7:00 AM: November
The boys woke up in their dorms. Refreshed and awake. Harry James Potter decided to take a quick shower first. He looked at himself in the mirror. The way his body was healing. But worst of all: the fear looking back at him. If you stand, in silence, staring only into your own eyes for long enough, you'll get this... feeling. It is hard to give a definition of the feeling, as almost everyone has their own way of describing it. Some will even go as far as calling it an out-of-body experience. One thing that everyone seems to agree on, however, is that, if done for long enough, staring at yourself in a mirror does not feel right. It's pretty much unexplainable, but eventually something deep within your human mind will scream out that something is wrong. Very wrong. Different people take different amounts of time to reach what you may like to call the "peak" of the feeling; but when they do, they almost have to stop staring. It's like every cell in your body is urging you to get away. Something is so great to cause unsettling fear that will cause you to have a need to get away from...desperately and quickly. And Harry saw it: Voldemort standing over his body. His body in the forbidden forest with Hagrid caught and captured. Harry was on the ground...dead.
The mirror surrounded him, he watched the scene play out. He saw the green flashes of the Killing Curse and saw his body collapse onto the Earth. He saw the way his body fell like a limp doll. He looked around the forest, his eyes wide with fright. His skin had turned a pale color, his hair sticking to his forehead as sweat dripped down. Laying his wand on the ground, the boy closed his eyes waiting for it to happen. His body stayed stiff as all sound disappeared. Not even a slight ringing of silence could be heard. His pulse just...stopped. His breathe stopped. Time froze as he awaited his fate. He exhaled what was left of his sanity. The forest seemed so peaceful. All things slowed and he could see every water movement and every blooming flower. Then there was a flash of green light that hit him. He couldn't remember if there was any pain. There was just...the falling body and the silence of his enemies as they stood in absolute silence. No one, not even the forest, dared to make any movement or sound.
Harry blinked and saw his own reflection in the mirror. This was just another time he saw his body healing and he hated it. Because he knew that the therapist wouldn't let Severus take him in. And Harry wanted to rip his skin with the mere thought. He closed his eyes and got showered and dressed. He wanted Snape to take care of him. The boys in the dorm got their things straightened up. Harry dressed in the fresh, new robes that were purchased.
7:00 AM: November
Severus woke up slowly. His body smelled of sweat from the night before. He swished his wand and stripped his bed and remade it with fresh sheets. He got dressed in a dazed. His mind was on Lily. He hated the fact that the Potter boy got better but then worse. He wanted to help the child. There was no reason for the boy to go back to his family. Even if you could call it a family. Severus straightened his posture and his lip was thinned. In the mirror he saw the scarred eye. The way his eye resembled a snake's. A dark and hideous thing. His face torn from the Dark Lord. Once he joined full heartedly, then he begged Dumbledore to become the good guy again. And now, he was unsure. He remembered the look of his Godson's arm. Such a young boy and now he was part of it all. How could Voldemort do such a thing?
8:00 AM: November
The weather outside was getting worse. It was getting colder and colder. And Severus stood in the barely lit Defense Against The Dark Arts room. Severus stood tall, his hands behind his back and his shoulders pulled back. His eye glowed red in the shadows. A new curse on himself. How could I have let this happen? Why couldn't I be with Lily when she died? Severus eyed each student that walked in the classroom slowly. There was no sound made from any student. They have all heard about the mysterious accident Professor Severus Snape had. No one dared asked so instead they made their own theories.
"Malfoy, you need to make the cut going away from you or the juice will squirt all over you." Harry whispered during a Potions Class. Severus slightly leaned in his chair as he can hear the slight whispering. He knew the Potter boy and his Godson Draco Malfoy had a revivalry. He got sick and tired of the Slytherins and Gryffindors being against each other constantly, so he teamed them by pairs for the brewing of Alihotsy Draught a potion from the Alihotsy plant that causes hysterical laughter. Done incorrectly, the potion can become a potion that causes emotions to wither away. Severus kept writing as he listened to the Potter boy, of all the students, the Potter boy tell his Godson how to do it correctly. And what was worse...he was right. Severus wanted the potions to mess up. He didn't like the fact that his Godson didn't know to cut away from himself.
