A/N: I'd like to give a heads up about Ron Weasley and Seamus Finnegan. They are not the good people in this story. They are jerks like Malfoy though perhaps not as sadistic as Malfoy. They are mean and always after Harry and Dean, Harry in particular. They are not good, will not be good, and will never become friends with Harry or Dean.
I also have a new poll on my profile that I would like you all to vote on. Thank you and please review. :]
"Harry, shouldn't you be going to the infirmary? You have your exam, don't you?" Dean said at breakfast.
"Oh, right," Harry said. "I guess I'll go now."
"See you in Charms?"
Harry nodded and walked out of the Great Hall. What was he supposed to do? He couldn't go to the exam. They would find out about everything and no one was supposed to know. He had told his first grade teacher about what his uncle did to him but it didn't do any good. Harry was beaten unconscious every night for a week and spent that same week locked in his cupboard with only a small water bottle (they had to keep him alive, after all). When he finally returned to school, he had a new teacher who said his last one had unexpectedly resigned. After that, he never told a single person, not even if they happened to ask.
He didn't know where he was going but he knew it wasn't to the infirmary. He turned a corner and found himself falling painfully hard to the stone floor. Most of his weight landed on his left arm and he felt his wrist twist. He hissed in pain and clutched his hand to his chest as he rolled onto his back. He stared up at two Gryffindors, Ron Weasley and Seamus Finnegan. The two of them had given Harry and Dean as much trouble as Malfoy had been since the start of school.
"Looks like we've got ourselves a snake," Ron sneered down at Harry and Seamus snickered. "What do you say we do now, Seamus?"
"It's always fun to play with a snake," Seamus smirked and they descended on Harry. They pulled at his hair and punched and kicked him. He felt his ribs crack and felt bruises bloom all over. He nearly blacked out when Ron aimed a particularly vicious kick at his temple. He curled up, trying to protect him just like he did when his uncle was hurting him. He felt the two boys kick his already painful back. He whimpered quietly in pain. He felt one of them grab the back of his shirt and pull, clearly trying to pull him up, but his shirt tore instead. He was released and it was all quiet.
"Look at that, Seamus," Ron said. "Looks like the snake gets what he deserves all the time."
Harry became aware of a breeze on his back and looked up in horror. His shirt had torn in the back and Ron and Seamus could see the state of his back. They were grinning maliciously at him and Harry felt tears sting his eyes. He pushed himself to his feet despite the pain and took off running. His tears fell and blurred his vision as he ran but paid them no attention. He ran as fast as he could, not caring where he ended up, just as long as he was away from the Gryffindors.
His track was halted when he collided with something solid and nearly crashed back to the ground but hands shot out and held him up.
"Potter?"
He glanced up quickly and realized he had run into his head of house. With a sob, he threw his arms around the man's waist and buried his face in Snape's robes.
"What is wrong, Potter?"
Harry shook his head and held tighter to the man, refusing and unable to speak.
"What has happened?"
Harry shook his head again. He heard Snape sigh and felt himself being maneuvered so Snape could kneel down.
"Tell me, Potter."
Harry just wrapped his arms tightly around Snape's neck and buried his face in the man's shoulder. Snape sighed again. Harry tensed and flinched violently when he found himself being picked up and held close to his head of house's body.
"What on earth happened to your shirt?" Snape said, moving the pieces of the boy's shirt to cover his back. Snape shook his head and, holding the shirt closed, carried his student to the hospital wing. He had not expected to find his young Slytherin this way when he set out to bring Potter to his exam. Potter had already been a half hour late for his exam and Poppy had called him, asking him to find the boy.
Since the child had come to Hogwarts and been sorted into Slytherin, Snape had become indifferent to him, treating him like any other Slytherin student. He had expected to hate the child as he was the offspring of James Potter but seeing him sorted in Slytherin and seeming to only have a friend in Mr. Thomas caused any hatred to disappear. He watched Potter and Thomas closely, noticing that they appeared to have trouble with most of the other students in the school and also because he still knew that Potter was hiding something. However, their issues with the student population didn't appear to have escalated to anything dangerous so he was keeping out of it.
"Poppy," Snape called, heading over to one of the far beds to put Potter down.
"Oh, you found him. Excellent. Just place him on that bed," Pomfrey said, gesturing to the last bed on the left.
Snape bent down to release Potter but the child refused to let go. "Potter, release me." He felt the boy's head shake in his neck. "Potter, you must have your exam but that can only happen with you on the bed."
Apparently mentioning the exam was a bad idea. Potter started struggling as he shouted, "No! No, please, don't! Let me go! You can't know! No one can! Let me go, let me go! No!"
