Ch 4

The moment they came through the floo of the hospital wing, they knew that something was wrong. There was a commotion outside the office, Madam Pomphrey was heard trying to calm someone down whilst some students voices were heard trying to help her by telling others to give her room.

Coming out into the ward, they saw the Gryffindor and Slytherin houses along with Professor Lupin with a very distraught Harry Potter on one of the hospital beds screaming and trying to get away from Lupin who was trying to keep him still.

" What is going on here? " Snape asked, getting everyone's attention away from Harry.

" We were having defense class. " Hermione began.

" Professor Lupin was showing us a Boggart and what it does. " Ron added.

" Everything was fine until Potter got in front of it. " Malfoy also added, he looked dazed as well as his other snakes.

" It turned into a whale of a man that started yelling at him and acted like he was going to attack him, and Harry fell to the floor screaming out that he was sorry and that he didn't mean to anything freaky. " Lupin finished, the man was distraught at what to do for the boy as he restrained Harry with all his might.

" Let him go Lupin. " Snape said calmly.

" Severus? " Lupin asked confused.

" I said, let him go. " Snape repeated with a raised eyebrow this time, his snakes as well as the Gryffindor's backed away, they knew not to disobey the dark man in front of them and for this new teacher to not follow the first time…well it could end badly for him as they knew how strong and skilled Snape was and was quick like snake's strike.

Lupin slowly let go of Harry and watched as he went straight for a cupboard and promptly hid there.

" What has happened to that sweet little boy? " they heard Lupin ask, though he didn't seem to notice that he had spoken it out loud. Ron and Hermione looked at each other in confusion, it sounded as though that Professor Lupin had knew Harry from before he came to school.

Reaching into his robes, Snape took out the white mouse and young cobra and unshrunk them, causing the two houses to gasp at the sight of the cobra. Some of the girls screamed at seeing both the snake and mouse, Snape rolled his eyes at their antics. He smirked at seeing the look on Lupin's face as he took both the snake and mouse over to the cupboard that Harry ran to and slowly opened it,

He placed the two animals inside and closed it back, flicking his wand, everyone could hear the snake hissing and the mouse squeaking, but nothing from Harry.

" Severus! " Lupin exclaimed, about to go and save Harry from the dangerous snake, but Snape held an arm out, stopping him,

" Listen. " he said, keeping his eyes on the cupboard.

Though he was speaking to Lupin, everyone listened.

" Li-Lilith? Damion? " they heard Harry say, the squeak and hiss replied back in answer. More hissing and squeaking was heard.

" Lilith, slow down. " more hissing this time.

" Uh? What was Professor Snape doing in my bedroom at the Dursley's? " more hissing.

" I'm sure he didn't mean anything by it…you didn't bite him, did you? " a short hiss and a sigh of relief.

" Good to know…huh? He brought you two here? You heard me acting like that? Oh no! Everyone's going to know now! " Harry started to sound distraught again before a low hissing was heard as well as the sound of the snake moving around in the cupboard.

" H—Potter? Mind coming out now that you have calmed yourself? " Snape asked after a moment.

Sighing, Harry slowly came out, looking down and not seeing the shocked looks he got from his fellow Gryffindor's as he now had the cobra draped over his shoulders with the white mouse on it's head with it's hood open in a threatening manner to anyone that was dumb enough to come near her young master and friend.

Harry raised his hand and rubbed under the cobra's chin, making hushing sounds to calm it, which seemed to work, though it sent a glare to Snape, still not forgiving him for putting it to sleep and shrinking it, Snape merely returned the glare with a sneer.

" Would everyone except for the teachers present, as well as Madam Pomphrey, and Mr. Potter leave the room? " Snape asked, sending a glare to them, except his snakes, as they left as told. All but Granger and Weasley had left, another glare and Hermione was pulling Ron out, did they finally leave.

" Mind introducing us to your little friends Potter? " Snape asked as he turned back to the boy, who had now sat down on the bed that he had been on. The snake and mouse not leaving him, both watching the remaining adults around the boy.

" This is Lilith. " Harry pointed to the cobra, who hissed deeply in reply, " Be nice. They won't hurt me. Though the one looks like he would, he won't. He saved me my first year here. " Harry said to the snake, who seemed to huff and turn her head away from the adults.

" Still with the cheek Potter. " Snape replied to his words, he noticed that Lupin looked at him in surprise for a moment before going back to Harry, who had unconsciously moved his hair away from his left eye, causing Lupin to gasp lightly as he had not noticed the scars or blinded eye while he was trying to help calm him down earlier. He held his hand to mouth in shock at the sight.

" It was a lot worse sir. " Harry said turning to Lupin, he caught his movement with his good eye easily now that his glasses were to where they were supposed to be.

