New Beginning's

Chapter 7

Harry's adjusting

Harry woke up early the next morning, he could remember everything from the previous day or at least he assumed it was yesterday. Harry didn't know why, but he could sense it was morning which was rather…strange. He could smell things, things he shouldn't possibly be able to smell, hear things, and his eyesight was better. Despite the fact this room had no window, no light he could see at all. Was this all part of being a vampire? It seemed so. The room was beautiful, and this bed was the most comfortable thing he had ever lay on. Considering the only other thing, he had sat or lay on, was a small lumpy disgusting mattress or the floors, it was probably heaven. He had never been this warm either, he only had a small cover, with his name on it, he had once been blue. Unfortunately it was disgusting now, blood, pee, dirt and all other manners of things were stuck on it. He wasn't allowed to wash it, or his cupboard, his aunt and forbidden it.

Severus could sense Harry was awake; once more he reinforced the feelings of safety. He planned on removing it after a few days. Perhaps by then Harry would at least trust him a small measure. At least not be completely terrified, that he could feel it, as if it were his own, through the bond. "Hello, are you ready for breakfast, Harry?" asked Severus making sure to make enough noise coming in as not to startle Harry. He knew how Harry was used to being woken up, his aunt usually screeched at the top of her lungs, through the vent in the cupboard. Not just that but she would hammer at the door, wakening Harry rather violently from his restless sleeping state. Then his cousin would come and jump up and down on the step, sending legions of dust and dirt down on Harry.

"Yes sir," said Harry getting up, strangely enough he could smell it, had the man gotten impatient and began making it himself. He wondered silently if he was in trouble, then again he was always trouble. Just his mere presence was enough to make everyone angry. His gym teacher hated him more than anything else in the world. Only because Harry never had a gym kit, where was he supposed to get one? His aunt and uncle wouldn't waste money on acquiring the gym kit the school required people wearing. Or a t-shirt or shorts altogether, she didn't even attempt to make something for him. She always made things for him, such as his uniform from old clothes that belonged to Dudley. Mostly everyone looked at him utterly disgusted when they saw him in his made school uniform. Which didn't keep him warm in the winter, sometimes the teacher took pity on him and loaned him a sweater. Of course the second he got in it was taken from him, she would have given it to Dudley. Unfortunately he was far too big, for any of the sweaters he had been given. Then she had proceeded to tell them, not to give him any because he destroyed them. Just like the new school uniform she bought him at the start of the year.

The teachers of course believed her, after all Dudley was always impeccably dressed, even if he was a little rough when playing. The two children under her roof if anything was amiss it would be both of them. Teachers were useless beings, who ignored whatever they didn't want to see, such as it was Harry was a scared young boy.

Severus followed Harry out; aware of what the poor child was thinking, without even needing to read his mind. He watched Harry like a hawk; the confusion was wafting off him in waves. As he looked at the table full of food, but the confusion turned to fear. Severus sighed, the child thought he was in trouble already, he wondered how long it would take to kick those habits in the bud.

"Sir?" questioned Harry looking alarmingly sick.

"Sit down," said Severus, his heart clenching in agony when Harry sat down on the floor, expectantly waiting for more orders. Merlin, thank Merlin Lily wasn't here to see the state of her little boy, or she would have committed murder. He doubted anyone could love as much as Lily had, so veraciously, so…unprejudicedly, and so lovingly. This poor child didn't realize what his mother had done for him, didn't realize just how much he had been loved in his first year of life. Didn't realize just how special he was, didn't know how beautiful he was.

"No, Harry not on the floor, the floor is for animals and you certainly aren't one. Come sit on the table, eat some breakfast." said Severus, aware that Harry usually stood in a corner or cleaned while the Dursley's ate. Then he would wait till they were finished then clean away after them, sometimes he got some scraps sometimes he didn't. Usually Dudley Dursley ate everything he could shove into his gaping needy maw out of spite. It was no wonder the boy was so fat really; he could only hope that whoever got him would get that weight off him before it was too late.

Harry stared at Severus in shock, was the man really going to let him sit on the furniture? Didn't he know Freaks didn't get to sit comfortably. Then he remembered the man using magic, he was obviously freakish too. Maybe he was allowed to sit with freakish people, maybe it was just normal people he wasn't allowed near or to sit with. He wondered if it was a trick, just to beat him up, but he had been given an order he had to do it. Or risk this man's rather even more, something he didn't want, but something didn't make sense to Harry. He had a beautiful room, one that he was sure Dudley would be envious of had he bee there. Why had he done it? And why the bloody hell was he here. Despite the questions he had asked yesterday, he had it drummed into him for years 'don't ask questions' and so he didn't. He sat gingerly in the seat closest to him, keeping a close eye on the man. Severus, he had said his name was.