"Potter! What on earth is wrong with you?" Snape said, struggling to prevent dropping the child.
"Please, please, let me go! I'm sorry! Just let me go! Please!"
"Potter, cease immediately!" Snape demanded and Potter fell limp against him, his body still shaking with sobs and apparent fear. "Potter, there is nothing to fear. It is a simple exam."
"Severus, what happened to him?" Pomfrey asked. "Why is his shirt torn?"
"I don't know. I found him like this," Snape said.
He frowned when he saw the nurse's eyes widen minutely. "Have you seen his back?" she whispered and he shook his head. She pulled aside the two pieces of the shirt and directed Snape to a mirror she conjured. He faced it and paled at the sight of the boy's back.
"Mr. Potter, will you allow me to put you down?" Snape said. The boy didn't say or do anything so Snape carefully and slowly placed him on the bed. Potter lightly grasped his wrist, though, clearly saying he didn't want to be alone. Snape pulled a chair close to the bed and allowed the child to hold his wrist. "Will you allow Madam Pomfrey to scan you?"
"I don't want to," Potter whispered.
"We just want to help," Snape said.
"I'm not supposed to tell," Potter said.
"Whoever did this to you is not here. They cannot hurt you and will not hurt you again," Snape said, moving his arm so that the boy's hand was held in his. It wasn't the first time he was sitting at the bedside of a scared, abused child.
"You'll stay?"
"I will."
"Okay."
Snape looked at Pomfrey and nodded. She came closer but made her movements slow in order to avoid frightening the child. Potter still flinched as she raised her wand and waved it over him, but otherwise managed to stay still. He never looked at the nurse but kept his eyes on Snape's dark robes and their entwined hands. He couldn't allow himself to acknowledge that Snape and Pomfrey were going to find out what happened. He heard a pop but ignored it.
"Mr. Potter, your ribs have recently been cracked. What happened?" Pomfrey said, looking at him.
Harry flinched at the remembrance of Ron and Seamus kicking him and then seeing his back. Surely it would be all over the school by dinner.
"Mr. Potter?" Pomfrey repeated.
"Ron and Seamus," Harry said quietly, still only looking at the large hand holding his own. "They tripped me. They hit me."
"Clearly detentions are in order," Snape said and Harry glanced at him before looking away almost immediately.
"Mr. P-Harry," Pomfrey said, reading down the list of injuries that had appeared from the scan. "What has happened to you? Who did this to you?"
"Nothing," Harry said. "I fall a lot."
"I detest lies, Mr. Potter," Snape said. "Edit your answer."
"I'm sorry," Harry muttered. "I'm not allowed to tell though."
"If I were to guess, would that be all right? You do not have to say anything, just look at me," Snape said.
Harry bit his lip as he considered it. He wouldn't actually be telling the professor so he wouldn't be breaking the rule, right? He swallowed thickly and nodded.
"Good. Now, look at me," Snape said and Harry struggled to obey. He wasn't supposed to make eye contact at home. It was odd to be told to do it here. Finally he managed and he was looking into Snape's dark eyes. "Was it someone here at Hogwarts that has hurt you?"
Harry frowned. He thought he wasn't supposed to answer? Why was the professor asking questions when he wasn't supposed to answer? "No, not someone at Hogwarts."
Harry's eyes widened. How had the professor known it wasn't someone at the school? "A friend from your Muggle school?"
Harry just blinked. "A teacher from your Muggle school?"
Harry stared. "Your relatives?"
Harry felt himself flinch slightly involuntarily.
"Your uncle?"
Harry tried to pull his hand away from the professor's but Snape held on.
"What did he do to you?" Snape said urgently. Harry shook his head and sniffed, obviously about to cry again. "Very well. We will forego questions for now and heal you, but we will continue this."
Harry nodded again. Pomfrey came forward again.
"I am sure your back is very painful but we cannot put you on your front until we take care of your ribs," Pomfrey said. "I wish to put you to sleep so that you will not feel any of this."
They noticed how the boy's eyes widened in fear, scared of the idea of being so vulnerable.
"We only want to help you," Snape said. "Putting you to sleep will allow you to get through this with limited pain. You are safe here."
"Okay," Harry muttered after a long silence.
Pomfrey moved to give the Dreamless Sleep Potion to Harry but when he flinched, Snape took the potion instead. "This is Dreamless Sleep. It will do as the name says. You will be in a deep sleep without dreams," he explained. "It will not hurt you."
