It's Just A Memory
"B-bu-but why? He hates me! Why can't Professor Dumbledore?" I was furious! And her reply was nothing to ease my anger.
"I believe the headmaster told you that already, mister Potter. And Professor Snape doesn't hate you, he merely, dislikes, you. Like the rest of Gryffindor house." Professor McGonagall said. I snorted at this. Dislike! He was forced into anything regarding me whatsoever!
"Professor, Snape won't even allow the idea of him teaching me occlumency again. Not after what I saw in the pensieve. I'm sorry Professor but it's hopeless." After my little announcement I turned to walk out of the office but the damn woman stopped me.
"Potter you are having occlumency lessons no matter what. Severus was the one who actually suggested you continue. He said after the fiasco at the ministry there was an utmost urgency for you to learn the art." I was stumped by this. Damn teachers.
"fine. But if he makes my life a misery again, then I'm stopping." This seemed reasonable enough to the transfiguration teacher, so she nodded in defeat and I left the room.
There he was; Severus Snape: most hated and feared teacher in Hogwarts. And I got to spend more time with him having private lessons. And I felt brilliantly pleased about that, didn't I? No. in fact, I hated every second of it. But as per usual I had no choice.
"Legilimens." Snape said, and entered my mind. I tried to clear my mind, push him out, but it was so hard. "Honestly Potter I would have expected the Boy-Who-Lived to at least try!" Snape snapped once he broke the connection.
"I did try, but it was so difficult…" I said. Great ,a slip of the tongue, just what I needed the so very understanding potions master to hear when doing something difficult. Thankfully he ignored me, instead saying,
"Legilimens." My head once again filled with my childhood, until he reached this summer. I realized in horror far too late what the man was going for. I pushed against his power, but he saw.
Memory
A huge, ugly, beefy man walked towards a cowering boy. The angry looking man raised a belt and swung it down onto the teen's back. A cry of pain, then silence as he was hit again.
"You will take your punishment without a sound." Uncle Vernon spat at Harry, literally speaking. Once he had finished, he kicked the by once more for good measure, then left the room. Finally alone Harry broke down and spilled the tears that had been building up. He cried for Sirius, for Cedric, his parents, but mostly he cried because he knew he deserved this beating, it had a place in Harry's life, it belonged.
End memory.
"Harry? What was that?" I barely registered Snape's use of my first name or the fact that he was speaking in a concerned way. I was too busy trying to hide my tears.
"What do you think Snape? It was a memory! What else could it be if you are searching through my head?" I answered sarcastically, although I was worried about his reaction.
"Don't play smart with me, mister Potter." Was all I got. "I meant what was going on? That isn't usually a scene one would see from a summer, least of all from a mourning child!"??? What? I was completely baffled. Snape was showing sympathy? "I want a full explanation of that, and then I shall be visiting the headmaster. The evil man continued. 'Fine! You want the complete story of what it was?' I thought bitterly.
"It was what I deserved." I guess Snape had expected me to shout and scream and rage that it was none of his business, because his face was an expression of shock. Not something you would get everyday from him, I might add. (An expression other than anger, of course.) "And before you start don't go saying I don't deserve it. I know I do. It's all my fault; Sirius, Cedric, mum and dad, Hedwig." I gulped after saying the last name. My five year companion, the one who kept me sane whilst I wasn't at Hogwarts.
"What of the owl?" I was brought from my horrific memories by Snape's cool, and- though I hate to admit it- strangely calming voice.
"She was murdered. By my uncle. He said I didn't deserve the bird; I was a filthy freak adding burdens to the family, no one should be so loyal to something like me. So he killed her." By this time tears were freely streaming down my face. I wanted to run, away from Snape; he knew what a freak I was. But I stayed. For some unexplainable reason I stayed where I was.
"why didn't you stop him?" the teacher asked-could it be?-soothingly. This was such a difficult topic to discuss, yet I found it easy to talk to him.
"I think I've already answered that question professor." I answered cryptically, referring to my earlier slip of the tongue. Realization dawned on his face and he tried to speak; opening and closing his mouth several times like a fish.
"Come with me. We are going to see the headmaster." I was startled by the caring tone, but horrified by the actual words spoken by the professor.
"No!" I cried. "Please, I can't! I just can't!" all in vain. Snape just grabbed my arm and pulled me along wordlessly; acting like normal for the first time that day.
I pulled as hard as I could against Snape's strong arm when we reached the stone gargoyle, but, like every other time, I failed. I was just too weak; I couldn't even fight off a teacher.
"Ah, Severus. What brings you here? Hello Harry! Tea? Sherbet Lemon?" The headmaster greeted us in his usual way. I just grunted and moved into a corner, examining the room. Blocking out Snape and Dumbledore's conversation, I was relieved to see the strange objects I had broken last year repaired.
Then, finally, my turn came. "Harry is this true? Did the Dursleys always treat you in this way?" I didn't want to answer, but Snape sent me a look I knew all too well. It was the look uncle Vernon always gave me when he was going to hit me. I backed away as far as possible, knowing panic was written all over my face, and began.
"N-no sir. J-just this summer. But I deserved it, it was my fault." I stammered quickly, then ran to the door. I pulled the handle but it jammed halfway. They had locked me in! I remembered this all too well.
Memory
Vernon Dursley was drunk. He barged into Harry's room and slammed him into a wal. He quickly locked the door, then turned back to the boy. Harry pulled frantically on the door handle; it wouldn't budge! His uncle loomed ahead, fist ready and poised to hit him. The pain came fiercely- his uncle was not good drunk. Harry cowered before his menacing looking uncle, after a short while of oncoming pain, he welcomed the blackness with open arms.
End memory
I was in a coma, or so they said. After seeing that particular memory I couldn't wake up. No, something strong was needed now…
A/N I didn't want to spoil the effect of the beginning by putting these up there so I left them until the end. Do you like? Can I have 10 reviews? That would make me so very happy puppy-dog eyes as the maximum amount I ever got was 4.anyway, thanks for taking the time to read this chappie 2 should be up soon!
P.S thanks to my beta reader MadameElodie, she is very observant with my mistakes…plus she was the one who got me started and enthusiastic about this fic.