Awakening
The air is chilled and sterile and smells vaguely of bleach. He can hear the light sounds of distant commotion, people murmuring, carts moving, shoes clicking softly on tiled floors. For long moments, he only breathes and listens.
Slowly the awareness reenters his body. He twitches his mouth and moves his tongue, flares the nostrils, wiggles the fingers and presses into his toes. His mouth has never felt so bone-dry before and his eyes are irritated as they make weak, fluttering attempts to blink. Where is he? How did he get here? If he didn’t know any better… Shit. It’s a bloody hospital.
A hospital. Right, well at least he knows vaguely where he is. But which hospital, and who was he visiting and why? He moves his elbow only to feel… Double shit. The IV is in his arm.
He forces his eyes open, heart thumping in his chest. It’s alarming to all of his senses, to emerge so suddenly from such a heavy sense of sedation.
He is met with the sight of two mediwitches and one Albus Dumbledore standing around his hospital cot.
“Severus, my boy,” Albus’s gentle hand rests on his forearm. “You gave us quite the scare.”
“Albus,” Severus’s voice comes out like gravel. One of the witches hands him a paper cup of water, one she never lets go over fully, helping him guide it to his lips. His sips are loud and shuddering. But he bears the indignity for the joy that is cool water running down his throat. A heavenly feeling when it is desperately required.
Albus gives him a sad and patient look.
“What happened?”
“A moment, if you would, please,” Albus nods to the witches, who take their paper charts and leave the room, shutting the door behind themselves.
Severus is grateful for fewer eyes on him but knows that can’t be a good sign.
Albus’s kind blue eyes twinkle sadly. Severus notices he is dressed in a more understated fashion as a hospital guest. He appreciates that too, until he realizes that Albus is looking at him in one of those pitying ways, one Severus absolutely cannot stand.
“I’m not feeble, for Merlin’s sake, Albus. I can handle it.”
“Of course you can, my boy. I mean you know offense. You’ll forgive an old man’s sentimentalities for I fear I’ve seen you in this position far more times than I would like.”
“What happened?” Severus repeats.
“You were poisoned by an unknown substance, presumably an attack carried out by a Death Eater under our very noses. You’ve been in stasis until we were able to find and adjust an effective antidote.”
“How long have I been here?”
“Six weeks, I’m afraid.”
“Sixweeks?”
“It’s July now. The attack occurred just after the End-of-Term Feast.”
Severus scoffs at the irritation of this all, a wave a dry sarcasm comforting him, “Well then, at least Harry will be glad he didn’t have to miss the … HARRY! Where’sHarry?!”
His son! Severus’s heart races with fear and guilt. Is his little boy okay?! How was Harry not the very first thought that crossed his mind?! How will he ever live with himself?!
Albus has to forcibly restrain Severus to stop him from rising from the cot as the look of sheer panic crosses his face. “Easy, Severus! Harry is just fine, I promise you.”
“Is he okay?! Was he there?! Did he see?! Was he poisoned too?!”
“Harry is well and healthy, now please lay back! Harry is perfectly fine. He’s worried and missing you, of course, but no, he didn’t see anything and he wasn’t affected. He had already been put to bed when the attack occurred.”
“Oh, thank Merlin for small mercies,” Severus sighs, allowing Albust to push him back down on the bed.
“Yes, well…” Albus hesitates. Severus stiffens again.
“What?” he drawls suspiciously.
“No, no, nothing. Forget I said anything. You just rest again while I go fetch...”
“Don’t move one foot,” Severus scowls, not looking particularly threatening in his current state but attempting a grave face anyway. “I know when something is being kept from me.”
“Severus, Harry is fine. The best thing you can do for him at this moment is focus on healing.”
“What aren’t you telling me?” Severus glares.
“I hope you know I did my best to advocate for your wishes.”
“Albus, where is Harry right now?”
“Safe, as I said. With family. And as soon as you are well enough to go home, he’ll be back with you where he belongs. In the meantime, rest. I will alert the head healer and the Order, and we will set to strengthening the wards around your home.”
“Thank you,” Severus says, head falling back on the pillow. It surprises him how much a few words could exhaust him, but he supposes that is to be expected after being in a magically induced coma for six bloody weeks.
At least Harry is alright. Severus can weather any attack or illness so long as his precious son is safe. His beloved wife Lily had died for their child all those years ago. Severus still wishes he could have traded places with her. She and Harry were his only family.
Severus’s head pops up from the pillow. Family?!
“ALBUS!!!”