"Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban."
"How?" Severus asked tersely, swallowing down his shudder of revulsion at the mere thought.
How could a madman such as Black escape from an impenetrable force such as Azkaban? The dementors alone made the island a place of true nightmares and horrors.
"We aren't sure, yet. He slipped out somehow last night and they've combed every inch of the island today, he's definitely gone." Fudge said. "But- but we think we know where he's headed..."
Severus closed his eyes and said it just as Fudge did.
"He's after Potter."
"He's looking for Harry."
Fudge looked startled at Severus' accurate guess.
"How did you know?"
"Lucky guess," Severus said shortly.
Why else would the Minister of Magic be flooing Severus with the news? Where else would Black be headed besides directly for Severus' personal magnet for all things dangerous and chaotic?
"I don't want you to unnecessarily panic Severus," Fudge said, in what was undoubtedly meant to be a reassuring tone. "We have the entire DMLE on the case and I will personally assign protective detail to you and Harry both until Black is caught. I'm sure we'll find him quickly and this will all just be a bad memory."
Severus nodded, uncomprehending of the Minister's words, as he created his own plans.
"Do you have a preference?"
"What?" Severus shook his head and refocused on the current conversation. "Apologies Minister, I got lost in thought for a moment. Preference for what?"
"For a protective detail," Fudge said with an understanding look. "If not, I'll just give you my best people. Kingsley Shacklebolt would be more than happy to volunteer."
"No," Severus said quickly, "that won't be necessary." Severus hesitated as he considered the price of sacrificing his own already dwindling privacy with Potter's safety. "Not necessary just yet," he corrected himself. "My wards should prevent anyone from breaching our home and I'm sure that Black will be caught quickly."
Fudge nodded, seemingly relieved that Severus believed in the competency of the Ministry.
Which, he absolutely did not. What he did firmly believe was that Sirius Black is an incompetent, brash, moronic fool who would not be able to evade capture for longer than a day.
Two, max.
"No need to panic, I'm sure we'll get this wrapped up quickly," Fudge said with a strained smile. "I'll keep you updated," he added before disconnecting abruptly.
Severus stood up quickly and murmured, "Homenum Revelio." He was reassured to see proof that Potter was the only other human presence in Severus' home. He doubted whether Black could penetrate even the most simple of Severus' multiple wards, but with the Daily Prophet sharing news of Severus' guardianship, one could never be too sure.
The Daily Prophet shared news of Severus' guardianship.
And Lily and James held their wedding at a beach not twenty miles from Cokesworth in order to make the drive more tolerable for Lily's parents.
A wedding that Black had attended as the Best Man.
Son of a bitch.
Severus needed to get Potter out of Cokesworth.
He was hit with a sudden stroke of genius- why not get Potter out of the country entirely? Let Black reveal himself in the United Kingdom only for Potter to be an ocean away in Italy.
"Zabini Villa," Severus called, now placing his own head in his floo.
"Mother!" Blaise Zabini yelled, upon seeing Severus' head appear in the fire of the sitting room where the boy was sprawled lazily on a sofa. "Professor Snape would like to speak to you."
"How do you know it is not you that I wish to speak with?" Severus asked.
"Is it?"
"No," Severus admitted. "Fetch your mother if she is not too busy."
"Too busy to speak with the protettore of my dearest Meraviglia? Never!"
Severus internally grimaced at the pet name he'd been dubbed with. The 'protector' of the incredibly powerful, connected, and dangerous Italian Contessa's 'dearest Marvel' was as much of a threat as it was a soft sentiment.
The Contessa gracefully situated herself in an antique chair perfectly situated to accommodate floo calls. Severus made a mental note to do the same in his sitting room. Though he would never ooze the same effortless grace that the Italian royalty before him does, it would be convenient to no longer kneel on his hard floors.
"Contessa," Severus said, bowing his head respectfully. "I apologize for the unannounced call."
"Nonsense, dearest Severus, I presume this is in regards to the recent escape of Sirius Black?"
Severus worked to keep the surprise off his face that the Contessa was already aware of the prison break.
Clearly he did not succeed because the Contessa laughed lightly.
"Friends in high places dear," she said. "Is my Meraviglia in danger?"
"He is," Severus said bluntly. "Black sold Potter's parents to the Dark Lord 12 years ago and Minister Fudge believes that he left Azkaban to finish the job."
"The British Minister is an idiota, but in this case perhaps he is not wrong," the Contessa said thoughtfully. Severus believed that only someone with an incredible amount of magical power and political strength could get away with casually referring to the British Minister of Magic as an idiot.
So, the Contessa and Potter primarily.
"Black has always had a recklessly violent streak," Severus told her. "If he finds Potter he will undoubtedly attack him."
"Oh that'll be grand," Blaise chuckled, now out of Severus' sight. "He'll go the same way as Lockhart if Harry catches him."
Severus immediately cleared both his mind and his face at Blaise's flippant observation that Potter was responsible for Lockhart's death.
"Amati, perhaps you should go to your room and reflect on the wisdom of saying such unfounded remarks about our familiare and ally, yes?"
"Yes Mother, apologies Professor," Blaise said sulkily.
The Contessa flicked her wand behind her before turning back to Severus.
"My Amati is many things, and a shameless snoop is one of them," she said pleasantly. "Now, how can I help you to protect our bambino?"
"I had the thought that perhaps if Potter were not in the country, he would be much more difficult for Black to find," Severus said. "My guardianship of him was rather publicized and Black likely has a general idea of where my home is located. So I thought-"
"You thought that my Meraviglia would be safe in Italy, with his familiare, yes?" The Contessa cut in smoothly with a charming smile. "Brillante, when shall I expect him?"
Severus released the breath he hadn't been aware he'd been holding. He had hoped that the Contessa would accept Potter until Black was caught, he hadn't quite factored in that she would consider it a given as she claims herself the child's 'familiare'.
"I haven't spoken to Potter about it yet," Severus admitted. "I wanted to ensure it was acceptable to you before I broached it with him."
"Wonderful, then I shall hear from you once you convince my Meraviglia of the many credible reasons to come stay with his familiare, yes?"