" And the mouse, Harry? What is it's…"

SQUEAK! The mouse squeaked loudly at Minerva, standing up on its back leg's and shaking a tiny fist at her.

" His name is Damion Professor. And he doesn't like to be called an 'it' and neither does Lil. " Harry said after Damion calmed down, well except for sitting up and actually crossing his arms and looking grumpy.

" Did you give them those names or is that what they call themselves? " Lupin asked this time as he came out of his shock, though he wanted to go hug the boy, he didn't dare get too close as the snake still seemed to be on guard.

" I named both Lil and Damion. Damion I've known since the summer before this last one. He was hiding from one of Mrs. Figg's cats and I was afraid either it or my cousin Dudley would find him, so I hid him in my shirt pocket while I was weeding the garden. "

" And how did you acquire Lilith? It's not often a king cobra is seen going throughout Great Britain. " Minerva asked.

" I found her hiding in an alley on my way from the store. She said that she had been captured and taken from her home. the crate had been dropped and had created a hole big enough for her to escape, she struck at the man that had tried to capture her again, but didn't bite him. "

" And you thought to just bring it home with you? A highly poisonous snake? " Lupin was still confused.

" Hiisss! "

" Professor, please call her by her name. It offends her if you call her an it. And she promised to not cause any trouble if I helped her. She mostly eats the rats and frogs that come into the house. And I'm sorry if they, well mostly Lil frighten you Professor. They know how much my stuff means to me. " Harry answered, turning to Snape, who was now bringing out the things that he had hidden away, he was curious as to how he knew where to look, but held off on it for now.

" Figured you might want these. Seeing as you'll not be returning to Little Winnington. "

" Not returning sir? But Dumbledore said…"

" Of course Dumbledore said you had to return every year. But did he tell you that you also had more family than just Petunia and her little cockroach family? No? Well than Minerva, I believe it's time that young Harry knew about his other cousins, with the exception of the one. "

" Severus…"

" Shut it Lupin! I'll not hear of it! " Snape exclaimed loudly, causing Harry to jump, the snake raised up with her hood raised, and the mouse took a defensive position over its head.

" It's alright. " Harry whispered to them, though the teachers and Poppy heard him, " He's not angry at me, he's upset at Professor Lupin. " he continued until the two animals calmed down once more.

Snape caught the hidden meaning of his words, ' he's upset with him for something other than him protesting. ' Snape couldn't help but to smirk proudly at him for that. One that Harry saw and bowed his head in embarrassment, still petting Lilith and Damion.

" Mr. Potter. The picture in the back of your album. Has it ever crossed your mind to look on the back of it? " Snape asked before taking his leave of the room.

Curious, Harry took his album and turned it to the last page, he had been curious as to who was standing with his Mum but didn't want to ask his Aunt for fear of what she might do and by that, tell Uncle Vernon after yelling at him. He had it drilled in his head to not ask questions about his parents or anything related to them even if it was just about his mum.

Lupin had peered over to see what Harry was looking at and he thought that he knew who was in the muggle photo with Lily but kept quiet about it until Harry confirmed it.

Taking the photo out with great care so as not to rip it, Harry turned it over and read it out loud, " Lily and Sev. Summer of '76. Sev?... "

" Professor Snape Harry. " Lupin answered.

Harry looked up at him in wonder, " It was a nickname I had heard your mother give him on the occasion that I would run into them in school here. " Lupin continued with a kind smile.

" You and Professor Snape knew my mother? Really?! Could you tell me more about her?! Everyone's always talking about my Dad and how much I look like him. The only time they mention my mum is when they refer to my eyes. "

" Well if your friends and the ladies permit me, I'll gladly tell you about Lily. Though Severus might be able to tell you more than I as it seemed that they knew each other before coming here. I'd also like to get to know you once again as I haven't seen you since you were a baby. " Lupin replied, his smile getting bigger at Harry's shocked look of hearing him tell him that he had met and knew him since he was a baby.

" I believe that it will be alright. But tomorrow. You need to rest for a while longer. " Poppy instructed, hiding a smile at both Harry and Lupin's dishearten looks of not talking more.

" Ca-can Lilith and Damion stay with me? They won't cause any trouble. I promise. " Harry asked.

" Normally I'm against any animals being in here with a student. But seeing as they are helping you remain calm, I'll let them stay but don't make it a habit. " Poppy said strictly, but the moment she turned her back she smiled, not seeing that both Harry and Lupin were sharing a smile, they knew what she was really like.

" Well, I'm afraid that the medi-witch has spoken and that means I must leave to let you rest. But I promise Harry, tomorrow, we can talk more about your mother. " Lupin gently reached out and patted him on the shoulder before taking his leave, along with McGonagall.