Harry swallowed and allowed Snape to pour the potion into his mouth. The effects were almost instant and he was soon falling into the first restful sleep he could ever remember having. As the boy fell asleep, Snape got to his feet to stand beside Pomfrey and see the list of the child's injuries. He found himself hating the boy's relatives more and more as he got further down the list.
"I believe his magic is the only thing that has kept him alive over the years," Pomfrey said quietly.
"This is heinous," Snape growled.
Pomfrey nodded. "I worry for his health. As you can see, he has had several cases of pneumonia. He had it twice in one year when he was six. It seems that he contracts it every year. It appears it gets worse every year as well. I hope he does not catch it anytime soon if at all. He is far too weak to fight it off right now and he will be too weak for a long time."
"I've noticed that he hardly eats," Snape said.
"The food has been too rich and heavy for him. Because we didn't know, we haven't been able to slowly introduce him to food again," Pomfrey said. "He has been starved at his relatives', extensively. From these scans, it would appear that he hadn't had food for at least a week before coming to Hogwarts. He's only had small amounts of water. I would guess they gave him water to at least keep him alive."
"Atrocious," Snape muttered, turning the page on the boy's scans. "It seems as though he has had every bone in his body broken at some point."
"Almost," Pomfrey said. "Many of them I have to break again as they did not set properly. I don't think this boy has ever seen a hospital in his life."
"The uncle uses a belt the most," Snape said. "They've burned him and hit him with all kinds of objects."
"Out of all the children you have brought here over the years, Harry is the worst case I have ever seen," Pomfrey said, gazing at the child sadly.
"Yes, he is," Snape said, lowering the scans results. "It doesn't appear any of the wounds on his back are infected. Let's start with his ribs and go from there."
Pomfrey nodded and started to set the child's cracked and broken ribs. She found it surprising that two eleven year old boys had managed to break another eleven year old's ribs so easily but figured Harry's ribs were already weak from previous damage. According to the scans, they had barely healed by the time the child arrived at Hogwarts. Even in his deep sleep, Harry quietly whimpered or moaned as his wounds were healed. A half hour passed before Pomfrey finished healing the five damaged ribs. One had been particularly difficult as it had slipped and hooked underneath another one.
Finished with the ribs, Pomfrey and Snape carefully rolled Harry onto his front so they could tend to his back. They both winced at the sight of it. It was covered in scars and gashes that were both old and new. The marks from a belt buckle were deep and, while they were healing, they were still bleeding. New lashes sat over old, barely healed once, showing that the boy's uncle hadn't waited for the old ones to heal before beating him again.
They worked slowly, closing the large, open wounds. They used Healing Spells and spread Healing Salve all over. They watched the wounds close, all the while knowing it would be weeks before they were healed and weeks after that before any salve would help make the scars fade. It would be months before the child was even remotely healed emotionally.
They left Harry on his stomach as they healed his other injuries. They healed his sprained wrist. They had to break an ankle, his other wrist, and four fingers again to set them properly. They also had to fix his right kneecap that was too far to the right and made it difficult and painful to walk. They did extensive scans on his spine to make sure there were no injuries there. They also scanned for any possible sexual abuse and were relieved to find none. Apparently the monsters did have some boundaries.
It took them nearly three hours to finish healing the child. Now they were quietly discussing any long-term effects and treatments they may have to handle. The boy was far below the weight of a normal boy his age and it would take quite some time to bring his weight up. Because he was so weak, they had to figure out a way to try and prevent Harry from catching his possibly chronic pneumonia. They watched together as Harry slept, still on his front to allow his back some relief.
Snape sat by Harry's bedside with the curtains closed as Pomfrey continued with the other Slytherin exams she had scheduled for that day. He wasn't sure what to do now. He had never dealt with such an extreme case of abuse. He wasn't sure any of them could really help the boy. They didn't know just how damaged the boy was emotionally and no one in the school was a professional therapist or even Healer. The closest was Pomfrey who was just a medi-witch. No one had training in child psychology. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Either they would have to call someone in from St. Mungo's or they would have to do the best they could on their own.
It was another hour and a half before Harry started waking up. He woke quietly and tried to move but found it hurt too much. He groaned and just lay on his stomach. He looked around the infirmary, trying to see if there was anyone there with him. He knew he had asked Snape to stay and the man had agreed but that didn't mean he was going to wait around forever for Harry to wake up. He spotted a glass of water on the side table and become aware of how desperately he wanted a drink. He braced himself to ignore the pain of moving as he attempted to reach out for the glass. He bit his lip as pain tore through his back but he ignored it as his fingertips brushed the side of the glass. He continued to reach for the water and was close to it when a twitch of his fingers pushed the glass off the edge.
