"Harry, you haven't touched your cereal." reprimanded Hermione at breakfast the next morning.
Harry ignored her comment and continued to play with his full bowl of Pixie Puffs. He felt eyes watching him from the Head Table but, didn't check to see who it was. While his father had cleared up some of his doubts that this was real, he still felt some lingering fear that it was just a dream. Luckily for Harry, he had not awaken Severus with his screaming after placing silencing charms in his room which he learned from a book on them and glamours he bought in his second year. Plagued by nightmares and an upcoming conversation with Severus, Harry was nervous and on edge. Uncle Vernon's conversations never ended well either and left him beaten and bruised.
Suddenly, a bright blue potion appeared in front of his pumpkin juice. Its appearance did not go unnoticed by Harry's two friends. Ron, who was stuffing his face while looking at a Quidditch magazine, stopped to look at the vial. Hermione was instantly on alert and picked up the vial cautiously.
"This is a food supplement draught for people that can't take in normal portions of food. I bought a book on medicinal potions and it talked a lot about them." explained Hermione as she swirled the contents of the potion. She then looked at Harry who had his eyes on his lap. "Harry is there something you're not telling us?" inquired Hermione.
"Blimey, Hermione must you always go nosing around in our business?" snapped Ron irritably, shoving another forkful of egg into his mouth.
"It IS my business, Ron when one of our best friends has been given a potion for lack of nutrition. But, you wouldn't know because you sit there, stuffing your face full of food everyday like a pig!" exclaimed Hermione.
Fear started to cloud Harry's mind as his two friends continued to argue. He was back in his cupboard after a rather bad 'lesson' from his uncle for talking back. He had been about five or six when he had received his first 'lesson'.
(Harry's Flashback)
He had been playing with Dudley's old soccer ball and his baby blanket in the living room, when his cousin walked in. Seeing Harry playing with his old ball, he walked over to Harry and grabbed his ball.
"Hey, that's my ball! Give it back!" cried Harry trying to grab the ball out of Dudley's hands.
"It's nawt yor ball, fweak!" yelled Dudley as he pushed Harry to the ground.
Harry fell and by accident, kicked Dudley in the stomach causing Dudley to let lose a wail. Aunt Petunia had rushed into the room when she had heard Dudley crying. Seeing her son holding his stomach and her nephew standing over him, she grew very angry.
"You, no good freak! How dare you hurt my son!" shrieked Petunia as she ran to comfort her sobbing son.
"It was an assident, Aunt Tuney! Dudie took my ball from me." replied Harry as tears fell from his face.
"Don't you dare insult my intelligence, boy and I am not your Aunt!" snapped Petunia. "Now go to the cupboard so that you can think about what you did."
"No, it nawt my fault! You're being mean to me." replied Harry. He just couldn't understand why he was being punished for something he didn't do.
Petunia was furious with her nephew for disrespecting her and immediately pulled him towards his cupboard, just as the front door opened. She threw Harry into the pitch black small cupboard that was even too small for a house elf, and locked the door. Harry sat frozen in fear as he was once again plunged into darkness.
(End Flashback)
A hand on his arm jolted Harry from his thoughts and he looked to see Professor Dumbledore smiling down at him.
"Ah, Harry how have been?" asked Dumbledore in a disinterested tone, which made Harry feel sick to his stomach.
"Fine, sir." muttered Harry as his friends continued to argue in what was now complete silence. It seemed Dumbledore needed to have this conversation in private. He didn't notice Professor Snape get up from his seat and head towards the two.
"Good, now we need to discuss some business to do with your relatives." informed Dumbledore.
"Sir?" asked Harry, hesitantly. He didn't like where this conversation was going and the way Dumbledore said it like they were discussing the weather.
Dumbledore was about to reply when the noise of chattering students filled their ears once more. Confused, Harry looked around until his eyes caught the shape of Pro-his father walking towards them.
