Disclaimer: I don't own anything of Harry Potter, sadly enough.
Note: Thank you so much for the reviews. I'm very glad that you all liked the chapter. Well and truth be told, it was fun to break Ginny and Harry up but let's begin.
Harry took a deep breath as he was forced into the Defense classroom by Snape's firm hand on his shoulder. He rolled his shoulders, hoping to push Snape's hand off but the older wizard refused to take a hint. Harry bit his lip, biting back a growling and a scratching comment just in time because a sudden stillness descended upon the classroom.
It was followed by whispers as Harry forced his gaze anywhere but the second years that were staring at him, whispering behind their hands and to their neighbors. The classroom was furnished with all the same desks that had always stood there but the desk and the blackboard had been raised on a small platform and sunlight streamed in.
Unlike in Harry's sixth year when Snape had been defense teacher as well there were no horrible pictures up on the wall with people in various stages of Dark Magic. Harry was glad, he wasn't entirely sure if he could stomach that after the Final Battle.
He went back to trying to shrug Snape's hand away as he hissed behind him. "Let go!"
"What was that, Potter?" The silky voice whispered behind him, menacingly low and Harry glared over his shoulder at the dark robed teacher. Snape's lips had curled into a smirk but Harry was not so easily distracted as he said.
"I said let go of me, sir." He stressed out the last word and he bit back a yowl when Snape's hand tightened for a fraction in a painful grip as his master hissed.
"Show some respect!"
"Only to those who deserve it!" Harry knew it was a low blow but he had never liked people touching him to hurt him. The only time that the Dursleys had touched him had been to harm him or to force him into doing something and Harry had promised himself that he would never stand for it again.
His mood was already at a low point because of the fights with Ginny and the rumors which were even now spreading through the school like the plague. He really didn't need any of Snape's difficult lessons now, at least not before he had a time to calm himself.
He was suddenly released roughly and pushed into the room, causing him to stumble. He managed to catch himself in time from slamming his face open on the nearest desk as he turned to rub at his shoulder, eyes narrowed in a glare towards the tall Professor.
Snape brushed past him roughly, not seeming to care that he pushed against Harry's shoulder rudely as he went to the front of the class. Harry crossed his arms over his chest and stared down at the floor, chewing his lips. What the hell was he doing here?
The students looked between Harry and Snape, still whispering behind their hands. Harry leaned against the empty desk behind him, for a brief moment wondering what the students were whispering about but a moment later he knew he didn't care. There would always be whispers about him and truth be told he was fed up with it.
"My name is Professor Severus Snape. I teach both Defense Against the Dark Arts and Potions…." Snape began, his voice harsh and filling the classroom.
"Once you practiced Dark Arts." Harry shot a glare towards the students who were whispering but Snape's voice cracked like a whip, leaving the students quivering in their seat.
"It should fall to your instructor to have experience in the subject he instructs in. Be glad that it was me who sold his soul for practicing Dark Arts rather than force you to sell your own for some experience! Now, I will have silence when I lecture! Though today we will have a demonstration instead of a lecture."
Harry glowered at the smirk that Snape threw his way as the older wizard drew his cloak tighter about himself by crossing his arms over his chest. He looked away, pretending not to be interested in the way Snape's presence was rattling his nerves. He only had an idea of what Snape could do to him and it wasn't a feeling he liked.
He clenched his fist, refusing to show how much effort it was costing him from not reaching for his wand. His master could be a right unfair bastard when it came to dueling and Harry had fought against Snape enough to know how quick the older wizard was with his wand.
"So therefore I present to you, your very own celebrity, live in hero and in the flesh, however small and diminishing he may seem because I'm sure that the tales are much more thrilling, Harry Potter." Snape gestured towards Harry and as his insides glowered with anger, Harry approached his master, murder in his steps.
Hp
The green eyes flashed with anger as Potter fixed him with a glare. Severus brushed it off with a smirk and gestured for Potter to approach the dais. Foolish child, did you think simply because you're my apprentice that I shall not belittle you and put you in your place? The fame clearly has gone to your disfigured head.
His lips curled into a satisfying smile as Potter's magic, tense like its owner brushed over his skin. Let's see what Potter can make from a duel when he isn't thinking clearly. I will proof once and for all that luck was always on his side and it wasn't skill that saved the brat time and time again.