" Professor? Could you tell me something else about my mum before you leave? " Harry asked before he was fully away.

Lupin stood there, seeming to think of something that would appease him until tomorrow, then smiled and said, " She was unnaturally kind. Now rest, I'll tell you more tomorrow. " he tilted his head as he looked at him as though he knew that Harry would do anything but rest. Smiling a bit mischievously when Harry just smiled brightly in return. ' you also have her smile Harry. ' he thought as he and Minerva continued on out of the Hospital Wing.

The moment they were well away from the Wing, Lupin turned to Minerva and she had to hold in the gasp that was stuck in her throat as he had golden eyes in place of his kind blue eyes,

" What the hell has happened to that cub? " he asked darkly, he personally taking a 180 with the change of his eyes, a growl in his throat as he waited for an answer.

" Let's have a chat with Severus. " Minerva replied calmly, though she was shaken by his change. She knew that it was unavoidable.

Scene change, time skip

" They what! " Lupin roared after Snape and Minerva told him what they had found about the Dursley's and how Harry had gotten his injury.

" And they call me a monster! Those muggles are the real monsters! " he continued as he paced around the potions classroom like a caged tiger.

" How on earth has that poor boy been able to live through any of that? Starving him? Beating him? Making him do everything in that house and not lift a finger to help? Getting treated worse than a house elf. Was there emotional abuse as well? No don't answer that. I know there was, had to have been. How did he survive through that? He's just a little boy! How could they do that to him? Why would they do that? How…" Remus finally stopped his pacing and sat down on the landing, trying to catch his breath and calm down, head in his hands, and tears forming in his eyes.

" If not for his magic, I'm sure the boy wouldn't be here at all. " Snape said after a moment.

" Looks like karma finally caught up with James, eh Snape? " Lupin said quietly before he was knocked down to the floor, looking up, he saw an angry Snape baring down on him, this was the angriest that Lupin had ever seen the man and the last time he saw him angry, they were just teenagers.

" You think me so low to wish harm on a child Lupin? " Snape's voice was calm, but Remus knew he was angry, and that calm voice frighten the man more than the hit he had received from the taller man's fist.

" Well? Answer me! The abuse that boy has been through I wouldn't wish on anyone save for the dark lord himself. If there is one thing, I will not tolerate besides being disobeyed, it is child abuse. No matter who the child is. So, unless you want to lose another tooth or have a painful transformation later on in the month, I suggest you refer from assuming things that you know nothing about. " with that, Snape left his classroom.

Minerva came over and helped Lupin up to a sitting position, " He's been holding that in for a long time, hasn't he? " Lupin asked as he spit out his loose tooth and rubbed his jaw.

" That's putting it lightly. Though he was holding back when he struck you. He's saving the harder punches for Black. " Minerva replied as she stared at him with a look he couldn't describe.

" He was abused himself, wasn't he? That's why he's so adamant about this. "

" No man or woman who has a heart and a good head on their shoulders likes to hear about a child being abused in any way. But, yes. Severus was abused as a boy up until he was seventeen. "

" By who? "

Sighing, Minerva only said, " His father. "

" His father? What about his mother? Where was she? "

" She was also abused by that man, Remus. Severus to this day still bares the scars. He keeps them to remind himself to not only to remember how he was treated, but to never turn into the kind of man his father is. "

" His father's still alive? "

" Yes. But Severus does not visit him. "

" What about his mother though? Doesn't he worry about what the man is doing to her? "

" No Remus. Because his mother died when he was seventeen. "

Remus was quiet as he took in what he was told but then he looked back into her eyes, his own wide, " His father…."

" Yes. Tobias Snape killed his wife Eileen and had damn near killed Severus too. Now I must ask that you not repeat this to anyone. I only told you this so that you don't wind up in the hospital wing with broken bones. Do I have your word that you won't tell another soul about what I have just told you? "

" Yes Professor. I swear on my magic as well that I won't tell a soul about what you have told me unless you give permission for me to. "

" Good. Now then, I believe that Severus and I are due back for a visit to an old friend, mind coming with us? We could use Moony's influence on the matter. "

Her answer was the golden eyes shining through his blue ones as they left the classroom. " Though I suggest you wait for us in the Hospital wing for a moment as it is still too early for Severus to see you after what just happened. It'll be fine, " she said as she saw him about to say something, " After all, that pig ain't going anywhere anytime soon. And neither will her husband and son. " she continued as they walked down the corridors before splitting up and going in different directions.

Here's ch 4! Hope ya'll liked it! I actually updated quicker!

Thanks again to those that have reviewed, favorited, and followed last ch.'s