Harry shivered as he heard the footsteps coming up the stairs. He knew what
was going to happen, but he remained still. His gaze was fixated on the
barred window, staring out into the peaceful twilight sky. He wished deeply
to be outside, not here in this room awaiting punishment.
The door opened silently, a man stared at the silhouetted figure on the bed. "Potter..."
Harry cringed slightly; he waited for the pain to follow as he heard the footsteps continue across the room. He tensed and waited. Nothing. He turned his head slowly, and blinked at the man standing behind him. "S- sir?"
The man smirked. "Hello, Potter." His sadistic mind running through all the things he could do to the boy. "Petunia and Dudley are out." He smiled evilly as he saw the boy shutter.
"W-what are you going to do?" Harry breathed quietly.
"Whatever I feel like doing, boy." He backhanded the boy, knocking him off the bed. "Now, let's get started." He roughly grabbed the boy's arm and dragged him down the stairs, to the basement.
"Please, no!" Harry pleaded softly. "Please, don't, Uncle Vernon."
"Shut up, Boy!" Vernon yelled, once again, backhanding the boy.
Vernon smiled sadistically as he tied Harry to a wooden support pole. He made sure the ropes cut deep into Harry's skin. Then he stood and kicked the boy fro good measure. "Having fun yet, Potter?"
Harry stayed silent and looked at the floor, defeated tears running down his face. 'Please, someone help me....' He breathed in shakily and waited for the impending pain. A small voice echoed in his mind, telling him it would be alright. The voice always comforted him when Vernon hit him, today, the voice was more confident as it comforted him. 'Help is coming. Stay alive, you must live, Harry.'
~*~*~*~
Pain surged through his body as Severus Snape woke in a cold sweat. He shivered as he remembered the livid details of the dream. He was being beaten by that man again, only tonight, he knew who it was. Vernon, the name echoed through his mind, Vernon Dursley. Severus felt the pain numb slightly as he got out of bed.
The pain surged again as he heard a familiar voice echo through his mind. 'Please, someone help me....' The voice was weak and full of fear. Severus shuttered as the pain once again numbed. He thought for a moment, then the recognition hit him. It was Harry, Harry Potter.
"Why do you need help?"
~*~*~
"Someone will come, someone will come..." Harry chanted shakily as the pain surged again, this time followed by a warm liquid trickling down his bare skin.
Vernon smirked; he pulled Harry's face so he was looking at him. "What make you think they care? They have never saved you before." He grinned as this remark sunk in. "Anyway, you deserve this, you are bad and disrespectful. They only talk to you because they pity you. They hate you, Potter. You are a freak, nobody cares about you."
This echoed in Harry's mind, over and over again. 'They hate you....Nobody cares about you....' He closed his eyes. 'Why didn't anyone ever stop this from happening? They could help him, but they didn't....they really must not care....' Harry sobbed as Vernon smirked; this was what he'd wanted. The voice called him back. 'Harry, no, they care, they are coming! HOLD ON HARRY!!!'
Harry looked up at Vernon. "No, they are coming! They care!"
Vernon glared at the boy, slapping him. "How dare you talk back to me!!" He hit Harry again. "After all I've done for you! I've clothed you, fed you! I allow you stay in this house!! AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY ME?!?"
"YOU GOOD FOR NOTHING, LIT-" Suddenly the doorbell rang, stopping Vernon just as he was about to hit Harry. He smirked and turned to leave. "Your safe for now, but I'll be back."
Harry sighed, and hoped that someone at the door would come and take him away from this place. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, trying to numb his mind from the pain and trying to call out to the voice. 'Please, answer me! I need help....'
~*~*~
"Albus, I have reason to believe that Harry Potter is being abused." Severus said calmly as he stormed into the other man's office.
Dumbledore looked up, his usual twinkle replaced with a look of shock. Severus was a little taken back at this, but quickly regained his composure. "I have been having these dreams lately, They were of someone beating me." Dumbledore listened quietly. "Just recently, instead of being the being the beaten, I watched the man beat a child. I heard the child's thoughts and also felt the pain. Later, I woke up and heard his voice again, along with the pain. The voice belongs to Harry Potter."
Dumbledore nodded, and looked at Severus thoughtfully. "Severus, what do you suppose we should do?"
