Chapter 7
Harry was stunned by the way he was being treated, and baffled at what he could have done to warrant this. Not only was he being sent to Azkaban, he was being sent without trial as well. He could not believe Ginny would accuse him of raping her, even worse he was shocked that people would believe such things. He would have said months ago that Dumbledore would help him, however now he knew better.
As the weeks passed by, he was treated worse than he had ever been before. He was not even getting treated properly for a prisoner, he was sure there must be human rights in this place similar to the muggle world. He was cold since he didn't even have a blanket, and the toilet in his cell didn't work. He was not getting much food; the gruel he was given was regularly spat on by the Aurors bringing it.
As the days went by, he got angrier at the Wizarding World. He became bitter and resented everyone. The rags he had on smelled of urine; obviously they had been given to him unwashed from one of the other prisoners. He was disgusted with that fact, but there was nothing he could do about it.
However, he was lucky to have a window in his cell, and he could see the moon. He knew they had put him there because it was colder. Sometimes water made its way into through the window as well. When the water rose and bashed against Azkaban prison it sometimes got into his cell. He was not that far up really.
Curling up in a ball, he tried to get as much heat as possible, but it was useless. The Dementors of Azkaban sucked the happiness out of him, but what's more, they left a cold deep within his soul and down to his very bones. He felt like no amount of heat would ever make him warm again.
Sighing in defeat, he wished sleep would come, but it never did, not really, none that were not plagued with nightmares. They included Dumbledore and the whole Order laughing at him, Voldemort killing him, or other similar horrors. The most haunting and regular dream was the one where he watched his parents die; he knew every sound that was made in the house now. Cedric dying, Sirius falling though the veil... so no, his sleep was constantly interrupted and horrific when he did manage to sleep.
Harry's ears perked up when he heard noises. He could not see, so he had to rely on his other senses for now. Looking up he saw a black thing at the window of his cell. Frowning, he wondered what it was. It looked like a bird or bat or something like that, and it swooped down and turned into an even bigger bat. Harry didn't care about anything or anyone anymore, and didn't care if this person was here to kill him. To be honest he would prefer that to any more days in this hell. He recognized the voice as soon as it spoke.
"Harry," said the voice.
There was only one person with that kind of voice. Severus Snape, Potions Master at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"What do you want? Have you come to gloat?" whispered Harry in a tone that clearly expressed his defeat.
"Why would I want to do that?" retorted Severus, coming over nearer to Harry.
"Why not? The famous Boy-Who-Lived is finally getting what was coming to him. Bet you had a real laugh behind my back with Malfoy," spat Harry bitterly. He had actually liked the man, but Snape didn't want him, just his body and his magic.
"Ah, Draco... well, let's just say he will never cross me again. He certainly got what he deserved. I was not using you, for your information, Harry. I did and still do genuinely want to help you," Severus replied, softly putting his cloak around Harry after looking around in disgust, not seeing so much as a blanket to keep warm with.
"Right, just like everyone else," continued Harry disdainfully.
"No. I really want to help you, care for you, and love you," promised Severus softly.
"Just like Ginny," sneered Harry, coughing harshly. He couldn't remember how long it had been since he had needed to use his voice.
"Ginny was using you. I, however, would not," vowed Severus, getting annoyed.
"Why are you here?" asked Harry changing the subject.
"Because I wanted to see you," explained Severus.
"You have seen me, now you can go," uttered Harry, feeling completely depressed.
"If that's what you want," asked Severus, reaching to take his cloak back for he could not leave it here. Otherwise they would know someone had been in his cell and that was the last thing he needed. If the cloak was discovered, they would move Harry down to the most secure cells at the very bottom.
"NO! DON'T!" pleaded Harry, realizing he didn't want Severus to go.
"You just said you wanted me to leave," reminded Severus softly.
"I don't" said Harry, desperately shaking his head, trying to convince Snape.
"Very well," said Severus leaving the cloak on Harry. He did not want to blackmail the boy; he had genuinely come to care for the young man who was lying broken right across from him in a dirty substandard cell in Azkaban.
"What's been happening?" asked Harry, obviously relishing the warmth of the cloak, knowing it was only temporary.
"Not much. The Order is happy you are out of the way; Ginny is still pregnant of course," explained Severus neutrally.
"I see," said Harry, feeling more horrible.
"I know you didn't do it," said Severus gently.