Harry stared at the broken glass in horror. He had smashed it. Look at the mess he had made. He was going to be in so much trouble. He had touched something that wasn't his and had broken it. Unable to really move, Harry buried his face in his pillow and draped his arms over his head.
Snape had rushed out of Pomfrey's office at the sound of breaking glass. He knew it was Potter and he had probably dropped the glass of water by accident. He was proven right when he approached the boy's bed. Water and glass covered the floor by the side table and Potter was curled up the best he could be in the bed. Of course the boy would be terrified, expecting to be beat for his infraction. He sighed and waved his wand, repairing the glass and cleaning up the water.
He refilled the glass and sat in his previously vacated seat by the bed. "I assume you wanted a drink, Mr. Potter?"
He sighed again when the boy flinched at his voice. "I-I'm sorry, sir! I-I didn't mean to do it. I-I was thirsty but-but the glass was far away. I didn't mean to spill it or break it. I'm sorry! Please don't hurt me. I didn't mean to."
"Come now, Potter," Snape said, sounding casual. "We have magic. A broken glass and spilt water can easily be rectified. Look here."
It took quite a while before Harry finally peeked out to the side to see the glass of water the Potions master was holding. The glass looked perfect. There wasn't even a scratch. He hid his face again. Just because it was fixed didn't erase the fact that he had broke it in the first place. He was sure to be punished still.
"Do you want a drink, Mr. Potter?" Snape said and Harry shook his head the best he could in his position. "You are not in trouble, Potter. You're not the first one to have broken a glass or spilled water. Even if you were in trouble, there is no one here who will beat you. You will never be hit again."
"But I broke it and I didn't ask permission," Harry mumbled into the pillow.
"You do not need permission to have a drink of water," Snape said. "How does your back feel?"
"I'm fine, Professor," Harry said quietly and Snape silently summoned a Pain Reliever.
"You have gone through extensive healing and you were already in immense pain when I brought you here," Snape said and held out the potion. "Open and drink."
Harry obeyed the best he could and Snape carefully fed him the potion. He felt every ache he had disappear in seconds. He breathed a sigh of relief.
"Let's sit you up," Snape said and, ignoring the flinch, helped turn the boy over and sit him up, leaning him against the pillow. He then helped Harry take a few sips of water. "Do you feel up to talking, Mr. Potter?"
Harry looked down at his lap. "I really don't want to, sir. I handle it all fine. It's no big deal."
"It is a big deal, Potter. Someone, your family, has hurt you. It is inexcusable and I will not just let it go," Snape said. "And you will not be returning to your relatives', I promise you this."
"But I have nowhere else to go, sir," Harry said.
"I will personally find you somewhere nice to live," Snape said and Harry stared at him in wonder.
"Thank you, Professor," Harry said quietly.
"Now, do you think you can tell me what happened before you ran into me in the hallway?" Snape said.
"It was just Ron and Seamus. They were just pushing me around a bit," Harry said.
"And what of your shirt? It was torn in half," Snape said.
"I think they accidentally ripped it when I tried to get away," Harry said, staring at his hands.
"Mr. Potter, you are editing your story," Snape said. "I would like to know what those boys did to you."
Harry was about to answer when he heard a familiar voice. His curtains had been drawn again but he knew Dean's voice anywhere now.
"Madam Pomfrey?" Dean said.
"Can I help you, dear?" the nurse said.
"I was wondering if Harry was here. He came up for his exam during breakfast but it's almost dinner now and he hasn't come back. He wasn't in any classes today. I was worried something was wrong. Is he here?" Dean asked.
He was worried about me? Harry thought in surprise.
"Yes, Mr. Potter is here," Pomfrey told him.
"Is he okay?" Dean said.
"His exam has had some unfortunate results. It is up to him to tell you," Pomfrey said and Harry could almost see Dean nodding.
"Okay. Will I be able to see him?" Dean asked.
"Perhaps tomorrow if he feels he is ready for visitors," Pomfrey said.
"Okay. Thanks, Madam Pomfrey," Dean said and Harry heard him leave the hospital wing. He sighed and sunk back into the pillows. He wished he could've seen his friend but he also didn't want Dean to know what had happened to him. It wouldn't be long before Dean knew, though, as he was sure Ron and Seamus will have spread what they saw all over the school.
"Mr. Potter?"
Harry looked at his head of house. Right, he still had to answer questions.
"Are you ready to tell me what the two Gryffindor boys did to you?" Snape asked and Harry looked down again.
"I'd rather not," he muttered. "They were just being stupid. Boys are like that, aren't they?"
