both boys.

“Give him time, I am sure he will remember us.” Her voice cracked on the last word and Draco and Harry both turned to wrap her in their arms.

     He must have turned too fast because the next moment he was falling and someone was hollering his name.