"Away from me?" Draco asked. Severus stopped and listened. Draco whispered. But he could tell his Godson was shocked.
"Yes, look, watch me." Severus turned his head as he watched as Harry slowed his motions so Malfoy could see how he cut the Alihotsy Plant, harvesting it expertly so as to preserve the maximum amount of skin without getting blood and puss all over the place. Once he had finished he looked up at Draco who had been watching intently. Severus glared at the boy.
"See?"
"Yeah, ok." Draco copied Harry's previous movements and gave his friend a thankful smile when he managed to harvest the boomslang skin without much mess. Draco still wasn't as clean and precise as Harry, but he was definitely improving.
"How come you're so good at this?" Draco whispered after a few more moments. Severus stood up and all the students turned their heads. He made his way to the table both Draco and Harry were working at.
"Yes, Potter. Indulge me and the class, if you would. How are you good at this? Did you steal notes? Copy from an unassigned book?" Severus glowered over the small boy who glared back.
Harry's hand stilled as he thought of an appropriate answer, he remembered what had happened the last time he had been asked something very similar. "N-no, sir. I just read the notes you gave us." Snape pulled a chair that was vacant from behind him and slammed it against the table and sat down. All the students were hushed.
"Very well, then. Show me the rest. If you just merely read the notes, then I suppose you know the rest of the potion?" Harry nodded in intensity. "Ah, before you do, let me..." Severus turned to face the board with the notes and swished his wand. All the notes were slowly being erased. He turned to Harry once more. "Go on, then." Harry glared at the professor.
"Professor, I needed those notes." He snarled. Severus darkly grinned.
"Please, go on. What else do you remember?"
"I need those notes." Snape's eyes turned dark.
"You must refer me as 'sir'." Severus snarled back. Harry glared. There were no movements. "As I thought. So you copied the notes and stole the answer." Severus stood up and pushed the chair with force back in its original place. "Resume." He swished his wand and the notes were back on the chalkboard. The students all continued their potions. " Now stop that chattering you two, this is a class. Not a tea party." Snape spat.
Harry glared at the professor as he made his way back to his seat. "Yes. Sir." He spit at the professor quietly. Draco said nothing but smirked.
Severus watched all the students watching him. Hermione Granger raised her hand. He sighed. What now? "Yes...Ms. Granger." It was more of a bored statement than a question. She piped her voice to be a little squeakier.
"Um...Professor...what are we going..." He held his hand up.
"Are you about to ask me what we are going to do today?" She nodded.
"Speak up!" She panicked and threw a quiet answer.
"Yes, sir."
"Louder, Granger!" her face turned read as she loudly spoke.
"Yes, sir. I wanted to know what we are going to be doing today." He glared at her.
"This is my classroom, yes?" She nodded. "Speak, Granger!"
"Yes, sir." She spoke, her voice shaking.
"Then, what I have planned for you all today will be taught when I want. Got that, Know-It-All?" He spat at her. Her small figure seemed to want to disappear in her chair. There was no answer. "No, response?" He looked around the room. His newer looking eye glowed a dark red. "Would anyone else like to say anything?" But no one dared. Hermione's figure was smaller and and looked more fragile but her own body was healing. The thing Snape found himself admiring her was the fact that even whatever the case had happened to her, she was back in his class, getting the top mark. Severus paced the front floor. "Today, we will...be going over... Depulso. The banishing charm. This charm will send a person flying across the room."
12:00 PM: November
Monday evening, Harry had to serve detention with Professor Snape for being rude. He merely told the rude professor to not call him sir. The detention was being served in the darker parts of the potion classroom. He was alone. While chopping and preparing ingredients he felt his body relax and he let his mind wander, his hands deftly working almost of their own accord. He had always done this when cooking for the Dursleys. It is all the same, well almost. While lost in his own little world he imagined being free. Being old enough to leave the family he was left with and he would go anywhere. His broom would be in hand and all his belongings shrunk to the a small size so he could only put them in pocket. The wind would blow in his hair that would be turning greasy. But he wouldn't care. Maybe he would be able to live with the Weasley family. In the burrows. As he daydreamed, he failed to notice his potions professor walk up and stand directly behind him.