Severus' eyes went wide. Could he not see? They needed to check on Harry! "We need to check on him!"
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, and nodded slightly. Severus' anger grew steadily as he watched the older man. "Severus, if you so strongly believe this, "Severus glared at Dumbledore. "then, I think, YOU should go check on Harry."
Severus' eyes widened again. "Me?!?"
Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, you are the only one up at this hour, am I am busy." Dumbledore held up his hand as Severus began to protest. "Plus, this is your idea, is it not?"
Severus sighed and nodded. "Fine, I will go to Potter's house and check on him." Dumbledore nodded. "But, what do I do with him if he is getting beaten?"
"Bring him back here."
~*~*~
Harry heard the door to the basement open. Looking up he saw Vernon walking down the stairs, a happy smile on his face. Harry felt the dread grow inside him.
"Well, it would seem that we are going on a little trip, to Hawaii exactly. Petunia just got back with the tickets, and we're leaving tonight." Vernon's smile widened. "And it would also seem that there are only three tickets." Vernon flashed the three plane tickets. "We will be back in about three weeks." With that, he turned and walked up the stairs.
"What about me?" He shouted.
Vernon stopped, and looked down at Harry. "Well, you'll be staying here, I guess." His smile never once broke at the thought of leaving Harry, alone in his house.
"How am I supposed to get out of these ropes?"
Vernon rolled his eyes. "By cutting them of course." He said sickly, as though this was the most obvious thing in the world. He smiled at Harry and continued to walk up the stairs, ignoring all of Harry's shouts and screams as he closed the door. Vernon smirked again as he flicked off the light.
"Have a nice long death, Potter."
~*~*~
Severus apparated at the end of Privet Drive, landing softly on his feet. He glared around disgustedly at the perfect houses as a silver sports car pulled quickly out onto the main road. He began the short walk to number four. 'What am I doing? Potter probably lives in perfect comfort, having his ego stroked every two seconds by those muggle relatives.
He knocked loudly on the door. 'This was a mistake.' He waited. 'Yep, a total mistake.' He knocked even louder, again no one answered. He sighed. "Alohomora"
The door clicked and Severus pushed it opened the door. The house was quiet and dark. Severus sighed as he marched up the stairs, flicking on a light as he went. The hallway seemed normal, pictures hung here and there, all depicting a rather large boy smiling in varieties of scenes and costumes. 'None of Potter?'
He opened the first door on his right, a bathroom. Then he moved to the next one, master bedroom. "Potter?" 'weird, no one seems to be here. He searched the other rooms, leaving one for last.
'Why are there so many locks on this one?' Severus pondered as he opened the door. He flicked on the light, and took a step back, nearly falling over as because he'd gone so fast. 'What happened in this house?!?'
The room was bare with the exception of a small bed and desk. The bed sheets were old and ratty, gruesome dark stains splotched the fabric. The desk was covered with a few bits of moldy food. Severus' eyes widened as he spotted a large dark stain on the floor, and then noticed the dark spatters across the walls and ceiling. He quickly flicked off the light and shut the door in horror.
"Harry, please be alive." Severus pleaded as he walked down the stair to check the rest of the house, totally unaware that he'd just used Harry's true name not Potter.
After having searched the whole upstairs and ground floor, Severus sighed. 'One room to go.' He flicked on the light, and opened the door. He walked slowly down the stairs and stopped in mid step. His eyes flicked to the bleeding and infected wounds covering Harry's frail looking body.
Harry didn't look up. He closed his eyes breathing deeply listening to the steps as they got closer and closer. He gulped. "What do you want? Come to taunt me some more? Or have you come to work out your frustrations in other ways than beating me?" Harry knew that these weren't Vernon's footsteps, too light, maybe Dudley's, who else would it be?
"Harry, what are you talking about?" a familiar but unfamiliar voice asked.
Harry looked up, and gasped. "P-professor?"
Severus looked down at Harry; then quickly dropped to his knees and began to untie Harry. He made quick work of the now blood stained ropes, revealing open flesh wounds on Harry's wrists. "Please don't tell anyone about...this!" Harry pleaded as his wrists were freed.
"Harry, I must tell someone." Severus said, as he pulled a few healing potions out of his pockets. "I'm surprised that you didn't yourself."
