AN: I would first like to say, that I am sorry about my atrocious spelling in the last chapter. that is why I am from now on having my psuedo name's name sake (a teacher) read over the chapters. for those of you who are fans of mine I realize that this is darker than a lot of my work and I may start another story that isn't so dark. I would like to thank everyone that has reviewed, and I appreciate your criticism. that being said enjoy the story R.S
oh, also I do not own the characters, I am working on it though. for those of you who have been missing it, Harry is in sixth year.
HP SS
Harry took a deep breath and looking Snape straight in the eye asked, "Would you be as nice to me as you were her?"
"As nice as I was to who Potter? You really must be more articulate if you are planning on becoming anything worthwhile."
Harry's voice dropped into a whisper and fear boiled in him, he never thought about how the professor might act if he knew that he had been eavesdropping. Closing his eyes and desperately trying to keep from bolting from the room, he said, "As nice as you were to the little girl that was here before class started."
Snape looked at the boy carefully, the boy was meeting his eyes, yet there was fear in them, his posture was strong and open, yet he was still behind the desk even if he was standing. Everything seemed to be saying the opposite things. Courage and openness, and yet fear, and a need for protection.
Slowly, (for him) realization dawned on him and something Dumbledore had said a long time ago made sense, "For some reason the hat still thinks Harry belongs in Slytherin, when clearly the boys demeanor points to Gryfendor, I sometimes don't get that hat."
Now Snape saw it, the two personality types were at war in the boy, timidity, and openness, he rubbed at his face and ran a hand through his hair. "Potter come here." he said quietly. He saw the boy hesitate at leaving the protection of the table between him and Snape, but Snape needed to see the scars.
god there was always scars.
Slowly, Harry made his way to his professor and stopping a good yard away. Snape said very quietly, "Show me."
Harry shaking, gathered the hem of his robes and pulled them off and dropped them on the floor, then slowly he turned and with his heart in his throat and his blood pounding in his ears, he lifted the bottom of his shirt and vest, up and over his shoulders, conveniently hiding the mutilation he'd done to his own neck.
Snape had a hard time not hissing, as his black eyes traveled over the criss cross patterns across both shoulders and down his back, quietly cautiously he raised a hand and touched the slightly raised scars. He felt Potter twitch under his finger tips as his cool fingers touched his fevered skin. "Why?" he asked, almost to himself, why had the boy sought him out? but that wasn't the question that was answered.
"for being born." harry answered quietly "always for being born."
Snape looked at Harry, "Why come to me with this, why not go to one of the other teachers?"
Harry turned and lowered his shirt, because, she trusted you."
Snaped looked at him questioningly, "The students trust the other teachers not just one in particular."
"Sure, with their safety, never with their secrets," Harry said, "if that girl can tell you her secret and trust you to not disappoint her, then maybe, for once maybe I won't be disappointed either."
Snape looked at Harry for a long moment, "if i may ask, what else did he use."
Harry nodded and swallowed, "The belt was for being born, basically when he was just angry, his fists for when I burnt the food, his feet, for when I missed a spot while cleaning, and any of the above for anything else he could think of, usually magic.
Severus, seeing the boy shake his arms wrapped around himself went to touch him.
Seeing what Snape was about to do, Harry backed away quickly a hand raised to stop him, don't please, I'm not... I'm not clean."
Snape stopped revulsion hitting him like a tidal wave, the boy had said what he never wanted to hear uttered by anyone, the very words he had uttered when he had only been a year older than Potter was now, and in that horrible moment Snape understood just how damaged Potter was.
Harry was quickly making his way to get his stuff, he saw the look of disgust on the professors face and felt his heart break. He was almost to the closed door when Harry felt a hand on his upper arm turning him... when he was turned he found himself buried in suprisingly soft robes and a strong warm embrace, and finally he let go, Finally he cried hard and long, as he clutched at his potions' master's robes for dear life, his muffled sobs echoing in the walls of the dungeon room.
and as Snape held the boy he loathed so much for looking like his father and cherished for having his mother's eyes, he realized something, that despite all his ill treatment of the boy, one little scene with a girl no different from either of them, showed Harry that he could be trusted with his horrible secret, trusted in a way no other teacher could be. for once Snape was glad the boy had a habit of eavesdropping.
end chapter
thank you for waiting please review. R.S.