"That's good Mr. Potter, keep it up." Harry jumped back, startled. It took a few moments for his brain to register what had been said to him, and turned to face Snape briefly.
"Uh, yes sir." Harry said sheepishly before turning back to the workstation. The Potion's Master had a strange expression on his face, as if he was deep in thought. Harry took a deep breath to calm his pounding heartbeat then began again slicing the wings of the bats in front of him. He could feel his Professor staring at his back, he could sense the man was going to ask him something awkward, the atmosphere in the room had turned tense and Harry noticed just how quiet it was in the classroom. Harry continued to try to go back to the dream. He wanted it back. But the large room became suffocating.
"I marked your potions essay earlier Mr. Potter." Harry tensed his shoulders, the tone of Snape's voice gave Harry the impression he was not pleased. Harry breathed deeply as he readied himself for a yelling...or possibly a beating. Could Hogwarts Professors hurt the students? If they didn't, Harry wouldn't tell on Snape. He was already afraid of the man. "The content of your essay is… adequate… you have an atrocious penmanship. Do you have a particular problem using a quill Mr. Potter?" Harry hesitated a moment, trying to figure out the best way to answer without giving anything personal away.
"A little sir, I've never used a quill before coming here." Harry knew the response was low toned and flinched at a low snarl Severus gave to the boy.
"I see. You did not have any trouble using muggle writing implements?" The word 'muggle' was spat out. Nothing less than hatred. Why doesn't he just call it a mudblood pen. Harry thought. He hates everything to do with muggles.
Harry didn't know how to really respond to the question. So, Harry sheepishly responded. "A little sir."
"Elaborate." Harry jerked himself. A panic came and his heart began to race. He didn't want to give anything away.
"It was always a bit messy sir."
"I fail to understand how your penmanship can be this bad when your motor skills are clearly refined, as I have seen by your expertise in preparing potions ingredients and your… flying… ability." Snape snarled low. Harry felt his hands shake and he didn't dare look straight into the dark eyes that pierced him. Instead, he tried to hide the shaking hands with him slicing and dicing.
"I-I don't know, sir. I never tried to improve my handwriting. Sir." Harry was glad he had his back to his Professor, so the man could not see how embarrassed he was. In fear, Harry didn't pay attention to the knife he was using and didn't notice the blood dripping onto the table. When he looked down, he saw the small gash on his finger and he quickly wiped the table with the sleeve of his robe and hid his hand. There was a long pause before Snape spoke again, the silence in the room was deafening. Harry hated these types of pauses, it meant Snape was thinking, and Snape thinking would end badly for Harry.
"I find that hard to believe. But if you wish to ever be better in your studies, I would prove to be right that you need to work on penmanship." And just like that, he walked away from the boy. Harry breathed deeply and felt his tensed body relax and he secretly sucked on the open gash on his finger. He went back to work. Nothing was said for the next hour and a half. Harry went back to the burrows, his home away from Hogwarts.
Harry was in the extra room in the Hospital Wing waiting for his new therapist. His leg was shaking and he squeezed his sore arm from old cuts. Although he was healing, he still felt sore and pained. I think this is a mistake. He thought and just as he did, an old lady walked into the room. She had a purse and another bag with her. Her hair was grey and she was...bigger. She had a type of limp and Harry held his breath. "Hello, Mr. Potter. I am Ms. Margaret. I am going to be your new therapist." Harry just glared at her as she sat down across from him. She smiled. "Well...should we get started?" Harry didn't say a word. "I'm guessing you don't really want a therapist, huh?" And Harry knew from that moment on, he would hate her.
12:00 AM: November
Severus sat in his favourite armchair in his quarters, cradling a glass of firewhiskey and gazing into the fireplace. He watched the flames flickering, consuming the wood logs slowly. Every crackle could be heard in the otherwise silent room. Long dark shadows engulfed the sitting room, the only light coming from the fire. Severus was worried. He was worried about Harry, about what his relatives had done to him and about his temper, which he was sure was a result of being abused.
