Summary: Severus has never done anything for anyone, but what will he do for one small boy named Harry.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the plot
A/N: Of course it is AU.
Chapter 7
The moment they landed Harry began to tremble. "What just happened?" he thought. Not really wanting to know the answer he kept quiet. "This is my home, and from this day on it shall be yours for the time being."
Harry walked behind Severus into the house, but Severus did not speak to him at first. He drew something from his waistband and waved it at the door, speaking in some kind of language that Harry did not understand. When Severus was done there he moved over to the fireplace and did the same thing. Harry stood completely still not knowing what to do. "The house is now warded against everyone but you and I. No one will be able to enter here unless I give them access. This should keep you safe."
Harry thought that was nice of the man to keep him safe from his Uncle. Harry looked around and stared at the pictures hanging on the wall. The pictures were moving, and it almost seemed like they were staring at him. "I am afraid I have not prepared a room for you. If you will wait here I will return in a few moments and show you to your room."
Severus left Harry standing in the sitting room. Harry was scared, and yet he felt out of place here. Instinct kicked in and Harry did what he did when he lived at the Dursley's he grabbed a rag from the table and began dusting. Once the table was dusted he opened the door in the kitchen and found it in disarray. Pushing up his sleeves Harry started scrubbing the table and then made a sink full of soapy water and started scrubbing the floor.
Severus walked into the spare room and saw cobwebs clinging to the ceiling and floors. With a swish of his wand those were gone but the room still looked dreary. The duvet was a drab brown that matched the walls and the dresser. Severus crossed his arms, and then with another swish of his wand the walls and covers on the bed were a bright shade of blue. The blue seemed calming somehow, and he felt pleased. After using the few cleaning spells he knew the room looked ready for a guest, and Severus went to get Harry.
Severus looked in the sitting room and did not see the boy. What Severus did see was that his books were now stacked on the table, the dusted table, and that the newspapers had been picked up and placed on the couch. He was a bit annoyed that the child had stacked his papers as he had them spread out for a reason, but he went into the kitchen thinking the child might have gotten hungry.
When Severus opened the door he saw Harry on his hands and knees, rag in hand scrubbing the floor underneath the table. "What are you doing?" he shouted.
Harry scrambled to stand, knocking over two of the chairs in the process. "I'm sorry, did I miss a spot?"
"Miss a spot? What are you doing scrubbing the floors?"
Harry started to stammer, backing against the wall as Severus approached him. "I didn't mean to make you angry, I just thought I would help out."
Severus kept moving towards Harry and when he placed his hand on Harry's back the boy flinched away on instinct. "Come into the sitting room."
Harry followed though it was at a snail's pace. Once Severus was seated he motioned Harry over towards him. "I know that your relatives were not the most shall we say loving family. I also know that you probably sporting a few welts courtesy of the shopkeeper."
Harry's face blushed. "I am fine really. It doesn't hurt at all."
Severus quirked an eyebrow at that statement. "Be that as it may I am going to see for myself. You will remove your shirt down if you will."
Harry gulped and started to pull his shirt over his head. When Severus gasped he took a step back. "Honestly I deserved them. I shouldn't have taken the cookie."
"No child deserves what has befallen you. I see now that you need a bath before anything can be placed on these welts. Grab your shirt and I will show you the washroom."
Harry grabbed up his shirt, wrapping it around himself, and followed Severus down the hall. He looked at the many closed doors and wondered what was behind them, and then they stopped at the fourth one.
"Come inside boy there is nothing to fear in the washroom," Severus told him, but Harry was fearful. Often his Uncle made it a point of making sure he was clean by scrubbing his back till it was raw.
The bathroom was huge. The sinks were made of marble as was the floor, and the tub was as large as the pool Dudley used when he was smaller. Harry watched in amazement when the bubbles came out of the faucet. He waited till the tub was filled and stared at Severus when he did not leave the room. "Disrobe and get into the tub. I am not going to bite you know."
Harry carefully pulled his shirt away and folded it before putting it on the floor, but when he removed his trousers he heard Severus gasp. Hurriedly he finished removing his clothes and stepped into the tub. The hot water felt great and Harry sank beneath the bubbles. He hadn't dared to look at Severus, but when he did he saw the man's face scrunched up in anger. "I will hurry up and wash and be out very fast."
"Take your time. I shall return in a moment," Severus said before leaning over and picking up Harry's clothes from the floor. Harry became scared that he would not get them back, but the warmth of the tub lulled him into starting his bath.
Severus stalked from the room and back into the sitting room. Once there he tossed the clothes into the trash, and sat down on the sofa, head in his hands. How could someone treat a child that poorly? How could one send a child out in rags? Severus had never known that aspect as he was always supposed to set the example of a pureblood family. Grabbing the brandy glass he took a sip and stood back up. Harry's clothes had been burned, so he walked into his room and transfigured a pair of his own to fit the child for the night. Tomorrow they would go to buy him new clothes.
