Regretting You?

HARRY

I walked to the infirmary as fast as I could, Severus' limp body still clutched to my chest as I ignored the looks, I got from the students and professors alike who were lingering in the corridors. The tears streaming down my cheeks refused to take a break as possibilities of what might have happened to my precious bundle ran through my head.

Madam Pomfrey had the bed ready as I laid Sev down careful not to hurt him much. Poppy was quick to get to work, waving her wand on Sev's unconscious form running a diagnosis. The parchment of ailments appeared above her head and the list grew longer by a second. I was nervous as Poppy turned to me with sad eyes and I knew what she was about to say is not going to be good so I braced myself for the worst to come.

Severus Tobias Snape (Potter)
Age: 44; 18mon - 24 months
Classification: Little
Birthdate: January 9, 1960

Diagnosis

Malnourishment
Dehydration
Welts/Bruises on back, buttocks, legs
Excessive alcohol
Week Magical core

Diagnosis done by
Madam Poppy Pomfrey, Medi-Witch
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

I read the list fresh tears blurring my vision at the thought of what this innocent little had to go through as I looked at Poppy who had a worried expression on her face.

"Severus needs a lot of healing," Poppy said solemnly. "I don't want him changing back to a toddler until he's stable."
How did we get into such a serious situation? Wasn't it yesterday that I was taking him to the zoo and having all the fun in the world?

"As I said," Poppy said, bringing me out of his musing. "I need Severus to stay as an adult. It will be easier on his magical core. His injuries are too severe for a toddler's body."
I nodded not able to speak as the sudden lump in my throat grew uncomfortably with every passing second. This can't be happening. I can't take all this. Please wake up Sev. Please.

I sank down on the stool not able to hold myself up any longer and took a hold of Sev's hand, bringing it to my lips. I felt myself losing the resolve of staying calm as a wrenched sob escaped my parted lips before I broke down completely, holding Sev's hand to my chest. I just wanted my Sevvy back. Was it too much for me to ask?

Poppy placed her hand on my shoulder sending ripples of calming energy through my body and once I was able to calm down, she closed the area off, telling me to sit by a side and started working on her patient.

I was a pile of pent-up energy. I wanted to be on the other side of that curtain. I wanted to run off and fly to try to clear my messed-up head, but I was glued to the chair, waiting for Poppy to emerge from behind the white screens that encircled the bed.

I could see Poppy working tirelessly, healing Severus as best as she could. The superficial wounds didn't take long to heal. She had to use several muggle IVs to administer much-needed nutrition and hydration to Severus. She spelled blood replenisher into his system magically.

I put my elbows over my knees, letting my emotions take over, and cried into my hands. I didn't see Poppy emerge out of the closed-off area and walk over to me not until I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up at her with red puffy cheeks and swollen eyes and she gave me a sympathetic smile.

"I've done everything I can do," Poppy said. "Because he was so dehydrated and it appears that he hadn't eaten in a while, I had to use IVs to administer the potions faster. He was an adult when all this happened to him as he barely had the energy or magic to shift due to the lack of food, but he was in the mindset of a Little, so it took a toll on him."

I nodded, going back to observing Sev from the other side of the curtain. IVs were attached to his hands and legs, one going through his nose. Poppy had put him in a sweatshirt and a diaper.

"Harry there is something you should know of." She informed me, walking back over to Sev with me following right behind. Poppy was standing on the side of the cot. She reached down and slid up his sleeve, revealing several straight-lined cuts on his forearm.

A gasp escaped my lips as I tried to think of anything that might have caused such a reaction out of Sev but found nothing.
"They are fresh. I think he did it when you were in the hospital wing."

I nodded not able to find my voice at the moment. I resumed sitting by Sev's side, questioning my ability as a guardian. He looked like a baby even in his adult form so cute and adorable.

I was sitting on a transfigured chair next to Severus' cot. I refused to move from my Little's side. Not until Severus woke up. He needed me and I will be here for him. There were times I would break down and completely lose control, blaming it all upon myself but Draco and Pansy made sure to comfort me every time I lost hope in myself and I am very grateful for it.