Some children became overly anxious and fearful of everything and everyone. Some children become bullies, not knowing how to relate to others civilly. Harry, Harry James Potter. He was most unusual; he didn't show fear often, he wasn't particularly skittish, his flinch reflex was bad, but yet strained...? He was defiant and had a temper yes, but he wasn't a bully. He wasn't nasty or vindictive towards others, he didn't ridicule people, feeling the need for control, yet he wanted to hurt those who hurt him. Harry had most likely developed a certain amount of apathy towards his treatment, but Severus was troubled as to how far the abuse had gone. Sighing, Severus heaved himself to his feet and decided to go to the Hospital Wing. This was the first day of his new therapist. And Severus wanted to see how it was going.
Severus made his way to the extra room and saw the boy glaring at the older lady and her looking...well...like a therapist. "What is going...on...in...here?" Snape deliberately said. Harry looked at him and snarled. The therapist had papers out scattered on the long table with questions. She looked at the man who stood in the doorway that was now closing the door behind him.
"I am trying to get to know him, Professor." The therapist said. She stood up and tried to shake the man's hand but he didn't outreach his. She took her hand away and introduced herself. "My name is Margaret. I work for Nurture The Hearts and I am a therapist. I am a free, no money-charge, therapy service. I am trying to get to know Harry James Potter but he isn't necessarily talking to me." Severus sighed. I don't like her, already. Severus wanted to leave until he saw the pleading eyes in Harry's. He decided to sit next to the boy. She took her seat across from them both. "I take it, you have been caring for him?" He nodded. His back was straight and so was Harry's. She thinned her lips. "You know as a professor here, it is against the rules for teachers to take care of students as their own." Severus glared at her. Harry began to twitch his leg and Severs closed his eyes and moved his wand. Under the table, he felt for his pulse and sent a message from himself to the young boy.
"Calm down, please. I don't necessarily like her, but Headmaster wants you to try. Give her a total of five sessions, okay? If you don't like her, we won't continue. I just wanted to provide you with more help than I can give..." Harry's eyes darkened as the therapist watched in silence at the two sitting across from her.
"Sending secret messages isn't a good communication strategy." Severus looked slightly surprised. "Don't look so surprised, Snape. I can tell. I have worked in this field for thirty-five years." She then looked down at her papers. "So tell me, Mr. Potter, what seems to be troubling you?" Harry's body stiffened and Severus glanced from the corner of his eye. He didn't really like this lady either. Severus decided to talk, maybe to ease the boy up a little, he thought.
"Mr. Potter here, has...a very nasty past...his relatives weren't very...receptive to taking care of him." Margaret nodded.
"Speak more, Professor Snape." She said. Her glasses were on the brink of her nose as she watched the two men.
"He has self-harmed, tried to commit suicide multiple times and he has been abused from the earliest memories he has." Severus spoke. She wrote notes down.
"And was he sent to any institution?" Severus looked at her. Institution? "I mean...a mental hospital so he can have proper therapy and help. Don't get me wrong, you have done plenty, but you aren't what the boy needs. He needs help." Snape felt his body tense up.
"No. He didn't go into an 'Inpatient'." Snape seethed through gritted teeth. She nodded her head once more and wrote on her clipboard that was on the table.
"Very well. He will go in so we can double check his status." And just like that, she closed her book and stood up. Severus could barely speak.
"He has classes here." She held her hand up.
"We cover that."
"You are not taking him." Severus stood up and stood firmly. His eyes beading into hers.
"Are you his parent? Or guardian?" Severus gapped at her. He seethed. His hands grasped close. "As I thought. I will talk to Poppy and me and young Mr. Potter will be on our way." Severus watched her as she walked out the extra room. Harry looked at Severus and all he could see was tears welling up in the boy's eyes.
"I don't want to be taken away. I don't want to go." Severus couldn't say anything. Instead he bent down to the sitting boy and pulled him into a hug.