"Gotten into a bit of with trouble with the Headmaster, Potter?" drawled Snape. To an outsider, it appeared that Professor Snape was angry, but Harry was slowly beginning to recognize certain emotions behind the mask.
"Not at all, Severus. We were simply talking about the new rules I've put in place for the boy's safety. Shall we continue this in my office?" replied Dumbledore in his normally cheery voice whilst looking at Harry.
Harry was about to reply when Severus answered instead, "I think I shall come as I have a need to speak to you about my other duties!" making sure to emphasize last few words. He smirked when he saw Dumbledore pale.
"I see." Murmured Dumbledore as he headed for the door, followed by Severus and a nervous Harry.
"What do you mean I can't go to Hogsmeade with my friends?" snapped Harry as he looked at the two Professors.
"Harry," sighed Severus. "Until Sirius Black is caught, you in danger and I won't risk your safety by letting you go off on your own. If you're so desperate to go, I'll take you next weekend."
"But, it won't be the same without my friends. It's not fair. Voldemort was running loose in the castle last year and I didn't need some body guard!" retorted Harry.
"Yes, well if I had been aware of our relationship that most definitely would not have happened. Harry, I promise that I'll make it up to you. Just please try to understand my point of view. Until Black is caught, you're in a lot of danger. From now, you will not go anywhere with your cohorts or a Professor. Are we clear? " replied Severus, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Yes, sir." muttered Harry. "Can I please leave?"
"Very well. Wait for me outside and I'll escort you to your next class." answered Severus as he eyed the Headmaster wearily. Harry nodded and walked out of room, closing the door behind him.
Once the door was shut, Severus turned his attention back to the Headmaster.
"You had no right to speak to him." snapped Severus.
"I have every right to talk to a student without parental consent."
"Yes if the child's parents are not able to come in and be with their child! However, the circumstances have changed since I happen to be his parent and on staff. You have no right to talk to Harry about his home life without me being in the room!" exclaimed Severus. He was furious that the Headmaster was even considering returning Harry back to his relatives.
"My apologises, Severus. Now you said something about your spying duties?" inquired Dumbledore, opening his can of lemon drops.
"Yes, I did and I have been found out by one of my colleagues." informed Severus.
"What do you mean, Severus?" asked Dumbledore.
"You heard me, Headmaster. Should the Dark Lord come back, I will be considered a traitor." explained Severus with a proud smile at the fact. He would no longer have to spy for the Order and could now turn his attention to his son. He then grew serious again and in his most dangerous tone said. "I told you, you would regret the day you did not let me have my wife. The next time you speak to Harry without my consent, I will send for a restraining order against you." He then turned and left the Headmaster's office for the first time, free of the old man's manipulation.
Opening the door, he found Harry nervously pacing back and forth. Severus closed the door, causing Harry to look up at him shyly.
"Come, I'll walk you to Gryffindor Tower and then to Transfiguration class." Severus instructed as Harry continued to look at his interesting old trainers. Harry nodded and began to walk down the stairs with Severus following behind him.
The walk to Gryffindor Tower was a quiet one. Severus was a bit concerned with Harry's behaviour but decided to let the child have his quiet time. All too soon, the Gryffindor Tower was in view. Severus told Harry he would wait outside while he went in to grab his bag. Harry said nothing except the password and went in to grab his stuff. Just as he was preparing to leave, a tapping on a nearby window caught his attention. As he drew nearer to the window, he saw a barn owl with a letter in its beak. Opening it up, the owl dropped the letter in front of the small thirteen and flew back out. Knowing Snape was waiting for him, he grabbed the letter and walked back down the stairs and out to the hall.
Just like he had said, Severus was waiting for him when he exited the portrait hole. Severus gave him a faint smile before motioning for Harry to follow him to the Transfiguration classroom.
When they reached the classroom, Severus turned to Harry and placed a hand on the boy's shoulder.
