Primoris Oraculum Duo (First Prophecy Two)

Chapter 37

Harry was very vocal about his unwillingness to go to the Headmasters office. Both Remus and Severus had a difficult time keeping the surprise off their faces at the choice words Harry used to vent his feelings about the meeting. Finally, Remus insisted that he take a dose of Calming Draught. After another fifteen minutes, Harry was noticeably less anxious, but he still glared daggers at them, arms crossed sullenly over his chest.

The sullen distance he was using disappeared the moment they stepped through the floo and onto Dumbledore's hearth. Professor McGonagall was also there, as were Ron and Hermione.

When Hermione went to step towards him, Harry moved to stand against Severus, his hand grasping at his robe sleeve.

There was an awkward moment before Dumbledore cleared his throat and spoke, "I thought you might like to see your friends in a less public setting, Harry. Tea and sandwiches should be here momentarily." He waved everyone to the scattered chairs and everyone but Harry, Severus and Remus sat down slowly.

Severus put an arm around Harry's shoulders and asked quietly, "Can you stay for just a few minutes?"

Harry let go of Severus's sleeve. With slow stiff steps, he went to sit on the edge of the squishy sofa. Severus sat down beside him; Remus perching himself on the arm of the sofa on the other side of him.

Ron and Hermione were watching Harry with caution, after his reception of Hermione's advances. They, at least, immediately understood that this had not been something Harry had agreed to. Hermione looked as if she was working out a puzzle in her mind and she was biting her lower lip in thought.

Dumbledore took the tray that appeared in front of him and began to pass it around the circle. No one took anything from it. He took a sandwich himself before the tray vanished with a puff. His eyes were watching Harry, but observing everyone's reactions to him as well.

The silence grew heavy and Severus exchanged a look with Remus before gently nudging Harry to sit back. Harry shrugged off the touch irritably and Severus took a slow deep breath. He locked eyes with Dumbledore, telling him silently that this was wrong, a bad idea, and needed to come to a quick end. Dumbledore gave him a small shake of his head. Severus saw that the Headmaster really felt like he was doing the best thing for Harry and he remained intent on forcing Harry back into a social setting with his friends.

In a conversational tone, Dumbledore addressed Harry, "Harry, perhaps you'd like to ask your friends how classes are going and what you might be missing."

Severus could feel a temperature spike around the boy next to him, in spite of the fact that it was past the new moon time and well into three-quarters. The spike of heat dropped, but Harry's voice showed his anger was not abating. "I'm not missing anything because I don't care how classes are going."

Dumbledore pressed on, "Surely you have missed the companionship of your two best friends and have something you'd like to ask them or share with them?"

Harry began to tremble, and Severus thought it was from anger, but with the closed link he couldn't be certain. Several tense moments passed and then Harry looked at Dumbledore. In a low voice, he asked, "You want me to share with them, Professor? You want me to tell them what happened? Do you think that will help the poor damaged Boy Who Lived work out his problems and come skipping back to class like nothing was wrong?"

Severus and Remus looked at each other in alarm at the words and the cool tone Harry used. Severus put an arm around Harry and was shrugged off angrily again. Harry locked eyes with Dumbledore, and for a few moments, Severus saw satisfaction in the old man's face. It changed to something else, though, as Harry continued to speak.

"My friends wouldn't ask me to tell them something I didn't want to tell." He sent Dumbledore a mental image of Vernon Dursley beating a very young dark haired boy.

"My friends would know that I need more time." He sent a mental image of being thrown into the cupboard under the stairs hard enough to break an arm and left in darkness.

"My friends tried to get me out of that hell hole when they suspected what was happening years ago." He sent an image of Hedwig bringing wrapped packages of food, and the twins and Ron pulling the bars off his window with the flying car.

Severus was seeing the images as Harry flashed them across to Dumbledore, the link between them open as Harry forced his recalled memories on Dumbledore. The others heard only the words, but they knew that something else was passing across the room. Dumbledore tried to stop Harry, but the smaller wizard was now intent on turning the tables on the old man.

"My friends wanted me to tell you how much I hated it at that house so you wouldn't make me go back …" He flashed images of himself asking Dumbledore if he had to go to the Dursley's, if he couldn't just stay at Hogwarts or go to the Burrow instead. "… but I had done that and it got me nowhere. So I stopped trying to tell you something you wouldn't listen to."

"My friends couldn't have done anything else other than what they did, so why would I want to let them see what couldn't be avoided?" Now he sent images of a boy in over-sized ragged clothes scrubbing the floor on hands and knees; cooking in a kitchen while someone behind him hit him with a long cane; covered with sweat and dirt, dizzy from dehydration while laboring under a hot summer sun in the yard, a fat boy and his cohorts chunking dirt clods at his head and laughing.