"Shh...I know...I know...just say something and maybe...I'll talk to the Headmaster..." Severus couldn't help but notice there was a crack in his voice as he was upset by the news. They want to take the boy away? Away? And Snape Held the boy and the boy stood. His strong arms wrapped around the small figure of the boy who began sobbing into his robes. "Hush, child. They won't take you away. I know you don't want to be." And Severus wiped the boy's red cheeks that began to have tears fall and they left the extra room into the smaller office Poppy was in. As they walked closer they noticed that Minerva was in there too, along with the therapist who was sitting down. Snape breathed deeply as he prepared for a very interesting conversation. He closed the door behind himself and the boy and they all began.
12:00 PM: November
Harry sat stiffened while he stared at this stranger. She had just started on talking and he hated it. He didn't want anyone to help him. He didn't want anyone but Severus Snape to help him. As Harry continued to sit, he heard the door from behind him open and saw the tall, brooding man stand behind him. Harry grinned a barely visible expression. I hoped he would come.
"I am trying to get to know him, Professor." The therapist said. She stood up and tried to shake the man's hand but he didn't outreach his. Harry couldn't help but smirk more. She took her hand away and introduced herself. "My name is Margaret. I work for Nurture The Hearts and I am a therapist. I am a free, no money-charge, therapy service. I am trying to get to know Harry James Potter but he isn't necessarily talking to me." Severus sighed. Harry let his face fall stern and brooding. Severus sat next to the boy. It took all of Harry's power to not stand up and start cursing her. Verbally and physically cursing her. He played with his wand under the table. She took her seat across from them both. "I take it, you have been caring for him?" Severus nodded. His back was straight and so was Harry's. She thinned her lips. "You know as a professor here, it is against the rules for teachers to take care of students as their own." Severus glared at her. Harry began to twitch his leg and Severs closed his eyes. Harry wanted to hex her for saying that. He wanted stand up, raise his wand and do it. He could see himself doing it, too. No, he saw Voldemort doing it. He saw his reflection change into Voldemort and saw the wand being raised and there was a flash. Green. Harry couldn't help but darkly smirk as his eyes grew darker. The emerald turning colder and blacker and the lines on his neck began to tingle as they begged for the curse to be served. He felt the way the mark on his chest danced on his neck and it begged to crawl up to be seen. To watch as the lady would be on her knees begging for mercy...
Calm down, please. I don't necessarily like her, but Headmaster wants you to try. Give her a total of five sessions, okay? If you don't like her, we won't continue. I just wanted to provide you with more help than I can give... Harry's eyes darkened as the therapist watched in silence at the two sitting across from her.
"Sending secret messages isn't a good communication strategy. Don't look so surprised, Snape. I can tell. I have worked in this field for thirty-five years." She then looked down at her papers. "So tell me, Mr. Potter, what seems to be troubling you?" Harry's body stiffened. Like I would tell you, you...you filthy little-
"Mr. Potter here, has...a very nasty past...his relatives weren't very...receptive to taking care of him." Margaret nodded. Harry looked at Snape and blinked.
"Speak more, Professor Snape." She said. Her glasses were on the brink of her nose as she watched the two men.
"He has self-harmed, tried to commit suicide multiple times and he has been abused from the earliest memories he has." Severus spoke. She wrote notes down.
"And was he sent to any institution?" Severus looked at her. Harry glared darker at her. I am not being sent away. I am...NOT! "I mean...a mental hospital so he can have proper therapy and help. Don't get me wrong, you have done plenty, but you aren't what the boy needs. He needs help." Harry played out the scene again, finding amusement in her torture.
"No. He didn't go into an 'Inpatient'." Snape seethed through gritted teeth. She nodded her head once more and wrote on her clipboard that was on the table.
"Very well. He will go in so we can double check his status." And just like that, she closed her book and stood up. Harry broke his mind playing the scene and felt his cold and blackened heart shatter. I...am being sent away? Away from Snape? Away from Hogwarts?
"He has classes here." She held her hand up.
"We cover that."
"You are not taking him." Severus stood up and stood firmly. His eyes beading into hers.
"Are you his parent? Or guardian?" Severus gapped at her. He seethed. His hands grasped close. He might as well as adopt me! For Merlin's sake! Harry pulled out his wand from under his robes but felt Snape's hand on top of his as a sign to put it down. And Harry did. "As I thought. I will talk to Poppy and me and young Mr. Potter will be on our way." Severus watched her as she walked out the extra room. Harry looked at Severus and all he could see was tears welling up in the boy's eyes.
