DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of it, JK Rowling and associates own all rights, no infringement intended, no money is being made, unfortunately.
WARNING; Pre-slash if you do not like do not read remember you have freedom of choice. Reviews appreciated but no flames those will be ignored.
PAIRINGS: HP/SS, GW/NL, RW/HrG
Chapter 4: Someone has to pay.
Ron was just opening his mouth to blast him when Alex interrupted, holding out his warrant card he said, "My name is Alex Winters and I'm with the CID. Who are you?"
"My name is Dudley Dursley and I live here. Did something happen to my mom or dad?" he asked with a worried look on his piggish face.
Before either Alex or Ron could answer, Madame Pomfrey and Hermione stepped into the hallway. "Excuse me" Madame Pomfrey said "I need to get back upstairs" floating in midair behind her was a tray with several bowls and a mug. Dudley took one look and let out a horrified gasp "Freaks, your all freaks. Get away from me." Turning he headed for the front door but before he could open it Hermione pulled her wand "Consisto Dudley."
Dudley stopped in his tracks and began squawking when he realised that he literally could not take a step. Looking over his shoulder, he began crying, "You don't want me you want that freak that has to stay here. He's upstairs take him just don't hurt me. He won't give you any trouble my dad saw to that. Just take him."
Ron narrowed his eyes, a hard look coming to his normally cheerful face "What do you mean your dad saw to it that he wouldn't give any trouble?" Stepping forward and thrusting his face close to Dudley said in a menacing voice "If he's hurt I am going to take you outside, turn you into a rat, and feed you to Hedwig."
Dudley leaned back as far as he could and remain standing; looking at Alex, he said, "Help me. You said you're with the police, you have to protect me, their magic people, save me!"
Alex looked at him for minute then smiled grimly, "I saw the boy when I got here. The only reason this house isn't filled with police is that I've been promised that there will be justice done." Turning to Hermione, he said, "You'd better get Professor Snape he wanted to be told when this one got here."
Hermione nodded and hurried up the stairs passing Madame Pomfrey who shot a hard look at Dudley and followed muttering about Muggles and strict diets and punishments.
Dudley opened his mouth and began to call for help so Ron pulled his wand "Silencio" and a peaceful silence filled the hallway once more.
Alex looked over at Ron and said "You know those to spells could come in handy for police work." Ron gave him a grim smile and said "How bad is Harry hurt and I want the truth." While he was not pointing his wand at him, it was still in his hand an indirect threat.
When Snape looked around, he saw Hermione standing in the doorway before he could tell her to leave the room, Hermione said, "Sir, Alex sent me up to tell you that Dudley just arrived downstairs. He is under Consisto so is not going anywhere. Do you want me to place him in one of the rooms until you have time to deal with him?"
As she had been speaking, Madame Pomfrey came into the room still muttering "Disgraceful how they could let the child look like that. He is the size of Mister Crabbe and Mister Goyle put together."
Snape just looked thoughtful then said, "I will return momentarily, Miss Granger come with me" Sweeping out the room he quickly descended the stairs with Hermione following but not speaking. She had overheard the spell that Snape cast before she went into the room and though normally the most advocate against using spells against helpless people (in this case ones that were Muggles and bound to boot.) thought it was a case of poetic justice.
Alex spoke quietly and calmly using skills earned in his years with the police force at the same time edging his way between Ron and the stairs. "Your Professor Snape did some kind of scan with his wand. According to him Harry's left arm was broken in two places, he also was suffering from 3 broken ribs, badly bruised spleen, liver and kidneys, some internal bleeding, and his left lung was damaged "
As Alex continued the litany of Harry's injuries Ron's face took on a frightening cast while Dudley just became paler with fright. Looking at Alex, he spoke politely but firmly "Get out of my way mate. Nobody hurts a member of my family and just walks away. Someone is going to pay."
Snape spoke up from the staircase, "A noble sentiment Mister Weasley however, I can assure you that your actions are unnecessary at this time. Kindly return to the other room with Miss Granger, I am sure she will fill you in on what is occurring with Mister Potter." Ron looked at Snape opened his mouth to say something rude but then shut it when he got a good luck at Snape's face.
Snape was wearing his usual blank expression but the ebony eyes flashed with fire and surprisingly enough pain. Ron looked over to Hermione who nodded her head then turning back to Snape spoke, "Alright but when it is time to punish the bastards I want in on it." Snape nodded once and Ron and Hermione moved back down the hallway to the living room holding on to each other.
Alex just stood quietly to the side as if waiting for orders. Snape waved his wand at Dudley who seemed to shrink back and uttering the Mobilus spell floated Dudley up the stairs to Harry's room. Alex wiped the sweat from his brow. Looking around and seeing that he was alone Alex leaned back against the banister with a deep sigh that seemed to come from the bottom of his lungs, that had been as close a call to violence as he wanted to come today. He thought 'Hermione you owe me girl, big time.'
Upon entering the room, Snape floated the wiggling boy over to the corner and dumped him there on his father. Turning back to the bed, he spoke to Madame Pomfrey. "Are you ready to wake him?" Madame Pomfrey nodded and placing his wand at Harry's forehead said "Enervate."