Harry stood up then, his green eyes furious and intent on the blue ones of Dumbledore. "My friends would have made sure that the safe house I was in was really safe and not the nightmare it was." Harry sent a vivid image of being abused and assaulted repeatedly by the man to whom Dumbledore had entrusted him, while the woman who was his mother's sister turned a blind eye and deaf ear to what went on under her roof, afraid for herself.

Dumbledore reeled back with the force of the last brutal images and he reached out a hand to Harry. Harry was shaking with heavy breaths as he glared. "My friends would have cared when it mattered."

With that final word Harry ran to the fireplace and grabbed the floo powder. His hands were shaking so badly that he couldn't hold it in his fingers. Something like a cornered animal sound rose out of his throat, and Remus was there in an instant, putting an arm around him, throwing the powder and stepping into the flames with Harry held tight against him.

Dumbledore had stood up, looking like he would stop Harry, but McGonagall had halted his progress herself.

Severus stood up then, glaring at his mentor. "Did you accomplish your purpose, Headmaster?"

McGonagall looked at the silent and pale Hermione and Ron. "You two are dismissed. I'll speak to you later."

The air was thick with tension after the two hurried out the door. Severus crossed his arms over his chest and kept up his silent disapproving glare at Dumbledore. Finally, the older man seemed to slouch slightly in defeat.

"I thought that being with his friends would be a remedy for his self-enforced solitude."

"I told you that he was not ready."

"I saw it as being over-protective."

"He needs protecting right now. As you plainly saw, he is struggling to overcome not just one episode of abuse, but years of torture. The few days since this last rescue are hardly enough time for him to get over what happened."

Dumbledore began a slow pace of the room, his face sad. "I wanted him to be safe from Voldemort as he grew up."

"Safe from the Dark Lord he may have been; but not from hateful Muggles."

"I always assumed he over exaggerated the situation."

"But you did not think to check."

"His mother's sister's blood should have protected him –"

"It protected him only from magical evil intent." Severus tired of the verbal sparring and sighed heavily, dropping his crossed arm stance. "I was immersed in my own hatred for his father, certain that he was being coddled like an exiled prince. I, too, should have checked. I owe his father a life debt." He stared into the flames of the fire and said softly, "I should have checked."

After a long silence, McGonagall broke it by saying gently, "Any one of us could have, should have checked, once he voiced complaints about returning there. We did not, and we cannot change it now. Harry needs support in dealing with the aftermath. It was quite obvious that he can't go back to being a student yet."

Dumbledore nodded, "Yes. I see that now. But what of his destiny? He must have the knowledge and training to defeat Voldemort."

Silence filled the room again, only the crackling of the fire breaking it. Finally, Dumbledore sighed. "He must go away from here."

Both Severus and McGonagall looked at him sharply. He was rubbing his beard thoughtfully and nodding to himself. "Yes, a long sabbatical may be what he needs."

Severus drew himself up, his face thunderous. "I will not just send him away somewhere."

Dumbledore held up a belaying hand, stopping the coming tirade. "Of course not, Severus. I would not think to send him alone. It will take a little time, of course, but once I procure a replacement Potions teacher, I will send you to my own retreat. It is well warded … remote enough …yes." He nodded to himself. "It will do nicely."

He looked up out of his thoughts to see both Severus and McGonagall staring at him, waiting for explanations. He gave a small sad smile at them. "Severus, you and Harry, and Remus if he's willing, will go to my Mediterranean villa. With enough time, perhaps he will heal, at least enough to come back to Hogwarts." In his mind, he added so that only Severus heard, 'Long enough to defeat Voldemort.'

Severus cursed him silently for the necessary selfishness of the thought, knowing that it was true, even if not in the best interests of the boy who had been shattered and his mind sundered by his life.

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When Remus stepped through the floo with Harry, the teenager ripped himself away and ran down the hall, Remus following. Harry stopped in their dueling room and drew his wand. Remus stood in the door as Harry fired hex after hex, curse after curse, at the pillars, statues, piles of rubble, and then at random parts of the ceiling and walls.

Harry's face was contorted in a teeth-baring grimace as he viciously slashed his wand through the air. With a snarl, he threw the wand away from him and fired more hexes with his hands outstretched. He cast until the magic was depleted and he couldn't cast anymore. Then he made his way to a wall and began to rain fisted blows on it.

Remus stepped up to him, stopping him from making a bigger bloody mess of his knuckles. Harry struggled weakly against the hands restraining him, but then, all the strength seeming to leave him, he collapsed against Remus in tears. Remus put strong arms around him, swaying in a soothing motion as he made calming growls in Harry's ear.

