Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter (Or though I would like) but the plot is my own
Warning: This story contains mention of child abuse (including physical, mental and sexual abuse)
A/N: Thanks for the reviews some have been really encouraging. I'm trying to stay within character although when Professor Snape is in his own room I am exploring a different side to him one that no one else gets to see. Hope you enjoy and please review.
After putting his son to bed Severus went back out into the lounge room grabbing his latest potion journal and with a class of fire whisky sitting in his favourite chair he started to read his journal.
But after about twenty minutes of reading the same paragraph and not understanding a single word that was written there Severus gave up and placed the journal on the coffee table.
Letting out a big sigh he leaned back into holding his fire whisky in his right hand swirling it around in the glass with his thoughts drifted back to Harry. What am I going to do?
Unbeknown to Harry he actually gave out the first bit of information about his relatives and that was his cousin would bully anyone who would try and befriend him and by doing that he was keeping Harry socially isolated and by keeping Harry socially isolated it would therefore affecting Harry ability to mix with others adding to the abuse he suffered at home.
Severus knew what it was like not to have any friends for when he was little he was socially isolated from the other's that was until he met Lily and they instantly became friends. They shared many things when they were kids; they shared their first letters to Hogwarts, the train ride but not the house. For Lily she was in Gryffindor and he was in Slytherin but nothing deferred their friendship in fact it got stronger as the years went by until their fifth year where he called his beloved Lily a mudblood and for a while their she wouldn't talk to him, in fact she avoided him like he had the plague and it hurt, it hurt more then anything more then the beatings his own father gave him. No matter what it was the worse thing I ever did, I'm so sorry Lily.
Severus remembered it wasn't until the almost the end of their fifth year that he finally got to apologize to her and explained what he was feeling and thinking at the time and after a while she smile at him and gave him her forgiveness and he was so overwhelmed with emotion he kissed her and to his surprise she kissed him back and when they pulled apart Severus went to apologize again for kissing her but instead she said she was glad that they finally got to kiss and leaned in to kiss him again, from then on they were a couple.
Severus got up and headed into his room where he dug out an old box from the bottom of his wardrobe where he kept photos of him and Lily from when they first met at Spinner's End right up until he was sent to Australia when both their world's fell apart.
He sifted through the photo's remembering when each was taken and he was about to put them back when his thoughts once again drifted to Harry. Harry who barely knew his mother and more then likely wouldn't remember her so he place the box on his bedside table so he could show Harry pictures of his mother and even tell him stories of what a wonderful women she was and how much they loved each other. I know Harry will love these and stories of his mother he may not have said it but I know he would love to hear what a wonderful women she was.
HPSSHPSSHPSS
The Slytherin table was a buzz with all the students sitting around enjoying their breakfast. Most of them were discussing their respects subjects and teacher's and what is the best way to attempt a particular spell or to brew a potion.
But amongst the first years the conversation was of a particular student that no one has seen since the welcoming feast in fact it was often mention that no one has seen Harry Snape since the day is collapsed in Professor McGonagall's class and like the Slytherin's the rest of the houses also wondered where he was.
Another thing that people wondered was where was Harry Potter the boy who lived was rumoured to start Hogwarts this year but no one came and his name wasn't even called out during the sorting ceremony.
"Hay Malfoy pass the bacon would ya" Crabbe said with a mouth full of food
"Didn't your mother ever teach not to talk with your mouth full Crabbe" Draco sneered passing the bacon to his house mate. Merlin I wish you learns some manners you are no better then those Gryffindorks.
"Hay Draco look" Pansy said pointing up at the staff table to their head of house who was sitting there for the first time in a couple of weeks.
"Looks like Snape has finally decided to grace us with his presence" Draco said
"Do you think Snape knows where Harry is?" Pansy asked curious to know where their missing house mate is
"I think he could after all Harry is a Slytherin" Draco said trying to sound like he already knew the answer
"Do you think that Harry is his son I mean after all they have the same last name?"
"I don't think so beside if Snape had a son I would definitely know about it" Maybe I would have known if father and he were still friends.
"You don't sound so certain and besides you said so yourself that Snape and your father are not friends anymore so why would Snape tell him weather or not he had a son"
"Because my father was at school the same time Snape was as well as doing some extra activities together" Draco said trying to keep the fact they were death eaters quiet.
"Whatever. We have potions this morning with those stupid Gryffindorks and I think I might ask Snape about Harry at least it would be good to know what is happening to him"
"Actually Pansy I think I will go with you on that" Draco said looking back up towards his head of house making sure that Snape was still there.
