Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters in it. I am merely borrowing J.K Rowling's brilliant characters and backdrop.

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Severus tugged up his shirt and peered at his back in the mirror wincing at the sight that greeted his eyes. Madam Pomfrey had healed many of his wounds, but bruises and years' worth of scars littered his back. Severus reached into the bag of belongings he had brought with him procuring a jar of bruise paste Madam Pomfrey had given him. Gingerly Severus spread the paste across his back.

Severus placed the bottle on the desk and reached for the wardrobe handle. There was a bit of draft in the room and he wanted to get a sweater out of the wardrobe. As the door swung open there was a whoosh of air and Severus stumbled backwards. Out of the wardrobe stepped a perfect replica of his father. The greasy haired man was dressed in his typical grease stained jeans and dark brown cotton jacket a customary snarl on his face and his eyes gleaming with a mixture of the intoxication from the whisky he had drank and a predatory loathing that promised a beating.

Severus stumbled backwards tripping over a loose floor and tumbling to ground with a yelp as his father advanced towards him. The stench of whisky filling Severus's nostrils as it wafted off his father.

"I'm going to teach you a lesson you worthless brat," the man snarled removing his belt.

At that moment the door swung open revealing Hermione Granger. The girl's mouth dropped open in horror as she caught sight of Severus and the illusion of his father towering over him.

As the belt collided with shoulder Severus's attention jerked back to the thing that was impersonating his father. Severus automatically recoiled his hands immediately flying up to protect his face. The belt struck him once more and then a third time.

Suddenly Granger was standing in-between Severus and the man her arms flung out protectively. The creature began to shift sensing a change in targets. Now, instead of his father, Potter and Weasley lay dead on the ground.

"Riddikulus," Granger cried pointing her wand at the creature and with a crack the two boys were alive and dancing a jig. The girl forced a laugh and the figures exploded, bursting into hundreds of little wisps of smoke and disappearing.

"Are you alright?" Granger asked kneeling down beside Severus, her face conveying concern.

Severus gave Granger a jerky nod not meeting the girl's eyes. She had seen him vulnerable.

"Who was that man your boggart turned into?"

"None of your business," Severus hissed. Granger had already seen too much and he certainly wasn't going to reveal anymore.

"It was your father, wasn't it?" Granger asked softly reaching out a hand to touch him. Severus, however, flinched away before she could. "I'm not going to hurt you, Severus," she whispered looking at him sadly.

"I don't need your pity," Severus growled.

"I don't pity you. I simply want to help."

"Go help somebody who wants help, then."

Granger bit her lip tears sparkling in her eyes, "At least let me help bandage your wound," she pleaded.

Severus nodded reluctantly, realizing that the stubborn Gryffindor wouldn't take no for an answer.

"Alright let's sit on the bed," Granger suggested leading the way over to Severus's bed, "Now why don't you take of your shirt so I can see to the wound properly."

"No," Severus said firmly, shaking his head stubbornly. He would not allow Granger to see the scars that littered his back.

"Fine," the girl relented, "roll up your sleeve then."

The raven haired boy obliged.

"I'm going to go wet a wash cloth, I'll be right back," the bushy haired girl said hurrying off. A moment later she returned and began to gently clean the gouge made from the belt buckle. She then wrapped his shoulder with a piece of cloth pulling the bandage snug.

"There you go," Granger said happily.

"Thank you," Severus replied stiffly, expecting the girl to leave. She, however, remained sitting on his bed.

"I came up to see if you were alright after the Diagon Alley," Granger finally said.

"I'm fine."

Granger sighed seeming disappointed, but not surprised by Severus's curt response, "I know they were kind of hard on you, but they are just trying to do what is best for everyone," she said.

"Ok," Severus said monotonously as he stared straight ahead blankly.

"Well I guess I better be going now. If you need anything I'd be happy to help," the girl said awkwardly giving Severus a strained smile and hurrying out of the room.

