The Darkness falls

Authors note: I don't own or share anything in common with JK Rowling the HP series are entirely hers. All characters themes and world that are HP based aren't mine, I'm just renting them.

A beta would be nice, as I make a lot of Grammatical and punctuation errors in my works.

Set in 5th year, non HBP or DH compliant, OOTP storyline basic points used.

Warning: instances of abuse and torture, GRAPHIC VIOLENCE AND SWEARING, if you are sensitive to such topics, or underage, please don't read…

All Other characters are mine.

On with the Story

Chapter 4, Sorry about the long time without an update.


As Severus approached the bed with his usual cold demeanour, a flash of pain crossed the dour man's face as he laid eyes on the tiny child in the bed before him.

The vials that he carried contained a nutrient potion, a children's dose of healing potion, and a minor pain potion.

Cursing the Dursleys to hell and back, if it wasn't for them the boy would be healthy.

"P…Harry" he barked, seeing the flinch, immediately regretting his tone.

The boy was shaking like a leaf, what had those muggles done to inspire such fear, normally the boy was arrogant and defensive.

"y..y..yes…sir" Stuttered the child, his eyes wide as saucers, looking around the room, particularly at one open window on the far end.

The potions master noted this, was the boy truly that fearful that he would chance a leap from a tower window to get away from a perceived danger.

"How are you feeling?" Snape asked in a much softer tone than would normally be heard from the harsh man.

He brought over a small trolley that served as a table for those who could not leave their bed, placing the vials upon it.

A small unknown house elf popped out of nowhere behind Sev placing a small bowl of soup on the table, before disappearing again.

Harry stared at his potions master as if he had worn pink robes, the mans voice wasn't demanding, it was soft and almost caring.

Something in his wanted to break, and feel safe, but years of pain had taught him that this was a trap, no one could care for a freak.

"I'm fine sir" He said clutching the white sheet in his hand absentmindedly, fiddling with a single string that had unravelled.

"Eye's up potter" Said Snape, just because the boy was afraid did not give him an excuse to be disrespectful to a teacher.

Sheepishly harry met the gaze of the stern man, "Sir, what are the potions?" He asked trying to get this over and done with as quickly as possible.

The man scared him, he may have rescued him, but the fear of not only rejection but further cruelty on his professor's behalf would have been far too much to deal with.

Giving the boy potions, could be seen as caring, maybe the man was just doing his duty, that had to be it nothing more, why would the dungeon bat of Slytherin want the freak known as the boy who lived.

Snape held back a snide remark, "Potions that will help you heal," he bit out, lining them up, and opening the stoppers.

One which shimmered and almost smelled of strawberry's and cinnamon was poured into the boys food.

The nutrient potion that he had spent several long hours modifying specifically for the boys use, it would be easier on the boys system and could be used in his food, it was flavourless.

Severus had managed to bind the properties of a vitamin tablet and the accelerating agents for nutrition into a vial.

Now his only hope was that the boy did not turn orange from the excess vitamins that he would be receiving each day.

Basic nutrition was fine for the boy, but getting the emaciated form up to scratch so that the healing could begin without further detriment, was a stroke of genius.

Sev was rather proud of himself, this vial had been downsized for the boy so they could start at the smallest dosage and work their way up without shocking the boys system.

As Harry took ate the food slowly, his professor handed him a second vial, and the third he had mixed in with water.

Harry had read much about healing potions, he had brewed several in the bathroom, in previous years as a precaution.

The boy had potions vials and bandages hidden all around the school, where no one would look, even the caretaker would not bother.

"There, not normal potions" whispered Harry to himself.

Severus' head shot up, "By Merlin, boy, I do believe I will have a heart attack, a Gryffindor that knows potions," Said Snape with snideness, yet a hint of laughter in his eyes.

Harry felt the familiar sting of ridicule, looking up he saw the professors face, and swore that a smile was hidden behind his harsh face.

The boy's eyes widened, the dungeon bat of Hogwarts had made a joke, Harrys jaw nearly dropped open but he remembered it was impolite to look like a codfish.