Harry felt as if he was floating in a grey mist, everything was so peaceful, no pain, no memories, here he was safe. Suddenly there was a sort of tugging on his mind, he tried to ignore it, but the pull got stronger. 'No, leave me here, I don't want to go. Why can't you leave me alone' he mentally cried out but nothing stopped the pull.
With a groan, he slowly opened his eyes wondering why everything was blurry. There were two indistinct shapes standing over him then he saw one move its hands and place something on his face. 'His glasses that's what was missing' he thought. After blinking several times he realised he was staring into the stony face of Professor Snape and behind him was a very worried looking Madame Pomfrey "Oh Shit" popped out of mouth before he could think.
Madame Pomfrey said sternly, "Watch your language young man, illness is no excuse for bad manners, here I need you to drink this before I can continue with the healing spells" holding out a mug.
"Am I at Hogwarts?" Harry asked with a quick sideways look at Snape who was staring fixedly at him with a brooding look on his face. Pomfrey shook her head and gesturing to Snape asked him to lift Harry up enough to drink. Snape bent over Harry and proceeded to slide one arm under his shoulders thereby raising him up carefully to a halfway sitting position.
Harry groaned as he felt pain through much of his upper body. Pomfrey suggested that Snape sit behind Harry to provide support while she began the healing charms. She did not want to trust to him to hold steady and remaining propped up would help his breathing; using magic to hold him in that position could interfere with the healing charms. As Snape settled on the bed, he adjusted Harry so that he was reclining back on the Potion Masters chest.
Harry felt himself blushing from head to toe and hoped it was not too obvious. At the end of the fourth year he had realised that, he was probably bi-sexual. First, there had been the attraction to Oliver Wood which resulted in his first kiss from a bloke, then Bill Weasley (something he decided not to pursue since it might make trouble in his new family) and to his surprise and consternation, he realised just how sexy Snape was.
He thought it was Snape's voice, which first got his attention. Finding himself getting hard while Snape was insulting him showed that he either really had a sick side or that he just needed to get laid and soon. Even when he was at his most angry with Snape he could not deny he really want to shag him which he decided to put down to being fifteen and randy.
Harry was sure that this fascination would disappear as fast as it showed up. He decided he would die before letting Snape find out he ever had a crush on him; now here he was seeing him like this 'Gods he must think I'm totally worthless' he thought with an inward groan. When Pomfrey turned to get something from her bag, he looked around the room realising at once that someone cast an Augeo spell to make the room larger. A noise from the corner of the room caught his attention and turning his head he saw his family sitting against the wall bound in ropes and glaring at him with hate in their eyes.
Harry immediately turned his head away, closing his eyes and shrinking back against the warm body behind him as the memories of what had happened surged into his mind. He had always known they hated him but had never expected it to get worse then the occasional beating or starvation. This year had been the worst and he had not been able to do anything to defend himself. Knowing someone hates you and literally having it beat into you are two different things He hated being helpless but in a small way felt that is was the price he had to pay for being alive while the innocents died in his place. He knew he was whimpering slightly but could not seem to stop; suddenly the arm that had been resting at his side slid across his chest and held him firmly while a deep voice spoke quietly in his ear.
"You're safe now Potter, I'm here, I'll protect you, and I won't let them touch you again. I give you a wizard's promise on that." Harry realised that for the first time in his life, someone held him protectively in the circle of his arms when he was afraid, and he felt safe; not even in Dumbledore's presence had he ever felt so safe. He knew that Snape would protect him because he had done it before; this though felt more personal. Turning his head he let it rest against the beating heart behind him as he gratefully slipped back into unconsciousness.
Snape could feel Harry's body trembling when he saw his family and heard the pained whimpers that seemed to come from deep in his soul. Anger flared in him that this boy that had already known so much pain should have to endure this kind of agony from those he considered family. There was no way to prevent his response as something inside just gave way and suddenly feeling territorial he glared at the Dursleys and sliding his arm around Harry's chest pulled him closer.
To his shock and horror he heard himself swearing a wizards promise to keep Harry safe, something that was almost as binding as a marriage vow. Feeling the boy slip back into unconsciousness, he looked up into Pomfrey's surprised eyes. 'Damn' he thought 'I'll never hear the end of that one. Well at least it was not Dumbledore. I cannot wait until Pomfrey tells him about that little promise, maybe I can Obliviate her.'
His thoughts raced one after the other 'Dear Merlin how did he get himself into these situations, it was all Potter's fault he was sure of that. If only the boy, well not really a boy looking down at the long lean body of the sixteen year old in his arms, a young man then or better yet the thorn in his side, yes that was definitely more appropriate...' Hearing a slight cough, both adults turned to the doorway and there stood Albus Dumbledore his eyes twinkling madly. Snape let his head fall back with a groan
'Great, this is like some damn French farce with people making entrances left and right; all I need now is that damn werewolf and this situation will be royally fucked up.' No sooner did this thought cross his mind then he saw Lupin come up behind the headmaster with a shocked look on his face as he stared from Snape to the boy currently lying in his arms. "Yes sir, definitely a French farce." Snape wondered why he had even left the dungeons today.