Most characters belong to J.K. Rowling. Hopefully she doesn't mind if I play around with them. Severus is the good guy here. Mentions of child abuse so be prepared.
This is not according to the books. No threats from Voldemort. I do not expect to bring him back to life but there is always the possibility. is a rather long Chapter. Hope you enjoy it.
This Chapter was kind of hard for me to write. I hope it's alright.
Chapter 21: Talking to Police 8/11
Severus woke early, got showered and dressed in a pair of black slacks with a white button down shirt. Grabbing his jacket, Severus headed into Harry's room where Harry was just waking up. "Good morning, Harry. How are you feeling this morning?" Severus asked.
"umm... mornin' Papa" Harry said rubbing his eyes. "You're 'ready dressed."
"Yes my lazy boy. I am up, dressed and need my coffee." Severus said.
"umm... 'kay. I'm 'wake." Harry said scooting himself over to the edge of the bed. "need the loo."
Severus chuckled, carried Harry into the bathroom and then back to the bedroom when he was done. "We are going to wait for Healer Jones to get you dressed. We have to get the glamours and casts on." Harry nodded as Severus sat him at the table. Harry's stomach was doing flips so he didn't want to eat. "Harry you have to eat something. Have some eggs and toast with a glass of milk at least." Harry ate about half his eggs and toast and drank his milk. He was just finishing up when Healer Jones arrived.
"Good morning Severus." Stephan said "Harry, I need to have you on the chaise. Do you want to walk for me?" Harry nodded and Severus placed his walker in front of him. After Severus helped him up, Harry walked to the chaise. "Very good Harry. Now I'm going to have you lay down while I run a diagnostic scan." Stephan finished his scan then took out the pictures of Harry for a reference. "Harry, I am going to do some spells on you that will make it appear as if you have only healed for 3 weeks muggle-wise."
"'Kay, Healer Jones. It's not gonna hurt is it?" Stephan shook his head and started casting the spells. Harry gasped as his body became covered with old bruises, freshly healed and mostly healed wounds and old scars. "Papa" Harry was starting to get upset so Stephan stopped and let Severus hold Harry and calm him down.
"Harry, it is not real, baby boy. Stephan is just casting an illusion. It is just pretend." Harry couldn't help crying. "Why did Uncle Vernon do it. I tried to be a good boy really." Harry said. Severus held him and assured him it wasn't his fault.
"Harry, I will take some calming draught and pain reliever with me but we need to make it as real as possible for the police." Severus sat holding Harry and rubbing his back.
"OK, Papa, but it looks so real and makes me remember." Harry said softly.
Severus lifted Harry's chin so he was looking him in the eye. "Harry we have to go let the police and child welfare in the muggle world talk to you. We have a muggle-born lawyer, who Lucius said is really good to represent us. We have a home and address at Spinner's End in the muggle world. I have a very distant cousin who was born a squib. She has agreed to move in there and live. We will go meet her after the police station. Her name is Mary Stratford. I sent her a letter just after I adopted you and she moved in then and started getting things ready. We will spend a couple nights there. It is being fitted with a room set up like a hospital room and there is a wheelchair there. We need to let people see us there at least until after the trial." Harry nodded.
"We have to pretend to be muggles. Right?" Severus nodded. "We have people who are going to help us. Right?" again Severus nodded. "After Uncle Vernon goes to jail we don't have to pretend anymore. Right?" Harry asked.
Stephan looked at Harry. "Harry, there are a lot of people in the wizarding world and muggle world fighting for you. We have decided to have Vernon Dursley tried in the muggle world so what happened to you is not all over the wizarding world." Harry nodded "Now let me finish this up and we can get going. After we get done with the police we are going to make a big deal out of taking you to Spinner's End." Stephan looked at Harry and winked. "After all it is your first day out of my private clinic. Now let's get these casts on and get you dressed." Harry let Severus place him back on the chaise. He was undressed to his boxers. Stephan removed several casts and braces from his pocket and enlarged them. He placed them on Harry's arms and legs along with a brace around Harry's torso. Once they were on Harry could hardly move. Severus slipped on a pair of pajama pants, short-sleeve button-down shirt, socks and a large hooded sweatshirt that zipped up the front.
