Severus: (Walks up without being told this time) Harry Potter, character, names, and related indicia are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. and J.K. Rowling.
Ser-Chan: However the plot and ideas in this story (or rather the way they are combined and used and any original material or characters) are (c) of YPS (Yaoi Princess Serena aka Ser-Chan and Yami Ser) please if you want to use my idea JUST ASK!!! If you want to archive my story, just ask about that too okay? Though it can be found on our site as well.
Yami Ser: Also now hints of DH information, but twisted to fit our story. I had no idea she was going to use the name Ariana! (scowls)
Ser-Chan: Also to Mie Mie our site can be found through our member page on here, but it hasn't been updated for sometime. (frowns)
Darkness – Chapter 7 – Revealing the Nightmare
"I never imagined…" Albus said trailing off, shaking his head slightly. He then looked up noticing that Ron and Draco were still there. "I'm sorry my boys, as much as I would like to let you know what's going on, that's really for Harry to explain to you. Please head back to your rooms." Albus said, at the moment not really caring about which room they ended up in.
"I don't think so Sir! What's wrong with Harry?!" Ron yelled out, not caring who he was talking too.
"Mister Weasley! Draco, you're a smart lad, please take your little boyfriend back to the Gryffindor Tower. And 20 points from Gryffindor for speaking back to the Headmaster." Severus finally spoke up, trying to keep his tone bored, but there was no venom behind the house point deduction like there usually was. Draco nodded quickly at what was said to him. From the look on Ron's face Severus knew they would probably be back with that damned invisibility cloak of Harry's once the rest of them were off to bed.
"Ron come on, I think I know what's happening and I'll explain it back in the common room, to you and Hermione both." He said in a whisper so that only Ron could hear him.
With an angry sigh and few more protests and then finally a nod Ron allowed Draco to lead him out of the Hospital Wing and back to the Gryffindor Tower. Once the two were gone from sight if not hearing range Severus finally commented on Albus's earlier remark.
"That's just it Albus, none of us even tried to imagine, we didn't question things when we should have, you of all people never do when it comes to Potter." Snape snapped out at the older man.
With a heavy heart Albus nodded his head knowing full well he had a hand in all of this, whether he had meant to or not. And now, he couldn't get the image of Harry's battered body out of his mind.
When the spell had dropped all of the spells and charms that Harry had placed on himself, Albus found himself taking a step backwards from the boy. The first thing he noticed was Harry's face, there was a large angry gash that looked halfway healed along the left side of his temple and Albus couldn't help but this that's where Vernon had hit him. The right side of Harry's face was swollen and bruised also. Then there was the bruising on Harry's chest and ribs. The skin was so discolored it looked almost black, the bruising also continued down his abdomen and dipped down below the waistband of his boxers.
Albus's gaze was then drawn to Harry's left arm; the bruising was around the shoulder socket indicating that it had been displaced for sometime and there was some bruising down his left forearm as if it had been slammed in something. His over looking of Harry's body was then caught off shortly after he had started as Poppy had shooed him and Severus out of the room, closing the door behind them.
Albus and Severus then sat in silence for the next few minutes as Poppy was busy looking over Harry until the medi-witch finally stepped out of the room, her eyes red and her head bowed slightly.
"Albus…" she trailed off, obviously not wanting to say what she had too, so he saved her the trouble.
"Oh my dear, they didn't?" He asked even though he knew it was hopeless to ask for her to say otherwise. The bruises the boy had suffered were just too much for it to be anything else at least as far as Albus was concerned. With a small sniffle Poppy simply nodded her head before stepping back into the room and closing the door once more.
"Foul vermin! I'll kill them myself!" Albus bellowed, his emotions finally getting the better of him.
"You won't get that chance Albus." Severus said simply. At his words Albus's hard gaze turned to him.
"Severus…" he started firmly, but trailed off when Severus shook his head in the negative.
"No I didn't, but I may have done something that made Dursley Senior kill his son and then himself." Severus said dryly. Surprisingly enough at the information Albus smirked slightly, a dark smirk, one that wouldn't be associated with the old man, but one that Severus knew he was capable of.
"Nothing less than they deserved I'm sure." He remarked until his gaze turned hard again and he looked at Severus. "But you knew Severus, and yet you said nothing!" Albus snapped out.
"I couldn't tell you anything Albus, especially something like that, something I shouldn't have even known in the first place!" Severus snapped back at the older man. Before Albus could respond though Poppy stepped back out, obviously finally finished with her evaluation.
"What the extent of the damage Poppy?" Albus asked turning his full attention to her and ignoring Severus.
"He's suffered so much Albus." She said sadly. "He's got extensive bruising, which I'm sure you saw, I managed to finally reset his shoulder properly, three fractured ribs, which was causing a small amount of internal bleeding, and lastly the rapes." She said, but before she could finish Albus cut her off.
"Rapes?! You mean it happened more than once?!" He yelled out causing both Poppy and the medi-witch the portrait to jump at his tone.
