Harry fell back to sleep easily and when he awoke, it was twelve hours later. Snape must have given me a dreamless sleep potion… Harry concluded as he yawned and scratched his head, full of thick chestnut hair that was even messier than usual because of heavy sleep. I didn't have any nightmares and slept through the night…again…Snape must be slipping me something.

His wounds were still ever-present, however they felt a lot better this morning. Whatever pain relieving potion Snape had been giving him was working slowly, but surely. However, his body was aching a little bit from being confined to the couch for two days, his imprint firmly impressed into the soft cushions. Looking around and seeing no sign of Snape, who instructed him specifically not to walk around until his bones were healed, he decided to try and walk anyhow. He stood up from the couch and took a shaky step forward and felt a slight twinge of pain run up his leg. However, it wasn't too sharp this time. He had felt worse in the past. After all, his Uncle never allowed him this much time to rest or heal between beatings. Once one round subsided, it seemed another one began the next day.

Harry wobbled in slight pain all the way to the kitchen. Severus was sitting there quietly drinking his tea and skimming The Daily Prophet. The Prophet was still ridden with articles about Harry and the Tri-Wizard Tournament fiasco. All of the articles calling the boy a liar, saying that Dumbledore put ideas about Voldemort returning into his head on purpose. Already angry because of the articles, he then looked up and saw the skinny teenager in the kitchen doorway, hobbling towards him. Harry did not think the professor would be in there and was caught red-handed.

When Severus saw Harry walking, his eyes flared up in what appeared to be a mixture of worry and rage, but before he had time to reprimand the boy or lead him back to the couch, Harry began stuttering "sorries" at him in rapid fashion.

"I'm sorry, professor…please…please don't punish me…don't make me leave…I made a mistake, I know I'm not supposed to be walking…" He stammered as he clutched the countertop to balance himself.

Snape stood up and took Harry by the shoulders. He gently placed Harry into the chair across from him without saying anything.

"Professor?" Harry asked, trying to feel him out. Severus did not respond.

Harry bit his lip before speaking again. "Are you angry, sir?"

Severus sighed. "No, Potter, I'm not angry. However, I did inform you earlier that it was not safe for you to be walking around just yet. Did I not?"

Harry dropped his head. "Yes, sir. You did tell me." He lifted his head. "But, I just-"

Severus cut him off. "You do not know if your legs and broken bones are healed. Only I can tell you that. I was going to examine you this morning and if they were, in fact, healed, I was going to allow you to resume walking around. It is not my desire to keep you confined to the couch."

Harry nodded. "Yes, sir…I'm sorry. I was just feeling awfully cramped up. My skin was practically burning."

Severus waved his hand and instantly a big plate of food was in front of Harry. "I know, Potter. But, it was still reckless nonetheless."

Severus continued. "Speaking of that, I think it's time to fix up a room for you if you are going to be staying here a while. At least you'll have a room to call your own until the start of term...or even afterwards if you so wish. I still can't believe your relatives confined you to that awful…cupboard." Snape shuddered at the thought of his family keeping him tucked away in such a small space.

"Actually, I did have a bedroom for a while. Dudley's second bedroom. But, my nightmares were keeping Dudley awake this summer, so he moved me back to the cupboard…" Harry's voice trailed off. He paused. "May I still eat, sir?"

Severus, still writhing internally over the fact that Harry slept in a cupboard while his fat oaf of a cousin had two bedrooms, looked deep into the boy's green orbs. "Of course you may eat, Potter. I didn't just put food in front of you with the intention of teasing you."

Harry felt happy that Snape wasn't angry, but he couldn't help feel weary about Snape's newfound kindness. Although, Harry thought, Snape did just give him an owl and a brand new broomstick, so he wasn't about to misjudge the man just yet. He knew that Snape had been going out of his way to make sure Harry was safe, well-fed, and somewhat happy. Harry put the thoughts aside and focused on eating his meal.

After a few minutes of eating in peace, Severus cleared his throat to let Harry know he was going to be speaking. "Harry, we need to talk about some things."

Oh no, thought Harry, he is going to send me back there….no, no, no…

With the thought, Harry began choking on his strip of bacon. So much so, that Severus had to tap the boy on the back to make him cough it up. Harry spit the bacon up into a paper towel and looked hard at Snape.

"Sir…what is it you want to talk about?" Harry asked, his eyes wide in fear.