"I don't want to be taken away. I don't want to go." Severus couldn't say anything. Instead he bent down to the sitting boy and pulled him into a hug. I don't want to be sent away. I am fine! I am!
"Shh...I know...I know...just say something and maybe...I'll talk to the Headmaster..." Severus couldn't help but notice there was a crack in his voice as he was upset by the news. They want to take the boy away? Away? And Snape Held the boy and the boy stood. His strong arms wrapped around the small figure of the boy who began sobbing into his robes. "Hush, child. They won't take you away. I know you don't want to be." And Severus wiped the boy's red cheeks that began to have tears fall and they left the extra room into the smaller office Poppy was in. As they walked closer they noticed that Minerva was in there too, along with the therapist who was sitting down. Snape breathed deeply as he and Harry prepared for a very interesting conversation. Snape closed the door behind himself and the boy. Harry sat down as Snape stood in front of the door. And it all began.
12:45 PM: November
Severus stood by the door and breathed slowly. Everyone turned to him, after all he was the only responsible one there. Or at least, that was what he could understand. "What seems to be the problem, Severus?" Minerva spoke.
"I do not agree with taking young Mr. Potter out of Hogwarts. He could...try the services..." He quickly glanced at the boy. The boy looked at the man from the corner of his eye and then down at his hands that were folded in his lap.
"We want to do what is best for him." Poppy said with question in her voice.
"Then let the boy talk? Perhaps that would work? Since...after all...he is of age to make his own decisions in the Wizarding World." All eyes landed on Harry James Potter.
"Harry, you are not to blame for the way they treated you. It was wrong. You don't believe anything they said do you?" Harry ducked his head and murmured a negative. Knowing that Harry was lying, Severus Snape couldn't help but feel his heart shatter. After everything they have been through and Harry still believes he deserves it all and feels the blamed of the treatment.
"You can't believe the things he said, Potter. He's not right. You're a..." There was a slow gulp as it was hard to think of James Potter and compliment him. "Generous person, despite your background and we all feel for you...however, we need to work on this." Snape put in, one of the rare times he showed not to be completely dense and to have some insight. Harry just looked away, ashamed.
Remus walked over and engulfed Harry in a tight hug, telling him how proud of him he was for being so strong. Harry just shook his head, "Moony, if I was strong, I wouldn't have let him do those things to me. I would have been able to fight back. But I couldn't because I'm too weak to defend myself from my bastard of an uncle and his demon spawn." Snape, Remus, and Poppy eyed the small boy. His eyes were apple green more than emerald.
"Mr. Potter," Severus drawled. Harry looked up, "I've seen people go insane, plead for death, and break under less pain and torment. In our world, abuse and rape is a crime punishable so severe. It is so vile that even the worst Death Eaters will not commit it and you have endured it repeatedly since you were...young. If that's not strength, I don't know what is." Snape was ready to gag out the words. He didn't like the look Remus made to him. Like Remus...was proud of him. Remus was only here because he had gotten the news from Poppy. Technically, since Remus was the best friend of both Harry's Godfather Sirius Black and James Potter, he was brought into the situation. But since then, he has been...gone. Like he shows up every once and awhile
Harry looked at him oddly, Snape had just astounded him. Severus seemed to know what was going through his head, "Mr. Potter, I haven't hated you since your Fourth Year. You proved yourself to be stronger than, I admit, I previously believed. I allowed the image of my view of your father to crowd my judgment. I apologize. But don't let this get over your head." Severus rolled his eyes and raised one of his eyebrows and thinned his lips.
Poppy gathered the adults over in a corner, discussing something quietly, then Remus went back to the lonely boy. "Why didn't you tell anyone, Harry? We could have helped much sooner." Harry smirked and this caught Snape's attention. How dark did he become?
"Seriously, do you really think I was proud of the fact that my uncle could beat the shit out of me and accomplish something even Voldemort couldn't? Do you really think that I wanted the pity or more fame that this will bring with it? My uncle raped me, Ron. Do you really think I want everyone to know it?"