"By the looks of it Albus, it's been happening since last year, but I can only track the damage back to the previous five times." She said wishing there was more she could do. "With the potions and charms at my disposal I can have his body back in one piece in two days, but with loosing his sight and everything else, I can't attest to his emotional state of mind, that could take years." She said sounding more depressed than Severus had ever heard her.
Severus finally turned his attention back to Albus, who looked pale and suddenly very much his age. Albus slowly brought a hand up to his brow before he started to speak again.
"Do what you can for him Poppy. Severus, come with me." He said sternly before heading for the door. "And Poppy, He is to have no visitors." He added before walking out.
Severus started to make his way to the door, but paused for a moment and turned back around, walking back into the room where Harry was being kept. He looked for a moment at the teen's pained expression, even as he was in a magically induced sleep. He wasn't sure what made him do it, but Severus reached into his robe pocket and pulled out a small stone, it was dark green in color, but with fleck of red and black running all through it. He placed it in the pocket of the pajama top Harry was now wearing before turning and heading from the room and the Infirmary as well.
Even as Severus approached Albus's office he still couldn't figure out what had made him give Harry the stone, the stone was in fact a gift to him from his own mother before she took her own life. He pushed the thoughts aside and walked into the older man's office.
"Sit down Severus." Albus said motioning to the seat across from his desk. Severus did as he was told, but said nothing. "So let me get this right my boy, you knew what happened, but you didn't tell me?" He asked his voice deathly even.
"I only just found out myself Albus; you can't honestly think I would keep something like that from you for long. I'm not that heartless Uncle." Severus snapped out. He honestly felt offended by the way Albus was treating him at the moment. At this bit of information Albus's face softened a little.
"My apologies Severus, but ever since Harry has come to the school Minerva and I have looked at him as our own, very much like we do with you." He said almost sadly. At this Severus nodded, but his face remained serious.
"And that's exactly why you didn't see what was happening to the boy." Severus said firmly ignoring the comment involving himself. "It doesn't excuse you anymore than it excuses me from not seeing it either." He said more to himself than anything, but Albus still heard it, but didn't comment on Severus's obvious slip of the tongue.
"I suppose the only question left it what to do with young Harry. Christmas is fast approaching, and with his power surges happening, as well as trying to cope with his new condition, Sirius and Remus aren't very good candidates to take him in." Albus said trailing off slightly and fixing Severus with a look. At this Severus quickly realized what the older man wanted.
"Oh no you don't Albus! I've already got my hands full taking in Lucius and Draco! God knows that Weasley boy will be there to spend time with Draco." Severus muttered out with a visible shudder at the thought of a Weasley in his family home.
"Severus there's no one else to take him that can handle him, not now." Albus said almost sadly. At this Severus glared at his Uncle with a frown on his face.
"Care to tell me why you can't take him, or why he can't even stay here in the castle?" He snapped out quickly.
"Come now Severus, you know your Aunt wants to spend the holiday with her family this year, and far be it from me to deny her." He said as the damned twinkle, that Severus hated so much made its way back into Albus's eyes.
"Haven't I done enough for the boy already this year?" Severus muttered out bringing a hand to his head with a small sigh. At this Albus gave a slight shrug of his shoulders.
"Please Severus, as a favor for your Uncle." Albus said, the twinkle in his eyes increasing ever so slightly. At his request Severus scowled even more than before and stood back up slowly before leaning forward and placing his hands on Albus's desk and looking the older man dead in the eye.
"This is the last time I do anything for you." He bit out before turning on his heel and heading back out of the office slamming the doors closed behind him.
"Oh my boy, you already care for him more than you want to admit." Albus mused aloud to himself, but he wasn't all that surprised as Fawkes let out a noise of agreement.
It wasn't until he was halfway to his destination that Severus realized that his feet were carrying him back to the Infirmary. He paused for a moment looking at the doors thoughtfully before taking a step inside. He the looked around for a moment to find that Poppy was no where to be found, then again once the spells were in effect and the Potions where given there was only so much she could do and she wouldn't do Harry any good if she were tired. With small sigh to himself Severus pushed the door open and stepped into the room, and quickly found that Harry wasn't alone.
There surrounding him were Ron, Draco, and Hermione. The three looked truly distraught and from the looks on their faces it was more than obvious that they hadn't seen their friend without his charms, and that they now had a pretty good idea about what had happened to him. The three all turned quickly to see Severus, but before they could open their mouths to try and explain Severus gave a small shake of his head.
"You have nothing to explain to me, but 5 points from Gryffindor and 5 points from Slytherin, you lot are no good to him if you aren't rested. No arguments go." Ron and Hermione said nothing, too shocked by seeing Harry and Severus's attitude towards them, so they headed towards the doors, Ron trying to calm the girl down. As he approached the door to the room Draco turned.
"Severus, he's going to be alright, isn't he?" The blond asked clearly worried about his new friend. At this Severus tried to shake his head and nod all at the same time, when he couldn't he simply sighed instead.
"His body will be fine in about two days time, but he's going to need you and those other two more than ever, but you must not tell him you know. That would hurt him more than anything right now." Severus said simply before motioning towards the door. "Now get going." He said simply. Draco gave a small nod before turning and heading to catch up with the other two.