Severus picked up Harry and Stephan picked up Harry's backpack. Stephan floo'd through to his home in London followed by Severus. "Where are we?" Harry asked.
Stephan looked at Harry, "We are at my home in London, Harry. We will be going to the police station from here. In fact we will be taking a cab which will be here anytime." Just as he said that they heard a horn outside. Severus walked out carrying Harry and Stephan followed pushing a wheelchair. They were soon settled into the cab and off to Scotland Yard. Once there they set up the wheelchair and settled Harry in it.
Once inside they met up with Severus' friend. "Hello, Severus, who do we have here?" The detective asked kneeling down next to the chair.
Severus placed a hand on Harry's shoulder, "Elliot, I would like to present my son, Hadrian Severus James Potter-Snape. Harry, this is my good friend Detective Sgt. Elliot Stabler." Harry tried to raise his hand but could just move it. Elliot took Harry's hand in his and squeezed it gently. Elliot rose and turned as Severus introduced him to Stephan. "Dr. Stephan Jones, this is my friend Detective Sgt. Elliot Stabler. Elliot this is Harry's doctor, Stephan. Stephan is the owner of the private clinic where Harry has been for the last 3 weeks."
"It is a pleasure to meet you doctor" Elliot said shaking hands with Stephan. "Severus if you, Dr. Jones and Hadrian will follow me we will head to the conference room."
Stephan looked at Elliot "Please call me Stephan. Quite the nice place you have here. I wish I could look around more."
"Well, Stephan if you give me a call I will take you on a tour. We do not have time for it today however." Elliot looked at Harry "Would you be more comfortable being called Hadrian or Harry?"
"I kind of like Harry. Hadrian is what Papa calls me when I'm in trouble." Harry said quietly.
"Hadrian" Severus said in his best teacher voice looking seriously at Harry.
"Sorry, Papa." Harry said lowering his head. In a whisper to Elliot "See, I told you" Elliot and Stephan chuckled, Severus glared. Elliot led them into a conference room with a large table and 4 chairs. Soon they were joined by a nice looking woman in her mid-thirties carrying a briefcase.
"Good morning gentlemen. I'm sorry I'm late." She said as she entered. The men all rose when she entered "My name is Olivia Benson. I am the representative of the Department of Child Welfare."
Elliot shook her hand "Ms. Benson, I am Detective Sgt. Elliot Stabler, to your right is Dr. Stephan Jones he runs a private clinic and is Harry's private physician." They shook hands and she turned to Severus. Elliot continued "The man across from you is Professor Severus Snape. He teaches at a private school in Scotland. He is my friend from school and is the one who contacted me 2 weeks ago." Severus shook hands with Ms. Benson and placed his hand on Harry's shoulder. Elliot signaled for everyone to sit then continued. "The young man next to Severus is his almost adopted son..."
Harry's head snapped up "I ain't his almost son. I'm his son and he is my Papa ... and he saved me ... and he loves me ... and he takes care of me ... and ... and" Harry was getting very agitated and was starting to panic.
Severus lifted Harry out of the chair and onto his lap. "It is fine, baby boy. You need to breathe with me ... remember ... breathe in ... hold it ... breathe out ... ok again ... breathe in ... hold it ... breathe out ... very good, baby boy. You are fine. Papa has you ... breathe in ... hold it ... breathe out, good job, son" Harry had stopped panicking and laid his head on Severus chest. Severus ran his hand through Harry's hair "Would it be easier if you just stay here?" Harry nodded and lay there with his eyes closed listening to Severus' heartbeat. Severus looked at Elliot. "Is there any chance we could get some hot cocoa? It works wonders after one of his panic attacks."
Elliot pressed a button and asked one of the officers to bring in a cup of cocoa for Harry and tea for everyone else. Harry raised his head and looked at Severus, then shyly at the other adults in the room "I'm sorry I sometimes don't think right and start to panic but Papa knows how to fix it" Harry said barely above a whisper.
