Chapter 11: Repercussions of My Actions.

Severus watched as Harry started to shake in his bed. He looked like a mouse fought in a trap, frightened and backed into a corner. The boy hadn't removed himself from the bed and Severus could see the panic welling up inside him the longer he remained motionless. He feared the position he was in. He approached Harry cautiously but the boy flinched away and jerked off of the bed remaining silent and mute despite the pain of the fall.

"Harry. I won't hurt you. I promise child. I won't hurt you." Harry stared at Severus fearfully, as if he had grown another head. It was obvious that he did not trust the potions master. He had hurt him, hurt him in every way he had feared to hurt a child.

"Severus. Step away from him. You are frightening him." Poppy ordered. Fearing the anger of the matron he stepped away from Harry, backing away as smoothly as possible in order to not frighten the boy further.

"Hello child." Harry made no move to indicate he had heard Poppy. He whimpered slightly as the nurse approached the bed, fear clear in his eyes.

"I will not ever hurt you dear. I am a healer. It is against my vows to ever harm anyone." Poppy said softly, cautiously reaching out to the frightened boy. She froze immediately when Harry flinched back, his eyes still on the corner where Severus had taken up residence.

"Perhaps it would be prudent if I go. He does not want nor need me in here." There was tightness in Severus' chest. He had expected distrust and fear, but it still hurt nonetheless. He knew he had been just as bad as those sadistic muggles of his. Harry had no reason to trust him at all.

Severus went downstairs.

Poppy gave Harry a series of potions and a sleeping draught, knocking him out effectively. It was obvious that Severus was hurting. He was having difficulties separating himself from the bastard he called a father. It was taking a toll on him for what he'd done. Not that he deserved any of the pain he was feeling, but it did help ease Poppy's conscience that he was feeling the guilt he did, instead of passing it off as nothing.

She turned away from the sleeping child and descended the stairs. She wanted to speak to Severus. She wasn't intending to berate him, he had been through plenty in this past few days. It didn't stop her from feeling the anger, but it helped knowing that he was likely never to do this again.

"I deserve Azkaban Albus. Even you cannot deny that. What I did was-"

"What you did was horrible Severus. But not un-fixable, not permanent. Though his trust in you may certainly be damaged, he can be taught to experience and identify a friendly touch. He can learn how to play and he can learn how to have fun. He can come to know that the muggles were wrong. He is not a lost cause. You have certainly set us back some time, but not forever my dear boy." The headmasters soft comforting voice drifted up the steps to where Poppy was listening. She raised a hand to her mouth. The elderly man was correct; she was being too harsh on the dour man. He had never learned how to play or have fun. Never really learned that a touch could be friendly. It was striking how a man of near forty was still waiting for the other shoe to drop, constantly on edge and never able to accept anything good in his life.

She made her way downstairs and fixed herself a cup of tea. Whatever words she would have had with the potions master were forgotten. He, of course, sat tensely beside her for an hour, before beginning to relax and allow himself to enjoy the peace that the night offered.

The next morning was utter hell.

Harry awoke in the clutches of a nightmare. His screams waking the entire house. When Severus had burst into his room, wand drawn and prepared for an attack, he had jumped from the bed and fallen into a submissive position on the ground, his arms positioned in front of him as if he was expecting to be bound.

"Oh child." He whispered, his voice full of regret and pain. "I am so so sorry. I am so sorry." He sank to his knees. Tears beginning to drizzle down the usually stoic potions masters face. He had done this. He had done this, this to Lilly's child. It frightened him. Terrified him that in a few short days he had become as bad as the death eaters he had foresworn those many years ago.

He barely registered when Poppy and Albus joined him in Harry's room, watching from the door. It was Albus who broke the silence first, his voice cutting through the guilt and the pain.

"Come my boy. Let us leave Harry for now. He needs to take his potions and have a bit more rest. Perhaps he will even eat some."

"I am so sorry." He whispered yet again.

"I know Severus. I know." Albus said as he guided Severus from the room. He gave Poppy a significant look as they crossed the threshold. Perhaps Harry wasn't the only one who needed treatment.

A/N: Here we go. This was just a little bit, I am sorry if it is a disappointment. However next time a significant step will be made.