"I suppose but most boys do not break the ribs of another boy," Snape said
"I don't think they meant to," Harry said even though he didn't believe it himself.
"I find that hard to believe," Snape said.
"Professor, it really doesn't matter," Harry said. "I just want to get better and then get back to classes. I don't want to get behind."
"Potter—"
"I'm kind of tired, sir. Can I go to sleep?" Harry interrupted but never looked up at his professor. It's rule number two. Don't make eye contact.
He heard Snape sigh, clearly irritated. "Very well. You will have some dinner when you wake."
"Yes, sir," Harry said and carefully lay back down. He closed his eyes, hoping the professor would leave if he thought Harry was asleep. He eventually heard Snape leave and soon drifted back to sleep.
"In my office already, Severus?" Dumbledore said, gazing at the Potions master.
"I figured I would give you time to process that Potter was placed in Slytherin and not Gryffindor," Snape sneered.
"Yes, it was…unexpected," Dumbledore said, his bright eyes dulling slightly and Snape's eyes narrowed. The headmaster's response had been odd.
"Quite," he said. "However, I am not here to discuss Potter's placement here at Hogwarts."
"And why are you here?"
"I wish to know about Potter's home life," Snape said. "You placed Potter with the Muggles so you surely know how they've been treating him."
"I was under the impression you believed him to be spoiled and pampered," Dumbledore said.
"I have been indifferent to the boy, as much as my position as his head of house allows," Snape said.
"As his head of house, you surely know about the boy," Dumbledore said.
"I am his head of house, not his guardian," Snape said. "Why are you avoiding the issue?"
"I was not aware there was an issue to avoid," Dumbledore said and Snape frowned.
"How is Potter treated at home?" Snape asked again.
"Have you discovered something in your…scans?"
"Tell me what I want to know," Snape growled.
"I'm not sure what there is to tell you, Severus," Dumbledore said. "The boy is treated as a nephew, perhaps even a son. His aunt and uncle take care of him and took him in. I am unsure what it is you wish to know."
Snape stared at the headmaster with narrowed eyes. Why was the old man lying? Did he truly not know about the treatment of Potter? Whether the headmaster knew or not, there was something off about the entire situation.
"Is that all, Severus?"
"I believe Potter is being harassed and assaulted by other students," Snape said.
"I'm sure it is just boys being boys."
"Headmaster—"
"Boys can be rough sometimes, Severus, there is nothing concerning about it," Dumbledore said, waving it off.
"Very well," Snape said stiffly.
"If that is all," Dumbledore said pointedly.
"Yes, Headmaster," Snape said and stalked from the office. He was beyond confused. Why did Dumbledore seem to care so little about Potter? Shouldn't he be falling over the boy to make him happy? Potter was the boy of the prophecy, after all. Did the boy's Sorting truly disappoint Dumbledore so much that he didn't care what happened to Potter anymore? Was Dumbledore trying to hide knowing about the abuse Potter was clearly suffering at his relatives'?
"Are you ready to leave, Mr. Potter?" he heard Madam Pomfrey say as he entered the hospital wing.
"Yes, ma'am," Potter said. "I've been here for a couple days now."
Pomfrey chuckled. "Well, you appear to be healed quite well. Take it easy, dear. I don't wish to see you back here anytime soon."
Potter smiled. "I'll be careful."
"I trust you are feeling better, Mr. Potter?" Snape said, approaching the bed. Potter had been given a set of his clothes and was sitting on the edge of the bed, ready to leave.
"Yes, sir," Potter said. "Thank you for helping me, Professor."
"No need to thank me, Potter," Snape said.
Potter shrugged. "Thanks anyways."
Snape inclined his head. "Head down to lunch, Potter. I believe Mr. Thomas has been awaiting your release."
Potter smiled and nodded. He waved to Madam Pomfrey and left the infirmary.
"Is something wrong, Severus?" Pomfrey asked.
"I am unsure," Snape said. "I questioned Dumbledore about Potter. Dumbledore is under the impression that Potter is treated well at home, that or he is hiding something."
"He is hiding something because I don't think that boy has ever been treated well in his life," Pomfrey said.
"Did he talk to you at all?" Snape asked and Pomfrey shook her head. "I will keep an eye on him."
"Good. If you notice he seems ill at all, bring him here. If he catches pneumonia but we treat it early enough, it shouldn't affect him as much," Pomfrey said. Snape agreed and also left to attend dinner.
A/N: I know you were all looking forward to Harry's exam and I know I didn't go into much detail about his actual injuries, past and present. Those details will come later, though, when Harry opens up to Snape about just what has been done to him through his life.
Again, please vote on my poll. Thanks and review please. :]