Harry looked away. "I didn't because I deserved this." Severus nearly gasped. "Anyway, it's not like anyone cares about me, no one knows. They hate me anyway, they all do. They hate me because of what I did, I was bad." Harry hung his head, looking and sounding more like a child of three or four not a teenager of sixteen. "I killed so many....I deserve this, I deserve to die."
Severus looked at the boy, his dreams had been true. He stood and looked down at the small boy below him. "Potter, we care about you..." Severus took a deep breath before continuing. "Even I care about you. It wasn't your fault, those deaths; it was and still is Voldemort's fault."
Harry looked up at Severus. "Why did you come here?"
Severus smiled slightly. "Harry, I care, that's why." He then kneeled down again, and began giving Harry various potions, and magically healing some of the large open wounds.
"Promise me something, sir." Harry said suddenly.
Severus stopped what he was doing and looked attentively at Harry. "Promise me that you won't ever let me come back to this place again."
"I promise, Harry, I promise."
~*~*~*~
Severus stalked up to Albus Dumbledore's office, after he'd gotten Harry to Madame Pomfrey. He was angry, no that was an understatement. Severus Snape was furious. He walked up to the gargoyle at the entrance to the office and sputtered out the password, 'Strawberry Gumdrops'. He climbed the stairs quickly and pushed open the doors, causing them to slam against the walls. Albus looked, and this was a first for Severus, startled. "Hello, Severus. I wasn't expecting you, Lemon drop?" Dumbledore offered.
Severus stalked over to the desk, he slammed his fist down, the desk shook slightly as the pain flared in Severus' hand. "HOW COULD YOU KEEP HIM AT THAT, THAT P-PLACE?!?!?!?" He raged at Dumbledore, who took this abuse silently, and calmly.
"Severus, I don't know what you are talking about." Albus informed Severus, only causing the other man to become more enraged.
"HARRY!! YOU PUT HIM IN THAT HOUSE BECAUSE HE WAS PROTECTED." Severus yelled.
Dumbledore nodded. "Severus, please try to calm down."
Severus stood still for a moment, taking deep breath as he counted to ten in his head. "You put him there because he was safe, safe from Voldemort....but did it ever occur to you that he should also be protected from his relatives?" Dumbledore shook his head. "They are abusive, physically and verbally, and- and....." he let the last line die out, Dumbledore's mind filling in the blank.
"Do you have any proof?"
Severus' hands tightened into fists, his knuckles whitening as he did so. "I do; my own experience and the fact that Harry is currently covered in cuts and bruises, laying half dead in the hospital wing." Dumbledore looked shocked.
"Yes, well we will have to find a place for him to stay, but Severus, you know how the charm works, he must only reefer to the Dursley's as home, no where else or the charm will break. He must go back, soon!"
Severus stood once more, locking a death glare with Dumbledore's eyes. "You will not take him back to that place.....ever, do I make myself clear?" Severus' voice had gone to almost a whisper, he spoke slowly, and clearly as if Dumbledore might not understand if he didn't.
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. "And where is he to stay? He can stay here, but there is no to watch him and keep him safe. Plus, who else would take him? The Weasley's would but we both know that they have enough on their plate as it is. McGonagall can't ta-"
Severus glared at Dumbledore. "Then I will take him."
~*~*~
Harry awoke, he looked around. He blinked at the slightly familiar room as the memories of the night before returned. He looked around again. Severus, where was Severus? "Professor?" he called out.
Madame Pomfrey instantly stuck her head out of her office. "You're awake!" She bustled over to Harry, a tray of food and potions in her arms. She smiled gently. "Professor Snape left about an hour ago, to go talk to the Headmaster."
Harry nodded as he was handed a steaming bowl of soup. He stared at the thin broth, and the floating vegetables. Sighing, he lifted the spoon and slowly began to eat the soup in silence, only stopping once because of the almost shockingly strong taste from the weak looking soup.
~*~*~
Dumbledore looked shocked, he blinked several times. He looked at Severus again, then pulled out a small flask, which he opened and took a few long sips from. He put the flask away and turned back to Severus. "Pass that by me again?"
Severus sighed, the things he got himself into when he was mad. "I will take Harry. He can stay with me, I will make sure he is safe and stays out of trouble."