It has been a day since Sev was admitted and nothing has changed. He was still in the healing phase. I reached out and lightly rubbed Severus' arm over the self-inflicted wounds. How could I have missed this?

I thought I did a thorough search of Sev's body when I realized that he was wearing a glamour. Poppy said they weren't old, but just the thought that Sev felt he had to hurt himself made me sick. The exhaustion I felt was nothing compared to my eagerness or rather stubbornness to be close to my little. It felt like he was about to vanish the moment I let go or even close my eyes.

I was crying in silence. It seemed like a water tank had been fixed somewhere inside me and kept overflowing through my eyes but the pain I was feeling was suffocatingly unbearable and no matter how many people were there with me, I felt alone, alone, and empty.

I moved my chair close to Sev's bed, careful not to disturb the IVs, combed my fingers through his soft hairs. "You have to come back to me," I whispered. "I don't care what you tell me. I am your Guardian, and I love you with all my heart. I want you to fight this. Come back so I can take care of you." Tears streamed down my face as I spoke. I spoke to him every chance I got in a hope that he would listen and wake up. I tried to scold him as well but nothing seemed to work.

A hand was placed on my shoulder and looked up to meet Hermione's honey-brown eyes. I couldn't control myself as I hugged her and broke down in her arms. I felt a pat on my back and turned around to see Ron who joined us in the hug.

Hermione had grown up into a beautiful woman with just the right curves her frizzy, untamable dark hair still in place matching her dark brown almond eyes. As for Ron, he still had those chubby cheeks and his obsession for food still intact but had grown taller and more muscular over the years with his trademark red hair of the Weasleys and those big brown eyes.

"Everything will be alright Harry; we will make sure of it," Hermione whispered to me as Ron nodded along with her words. I whipped my tears with the back of my shirt and Mione gave me a disgusted look. I just smiled at her cheekily.

HERMIONE

Harry looked like shit if anything. I could see the internal struggle he was going through. It hurts to see him like this.

"What happened at the manor?" He questioned and I sighed. Not in a million years would have I thought of encountering Bellatrix again but now all was well as she was finally and truly gone.

"Lucius was arrested," I informed him. "A few other suspected Death Eaters were killed. Lucius will be getting Kissed after a trial." Harry only nodded. He looked over at Severus with sorrow, grief, and pain as Ron and I exchanged a worried look.

"I don't want this to happen ever again," Harry said and we looked at him questioningly not knowing exactly what was he referring to. "Because of the age difference, I'm not sure if Lucius was the only pseudo-Guardian for Severus. Lady Magic has decreed that Sev is my Little. Is there a way that I can make it permanent? So there no question, no discrepancies, nothing that can take my Little away from me again."

"I'll look into it," I said. Pansy and Draco came a while later and we sat in silence not knowing what to talk about. Chaos erupted when an alarm sounded. Harry stood up, leaning over Severus' body. Poppy rushed out of her office. She got to Severus' side and waved her wand casting another diagnostic charm over her patient.

"Sweet Merlin," Poppy gasped.
"What?! What is it?" Harry screamed. The tears that had stopped for a while coming back full force. We tried to comfort him as Poppy ran an in-depth scan over Sev but Harry shook us off, standing by Sev's side like a statue.

"He's declining," Poppy informed us and Harry stumbled back a little as if punched before he sank down in the chair, he had previously vacated, uncomfortable sobs escaping him as he cried into his hands, Pansy trying to comfort him but failing miserably.

"It seems like Severus' body is not responding to the treatments," Poppy said.
"What can you do? There has to be something you can do to save him."
"He's being put into a magical coma," Poppy said. "This way, it can slow down whatever is attacking his body and resisting treatment."

Poppy did a more extensive scan to find out the underlining problem.
"Oh, dear," Poppy gasped.
"What is it?" Harry anxiously asked.
"His magical core is depleting," Poppy sighed. "The coma will slow it. Hopefully, it will give his body time to heal and restore his core."

Harry just sat there crying. I looked at Draco at the same time Pansy glanced at me, both of us asking the same question. They both nodded reassuring us that they were here for Harry as I made my way out of the infirmary with Pansy following close behind.

Will Severus make it???