He rotated his wrist, feeling the bracelet slide against his sleeve but he paid no mind to it. His sharp gaze shot over the assembled students. Second year Gryffindors, Slytherins, Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, all thrown together into one big class because to cut each class up meant that the classes would have been only 5 or 4 students a piece.
A wave of his wand sent the teacher desk against the blackboard and added a protective charm over the students. Severus' fingers touched his bracelet as he whispered. "Protego."
Potter stumbled as the charm woven over the bracelet that allowed them to communicate with each other added a thin protective layer. Severus knew Potter would not be able to detect the spell he had added over his apprentice. He had no desire to take it easy on the boy but he wouldn't allow the child to come to harm.
"Mr. Potter and myself will give you a quick duel to show you the spells that can be used for combat and protection. Many of these spells are dangerous and are not taught at Hogwarts for various reasons. This is not a dueling club and you will not repeat these spells upon any of your fellow schoolmates. This isn't an excuse to practice upon older years either for if they retaliate, it will be on your heads. Are there any questions?"
One second year of Gryffindor if Severus wasn't mistaken raised his hand. Severus gave a brisk nod and the second year stammered. "Professor, but why did you pick Harry Potter? Is it to prove that you are stronger than the one who vanquished the You Know Who?"
Potter's face was impassive but the green eyes dulled the moment another student shouted. "Yes, Harry Potter rocks! He is far stronger than anybody else and…"
"I beat him because I had help. I wasn't afraid to ask for help my friends and those I cared for…" Potter lost his temper.
"You just had your friends acting as shields." Another student rose and Potter blinked, balling his fists as Severus felt an agonizing wave of magic come from the bracelet. He knew it was a mere echo of the powerful magic of the smaller wizard as it reacted to its owner's pain and emotions.
"I didn't ask them to…."
"Well, 50 people died because you wouldn't give yourself up! You were standing in the Great Hall when he demanded that you show yourself and nobody would come to harm." The same small little witch shouted and Severus realized that she had lost a sister in the battle and her father was in St. Mungo's.
"And you, Miss Smith, are a fool for believing such lies from a Dark wizard?" He cut in silkily. He could see how Potter was trembling but whether it was with rage or something else he didn't know. He took a step forward, fixing the witch in his gaze as he purred. "The Dark Lord has always lied and he would have still harmed and killed students, especially those who come from muggle families."
The young witch paled and Severus sneered. It would not do for the students to riot against Potter. Some of the Gryffindors were throwing dark glances towards the little girl who had dared to question their hero, Severus' lip curled.
He glanced towards his apprentice to see that Potter had not managed to pull himself together any better than before. The green eyes were cast down and something else seemed to occupy Potter's thoughts. Severus' dark eyes narrowed in contemplation. What had gotten his apprentice so distracted?
He cleared his throat softly and then said. "To answer the earlier question before people so rudely interrupted, which will be 5 points from each house for speaking without your turn in class, Mr. Potter is here because he is my apprentice."
Severus sneered out the word and he saw how Potter recoiled. His eyes narrowed, it was almost as if Potter didn't like the way that the name sounded. Potter had a point now, Severus was proud of his apprentice and the tone he was using now was for the benefit of the students but he should have known that the hero of all Gryffindors would take offense at that tone.
"Very well, up here, Potter, we shall begin." He snapped his fingers to add the wards that protected the students. He took his wand from the wand sheath up his wrist and gestured towards Potter as he called to his apprentice.
"Wand at the ready, Potter. You'll take the attacking position and I will defend myself. The spells which you cannot use entitle the unforgivable, those that do damage to the classroom, or the spells that can harm. There will be clear pronunciation of your spells, even though you are capable of nonverbal spells." Severus watched with satisfaction as the brat seemed to tense even further.
He wondered how long it would take before Potter would snap. The brat stared at him with narrowed eyes, power sparkling over his skin but it was so subtle that Severus could barely feel it. He inclined his head, inviting his apprentice to begin.
Hp
That hateful git!
Harry had to bite his lip and clench his fist together so tight that it hurt because he was sure that he would lose it. Screw his wand then, he would punch his master.
It was a trying day as it was and he really didn't need Snape's veiled hints that Harry was a useless boy. It was so reminiscent of the Dursleys and especially with the words Ginny had spoken earlier, it seemed almost too much.
