Two weeks later:

Severus felt as if he were struggling through a very thick fog, for some unfathomable reason he had lost his way and was now reduced to feeling his way forward, one small step at a time. He groped along, hands outstretched in front of him, searching desperately for a landmark, a sign, anything to guide him out of the endless mist. He had no idea how long he'd been walking, entrapped in the grayish cold fog that had sprang up from nowhere, obliterating everything and leaving him helpless, lost, alone, and frustrated.

It reminded him of the stories his father used to tell him, when Tobias wasn't drunk and nasty, such moments had been few and far between, but Severus could recall them still. Tobias had grown up on the moors of Yorkshire and he had said sometimes the fog along the moor was so deep and thick that a man could wander forever in it and never find his way out, stumble into a bog, and die, and no one would be the wiser. "The fog of the moor claims its own, boy," Tobias used to whisper and Severus would shiver in delightful fear and be glad he lived far from Yorkshire and the dreaded mist of the moors that swallowed you up forever.

The fog had that same haunted, elusive quality, every time Severus moved, it hunched and hissed and grappled at him, keeping him from reaching . . . something . . .somewhere. There was somewhere he needed to go to, someone who needed him, only he couldn't remember what it was, the fog drained away all of his energy and all he could think of was getting away from it, or through it, if that was even possible.

At times he thought he heard voices-his mother, Dumbledore, Matthew, even his father, though God only knew why Tobias would be calling him. If I were fifteen years younger, it would probably be to fetch him another beer or wallop my backside for some imagined attitude he used to claim I had with him. It had never taken much for Tobias to fly off the handle and thrash his son till he howled, Severus recalled, scowling. A look or a word spoken in a slightly less than respectful tone would do it, or sometimes nothing at all. Severus remembered one time Tobias had beaten him simply because he'd said Severus looked like he needed it and probably had done something to deserve it anyhow.

Oh yes, those had been the days, when he'd prayed to get through a day without getting smacked for some reason, he thought bitterly, or having to listen to another argument between his parents over money or Tobias's temper or Eileen's turning Severus into a magical freak.

Severus shook his head, those were memories he didn't want to dwell on, the fog was depressing enough as it was, if he dredged up those dark memories, he might go postal, and that would not help him find his way out of the mist.

One step . . .and another . . .and still another . . .

Then he heard Harry's little voice . . .calling him from far away, his son sounded as if he were yelling through a tunnel, but Severus could still hear him.

"Daddy! Wake up! It's time to wake up, you've been asleep ever so long, Daddy. Please, please, wake up NOW!"

That last word was shouted with all the desperation and need the child could muster, and it drew Severus onward like a beacon. His son needed him, needed him badly and Severus had promised Harry he would never leave him alone if he could help it, since Lily had died Harry had been clingy, not wanting Sev to leave him for very long, so Severus had taken him along to the hospital and put him in the child daycare center there for a time, until the boy had started school.

"I'm coming, son! Hold on!" he called back and began to run through the fog.

He saw a glittering trail through the mist and he followed it, knowing without quite knowing how that it would lead him home again. . .

* * * * * *

He blinked, wondering why his eyes felt like they'd been coated in glue. His eyelids felt heavy and he twitched a hand, trying to rub them with a finger, only to discover that his arm had no real strength in it. Grimacing, he concentrated on bringing his arm and hand up to his face-why was it so damn hard? Eventually, his arm lifted, but it ached like seven bloody hells, and he managed to rub his eyes.

His eyes watered, it was so bright in here. Where was he? He turned his head slightly, and caught a glimpse of eggshell blue walls and a nightstand with eight different vials of potions on it. On the vials was the distinctive stamp of St. Mungos, and he groaned, knowing where he was now. They must have brought him to the hospital after finding him passed out. But what had happened to Harry? Had Albus recalled the secret room and gotten Harry out of it? By now his son must be frantic and scared.

Severus grunted and tried to sit up, only to discover he could just about lift his head off the pillow. What the hell's the matter with me? Did those bastards cast some kind of nerve weakening hex on me? He wouldn't have put it past Lucius to do something that vile.

