A/N: A life update: I begin my second year of University on Monday so updates will be slower than they already are. Sorry but, as you all know, life tends to dominate. Hope you enjoy the chapter and please review. Thank you. :]

Harry easily found his new Invisibility Cloak very useful and not long after getting it. He had nightmares relatively often and when he did, it was rare that he could get back to sleep. So, instead, he went for a walk and the Invisibility Cloak quickly came in handy.

It was a couple weeks after the holidays that found Harry silently and invisibly wandering the Hogwarts corridors. He had begun to really know his way around the school on his late night wanderings and had also become proficient at avoiding professors, Filch, and Filch's cat, Mrs. Norris.

He turned a corner on the third floor and stopped dead with a pounding heart when Professor Snape pushed Professor Quirrell against a wall just in front of Harry. Harry jumped violently as he was startled and painfully contained a loud gasp.

"What do you know?" Snape hissed to the stuttering and shaking professor. Harry almost felt bad for Quirrell…almost. He still found Quirrell odd despite his resolve to not judge people.

"I-I-I—wh-what-what do y-you m-m-mean?" Quirrell stuttered nervously.

"You know precisely what I am talking about," Snape snapped. "I know you know something about the break in at Gringotts and I know you know exactly what happened at that Quidditch match. Tell me before I get truly angry."

"I-I-I—"

Harry's eyes widened and he jumped again when Snape's eyes suddenly snapped to exactly where Harry was standing. Throwing his hands over his mouth to try quiet his breathing, he slowly and quietly inched his way around the two professors and to a nearby door. He didn't dare open it, though, and just stood in front of it, staring at his professor who was looking around the corridor with narrowed eyes.

Snape finally turned back to Quirrell. Harry didn't miss the way Quirrell snapped a look of nervousness back on his face.

"This isn't over, Quirrell," Snape said. "You will tell me what you know." He grabbed Quirrell's shoulder and shoved the man down the corridor. Snape looked around once more before following Quirrell and disappearing around the corner.

Harry let out a huge breath of relief and slumped against the door behind him. He was spurred into movement, though, when he heard footsteps growing closer. He quickly turned to the door and pushed it open, slipping inside. On the other side, he put his ear against the door and listened to the steps pause near the door and then continue on. Shaking his head, Harry was about to leave the room when a flash caught his eye.

He turned curiously and found himself looking at a large golden mirror. He let the Cloak slide off his body and to the floor. He took slow steps towards the mirror, unsure if it was dangerous or not. He didn't think it was. It was just a mirror after all. So he walked closer, his reflection growing larger as he did so. He gazed at the top of the mirror where he could see etchings.

Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi.

Harry frowned at the strange language. It wasn't English and it didn't seem to be Latin either even if he didn't know much on the language. He turned his attention to the mirror itself and gazed at his reflection. He didn't understand. Why would a simple mirror be hidden in an abandoned classroom all on its own? He was about to turn and leave when a flash of red stopped him.

Turning back to the mirror, he felt his mouth fall open and his eyes widened as he stared at the two people standing behind him on either side. He felt his eyes immediately begin to water as he looked at the man with shaggy black hair, hazel eyes, and round wire glasses that was smiling down at him gently. He knew that hair anywhere. He fought with it on a daily basis though he had given up the past few years. It was hair that Aunt Petunia despised and had tried to cut several times only to have it grow back overnight.

He looked to the other person and the tears left his eyes. He stared through blurred eyes at the flowing fiery red hair, high cheekbones, full red lips, and bright green eyes. He knew those eyes as well as the shaggy black hair. He had had people comment on his eyes ever since entering the wizarding world. Those eyes looked back at him whenever he looked in a mirror but, as similar as they were, they were also different. His were a touch bright but were guarded.

He stared at his parents as he cried, one hand unconsciously going to the mirror. Lily Potter smiled lovingly at him while James Potter put a hand on Harry's reflection's shoulder.

Harry honestly had no idea how long he stayed in the room in front of the strange mirror. His tears had stopped and he had long since sat on the cool stone floor. His parents didn't really move, only to smile or look at each other or touch his reflection. He had his arms wrapped around his knees as he gazed at his parents, memorizing every detail of them. He was so wrapped up in the image the mirror was sharing that he failed to hear the footsteps that approached from behind.