"Now, what do you like?" asked Severus, sliding into a seat next to Harry.

Harry just stared at Severus in blatant terror, wondering what he was going to have to do to earn his keep here. He had thought the Dursley's ate a lot, but there was even more than Harry imagined possible here. There was just no way, this man could eat it all, or even he and this man could eat it all. He had of course imagined being rescued, clothed, fed and loved. Those were dreams; the reality of such things actually happening was terrifying to say the least.

Severus sighed and realised just how lightly he had gotten off, with his family. Yes, he had been beaten, but at least he was fed. He was given a room and was not forced to go chores. His family had not tried to kill him; or rather his father hadn't tried to kill him. He just admittedly, very wrongfully took his frustration out on his wife and son. His father was actually dead now, had died a few years ago from alcohol poisoning, he had full blown cirrhosis. Liver disease, due to all the drinking he had done, he had been thirty nine years old. He had hated his father, rather than fear him so completely that he stared at him in utter terror.

"I shall fill you're plate up for you, now I expect you to eat what you can, but do not make yourself sick. You will get good again at lunch time and again for dinner, you won't have to go through what you have been again. I will take care of you Harry, I cared very much for your mother, and we were best friends for a time. She helped me through some harsh times, and in turn I want to help you in repayment of what she did." said Severus soothingly. He had smelt Harry's question thick in the air, why was he helping him. So he hoped by telling him a little about his mother he would relax. He was stiffer than a man confronted with a lion out of the blue.

"A verbal answer please," said Severus sternly. He hated ignorant children, he knew this one was scared, terrified even. However, he couldn't tolerate being ignored; it was his biggest irritation when it came to children.

"Yes sir," squeaked Harry looking as though he wanted to run away.

. There were a few things he couldn't stand, being ignored by students, stuttering children, back chat and of course vulgar language. Then the ones who apologised for being late and everything they did wrong; it was annoying. He knew what abused children were like for apologising every five minutes. Even his Slytherins knew that he hated apologizing, they just nodded their head apologetically and that was that. He hated the constant 'I'm sorry sir,' repeating themselves over and over again. It was like nails on a chalk board to him really, drove him up the wall.

"Good," said Severus taking the plate and filling it up, but not too much. He gave the child at least one of everything there. Pancakes, scones, sausage, fruit pudding, black pudding, bacon, egg, scrambled egg, toast fruit and of course orange juice and milk.

Harry stared at Severus as if he had another head, why would he give him so much? Freaks weren't supposed to get lots. They cost too much money, why was this man doing it then? Because he knew his mum. Had he been a drunk too then? Since he had known his mother. Then the previous conversation filtered through his mind, as though to contradict that statement. His parents had been murdered, he had stopped him.

"Eat this up, I'd like to tell you that you need never need to do any chores, food isn't a bargaining chip Harry. Everyone is supposed to get good, no matter how bad they are. It's wrong to deprive a child of food, do you understand? That's one of the many reason the Dursley's have been sentenced to prison." said Severus, stressing the word never.

Harry's eyes were large, what was he supposed to do all day without chores? He didn't even contemplate that he might get to go to school. He loved school, loved the library, loved the food, and loved learning all he could. Although he hated the teachers, the fact Dudley was in his class and his fellow students who continued to hurt him. If Dudley did it then they could do it too, or so all the bully's thought anyway, unfortunately Harry couldn't fight back he was too small, too weak too sore. He hated being in his cupboard all the time, he was glad when he was allowed out. He had never owed a toy, although he had stolen that knight with the missing arm, and a few green figures and put them in his room. He sometimes played with them, but more often than not his arms were sore.

Picking up the cutlery he had seen his relatives used, but never used himself. He gasped in fear as the fork bent in his grip he dropped it, intending on fleeing. However, he didn't get that chance, Severus calmed him down, soothing him, telling him he wasn't in trouble. That it would always happen until he got the hang of being a vampire and his new strength. Severus used a few spells on the fork and handed it back to Harry, sighing in relief, one crisis adverted. It was only breakfast time as well; he just hoped feeding him was less a chore, especially better than last time.

Picking up the fork, he found it easier than he had thought to control his new strength, as he began eating his breakfast. He decided there and then he loved scrambled egg. That and toast was amazing. He did not like all the grease on the sausages. He definitely did not like the bacon very much at all. It seemed Harry didn't like greasy things. Then again considering he had never gotten greasy things at home, he wasn't used to the taste of grease. Harry moaned in bliss at the taste of the fresh fruit, he had never eaten anything like that before in his mouth. Forget the scrambled egg; Harry had a new favourite food - fruit. He had never had any, well, he had he remembered. A banana but it had been black and disgusting; he hadn't enjoyed it at all.