Elliot looked at Severus who nodded "As I was saying Ms. Benson the young man who is now sitting in his Papa's lap is Hadrian Severus James Potter-Snape. Formerly known as Harry James Potter but he prefers to be called Harry. The paperwork on the adoption has been approved and signed they are just waiting for their 6 month probation to be over. Things went through the courts very quickly due to the extenuating circumstances." Just then there was a knock on the door and the refreshments had arrived.
Olivia smiled and looked at Elliot. "It is a pleasure meeting you all. Now could you please tell me why I am here and what happened to this handsome young man." Severus had slipped a calming potion into Harry's cocoa unknown to the others and he started feeding it to Harry in sips.
Elliot started "As I said Severus contacted me 2 weeks ago about his godson. It seems that Harry was beaten and almost killed by his uncle." Olivia gasped "Perhaps Severus should tell the story to begin with. Olivia nodded.
Severus looked down at Harry who was dozing, then turn to Olivia. "Ms. Benson, He always does this after a panic attack. They take a lot out of him." Olivia nodded. Severus continued "first of all let me tell you a little about myself. I am a chemistry professor at a private school in Scotland. We teach students from 11 to 18 years of age. I lived next to Lily Evans, Harry's mother, and her sister Petunia from the time I was 8 years old until I graduated from the same school I teach at now. Lily was the same age as I and Petunia was several years older. Lily was a brilliant student, Petunia was not. Petunia did not pass the entrance exam to go to the private school so she had to go to the local public school. She was always envious of the fact that Lily and I both passed the exams and were allowed to attend. After graduation I went to university to become a chemistry professor and Lily married a young man named James Potter. He was from a well-to-do family. I know he worked for the government but I was never told what he did. They were always very secretive about James' job. A few years after they married Harry was born. Lily contacted me and asked me to stand godfather for Harry and I agreed. I was unable to make the christening as I was at University and could not leave. Lily sent me the papers which I signed and then returned. I knew Lily's parents had passed and her sister was married and had a son a few months older than Harry. I tried to see Lily and Harry when I could but it was hard as I was at University working toward my Masters degree. On Halloween when Harry was 15 months old his parents were killed. The monster that killed them attempted but did not kill Harry. The Potter's will was not to be found so the authorities placed Harry with Lily's sister and her husband. I did not know the whereabouts of Harry as Petunia had moved after her marriage. I did not even know the name of her husband. I did not see Harry again until he started school in the same school I taught at. We started talking and getting reacquainted during the school year. I did not know about the abuse. Harry was extremely adept at hiding the abuse from everyone even his dorm mates. After school let out we kept in contact by mail." Severus drank some tea and let everyone absorb what he had just said.
"Professor, why did you not sue for guardianship at that time." Olivia asked.
"Believe me, Ms. Benson, if I had any idea what was going on Harry would never have gone back there. On the 20th of July I went to visit Harry. I had the day free and I thought I would take Harry out for the day. When I arrived at the house his aunt and uncle were not home. The door was answered by a rather large young man who I believe was Harry's cousin. I asked where Harry was he pointed up stairs and left the house. I walked upstairs calling for Harry but received no answer. I finally found a room with locks on the outside of the door which were locked but the keys were still in them so I opened the door after knocking. As I walked in the room I found Harry lying on the floor in a pool of his own blood near death. He was covered in bleeding wounds, bruises and broken bones." Severus stopped speaking. The room was silent as Harry woke up. Severus looked down at Harry and then realized he had been rubbing Harry's back the whole time he was talking.
Harry looked up at Severus and whispered "Papa, I need to use the loo. Do you think it'll be okay?" Severus smiled and nodded. Asking Elliot they were led to the men's room.
While they were gone Olivia was talking with Stephan. He showed her the photographs that were taken when they brought Harry home before and after they cleaned him up. He gave her copies of the paperwork they had made up changing the magic to muggle terms and leaving out the worse of the injuries. The papers were set up to look just like they would in a muggle hospital. "Dr Jones these injuries look as if they were life threatening yet in three weeks he has healed as much as he has. That is amazing." Olivia said.