Remus scowled, but it was more directed to himself than the boy. "Right, sorry. You still could have told us though. If anyone, I wish you could have told me...or..."
Harry's eyes opened wide. "Who? Sirius? The man I killed?" They all stopped and Snape glared at the boy. Then at the man who was crouched before the boy.
"Now, now, wolfy, I would presume you are causing problems."
Harry sighed, "I know that i could have said something...to anyone, but I didn't. I was afraid you would all think I'm even more of a freak than my uncle does. I'm ashamed. I'm ashamed I couldn't do anything to stop it, and ashamed that it happened in the first place. I mean, I obviously must have done something to deserve it...I do cause problems...I do cause...everything. I just mean, I deserve it." And Severus couldn't help but remember his own life affairs with his father reminding him everyday the reason for beatings and for being hated.
"HARRY JAMES POTTER! You did nothing to deserve that, and if it takes me the next twenty years to pound that into your head, I'll do it!" Remus screeched, causing Harry to flinch slightly and pale. Severus glared darkly at the wolf. Poppy stood, just as an observer. But Lupin quickly apologized, "I'm so sorry, Harry, I didn't mean to scare you."
"I know, Moony, I'm just used to pain after loud voices." His friends looked at him sympathetically and he scowled. "Don't make those faces. I hate being a pity party. I want to leave now.
The professors left into Poppy's office and Snape couldn't help but daze out of the decisions being made. He wanted to kill Harry''s relatives. Lily's sister was supposed to be charge of him. But all because of her hatred of her sister, she put it all on Harry. And then Snape opened his eyes in revelation. I have been doing the same thing for the last schooling years. Even during summer did he think of torturing the boy. But now...he felt queasy thinking about what the boy endured and the pain he had dealt with all his life. They all went back over to the boy who had dried eyes and a paled face, and they all sat down, all except Severus who stood and watched everything from the window. Poppy looked at Harry and took of her half moon glasses, cleaning them on her hospital robes. She looked very weary and up close, Harry could see the wrinkles in her face and the way she was aging. And she wasn't beautiful. But from far away, she was beautiful. She decided to speak. Her voice was soft and smooth and low. "Harry, I'm afraid we'll have to press charges." Harry paled drastically. "Harry please listen-" She began to speak. Severus folded his arms in his robes and his greasy hair fell on the sides of his face. He was the perfect observer.
"No! If I do that, then everyone in the Wizarding World will know, Voldemort will try to use it against me and Merlin knows what will happen to Vernon and Dudley." he protested vehemently.
Remus sighed, but knew they had to press the point, "Harry, they need to be punished for what they did to you. No one, I repeat, NO ONE, gets away with rape or child abuse in our world."
"But they don't live in our world; they live in their world, the muggle world."
"Yes," Snape interjected, stepping from behind the window, "but they did these things to a Wizarding child." No one spoke as Snape had almost somehow appeared in the room. He walked closer the boy, his words were sharp and uncanny.
"I haven't been a child in a long time." Everyone sighed again.
Snape started once more, "Think of it this way, what would you do if...one of the Gryffindor...friends... had the same things happen to her?"
"Honestly?" he asked. Everyone nodded and Snape watched. He got closer to the boy and stood almost over him from the top of the bed.
"Honestly, I would find those who did it and torture them for what they did, before getting them a Dementor's Kiss and throwing their arses in the middle of a Death Eater Meeting to be tortured and played with to the pleasure of Voldemort's minions." Everyone flinched, but Snape. He smirked at the idea. So he isn't like his father, like he said. He is better. Harry saw the looks and added to what he said, "But, I'm not one of them. I'm not really a Gryffindor." Snape, for the first time in the conversation looked utterly surprised.
"What house do you think you belong in, if not Gryffindor?" Remus asked. Harry looked straight into his eyes with coldness then he moved his head and looked at the man standing over him with shock and darkness. Severus looked down, his eyebrows raised once more.
"Slytherin. The house the Sorting Hat originally wanted me to be in. I belong there." Severus clenched his fist. A Potter...in MY house? He felt disgusting. He watched as Harry didn't want to look at Snape.