Harry forced himself to take a deep breath to try and control his magic but it was no use, he was breathing quickly as he raised his wand and cried out the first spell that came to mind.
"stupefy!"
"Protego!"
Snape flickered his wand so swiftly and the red beam deflected. Harry jumped away as the beam bounded away from the shield charm that had been cast to protect the students. Many students gasped but Harry had already shouted his next spell.
"Tarantallegra." Snape curled his lip but it only served to infuriate Harry more as he thought.
Levicorpus
Harry didn't even see his master's wand move, so quickly was the movement but he knew that the spell had been deflected. Snape sneered at him, black eyes narrowed and furious but Harry merely curled his lip in disdain, it was time that his master remembered who his apprentice was.
"Locomotor Mortis."
Harry retorted quickly and Snape barely had the time to strengthen his shield as Harry cried. "Obscuro."
He had meant to catch Snape off guard and he did because for a moment a blindfold appeared over the cold black eyes. The students laughed and Harry allowed himself a small breather, grinning quickly. He knew Snape was most likely extremely angry right now but he didn't care. Let's see if the older wizard liked to be ridiculed.
"Petrificus Totalus" Harry could feel his grin freezing on his face as Snape snapped out the spell. The older wizard was breathing heavily as he cancelled the spell Harry had done by removing the blindfold. The dark eyes were showing how truly furious Snape was as he approached Harry, using his wand to hold him up.
Harry would have flinched with the purposeful stride of the older wizard but only his eyes showed how angry he was and probably also how afraid. Snape marched towards him, wand caressing Harry's cheek as he purred.
"You see, class, that you should never relax your guard for even if you think that your opponent is distracted they can still retaliate with an appropriate spell, as I've demonstrated on Mr. Potter." Harry would have bitten his lip or spat at Snape but he could only hope that his eyes showed how he felt.
Snape was so close that Harry could feel the older wizard's warm breath on his cheek. Snape's breath smelled like mint and Snape smirked at him before snapping at the class. "Why don't you all copy that down using Mr. Potter as an example. Surely you still remember the spell we used."
There was a sudden commotion as the students sought for parchments and quills as Snape leaned in to whisper in Harry's ear, voice holding a veiled threat. "One more stunt like that, Mr. Potter and you'll pay! Do not forget who you're dueling!"
Snape pushed Harry away roughly and then walked away, carelessly exposing his back. Harry took it for the insult it was. Snape wasn't afraid of him. Well he would show his master who he was messing with.
"Finite." Snape cancelled the body bind with a careless flick of his wand over his shoulder and Harry was ready.
"Sectumsempra!" He cried, holding his wand steady. He had no desire to harm Snape but his anger and hatred was so great towards the older wizard right now that he didn't care if he cut Snape's cheek or not.
The Professor spun around so quickly that Harry only had a second to think as Snape brought up his wand to block the spell. His master's face was contorted in fury as Harry felt the powerful wave of magic rush over him and throwing him backwards and down the steps. His head cracked against the stones underneath and the world spun dizzily as Harry fought against the darkness that was etching around his vision.
His head ached from where he had hit the stones and Harry couldn't gather the strength to get up as he heard commotion erupt around him.
Hp
"SILENCE!" Severus roared over the chattering of the students that had approached Potter. He growled low in his throat before he shot sparks in the air to clear the pandemonium that was taking place in the classroom.
It didn't work. The students were upset and Severus snapped, annoying as the bond buzzed in his mind because his apprentice was in pain because of him. "Sit down the lot of you, Mr. Potter is fine."
"Sir, he isn't moving."
Bloody hell, have I managed to do what the Dark Lord tried for nearly a decade to do? Have I managed to kill Potter? Oh damn, Minerva will never forgive me for this.
His heart was hammering in his chest as Severus approached the fallen hero. Potter was on his back, pale in the face as the younger male blinked rapidly. Severus crouched next to his apprentice as his fingers were resting against Potter's neck to check for a pulse as a student whispered loudly.
"Look, now Snape is choking him to make sure that he stays dead. Did you see how hard he hit him?" Severus shot up a glare towards the students still assembled around. Some were actually crying. Potter's pulse was slow and weak sounding to Severus' untrained ears as he slowly asked.
"Potter…Harry, can you hear me? It is Professor Snape." The hazy green eyes shot towards him as Potter moaned.