Just then Elliot walked in followed by Severus carrying Harry. Severus asked Harry if he wanted to sit in his chair but Harry shook his head so Severus sat down with Harry on his lap. Looking at the papers and photos on the table Severus winced. "I believe I left off finding Harry in his room. I believe perhaps you would like to speak to Harry before I continue." Elliot looked to Ms. Benson who nodded.
Elliot looked at Harry, "Harry, I realize this is going to be hard but Ms. Benson and I need to ask you some questions. Do you understand?" Harry nodded. "I will be recording this conversation so I need you to speak as clearly as you can." Harry nodded again. "you can sit on your Papa's lap if you need to, we both understand you need the security." Elliot placed a microphone on the table in front of Harry. "Shall we begin?" Harry nodded again and asked Severus for a drink of water. "This is the interview of the minor Hadrian Severus James Potter-Snape, formerly known as Harry James Potter in the case versus Vernon Dursley and Petunia Evans Dursley. Present in the room are said minor child, and his Godfather named by James and Lily Potter the youth's parents, now deceased, Severus Tobias Snape. Mister Snape is now the minor's father by adoption pending probationary period. Mister Snape is a professor of Chemistry at a private school in Scotland. Also present are Dr. Stephan Jones, physician and owner of a private clinic in London who is acting as the minor's private physician, Ms. Olivia Benson representing the Department of Child Welfare and I am Detective Sgt. Elliot Stabler of Scotland Yard, London. To begin the interview Harry would you please state your name age and birthdate, please."
Harry swallowed and looked at Sgt Stabler. "My name is Hadrian Severus James Potter-Snape. It use to be Harry James Potter before I got adopted. I am 12 years old. My birthday was on July 31st." Harry looked up at Severus who nodded "But I would rather be called Harry if you please."
"Very well Harry. Ms. Benson has some questions to ask you and I may interrupt to ask questions also." Elliot said. "Do you understand what is happening today Harry?"
Harry looked at Elliot "Yes, sir. You and Ms. Benson have to ask me questions so you can find out what happened to me." Elliot nodded. "Papa says to just tell you what happened. Sometimes it's hard to remember but Papa says you won't think I'm a baby if I start to cry. You won't will you?" Elliot assured him they wouldn't think he was a baby. "Papa even sometimes cries when I tell him about my nightmares." Harry's eyes went wide when he realized that he had just told everyone that Severus cried. Looking up at Severus "I'm so sorry Papa, I didn't mean to tell them. Please don't be mad at me." Harry said softly.
Severus looked at Harry "That's alright, son. I do not mind that the people here know." Severus said kissing Harry on the forehead. "Just don't tell the children at school. I am afraid they will already think I have gone soft in the head adopting a lion." Everyone looked at Severus puzzled. "We have what we call houses that the children are sorted into based on interests and classes. Harry was sorted into the house of the Lions. I however am the head of the house of the Snakes. The 2 houses have a bit of a rivalry going on."
"Yea that means I'm going to be stuck in the middle of the snake pit." Everyone laughed. Elliot asked if Harry was ready to continued and Harry nodded.
Olivia leaned toward Harry "If you don't mind I will start." Harry nodded. "Harry, can you just tell me about living with the Dursleys. Just start back as far as you can remember, okay?"
Harry looked at Olivia, "I remember when I was little and Dudley, he's my older cousin, went to preschool. I wasn't allowed to go 'cause freaks don't need school." Harry noticed Severus tighten when Harry said the word freak. Harry looked at Severus, "sorry Papa but I had to say the word. Miss Benson wanted to know..." Severus assured Harry that it was alright. Turning back to Olivia, "I'm sorry Miss Benson but my Papa gets upset when I call myself a freak. He says they are freaks not me. Anyways, I had to stay home. I had chores to do to earn my keep."
Olivia interrupted Harry, "What kinds of chores did you do at such a young age, Harry?"