Dumbledore's face lit up, the wheels in his head turning. He looked thoughtfully at Severus and then down at his quill, a smile appearing on his face. "Yes, I believe that would be a good idea, Severus, a very good idea..."
~*~*~
Harry had just finished his soup when Dumbledore walked in, followed by a not too pleased looking Snape. Harry saw Snape relax slightly as he entered the Infirmary.
"Harry, I am pleased to see that you are alive and well." Dumbledore smiled.
Harry's face darkened for a moment, but quickly turned to a blank mask. Severus was surprised by Harry's emotional control. "Well, I have lots to do, I will let Severus explain the circumstances of your living arrangements to you."
Harry looked to Severus curiously. Severus paled slightly, the speech he'd had all set out disappeared fast, leaving a very nervous Severus. Why am I nervous? Severus cleared his throat. "You will be stay here at Hogwarts." A smile spread across Harry's face. "Dumbledore and most of the other teachers will only be here in passing. You will be staying with me, in my chambers." Severus watched the affect this had on Harry. 'Probably, disgusted with the idea.' Harry looked at Severus and quickly looked away, blushing. "You are allowed in the library, and are only allowed to use my potions lab when I am not present." Harry opened his mouth to ask something, but Severus stopped him. "You are allowed to do magic, but anything big and you must notify me, before hand."
Harry nodded.
Severus tried to smile reassuringly, but it only came out as a smirk. Harry looked away. Silence ensued.
"Severus, since you're here, I have to tell you that I am leaving early this year. My nephew is having a wedding, and I'm going to it. Harry, here is recovering quickly, and should be up and about in three days or so." Severus glared at the woman. 'I will not become Harry's slave.' "It's very simple really, all you have to do is give him the potions in the morning and feed him, simple broths." Severus glared at Harry, and then back at Poppy. "Oh, and he must stay warm. And today, he'll officially be moving into your chambers."
Severus sighed. "Whatever."
Poppy smiled brightly and went to fuss over Harry. Harry stared at Severus the entire time, in total wonder.
~*~*~
Harry walked slowly, gliding his hand along the wall for support. His body screamed with pain as he tried to walk down the first flight of stairs. Harry tried to double over, nearly throwing himself down the flight of stairs; Harry waited for the pain, but none followed.
"Watch where you're going, Potter" A voice growled as he was lifted up and placed against a warm body. Harry sighed, and yawned, walking was very tiring work. He smuggled closer to the warmness.
Severus felt the blush rise in his cheeks, he stopped walking ad look down at the sleeping boy in his arms, with distaste. He then took a moment to get control over his emotions, barely managing to get a hold of the blush, just as Dumbledore rounded the corner.
"Hello, Severus." Dumbledore smile, he didn't show it, but he saw the last bit of the blush, seconds before it was replaced with the indifferent mask. "I see that Poppy has decided that Harry is fit to sleep in your chambers?"
"Yes, she did."
Dumbledore nodded and continued on his way. "Oh, and Severus , before I forget.." He turned back to face the other man. "I will be coming down tomorrow to redecorate for Harry."
"It's really not all that necessary, professor." Severus growled.
Dumbledore waved off the comment. "No, it's okay, I insist."
~*~*~
Severus stormed into his chambers, furious. Why must that man always do things that he knew would anger me? God, he was annoying.
Severus placed Harry down on the couch, and lit a fire. He raised to go find Harry's room, swearing as he realized that it hadn't been made yet. "Great," Severus looked at the only bed in the entire of his quarters. "Well, Potter, looks like either I'm sleeping on the couch or your sleeping with me."
~*~*~
Later, n the couch, Severus sighed. He reached over to the coffee table and picked up a large flask of Fire whiskey, the brown liquid felt cool in the bottle. He gulped down a mouthful, the liquid quickly burning its way down his throat.
Man, it was good to get drunk. Severus' mind was near as numb as it would get. Sighing he took another swing, and nearly passed out.
~*~*~
Harry woke up nice a warm, the early morning sun brightening the room. Harry groaned and turned over, rolling closer to the warm body next to him. He sighed as he fell back asleep.
~*~*~
Severus sighed as the rocking headache hit him, he didn't want to get up. Pulling the comforters closers, and the warm body closer he tried to go back to sleep.
