Disclaimer: I do not own anything. JKR is the owner of it all (:

A clean knock sounded from outside.

Harry's tired eyes opened painfully, wincing as he pushed himself up from the floor, the pain from his wrist searing as he dropped the rag and revealed a fresh, open wound. Fetching his jacket from the bedside he carefully put it on, eyes closing as the knocking continued.

"It's us." The cautious voice of Hermione Granger whispered through the crack in the door, and soon enough a large brown eye could be seen from the other side. Harry moaned quietly, really unhappy that they had arrived home so early he didn't want to see them. Not now.

"Open up, mate." Ron ordered, his voice a little shaky and he ended with a yawn. Harry himself yawned also, wondering the time. He stumbled across to the door, and moved the bolt allowing them entry.

Harry sat at the end of his bed, cradling his arm softly the cut was screaming, it felt as if a large chunk of his arm had been ripped from him; it was pain though nonetheless, and it didn't quite compare to the emotional stress and struggle he felt prior to the injury.

The door creaked open, Ron had been pushed into the room and Harry remained sat down. Ron grinned from ear to ear, he had grown at least an inch over the course of the summer holiday and Harry was glad to see there was no shock or worry etched on his face. Harry could breathe a little now. Hermione entered next, her usual bushy brown hair was styled in light waves and her dark eyes scanned the room curiously.

"Alright mate?" Ron asked leaning against a stack of cardboard boxes. "We weren't supposed to be home until at least three days, but… we came back." Ron looked to Hermione for help, he bit his lip and smiled sympathetically. Harry wondered why this was, no doubt the whole of the order were talking about him. Like they had nothing better to do… Dawn was breaking, and an orange glow was emanating from the sun into the room, now Harry was in full view; hidden by nothing.

Hermione gave a little gasp, and hurried to Harry's side, sitting herself down next to him. Her hand scrapped his thigh and she was busy studying his face, Harry tried his best to look away, he couldn't see the disappointment in her eyes, or the worry written from her frown.

"Harry… What happened?" She asked breathlessly, looking at a bruise on his forehead, then to the bags under his green eyes. "Was this…?" Harry stood in a temper, the bed shook as he kicked the leg hard.

"YES!" He roared, his hands flew up in the air and Hermione sunk away to Ron a little scared of Harry's anger. "IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR AGES!" Harry's teeth clenched and he paced the room quickly, breathing hard.

"Ages?" Hermione squeaked as Harry turned to her glaring. Harry rolled his eyes and threw himself back down on the bed, head hitting the pillow.

"Years." Harry finished. "I wouldn't expect you two to know anything about that… you wouldn't understand."

"Help us-"

Ron started to say what Harry was expecting one of them to say. Harry cut him short.

"I don't want to talk about it." Harry mumbled, covering his eyes with his arm as in defeat. "I don't want to explain for you to understand." His tone was heavy and Hermione was close to tears, Ron put an arm around her and ushered her from the room.

Harry didn't look up but he could tell they had left. Now he was alone; again.

Standing abruptly, anger consuming him he punched the wall, his knuckles pounding and Harry gasped as throbbing twinges captured all the feeling in his hand. How stupid, he thought to himself. He clutched his probably broken hand and heard heavy footsteps from outside his room.

Shit.

Tears glazed his eyes, and he flopped onto the bed, breathing through the sharp bursts of pain still trying to listen out for any noise or conversation out in the hallway. The door opened.

A black silhouette appeared, and the person stopped at the doorway. Harry narrowed his eyes to try and make out the person in the shadow. Clouds passed over the sun and light could be invited back into the room, as the shape moved from the shadow Harry's heart dropped. Snape.

The sun was lifted higher now, sunbeams were now reflected into the four corners of the room, Harry would have much preferred to be alone in the darkness… hidden, though he detested darkness usually. Why was Snape there every time Harry was in trouble? It was beginning to irritate Harry greatly.

---

Severus curled his lip. What was Potter doing now? The boy was sat on the bed, clutching would appeared to be a swollen hand. Stupidity, Severus rolled his black eyes fixating them onto Harry who was close to tears.

"We are having a meeting downstairs." Severus glared. "You can throw yourself against the wall as much as you would like to, just do it quietly." Sneering he turned away, the room was stained with a smell of must, blood perhaps. There was something on the floor, a cloth, Severus approached the object vigilantly, and swiped it from the floor. Harry's eyes widened in fear.

"What is this, Potter?" Severus asked casually as if he was asking for the time of day. Harry shook his head hastily, biting his lip in worry. Severus moved over to Harry, and the boy scuttled back to the top of the bed.

"This isn't…" Severus dropped it onto the bed, feeling slightly sick. "I hope it isn't what I think it is, Potter." Severus looked Harry straight in the eye, the boy broke away.