Harry had finished scrubbing and was now standing in the bathroom, a towel wrapped around him. The hot water had felt good, but it made the welts on his back sting with a new fury. He sat down on the rug when the door opened and Severus came back into the room. "Follow me," he said, and Harry followed the man down two doors. "This is your room while you stay here."
Harry peered into the room and stepped inside. There was a bed, and a dresser and even a closet. In the corner of the room was a desk, with a quill and candle on top of it. The floor was hardwood except for the rug beside the bed, and Harry started to shiver from he chill. Severus seemed to notice this, and with a wave of his wand a fire appeared in the fireplace in the room.
"How did you do that?" Harry ventured to ask.
"Magic of course. A simple spell to light the fire. One you will learn first year if I am not mistaken."
Harry had no idea what the man was talking about and didn't push the point. His Uncle had beat him every time the word magic had been spoken. It must be one of those curse words children were not supposed to say. "You may sleep in these tonight, as I threw those things you called clothes in the trash," Severus remarked, handing Harry the clothes he had shrunk.
Harry went to put the clothes on but Severus stopped him. "First I must apply some balm to those welts for some are quite deep. I cannot believe the shopkeeper did this much damage."
Severus took some balm out and went to spread it across Harry's back and saw the boy flinch. Though his muscles were tensed as if he wanted to run Harry didn't move, until Severus turned him around. Once Severus went to address the bump on his head Harry backed away, placing his hands up in protection. "I will not harm you child." Severus said, pulling the child back to him. He finished up and let Harry get dressed while he went to make them some tea.
Harry was still standing beside the bed when he came back inside. "Drink this as it will warm you up a bit, and let you rest." Harry took the offered cup and sipped at the tea "Any questions you have will wait till tomorrow, as I am tired and I know you are as well."
Harry nodded his head but did not speak until the cup was empty. "Thank you for the tea and the bath. I am grateful for both." Severus shook his head in disbelief and stood up. "I shall come and check on you later. Goodnight Harry."
Severus walked out of the room, leaving the door slightly open so he could hear if the child woke in the night. He walked into the kitchen and set the cups down in the sink, and that is when he lost control of his emotions.
For the last twenty years Severus Snape had not shed a tear, but tonight the memories of days past welled inside him and the tears fell. He vowed he would not let anyone harm Harry again, not if it was within his power to stop them, but the first was making sure no one else found out Harry was here.
Severus sat in the chair at desk. Books and papers were strung about everywhere as he searched for ways to keep Harry and himself safe. if Dumbledore was correct then Voldemort would stop at nothing to get to the boy. Three hours later he rubbed his eyes, and turned off the lamp. Sleep was what he needed so he stood to check on Harry before he went to bed.
Severus opened the door and walked over to the bed. The covers looked as if they had not been slept in. As a matter of fact Severus didn't see the boy anywhere in the room at all, and he began to panic thinking the child had snuck out. Severus leaned down and checked under the bed, and then the bathroom, but found nothing in both places. Next he jerked open the closet to see if the boy was hiding inside and saw the child laying there, curled up, sleeping. "Harry! what on earth are you doing in the closet!"
Harry woke up and moved to the back of the closet, his body trembling in fear. "Come out of there this instant!" Severus yelled. Once Harry was standing beside him he grabbed Harry's arm. "Explain to me why you were in the closet."
Harry acted like a frightened animal, stuttering and rambling. "Calm down, I am not angry. Tell me why you were in the closet."
Harry stared at Severus and saw that he didn't seem angry anymore and explained. "I'm not supposed to sleep in the bed. Beds are for normal people. My Uncle once told me I could sleep in the bed, but when I got in he laughed and whipped me with the belt. He said it was a test, and that I had failed, and then showed me where freaks slept, the closet."
Severus' temper flared to life again, and he wished to go to the Dursley's and finish off Vernon and his wife for what they had done. "As long as you stay here you will sleep in this bed. Is that clear?" Harry nodded his head yes, and Severus took the chair in the room pulling it up beside the bed. "I will sit with you till you fall asleep."
Harry thought the man was very nice to let him sleep in a bed, but once he was in it he was amazed at how soft it was. His whole body seemed to seep into the bed, and he sighed. Laying his head down on the pillow Harry curled up to keep from being cold.
Sighing, Severus realized the child didn't even know how to sleep in a bed. Standing up he pulled the blankets up to cover the child. Harry smiled a bit, and closed his eyes. He was exhausted, and it didn't take long for sleep to claim him. Severus sat there watching, almost as if a parent would over their child. He was amazed at how even the simplest of things seemed to amaze Harry. He also knew he would remedy that very soon. Harry would have a childhood, and those who stood in Severus' way of giving him that would regret it.
A/N: See you next Thursday.