Severus thought slowly. 'Since when do I sleep with warm bodies?'
The door opened silently, a man stared at the silhouetted figure on the bed. "Potter..."
Harry cringed slightly; he waited for the pain to follow as he heard the footsteps continue across the room. He tensed and waited. Nothing. He turned his head slowly, and blinked at the man standing behind him. "S- sir?"
The man smirked. "Hello, Potter." His sadistic mind running through all the things he could do to the boy. "Petunia and Dudley are out." He smiled evilly as he saw the boy shutter.
"W-what are you going to do?" Harry breathed quietly.
"Whatever I feel like doing, boy." He backhanded the boy, knocking him off the bed. "Now, let's get started." He roughly grabbed the boy's arm and dragged him down the stairs, to the basement.
"Please, no!" Harry pleaded softly. "Please, don't, Uncle Vernon."
"Shut up, Boy!" Vernon yelled, once again, backhanding the boy.
Vernon smiled sadistically as he tied Harry to a wooden support pole. He made sure the ropes cut deep into Harry's skin. Then he stood and kicked the boy fro good measure. "Having fun yet, Potter?"
Harry stayed silent and looked at the floor, defeated tears running down his face. 'Please, someone help me....' He breathed in shakily and waited for the impending pain. A small voice echoed in his mind, telling him it would be alright. The voice always comforted him when Vernon hit him, today, the voice was more confident as it comforted him. 'Help is coming. Stay alive, you must live, Harry.'
~*~*~*~
Pain surged through his body as Severus Snape woke in a cold sweat. He shivered as he remembered the livid details of the dream. He was being beaten by that man again, only tonight, he knew who it was. Vernon, the name echoed through his mind, Vernon Dursley. Severus felt the pain numb slightly as he got out of bed.
The pain surged again as he heard a familiar voice echo through his mind. 'Please, someone help me....' The voice was weak and full of fear. Severus shuttered as the pain once again numbed. He thought for a moment, then the recognition hit him. It was Harry, Harry Potter.
"Why do you need help?"
~*~*~
"Someone will come, someone will come..." Harry chanted shakily as the pain surged again, this time followed by a warm liquid trickling down his bare skin.
Vernon smirked; he pulled Harry's face so he was looking at him. "What make you think they care? They have never saved you before." He grinned as this remark sunk in. "Anyway, you deserve this, you are bad and disrespectful. They only talk to you because they pity you. They hate you, Potter. You are a freak, nobody cares about you."
This echoed in Harry's mind, over and over again. 'They hate you....Nobody cares about you....' He closed his eyes. 'Why didn't anyone ever stop this from happening? They could help him, but they didn't....they really must not care....' Harry sobbed as Vernon smirked; this was what he'd wanted. The voice called him back. 'Harry, no, they care, they are coming! HOLD ON HARRY!!!'
Harry looked up at Vernon. "No, they are coming! They care!"
Vernon glared at the boy, slapping him. "How dare you talk back to me!!" He hit Harry again. "After all I've done for you! I've clothed you, fed you! I allow you stay in this house!! AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY ME?!?"
"YOU GOOD FOR NOTHING, LIT-" Suddenly the doorbell rang, stopping Vernon just as he was about to hit Harry. He smirked and turned to leave. "Your safe for now, but I'll be back."
Harry sighed, and hoped that someone at the door would come and take him away from this place. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, trying to numb his mind from the pain and trying to call out to the voice. 'Please, answer me! I need help....'
~*~*~
"Albus, I have reason to believe that Harry Potter is being abused." Severus said calmly as he stormed into the other man's office.
Dumbledore looked up, his usual twinkle replaced with a look of shock. Severus was a little taken back at this, but quickly regained his composure. "I have been having these dreams lately, They were of someone beating me." Dumbledore listened quietly. "Just recently, instead of being the being the beaten, I watched the man beat a child. I heard the child's thoughts and also felt the pain. Later, I woke up and heard his voice again, along with the pain. The voice belongs to Harry Potter."
Dumbledore nodded, and looked at Severus thoughtfully. "Severus, what do you suppose we should do?"
Severus' eyes went wide. Could he not see? They needed to check on Harry! "We need to check on him!"