"Was that enough for you?" asked Severus once he was sure Harry was finished.

"Yes sir," said Harry immediately not wanting to invoke Severus' anger by not replying. This man seemed to want to hear him, whereas the Dursley's hated hearing him at all. He was so confused; in fact he hadn't been more confused in his entire life. Despite the instinct to do what he needed to do, Harry deep down, felt safe, felt…as though this man was going to care for him. Yet despite his protests Harry felt the need to believe his inner feelings. He was safe here; this man was going to look after him.

"Good. I'm glad you liked it," replied Severus, pushing more feelings into the bond, he had things to do today. He needed Harry to come with him; he couldn't separate himself from the child, that wasn't a way to go about gaining their trust. If he had been asleep it would have been much easier, unfortunately he wasn't.

"Come, sit here," said Severus gesturing towards his lap. Harry swallowing thickly, he had never been on anyone's lap before. He had seen Dudley climbing onto his dad's before they both got too big for it. Not as in 'I don't need to cuddle my daddy way' but too big, that they couldn't actually sit together their flab stopped them.

With a resigned internal sigh he got up and walked hesitantly over to Severus, it was only three steps but if felt like forever. He was surprised when Severus lifted him up and placed him on his knee. He took out the same knife from his boot like yesterday. Harry remembered how full it had made him, how warm and comforting it had been. So when Severus sliced his wrist Harry had no problem drinking it, his instincts taking over the fear leaving him.

Severus smiled softly, so much for the worry that Harry would continue to fight him on feedings. Once he was done Harry licked the wound closed, and Severus continued to hold the scared child close. Giving him the reassurance he needed, the comfort he had been denied. The blood would keep him on 'cloud nine' as it was for a few hours, which meant he could take him to Diagon Alley without fear.

"I am going out to Diagon Alley, it's a shopping centre, would you like to come?" asked Severus softly, Harry needed clothes and toys. Right now he was in a pair of the hospital wing pyjamas that he had changed him into when they arrived at Hogwarts.

Harry was silent for a few seconds, before he replied; he didn't want to stay alone. He hated being alone, more than anything else. He realized the man was waiting on his answer, and he knew the man didn't like him not answering so he said "Yes sir,"

Harry had never been outside much, other than walking to and from school. When he was, it was freezing cold and dark. With scary noises, birds squeaking in the dark, shadows moving. Footsteps echoing of the path as people walked back and forth going from one place to another. Anyone he had seen had looked at him as though he was a horrid boy. He didn't know how to interact with people, not even children his own age. He was not sure if he could cope with any more people being horrible to him. They thought him a homeless bum on the street.

Letting Harry down he took Harry through to his own room Taking Harry's hand gently in his he guided the boy to his room. He then raided his drawers and cupboards for something that would keep Harry warm. Finding the clothes, he shrunk them so they would fit the boy's small frame. Knowing the child could dress himself; he placed them on the bed and asked the child to get dressed.

"I shall be waiting in the other room, come out whenever you are dressed alright?" instructed Severus softly. He had to congratulate himself on a job well done, he had yet to loose his temper or raise his voice at the child. Perhaps the fact that Harry was his fledgling helped, maybe he should get in touch with Robert or Declan. They had fledglings of their own, or had done in the past anyway, they would know better than him.

"Yes sir," said Harry quietly looking frankly shocked, the clothes looked brand new and they had shrunk to fit him. He never got clothes like this, he quickly dressed him but wasn't sure what to do with the strange piece of cloth. So he took it out hoping he didn't get into trouble for not wearing it, it didn't have any holes or arm places.

Severus took the cloak from the child; he realized Harry didn't know what to do with it. Smiling softly, he knelt down and explained the properties of a cloak to his young fledgling. "This Harry is a cloak, Wizards and Witches wear them all the time. You wear it over you're clothes, and you just clip it around the neck." as he explained the last part he put it on Harry. The cloak went around Harry nearly twice, so Severus shrunk it some more.

"There, now let's get going, we will get you a set of hat, gloves and a scarf while we are out to wear. You need something to keep you warm, you will need to think on a favourite colour before you choose." said Severus standing back up, holding his hand out for Harry to take. Harry took it without thinking; he was getting to choose his own colours? He was actually getting new clothes just for him? That didn't normally happen to him.

As he walked out of the room he had been staying in he wondered what colour too chose. He also wondered about his good luck, the man seemed genuine and he wanted to believe it. Maybe if he was good he would get to stay. He had no idea Severus would kill to keep him safe.

There we go! edited version up! woohoo only for what? 15 or summat left to do :)