"I think I'm going to be sick." And promptly did as he said, all over himself and the floor.
Severus cursed loudly.
The students gasped, some giggled and some took notes as to what the Potions Master said and did, you never knew which paper would offer the most money.
Deciding to take pity on Potter, Severus softly said. "Scourgify." The sickness disappeared as the smell lingered and Severus grasped Potter by the shoulder. He hauled the boy into a sitting position and braced the brat against his own shoulder as Potter paled even more and closed his eyes in obvious pain.
His other hand stroked the messy hair away to feel the egg sized lump that was growing underneath his hand. He softly muttered a healing spell underneath his breath as he watched Potter breathe easier. The ridged shoulders relaxed against Severus' arm and it was a moment longer till Potter could open his eyes, hazy with shock still but there was no more pain.
"Stay seated if you feel dizzy." He told his apprentice, bracing Potter's hands with his shoulders as he felt the younger male tense. Potter blinked owlishly at the students and Severus could see the color creep into the high cheekbones of the younger man.
The bond stopped buzzing in his mind and Severus stroked a soothing hand through the messy hair. Potter seemed to grow uncomfortably tense as he barely managed to suppress a flinch. Severus' mood soured, so that was the thanks he was getting from the brat for taking care of him? Saintly Potter doesn't like to be touched by the great and ugly Potions Master…
After a tense moment Potter relaxed as Severus continued to probe around the tender area. The younger male hissed air out between his teeth the moment Severus' fingers touched the swelling as Severus asked. "Does that hurt?"
"Yes, sir, but it is better than a moment ago."
"Good, if you feel dizzy or faint or this keeps hurting, go and see Madam Pomfrey. Get up, slowly and sit down in that chair over there. This lesson has ended."
"Yes, sir." Potter mumbled, as he slowly got to his feet. He swayed for a moment and Severus nearly reached out to wrap an arm around the thin waist of his student when Potter found his balance and slouched over to the chair Severus had pointed him to.
He got to his feet himself and brushed his robes, glancing up and snarling. "What are you all gawking at? Get lost! Class dismissed! Two feet of parchment on successfully shielding against unfriendly spells, to be turned in by next lesson!"
The students scurried away and Severus put the classroom back to order again with a wave of his hand. He turned in Potter's direction as the brat asked. "Sir, can I go to lunch?"
"No, I wish to speak to you."
"Very well…." At Severus' glare, Potter added. "sir."
"Not in here, in private you dolt. Unless you wish to discuss intimate things with the rest of the school present?"Severus crossed his arms over his chest.
"The rest of the school will be at lunch." Potter muttered too loudly.
"We will not be joining them. We will be eating lunch in my office." Severus spun on his heel, knowing Potter would follow even when he could feel the glare the boy was sending him through his layer of clothing cutting into his back.
Hp
Spiteful git
Harry's mind was churning the way his stomach had done earlier when he had thrown up all over himself. This was the second time in the two months that he had been Snape's apprentice that he had managed to nearly puke all over his master.
He followed at a slower pace because his head still ached with every step he took but it wasn't as bad as it had been when he had just gotten up. His face reddened when he remembered the students that had been present, by lunch the story would no doubt run among the school that Harry had been bested by Snape.
I wonder what they'll call it. A lover's row perhaps. But the students just saw another thing I'm obviously a failure at. Perhaps it had been my luck that saved me all those years against Voldemort and not my skill. I had thought that I was finally good at something but I'm just a lowlife freak who can't do anything right.
"Sit!" A slender finger pointed at a chair and Harry bit out.
"The correct answer would be 'you can sit over there, Mr. Potter'" Snape's dark eyes narrowed in a glare as the thin lips pressed tightly together before spitting out one word.
"Now!"
Harry remained standing as Snape raised a black eyebrow before pointing silently to the chair that stood before the desk. Harry's eyes narrowed into a glare of their own and Snape smirked as he cocked his head to the side and breathed. "You think you are going to win this, Potter!"
"You're the one who wanted to talk." Harry retorted.
"I have enough of your cheek, boy! If you demand to show me the insolence of a seven year old today then I will see it fit to punish you like a seven year old! I'm not above placing you over my knee for a sound spanking, Mr. Potter."
"You already thrashed me enough today, sir." Harry spat out. He pretended that he wasn't shaken up from the way Snape had snarled boy at him. It was too reminiscent of uncle Vernon whenever his uncle decided that a hands on lesson was something Harry required instead of a sound scowling.