"Potter," a voice said softly and Harry whirled around. He looked at Snape in terror, already imagining how much trouble he was in and what punishments waited for him.

"Professor, I—"

Snape held up a hand to stop whatever half-hearted explanation he had. "It's time for you to return to your bed," he said and Harry frowned. That was it?

"But I—"

"You are not the first to get trapped by the mirror's gifts," Snape said. "As entrancing as the image is, it would not do to get lost in it."

Harry looked back at the mirror sadly, knowing the professor was right. As much as he loved seeing his parents, it wasn't real and it never would be. His parents were dead and no amount of staring at images of them in a mirror would bring them back. He dropped his eyes to the floor, tears welling up in them and falling down his cheeks. It wasn't fair. Why couldn't he have parents like everyone else? What had he done that made him deserve to be an orphan that no one wanted?

"I believe this is yours," Snape said and Harry found his father's Invisibility Cloak being gently pushed into his hands.

He grasped it, holding it tight to his chest and sobbed. He felt a hand rest lightly on the back of his head and he took a couple of stumbling steps forward until he was leaning against his professor's midsection. He continued holding onto his Cloak but still succeeded in burying his face in Snape's robes. He only cried harder when the professor's hand ran gently through his hair and Snape's other arm went around his shoulders.

"Come along, Mr. Potter," Snape said quietly and tried to steer Harry out of the room. Harry was in no condition, though, and just clutched onto his professor, continuing to cry. He heard Snape sigh but didn't care. "Very well," he heard the man say just before he was being lifted into Snape's arms. Keeping the Invisibility Cloak wrapped in his arms, Harry curled his arms around Snape's neck and buried his face in the man's shoulder. He was chest to chest with his professor and his legs were on either side of Snape's torso. He knew he should've been embarrassed at the situation, position, and his pathetic crying but he couldn't bring himself to care.

They left the room but before continuing down the corridor, Snape stopped and waved his hand at the door, muttering an odd word. Snape carried him through the silent castle and down to the dungeons. He had thought Snape would just bring him back to the Slytherin common room but was surprised when they went the opposite direction. Snape carried him through a sitting room and into a familiar bedroom.

He looked up at Snape in curiosity when the man placed him on the bed he had spent a weekend in recovering from pneumonia.

"I would rather have you here in case you make yourself sick rather than having a student waking me up later on," Snape said, pulling the blankets over his student. "I doubt you want to risk waking Mr. Thomas either."

Harry shook his head, still clutching his Invisibility Cloak.

"I thought as much. Try to relax and get some more sleep," Snape said. "If you feel ill or anything else, you know where my room is."

Harry just nodded and rolled over, holding the Cloak to his chest. He hid a small smile in the Cloak when he felt Snape touch his hair again.

"Potter!"

Harry jumped at the shout, not used to being yelled at in Potions. He was decent at the subject and usually made decent potions. Today, however, he was an absolute disaster. He had knocked over his cauldron while setting up, dropped two ingredients, making salamander blood stain the floor, and he had already had to start over after dropping two extra Kneazle whiskers in the liquid.

Suffice to say, he was absolutely mortified with himself and at having to be yelled at for the third time in one class.

"What are you doing with moonstone instead of limestone?" Snape said, glowering at him.

Harry blanched as he looked at the blue powder. His bottle of limestone was one of the ingredients he had dropped and now he had apparently grabbed the wrong bottle when he tried to replace the limestone in a rush.

"I'm sorry, sir, I took the wrong bottle," Harry said, looking down at his empty cauldron. He had never failed a potion yet and he had no time to start or finish the assigned potion.

"Unbelievable," Snape muttered and waved his wand, sending all the ingredients back to the cabinet. "Detention tonight and fifteen points from Slytherin for ineptness."

"Yes, sir," Harry whispered and continued to clean up his station. There was still twenty minutes of class left but he knew he was done. He cleaned his cauldron and his tools before putting his tools back in his bag. He sat in his seat, hunched over, and decided to read the next chapter in the text until the end of class.

"Everyone out," Snape said at the end of class after telling everyone to bottle their potions. "Be here after dinner, Potter. Eight o'clock."

"Yes, sir," Harry said quietly and followed Dean out of the classroom, ignoring Malfoy's shove with a pinched face.

"Are you okay, Harry?" Dean asked as they headed back to their dorm.

"'M fine," Harry muttered.