Severus sighed. "Relax, Potter. I am not about to send you back to your relatives. Please, vanquish that possibility from your mind at once. That will not happen. Not now, not ever. Understood?"

How did he know? Harry was bewildered at how Snape could possibly ever know what he was thinking.

Harry nodded. "I understand, sir."

Snape sat down and moved his chair closer to Harry's. "We have to figure out a way for you to talk about what happened to you. If you keep all of it inside of you, then healing can never begin. So, how is it that you want to proceed?"

Harry didn't know what to say. "Um…proceed, sir?"

Snape sighed. "Proceed explaining to me…to someone…about your abuse, Harry. That and anything else that's bothering you."

Harry shook his head. "I really would rather not. I just want to forget about it, sir. After all, it's over now, isn't it? You said you wouldn't let them hurt me again."

Severus nodded. "That part is true. I will not let them hurt you again."

Harry shrugged. "Then, I don't understand why we have to talk about it. It's done, it's over."

"I thought this might be the case." He paused for a moment. "I'll be right back, Potter. Stay here and finish your meal." Then he added sternly. "All of it."

Snape reappeared fifteen minutes later with two thick pieces of parchment and two quills. The parchment looked a little bit different than the ones they used at school. It looked older and much heavier.

Severus sat down and handed one piece of parchment and one quill to Harry and kept the others for himself.

"This parchment is not just an ordinary piece of parchment, Potter. It works sort of like a message system. If you write on your piece of parchment, your writing will show up on mine. Not only will I be able to see what you write, but I'll be able to answer as well. We can write back and forth like this, if you'd like, to avoid you having to vocalize your troubles and memories. You'll be able to start communicating about it this way and get some feelings off of your chest. How does that sound?"

Harry picked up the parchment and examined it carefully, studying it. "So, I can write anything and you'll receive it on your parchment? That's brilliant!"

"Yes, Harry. That is how it works. And feel free to do so at any time, day or night. If you wake up from a nightmare or you just feel like talking, just pick up the parchment and start writing. I'll be able to help you when you're having a hard time and you can avoid whatever it is you're trying to avoid from speaking about it." Snape stated.

Harry nodded slowly. "I'll think about it. I can't guarantee you I'll use it right now. You know, I have a few questions for you too…I still don't know why you showed up at my house in the middle of the night to rescue me or how you knew I was in trouble in the first place or why you even-" Harry hesitated there. "Why you even cared." He stated clearly.

Snape nodded. "Fair enough. I am willing to answer all of your questions. Anything else?"

Harry thought for a few moments. "If I tell you something through the parchment, let's say it's something pretty awful. Will you want to talk about it the next time you see me? In person, I mean."

Snape considered this. "Well, I would like to...for your own sake. But, since you are unwilling to speak of what happened to you right now, I suppose the parchment will do. For now."

"For now, let's just use the parchment." Harry stated, obviously not wanting to talk about anything just yet.

"If for some reason, it's me that is causing you to not want to talk…I can give the other piece of parchment to someone else…the werewolf perhaps? Or Black? Even the Headmaster…that is, if you so wish." Snape mustered up a smile to cover up his true feelings. He believed, deep down, that he should be the one to help Harry. Severus, too, suffered from abuse as a child. Not abuse nearly as severe as Harry's, but abuse nonetheless. He was the one who made the vow to Dumbledore, and to Lily after her death, that he would protect Harry Potter from danger. Of course, he meant the Dark Lord at the time. However, this seemed just as serious. He sat there, hoping silently that Harry wouldn't ask for him to transfer the parchment to someone else.

Harry thought about Snape's question for moment. Dumbledore was the professor he was closest to, but they rarely talked about his personal life or family issues. The headmaster usually called him into his office to discuss something related to school or Voldemort or whatever trouble Harry was finding himself in that particular week. Most recently, they had conversations about the events that took place at the Tri-Wizard tournament, Cedric's death, and Voldemort returning of course. Sirius and Remus were good choices as well, but there was something in the back of his mind that told him to keep up what he had going with Snape. He never thought he would be thinking that in a million years, but the man did care enough to rescue him, help him, and get him back on his feet. He was certain Snape would keep him safe, at least until Dumbledore came back. Harry had a lump caught in his throat. He was sure the headmaster wouldn't allow him to stay at Hogwarts for the remaining three weeks of summer. That fact, Harry was certain of. Especially since Voldemort was gaining strength, Dumbledore would want Harry under the protection of his home's blood wards until school started.