HPSSHPSSHPSS
Severus left his quarters early after getting Harry ready he decided he needed to make an appearance in the great hall so he headed up there to eat with the students and to see how his Slytherin's behaving. At least I will see how my Slytherin's are behaving and Harry's with Stefan.
Severus took his customary seat at the teachers table and he instantly noticed that a lot of students looked at him especially his Slytherin's, sneering at the students he gone about to eat his breakfast and head back to his dungeons ready the classes he had today.
The day was passing rather painfully and Severus wondered how he survived this long teaching a bunch of dunderheads who could not follow simple instructions. Three cauldrons exploded in his first class two in his second and he sent three students up to the infirmary and now he had the first year Gryffindor and Slytherin's together and it still amazes him why these two houses are put together in such a dangerous subject.
Severus had also told Harry that he could start attending classes this week but since Harry had his counselling session today and usually Harry was exhausted after that he would rest but on Thursday Harry would make an appearance in this class. But that brought forward another concern for him was that Harry told him yesterday that he never had a friend before and Severus thought that perhaps it might be a good idea to get him back over to the common room with the other Slytherin's but then again too many people for him might set him off in a panic attack which left him no glue on how to help for it was not common knowledge that Harry was his son. Maybe I could introduce him to one of the first year boys but it's hard most of them are children of Death Eater's, at least some do differ from what their parents think including young Malfoy.
Severus thoughts were interrupted by students entering his classroom making enough noise to wake the dead.
"Right you lot QUIET and get to your seats" Snape barked out as he watched the class quickly take there seats.
Snape turned around and pointed his wand to the board.
"Right instructions are on the board. Now MOVE" Snape bellowed out and the students quickly got to there feet and grab the required ingredients for the burn salve potion they are brewing.
By the end of class Professor Snape had deducted sixty points from Gryffindor had three melted cauldrons, two from Longbottom alone and the other from Finnegan, he had also banished about six potions because the students can not understand when it says to bring to a simmer and not to boil.
After class had finished Professor Snape got his wand out, levitated all the cauldrons over to the sink ready for the detentions he had tonight, stacked the student essays in a neat pile on his desk and with a flick of wand all the table and chairs were back to where they belonged and he was about to make his way to his quarter's to see our Harry went for his session today when he heard a knock at the door. Dam can't they wait until class.
"Enter" he barked out extremely annoyed that someone had the audacity to interrupt him and take time away from him to see his son.
He watched at the door open letting in a not so certain Pansy Parkinson and Draco Malfoy followed by Millicent Bulstrode, Daphne Greengrass, Theodore Nott and bringing up the rear was Crabbe and Coyle.
Severus was to say the least a bit stun to see most of his first years here. This could be interesting.
"What do I owe the pleasure of having my first years here?" Professor Snape said in his teaching voice adding contempt to his voice as he asked. Now who has the courage to speak up on behalf of everyone?
The students looked at each other to see who would actually speak on behalf on them to their dourly head of house. After a few seconds Draco Malfoy stepped forward with all the arrogance that had been drilled into him by Malfoy senior. I thought so.
"Sir" Draco said formally "We have all been wondering what has happened to Harry"
"Yeah we mean is he ok? Will we see again? Is he coming back to class? Did he get sent somewhere else? Is he your son or what? I mean he looks so much like you" Pansy Parkinson rattled off despite the glare that Draco sent her.
Severus knew this day will come soon but he had hoped it never did for he wanted Harry back with them before they started asking lots of questions. With holding a sigh Severus indicated to his students to have a seat knowing he had to tell them the truth for Slytherin's they are known to be very cunning went they want to find out something and they will go to extraordinary lengths to get what they want and the last thing he needed was his Slytherin's on the hunt for knowledge that involved him.
"Since you are all here I will answer your questions and nothing more" Severus held up his hand to stop what protest that was about to come. "Do not interrupt me for I will not answer what you want to know and I will not have you scavenging around in private affairs to find out what you want.
To answer your questions Miss Parkinson, Harry is as you put ok now, yes you will see him again as he will be attending class this week mainly potions, he did not get sent anywhere and regarding your question about weather he is my son or not, he is."
The first years remained quiet for some time letting the information that their head of house gave even though it was brief it was straight to the point.
"What happened to him?" Crabbe asked after a few minutes of silence
"That Mr Crabbe is none of your concern. Now I suggest all of you head up to the hall for some lunch for I will not have any of my Slytherin's skipping meals." Professor Snape said as he watched the students get up from where they were sitting.
"Mr Malfoy stay behind" Severus said thinking that perhaps Draco Malfoy would be the best option to introduce to Harry as a friend.
Draco stopped and looked back as his head of house called out his name and then with a slight nod he made his way back up to the front of the class where Professor Snape was still sitting.