"Of course," Severus agreed. "I will go speak with Potter now and send you a message afterwards?"
"I look forward to seeing your affascinante fox soon Severus," the Contessa said with another tinkling laugh before Severus disconnected from the floo.
Excellent. Now all that remains is convincing Potter to temporarily relocate to Italy for part of his summer.
Severus knocked on Potter's door frame, the door itself being left wide open.
"What's up?" Potter mumbled distractedly, surrounded by wild stacks of parchment and books strewn across his bed.
"Harry, I need to speak with you. It is rather important."
Potter looked up at him, a quill in his mouth, and instantly looked wary.
"Okay," he said hesitantly. "But just so you know- it was Mavis."
Severus was temporarily distracted from his current goal by the inadvertent admission of wrongdoing.
"What was Mavis?" he asked, his eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"Oh," Potter flicked his eyes around his still blandly undecorated room. "Nothing. Sorry. What's up?"
Severus gave him another suspicious look before reminding himself that a murderer after his ward was more important than whatever teenage mischief Potter had managed to get in to.
"How would you like to spend the remainder of the summer in Italy with Blaise and his mother?" Severus mentally crossed his fingers that Potter, for once in his entire life, would agree without argument.
"No thanks," Potter muttered, turning back to his parchments.
Severus sighed, of course Potter would not agree easily. He tried a different tactic.
"The Contessa has wrote to me that she wants to take you to the Italian Counsel and introduce you to powerful Wixen. I believe she even mentioned that there were Fae on the Counsel who may have new magic that they would be willing to teach you."
Which, as outrageous as it was, was not a lie. The Contessa had wrote that very thing to Severus at the end of the school year in an attempt to steal Potter from him for the holidays. Severus had not mentioned it to Potter before now in his own petty attempt to keep the child with him, instead of traipsing foreign countries. He felt no guilt though as he was certain that Blaise Zabini would have brought it up to Potter before now.
Potter glanced up and was now giving Severus his own suspicious look.
"Are you trying to kick me out?" he asked. "If you need time alone, or want to have a friend over-" Potter grinned and waggled his brows in a suggestive manner, "I can make myself scarce. I could even stay the night with Draco, but I don't want to leave for the whole summer."
"What? Harry, no, Merlin," Severus sputtered at the suggestive implication as Potter turned his attention back down to his parchments. "I just believe that sitting in this dreary house all summer is no proper vacation for you. Italy would have much more entertainment to offer a teenage boy."
"It's not dreary anymore, is it?" Potter scoffed lightly.
"Surely you would enjoy the possibility of creating even more incredibly powerful political allies in Italy?" Severus said, hoping to appeal to Potter's ambition.
Potter finally set down his quill and looked up at Severus, now giving him his complete attention.
"Why are you trying to get rid of me?"
Severus sighed, Potter was much too cunning to attempt this without being blunt.
"I am not trying to get rid of you," he assured him. "And I am certainly not trying to kick you out of your own home."
He hesitated before deciding to just explain himself, praying that Potter did not explode and destroy the entire house. "The Minister called me. He informed me that Sirius Black escaped Azkaban last night and he has sufficient reason to believe that Black is now looking for you."
Potter blinked at him a few times before saying, "So?"
"So Black is dangerous," Severus said tersely. "It would be safer if you were out of the country while they commence a manhunt for him."
Potter quirked his lips up to the side, entirely unconcerned with this news.
"Maybe Black's after you," he said, widening his eyes in an attempt to look innocent. "Maybe you should go to Italy for the rest of the summer."
"This is not a game Potter!" Severus snapped, irritated at Potter's blasé affect. "Black was mad before he went to Azkaban, twelve years of being exposed to the effects of the dementors will have done him no favors. He will try and find you and he will try and kill you."
Potter gave him an amused smile, "He can try. Mister Malfoy told me about what he did, sold my parents out to Voldemort, didn't he? I hope he finds me. I'd like to talk with him about that."
"I will go to Italy with you," Severus countered with quickly, ignoring Potter's thinly veiled death threat towards a dangerous killer. "We could go together and come back when Black is caught."
"So Sirius Black could beat you in a duel?" Potter asked with a smirk. "I thought you said you were the best, I suppose that just boasting?"
Severus scoffed, unwillingly stepping directly in to Potter's trap. "Sirius Black couldn't kill me when I was sixteen and he had a transformed werewolf on his side, he certainly couldn't do it now."
Potter gave him a bright smile and picked his quill back up.
"Brill, sounds like we're staying then."
Severus attempted to barter, threaten, and though he would never admit it, even beg Potter to reconsider. After thirty minutes he slammed Potter's door behind him as he snarled, "Then you can explain to the Contessa why you won't be making an appearance in her home this summer!"
He heard Potter's mockingly cheerful laugh as he stormed down the stairs.
"Don't be ridiculous, it's called a Villa," Potter yelled.
***
"I'm going to Diagon Alley with Susan!"
Severus scrambled to his feet and threw his lab door open to stare at Potter incredulously.
"Are you mad?" he asked him. "Harry you cannot leave right now, there is an escaped inmate after you."
Surely Potter did not forget the conversation they had just the night before.
Potter had his bag across his shoulder and he looked surprised at Severus' reasonable, if perhaps a bit sharply spoken, explanation.
"So? I think you're just working yourself up," he said. "Ooh! I'll take my sword with me if you want?" Potter looked ridiculously like an eager puppy at the idea of carrying around Lucius' blatant bribery of a gift with him to Diagon Alley.
"I am not 'working myself up' and you are not carrying around a sword," Severus grit, already feeling his first migraine of the day building. "Why don't you have Miss Bones come here?"
"Because we need to study in the library," Potter said slowly. "And we told her Aunt, you know, the Head of the DMLE, that we'd get lunch with her today."
Severus quickly considered his options. He could attempt to force Potter to stay home, though the brat would probably just leave anyway. If he went back on his own damned words from the beginning of the summer it may hurt the fragile trust Potter had in him. However, if he allowed Potter to leave he would be at risk with Black on the loose.