Snape's eyes darkened and he muttered quite clearly. "If you think that was a thrashing, Potter, you've never been beaten in your life so much that you feared you may not wake up from it."
"No, only enough times by uncle Vernon and Dudley to know what to do to avoid it." Harry muttered under his breath. The dark eyes shot towards him but Harry could be sure that Snape hadn't heard it. His master hadn't had that good of a hearing, now did he?
"Very well, would you like to take a seat, Mr. Potter, this conversation will take a while? Unless you wish for me to put you over my knee and give you a reason for standing up from meals for a week." Snape's voice was losing the silkiness and just sounded plain dangerous now.
Harry sat down, arranging his robes to better serve his needs and to give him something to do. He loathed Snape.
Snape sat himself down carefully upon the desk, towering over Harry who refused to look up.
"What has gotten you so upset today?" The unexpected question caught him completely off guard and Harry rose to his feet in a rage.
"Upset! You belittle me insult me on purpose and you accuse me of being upset? That is rich, Snape!"
"Sit down, you foolish boy!" Harry flinched at the hard tone as the word boy was snarled out and Snape stopped. Harry lifted his head to find himself in the calculated gaze of the Professor. He swallowed thickly and sat down again as Snape said, taking a deep breath. "It has been years since my behavior in class has managed to rouse this kind of response from you, Mr. Potter so I ask again, what has gotten you so upset?"
Harry looked away and mumbled. "It is nothing."
"Then that nothing must be a whole lot of nothing."
"It is just some stuff with Ginny."
"And please clarify yourself, Mr. Potter, to what 'stuff' you are referring to with Miss Weasley? Did it have to do with my letter?"
"Yes, she wasn't too pleased about it."
"I assumed she wouldn't be but in what manner did she voice this unhappiness?"
"In front of the whole common room and the school. She had some interesting theories to why you would go to such lengths to break her and I up." Harry wasn't sure if Snape wouldn't lose his composure when he would hear just exactly what kind of theories Ginny had come up with.
Harry sighed, what was he supposed to do? Was he supposed to tell the older wizard or wait until he had heard it from the grapevine? No better tell his master himself.
He took a deep breath and looked up, directly into Snape's eyes as he said. "Ginny insinuated the reason for the letter was because you were afraid of competition from her, sir."
"Competition?" Snape's eyebrow rose in an inquiry and Harry knew his master was dangerous as he nodded and said.
"Yes, she implied that we were lovers."
"Lovers?" Snape's voice broke as the older wizard got to his feet and paces, hissing. "How dimwitted is she? The apprenticeship is not supposed to be a courtship. I'm supposed to teach you my craft and lore, not teach you about sex…."
Snape continued his rant and Harry looked away. No, it would be too much to ask for somebody who did want him. It didn't have to be on that level, certainly but Harry had received so little kindness and comfort in his life that he just wanted somebody to be there to sling an arm around his shoulder whenever he was feeling upset, like now. Remus and Sirius had never made any objects and Harry had always wanted to tell them about the Dursleys and what their behavior had been like for somebody who they loathed to be given in their care and left at their mercy.
"Potter, are you even listening to me?" Snape's hand touched his shoulder and Harry hastily flinched away, pulling his head towards his chest and bringing his hands up to cover and protect his face. Snape's hand dropped away as if the older wizard had been burned and Snape snarled. "Merlin, what is wrong with you, boy?"
"Don't call me that!" Harry shot to his feet, embarrassed to be caught like that and he faced Snape as the older wizard hissed.
"Then what should I call you, girl perhaps?"
"No!" Harry looked away as he said through numb lips. "I just don't like it when you call me that in that tone."
"And why is that?" Harry shrugged and Snape's voice dropped to a more gentler level as the older wizard said. "Potter, there is a reason for such a violent reaction to a term so what is it? I need to hear a justified reason why you dislike the word so much."
"It is the one my uncle always used when he was cross with me or when I was in trouble." Harry still looked at the floor and Snape sneered, arms crossed over his chest.
"Oh when you had to get up from your lazy arse to do some chores? Poor little Potter, he had to dirty his fingers and perhaps even break a nail doing chores for not getting a perfect score on his report card. What did he do to punish you I wonder, made you stand in the corner for a minute or perhaps take away your dessert?"