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, and nodded slightly. Severus' anger grew steadily as he watched the older man. "Severus, if you so strongly believe this, "Severus glared at Dumbledore. "then, I think, YOU should go check on Harry."
Severus' eyes widened again. "Me?!?"
Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, you are the only one up at this hour, am I am busy." Dumbledore held up his hand as Severus began to protest. "Plus, this is your idea, is it not?"
Severus sighed and nodded. "Fine, I will go to Potter's house and check on him." Dumbledore nodded. "But, what do I do with him if he is getting beaten?"
"Bring him back here."
~*~*~
Harry heard the door to the basement open. Looking up he saw Vernon walking down the stairs, a happy smile on his face. Harry felt the dread grow inside him.
"Well, it would seem that we are going on a little trip, to Hawaii exactly. Petunia just got back with the tickets, and we're leaving tonight." Vernon's smile widened. "And it would also seem that there are only three tickets." Vernon flashed the three plane tickets. "We will be back in about three weeks." With that, he turned and walked up the stairs.
"What about me?" He shouted.
Vernon stopped, and looked down at Harry. "Well, you'll be staying here, I guess." His smile never once broke at the thought of leaving Harry, alone in his house.
"How am I supposed to get out of these ropes?"
Vernon rolled his eyes. "By cutting them of course." He said sickly, as though this was the most obvious thing in the world. He smiled at Harry and continued to walk up the stairs, ignoring all of Harry's shouts and screams as he closed the door. Vernon smirked again as he flicked off the light.
"Have a nice long death, Potter."
~*~*~
Severus apparated at the end of Privet Drive, landing softly on his feet. He glared around disgustedly at the perfect houses as a silver sports car pulled quickly out onto the main road. He began the short walk to number four. 'What am I doing? Potter probably lives in perfect comfort, having his ego stroked every two seconds by those muggle relatives.
He knocked loudly on the door. 'This was a mistake.' He waited. 'Yep, a total mistake.' He knocked even louder, again no one answered. He sighed. "Alohomora"
The door clicked and Severus pushed it opened the door. The house was quiet and dark. Severus sighed as he marched up the stairs, flicking on a light as he went. The hallway seemed normal, pictures hung here and there, all depicting a rather large boy smiling in varieties of scenes and costumes. 'None of Potter?'
He opened the first door on his right, a bathroom. Then he moved to the next one, master bedroom. "Potter?" 'weird, no one seems to be here. He searched the other rooms, leaving one for last.
'Why are there so many locks on this one?' Severus pondered as he opened the door. He flicked on the light, and took a step back, nearly falling over as because he'd gone so fast. 'What happened in this house?!?'
The room was bare with the exception of a small bed and desk. The bed sheets were old and ratty, gruesome dark stains splotched the fabric. The desk was covered with a few bits of moldy food. Severus' eyes widened as he spotted a large dark stain on the floor, and then noticed the dark spatters across the walls and ceiling. He quickly flicked off the light and shut the door in horror.
"Harry, please be alive." Severus pleaded as he walked down the stair to check the rest of the house, totally unaware that he'd just used Harry's true name not Potter.
After having searched the whole upstairs and ground floor, Severus sighed. 'One room to go.' He flicked on the light, and opened the door. He walked slowly down the stairs and stopped in mid step. His eyes flicked to the bleeding and infected wounds covering Harry's frail looking body.
Harry didn't look up. He closed his eyes breathing deeply listening to the steps as they got closer and closer. He gulped. "What do you want? Come to taunt me some more? Or have you come to work out your frustrations in other ways than beating me?" Harry knew that these weren't Vernon's footsteps, too light, maybe Dudley's, who else would it be?
"Harry, what are you talking about?" a familiar but unfamiliar voice asked.
Harry looked up, and gasped. "P-professor?"
Severus looked down at Harry; then quickly dropped to his knees and began to untie Harry. He made quick work of the now blood stained ropes, revealing open flesh wounds on Harry's wrists. "Please don't tell anyone about...this!" Harry pleaded as his wrists were freed.
"Harry, I must tell someone." Severus said, as he pulled a few healing potions out of his pockets. "I'm surprised that you didn't yourself."