Once he was gone from sight Severus moved to the chair in the room to Harry's bedside and simply sat there for a long moment studying the sleeping teen. He didn't know how long it was he had been sitting there when Harry's blank eyes suddenly sprang open darting towards Severus. The older man damn near fell from his chair as Harry sat up quickly.
"You let this happen; all of you did this to me!" He yelled out as things in the small room started to rattle and smash. "How could you?" The teen choked out.
Severus was gob smacked to say the least, he couldn't believe what he was hearing, or even seeing for that matter, but still there was nothing he could say that would disprove what Harry had said, they were all to blame for not seeing the signs when they were there. What Severus couldn't wrap his mind around was the fact that Harry was up and talking. There was simply no way he should have been, but the fright and hurt in the teens face was definitely real. Severus stood on suddenly shaky legs and moved over to the edge of Harry's bed before seating himself.
"Potter." At hearing the sound of his name Harry stiffened and turned his head as best he could in Severus's direction.
"I- I didn't know anyone was here." He said, a small tremor passing through his body, which war obviously caused by the potions that Poppy had given him.
"From the way you were talking, I thought you did." Severus said dryly. At this Harry tilted his head slightly as though confused by what Severus was saying.
"What do you mean by the way I was talking?" He asked sounding as confused as he looked. At this Severus looked at him in shock.
"What do you mean, what do I mean? You just sat right up and accused everyone of letting this happen to you, and you don't remember?" At this Harry shook his head sadly and pulled his knees up to his chest. I'll have to mention this to Albus Severus thought to himself. "You should be sleeping Potter." Severus said as he tried to help Harry lay back down, but as he did so Harry started to struggle slightly.
"Please no! I can't take the nightmares anymore!" He cried out grabbing onto the front Severus's robe once more. At his words Severus froze and glanced down at the near hysterical teen before wrapping an arm around him lightly.
"All right Harry, calm down." Severus said starting to speak to Harry as he would perhaps Draco when he was upset. Harry's breathing slowly started to even out and the items in the room started to settle once more, but his grip on Severus remained deathly tight. "Come on Harry, you're safe now." Severus said hoping that he was sounding something akin to soothing.
"But for how long? Who's ever going to want me now?" Harry muttered out, seemingly more to himself than Severus, but the man answered the question anyway.
"I'm going to make you a promise Mister Potter; I will do everything in my power to help you through this, as long as you don't give up." Severus said. He knew he was going out on a limb, but in the back of his mind he also knew that the teen needed something to hang on to at the moment. When he listened closely the voice that was telling him to be that something sounded an awful lot like his mother. Gods he missed her voice. She was far more pleasant to listen to in his mind than Albus or his father.
At his words Harry sniffled for a moment, but his grip slowly started to loosen on Severus's robe as he slowly nodded his head.
"I promise too Sir, thank you." Harry said softly. He then looked thoughtful for a moment. "Sir, how much would it cost me to hire you to try and find a way to reverse this potion?" He asked motioning towards he still unseeing eyes.
"That, Mister Potter would be an honor to help you with." Severus said before standing back up from the bed. As he did though, he noticed the worried look that passed over Harry's face. "A question?" Severus asked. At this Harry nodded, and started to toy with his fingers.
"Who are you and what have you done with Severus Snape?" Harry asked. At the question Severus stopped moving for a moment and looked in Harry's direction thoughtfully.
Had he really changed all that much over the past few months? Yes, he supposed he had, but the change hadn't been all at once, nor had it been an easy one. He knew he would always have his vicious moments, but for now he was simply going to go with it, at least for the time being.
"I assure you Harry Potter that I am still me, just as you are still you. But I think that we have a bit of a better understanding of each other, or rather you're finally meeting the Severus that Draco and Albus know. I'd appreciate it very much if you didn't let Albus know about any of this though. I've a feeling that the old coot is planning something already." Severus said with annoyed grumble.
At this Harry simply nodded and continued to think of Severus's words as the Potions Master went about locating some Dreamless Sleep Potion for the younger man. When he found it he headed back into the room and handed a small bit to Harry who, like a semi decent potions student, smelled it for poisons, and Severus was sure that if the teen had still had his wand on him he would have checked it, but satisfied with his smell test Harry downed the potion and settled back down.
Severus moved back towards the doorway continued to watch Harry as the teens eyes started to droop lower.
"Potter, I do have some bad news for you though, it seems Albus would think it best if you spent your Christmas Holiday with me. Sleep well." He said with a small frown creeping across his face.
"What?!" Was all Harry managed to get out before the potion kicked in and knocked him out, but as he drifted off the only thought on his mind was: What's that sneaky old man have up his sleeve now?
SerChan: I didn't like it as much as I thought I would… (grumbles)
YamiSer: Severus seemed a bit OOC in that chapter.
SerChan: I KNOW! (glares) I didn't do it on purpose. (pouts) I'll try to fix it next chapter.
Harry: x.X
SerChan: Oops! Forgot he was like that again, everyone R+R!