Harry looked at her "I had to do the dishes every meal until I started school then I did breakfast and dinner dishes. From the time I was 4 I was doing most of the cooking. Aunt Petunia cooked with me at first." turning to Severus "I really like cooking, Papa. When I get better can I cook at home?"
Severus looked down at Harry "How about this, you may help cook occasionally but not alone and not all the time. I have a very nice lady that lives at my home and takes care of things. Actually she is my cousin and she lives there year round free in exchange for taking care of my home and me when I'm there." Severus said. "You will meet her when we go home. She has a room ready for you. She makes very good chocolate biscuits. Now you need to answer Ms Benson's questions." Harry nodded and turned back to Olivia.
"I was telling you about my chores. I did all the inside chores. I cleaned the bathroom and the kitchen. I had to scrub the floors on my knees. I also did the dusting and vacuuming. When I was little Aunt Petunia vacuumed the floor 'cause I couldn't reach. The only room I didn't clean was their bedroom. I cleaned both of Dudley's bedrooms, the one he slept in and the one he kept his broken stuff in. I cleaned the guest room." Harry stopped and asked for another drink. Looking at Severus Harry continued. "The only person who ever stayed was Uncle Vernon's sister. I had to call her Madam 'cause freaks need to respect their elders." Harry flinched "She raised bulldogs and she used to bring her dog Ripper with her and make him chase me. When I was l was little I couldn't run fast he used to catch me and bite me and they would laugh. I learned to run really fast." Harry stopped and closed his eyes and put his head against Severus' chest. Severus held him and carded his hair. Soon Harry sat up ready to continue. " I did all the outside chores. I liked taking care of the plants. I didn't like doing the mowing. It is hard to mow, especially when the mower is too big and your cousin and his friends decide to play 'Harry hunting' when you are supposed to be working and you get in trouble 'cause they mess up your work." Harry looked at Olivia, "Miss Benson can I stop talking. I don't want to talk no more." Harry buried his face in Severus' shirt and they could tell he was crying.
Severus looked at Elliot. "Can we have a break? Harry needs to calm down and get himself under control." Elliot turned the tape recorder off. "Ms. Benson would it be alright if I take Harry for a walk out-of-doors so he can distance himself from this for awhile. Perhaps Stephan can fill you in some more on Harry's medical condition." Olivia talked to Elliot and Stephan then turned to Severus.
"Mister Snape do you think a half hour will be enough time?" Severus agreed and placed Harry in the wheelchair. Before they left the room Severus used his handkerchief to wipe Harry's face.
"Thank you, Ms. Benson. We shall return in a half hour. I appreciate this." Severus said as he pushed Harry outside. The police had a small area out back of the station where there were several trees and some benches. Severus and Harry sat out there chatting about their upcoming vacation, classes at school, the lesson with Madame Longbottom and anything other than what they were at the police station for.
While Severus and Harry were outside Stephan was going over Harry's medical files with Olivia and Elliot. Elliot looked at the photographs, "Dr. Jones how is it possible that Harry is still alive? I can't believe what I'm seeing."
"Sgt. Stabler, Harry very nearly wasn't alive. When Severus had Harry brought to my clinic we ended up putting him into a medically induced coma so we could treat him." Stephan looked at both of them, "I will tell you something that is not in any of these papers because we have no proof. We believe that Harry was sexually abused as well as physically abused." Olivia inquired as to why they believed that. "Severus told me what he heard and was told by Harry after the boy's nightmares."
Olivia looked at Stephan puzzled. "If Harry was at your clinic all this time why would Severus be telling you these things? Why wasn't it one of the nurses?"
Elliot looked at Olivia "Severus has taken many medical courses. In fact if he put his mind to it he could probably have his medical degree in just a few years."
Stephan cut in "Severus is a licensed Emergency Medical Technician and has two more classes to complete his Physicians Assistant degree." Olivia nodded. "When Severus got Harry to my clinic he did not leave his side until he was out of critical condition except to use the bathroom. He even slept in a chair at the side of Harry's bed. Once Harry was out of critical condition the only time he left my clinic was to gain guardianship. He finally agreed to sleep on the chaise in Harry's room instead of in the chair." Olivia nodded. "When the judge met Harry and saw just what had happened to him he signed the papers not only for Severus to get guardianship but for Harry to adopt him. That way Severus would have all legal authority to make medical and legal decisions and the Dursleys could never get their hands on him again."
