Chapter Two
Disclaimer: I do not own
It had been a few days since the late-night encounter and all Severus could think about were the boy's words. "I look up to you," the words he'd never expected to hear repeated themselves over and over again in his head. He is not the type of person that anyone should look up to, especially not a child.
He'd been listening to the conversations at Gryffindor table very closely and never heard the boy be referred to as anything other than 'Harry' or 'Potter'. Perhaps he was the only person who knew the boy preferred 'Harold' to 'Harry'. Though, oddly enough, according to Dumbledore, the boy's name, according to his birth certificate, is Harry, just Harry not Harold. Why a person would extend their name instead of shortening it is beyond Severus.
Harold is running late, Severus thought to himself, I wonder what Lockhart has him doing. Just as he thought this, Harry came running in. One look at the boy and Severus knew something was wrong.
The boy sat in his usual spot between Granger and Weasley. Weasley put his hand on Harry's shoulder and caused him to jump. Harry then covered his head as if he expected to be hit. Severus raised his eyebrows, he'd never seen such a response from the boy and it bothered him. He could remember doing the same thing, instinctively covering his head at any sign of threat- he'd been beaten by his father too many times to not be afraid of being touched. That his student had the same reactions for possibly the same reason was concerning. Would Albus really leave the boy in such an environment, he questioned silently, no! Certainly he learned his lesson with me. Still, he sighed, I should give the brat detention and check that he is alright.
Severus didn't have to give Harry detention for Harry showed up all on his own. It was two o'clock when the wards went off to alert Severus to a student's presence in his classroom. He quickly threw on jeans and a muggle sweatshirt instead of digging through his closet for robes.
As he suspected, Harry 'Harold' Potter sat behind his desk reading a book. "Hello Harold," said Severus.
"Hello Professor Snape," Harold replied.
Severus pulled up a chair and sat on the opposite side of the desk. He sighed; this is most certainly a conversation that he does not want to have. "I was watching you at dinner this evening, you looked upset." Harold sighed and shrugged. "Damn it boy! It is two in the morning, just answer my question." He watched as Harold tightened and cowered.
"I…I'm sorry sir. I'll be good, I promise."
"Can you tell me why you were upset at dinner Harold?" asked Severus.
The boy looked up, "My name is Potter, not Harold." Severus nodded. "I was upset 'cause he's just like Uncle. "
"Lockhart?" asked Severus.
Potter nodded. "I don't like him, he's mean." He stared down at his hands then muttered, "What's your name sir?"
Severus was taken aback, he'd only been teaching the boy for the past year. "I'm Professor Snape, potion's master."
"Oh, ok," murmured Potter. "Are you my daddy?"
Severus blinked his eyes and grabbed the chair's armrests- he squeezed them until his knuckles turned white. If I answer crudely he might withdraw but I don't want to be nice to him. He sighed, "No Potter, I'm not your father. May I inquire as to why you thought I was?"
Potter frowned and started to tear up, "You don't want me either then! Why are you being nice to me if you don't want me?" he jumped to his feet and let out a sob.
Severus choked, "I uhm… I … want you. You are a good boy." It was painful for him to say this but Potter automatically calmed down.
Once the boy stopped crying he sat on Severus' knee causing Severus to tense and shake slightly. The boy wrapped his arms around Severus' neck and rested his head under the professor's chin.
What the hell is this kid doing? He internally pondered. He must be the only person in this 'effing school who is dense enough to think that I do hugs! He bit his tongue to stop himself from saying something that the boy in his lap would react poorly to.
After ten minutes of the one-sided hug, Severus gave in and gently rested his arms on the boy's back. They sat like this for an hour and twenty minutes, then Potter reluctantly removed himself from Severus' lap. "I need to go to bed," Potter said while yawning. "Good night daddy," he whispered.
Severus started shaking again- this boy was doing a good job of making him feel uncomfortable. "Yes, yes," he paused, "sleep well." Potter left but Severus did not move. He mentally reviewed what he'd learned: the boy's uncle had abused him, Lockhart was making the boy feel threatened, and, apparently, the boy, for some odd reason, felt safe around him. "What the fuck is going on? Please, god, tell me this is just a prank!" he muttered aloud. He stood and walked absentmindedly to his quarters and neither locked nor warded his classroom's door.
Inside his quarters, he retrieved a bottle of fire whiskey, a glass, a piece of parchment, and a pen (he'd never particularly liked quills), then placed them on his desk. He filled his glass with the liquor and titled the page 'Harry James Potter'. He then started listing what he knew.
Harry- shy, quiet, appears to be well mannered
Harold- bold, bratty, likes to study in my classroom, looks up to me
Potter- timid, shows signs of abuse, wants my (and probably others) approval, childish- he hugged me! then called me daddy! Highly emotional
He stopped writing and reviewed his list. It was odd seeing the boy act like one of three separate and distinct people depending on the time of day. However, the symptoms sounded familiar, some sort of muggle disease perhaps, he thought to himself.
He downed two more glasses of fire whisky, left the list on his desk, then returned to his bed where he stared at the ceiling until morning.