"Everything will be alright, Harry." he whispered before gently pushing the boy towards the door and turning back the way he had come. As the last of his father's cloak disappeared, Harry sighed and pushed open the door. McGonagall took one look at Harry before nodding and pointed to a seat near the front of the classroom. As McGonagall continued her lecture on a more complex transfiguration spell, Harry quietly removed the letter he had received. He had just opened the envelope when McGonagall called on him.
"Pardon, ma'am?" asked Harry as he sealed the envelope back up and stuffed it into his pocket.
"I asked you to come to my desk so I can teach you the spell while the others start to practice." McGonagall repeated.
"Oh, right." replied Harry as he got out of his seat and walked towards his Head of House's desk slowly. He hated when his teachers called him over to their desk but tried to hide how nervous he was.
When the bell rang, Harry made his way out of the classroom and headed for the dungeons. As he was making his way, he collided with another person. Harry, on instinct, threw his arms up in front of his face until he heard his name being called and looked to see Professor Snape staring at him. Harry lowered his hands and gave his father a hesitant smile before Severus motioned for him to follow. Reaching the classroom, Severus turned to look at the small teenager.
"How are you feeling?" asked Severus while locking and placing silencing spells on the classroom door.
"Okay." muttered Harry which was a total lie. He was hungry and unusually tired but knew from years of experience not to mention things like that.
"You don't seem okay." replied Severus looking at his son who was yawning. "What time did you get to bed last night?"
Harry shrugged and began pulling out his Potion textbook and kit, only to have a hand rest on top of his. "Why don't you go have rest in my quarters?" suggested Severus.
"It's alright, Professor. I'm fine, honestly. I don't want…I can't miss your class sir and fall more behind. I can't go back to my relatives." whispered the frightened child.
Severus sighed heavily as he saw the damage done by his relatives show itself once again. He would have to get Harry to open up and talk about what went on. It was quite clear, the rules instilled in him at the Dursleys still played heavily on the boy's mind. Slowly, he reached out his hand to the boy and led him through a door that was connected to his private rooms. Sitting down in the chair, he cautiously pulled the boy into his lap and carded his hand slowly through the boy's hair.
"Harry, just because you miss a class, doesn't mean I will send you back to your relatives. I am your father and will be taking care of you from now on. You don't have to worry about being taken back to them any longer. You are my child and I will take care of you not matter what you do. I will always love you and missing this class won't make much different in your grade. If you want, I will help you catch-up tonight after dinner or in the morning. Now, I can see you're tired and that's to be expected assuming you haven't been sleeping that much and the fact your still healing from your injuries. You can stay here and sleep on the couch."
Harry nodded and with the help of Severus got up and headed over to the couch and slowly lay down on the couch curled up tight. Seeing the tightness of Harry's form, he grabbed a blanket and placed it on the boy.
"Relax, child. I won't hurt you. Now go to sleep." replied Severus before kissing the boy on the forehead and walked back into the classroom.
When he had shut the door, Severus undid the charms and opened the door with bang, causing the waiting students to jump and hurriedly walk into the room. As the class settled into their seats, Severus began to hand out Potion Theory workbooks to each student.
"Today, we will be learning about the darker side of Potions such as the 'Torture Truth Serum' or the 'Memory Destroying Draught'. However, because of how dangerous these Potions can be, we will have to read up on the few common ones. Turn to page 198." Severus instructed as he wrote some notes on the black board. "You will copy this note, followed with your answers to questions 1-4 on each of the dark potions. You may begin." barked Severus when none of the students started to copy the note.
After watching them work for a half hour, Severus stood up and said. "I shall be back in moment. Anybody who so much as speaks a word will find themselves in a months' worth of detentions." and walked over to the door of his quarters to check on Harry.
Coming into the living room, Severus breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the boy was sleeping on the couch with the green comforter covering him. He would have to talk to the boy's teachers and see about dropping some of the classes until the boy adjusted better from his horrific summer. One more thing to add to his growing list of things to do to help the boy. He also needed to take the boy out shopping and get a few more things for the child's room. Knowing that the boy was fine, he walked back into his classroom and prowled the classroom, deducting points for wrong answers.
