Ch 5
Severus sat in his chair, his eyes fixed on the boy who was moaning and writhing in bed. The boy was shaking his head, clenching his fists tightly, and groaning with his eyes shut while his sweating grew worse. Severus watched him with a look of concern, tapping his fingertips stoically on the arm of his chair.
Suddenly, Harry began to mumble incoherently. His words were barely audible, but Severus strained to hear. "Mommy, don't hurt her... please... no... no... Mommy... don't... no... please... Mommy... no..." Harry muttered, tears streaming down his face.
Severus impulsively stroked the cloth on Harry's forehead, trying to soothe him. "You're safe, Harry. You're just dreaming. Wake up, boy," he whispered, but Harry continued to mumble incoherently.
"No... please... no... not my... mommy... no... please! Don't! No! Mommy!" Harry began screaming, clutching the blanket to his chest. Severus watched him coldly, but inside he felt a different emotion.
"Child, wake up, Harry. You're safe. Wake up, you're just dreaming," he said, trying to calm the boy down, but his movements grew worse.
"Mommy, no, don't hurt her! Please! Momma, don't hurt her!" Harry yelled, then suddenly sat up, screaming for his mother. Severus gripped him firmly by the shoulders, and Harry stared blankly at the ceiling with tears streaming down his face.
"No! Mommy!" he cried.
"It's all right, Harry. Focus on my voice. Wake up, child! Harry!" Severus made the boy look at him, and slowly, Harry began to return to his senses. He relaxed his body and mind, seeing the professor.
"Professor... Snape?" Harry whined hopefully while panting feeling the unforgiving heat of his fever.
"It's me, child. You're safe here. Go back to sleep," Severus ordered him coldly. Harry sobbed, then grabbed Severus' robe tightly.
"Professor... don't leave me... don't let the bad people hurt me... don't let them find me... please... Professor..." the child pleaded helplessly, gripping Severus' robe tighter in desperation while the teacher just stared at him seriously with cold eyes.
"Shh, child, shh. Go back to sleep. Go back to sleep. Go back to sleep, Harry," he said, trying to calm him down. Harry whined and held him tighter, burying his face in his robes.
"No! I don't want you to go like before. Please don't leave me... alone... please... don't go... please..." he cried.
Severus stared at him stoically, then carefully held him in his arms, stroking his hair and feverish face. "Rest, child, rest. Go back to sleep. Get some rest, Harry," he soothed, gently placing him back down on the pillows and covering him with the blanket.
Harry continued to hold onto Severus' robe, coughing weakly before finally falling asleep with a wheeze. Severus watched him silently, then gently released his robe from Harry's hand, setting it back on the bed. He grabbed the cloth from the floor, set it aside, used another rag, poured it into the bowl, squeezed it out, and set it on Harry's forehead.
Harry made a moan and a sigh, then fell asleep. Severus watched him for a moment longer, his expression blank, as he slowly sat on the chair just watching the boy sleep.