Olivia turned to Elliot. "I can see now why Harry had the panic attack earlier. If this is what Harry was coming from the fear of Severus not being his Papa would definitely frighten him."
The half hour was up and Severus brought Harry back into the room. Olivia was the first to speak. "Mr. Snape, Harry, Dr. Jones has been filling us in on the physical aspects of the case. I hate to ask you, Harry, but do you think we could see your wounds and bruises."
Harry looked at Severus, "It is alright, son. Ms. Benson and Sgt. Stabler need to verify that we are telling the truth. You can just close your eyes alright?" Harry nodded as Severus picked him out of the chair. " Harry, I am going to remove everything but your boxers. I know you do not like others to see but everyone in this room is a professional. Are you ready?" Harry nodded. Stephan helped Severus remove Harry's clothes and braces. Severus sat Harry on the table in front of him.
Elliot walked over and stood by Severus holding a camera. "Harry, I need to take pictures for my report. I will give copies to Ms Benson so she can have them for her report." Harry nodded but did not look at anyone but Severus. Elliot took pictures of Harry's front including the casts on his arms and legs. "I need to take pictures of your back and bottom, Harry." Harry looked at Olivia, then at Elliot and then back at Olivia. Elliot realized what Harry's problem was. "I believe we can ask Ms. Benson to step out for a moment. I'm sure she won't mind." Olivia started to say something until Stephan whispered something in her ear. Harry blushed and nodded. Olivia stepped outside of the door. Severus helped Harry lay down on the table on his stomach and rolled his boxers down below his buttock. Elliot took pictures then allowed Severus and Stephan to redress Harry. Olivia came in after Harry was dressed and back in Severus' lap.
Olivia looked at Harry "Thank you so much for cooperating with us. I now need to ask you some very painful questions. I need you to answer my questions to the best of your ability. Do you think you can do that?"
Harry looked up at Severus then at Olivia "I'll try Miss. Is it okay if I don't look at you when I talk? It's easier." Harry whispered. Olivia nodded before she turned on the recorder.
"This is Olivia Benson representing the Department of Child Welfare. This is a continuation of the interview of the minor Hadrian Severus James Potter-Snape. In the room are Detective Sgt. Elliot Stabler, Dr. Stephan Jones along with Professor Severus Snape adopted father of the minor who has asked to be referred to as Harry." Olivia looked at Harry as she continued her interview. "Harry earlier you were telling us about your chores. Can you continue telling us about your life at the Dursleys?"
Harry nodded "I used to sleep in the cupboard under the stairs until I was eleven then they moved me up to Dudley's second bedroom with all his broken toys and stuff." Harry sat in Severus' lap looking at his hands. "I had to wear Dudley's hand-me-down clothes 'cause freaks don't deserve clothes. They told me they couldn't afford to buy me clothes they said they weren't getting any money to take care of me. I was expected to earn my keep." Harry stopped and asked Severus for a drink. After his drink Harry continues his story. "I got to eat any scraps off the Dursley's plates for breakfast. There usually wasn't much more than a half a piece of toast or maybe a piece of burnt bacon." Harry stopped and closed his eyes like he was trying not to remember.
Severus rubbed Harry's back. "It is alright, baby boy. Continue as you can." Severus said softly.
"I tried not to burn any food 'cause it is a waste. When you waste things you get punished." Harry said.
Olivia interrupted "Harry how did you get punished for burning something?"
Harry closed his eyes with tears leaking out from under the lashes. "Usually Aunt Petunia would put my hand on the hot pan or sometimes on the burner. It really hurt so I learned to be very careful not to burn anything." Olivia gasped and Severus was glad Harry had his eyes closed so he could not see the looks on their faces.
Olivia swallowed hard "Please continue Harry. What did you have for lunch and dinner?"
