Mellow! Been looking how out dated and not needed a few of my messages are. Going to delete them all I swear so that you get more story and less of me rambling. Which I'm doing again. *Sigh*

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Chapter13: Showing the Proof

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Severus's POV*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Severus briskly walked to the headmaster's office. Why didn't I notice sooner? He was showing the signs for Merlin's sake.

The teacher put all of those worried out of his head. With a neutral expression Severus muttered the password to the statue, "Candy corn." Why the headmaster had been using muggle candy for passwords recently, no one really knew.

"Ah Severus, what brings you here? How is Harry doing?" Albus greeted.

Severus tried to calm himself from exploding right there, "That is precisely why I am here."

"What has Harry done?" The older man's eyes still had that twinkle in them.

"It's not what he has done, rather what was done to him." Severus said, hoping that they wouldn't be playing little games tonight.

Albus got very serious, "What would you be referring to?"

"Abuse." The younger of the two stated flatly. "I'm guessing that it was his relatives."

"Are you sure?" Albus asked.

Severus rolled his eyes, "Yes, my previous observations had been wrong."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Harry's POV*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Harry fearfully stood in the corner, heart pounding as he wonderedc what Snape was going to Dumbledore about. Is it because I didn't listen the first time? The fear escaladed from there. Is he getting the cane?

Harry whimpered. I didn't mean to do anything wrong. Harry knew that he couldn't take any more, he just couldn't.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Severus's POV*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Had there not been so much on his mind Severus might've been impressed that Harry had listened to his instructions for once. As it was, he found the child as he had left him, and was pleasantly pleased that they wouldn't have to search the entire castle for the Boy-Who-Lived. He might just have to glue the boy's feet to the floor if that had happened.

"Potter, come here." Severus called. Harry shuffled over cautiously and slowly. "Today, Potter. I do not have all night to put up with your foolishness." Really!

"Now, Severus don't scare the boy. Come on Harry." Albus gave Harry a gentle smile. He seemed to sense that the boy was beyond terrified and tried to make it easier.

However, it seemed to have the opposite effect. Harry jumped at the sound of his voice and bolted for the door.

Severus somewhat expected this and ran after Harry, while Albus stood mouth hanging. I knew he would try something like this!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Harry's POV*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Harry was about halfway down the hall way when Severus caught up with him. "Now, listen here Potter." Severus snapped. He raised his hand to swat the child. Harry cringed and closed his eyes to brace himself for the pain. The man stopped himself though.

Harry looked up, in surprise because the waited upon swat never came. he had though for sure that Snape would give him a 'good' one. A bit hesitantly Harry opened his eyes again. He's not going to hit me?

There was several moments of silence between the two, before Severus spoke again, "You are going to listen to me tonight or I'll have you writing lines and scrubbing caldrons for the next month on top of what you already have. Do. You. Understand?"

Biting his lip, Harry nodded. He's not threatening to thrash me? Uncle Vernon would've.

"Verbal please," Severus's voice didn't sound like a command as much as a plea.

"Yes, sir." Harry knew that his voice had shook, but at least he could answer the man.

Severus looked satisfied by the answer, "We are going talk to the headmaster about what's been going on, this is for your benefit."

"What for?" Harry could feel his pulse quicken again.

Severus would have to be blind to not see how shaken the child was. "I promise that you're not in trouble." He said gently, well as gently as Severus Snape ever got.

The boy nodded, but the panic never left those emerald eyes. How can I trust him?

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Severus's POV*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Severus knew that that was the most he could reassure the boy for now. He grabbed the boy's bicep, in case the boy tried to break for it again, and lead him back.

"Welcome back Harry," Albus greeted like nothing had even happened. "A house elf had brought some tea, would you like some?"

"Um, yes?" the boy muttered almost uncertainly.

Severus said nothing, but he noted that the headmaster had also transfigured a few items to make some comfortable chairs and little table for the tea and cookies.

"So Harry, my boy. Do you have any idea why I was called?" There was a slight hint of curiosity in the headmaster's voice.

"N-no, sir." Harry muttered truthfully.

Severus couldn't keep quiet any longer, "We are here to take about your health and the fact that you have been abused."

Had the child not been out of reach Severus might have gone though with the urge to choke him when he shook his head. "No, they didn't abuse me."

"Harry," Albus's voice was gentle and his eyes shone with the concern he had for the boy. "Severus told me he had reasons to believe that your realities have harmed you. Would you please explain?"

"It's nothing sir," Harry said, biting his lip and looking around to avoid eye contact.

"Potter, I would like you to lift your shirt and show the head master your back." Severus ordered in a neutral voice, despite the anger that boiled inside of him. How could he just ask the boy? Most abuse children don't want to admit to it!

"Now Severus, is this really necessary?" Albus looked surprised.

Severus shot Albus a glare that would frighten most of his students and even some of the teachers, but the older wizard seemed almost unaffected. "It is." Severus muttered, nearly loosing his composer.

Harry shook his head violently. "No, I-I'm fine. Really."

Severus looked at him. "You are not. You took that healing potion for the bruises that you have receive from this abuse and I won't stand for it. Now, do as I have told you."

With shaking hands, Harry did lift his shirt and presented his mottled back. Now That Severus had gotten a good look at the bruises he could see that it was more than that. There were welts and places that the skin had obviously been cut into with whatever infernal device that those muggles had used on the child.

The worst part, at least to Severus was that he had spanked the child that had welts and bruises like that. Not only that, he did it twice. One could argue and say that he didn't know. However, Severus knew that it was his fault for not seeing the signs. After all, was it not him that have dealt with most of the abuse cases that they have come across at Hogwarts? Yes, there was no excuse for him.

After a few moments of silence, Severus spoke, "Potter, go see Madam Pomfrey."

"But sir-," Harry protested weakly, as he pulled his shirt back down.

"This is not up for discussion, you will go and we shall talk about this in the morning." Severus stated.

The kid looked like he was going to say more, but Albus threw in his own voice on the matter, "Harry, no one wants you to be in pain any longer."

Eyes trained on the floor, the boy mumbled something and left. I wonder why he listens for Albus more.

"Now Severus, let's but the matter aside until the morning. I believe this was a great shock to all of us, a good night's sleep would be the best thing." Albus said before leaving himself.