Once Granger was out of earshot Severus turned to confront the eavesdropper whose presence he had noticed after Granger had destroyed the boggart. He had heard creaking on the floorboards that did not come from him or Granger. Furthermore, Severus could have sworn he had heard a sharp intake of breath when Granger's boggart had taken the form of Potter and Weasley, dead.

"It is impolite to eavesdrop, Potter," Severus drawled staring at a seemingly empty space in the doorway, "remove the spell you are using."

The only response Severus received was the faint shuffling off feet that confirmed that Potter had been listening in.

The young boy flopped down on his bed, perhaps he would confront Potter later, but now he was going to escape from today's events with a potions textbook.

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"It is impolite to eavesdrop, Potter," Snape sneered making Harry jump. Harry had not realized the younger boy had known he was there. In fact how had the boy known? Harry had once suspected that Dumbledore might have been able to see him through the cloak or perhaps had a way to detect human presence, but Snape was a twelve year old kid surely he wasn't capable of that kind of magic Harry thought as he hurried away from Snape's bedroom.

Harry collapsed on the toilet lid not wanting to talk to Ron the events he had just witnessed were far to jarring. Since when had Hermione's boggart been him and Ron dead. When they had been in third year it had been Professor McGonagall telling her she had failed everything. And speaking of boggarts who had been the greasy haired man dressed in muggle clothing towering over Snape a belt clutched in his hand and smelling of whisky. The man looked remarkably like the adult Snape and Harry couldn't help but remember the bloodied and bruised he had first seen in the potions cupboard – could that man have been Snape's father? Harry shuddered. He didn't want to think about the possibility that he and Snape may have had similar childhoods.

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The glass Lucius Malfoy had been holding clattered to the table and his hand flew to his left forearm.

"Lucius are you alright?" Narcissa queried worriedly.

Lucius nodded stiffly, "I must go, the Dark Lord calls."

With a small pop Lucius disappeared apparated to his lord's side.

"My Lord," Lucius murmured kneeling before the Dark Lord.

"Rise Lucius," the man commanded and Lucius obeyed.

"Tell me Lucius, have you heard from Severus as of late?"

"I spoke to him several days ago my Lord."

"But not today nor yesterday?"

"No, my Lord."

"And do you know what is occupying his time which has prevented him from presenting himself to me when I call?"

"No, my Lord."

"Are you certain? Because I believe you are hiding something, Lucius, and you are aware that it displeases me greatly to be lied to."

"I believe I may have seen Severus in Diagon Alley earlier today my Lord."

"So he is alive and well, yet has found it appropriate not to heed my summons."

"I would not say he is entirely well my Lord."

"Would you care to explain on that ambiguous statement, Lucius?" the Dark Lord asked, but Lucius could tell it was order not a request.

"When I saw him he," Lucius began uncertain of how to explain Severus's condition, if it even had been Severus who he had seen, "I saw a child who looked remarkably as Severus did at that age and he called my son Lucius. He, however, when questioned denied that he was Severus Snape," Lucius said starting over in his explanation.

"And who was accompanying this boy?"

"Nymphodora Tonks and Potter, Granger, and Weasley left the shop with him as well, my Lord."

"I wish for you to investigate this matter further and if you do find him, bring him to me."

"Yes my Lord."

"And Lucius do mention this to anyone. You are dismissed."

Lucius disapparated shaking off his wife once he arrived back at the Malfoy Manor and disappearing into his office. The wealthy pureblood poured himself a glass of scotch downing the liquid in a single swallow, his nerves still frayed from his meeting with the Dark Lord. Fortunately the task, although not an easy one, had been one Lucius was already planning on doing. The first hurdle would be determining if the boy was indeed Severus Snape. Second capturing the boy from the Order of the Phoenix's nest would not be a simple task. Furthermore Lucius was aware that at twelve Severus, although certainly not a supporter of the light, was not a supporter of the Dark Lord either, which could be troublesome.