Harry continued quietly "Sometimes I got a stale piece of bread, a slice of cheese and a glass of water for lunch. I usually didn't get dinner 'cause I couldn't get my chores done. If my chores weren't done well enough I got locked in my cupboard right after I cleared after the Dursleys had dinner." Harry looked up at Severus "Sometimes I got really hungry, Papa. Especially if I didn't get to eat for a couple of days. I could sometimes get a drink from the hose or the bathroom when I was cleaning." Harry closed his eyes and leaned against Severus.
"It is alright, baby boy. You never have to go back there again. I have you now and I am never letting you go." Severus said softly "You need to tell Elliot and Ms. Benson what happened to you so the Dursleys can not hurt anyone else. You can do it. You are strong enough to do it."
"Okay, Papa." Harry said then he continued. "During the school year in Primary School I still had my chores to do so I had to get up extra early. I didn't have any friends at school. Freaks don't deserve friends. Dudley had friends. They liked to play Harry Hunting so I learned to run really fast and hide really good. I sometimes got into trouble at school when I tried to tell the teachers what Dudley did to me." Harry looked up at Severus "The teachers didn't believe me Papa. Aunt Petunia told them I tattled to get attention and get Dudley in trouble. I wasn't, honest."
"I believe you, Harry. I know you would not try to get someone in trouble on purpose. In fact I need you to quit taking the blame for everything." Severus told him.
"Any time the school would call Aunt Petunia I would get in lots of trouble when Uncle Vernon got home. After I cooked dinner and they ate, I would do dishes then Uncle Vernon would use his belt. Usually I would have to take my clothes off and lay over the kitchen chair. That way my blood wouldn't get on the rug. After he finished I had to get myself cleaned up with rags, put my clothes back on and clean up the blood. After I was done I was put into the cupboard under the stairs. In the morning it would start all over again" Harry spoke about the punishment so matter-of-factly that the adults all winced. "During the school year I was only allowed to eat at school which meant I got no meals on the weekend. If I did better then Dudley in school I was punished so I learned not to do good at school."
Olivia spoke up "Harry, Did your Aunt ever hit you?"
"Sometimes she would hit me on the back of my head. Once she hit me in the back of the head with the frying pan 'cause I burned the bacon." Harry said "Mostly she would just wait until my uncle got home." Harry looked at Olivia "Mostly Aunt Petunia would yell at me and tell me what a worthless freak I was. She said I was 'no good just like my worthless father.' She used to tell me how much better then me my cousin was. Miss Benson, my dad and mum weren't worthless. Papa knew them and he told me my mum was pretty and smart and she loved me. He said my dad loved me and he worked hard to take care of me and mum. Papa wouldn't lie to me. He saved me." Harry leaned into Severus more then looked at Olivia. "Miss Benson do I have to talk any more? It makes me sad to talk about this stuff. It hurts me inside."
"Just one or two more questions Harry then you won't have to talk anymore, Okay?" Harry nodded. "Can you tell us what happened the day your Papa saved you." Emma asked.
Harry swallowed hard. "Uncle Vernon was mad. The man at work made him come home early. The boss told Uncle Vernon he had to come home without pay 'cause something happened at work. I was on my hands and knees cleaning the bathroom floor. Uncle Vernon came in and started kicking me. He kicked me in the stomach and the ribs. I had trouble breathing. I had to crawl to my room while he was kicking me. When I was in my room he grabbed my hair and pulled me up so I was half laying on my bed then he took off his belt." Harry closed his eyes then continued. "He made me take all of my clothes off then started hitting me with his belt. He hit me with the buckle so it wouldn't hurt his hand." Harry started trembling.
"Are you alright, baby boy?" Severus asked. Harry nodded. Severus looked at Olivia and Elliot. "Are you almost finished with your questions Ms. Benson?"
"Yes Professor Snape, I just have to know a few more things." Olivia turned to Harry. "Do you remember any more of what your uncle did?"
"I don't remember, Miss Benson. I don't want to remember. It hurts too much." Harry said in a whisper. "Please don't make me say."