"No, thanks, professor. I'm okay." Harry stated.

Relief washed over Snape's shoulders and he nodded. "Well, if you change your mind, just let me know."

Harry nodded and tucked the parchment and quill away in his pocket. He glanced at his professor and gave him a warm smile. "Thanks, sir. For everything."

Snape waved his hand as if to say he doesn't need to be thanked. "I have to brew some potions for the start of term stock. Care to join me in the lab, Potter?"

"Me?" Harry asked, bewildered. He knew Snape well enough to know that he didn't think Harry had any talent for potion making. "But you always said I was a danger to the lab, that none of my potions were even remotely drinkable-"

"Yes, Potter. Your performance in my potions class has been nothing short of dismal. I think you could use some summer tutoring. Do you not agree?" Snape sneered, knowing full well that Harry did not agree.

Harry nodded. "Okay, I'm up for it, professor. I could use the practice."

They went down into the lab and Severus showed Harry how to brew a proper pain relieving draft. He suspected that the vial of liquid he spotted sticking out of Harry's carry-on bag on their way from Hogwarts to London was, in fact, a pain relieving potion taken from Severus's lab. When Severus got back to the castle and checked his stores, he discovered about five vials missing. Now that he was aware of Harry's abuse, he suspected Harry was stocking up, knowing his uncle would hurt him over the summer. The thought of this made Severus sick to his stomach and he swore to himself that he would do everything in his power to convince the headmaster not to send him back there again.

Harry laid his head onto the pillow in the new bedroom Snape set up for him. He took the guest room and decorated it to fit how he thought Harry would like it. He donned the walls in red and gold and on the bed, placed a thick red blanket filled with down feathers. The room was beautiful. He had a king sized bed with practically the softest blanket he's ever felt in his life. Snuggling up inside of his new bed, he stared at the piece of parchment that lay next to him. He sat up in bed and took the quill and started writing.

Snape was lying in bed, waiting up to see if Harry would use the parchment he had given him. He kept staring at it, hoping it would glow to let him know that someone was writing to him. However, hours passed by and…nothing. Finally, he fell asleep. He was woken up by a light shining beside him. Harry was using the parchment.

Severus wiped the sleep from his eyes and gently lifted the parchment and read Harry's scrawled words.

Professor Snape,

I feel funny doing this…but I thought I'd give it a go.

Write back if you're up.

~Harry


Harry,

I'm up.

What are you thinking about?


I'm thinking about the Weasleys…and how happy their family is.

I don't understand why my family is always so angry with me all the time.

My aunt makes me do all of the housework and yard work and barely lifts a finger and then always yells at me that I'm doing it wrong. Dudley doesn't have any chores, the precious brat. He just eats all day and watches the television. I never get to watch what I want to watch or eat what I want to eat. If my uncle feels like it, he won't let me eat anything for days, sometimes an entire week. Anything he wants me to do, he threatens to take away meals to force me to do it. Usually, he takes away meals because I messed up a chore or forgot something or burned dinner. Other times, I think he likes to make me suffer for sport. The day you found me…he did that because I kept having nightmares and it was waking Dudley up every night. But, it wasn't my fault, I couldn't control them! I just watched Cedric die and found out that Voldemort came back…of course I would be having nightmares. I mean, come on. Finally, the night before they left for vacation, my uncle took me down into the basement and just started beating me…worse than any other time…he used the belt and whipped me. I was bleeding everywhere. My whole body just felt like one big broken bone.

Harry paused to wipe the wetness that was forming in his eyes. He wasn't sure if he should write the rest of what he was planning on writing, but decided he might as well.

This time, he forced me to remove all my clothes before the beating…he never did that before. Every time he struck me, the belt stung my skin. I was covered in lashes and cuts. Usually, he only uses the belt if I've done something really bad. But, this time, I didn't do anything! I begged for him to stop, but he wouldn't. He kept calling me a filthy freak and just wouldn't stop… finally he stopped and threw me in the cupboard. Five days later, you found me.

I don't understand it. Do you?

A teardrop fell from Severus's eye and onto the parchment. It soaked through and appeared on Harry's parchment as well. Harry touched the tear stain with his finger, not knowing what to think.

Then, Severus wrote:

I don't understand either, Harry.