Harry looked away. "I didn't because I deserved this." Severus nearly gasped. "Anyway, it's not like anyone cares about me, no one knows. They hate me anyway, they all do. They hate me because of what I did, I was bad." Harry hung his head, looking and sounding more like a child of three or four not a teenager of sixteen. "I killed so many....I deserve this, I deserve to die."
Severus looked at the boy, his dreams had been true. He stood and looked down at the small boy below him. "Potter, we care about you..." Severus took a deep breath before continuing. "Even I care about you. It wasn't your fault, those deaths; it was and still is Voldemort's fault."
Harry looked up at Severus. "Why did you come here?"
Severus smiled slightly. "Harry, I care, that's why." He then kneeled down again, and began giving Harry various potions, and magically healing some of the large open wounds.
"Promise me something, sir." Harry said suddenly.
Severus stopped what he was doing and looked attentively at Harry. "Promise me that you won't ever let me come back to this place again."
"I promise, Harry, I promise."
~*~*~*~
Severus stalked up to Albus Dumbledore's office, after he'd gotten Harry to Madame Pomfrey. He was angry, no that was an understatement. Severus Snape was furious. He walked up to the gargoyle at the entrance to the office and sputtered out the password, 'Strawberry Gumdrops'. He climbed the stairs quickly and pushed open the doors, causing them to slam against the walls. Albus looked, and this was a first for Severus, startled. "Hello, Severus. I wasn't expecting you, Lemon drop?" Dumbledore offered.
Severus stalked over to the desk, he slammed his fist down, the desk shook slightly as the pain flared in Severus' hand. "HOW COULD YOU KEEP HIM AT THAT, THAT P-PLACE?!?!?!?" He raged at Dumbledore, who took this abuse silently, and calmly.
"Severus, I don't know what you are talking about." Albus informed Severus, only causing the other man to become more enraged.
"HARRY!! YOU PUT HIM IN THAT HOUSE BECAUSE HE WAS PROTECTED." Severus yelled.
Dumbledore nodded. "Severus, please try to calm down."
Severus stood still for a moment, taking deep breath as he counted to ten in his head. "You put him there because he was safe, safe from Voldemort....but did it ever occur to you that he should also be protected from his relatives?" Dumbledore shook his head. "They are abusive, physically and verbally, and- and....." he let the last line die out, Dumbledore's mind filling in the blank.
"Do you have any proof?"
Severus' hands tightened into fists, his knuckles whitening as he did so. "I do; my own experience and the fact that Harry is currently covered in cuts and bruises, laying half dead in the hospital wing." Dumbledore looked shocked.
"Yes, well we will have to find a place for him to stay, but Severus, you know how the charm works, he must only reefer to the Dursley's as home, no where else or the charm will break. He must go back, soon!"
Severus stood once more, locking a death glare with Dumbledore's eyes. "You will not take him back to that place.....ever, do I make myself clear?" Severus' voice had gone to almost a whisper, he spoke slowly, and clearly as if Dumbledore might not understand if he didn't.
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. "And where is he to stay? He can stay here, but there is no to watch him and keep him safe. Plus, who else would take him? The Weasley's would but we both know that they have enough on their plate as it is. McGonagall can't ta-"
Severus glared at Dumbledore. "Then I will take him."
~*~*~
Harry awoke, he looked around. He blinked at the slightly familiar room as the memories of the night before returned. He looked around again. Severus, where was Severus? "Professor?" he called out.
Madame Pomfrey instantly stuck her head out of her office. "You're awake!" She bustled over to Harry, a tray of food and potions in her arms. She smiled gently. "Professor Snape left about an hour ago, to go talk to the Headmaster."
Harry nodded as he was handed a steaming bowl of soup. He stared at the thin broth, and the floating vegetables. Sighing, he lifted the spoon and slowly began to eat the soup in silence, only stopping once because of the almost shockingly strong taste from the weak looking soup.
~*~*~
Dumbledore looked shocked, he blinked several times. He looked at Severus again, then pulled out a small flask, which he opened and took a few long sips from. He put the flask away and turned back to Severus. "Pass that by me again?"
Severus sighed, the things he got himself into when he was mad. "I will take Harry. He can stay with me, I will make sure he is safe and stays out of trouble."