"You've been distracted for the last few days," Dean said. "Ever since that night you were gone."

"Just leave it," Harry snapped.

"Sorry," Dean said.

Harry sighed. "Me too."

They walked into their room where they stayed even through dinner.

It was soon near eight and Harry was heading down the corridor to his detention. He knocked on the office door and was permitted entrance. He shuffled inside and up to the professor's desk, his head down. He could feel Snape staring at him but didn't raise his head.

"What happened today, Mr. Potter?" Snape eventually asked and though his tone was neutral, Harry still flinched.

"I don't know, sir," he said quietly.

"You've been distracted since you found the mirror," Snape said and Harry hunched in on himself.

He remembered. The Mirror of Erised, Snape called it. Harry had been unable to put it and its image out of his mind.

"It would appear it was a good thing I requested that mirror be moved. I fear you may have gone looking for it," Snape said.

"I wanted to," Harry said. "Can you blame me?"

"No, I can't," Snape said, startling Harry. "I'm pleased to see you have restraint, however."

"You told me I should stay away from it. I can't disobey an order," Harry said, clasping his hands tightly in front of him.

"I'm not going to beat you if you disobey me," Snape said. "You may get detention and lose points, but I won't hit you."

Harry shrugged. "Didn't seem right to go back anyways."

"Good," Snape said. "Now, have you been distracted by the mirror or by my confrontation with Professor Quirrell?"

Harry blinked, surprised that Snape knew he had been there. Then he shrugged slightly again. "Hadn't thought about that much actually," he said.

"Mr. Potter, look at me," Snape said exasperated. "You are not in trouble."

"I'm not?"

"No. I understand how distracting the mirror can be," Snape said and Harry bit his lip to prevent any personal questions. "I want you to make today's potion so I can avoid failing you for the day."

"I—"

"You have an hour and a half and all the ingredients are out," Snape said, steering Harry to the Potions classroom where his station was set up.

"Thank you, sir."

"Begin." Snape sat at his desk where he graded papers.

Harry brewed the potion easily, only having the potion slightly too thick as his scarab beetles weren't ground quite fine enough. Snape gave him an Exceeds Expectations for the day and had him bottle the rest of the potion. He had Harry label the vials so Snape could send them to Madam Pomfrey.

"Are you feeling any better, Potter?" Snape asked once Harry had cleaned his area.

"A little bit, yeah. I mean, yes," Harry said, nodding. "Thanks, Professor."

Snape inclined his head. "Return to your dorm and I expect to see your usual work on Thursday."

Harry smiled slightly. "Yes, sir." He left the Potions classroom and returned to the Slytherin common room.

Unlike December, January was passing excruciatingly slow. They were just ending the first week when Malfoy decided he hadn't been torturing Harry and Dean enough.

Harry was roughly woken one cold night by Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle. Harry panicked as Malfoy muttered a spell and ropes left his wand, wrapping around Harry and Dean. They tried to yell out for help but neither of them seemed to have a voice.

Malfoy smirked at them. "Let's take a nighttime stroll."

Crabbe and Goyle swung Harry and Dean over their shoulders. Following Malfoy, they left the Slytherin common room. Malfoy was sure to look around corners as he led the way out of the dungeons and to the Grand Staircase. They walked up to the forbidden third floor and walked through the door without pause.

Harry was fighting to remain somewhat calm, knowing a panic attack wouldn't help the situation. He and Dean continued to struggle against their bindings despite being roughly jostled by Crabbe and Goyle.

They stopped walking and Harry frowned at the muffled noise he could hear. What was it? Was it the reason the third floor was forbidden? He and Dean were dropped to their feet, but Crabbe and Goyle kept holding them tightly. Malfoy waved his wand again and mumbled a couple of spells that Harry didn't know. Whatever they were released the ropes and returned their voices. Harry and Dean fought against Malfoy's thugs despite knowing it was useless.

"Well, let's see if you're Slytherin enough to get out of this," Malfoy sneered. He waved his wand at the door, once again muttering a strange word. He then pulled the door open and Harry and Dean were shoved inside, the door slamming shut behind them.

Harry and Dean stared at the angry three-headed dog in complete horror. The dog—dogs?—began snapping their jaws. Being so large, Harry assumed it was difficult to see them if they didn't move.