Ten minutes later, everyone was back to showing more expression than just plain shock. Severus looked at Harry before stating, "We've taken your suggestion to heart and are planning a little excursion for tonight. Care to join us?" Harry didn't even look at Snape. But everyone else stared hard at Snape. He didn't dare move his eyes into the child his own eyes bore into.
Harry shook his head and groaned again, "No, if I start enjoying other people's suffering, I'll wind up the next Voldemort, torturing everyone for fun and killing to feel the power. I know I'll laugh and smile if I go and I strongly ask you to not do this." Everyone looked at him shocked. First, because he could admit that he'd enjoy it so easily, and see that it was possible for him to turn and was keeping it from happening. Then, because this young man deserved revenge more than anyone else and he's denying it. Last, because he felt it was wrong to hurt the Dursleys' but apparently fine for them to hurt him. "Harry, there's a difference between torturing for pleasure and fun than exacting rightful retribution." Remus Lupin soberly told the younger boy. Everyone then turned to look at Lupin, in shock that the "Pillar of Light" Albus Dumbledore taught him was...what felt like abandoned. "You are also conscious of the risk of turning and trying to prevent it. That alone prevents you from turning to Dark Magick. You, of all people; deserve revenge for what you had to endure there."
"No," Harry whispered, "No, I don't. Think about it…why did Voldemort come after my parents? To get to me. Why did Ginny get taken into the Chamber of Secrets? Because Tom Riddle heard about me through Ginny and my so-called 'great' feats and wanted to kill me. Why did Pettigrew escape in my Third Year? Because I prevented Remus and Sirius from killing him. How did Voldemort come back? Because I let Pettigrew escape and he used my blood in that god-forsaken ritual. Why did Cedric die? Because I told him we could tie and to take the cup at the same time as me. Why is Sirius dead? Because I followed a false vision to the Department of Mysteries and he came to rescue me. Not to mention the numerous people who have been killed or tortured because Old Voldie was pissed off at me, or the many times my friends have gotten hurt or almost killed because I drug them into a dangerous situation. No, if I deserve anything, it was what happened to me."
The scene is set back to the meeting. Harry spoke quietly, almost in a mumbling tone. Severus glared at him. "Speak up, Potter." He snarled. Everyone looked at Snape.
"Erm..." Harry began.
"Do NOT mumble Mr. Potter. Please refrain from the common words you use when articulating a simple sentence." Harry nodded.
"I am not going to go into an institution. I do not want services. I want-" Minerva held her hand up. Poppy sat in her chair and her glasses were on the table.
"Please, Mr. Potter. Let's think rationally." Minerva laughed to try to play it off. Harry stood up and Severus felt his face grin. He knew this would happen.
"No, Headmaster. You need to listen to me. I have been sexually abused since I was practically four years of age. I was sold into prostitution at age six. I have been stabbed, drugged, beatened, bruised, branded, carved in, and emotionally abused. I have lived this life for as long as I could remember and this is my choice. You know what I want? I want Severus Snape. He has helped me. I'm not going into an institution. I don't want a therapist. I am old enough to make my own choices and this is my choice." His eyes were shining dark emerald green with black rings. His temper is getting out, thought Snape. Snape stood behind the boy who had his fists clenched and gripped his shoulders.
"Well, I think he has spoken. We will be on our way." Severus guided the raging boy out the door and he shut it behind him. He walked out into the corridors while still holding onto the emotional boy and they walked down the corridor.
Hey guys, leave reviews. I hope you do like how this is going. I'm trying to make twists in the future so it doesn't seem too cliche. Also, there is a disclaimer that I do NOT own any Harry Potter characters or books or movies. In the story, there will be copied and pasted things from books and movies of not just belonging to Harry Potter, but other sources. This is to add interest and make it kind of connected to the events throughout the series. However, I do not own anything related to Harry Potter or the other sources. Also, I do own copyrights detail on this story and the writings. Just not the copied and pasted, however I did change it up. Leave some reviews. Also, this message will be copied and pasted throughout the chapters so far just to make sure that you all understand and appreciate the story. Tell me what you think and pm me if you ever want to talk about this or just talk in general! :) Also, in addition, how do you like the poor form of foreshadowing? Lolz