When he dismissed his class an hour later, Severus returned to his quarters and saw Harry was just waking up. Greeting Harry, he walked down the hallway and into his room. He then went over to his bedside table and pulled out the bag that contained the journal he had purchased the day Harry had been in the hospital. It was time to talk to the boy about the abuse he suffered at Privet Drive.
Returning to the living room, Severus noticed that Harry had left the couch and the blanket was neatly folded up and placed on the coffee table. Seeing the light on in Harry's room, the Potion Master went over and knocked on the heavy wooden door. When he received a reply, he opened the door and saw his son by his new desk, working on some homework.
"Harry, come sit on the bed, please. I need to talk to you." Suggested Severus, pulling over the leather-bound chair, the child had recently left. Instantly, he saw the boy had gone pale and was starting to shake.
"Sir?" asked Harry in a small voice. He knew this was going to happen and yet, he didn't want to leave his father. He wasn't ready to go back to the Dursleys. He wanted to live with the Potion Master and learn how to swim. Before he had realized it, he had worked himself into a panic attack. Suddenly, a cold glass vial was pressed to his lips. 'No, not the medication, anything but the medication.' he thought as he struggled to get away.
Severus had pulled out a calming draught and tried to give it to the boy. As soon as he had placed it to the boy's lips, he had started struggling. Getting out of the chair, Severus sat on the bed and pulled Harry into his lap.
"Shh, you're okay, Harry. I've got you." whispered Severus.
When Harry had finally calmed down, he turned so Harry was facing him and asked, "What's the matter, Harry?"
"Daddy, please don't send me back!" pleaded the thirteen year old as he clung to his Professor.
"Send you back? Oh, Harry I already told you I would never send you back. You're my son and I'd die before I see you back at Privet Drive." stated Severus, hugging him. "However," he continued in a serious tone, "You will at some point have to discuss what went on there. You don't have to tell me now, but at some point. To help you, I got you a gift."
"What is it?" asked Harry when he removed the black journal from the bag.
"This is a rather special journal. When you write in it, I can see it in my green journal as well as communicate to you through it. I know how hard it is to admit something as horrifying as what you have been through. So, I decided to get you this to help. I was originally planning to give it to you for Christmas but it's clear this will be put to better use now. " replied Severus.
"Thank-you, sir." replied Harry as he hugged Severus, who in return, wrapped his arms around his small and frightened child.
"You're welcome. Now why don't we see about getting you lunch?" suggested Severus, rising from the bed and heading to the door.
Harry nodded and followed Severus into the small kitchen where he served them both some chicken noodle soup. Severus had never told anyone but when he had the time, he preferred to cook his own meals. His mother had started teaching him when he was 8 and in school he learned from the house elves that worked in the kitchen. When Harry had eaten about half of his soup, the thin boy pushed his bowl away and started to get up when Severus's voice broke silence.
"What do you have now?"
"Divination and then Charms." answered Harry. Even after his nap, he was still tired and was getting a headache.
"How are you feeling?" questioned Severus. Seeing the way the boy was rubbing his forehead, he suspected the child was getting a headache.
"Fine, sir." replied Harry, once again rubbing his forehead.
"DON'T LIE TO ME!" snapped Severus before seeing the terror in his son's eyes and closed his eyes to calm himself. When he opened them again, he started again in a calmer tone. "Harry, it's important to tell me when you're not feeling well. Now as you know, I don't take kindly to being lied to, especially concerning that student's health. If something happens, I have to know, child. No, I'm not mad at you, just frustrated that you still keep these problems to yourself. Now, how are you REALLY feeling?"
Harry thought about lying again until Severus glared at him and replied, "Tired and I have a bit of a headache."
Severus nodded, "Why don't you go lie back down again and rest. If you're feeling better later, you can go to your last class of the day. Besides, Divination is a complete waste of your abilities." and then summoned a head-ache reliever.