"You wanted to see me Professor" Draco asked cautiously
Severus waited until everyone was out of the classroom before he spoke to Draco. I hope I made the right choice with Malfoy.
"Yes Draco I require your assistance in a certain matter" Severus stated firmly to the Malfoy heir still a bit uncertain with his choice but after the little meeting where Draco managed to be the one leading the others that perhaps the boy strong personality could help out with Harry.
"What can I do for you Professor" Draco asked extremely curious as to what Professor Snape needed for it was well known that Snape never required much help from anyone much less a student especially a first year like Draco was.
"Your last class finishes about four o'clock if I am not mistaken" Professor Snape said
"That is correct Professor" Draco confirmed for his head of house still confused at what his Professor wanted him for.
"In that case Draco I expect you back here as soon as you can"
"Of course Professor but may I enquire why sir?"
"As I told you before Harry will be attending his first class in a couple of days and he has no friends and unlike you he is not sure on how to make friends and I thought that perhaps if you could meet up with him this afternoon it would make it easier for him to come back into class" Professor Snape replied
Draco was stunned and that was putting it mildly he never expected for the stoic Professor to invite him back after class let alone to meet his son and perhaps even become friends with him.
"Yes sir I will be back here as soon as my classes finish this afternoon"
"Indeed" Professor Snape replied "Mr Malfoy"
Draco recognized the last as a dismissal and left to rejoin his fellow house mates for lunch and classes before he returned to Professor Snape office to meet his son.
HPSSHPSSHPSS
Once Draco left Severus headed back to his quarters still unsure weather or not Malfoy was the right person for his son but he was hoping the Draco's strong personality and his ability to be able be a natural leader will help Harry through his first couple of lessons.
Severus made his way into the living room looking around he saw Harry a sleep on the lounge which was not surprising for the sessions seem to take a lot out of him but what surprise him was the Stefan was still there for usually he left when the sessions was over and he had a bad feeling that something was wrong. What happened?
"Stefan I must say I was not expecting you to be here upon my return" Severus said taking the seat opposite to where Stefan was seating.
"I know I am usually gone but I had to speak with you" Stefan said looking at the potion master then at Harry
Severus followed his gaze over to where Harry laid asleep on the lounge before turning back to Stefan to find out what was so important that he had to speak to him
"Has something happened to Harry" Severus asked concerned. Please let nothing have happened to him.
"No nothing has happened to him but it does concern the up and coming trails"
"What about them?" Severus asked worried imminent in his voice but relieved that nothing had happened to Harry
"The trail for the social work Miguel will be taking place next week and I have arranged it so that Harry does not have to go at all"
"Thank Merlin for that I think he has been through enough without having to go to court"
"I agree there Severus but that also brings the major problem I have got"
"Which is?" Severus said having a feeling he knew what was coming
"The Dursley's"
Severus instantly felt his anger a rise from the mention of those people who were suppose to look after Harry but instead abused him
"What about them?" Severus said with such distaste he thought he was going to be sick.
"They have announced the date for their trail is at the beginning of December which is leaving me not much time to get Harry to open up which is proving to be extremely difficult"
"What can we do to help him?" Severus said looking over once again to his sleeping son on the couch. Oh Harry I wish I could do this for you my son.
"I need him to tell me what happened plus they want some of his memories also to calibrate what Harry has stated" Stefan said also watching Harry
Severus looked back at Stefan as he took his eyes off Harry to listen to what Severus had to say.
"I think I can help you with that" Severus stated
"I was hoping you could Severus. He's a good kid who didn't deserve what had happened to him"
Severus nodded and they both remained silent for a little while
"They socially isolated him" Severus said quietly
"He spoken to you" Stefan asked surprised
"Only a little yesterday, he said that his cousin would bully and beat up anyone who talked to him or tried to befriend him"
"At least he has said something and I have got something I can work with" Stefan told Severus
"I have asked one of his class mates to come and meet him after classes have finished for the day" Severus stated
"That would do him the world of good Severus he needs friends" Stefan said with note of approval in his voice
"I also was going to tell him some stories about his mother too"
"Excellent Harry has mentioned he doesn't know anything about her much"
Severus gave a slight nod and Stefan rose from his seat and gathered his things up and headed over to the floo.
"You know you're the best thing that has happened to Harry Severus, he spends a lot time today telling me about some things you do together which was a huge step in the right direction for us at least he was talking" Stefan gave a small smile to the boy that was a sleep a nod to Severus and stepped into the floo.
Severus sat down and watched Harry sleep for a while before getting up having a quick bite to eat, left a note for Harry informing that he had his school work in his office and that lunch was on the table for him and that he would see him after class.
TBC...