Wow, thank you all so much for the kind reviews, I'm so excited to see you all reading my story!
So I'm ready now to post this chapter. I have been working on the story, but careful about posting so as to not post and then find an error and want to change it, as I do like crazy when I write. It's not too much yet, but more things will kick in as I develop better how everything will work out. Hopefully I should have chapter 3 out soon, as I have written it already and feel fairly confident about it. Thanks again!
Chapter 2:
"Twenty points from Gryffindor!" Snape yelled furiously, anger seemingly seeping in, recovering quickly from the shock. "And detention for each of you! Weasley, you are to return your house. Potter, you will be comming with me." There was no sympathy in his voice.
Harry had just enough sense to grab the invisibility cloak before moving along, as the three of them walked back to the castle. The rest of him, however was lost in shame. How could he be so careless? He had been panicking, he thought defensively, expecting any moment through the chaos to feel the sharp pain penetrate his skin, accidently, or on purpose. For the dog to turn toward ripping Harry to shreds instead of his shirt. He had momentarily, therefore, forgotten that the wounds and scars were wide open and visible in the afternoon light. But a true Gryffindor would not have panicked, he thought miserably. They would never let anything scare them to act against what they otherwise know better.
Ron was quiet about the loss of his rat, but Harry noticed his friend kept his head turned backward over his shoulder during most of the trip to the castle, as the dog dashed around the open grounds. Harry felt bad about Ron losing his only pet, but the fear he felt for himself was much greater. What was Snape going to do with him? What had he guessed about the scars? Had he figured it out by now?
Not to mention, Snape had also likely realized that Harry and Ron were spying on him, which he would be, no doubt, livid about. Harry tried feebly to think of believable excuses he could lie about, but the shock of the recent discovery clouded his reasoning and he realized he would easily prefer Snape being merely angry at him, not whatever else he may be in light of the recent discovery.
By the time they finally walked through the doors into the great hall, the sun had almost completely set. The school entrance was deserted, to which Harry was grateful as no one could witness his shameful state.
"Upstairs now, Mr. Weasley. Potter, follow me!" Ron hesitated looking at Harry. Harry just waited, not knowing what to say, waiting to see if Ron had any words for him. To add to everything, it was his fault Ron lost his rat.
"If you two don't move it I will take another twenty points from Gryffindor! Now go!"
That ushered the two boys apart. Ron stocked off, leaving Harry alone with Snape as he trailed behind the tall dark, swishing cloak. They descended down flights of stairs and through a few halls, passing only a few people who, as Harry expected, stared at Harry's disastrous appearance. Snape finally opened the door to his own potions classroom and stood back as Harry walked past him. He shut the door behind him.
"Sit, potter," He commanded, though he sounded a little less angry than before. Harry sat down, his heart pounding. Snape stood still for a moment, his back still to Harry, before he started talking.
"The fact that you and Mr. Weasley were sneaking around on the grounds all alone at this time was absolutely foolish, especially with the given circumstances regarding Sirius Black, and as much as I would love to hear the story I'm sure you have ready for me you can save that for the detention you will be having, although I doubt I will be considerate enough to care or believe your ridiculous tales."
He watched Harry for a moment, who looked back, but did not speak. He had nothing ready even if Snape did give him the chance of an explanation.
"There are, however, other matters that need to be dealt with." He looked sternly at Harry, who tried to look earnestly curious at this comment. On the inside, however, he felt sick.
"I don't know what you mean, sir," He lied.
"Are you so oblivious Potter you haven't the slightest idea to what I am referring?"
Harry said nothing.
"Those scars!" Snape spat impatiently. "The bruises!"
"They came from the dog," Harry said quickly, saying the one thing he knew to say offhand. This would be what he could tell everyone else who may ask, he mentally planned. Hearing himself say it, he felt for the split second it may actually work.
"Don't lie, Potter!" Snape shouted furiously, shattering the moment of hope. "Those marks are not fresh. And how do you presume to explain all the bruises on your back?" The powerful words hit Harry into silence, feeling stupid for not having considered these factors. His back was indeed almost worse off than his chest, and Snape would have seen that the dog never reached him there.
"Now tell me again, Mr. Potter, who gave you those scars?" Snape moved in closer, twirling his wand in his hand. Harry watched his hand nervously.
"Look at me!" Snape snapped, making Harry jump. "Did your uncle do this to you?"
Harry looked straight into his eyes. He did not like how the man specified 'Uncle,' saying things that further drove Harry to believe Snape could read minds. "No," Harry dared to lie.
Snape paced over to the side, continuing to twirl his wand. "There are ways, Potter, potions that can be used to force the truth out of you against your will. And given this circumstance I'm sure the minister of magic himself would give me the go ahead to use them. Now I will ask you one more time: Who gave you those beatings?"
Harry took a deep breath, starring into the mans eyes. He may be bluffing, he did not think Fudge would actually do such a thing. Although, he was entering territories he knew little about...
He hated Snape.
"My uncle," He muttered grudgingly.
"The uncle you live with gave you those scars?" Snape said, the anger in his voice seeming curiously to have weakened slightly.
"Yes, sir." Harry said quietly, though still careful to maintain good eye contact.
"How long has this been going on?"
"As long as I've lived with him, sir."
Snape was silent for a moment, his fixed expression paused in unknown thoughts. "You are to go see to Madam Pomfrey to deal with those wounds," He finally said.
"I'll be fine-" Harry said, but was interrupted.
"You will go there!" Snape cut in, "Abuse wounds need to be inspected. I will see to it that you don't take off on the way." Then Snape suddenly pointed his wand at Harry, and before he could react, he cast "Repairo!" And the tears in his shirt fixed themselves back together, though since half the garment was back outside spread all over the place, the shirt remained awkwardly small and uneven.
Harry stood up and walked past Snape without another word as the man held the door for him.