With cries of terror, Harry and Dean turned around, pounding on the door and begging to be let out. The dog swiped out with one of its giant paws, throwing them both to the side. Harry and Dean hit the stone wall with cries of pain and tried to curl up to avoid the vicious claws and snapping teeth. Their pajamas were torn to pieces and nearly ripped off their bodies. Their skin was slashed, staining the surrounding skin with blood. They screamed and tears fell down their cheeks. They held onto each other and pushed as far against the wall as possible, praying for the nightmare to end.

"Malfoy!" Snape snapped, stalking up to Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle. The three first years stopped in their tracks and looked up at their professor. "You had better have a good reason for being out so long after curfew."

"We were following Potter and Thomas, sir," Malfoy lied easily. "I heard them talking in the dorms and they said they were leaving."

"And where did they go?" Snape said, crossing his arms.

"We followed them up to the third floor, sir," Malfoy said. "We came straight back here to tell you."

Snape scrutinized them, knowing the boy was lying. "Ten points from each of you for being out after curfew. Now go to bed and stay there."

"But, sir! Potter and Thomas!" Malfoy protested.

"I am going to get them not that it is any of your concern," Snape said. "Get back to your dorm unless you want to lose more points and perhaps gain a detention."

Malfoy glowered at him and then stomped away in a huff with Crabbe and Goyle following. Snape watched them for a few moments to be sure they were actually going back to the common room. He then turned and walked off, heading quickly for the third floor. He raced down the corridor, moving faster when he heard screaming at the end. He whipped out his wand and cast Alohomora, unlocking the door before he even arrived at it.

Snape threw the door open and mentally flinched at the enraged Cerberus. He immediately cast a spell at the small harp that sat in the right hand corner. The small instrument began to play a soft tune and it was only a few minutes before the body was lying down and the three heads were asleep. Once he was sure the dog was asleep, Snape rushed over to the two sobbing and bloody boys in the corner.

"Potter, Thomas," Snape said quietly. The boys continued to cry, clutching at each other though Snape was sure they were in pain. "You're all right now. The dog's asleep."

"P-Professor?" Dean whispered.

"It's me," Snape confirmed. "Can the two of you move? Can you walk?"

"I-I think I can," Dean said, sniffing. "I dunno about Harry."

Snape ignored the slurred speech for now. The boys had plenty of reasons to not speak entirely proper. "Potter? Potter, look at me."

It was then he and Dean realized that Harry was muttering to himself through his sobs. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. My fault, be better, my fault, be better."

"Potter," Snape said, wondering if he should risk touching the child when he knew Harry was badly abused. "Potter," he said again more firmly. Harry still remained unresponsive and Snape sighed, wondering how to proceed. He was also wondering how he could murder a student as well known as Draco Malfoy without being discovered.

"I'm sorry, my fault, be better. I'm sorry, my fault, be better," Harry continued to mumble, still holding tightly to Dean's arm.

Snape took a chance. "Harry," he said, touching his fingertips to Harry's knee.

The contact and change in address was successful. Harry's whispered words stopped, as did his shaking, and he slowly looked over at Snape.

"Harry?" Snape said again. One of Harry's bloody hands slid down until it could lightly touch Snape's on his knee. It was as though Harry was confirming that Snape was real. "I must bring you to the hospital wing. You both need medical care."

Dean nodded. Harry just grasped onto Snape's hand.

"All right," Snape said. "Come on." He held onto Harry's hand and carefully pulled the boy to his feet, helping Dean afterwards. Harry stumbled, one of his legs refusing to cooperate. Snape immediately swung the child into his arms, settling him easily on a hip and wrapping one of his arms around Dean.

Nudging Dean into movement, they slowly made their way down to the first floor to find the infirmary. In the hospital wing, he pointed Dean to a bed and placed Harry in one. He was going to get Pomfrey but was halted by Harry's refusal to release his hand. Instead he just called for the matron.

"Do you realize what time it is, Severus Snape?" Madam Pomfrey huffed, rushing out of her rooms and tying a robe shut.

"I always believed time meant nothing when a student was in need of medical care," Snape sneered. Pomfrey glared at him slightly but moved forward to treat Harry and Dean.

"What happened?" she asked.

"Dumbledore's brilliant idea to keep a three-headed dog in the school," Snape said.

"What were you two doing on the third floor?" Pomfrey scolded the two boys.