A tiny smile graced the boy's face for a second, and something in the cold long dead heart began to stir, the boy put in so much effort to keep everyone out, so much like himself.

Slapping himself mentally, he had not just compared himself to the boy who lived to get on his nerves.

The man sighed, "Yes you are quite correct, Pot..Harry," He said correcting himself on the boys name, since the child would be under his care he would need to be on a first name basis with the boy.

Harry raised his head in question, "They are not the average potions you would find in a text, these have been specially formulated for your situation," He explained.

"You made them….for me." Said the boy as tears threatened to spill from his eyes.

"Indeed, and it was very perceptive of you to notice, considering how abysmal your grades in potions are, 5 points to Gryffindor" He said the last few words very quietly.

A huge smile stretched across the boy's face, Snape had given him praise, and given HIM points, him the golden boy.

Suddenly he felt as if he was hit with a bucket of ice water. The happiness from his mind was gone, this wouldn't last, 'stupid, stupid, stupid' He berated himself.

The greasy haired one noticed the change from the beaming smile to a dark look that was full of pain and fear.

He took a chair and sat next to the boy, the boy needed something to hope for, anything, now was as good a time to tell him of his future as any.

"Harry," He began. "Professor Dumbledore wished me to tell you that you are going to be living with me from now on," He said quickly.

Just like ripping off a band aid, quick and almost painless.

The small teen looked at him, It all fell into place, He would be living with Snape,

What about Sirius? Did he have to go back to the Dursleys? How long did he mean from now on?

All the boy could say now through the sting in his chest was, "You don't want a freak like me sir, too much trouble, you will throw me out anyway." He whispered.

A loud growl was heard from the door, and from above him.

Lupin stood in the doorway, his eyes yellow, Severus looked thunderous.

Both men wanted to kill the Dursleys at that moment, the boy believed he was not worthy of a home, and the way the boy viewed himself.

The word freak ringing in their ears, Snape began to see red, but took a breath and was about to calmly explain to the boy without bursting the vein in his temple that the boy had the right to be loved and cared for.

Lupin beat him it, "Harry James Potter," He said almost towering over the boy for a moment, before he leaned over the boy and gently cupped his chin.

"Never, call yourself that word again, if I hear it so help me, I will pay a visit to those pathetic excuses for relatives on the next full moon" He said, the yellow fading from his eyes.

Harry couldn't understand, why they didn't see it, a squeak came from his throat, "But I..." he began.

"Don't you dare finish that sentence, Harry, you are not a freak, you are a boy who has been through more than anyone should ever have to go through, you have every right to be cared for, loved, given food and given the chance to blossom, oh pup I wish I had been there for you" He said.

His first sentence had been strong and almost angry, then it became softer and turned to a tone of guilt and regret.

Why was he feeling guilty, was it because he couldn't take him from the Dursleys when harry was younger?

Why was everyone treating him like any other student, he simply couldn't see that he could somehow be equal to anyone, he felt privileged that they talked to him and taught him, he felt glad his friends decided to keep a dirty ungrateful beast like him around.

"Why?" he managed to choke out.

Severus looked at the interaction with horror, the boy truly did not see self-worth, he tapped Lupin's shoulder and shook his head.

The werewolf stood there with his mouth open, but understood, "I will try to explain another day, pup, right now you need rest, and your professor will take care of you," Said Lupin walking solemnly out of the infirmary.

"I trust you Severus," He whispered as he passed the black clad man, who merely nodded in response.

The fact that Lupin had called Snape Harrys professor had not gone unnoticed by the hook nosed man, it was true, as of several hours ago the boy was now in his care.

With a confused look plastered upon his face and uncertainty painted across it, the boy simply said "Sir?"

"Harry, you need rest now, you are now mine, and I will treat you as I would my own child, now young man, rest, I shall visit you for dinner," He said taking the vials that he had emptied.

The small wizard nodded, and obeyed, the man clearly was busy, but he would see him at dinner, the potions where rather good considering they did not taste of anything, usually they were bitter or tasted of dirty socks.

A look at the empty vials and the tiny glimmer in the boy's eyes that Severus saw to him went as an unspoken thank you.