He coughed, his throat was dry and he could use a glass of water. Once more, he tried to sit up, and this time he managed to get up halfway before flopping back down, his whole body felt stiff and unfamiliar as if it were weighted down with sand.

The door opened, and a very attractive young intern bustled in with a tray and said brightly, "Hello, Severus, I'm back again to give you your morning Nutrient Potion and a shave too, since Healer Morgan's busy fixing up Stevie Perkins, he fell out of a tree and broke his arm, crazy little kid! It's a beautiful day out and it's too bad you can't see it because . . ." she trailed off in astonishment as she noticed the Master Healer had his eyes open and was looking directly at her, one eyebrow quirked questioningly.

"Oh sweet Merlin! You're awake!" she exclaimed, and for a moment Severus thought she might toss the tray up into the air, she seemed so delighted to see him awake. Then she regained her composure and said, "Can you talk at all, sir? My name is Amy Turner, I'm an Apprentice here. We've been so worried about you, Sev-I mean Healer Snape," she corrected herself, blushing faintly.

She set the tray to hover and came over to the bed, helping him to sit up, propping him up with several pillows. Then she gave him small sips of water with a straw. "There! How do you feel, Master Healer?"

Severus coughed once then said, "I . . .feel strange. Not like myself, I mean." He frowned, even his voice sounded different, hoarser. He beckoned for more water and she handed him the glass reluctantly. His hand felt clumsy, but he managed to hold it without spilling the water all over and he sipped slowly.

"Not too much, Master Healer," she reminded him gently. "Else you'll throw up, we've been spelling the potions into you for the most part, so your stomach has to get used to drinking the normal way again after so long."

"So long? How long was I knocked out?"

"Uh, sir, you've been in a coma for nearly three months." She gently began washing his face with a warm damp cloth, removing the last of the gunk from his eyes.

"Three . . .months!" he repeated incredulous. "What happened? Where's my son?"

"Sir, please don't get excited," she soothed. "I can get Healer Morgan, he knows all the details, he was the one who diagnosed you and he's your primary attending physician besides. I'll call him right after I shave you, if you'll permit me, sir?"

Severus considered, he wanted to demand she get Matthew right bloody now, but then remembered Matthew was with a patient, the accident prone Stevie, who was also petrified of needles. Severus was glad he didn't have to deal with the boy's hysteria this time, last time he'd nearly ended up losing a finger to the kid's teeth.

"Very well, Miss Turner, right?"

"Yes, Healer. I'll be done in a jiffy, sir," she said and gently began to lather his face, shaving him with a few deft flicks of her wand.

It was a little disconcerting and embarrassing having this fresh faced young woman probably fresh from her Healer Medical Boards performing this intimate service for him, Severus thought with a sigh, but he could hardly complain, he was too weak to do more than sit up and hold a glass of water. No wonder, his muscles were in sorry shape after nearly three months of lying in a bed.

Once Amy was done with his shave, she gave him the Nutrient Potion to drink and then she went to call Matthew, who hopefully was done setting Stevie's arm, and tell him his partner was awake.

* * * * * *

Matthew greeted Severus with a huge grin when he came into the room. "Merlin and all the saints be praised, Snape! Thought you were gonna sleep for a hundred years, like Sleeping Beauty in that fairytale the Muggles tell. That hot little number wake you up with a kiss, buddy?" he teased, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief.

"I was already awake, unfortunately," Severus drawled, his own eyes dancing. "But I could always have a relapse."

Matthew roared, then shook a finger at his friend belatedly. "Now, now, Snape. You know the rules, no seducing the interns in the hospital."

"Does it count if she seduces me? Some women find helpless men irresistible," Severus joked, smirking.

"If she does, then she's in the wrong profession, mate." Then he added slyly, "Want her number and address? I can look it up in the records."

"Wicked, Morgan!" gasped his partner, laughing softly. "Seriously, Matt, I've no time to date yet. Between my work and Harry, who the hell has time to go out?"

"I know what you mean, mate. We're a slave to our Healer's Oaths." Matthew groaned, then shrugged. "Ah, well, it's not like we didn't know that before we attended medical school." He drew a wand and ran a quick diagnostic.

"Well? What's the prognosis, Healer?"