It was a quick decision of which Severus valued more- Potter's mental health, which seemed to stabilize itself since becoming established at Spinners End, or Potter's physical safety.
Amelia will not allow her niece to be unprotected with Potter.
If there were any person who would take Potter's safety as seriously as Severus, it was Amelia Bones.
"Very well," Severus acquiesced, at his own reassuring thoughts. "Be safe you foolish brat. I would appreciate you returning home before dark tonight, I would rather take no chances into Black is captured."
"Brill! Thank you sir!"
Potter had all but lunged for the floo as Severus corrected him, "Severus!"
Severus had been on pins and needles the remainder of the day. He told himself that Amelia would keep Potter safe, but... but Amelia was not aware of Potter's penchant for chaos, was she? Potter stole Nicholas Flamel's Stone. He had broken a girls wand for insulting him. He nearly tore apart the Slytherin common room in a fit of rage. He drove a sword through the mouth of a basilisk. And he had used that same sword to end the life of his Professor who threatened his friends.
If there was trouble to be found- Potter would find it.
Which made Severus' relief at Potter's return home that night so strong it may as well have been palpable.
"How was your day?" Severus asked calmly, subtly eyeing the boy for any possible injuries.
"Brill," Potter said brightly, bouncing on his feet in the way that Severus has begrudgingly become accustomed to. "Got a lot done, didn't I?"
Severus gave him an amused look. Potter was glancing around the room quickly in a hyperactive way that made him believe the child had likely been indulging in junk food all day with his friend.
"Let me guess," he said. "You aren't hungry?"
"Nope." Potter smiled as he popped his pronunciation. "Gonna go study, good night!"
Severus shook his head. Clearly Potter had not accomplished much homework today if he still needed to study. He was pleased that he must have been acting like a typical teenager. If anyone deserved an opportunity to act their age, it was Potter.
The next few days followed the similar pattern.
Potter woke up, informed Severus he was leaving to spend the day with the Bones', and returned home after dinner, but before dark. Each night he immediately rushed off to complete his homework.
"Perhaps you and Miss Bones should spend more time actually studying and less time plotting mayhem," Severus suggested after the third night in a row of Potter frantically rushing to his room to work on essays.
"Probably," Potter agreed easily with a laugh. "We'll do our best."
Severus shook his head at him, relieved that Potter was having a normal holiday despite the very abnormal circumstances.
On the fourth morning of Potter rushing out of the house the moment sun broke, Severus felt comfortable enough with the protection Amelia was providing him to once again work on his research.
He was fed up with rifling through old texts and convoluted journals- he would simply begin his own experiments with combining the bases today. Perhaps he was complicating it more than it needed- if he slowly added the transfigurative base potion to the medicinal one, there had to be a way to combine the properties of both while neutralizing the less desirable side effects.
One of those less desirable effects being a painful death to any Muggle who drank it.
Severus inhaled the fumes of his lab, soaking in the rich scent of the burning embers beneath the cauldron.
There was no smell in the world more grounding to him.
As he measured, poured, tested, and continuously restarted the same process Severus wondered if he should offer to let Potter work on this stage of the research with him. The boy was an adequate brewer, and this research would be a mere dream instead of a reality had it not been for Potter's donation of the basilisk.
He grimaced as he considered the chaos that would occur in his lab if Potter were allowed in during his current perky state. In the air the child was graceful and nearly elegant. During a duel Potter was quick and lithe and his every movement had a purpose. But now? Potter's extra energy, combined with the mild growth spurt Severus had been pleased to notice, has turned Potter in to the exact wrong type of person to be allowed in a lab.
It was painful to even imagine the child tripping and knocking over a cauldron filled with the temperamental brews.
Perhaps he would wait to offer until Potter settled down and lost some of this rampant wild energy.
He thought he was perhaps finally making some headway as the mixture he had just made, his twenty second test run of the day, emitted silver steam instead of the dark brown fumes the previous ones had.
He was frantically writing down the differences in this batch when his insides turned to ice-
Amelia Bones' silver lemur drifted through his walls and stopped in front of him.
Potter.
Severus had already leapt to his feet, his wand clutched tightly in his hand, before the lemur even opened its mouth.
"Severus, I wondered if you and your ward would like to have dinner with us this week? We can come to you if you would prefer, given the current difficulties. Let me know what day works best for you both."
Severus stared at the spot where the lemur disappeared, attempting to comprehend the casual, and carefully worded, message from Amelia.
He was relieved once he realized it was not a summons to St Mungo's or the Ministry or any other place that would mean Potter had been hurt.
Though... he was bemused to discover it almost sounded as if Amelia was not with Potter. Why would she offer to come to their home if she has had no difficulties having Potter with her the past few days?
The more he considered Amelia's message the quicker his bemusement changed in to a cold anger.
Stupid, reckless, inconsiderate, brat!
Severus cleared his mind of his rages against Potter in order to summon his own patronus.
"If you wouldn't mind asking my ward what day works best for him I can rearrange my schedule to fit his and give you a day."
He counted slowly, focusing on his breathing, as he waited for Amelia's response. He was reassured to see that it was nearly dark out, if Potter stuck to his own schedule he should be returning shortly.
Severus closed his eyes as Amelia's lemur returned with the confirmation of his fear-
"I haven't seen your ward in about a week. Before the incident happened anyway," the lemur relayed in Amelia's worried voice. "Should I plan on seeing him today?"
Severus thought there was likely not a curse in the world that did not run quickly through his mind.
"Apologies, I must have my days mixed up. My ward is with one of their other friends. I will send you an acceptable day as soon as possible."
Severus sat stiffly on the sofa, staring intently at the fireplace, mentally counting down the time until Potter's customary return. If the boy was even a second late then Severus would go find him.
Wherever the Hell he may be.
When the minute hand fell in to the five minute window that Potter typically arrived at Severus found himself incredibly relieved to see green flames burst to life as Potter stumbled out of the fireplace.
"I'm home!" Potter yelled, incorrectly assuming Severus was in his lab, as had been his own habit recently.
"Where have you been?"
Potter jumped and spun around, momentarily looking incredibly guilty before he cleared his face masterfully.