Harry smiled briefly before walking to his room and getting under the covers of his four poster bed. Sighing, he looked around the small room, the Professor seemed to have gone to a lot of trouble for him. The walls were a pastel blue and his drawers were dark brown oak. In one corner, he had his desk and a bookshelf beside it. In the other corner, he noticed a rectangular box decked out in reds and blues. It appeared to be a toy box, which sadden Harry as he didn't have any toys of any kind. Pulling the covers over his head, he closed his eyes and thought about the change in the Professor since he had found out they were father and son.
A few minutes later, found Severus opening the door of Harry's room to check on the boy. Even with the added rest, the boy still had bags under his eyes and was still terribly thin. He would have to talk to Poppy about getting a stronger nutrient supplement. The poor boy could not afford to lose any more weight.
As quiet as he could, he closed the door and headed into his office to floo Professor Trelawney and tell her Harry would be absent. He then entered his classroom and prepared for his fourth year Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaw. Sitting down to wait for his class, his mind wandered back to the boy in his quarters. As much as Severus despised the rest of the Golden Trio, he knew it was important for the boy to have his friends. He also knew he could count on to keep an eye on Harry when he could not.
Deciding to have the Golden Trio, reunited, he began to write a short message to stating that their presence was needed after class. Standing up, he walked over to one of the students that had just walked into the classroom and asked the boy to deliver it. When the boy had left, he started his lecture on Veriterserum.
All too soon, class ended and Severus went to wake Harry and get him ready to go to charms. Luckily, Harry was already up and getting ready just as a knock sounded on Severus's office door.
Harry sighed and went to open it, only to be pulled into a group hug by his two best friends.
"Hey guys, why are you doing here?" asked Harry as he turned to look at Snape who was at his desk with a stack of essays.
"We got a message from Professor Snape, saying he wanted to see us." informed Hermione as she looked at the Potion Master.
"Yes, well I would like a word with before the three of you head up to your next class." stated Severus as he waved the other two towards the door.
"Of course, sir. You guys can wait outside for me." suggested Hermione and sat in the chair in front of Snape's desk.
The two boys looked at each other before turning and walking out of Snape's office. When the door was shut, Severus turned to .
"Now, this is very important and I am only going to say this once so you better pay attention. Something happened this summer and I need to watch during classes and meals. No, I will not tell you and you will not ask him to tell you either. If something goes wrong, I would like to be informed. Are we clear?"
"Yes, sir. I will watch Harry for you. I've been a bit concerned about him as well. He hasn't been eating much at meals and after the summers he always has bruises on his arm. He tries to hide them but me and Ron have both seen a few on occasion." explained Hermione.
"Good. Now off with you, before the two dunderheads break down my door." answered Severus as he turned to his pile of essays he needed to correct.
Hermione nodded and walked out of Snape's office and opened the door to see Ron pacing the hallway. Seeing her, Ron rushed over and embraced her with Harry shuffling his feet nervously beside the two of them. Ron made to ask Hermione what she and Snape had talked about but she mouthed a quick 'later' and headed back the way they had come.
"So did I miss anything important in Divination?" asked Harry quietly.
"Yeah, you did. Only to the best lesson in the whole term." exclaimed Ron as they walked up the dungeon steps.
"What does that mean?" replied Harry.
"Professor Trelawney's finally done it." laughed Ron, only to be smacked in the arm by Hermione.
"Oh, honestly, Ronald it wasn't really all that funny." retorted Hermione.
"Yes, it was." answered Ron.
"What are you guys talking about? What has she done?" asked a rather confused Harry.
"She's gone mental."
A/N: Yes, well another chapter done and sent in. Sorry once more the slowness in which I update this story. I hope you enjoy this later chapter of LSTP. Let me know what you think by simply reviewing this chapter. Thanks to everyone who has continued to read this , I think Sev needs to give Harry a companion and this is where you guys come in. When you reply, simply tell me out of these 4 animals which one you think Snape should give to Harry:
A horse
A cat
A dog/wolf
A magical creature