Billowing out of the infirmary and into his quarters he checked his potions, before grabbing a handful of floo powder heading to the fireplace and saying "Prince manor"


Lupin had flooed back to 12 Grimauld place, Sirius, rushed over to the fire place, with a flurry of questions.

Lupin sat down and explained the guardianship situation, and Harry's long term care requirements.

Sirius hated the fact that he couldn't take care of Harry, that all the boy had to depend on right now was that git Snivellus, but right now Harrys health was more important that his feelings for the greasy potions master.

What Black had not expected was after the explanation was to see tears in Lupin's eyes.

"Moony what's the matter?" He said, this time it was his turn to be the one who listened.

"He's so broken Siri… (Sob) he thinks we will give up on him, (Sob) he thinks we will throw him out, he…he" Lupins body was shaking, he couldn't bear to think of his pup right now, all he felt was guilt.

"We would never, why would he think that? Come on old friend, you know Harry's strong, he will be flying around with us in no time" Sirius tried to comfort, but failing spectacularly.

"Paddy, he called himself a...freak," Lupin said, "It's been forced into him, he asked me why, when I had explained he had the right to be cared for, he asked why," Lupin said, the pain etched on his face.

Lupin held his hands to his face, whispering things Sirius couldn't' understand most sounded like why? Others he was clueless over.

Wrapping his arms around the man's shoulders, he tried to comfort his grieving friend, he himself realised.

Lupin was grieving for the child that was lost to the world, a child that was forsaken and forgotten, a child who would forever feel alone.

He vowed to help Harry see his self-worth, to help his Godson heal, to help him realise, he had people who cared for him.


Severus stepped out of the floo, to be met with a black kitten that gazed up at him from the floor.

"Hello child" He said gazing at the animal.

The kitten shifted and soon became a teenage girl of 15, with bright blue eyes and long black hair, "Hello Dad," She said with a smile.

"Sit down I have much to discuss with you," He said in his usual tone.

She snapped her fingers and a pot of steaming hot tea appeared on the coffee table between them, "Do I get to go to Hogwarts Dad?" She asked with as much restraint on her bubbly personality as she could.

"To answer your question, yes, and secondly, so will that gang of miscreants you call friends, The headmaster spoke to me this morning about it, you shall all be on a three month trial before you are officially enrolled." He explained.

The girls eyes lit up, "Even Alex and James?" She asked, almost buzzing with anticipation.

"Sylvia, when I say your friends, I refer to young Mr Gareth, James, Young Cassandra, and that damned boy you are so smitten with named alexander" He said with a hand pinching the bridge of his nose.

She gave a small yip of joy and hugged her father, the man was harsh and cold on the outside but he cared for his daughter.

"What happened at school today, you look gloomy dad?" she asked.

"Well it seems you will have a brother, it may only be temporary but I am now his guardian." He said.

"Awesome who is it, a Slytherin?" She said jumping from the couch, for her 15 years she still acted like a child.

To Severus it was a refreshing hint of innocence she still held, unlike the children she had been brought up with, she was the most optimistic and well brought up.

"He shall undergo a change of appearance and have a resorting, he is from Gryffindor, his name is Harry Potter," Said her father.

There it was out for his daughter to know, he knew that she was well known for keeping secrets in her group she was like the unofficial secret keeper in that small gang of outcasts who had lived knowing nothing but war and pain.

The girl paled, "Ray will know," She said shaking a little.

The potions master looked up at her, "Let us hope that the boy has not chosen his father's side," He said.


Meanwhile

A dark haired youth kneeled before a snake like man, his deep grey eyes shimmering a beastly red colour in the candlelight.

The pale wizard sitting upon the throne smiled cruelly, "You know your mission"

The boy clad in leather nodded, 17 years had shaped his eyes into a steely gaze, he arose and looked at the Dark Lord.

"Yes father," He hissed in a serpentine tongue.


To be continued.

RNR, Thanks.

Sorry for any and all mistakes, I'm trying really hard not to make any. Will try and post the next chapter soon.

And thank you for the Favourites, and reviews