His legs buckled as Remus began to lead him back to his own rooms and Remus scooped him up against his chest. Wordlessly, he carried Harry back to his settee and laid him down. Picking up Prongs, he pressed him into Harry's hands. He went to the shelves and brought back a Dreamless Sleep dose. Harry made no protest, but took it obediently when Remus tipped it into his mouth. Remus crawled onto the settee and stretched out behind him, putting his arms around him again. Harry reached back and closed his hand in Remus's hair, pulling him closer. He fell asleep to Remus's soft growls over his shoulder.

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When Severus arrived later, Remus untangled Harry from his hair and carefully stood up. They both looked down at him for a good while before Remus asked, "Is Dumbledore sorry now?"

"More than you'd think. Harry was blasting visions of his wretched life at him as he was talking. He wielded his power of Legilimency like a weapon, forcing Albus to see just what he had endured."

"Did you know he could do that?" Remus asked in surprise.

"No. The only one I ever knew who could force another to see what is in their own mind is the Dark Lord. Harry has shown me things when I've asked him to and I was open to it. But I would not have thought his abilities would allow him to force images into another powerful wizard's mind."

"I suppose we should be grateful that it is not the new moon, then."

"Indeed, if that would increase his power." He looked over at Remus. "What happened when you got here?"

"Harry ran to the dueling practice area and blasted everything in sight, threw his wand away and continued blasting with his hands until he was magically depleted. Then he started hitting the walls with his fists until I stopped him."

Severus looked down at the bloody knuckles on the hand gripping Prongs. Pulling out his own wand he touched each knuckle, healing it with a muttered spell. Harry murmured in his sleep and Severus closed his eyes for a moment. Opening them, he said, "He is still Occluding, so he must not be totally depleted. Did you give him Dreamless Sleep?"

Remus nodded. Severus sat down and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Looking back at Remus, he said tiredly, "We're taking him to a villa on the Mediterranean. At least I am. Albus wants you to go too, if you are willing. Harry will have the time and seclusion he needs while we tutor him, and continue his training. Albus hopes that he will be well enough to return in the new year."

Remus looked thoughtful for a time. "I need to get back to Portugal, at least for a time. If the werewolf clans believe I've given up on them, they might decide to turn to the dark."

"If you need more Wolfsbane to entice them, I'll brew whatever you might want."

The offer surprised Remus. Severus had always supplied his needed doses, rarely missing a month, but always with a grudge and snide remarks. He had never offered to make more than what was necessary for Remus alone. "That would be … that would be much appreciated. Thank you."

The gratitude in Remus's eyes made Severus uncomfortable, reminding him even more of how meanly he had dealt with the man all these years. He narrowed his eyes and added snidely, "I can't supply the whole continent, mind you."

Remus understood the need for Severus to be reserved. The man had never been open with his feelings, even back when he was the brunt of jokes and pranks. The coldness was a façade, and Remus had seen the real Severus after all theses years. He had seen the man who was capable of holding a teenage boy in his arms and forget that the boy's father had been one of the pranksters. He had seen honestly tender feelings in his face when he thought he was not being watched. He heard the careful way he talked to Harry, mindful of Harry's needs and feelings. He had been like a father Harry had never had, and possibly a better one than James ever would have been.

Solemnly, Remus replied, "Whatever you supply, Severus, will be used most wisely, I assure you."

Severus nodded and went back to rubbing the bridge of his nose. Remus wordlessly fetched the next dose of Pain Relief Potion. They both knew that the interval before the next dose would be longer now.

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When Harry awoke, he remembered the scene in Dumbledore's office and the horrors he had made the Headmaster see in his mind. As he came more fully awake, he curled up tighter into a ball, his insides roiling. Everyone would hate him now, that was for sure. Only a very bad person would send the revolting sights he had sent. He had somehow known just how to force those most disgusting images, dredged from his store of terrors, into even the mind of a strong wizard like the Professor.

Instead of letting his tears fall or make a sound, he bit down hard on the antlers of the toy in his hands. It was better to hide his weaknesses. He was going to have to deal with this alone. Harry knew that Severus had seen the images he threw at Dumbledore and he was most likely furious with him for doing it. But the need to lash out and make the old wizard finally see what it had been like all these years just became overwhelming when he dared to try and make Harry talk about it casually to everyone like that. Harry closed his eyes, thinking about Ron and Hermione. They had been petrified by what happened; Harry had felt it clearly while he was consumed with making Dumbledore see those terrible things. Harry was glad that Ron and Hermione had not been able to see them. They had probably really wanted to see him, but they never would have forced him into it. Having them know the extent of what happened was not something he wanted. How could he ever look them in the face again if they knew … if anyone knew, they would never believe that he was destined to destroy Voldemort. He didn't even believe it himself anymore. Merlin was wrong. The prophecies had to be wrong also.