"Hello, didn't see you there. How's your research going?" he asked brightly.
"Wonderful," Severus drawled. "I was able to get almost half a step closer to figuring out the equation I will need when I had an incredibly informative patronus message."
"Oh yeah? What kind of information? The specific formula for the cure to cancer?" Potter was smiling, but Severus could detect the nervous undertone to his nonsense.
He should be nervous, Severus though harshly. Potter had so little self-preservation skills that his cunningness and ambition alone must have carried him through to Slytherin.
"Madame Bones sent me a message today," Severus said calmly, watching the color drain from Potter's face. "She said that she wanted to know if we would be interested in having dinner with her and Susan one night this week."
"Oh," Potter laughed. "Yeah, she mentioned that before and I told her I'd have to ask you since I know you're really busy."
Severus tracked Potter as he began inching backwards towards the doorway.
"Did you?" he hummed. "Because Amelia is quite certain she has not seen you at all this week. Which I told her would be quite impossible considering she has been overseeing your personal safety for the last four days."
Potter stumbled and looked up at Severus.
"I had something to do. I forgot to go see Susan."
"Do not lie to me," Severus hissed, furious that the child would stand there and lie straight to his face. "You forgot for the last four days in a row? Where were you?"
The longer Potter stared silently at him the more confident Severus was in his own instinctual guess.
"You've been looking for Sirius Black."
"Listen please-" Potter pleaded, his eyes newly sparking with some form of agitation as he took a few steps closer to Severus. "I can find him Snape, really I can. Look-"
Severus watched as Potter pulled stacks and stacks of parchments and newspaper clippings out of his bag.
"See? Look, I made a list of all the places I would probably be. Like, Diagon Alley and Surrey and Downtown London. And then I tried to figure out how fast Black could be traveling if he doesn't have a broom so I tried to do the math-" Potter waved a sheet with numbers scrawled across it in his face, "-and I decided to go to those places to look for him but what if he's disguised, right? Just because he doesn't have his wand doesn't mean he doesn't own a wand, right? Or maybe he doesn't need one, makes sense, right? So any time I was anywhere and a Muggle was giving me an odd look I told my magic to remove their disguise so I could see if it was Black or not. Smart, right? So I marked off the places I've checked-" Potter thrust a handful of parchments in Severus' arms. "And now I'm making a new list based on if he does have a broom and even though that list is way longer, I can still do it Snape. I can find him."
Severus stared at Potter with what he was sure was entirely unconcealed shock.
"Harry- you sound mad," he said softly. "You've been traveling to various locations on your own and using magic on Muggles? You could be arrested."
Potter didn't even appear concerned. He laughed, laughed, at the thought.
"I won't be arrested, nobody even knows it was me, do they? And if they did, I don't think they could even catch me to arrest me. I'm not mad, I know what I'm doing."
Once upon a time Severus would have sneered at such arrogant words coming from Potter's mouth. But the way he said it, his eyes bright and his chest heaving from his excitement; he didn't sound arrogant, he sounded as if he truly believed in his own invincibility.
"Have you... have you taken anything?" Severus asked. He grimaced when he clarified, "Alcohol, Muggle drugs, or any illicit potions?"
"That's ridiculous," Potter scoffed. "I'm not on drugs. I'm just- I have to do this. You get it, right? Do you want to help me? We could find him together! Ooh and you can apparate us so we can check way more places, way quicker!"
Potter grabbed one of the many parchments that had fallen to the floor and began digging in his bag as he rambled.
"Okay so we should check countries that don't have extrication laws set up with us because if you were a fugitive wouldn't you go there first? Thats what Mione said anyway. She said, 'don't worry Harry I'm sure he went somewhere where there aren't extrication laws' and I honestly don't know what that means but if Mione thinks he might be there then we should check. Then we should check places that are bright and sunny and warm because everyone says Azkaban is dark and cold and gloomy. And where is my quill?"
Severus had never been struck dumb quite as badly as he was listening to Potter rave on like a lunatic as he upended his bag in search of a quill.
What the fuck.
Severus flicked his wand at Potter, who looked up as the spell made contact with him, and grabbed the parchment that appeared quickly out of the air.
Current Diagnoses:
-None
End of Report.
Severus wished that there was a drug or potion listed. Potter sneaking Elixir of Euphoria or Muggle Amphetamines would be better than this blank sheet of parchment.
There is no charm in the world to diagnose madness.
"What's that?" Potter asked, fearlessly snatching the form out of Severus' very surprised hand.
"What's a current diagnosis?" Potter furrowed his brow momentarily before pointing accusingly at Severus. "I told you I'm not on drugs! I'm fine!"
He is absolutely not 'fine'.
"When is the last time you slept?" Severus asked gently. Potter hadn't been sleeping well at the beginning of last week- had the insomnia continued to the point of driving Potter mad from a lack of sleep? He appeared energetic, but Severus truly had no other reasonable explanation ready for Potter's current behavior.
"Last night," Potter said quickly.
"How long did you sleep last night?"
"Why does it matter?" Potter kicked over a stack of parchments on the floor. "I'm not tired. I'm fiiiine."
"Harry, you don't sound fine," Severus spoke very softly to this version of Potter that he wasn't sure how to handle. "You sound insane. Are you- are you feeling stressed over the situation with Black?"
Severus could have cursed himself for the phrasing. He knew better. He knew better but Potter's rambling madness had him severely wrong footed.
Potter immediately snatched his papers out of Severus' arms with a narrow eyed look of disdain.
"I am not insane, and I am not 'feeling' anything," he sneered. "You are stressed. I am fine!"
Potter turned on his heel and stormed through the doorway. Severus listened as he stomped up the stairs and slammed his bedroom door shut behind him.
Severus put up a privacy charm before quickly summoning his patronus.
"Amelia, if the Minister is still amenable I believe that an Auror for Potter's protection would be an excellent decision."
Severus had absolutely no idea what was going on with Potter but he was entirely certain that the chaotic brat would certainly attempt to sneak off again. And this time, Severus would ensure that he had a protective detail trailing him.
Discreetly of course.