"I do not believe they were there of their own freewill," Snape said. "I have reason to believe that Mr. Malfoy was involved."

Pomfrey shook her head and continued waving his wand to discover all the injuries inflicted on Harry and Dean. She ended up just stating the obvious. Both boys were littered with cuts of various depths, bruises, and Harry had a sprained ankle. She gave them potions and spread salves on their cuts and bruises. She mended Harry's ankle and gave them both Sleeping Potions.

"This is not the way Hogwarts is supposed to be," Pomfrey said once the boys were asleep. "They should be safe in their dorms, not in more danger."

"I am speaking to Dumbledore tomorrow," Snape said. "I am asking Malfoy to be suspended. I am also taking guardianship of Potter. He cannot go back to his relatives' and he needs someone here at the school that he can go to."

"I was unaware you cared for him so much," Pomfrey said.

"He was just left for dead and after everything, it is difficult not to care somewhat," Snape said, looking down at Harry. "He has never had a single adult in his life. Those who were supposed to help him beat him instead or left him to live with the abuse."

"He has had a hard, sad life," Pomfrey said.

"It hasn't been a life at all," Snape muttered, pulling the blankets just a little higher up Harry's chest.

"He deliberately locked Potter and Thomas in that room, knowing exactly what would happen to them, knowing that neither boy would know any spells to unlock the door," Snape argued with Dumbledore the next morning.

"You act as though this was premeditated murder, Severus," Dumbledore said.

"That's exactly what it was!" Snape said. "Malfoy bound Potter and Thomas while they were asleep and brought them to the third floor. He locked the door after pushing Potter and Thomas inside. For whatever reason, Malfoy has it out for Thomas and Potter. He is continuously harassing them, trying to hurt them or get them in trouble. This is not simple bullying. This was attempted murder."

"Severus, I truly think you are overreacting," Dumbledore said serenely. "Harry and Dean are fine, are they not? They have been healed and have no lasting damage."

"Except nightmares for the next month about being mauled by a giant three-headed dog," Snape sneered.

"The nightmares will pass," Dumbledore said and Snape glowered at him.

"I demand that Malfoy is at least suspended," Snape said. "No less than two weeks."

"Severus—"

"I am the boy's Head of House and, as such, have the final say in his punishment," Snape said. "My final decision is two weeks of suspension. He will return home for these two weeks and when he returns, he has to leave Potter and Thomas alone. He will not be allowed to confront either of them."

"You cannot stop students from interacting," Dumbledore said.

"I'll do my best," Snape growled.

Dumbledore sighed. "Very well. You said there was another issue you wished to discuss."

"I want guardianship of Potter," Snape said bluntly.

"It is impossible," Dumbledore said. "His relatives have custody and he is required to stay with them. The blood wards must remain intact."

"There are several flaws in what you just said," Snape said. "His relatives do not want custody. They beat the boy. He can be just as well protected anywhere else so he does not have to stay there. The blood wards are only effective if the boy considers that place home which I can guarantee he does not."

"The wards are still active," Dumbledore said. "He has yet to say it is not home and so they are still effective. As such, he must return."

"He's not going back there," Snape argued. "I will not stand by and let you condemn him to abuse for the next six years the way you did to me. He will leave there and he will come with me."

"You act as though you care for him," Dumbledore said. "The son of James Potter."

"Yes," Snape said. "The son of James Potter, an abused Slytherin. Remember the same thing you've always told me. He's also Lily's son. His parents have nothing to do with any of this. They're dead, he's not. I care for my students especially when they are nearly murdered and when they are constantly abused. This school is supposed to be a haven but Potter has yet to experience that."

"And that is something you can provide?" Dumbledore said.

"I know I can," Snape said through clenched teeth. "You will get me guardianship because you know I'll just kidnap the boy if you don't and bring him so far away you'll never find him ever again."

Dumbledore sighed. "Very well."

Snape stalked out of the office, heading off to inform Malfoy of his suspension and Harry of his new guardian.

A/N: And the extent of Malfoy's sadism comes to light. Yes, he is actually capable of murder in my story unlike in canon. The run-in with Fluffy happened but not in nearly the same way as in canon. I would also like to thank the reviewer who agreed that a third person does not have to be added to Dean and Harry. Thank you for understanding. Hope you enjoyed the chapter and please review. Thanks. :]