"Let's leave it at that then." Severus leaned on the bed for a minute, studying the way Harry look at him, with fear, fright, caution. Severus looked for a split second to the boy's arm remembering last night and the way Potter winced as he pressed into his arm. Would Potter be that weak to harm himself? Would Potter be dealing with the abuse in a way that Severus did when he was younger?

Leaving it at that, Severus made his exit though stopping as he opened the door.

"Oh and Potter, Dumbledore is arriving later to speak with you. The Ministry have been informed about under-age magic. You should know all about that." Raising an eyebrow curtly, he exited from the room, in a state of shock and reminiscence, many disturbing memories from his childhood creeping back…

---

"Oh, Albus."

Mrs Weasley's voice was muffled and Harry strained his ears to try and hear parts of the conversation. He was sat at the table in the dining room, with many of the order sat with him, divulging in their own conversations. Ron and Hermione were sat opposite Harry staring intently at him.

"What?" He mouthed, Hermione shook her head, taking interest in her fingernails and Ron grinned.

"Nothing. Aren't you going to eat that?"

Harry pushed the bowl over to Ron and Ron tucked in. Hermione was ever so watchful, she studied the tone in Harry's voice, watched him as he ate, as he walked. It was becoming infuriating.

"I'm not hungry." Harry muttered defensively and with this tone Hermione felt reassured that she could speak without Harry biting her head off.

"Please eat, Harry. You look terribly… thin." Hermione gulped, and Harry pushed a hand through his hair, it looked scruffier than ever.

"I'm fine." He assured them, smiling a little. Hermione wouldn't be persuaded that easily Harry knew this, but he hated the attention and the constant worrying. He wanted to be left alone. Forgotten about.

"Harry!"

Harry looked towards the door and Dumbledore came striding in, arms open wide. Snape followed suit, looking scornful. Harry stood and approached the pair.

"Professor." Harry greeted him, Dumbledore chuckled and led him out into the hallway. Harry was feeling a little nervous, if anyone could see right through Harry; it would be Dumbledore. Snape nodded to Harry before entering the dining room and sitting himself down next to Shacklebolt.

"My dear boy." Dumbledore muttered, adjusting his spectacles. "How are you?"

Harry didn't know how to answer this, for if anyone else had asked this he would have replied; "Fine." Harry merely shrugged and leaned against the wall, sighing in exasperation. Dumbledore chuckled light-heartedly.

"You don't have to pretend, Severus was worried about you. He came to see me, you know." Dumbledore sighed, a small smile crept onto his thin lips and Harry knew now that he could trust him wholly.

"Snape?" Harry was taken aback, Dumbledore nodded simply.

"Yes, do not be so quick to judge Harry."

Harry banged the back of his foot against the wall and tried to swerve the conversation away from Snape. The interfering git.

"So…" Harry looked back up to the old man smiling, he was wearing a purple pointed hat that seemed to flop at the peak. Harry smiled at this.

"The Ministry spoke?" Harry probed. Dumbledore nodded wearily, half closing his eyes. He took a breath.

"Yes, I explained the situation…" Harry knew fully what 'the situation' meant and now felt angry that Dumbledore would tell the Ministry this. No doubt that would be in the Daily Prophet by tomorrow.

'The Boy Who Lived Is Beaten Up'

Harry could picture it now, he glared at the floor. Dumbledore touched his shoulder and Harry unprepared, flinched.

"Sorry, erm- I just-" Harry sighed deeply and Dumbledore nodded his understanding.

"There is some measures we need to take whilst getting you to school on Monday, you will be accompanied by Professor Snape, Remus and Arthur. It is just caution that we must do this… after the Ministry fiasco in July…"

Harry suddenly realised he was going back to Hogwarts in three days, spirits suddenly lifted he grinned; quidditch… oh how he missed it.

"That's what we want to see." Dumbledore smiled watching Harry's expression shift to glee and excitement. Patting his shoulder, Dumbledore left Harry in the hallway. Suddenly Harry felt alive, animated, thrilled. He darted up to his bedroom, and shut himself in. He wanted no-one to dampen his mood, or crush the feeling inside of him. And as if the mood couldn't get any better, a peck from the window told Harry that Hedwig had arrived.

Harry ran to the window and opened the hatch. The pure white owl stepped inside, and bit Harry's finger affectionately, he stroked her back with his forefinger.

"You found me then." Harry laughed. His friend knew him only too well.

A/N: Yay a happy ending (: So there's an insight to what Snape went through as a child that ties in with what Dumbledore was saying in the second chapter. I hoped you liked it. I will make it H/R canon soon, they are together just Harry doesn't know that yet. Errrrm, the next chapter will be the journey to Hogwarts.

Please R&R!!

Thankyou to all my reviewers! It's such encouragement when you review!

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