Merlin forbid Potter believe Severus is concerned for his well-being.
***
Severus had thought that a summer break with a perkily cheerful Potter was irksome? He wished he could go back to such a simple time.
Potter had maintained an irritated, frenzied, energy for several days after Severus confronted him about his activities. Thankfully, Potter seemed to have given up, albeit likely only temporarily, on his mad hunt for Black. Instead, he apparently was focused on making Severus as miserable as possible.
Severus wasn't sure if this was purposeful, or a happy coincidence on Potter's part.
Potter rose before the sun and went out back every morning to fly. Severus had set a ward to alert him when the back door was open and twice since their confrontation three days ago Potter had been out back before five o'clock.
Potter was channeling his frenzied energy and attempting riskier and riskier stunts on his broom. Severus began to fear that Black was a secondary threat to Potter behind the child himself.
'There is no activity on our end. We have no new leads. HP has remained within the wards. Though you may consider raising the wards skyward as he seems determined to graze against the uppermost limits on his broom.
-KS'
After four days of watching Potter spend his entire day spiraling across the yard on his broom, after watching Potter heal himself of his third broken arm, and after receiving a note from Shacklebolt implying he was not caring properly for Potter- Severus had enough. He could not spend another day holding his breath as Potter raced towards the ground nor another afternoon attempting small talk while Potter raced through lunch before flinging himself back outside.
"Harry why don't you visit Luna tomorrow?" Severus suggested at dinner that evening. "She would undoubtedly enjoy the company."
It would be more work for Shacklebolt to trail Potter to the Lovegood's, but after his note this morning Severus wasn't feeling very charitable.
"Can't," Potter said shortly, taking quick bites of his meal. "I'm way behind on homework, aren't I? Plus my project. Plus all the other stuff I have to get done. Luna'll be here on the in a couple weeks anyway for the party."
"What project?" Severus asked conversationally, keeping his eyes on his own meal in an effort to lull Potter in to a conversation.
Please do not say hunting Sirius Black.
"Not that you probably care anymore, but I still have to make those charmed notebooks before Nev's birthday. And I'm painting my bedroom."
Severus glanced up hopefully at the mention of the notebooks. He had quite forgotten, in the mess that Sirius Black has created, that Potter requested his help with creating notebooks that nine children could communicate through.
The fact that Potter and his 'gang' got the idea from the Dark Lord's diary was disturbing, but a healthy enough project for Potter to focus his energy on.
He was also relieved that Potter was finally decorating his bedroom. It would add a sense of stability to the erratic child's life.
"I would be delighted to help you with your project," Severus said honestly, though not too eagerly to be suspicious to the cunning child. "We could do it tomorrow?"
"Oh? You're not too busy with your research and setting the police to follow me to help?"
"Shacklebolt is hardly 'the police'," Severus said, maintaining his casual tone despite his shock.
Kingsley Shacklebolt is an expert in the field at concealment.
Supposedly.
"Auror Shacklebolt is here at the Minister's request," Severus said, twisting the truth. "As Black has still not been captured it is apparently prudent to the Minister for his 'mate Harry Potter' to be protected."
"If you'd let me go find Black then we wouldn't need 'protected'," Potter muttered so quietly that Severus was able to take a drink in a well-timed effort to pretend he hadn't heard him. He had been avoiding the topic since their disagreement earlier in the week and he was not keen on rehashing it now.
"Regardless of Shacklebolt's assignment here, I am not too busy with my research to help you. I told you I would and I will. Would you like to begin after breakfast tomorrow?"
"Sure, if you have time," Potter shrugged.
Severus had planned on spending another day at the table, half a mind on his research and the other half on Potter's death defying tactics outside the kitchen window. This project would be an excellent distraction for the both of them.
"I can always find time when needed," he said, giving Potter a small smile.
Potter smiled back and Severus felt as if though a tentative truce had been made.
Severus sat at the kitchen table the next morning, patiently waiting for Potter to come downstairs. He had been surprised, and pleased, that Potter had not went outside before the sun was up and instead was still in his room when Severus rose at six.
"Master Potter is still sleeping?" Mavis asked, quietly creeping in to the kitchen. "Mavis was thinking Master Potter was never going to be sleeping again."
Severus hummed in agreement. This was the latest that Potter has slept in in the last week and a half.
"He was bound to crash eventually," Severus said. "I am going to attempt to get caught up on work before he wakes up. Will you come get me when he does?"
"If Mister Snoop eats his weird pastry then Mavis will be getting him as soon as Master wakes up," the elf said, eyeing the empty place setting in front of Severus slyly.
Severus thought that Potter's elf would be much more tolerable if it had not adopted Potter's own bargaining economy system.
"Yes I will take a 'weird pastry' with me to my lab if you agree to inform me once Potter wakes up."
Mavis eagerly thrust a plate of multiple Chelsea Buns in Severus' hand and ushered him out with promises of a big lunch. Hopefully Potter's appetite would improve with the extra sleep he was now catching up on.
And in the meantime, Severus would work on outlining the research he had compiled so far for Wayne to pursue and compile with his own research.
'I will continue altering the standard equations in an attempt to find the correct one for the base. I look forward to studying the materials you have compiled.
-Severus Snape.'
Severus checked the time after finishing collecting his portion of their research and had it bundled and prepared for 'Sevvie' to deliver to Wayne tomorrow morning. He was startled to see that it was already eleven thirty.
Mavis is a sneaky, meddling-
"You said you would come get me when Potter woke up," Severus snapped harshly at the elf in the kitchen. "We had a deal Mavis."
"Mavis is sure Mister Snoop is not talking to Mavis about breaking a deal," the elf muttered, aggressively kneading dough on the kitchen counter. "Mavis is being a good elf and is letting Master Potter sleep because Master Potter is needing his rest. And Mavis is keeping his deal because Mavis is not a liar."
"Potter is still asleep?" Severus asked, double checking the time. It was unlikely that he'd incorrectly cast a simple spell such as Tempus, but much more unlikely that Potter had slept for thirteen hours.