It was the last straw. The already stressful day and now Snape's mocking tone combined with things Ginny had said was too much as Harry snapped. He didn't care anymore, let his master make of what he will as he spat, angry and bitter tears in his eyes.
"I would be lucky if I would even get fed! I wish I could stand in a corner or eat my favorite dessert but that would imply that they would cook for me and not I for them! It would imply that I got to sit at the table with them and eat regular meals like a normal person, not sneak out of my cupboard in the death of the night to hope uncle Vernon didn't lock the fridge to find something to eat because else it would be stealing from the trash! I had hoped that I would be punished for not getting a perfect record card instead of for getting a better report card than Dudley. They would show the freak what it would do to be better then their precious son! It was the cupboard for Harry Bloody Potter, the Boy Nobody Wanted, for five weeks! I got smacked for saying I didn't feel well and I couldn't do my chores! Nobody took pity on me! I was for death in my cupboard when I was ill as aunt Petunia checked on me several times a day in the hopes I had died! She didn't take me to the hospital when Dudley ganged up on me and kicked me so hard I broke three ribs, she merely sneered at me that I wasn't doing my chores. It didn't matter to anybody that I was in pain or…."
Belatingly he realized that tears were streaming down his face or that he was sniffling back sobs as he stared at the unmoving form of his master, the face which could have been carved from stone as he whispered. "I would give everything to even have a shadow of the life you imagined I had. To know that I was wanted and not being reminded daily that I was an unwanted burden, an unnatural freak and that they should have left me out on the doorstep to freeze to death! A baby of one year who had just lost his parents may be a big surprise but why couldn't they be like any normal family and just accept me and love me?"
"Potter…I…." Snape began to say but Harry's fist was shaking in a futile attempt to control the stream of words that seemed intent on breaking free as he continued.
"And I thought it had ended when I entered Hogwarts but it just continued, every bloody summer. I thought that after my fifth year, when the Order told uncle Vernon that he should treat me better it would all change. Do you even know what happened when we got home? He tossed me in my room for a week with a bolt in front of the door and a cat door for food every few hours. Once a day I got to use the loo. My wand was taken from me and he made me write those letters with him standing behind me, to make sure I didn't write anything to tell them about what happened…"
He couldn't even say anything as he took a deep breath that actually hurt to try and keep the sobs inside. A hand on his shoulder pressed him back into his chair where he sat hiccupping. Another hand pressed a glass of water into his hands and Harry gulped it down. "Slow sips." Snape commanded and Harry forced himself to sip slowly.
"Alright, let me go over this again to make sure that I have everything right, can you help me with that, Mr. Potter?" Harry gave a nod as he drew in a shaky breath. He glanced up to see that Snape had pulled a chair up and was sitting opposite him, leaning forward as he rested his elbows on his knees.
"Very well. You were sleeping in a cupboard instead of a proper bed. You often were not fed. Belittled and even beaten on purpose when you best their son. You were not given any medications when you were ill and your family even denied you the most basic of human needs." Snape's voice was as elegant and even as ever but when Harry looked up, he could see how angry his master really was.
The dark eyes shot fire as Snape twitched his fingers for a moment as he sat in silence, having finished with his summary. Harry gave a nod as he realized Snape was waiting for an answer and then Snape asked.
"Did Madam Pomfrey never make any mentioning of this abuse when she examined you before you were cleared for Quidditch?"
"She said…" Harry choked back a sob and continued in a hoarse whisper. "She said that I was malnourished and thin and that she would make a mentioning of it in my student file but she never asked the reason. I assumed that after a while, when nobody asked what had happened or who did that to me, that she just didn't care like all the other doctors and nurses."
"There was never a nurse or a doctor who saw your wounds and contacted child services?"
Harry shook his head. "No, uncle Vernon would always say that I was an unruly child and the only way to handle me was through corporeal punishment."
"And you believed him." It was a statement, not a question.
"There was no reason since nobody ever denied it." Harry looked away to the floor, not seeing the look of compassion on his master's face.
Hp
"Why did you never go to either Professor McGonagall or even the Weasleys? Molly Weasley would have loved to have you in her home permanently." Severus watched as Potter shrugged and the younger male answered.
"Why should I? Nothing would change except more trouble."
Ah yes, why trust an adult when they have failed you so many times in your life?