He rocked himself as he lay in the tight curled position. His stomach hurt. His throat hurt from keeping the tears and the cries trying to get free. He wouldn't cry … he wouldn't cry … he repeated the mantra over and over.

Remus came into the room and noticed Harry rocking, eyes shut tight, lips moving soundlessly. When he laid a hand on his shoulder, Harry almost fell off the settee as he jerked away from him.

"Harry, are you alright?" Remus asked in concern.

Harry pushed himself upright, face red from embarrassment. "I'm alright. You just startled me."

"Were you having a nightmare? Do you need a potion?"

Harry shook his head, not meeting Remus's eyes. "No. More like a never-ending bad dream. Nothing will help"

Remus sat down beside him and waited for Harry to look at him. "You can talk to me about anything; you know that, don't you?"

Harry nodded in a quick jerky way that told Remus he wouldn't talk to him at all if he could help it. Remus added, "Severus is a pretty good listener. Maybe you'd rather talk to him." Harry shrugged. Remus gave his knee a quick pat and stood up. "Well, no hurry. When you're ready, we'll be here." Harry looked at him silently and Remus said, "We're not leaving you, Harry; no matter what you say or do, no matter what has been done to you."

He left Harry alone to think, but checked back every few minutes, looking into the room in such a way that Harry wouldn't feel spied upon. Remus decided that getting away from here would be a very good thing, if it enabled Harry to heal more than he had been able to here.

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Dumbledore was able to get Horace Slughorn to cover the Potions classes for an indefinite period, although the rotund professor made it clear that his preference would be to leave at the new year.

Severus had the other professors compile lesson plans and texts that Harry would need for the duration of their retreat. He and Remus agreed to split the lessons, and both of them would train Harry in their own strengths. Neither of them spoke about what they would do if Harry refused to follow their lead in resuming lessons and training once they were away from Hogwarts. They both knew that it would be a difficult process, for which they were ill-prepared. They hoped that they would be strong enough to give the boy back the strength he needed. For themselves, they gathered books about Muggle psychology as well as magical psychiatric practices. Other attempts at finding a psychiatric healer had not produced anyone Severus trusted with the mind he was supposed to be guarding.

On the last day that Severus was teaching Potions, Draco and Hermione stayed behind after dismissal. Ron ran in the door, breathless from dashing all the way from his last class. Severus raised an eyebrow in question as they all approached his desk.

Draco said, "We know you're taking Harry away for a while. Professor Dumbledore called us all into his office a few days ago."

Ron shuffled his feet and then looked at Severus. "After the last time we saw him … we'd like to say good-bye, but we know it would be too hard for him. Would you tell him that we miss him; and that he's our mate, no matter what?"

Severus nodded solemnly. "I will do that. Harry doesn't realize that he needs you right now. But when he does, I will make sure he knows that you are here waiting for him."

Hermione stepped forward and handed him a wrapped package in the shape of a book. "I don't know if you remember that my mother volunteered at a shelter that helped abused women and children. I owled Flourish and Blotts and they looked up some books for me, even though they're Muggle. This is one that I remember my mum reading when she was studying how to help …" she broke off, seeing Severus's frown, thinking he was angry.

He could not help thinking about Ellen, remembering how the priest at their funeral service had spoken about her work at the shelter; how much she did to try and ease the suffering of the victims of domestic abuse. He looked at Hermione's face, pale with apprehension. Schooling his features, he took the book from her. "I am certain this will be most helpful, Miss Granger. Thank you."

All three teens breathed a sigh of relief and they quietly walked out, leaving Severus holding the book, and the knowledge that Harry's friends were still there for him.

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A/N:

If you know or suspect that a child is being verbally, physically, or emotionally abused or neglectedit is your duty and responsibility to report it to the authorities. Only then can they be rescued from their own private hell. Listen to your heart…save a child. In most places, your report is anonymous. Following an investigation, appropriate actions will be taken to safeguard the victim. Remember that victims of domestic and child abuse are often silent, believing that they are 'stuck' in the situation and/or deserve the treatment they are victims of. Speak up!! You may make the difference in their life!

There are women all over the world who are victims as well. There are even a few instances of men being the victims of domestic abuse. Just like the children, they are often made to feel they have no recourse and that they deserve whatever hell they are living in. If you suspect that a friend, relative, or acquaintance is in this situation, let them know that you will help them. Give them a life line!

Thank you for reading this story and allowing me to have a little soapbox time for this important message.

Thank you to my special beta, logicalquirk, for taking the time during these last few weeks of school to proof the chapters I've been sending. She has been nice enough to make time for me while she has been revising her own studies!

There are lots of new members of the yahoo group and I welcome you all! If you have a topic to discuss regarding the story…send it in! Let's liven it up!