"Master is still sleeping and if Snoop is knowing what is good for Master he will be letting him sleep," Mavis grumbled. "Master is needing sleep so that Master is not crazy anymore."
Mavis' hands suddenly fluttered above the dough as the little elf looked up at Severus.
"Mavis is not meaning to say such a bad thing about Master Potter. Mavis is not meaning it!" he squealed.
"Of course not," Severus quickly assured him. Potter would have a conniption fit if the elf give himself a black eye on Severus' watch. "You are quite right- Potter needs to sleep. I'll just go check on him, shall I?"
Severus crept quietly up the stairs. If Potter was still asleep he did not want to wake him. Merlin knows the child has plenty of sleep to make up for.
"Harry," he said softly, opening Potter's door and sticking his head inside. "Are you asleep?"
Potter was curled on his side, burrowed beneath his quilt and only identifiable by his hair.
Potter didn't respond so Severus quietly walked up beside the bed and saw that he was indeed still asleep.
"This is what happens when you refuse to sleep for so long you foolish child," Severus murmured.
He spotted Potter's stack of notebooks on the dresser as he made to quietly retreat from the room. He snagged them and thought perhaps Potter would be pleased if he could find the correct combination of charms while he was resting.
It would give him something to do while Potter slept anyway.
Severus went to check on Potter around three, frustrated with his lack of progress on the project, and officially concerned that perhaps Potter was ill instead of just tired.
"Harry?" he knocked before opening the door. "Are you awake?"
"Yeah," Potter said softly from his bed.
"What are you doing?" Severus flicked on the lights. "Are you unwell?"
"Think so," Potter said quietly.
Severus stepped up beside his bed and eyed him critically. Potter was laying on his side, staring off towards his closet door. His skin looked to be a normal color, and his eyes, which were unobscured by the glasses on his nightstand, seemed clear.
"Would you like a potion? I can grab a Pepper-up Potion," Severus offered.
"No, I'm tired. I just wanna sleep."
"Alright, well... I'll just have Mavis bring you some soup, you may feel better after eating."
"'Kay," Potter murmured, closing his eyes.
Severus hesitated before closing the door behind him. He could freely admit that while medicinal research is an area of high interest to him, dealing with actual sick patients has never been something he had the patience for. He would send a potion up with Mavis and check on Potter before retiring for the evening.
Potter would likely feel better soon. Wixen had hardier immune systems than Muggles, they were able to recover quicker from any minor illnesses.
"Call for me if you need anything," he offered quietly, closing the door behind him.
By the third day of Potter lethargically laying in his bed, eating the bare minimum, and speaking even less, Severus had to admit that perhaps Potter did not have a summer flu.
"Harry what specific symptoms do you have?" Severus asked that morning after Potter refused to get out of bed.
"I dunno what you mean," Potter groaned, rolling on to his back away from the light Severus conjured for the dark room.
"Do you feel hot, does your stomach hurt, what exactly is causing you to feel sick?" Severus explained.
"I'm tired and my head hurts," said Potter. "Go away."
"I cannot go away while you are sick," Severus sighed. "Would you like a pain relieving potion?"
"It's not that kind of hurting. It's like..." Potter gave him a wary look. "Never mind. I just have a headache."
This is what you get for calling him mad last week.
"If you can describe it to me I may have a potion to fix it," Severus said, hoping to cajole him in to speaking.
Potter blinked up towards the ceiling as he quietly explained, "It's like there's too many thoughts and I can't get them to be quiet and it's making my head hurt."
Severus grimaced in understanding.
"I do not believe a Pain Reliever will help in this case," he said carefully. "Harry I believe you are depressed, which is common and is not a weakness or an insult. You would feel better if you got up and ate a real meal." He looked at Potter's tangled locks, "And perhaps a shower."
"No," Potter said shortly, rolling to face the wall away from Severus. "I'm going back to sleep."
Severus sighed as he left Potter's room.
He would get Potter out of bed tomorrow.
After the fifth day of trying to coax Potter out of bed, with no results, Severus began a new approach.
Outright bribery.
"If you would like, I could accompany you and Miss Bones to Diagon Alley today?"
Potter grunted laying on his back and staring at the ceiling, not even deigning to reply at Severus' suggestion.
"You said that you would like to duel this summer, we could do that today."
"Yeah, maybe later..."
Severus tried to think of anything that Potter may find interesting.
"There is a shop in Knockturn Alley you may be interested in, I believe Borgin has a much envied wall of weapons."
Severus would sorely regret it if Potter took him up on this offer. Though if it got the child out of bed it would be worth it.
"I'm sick," Potter whispered. "Not today."
Potter sounded sick, but Severus knew it was a sickness of the mind, not body.
"It is a nice day out, perhaps you would like to go risk your life on your death trap of a broomstick? It would make you feel better Harry," Severus said softly.
"'M too tired," Potter mumbled.
Severus took a deep breath before pulling out what he hoped would be his trump card.
"If you would still like to adopt that dog, I am willing to speak with Hagrid about keeping it on the grounds when we return to school. We could go find it today."
"I don't want to," Potter said, rolling to his side and facing away from Severus.
Severus tried patience. He had tried bribes. He had tried being gentle. And now he was out of patience.
"You cannot stay in your bed forever, Potter," he said sharply. "You have to get up. You need to shower. You need to eat. Get. Up."
"I don't feel good, alright? Is that what you want from me? To know I'm weak? Just go away!" Potter yelled, his voice strained and dull.
Severus shouldn't have been surprised when he was shoved from Potter's room and had the door slammed shut in his face without Potter even lifting his head from his pillow. But Potter's magical strength was both impressive and startling even when the child himself was clearly suffering.
Severus took several steadying breaths and counted slowly as he considered the best course of action to take.
Potter is ill and requires treatment, much like any other sick child.
Which left him with minimal choices.
St Mungos would give Potter a cheering charm and plaster the information across the front page of the paper by the next morning. Which would be unacceptable. Severus decided that is past time to seek out the Muggle Mind Healer he had consulted with after Potter's guardianship was approved. The man had offered acceptable advice once before, surely he could do it again.