"Good. Everything's working normally, except you're going to need a week on Strengthening Potions and Muscle Builders before you're able to really move about again on your own."

"And some of your physical therapy too, no doubt."

"That too. You were remarkably lucky, Sev. You suffered almost no trauma to your frontal lobe and you missed hitting the major nerve at the base of the head by an inch. If you'd of damaged that, you know as well as I do what would've happened."

"I'd have been paralyzed," Severus said evenly. "Where's my wand, Matt?"

"I've got it locked in the vault, don't worry."

"I want it."

"Nu-uh, Sev," Matthew shook his head. "You know the rules, no wands for patients."

"Matthew, I'm not just a patient, I'm a physician."

"Sorry, mate. Long as you're in that bed there, you're my patient."

"Morgan! Give me my damn wand!"

"Sev, you know as well as I do if I give you your wand, you'll only end up trying to heal yourself too soon and too quickly and maybe suffer a relapse." His colleague scowled ferociously at him. "I know, it's a pain in the arse being without magic, but trust me. You'd be the same if it were me, Sev."

"I would not!" said the other grumpily.

"Would so. Now quit the attitude, mister. The doctor knows best, remember?"

Severus gave him a long look before addressing the second most important thing on his mind. "Where's Harry? Has he been staying with you or Albus? I wasn't sure which of you would be able to take him in, so I named both of you as temporary guardians if I became incapacitated."

Matthew went pale. "You named us as guardians . . .Sev, when did you do that?"

"Recently, I added a codicil to my will, once I realized I was still in danger from the bloody Death Eaters," replied Severus, puzzled. "I'd name you as guardian or Albus before I'd even think about choosing the only other relative I've got left-my father. Why? Has something happened to Harry? Is he okay?"

"Harry's fine, Sev. But . . .uh there was a bit of an issue over where to put Harry while you were sleeping."

"What do you mean? There should've been no problems, I spelled it out in black and white."

"Uh . . .we never knew about the will, Sev, and because of that the Ministry . . . .you're not going to like what I've got to say next, Sev," warned Matthew.

"The Ministry what?" Severus prompted. "What did those pompous fools do now?"

Matthew heaved a martyred sigh. "The Ministry ruled that Harry couldn't stay with either me or Albus. They insisted he go and live with your father."

Severus blinked and his mouth opened and shut, but no sound emerged.

"Excuse me?" he said, in that deadly soft tone that always meant trouble for whoever was on the receiving end of it. "They gave my son to Tobias Snape to look after for three months? Are they bloody insane? Do they know what that man did to me growing up? Do they?"

Severus's eyes were glowing like hot coals and Matthew thanked his lucky stars Sev didn't have his wand, for he would have been a dead man. "Sev, we didn't have a choice . . ."

"Of COURSE you did!" shouted the Master Healer. "You could have bloody kidnapped Harry and taken him away or something. Even that's better than living under the same roof as that-that bastard! He made my childhood a living hell, Morgan, and I vowed never would my son know the fear and helplessness and pain I did! Never again! And now I find that you've gone and given my son-my precious child-to my drunken abusive father to look after!" Severus looked as if he were about to start to laughing hysterically. Either that or start crying. "What have you done, Matthew Morgan?"

Matthew winced at the look of betrayal and hurt flashing in the dark eyes. "Sev, please, don't go off half-cocked. We had no recourse to your will, the Aurors that found you just brought you here and left you, all we had to go on were Ministry protocol and Fudge insisted it be followed to the letter."

"Merlin's balls! And you two just went along with it and let my father get hold of Harry." Severus's hands were clenched to white-knuckled fists on the comforter. "Has anybody gone over there to make sure he was still breathing?"

Matthew nodded. "Dumbledore goes every two week to make sure everything is well."

"Did he ask Harry if everything is all right? Because when I started school, I had to wear long sleeved shirts and make up excuses so no one would know that my dear old dad beat me," sneered Sev.

"Sev, Dumbledore has reassured me that Tobias treats the kid decently."

Severus nearly choked. "What is this, fable and story hour, Matthew? Tobias couldn't take care of a pet properly, much less a kid. He took wonderful care of me growing up, Morgan, I still have scars to show for it, as I'm sure you've seen while I was sleeping. Damn it all to bleeding hell!" He looked as if he were going to try to leap out of the bed at any minute.