Dumbledore's face lit up, the wheels in his head turning. He looked thoughtfully at Severus and then down at his quill, a smile appearing on his face. "Yes, I believe that would be a good idea, Severus, a very good idea..."
~*~*~
Harry had just finished his soup when Dumbledore walked in, followed by a not too pleased looking Snape. Harry saw Snape relax slightly as he entered the Infirmary.
"Harry, I am pleased to see that you are alive and well." Dumbledore smiled.
Harry's face darkened for a moment, but quickly turned to a blank mask. Severus was surprised by Harry's emotional control. "Well, I have lots to do, I will let Severus explain the circumstances of your living arrangements to you."
Harry looked to Severus curiously. Severus paled slightly, the speech he'd had all set out disappeared fast, leaving a very nervous Severus. Why am I nervous? Severus cleared his throat. "You will be stay here at Hogwarts." A smile spread across Harry's face. "Dumbledore and most of the other teachers will only be here in passing. You will be staying with me, in my chambers." Severus watched the affect this had on Harry. 'Probably, disgusted with the idea.' Harry looked at Severus and quickly looked away, blushing. "You are allowed in the library, and are only allowed to use my potions lab when I am not present." Harry opened his mouth to ask something, but Severus stopped him. "You are allowed to do magic, but anything big and you must notify me, before hand."
Harry nodded.
Severus tried to smile reassuringly, but it only came out as a smirk. Harry looked away. Silence ensued.
"Severus, since you're here, I have to tell you that I am leaving early this year. My nephew is having a wedding, and I'm going to it. Harry, here is recovering quickly, and should be up and about in three days or so." Severus glared at the woman. 'I will not become Harry's slave.' "It's very simple really, all you have to do is give him the potions in the morning and feed him, simple broths." Severus glared at Harry, and then back at Poppy. "Oh, and he must stay warm. And today, he'll officially be moving into your chambers."
Severus sighed. "Whatever."
Poppy smiled brightly and went to fuss over Harry. Harry stared at Severus the entire time, in total wonder.
~*~*~
Harry walked slowly, gliding his hand along the wall for support. His body screamed with pain as he tried to walk down the first flight of stairs. Harry tried to double over, nearly throwing himself down the flight of stairs; Harry waited for the pain, but none followed.
"Watch where you're going, Potter" A voice growled as he was lifted up and placed against a warm body. Harry sighed, and yawned, walking was very tiring work. He smuggled closer to the warmness.
Severus felt the blush rise in his cheeks, he stopped walking ad look down at the sleeping boy in his arms, with distaste. He then took a moment to get control over his emotions, barely managing to get a hold of the blush, just as Dumbledore rounded the corner.
"Hello, Severus." Dumbledore smile, he didn't show it, but he saw the last bit of the blush, seconds before it was replaced with the indifferent mask. "I see that Poppy has decided that Harry is fit to sleep in your chambers?"
"Yes, she did."
Dumbledore nodded and continued on his way. "Oh, and Severus , before I forget.." He turned back to face the other man. "I will be coming down tomorrow to redecorate for Harry."
"It's really not all that necessary, professor." Severus growled.
Dumbledore waved off the comment. "No, it's okay, I insist."
~*~*~
Severus stormed into his chambers, furious. Why must that man always do things that he knew would anger me? God, he was annoying.
Severus placed Harry down on the couch, and lit a fire. He raised to go find Harry's room, swearing as he realized that it hadn't been made yet. "Great," Severus looked at the only bed in the entire of his quarters. "Well, Potter, looks like either I'm sleeping on the couch or your sleeping with me."
~*~*~
Later, n the couch, Severus sighed. He reached over to the coffee table and picked up a large flask of Fire whiskey, the brown liquid felt cool in the bottle. He gulped down a mouthful, the liquid quickly burning its way down his throat.
Man, it was good to get drunk. Severus' mind was near as numb as it would get. Sighing he took another swing, and nearly passed out.
~*~*~
Harry woke up nice a warm, the early morning sun brightening the room. Harry groaned and turned over, rolling closer to the warm body next to him. He sighed as he fell back asleep.
~*~*~
Severus sighed as the rocking headache hit him, he didn't want to get up. Pulling the comforters closers, and the warm body closer he tried to go back to sleep.
Severus thought slowly. 'Since when do I sleep with warm bodies?'