"Surely Molly Weasley or even your friend Ronald would have made comments to you about…."
"Ron did hint towards it and I'm sure that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley tried but they always said that Dumbledore said I needed to return to the Dursleys at least two or three weeks during the summer for the blood wards."
Ah, that is the puppet master behind all of this. How long had you known Albus that Potter wasn't treated well at the bitch Petunia's house? What excuse did you use to placate Poppy when she came to you with the results of her diagnosis? If only Poppy thought the sun shone from your arse and trusted me or Minerva enough with her findings concerning Potter, we could have made the necessary arrangements to find Potter a proper home. You left too much to chance, Headmaster, you never once cared for the boy, did you?
"It would not have been necessary. Your mother cast a spell over you, a spell that was a combination of her blood and that of James which would have protected you anywhere in a place you called home. Petunia's blood was not fueled by magic and thus if the Dark Lord had not been so fearful of that protection and attacked your families home, those wards wouldn't have protected you."
"I could have lived someplace else?" Potter looked up and the miserable green eyes of his apprentice tore at Severus' heart. He gave a nod and Potter asked in a small voice, begging Severus to lie.
"But surely Dumbledore hadn't known that…I mean….you're smarter than he is and you have more access to books so you would know that and Dumbledore wouldn't have…I mean, he wouldn't have sent me to that place time and time again if it hadn't been for the blood wards and…"
Sadly Harry, he would have. He needed you to believe that it was your lot in life to deserve everything life handed out to you. He needed to make sure that your trust in adults was so shaky that you wouldn't dream of going to them for help even when it was plain that you couldn't cope. He needed to make you so independent that when he asked you to make the biggest sacrefice, that of your life, he could trust in you to do it without hesitation because you were convinced nobody would miss you because you believed that they didn't care.
Severus ignored the hopeful look his apprentice was sending him, begging for him to confirm something that Harry desperately needed to believe to keep sane. Else, why would somebody who pretended to care for him send him back time and time again to a place he had been abused unless he didn't know that there was a different solution?
But if Severus lied now, he knew that Potter would never heal and that was something that the younger male needed above all, and that meant no more lies, no matter how Potter may resent Severus for it, it needed to be said.
"Potter…Harry, he had more access to books and research because he was Headmaster of Hogwarts. He knew very well what he was sending you back to every summer."
Potter rose as he screamed. "It isn't true! He cared for me! You're just jealous that he cared about me and not about you…I saw it in your memories and…."
Severus reacted in two seconds when Potter turned tail and fled. His locking spell hit the door before Potter did as the young male tore at the doorknob fruitlessly. "Let me out!"
"No, Harry, we need to talk about this."
"Let me go! You just can't stand the truth in knowing that he didn't care about you and did about me and…"
Severus cautiously approached his apprentice who was trembling as he carefully lay a hand on the shaking shoulder. Potter's voice broke on a sob and the next moment he turned and launched himself at Severus.
Severus assumed the younger male would hit him but Potter merely flung his arms around Severus, burying his face in his chest as he wept. Gobsmacked but the painful sobs tearing at his heart he brought his arms up to cradle Potter as the younger male whispered brokenly.
"He cared."
"Yes, Harry he did, but the way he did was as destructive as the Dursleys care. If he really cared for you the way he told you, he should have taken you out of there and placed you somewhere else. But you are right, in his own way, Albus cared but that doesn't mean he did do right by you."
Soothingly stroking the dark hair, Severus allowed his apprentice to cry and hopefully heal from all the hurt done to him by people who said they cared for him.
Hp
Several embarrassing moments later Harry was sitting back in his chair, sipping his glass of water. He was still hiccupping on occasion but preferred not to dwell further on the moments he had spent bawling his eyes out like a little kid against Snape's firm chest. His master had been traumatized enough surely.
He also prefered not to dwell any further on how he kept thinking that Snape's chest had been very firm, he was a freak.
"Harry?" And when had Snape began to call him Harry?
He glanced up to find himself blinking up at a pristine white handkerchief that was handed to him by his master. He gave a nod and accepted it without question as he dabbed at his eyes, murmuring a soft thank you.
He took a deep breath and another sip of water, finally silenced. He did feel better, as if some of the weight he had carried for so long had disappeared when he had started crying. His stomach growled and Harry glanced up, pink tainting his cheeks.