Matthew tried again to soothe the agitated and furious wizard. "Sev, maybe Tobias has changed over the years. You haven't seen him since you were, what, eighteen? Time can change a man."

"Only if he wants to change, and believe me, my father didn't. D'you know how many times he promised my mother he'd lay off the bottle? And after a week he was right back on it, all his promises broken. What makes it any different this time?"

Matthew sighed. "First off, Tobias doesn't drink any more. So that's helped a lot in the way he treats Harry."

"What, you mean he's only slapping him every other day instead of every day?"

"Actually, last time I saw him, Sev, he and Harry looked like they were getting along very well and I didn't see Harry get hit and he didn't seem afraid of him either."

"He was here?"

"Yeah, him and Albus and Harry came to visit you every two weeks or so. Your son drew all those Get Well pictures over there," Matthew indicated the second art wall in front of Severus's bed.

Severus allowed a small smile to tug at his heart. "Harry's a very good artist, I think." Then his expression turned stormy. "I want my son out of there, Morgan. There's no telling when Tobias will lash out at him. I refuse to have my son go through what I did as a child, Matt."

"Sev, I think you're overreacting."

"Overreacting!" exploded the other wizard. "Shall I show you the scars from his bloody belt on my arse, Morgan? Then we'll see if you think I'm overreacting! I should have had the bastard thrown in jail years ago, but I didn't because of my mother, who loved the bloody bounder, don't ask me why! And now you've gone and given my son to the miserable sodding bastard! Damn it, Matthew!"

"Sev, I'm sorry, if I had known there was a codicil . . .but we'd never put Harry in danger, Snape! At least give me that much credit!"

Severus fumed and muttered, "If only I could get out of this blasted bed, I'd show Tobias who was in charge now. Poor Harry, having to live with him for three bloody months." He fixed Matthew with an icy look. "Morgan, I swear, if he's hurt Harry . . ."

"Severus!" snapped his friend. "Quit going off the deep end, won't you! Stop freaking out. I don't think Tobias is the same man you grew up with."

"Ha! Leopards don't change their spots." He tried to get up, but his legs wouldn' t hold his weight. He swore angrily, his face a mask of determination.

"Sev, stop trying to get up," Matthew ordered briskly. "It's too soon, you'll injure yourself. Lie back down, Snape."

Severus just gave him a glower and continued trying to move.

"Sev, damn it! You're acting worse than some of our seven-year-olds," scolded Matthew. "Now settle down this minute, I'm warning you. I'm your attending, Snape, and I can cast a Body Bind on you if necessary."

At that, Severus lapsed back onto the pillows, gasping and shaking.

"Here," Matthew moved over and gave the other a Calming Draught. "Look at yourself, Snape. You're getting yourself too worked up over nothing. Now relax, mate. Relax. You're going to give yourself a bloody coronary."

Severus's eyes started to close and he murmured, "Matthew, please promise me you'll go check up on Harry. Promise me that at least."

"I'll do better than that, Sev. I'll tell Dumbledore to bring Harry here so you can see him, all right?"

Severus nodded wearily. "Yes, but not him. I don't want him here."

"Sev, he was really worried about you . . ."

The other sneered. "Oh sure. Real worried I'd up and croak and leave him saddled with my kid. Don't let him fool you, Matt. Tobias never gave a damn about me. I was a disappointment and a freak, why do you think I never speak of the man? Because there's nothing good I can say about him."

"All right, Sev. I'll do as you want. I'll call Dumbledore and have him bring Harry to you tomorrow, today you need to rest and take some Strengthening Solution and stop making yourself insane with worry. Y' hear me, Snape?"

"Yes."

"Good. Now get some sleep, doctor's orders," Matthew said and clapped his friend lightly on the shoulder. Severus was already asleep, exhausted from his display of temper.

Healer Morgan then departed to firecall Dumbledore and tell him the wonderful news. No doubt about it, Harry was going to be walking on air when he learned his dad was awake. It was too bad Severus's awakening would be marred by old wounds, thought the physician sadly.