NOT MINE DON'T SUE

Shadowed Past

Severus snape looked over at the papers on his desk still waiting to be corrected and passed out over to the students while they were on break. His mind was occupied by thoughts of Harry. Something was wrong with the boy or he wouldn't be spending one moment thinking about that spoiled young man. But really, was the boy truly spoiled or was he looking at the boy and seeing the man who fathered him? it really didn't matter, at the moment he had to go collect the boy who defeated he-who-must-not-be-named.

He grabbed his cloak on the way out of his chambers and ran to the end of the anti-apperation zone, then apperated to Harry's home. The streets were as they had been when he had visited years ago. it was horribly muggle looking, and to be honest Severus did NOT want to be there right now but he had to check on the boy and make sure he was at least alright.

Knocking once he waited for an answer. when a whale of a man opened the door and glaired at him he used his most formal voice and said: "I am looking for Harry James Potter. Is he home by chance?" When the man paled then responded with a quick "No he ran away." Severus knew something was up. so thanking the gods he had put a tracking spell on the potter boy at the end of his sixth year, he used the locating charm and placed him three towns over in a run down neighborhood. Severus shook his head and apperated there.

using the locating spell once more, he was able to find harry's location three blocks from where he had landed. walking the the only relatively good looking house, he knocked and waited for an answer.

The door opened soon after by a man with long graying brown hair, violate eyes and freckles on his face and arms. "I am looking for Harry James Potter. is he here by chance?" Severus asked looking at the man as he smiled sadly and motioned for Severus to enter his home.

Harry sat in the corner of the dimly lit room and looked at the wall. he looked as though he did not understand what had been happening around him. "Hello Severus snape, potions master of hogwarts.I am Dante. I have been waiting for someone to come collect young harry potter from my home. but before you do take him, you must know, i bought him from his relatives. they were selling him as though he was nothing more than a pet." Severus growled and walked over to Harry who did not even look away as the potions master sat beside him and shook his shoulder. "what's wrong with him?" Severus asked feeling sad for the boy sitting on the floor. "It is something i have not yet been able to figure out myself. I am to take Poppy's place this year at hogwarts so i may be able to do more for him there. you see, he only listens to simple commands, like sit, heel, and so on. he can do anything you ask him to but he does not know he is doing it.

"he is more like a pet. you tell him to fetch, and he will grab the nearest object and bring it to you. whoever did this to him spent a lot of money on him, even by wizarding standards. around millions i'd say. he has no free will and his vocal cords were cut out so he is no longer able to talk. he has been beaten repeadedly and he is afraid of the slightest touch. if you are here to take him, have him hold this leash..." The man indicated the leash by pointing to a thin silver string on the mantle peice, "That is to let him know who his new master is. he does not eat much, but do try and feed him whatever he will eat." Severus could not talk. who had done this to po...no Harry. who had been foolish enough to hurt such a kind young man and dare think they would be able to get away with it.

"I will take him and take care of him. by all you have told me i assume it was his family who did this to him. I am not able to kill them for Harry needs someone with him right now. give me the leash, i will take him from here." Dante nodded and gave Severus the leash and watched with sadness in his eyes as harry grabbed the leash and followed Severus out of the house. "see you later Harry." Dante said waving after the two as they disapeared and reapeared at hogwarts.

Once in his chambers Severus guided Harry to a chair and commanded him to sit before fire calling the headmaster. "What can i do for you Severus?" Severus Cleared his throat and said very clearly: "He's not human anymore headmaster. He's been changed. so much money was spent to turn him into this thing. Albus, we have to do something about this. they hurt him." Albus immediately knew who Severus was talking about and said with a very sad sigh: "there is nothing much we can do. Please understand Severus. We will bring them to justice but we cannot do more than that...Severus you're crying." Severus wiped at his tears angerly and flooed into the headmaster's office and yelled: "WHY DIDN'T YOU DO ANYTHING? HE'S BEEN HURT, AND...and..." Albus smiled and looked at his favorite person in the world. "Severus i know i should have told you about everything but i couldn't at the time and i'm sorry. but sit down and i will tell you everything now."

TBC. Please R&R it will help me. BTW the idea to turn harry into a pet was not mine. i got the idea from one of Sara payne's stories. you can find her original stories at they're very good check them out. :D