The Boy The Snake and The Stone

Chapter 36: Time of Healing Time of Thought

Harry let out a moan, his everything hurt, not as bad as a trashing from Uncle Vernon, but everything felt like it had been dragged into different directions. He opened his eyes to a blinding light, making him instantly regret even trying, he tried to move and hide his head into the pillow that was underneath his head; but he ended up a whimpering mess as the muscles pulled and tighten.

"Shh little one," said a deep voice beside him, who was this, he knew this voice but he was so tired to try to place it, "Harry can you take something for me?" He felt cool glass be pressed against his lips; Harry opened his mouth and felt the contents pool into his mouth. A foul taste followed and he almost spit it back out when he felt a hand clamp around his mouth and his head tip back; leaving him with no choice but to swallow.

"You're fine Harry, I've got you, I'm sorry little one," The voice said as he released his grip, whatever the man gave him helped with the pain instantaneously, making the deep, aching pain in his body disappear. Harry felt a hand settle on top of his head, he tensed thinking that a blow was to follow, fingers slowly threading through my hair. He slowly relaxed, his body and brain catching up on thoughts swirling around in his head. Harry slowly opened my eyes, the light that was blinding when he first opened them, but nowhere as bright as when the fingers where taken away from my head. Harry let out a small whimper, missing the comfort of touch; he heard a chuckle and turned to face a blur of the man that was taking care of him. He saw the hand coming closer to his face, and then cold metal was placed on his nose and everything started to come into focus. There sitting in the chair beside him was a man with brown hair, his skin was pale as if he never seen the sun, and his eyes where pools of crimson. Harry's eyebrows furrowed together, he never met this man in his life, and this was not someone he knew.

"Severus wanted to be the one here when you awoke, but he needed much rest after spending three days sitting in this chair. It took both myself and Lucius to put that man into bed," the man said with a smile.

"W-", Harry tried to talk but his voice cracked and his throat was so dry that he ended up in a coughing fit. The man helped Harry sit up patting his back until the fit passed. He then held a glass to his lips. "Drink a little bit, that should help." Harry did as he was told, the liquid, he found out, was just some ice water, and greedily guzzled it down, to sooth his dry. angry throat. The glass was empty and removed before Harry once again turned his attention back to the man that has been helping him, "W-who are you?" His voice was scratchy from the lack of use, but the water had helped in allowing him to speak.

"Oh!" The man exclaimed in excitement, "I guess you never seen me like this, I am the Lord Voldemort," Harry's eyes widened in fear, but if what happened down in the belly of the school was anything to go by, he could not trust this man! He tried to move away from the man, leading him to scoot too far and tumbled out of the bed on to the floor.

"Harry!" The Dark Lord yelped, getting up from his seat to check up on the youth that had spilled out on the floor. Harry scrambled backwards and away from the man, not wanting to be too close, just in case. The Dark lord stop moving, "Oh Harry, there is nothing to be afraid of. I promise I am not going to hurt you," the man kneeled on the floor showing his hands to the frightened youth, showing that he did not have a wand on him. As if he needed one, but the younger didn't need to know that just yet. Harry eyed the open hands apprehensively, his body still tensed ready for anything but slowly unfolded himself. "I will explain everything, but why don't you get back into bed? Severus would have my head if I let you stay on the floor a moment longer."

"That's right Tom," said another voice who sounded upset at this "Tom". Harry's head swung into the direction of the voice to see his Father standing at the threshold of the room. Without thinking Harry flung himself up and ran (more like stumbled) over to Severus, "PAPA!" he said without thinking throwing his tiny arms around Severus' waist burying his head into the man's clothed stomach. Severus froze, this was the first time that Harry called him anything of the sorts, of course he had said Father occasionally, but it was awkwardly put on at the end of a sentence. It took a moment before a smile graced Severus' face and his arms wrapped around the small boy.