He would just go tomorrow, get advice on how to handle a Potter who is clearly depressed for any one of many possible reasons, then return home and begin putting Potter together again.
He looked at Potter's door as he hesitated...
Make an appointment first, find someone to come watch Potter second.
"Severus, how are you? How is Mister Potter?" Narcissa immediately asked with a bright smile upon answering his floo call the very next morning. "He isn't still hunting for my cousin, is he?"
"How did you know about that?" Severus sputtered, caught off guard by the greeting.
Narcissa's smile sharpened slightly as her grey eyes glittered.
"He asked Lucius for copies of the laws regarding 'what happens if you kill someone who is trying to kill you?'" Narcissa laughed. "He also asked about the legalities of using an Unforgiveable if it was silent, wandless, and impossible to trace. It wasn't difficult to piece together."
"And yet you refrained from informing me that my ward was spending his days combing the streets for a detached lunatic?" Severus asked tightly.
Narcissa looked surprised at Severus' agitation.
"Apologies Severus, we believed that you were likely assisting him, given your history with Sirius."
"You truly believed I would allow Potter to seek out a confrontation with Black?"
"What we believe is that Harry is much more of a threat to Sirius than he is to Harry," Narcissa said with a sly smile. "I shudder to imagine the justice Harry will attempt to extract if they meet."
Severus did not believe that Narcissa shuddered at the thought. Narcissa looked entirely too amused at the thought, as if Potter confronting a murderer would be comical instead of horrifying.
"Yes, a delightful image, thank you Narcissa," Severus drawled, returning to the conversation.
"Apologies darling," she said, her small smile still firmly in place. "Was there something else I can do for you, aside from expediting your impending grey hairs?"
Severus snorted at the jab. He was already well aware that if he lived to see Potter become an adult he would only do so with a copious amount of grey hair and chronic migraines.
"Yes, actually," he said. "I have an important appointment this afternoon and I was hoping you would be available to come stay with Potter during my absence."
Severus had carefully considered his choices for an appropriate Potter-Sitter. Shacklebolt, who was stationed outside their home, would likely send Potter in to a panic if he believed he were being left alone with 'a cop'. Amelia may believe Severus to be an unfit guardian if she saw the state Potter was in. Lucius was bound so tightly to Potter socially and politically that he would hardly force the child to eat or interact with him while Severus was gone. Which left Narcissa as the only other local friend Severus could trust.
Narcissa was gentle, with children, yet firm as a mother. She would ensure Potter was safe and would find a way to force him to eat and talk without Potter even realizing he had done so.
"Of course!" Narcissa agreed immediately. "I would be delighted. Perhaps Draco will accompany me? The boys could fly or gossip or whatever it is teenagers get up to these days."
"Perhaps not," Severus said hesitantly. Potter would not take kindly to his friend seeing him in his current state. "Potter is... ill," he prevaricated.
"Oh? And what terrible illness dares to plague the son of a Potions Master?"
"Potter is not my son," Severus scowled. "And the kind of illness that there are no potions to cure him of."
"Aah," Narcissa suddenly looked entirely too familiar with Severus' vague description. "James' mother was a Black, I forget sometimes."
Severus' knees were beginning to ache from his position on the floor and he had no patience for Narcissa's arbitrary commentary on Potter's paternal line.
"Your point, Cissa?"
"The Black Madness," Narcissa said patiently, as if explaining something incredibly complex to a child. "It is rather hereditary."
"Potter is not mad," Severus hissed, insulted by the very implication he had been worrying over since the beginning of Potter's episode. "He's just... got a lot going on."
"Of course darling, my mistake," Narcissa said with a polite smile. "What time would will you be expecting me?"
Severus mentally calculated the time it would take him to apparate to London and travel without magic to the Mind Healer's office.
"Will two o'clock work for you?"
"Perfectly," Narcissa said agreeably. "Is the password still Sevvie?"
"Yes," Severus said shortly. "And don't you dare call Potter mad or any variety of the word while you are here," he added.
"You must be feeling incredibly brave to insinuate that I would dare hurt that poor child's feelings while I am a guest in his home," Narcissa said, her tone suddenly cool and her eyes hard.
"Apologies," he said quickly, reconsidering his own words. "Of course you wouldn't. I am suffering from a lack of sleep, forgive my slight."
Narcissa inclined her head slightly at him, replacing her cold mask with a slighter warmer, and much more socially polite, one.
"Of course darling, you're simply worried about your ward. I will allow you time to go check on him and rest before I arrive at two."
Severus gave her a genuine thanks before disconnecting.
Narcissa may be excellent with children, and a socially perfect Lady for the House of Malfoy, but Severus often times forgot that she was also a Black. And as she said, their madness was quite hereditary.
By two thirty that afternoon, Severus had left Shacklebolt and Narcissa in charge of Potter's safety and was now seated on a sofa preparing to discover how to fix the broken child
"Tell me what is going on in your life Mister Snape."
Severus took a steadying breath before he began explaining.
"I recently became the guardian on the orphaned son of my close friend from school. Harry is my student, which is how we became acquainted. And I am worried that he may be ill and I am unsure how to assist him."
"Would you like to tell me about him?"
Would I be here if that was not my plan? Severus thought acerbically.
Severus explained Potter's entire history, editing in the cases where Magic was involved. He now regrets having obliviated the Mind Healer after the first time he sought his advice, telling Potter's history was both time consuming and quite depressing.
"I believe he is now depressed," Severus said after explaining Potter's current behavior. "He has had depressive episodes before, understandably considering what he has been through, though they have never lasted this long nor have they ever caused him to develop this... this lethargic disinterest in life."
The Muggle hummed thoughtfully.
"And this has been going on for five days you said?"
"Yes."
"Tell me more about the argument you had with Harry about him sneaking out before this started."
"Do you believe that our disagreement (for it was not an 'argument') may have triggered Harry's current state?"
The Muggle chuckled. "Some depressive episodes have what you are referring to as 'triggers' but most of them Mister Snape can be caused by nothing at all aside from the chemicals in our brains."
"So Harry is mad," Severus said, slumping in his seat knowing the Muggle would never remember his appearance after he left which left him free to be as informal as he would like.