"Obviously. Dumbledore probably told the Order I didn't do it," believed Harry.
"Actually, they all believe you did do it, Ginny is playing the perfect rape victim. Getting mail and presents for everything she has gone through. The Weasley's have even gotten quite a bit of money from all of the sympathizers, enough to get new clothes and then some," sneered Severus.
"That would be my money they are spending," corrected Harry stiffly.
"Could be," agreed Severus, shrugging his shoulders, "You could stop them you know."
"How?" asked Harry, not believing him.
"How do you think the Malfoys still have their money? Because he shuts his vaults down. He is the heir to the Malfoy fortune... of course certain people can get in, those with the Malfoy blood, unless they are disowned," said Severus softly.
"Oh, tell me how," requested Harry, feeling more aware than he had in a while.
"Just say 'I, Harry James Potter, heir of the Potter and Evans lines, hereby order my vaults to be sealed and closed until I say otherwise,'" explained Severus.
"And it will work?" asked Harry frowning.
"Of course," sniffed Severus, sounding insulted.
"I, Harry James Potter, heir of the Potter and Evans lines, hereby order all of my inheritances and vaults to be sealed and closed until I hereby state otherwise," said Harry clearly.
"It should have worked. They will all have quite a surprise when they cannot get into your vaults anymore," smirked Severus, amused at the chaos this would create.
"Good," said Harry, smirking in dark satisfaction that mirrored Snape's.
"Do you want out of here, Harry? Or do you wish to wait until you are proven innocent?" asked Severus curiously.
"Proven innocent? Ha! Right! As if that will ever happen," sneered Harry.
"Well, actually, I am working on it," revealed Severus, frowning.
"Good luck with that. I suppose I will stay in here until I'm proven innocent," decided Harry sadly.
"Dumbledore would not let you stay here too long. He would not want to risk his pawn's sanity," confirmed Severus harshly.
"I know," admitted Harry dejectedly.
"Are you hungry?" asked Severus as if he was just remembering something.
"Starving. They have not given me anything for a while, and what they did give me had spit in it," revealed Harry sourly.
"I see," said Severus, silently handing over a wizarding flask with soup in it.
"Thank you," said Harry, practically downing the soup, which warmed him up instantly.
"You're welcome," said Severus sounding preoccupied. "Harry, is there a chance this child could not be yours?" posed Severus gently.
"Mmm…probably if she was sleeping around behind my back," said Harry, sounding like even he doubted his own words.
"I doubt she would chance it," figured Severus doubtfully.
"Me neither," said Harry miserably.
"I will do all that I can. Another two days and they will know for sure who the father is. They will no doubt do a test as soon as possible," said Severus.
"I hope it's not mine," Harry mumbled.
'And I as well,' thought Severus, who just nodded quietly.
"You better go, the Dementors will be here in a few minutes," said Harry, feeling their effects on him and shivering as a result.
"Drink this Harry," said Severus. He knew Harry would be able to sense them quicker than anyone else. He was offering Harry a dreamless sleeping potion, Harry practically grabbed it out of Severus' hands and drank it in a single gulp.
"Stay safe" whispered Severus, taking the cloak back. Before Harry could even try and move away, Severus kissed Harry softly but passionately. He would have Harry even if he had to beg for him. He was a Dark Lord, he should not have to beg, but he would. He would do anything to have a young man with his kind of power with him by his side. Severus was not as stupid as Voldemort, nor as daft as Dumbledore to think potions and spells would get them anywhere. Dumbledore had made a mistake in trusting him, and it would be his downfall, hopefully with Harry by his side.
"Hope you didn't hurt Draco too much," said Harry sarcastically, smirking slightly. He was no longer a Gryffindor; that side of him had broken when the spells had come off. Yawning interrupted his smirk, as his eyes fought to stay open a little longer.
"Don't worry," assured Severus smirking back. Knowing Harry was hoping he had, and probably envisioning it right now.
"Goodbye," said Severus to the sleeping young man, he left a piece of chocolate beside Harry's hand. He would have put it in his hand but chocolate melts, and that would have ruined it. There wasn't a packet there, just the chocolate so no one would know any the wiser. Transforming into a bat, he flew out the window and swooped away from Azkaban to make the tiring trip back to Hogwarts, needing to work off some anger instead of simply getting far enough away and apparating.
Edited by Jordre.