"What don't you want to say Harry? We need to know everything you can tell us." Olivia said softly.
Harry squeezed his eyes closed tight and buried his head. "He stepped ... on my ... he stepped on... between my legs... It hurt so ... so bad. I screamed ... and he ... he laughed." Harry choked on his tears. "He put something ...um something ... he put... it up my bum ... I cried... it hurt ... so bad... felt like it ... it was ripping me... it ripping me apart." Harry whispered the end. Suddenly Harry was shaking uncontrollably "No can't tell you. Don't remember no more. Papa saved me. NO MORE!" Harry yelled then went limp.
Severus pulled the limp body of Harry to his chest and stood up. "Miss Benson this interview is over. Elliot please contact me when you know anything. I am taking my son home and I will be trying to put him back together again. Hopefully this did not set him back too much." Severus started toward the door. "Stephan will you get his things. I will be outside waiting for you."
Stephan gathered Harry's things and was heading for the door when he was stopped by Olivia who had tears running down her cheeks. "Dr. Jones, Please let Professor Snape know I did not continue the questioning to be mean. No matter how many of these I have done it kills me when I hear these things. I will need to have a look at their home situation would you please give him my number so we can arrange a time for me to come over."
"Ms. Benson" Stephan said "I am sure Severus does not believe you did this to be mean. I will give Severus your number but it will probably be Friday at the earliest before you will be able to see their home. I will be taking Harry back to my clinic until tomorrow at least. He had a very difficult day and he will need to rest."
Stephan followed Severus outside where they caught a taxi back to Stephan's place from there they floo'd back to Prince Manor. Harry had opened his eyes but still had not said a word nor acknowledged that they were there. They removed all of the glamours, casts and braces. Severus gave Harry a bath, dressed him in pajamas then sat on the chaise with Harry in his lap. Severus fed Harry a cup of broth and a cup of cocoa. Stephan gave him a half vial of dreamless sleep and Severus held him as he slept. "Stephan, what are we going to do? He is not speaking or even acknowledging when we speak to him." Severus asked worriedly his voice breaking with emotion. "If I knew it was going to affect him this way I would have taken care of the Dursleys myself and Harry would nevver had to deal with them." Severus sat there with his head laying on the top of Harry's head.
Stephan moved his chair and sat next to Severus and placed a hand on Severus' shoulder. "Severus you know that would not have been a good idea right?" Severus nodded. "The only thing we can do is be there for him. Let him deal with this the best way he can. We can support him, hold him when he cries, in other words, Severus, we just love him."
Severus laid Harry in his bed and went to his study after Stephan left. He owled his cousin, Mary, and let her know what had happened and they would not make it until tomorrow afternoon. Severus poured himself a stiff shot of Firewhiskey and downed it in one shot. Severus worked on the paperwork they needed for Gringotts the next morning until it was dinner time. Severus ordered a light broth and cocoa for Harry and soup, salad and tea for himself to be sent to Harry's room. When Severus went to Harry's room and woke him up he discovered that Harry had wet the bed. Harry just lay there in his wet bed with tears streaming down his cheeks. Severus picked him up and took him into the bathroom. While Severus gave Harry a bath, Taffy changed Harry's bed and freshened his room. Severus sat at the table with Harry on his lap, slowly he fed Harry one sip at a time, and ate his own food. Harry still was not responding but hwe had ahold of Severus' shirt and would not let go. When they had finished eating Severus went to the chaise where he lay with Harry still tight against his chest.
At 11 0'clock Taffy woke Severus. "Master Severus, sir. You be needing to go to your bed. You can't be sleeping on Master Harry's chaise. Severus picked Harry up and placed him on the bed, covering him with his quilt. Taffy jumped up on the bed next to Harry and sat there rubbing Harry's back and humming to him. "Now you be going to bed and sleep. We be taking care of young master now." Severus went to his room, changed into his pajamas and was asleep when his head hit the pillow.
For those of you who watch TV in the US the names of the officials may seem familiar. I would like to acknowledge Law & Order - SVU for the use of Benson and Stabler.