"Shall I order us some lunch?" Snape's tone was dry and Harry nodded, glad that his master wasn't mocking him any longer. "Is there anything specific you would like to eat?"
"As long as it doesn't contain too many vegetables, I'm happy." Harry answered as Snape raised an eyebrow. The older wizard wrote something on a empty parchment and then said.
"So if I wish to torture you, I can give you vegetables."
"Well, with everything that the Dursleys didn't feed me, I'm not a picky eater." Harry watched as Snape tapped the parchment once and it disappeared. Snape settled behind his desk, fingers steepled together as he regarded Harry.
Just when his master opened his mouth to say something there was a knock on the door. Giving Harry a long and hard look which he couldn't place, Snape said. "Enter."
Harry turned in his seat so he didn't have to look directly at the door. Whoever entered didn't need to know that he had been crying.
"Professor Snape?"
Harry suddenly didn't care anymore as he turned in his seat to look at the pale, handsome, blond male that was standing in the doorway. Draco didn't even seem to be surprised that Harry was here as the grey eyes focused on his face for a second and then shot back to Snape's face.
"Yes, what can I do for you, Mr. Malfoy? I'm a little bit busy with Mr. Potter here…"
"I have to talk to you and Potter, sir."
"And why would you need to talk to Mr. Potter? I'm quite sure that anything regarding him has nothing to do with me and vice versa."
"He is your apprentice, therefore his protection and your own are of the uttermost importance. I think you would like to hear what I've to say, Professor." The older male's voice dropped a little and Harry frowned. He glanced at Snape to see the mask of indifference settle over his face as he nodded and said.
"Then come in and close the door behind you." Snape sneered at him and Harry sat up straighter. What was Malfoy going on about.
Draco took the chair next to Harry and said. "This is difficult for me to say. We all know that not all the Death Eaters died or were taken prisoner, when the Dark Lord died, no matter what the Prophet and the Ministry want us to believe. There are still death eaters out there, many more are on the mainland that we don't even know about…"
"That you don't know about, Draco! I have been in the Dark Lord's ranks longer than you." Snape cut in. Harry looked at Draco, at the way he was clenching his forearm. He had been branded by the dark mark, just like his master.
"Yes, well…" A hint of impatience crept into the cultured voice and Draco took a deep breath before he continued. "There is talk about harming Potter, getting even for what he did to the Dark Lord."
"I killed a madman, how are they planning to get even?" Harry blurted out. It should have bothered him more that there were people out in the world to get him but he already knew that he had made some enemies when he had killed Voldemort. "I saved the world…"
"And you destroyed theirs but this hardly matters. It will take time before all of these rogue death eaters are gathered up, Draco. Unless you have heard of an organized attack towards Potter, then the amount of danger is not worth mentioning."
Draco leveled Snape with a gaze and then said. "I just thought you should know."
"And I thank you for the wonderful news. Now if that was all, then you may leave. I promised my apprentice some lunch." Draco rose, gracefully as he brushed his robes back into place. The older male walked to the door and then turned around and blurted out.
"So is it true then?"
"Is what true?" Snape glanced up.
"That you and Potter are lovers." So the rumors were already spreading.
Harry tried to keep a straight face as Snape purred. "Mr. Malfoy, it seemed that the credit I gave you all those years for your intelligence was completely wasted when with just one comment you prove that you're a shallow dunderhead as the rest of the student population! You know the implications of an apprenticeship bond and you should also guess at my reasons for taking Potter on as an apprentice but if that language was too difficult for you, let me say it plainly. I'm not Potter's lover, nor is he mine. Now gladly see yourself out."
And as the door banged shut behind Draco, Harry couldn't contain himself and laughed, laughing only harder at the look of surprise and amusement on Snape's face before his master too chuckled and Harry couldn't help but thinking that it was a sound he liked.
That is it for now. I hope you liked that. I need some ideas for the next chapter. Review of course as always, they help my day.
In the next chapter: Harry finds out just how small Hogwarts is with all the rumors that are spreading about Snape and him and how hard it is to avoid somebody you don't want to see when Ginny seems to pop up everywhere to flaunt her new captures in his face. How will Severus handle himself when he is called to the Headmistress office to answer some questions about the rumors? And rogue death eaters terrorize the wizarding community, do they have a plan or are they just retaliating? That and more in: consequences.