"'Mad', 'insane', and 'crazy' are all derogatory ways of referring to someone with mental illness," the Muggle said. He tone was still gentle yet there was a sharpness as he spoke now. "Referring to Harry as mad is untrue and unhelpful. He is just as ill as a person suffering from the flu would be."
"What is wrong with him?" Severus asked, desperation unwittingly lacing his tone. "How do I help him?"
"It's impossible for me to definitively diagnose your ward without speaking with him," the Muggle said softly once again.
Severus truly did not have time for this. He needed to know what was wrong with Harry in order to heal him. He fingered the wand in his pocket and silently placed a light compulsion charm on the Muggle.
"I would like your best guess then," he said curtly.
"'La folie circulaire'," the Muggle immediately responded. "The French called it 'circular insanity'. Today it is referred to as 'manic-depressive illness'."
"'Manic-Depressive illness'," Severus repeated impassively. "I have never heard of this."
And he has certainly done an extensive amount of research in to mental health in the last two years.
"It is only now beginning to be used as an official diagnosis, and rarely on someone so young, but Harry fits the criteria," the Muggle said. "It is just as the name suggests- unpredictable episodes of alternating mania and depression. Would you like to talk about why you appear so surprised by this?"
"No," Severus said shortly. He had not made the appointment to discuss himself. "I would like you to explain more about this illness and why you believe Harry has it."
"Of course," the Muggle agreed quickly.
Severus was thankful once again for being a Wizard. He could not imagine how Muggles sat through these appointments, never getting their questions answered and incessantly pressured to talk about themselves.
"Manic-depressive illness is not a new illness but rather only now has an official diagnosis. Because the manic episodes often look like intense euphoria and happiness it was difficult to identify those episodes as a symptom."
'I'm baking!'
You allowed Potter to behave erratically for days because you missed this.
Severus castigated himself silently as he listened to the Muggles explanation.
"You said Harry was barely sleeping and was behaving oddly? An inflated feeling of invincibility-"
'I don't think they could even catch me to arrest me.'
"—an increase in risky behavior-"
'Attempting human transfiguration alone is dangerous enough, doing it in the air, on a broomstick, borders suicidal.'
"- and increased hyperactivity are all very common red flags of a manic episode. Frankly, I'm surprised Harry hasn't exhibited manic behavior like this before."
'I'm going to fix Mione and I'm going to talk to Theo and I'm going to kill the basilisk and everything's going to be okay, right?'
You missed this.
"Because of Harry's history I believe it is likely he has an undersized prefrontal cortex, which-"
"Yes, controls and regulates emotions, I am aware," Severus said shortly, having been through this before with the unknowing Muggle. "And this causes the illness?"
"Not necessarily," the Muggle said. "All those with the illness that have undergone research testing before now have similarly undersized prefrontal cortex's, but not every person with an undersized prefrontal cortex will develop the illness. There is also a genetic factor-"
'James' mother was a Black, I forget sometimes.'
'The Black Madness, it is rather hereditary'.
"-but with Harry's orphaned state it is unlikely if we will ever know the genetic connection in his life," the Muggle continued, oblivious to Severus' own failings. "The youngest patients we have are all older than Harry by a good two or three years. Considering Harry's extensive trauma, it is not surprising that he developed the illness early. It is often the case in severely abused and victimized children."
You missed this.
"How do we fix him?" said Severus.
The Muggle gave him a sympathetic look at Severus' choked voice, a look wholly unappreciated by Severus.
I do not deserve sympathy. I missed this.
"You do not need to 'fix' him, he isn't broken," the Muggle said gently. "He needs therapy and medication."
"What medication?" Severus asked quickly. If there was anything that Severus understood as a Potions Master- it was medication. Potter would hardly agree to therapy, he was barely speaking with Severus as it is, but he could barter with the child to get him to take medicine.
"The diagnosis is too new to have an approved treatment course as of yet," the Muggle said with a frown. "The patients who have been treated have been done during clinical trials as adults. I'm afraid that our country is simply too behind on mental illnesses to have a medication that a child Harry's age can take."
"So- so therapy is your only recommendation?" Severus asked hopelessly. "Therapy for an illness that you cannot even definitively diagnose him with?"
"Perhaps in a year or so, when our information catches up to the French, we can find a medication to help correct the chemical imbalance in Harry's brain, but for now therapy and a stable routine will be your best options."
"Do nothing then? Do nothing and hope that dragging Harry to your office is the best way to treat him?" Severus scoffed. "Unacceptable."
"Not do nothing," the Muggle disagreed. "You continue just as you have- offer stability, support, and try to avoid things that could possibly trigger an episode. Once an episode begins you'll need to keep a close eye on Harry, manic episodes seem less dangerous because Harry appears happy, but they can be just as self-destructive as the depressive episodes."
"Explain," Severus said. "How is Harry baking and playing sports just as dangerous as him refusing to leave his bed?"
The Muggle leaned forward slightly, warmed up to the subject if his eager tone was anything to go by.
"Harry is a teenage boy, they aren't known for their self control. But, from what we've seen in our own research and in the more extensive French trials, patients in manic episodes don't just have diminished impulse control Mister Snape, they have none. If Harry believes himself to be invincible and thinks; 'I should jump off the roof because I think I can fly', then he will."
Severus closed his eyes as he could imagine the scenario all too well. Potter attempting to transfigure his own eyes fifty feet in the air, Potter tracking down the man who caused his parents death... Potter jumping off a roof would be a best case scenario.
"If you'd like, we can schedule a session for Harry later this week? Perhaps even a family therapy session. Mental illness can be taxing on the entire household," the Muggle offered as their session timer rang.
"That will not be necessary," Severus said, rising to his feet. "Harry will never agree to it and I do not require it."
Severus faltered as he went to obliviate the Muggle before leaving the office. It had taken up quite some time explaining Potter's past, and it would be simpler if he did not need to go through this again.
Particularly if he could convince Harry to consult a professional.
"I will schedule an appointment if Harry agrees," he conceded, closing the door firmly behind him.
'La folie circulaire'
Potter could never catch a break.