12:45 PM: November
Severus stood by the door and breathed slowly. "What seems to be the problem, Severus?" Minerva spoke. Harry felt the way his blood pulsed. He didn't want to be in this kind of situation. He hated meetings like this. It made him feel...helpless and vulnerable.
"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. Rule Thirty-Six: Stay bright, stay polite, have a graceful leave.
When Harry was just merely six years old, he was left alone for...days. Days on end, one time ending up being Thirty-Six days. Nothing but himself and a house to maintain. He didn't dare go outside. His relatives would leave and not come back for weeks. He had no food. And this continued on. Since Harry was young, he barely knew how to be an adult. Cooking was a task that took a lot of energy to make sure nothing was burnt and that he kept watch. Even though he was alone, he didn't dare use a shower in case he was in the bathroom and they came home. He became starved and dirty. There was a stray puppy he found when he snuck in the darkest nights. The puppy was small and fragile. Harry shared his food with the small animal. And Harry feared for the animal. And once the days ended of him being alone, he never saw the puppy again. He named the dog Spotty. The puppy was like him: starving and dirty. And if the puppy seemed hurt or too dirty, he would bring the puppy secretly in the house where he would wash Spotty in the sink with the Dawn Soap. Then, he would open the fridge, and found anything he could feed the dog. The dog would sit on the floor, looking clean and happier. Harry would look in the supply cabinet and use the old dog medicines Dudley had when he wanted a dog, the dog eventually "ran away." Harry never believed the story since the dog was more attached to him than anyone else. Harry would make sure the date wasn't too past the date and he would give it to the dog. So Spotty wouldn't get fleas or ticks.
When Harry decided he needed to wash and get more food, he found where Spotty lived. Spotty was an offspring of Dudley's dog. Her name? She didn't have any. But she recognized him and he helped her the same way. When it looked like she was blind and in pain, he couldn't help but cry. He closed his eyes on her small body and she whimpered softly. His tears hit her skin and she licked him. He closed his eyes and wished for her and her puppy to be healed and not fear about being hungry or hurt or too dirty. And then... it came true. Someone found them and took them in and Harry never saw them again. This made him cry on his way home. He didn't like the idea of how selfish he acted, but the truth being, he wanted her and her pup. They were his only friends. And now he was alone again.
Harry would spend the rest of the days alone in his cupboard. Once he figured they wouldn't be back for another few days so he cleaned the cupboard. He made the putrid smell disappear and he cleaned the blankets and everything inside. He used some old tools he found at his school and attached a secret door under the small mattress. He hid blankets he found where Spotty and his mother slept on and took them in. He washed them a few times to make sure they weren't diseased or anything and he hid them. He would soon then hide food, coloring items, and things he found valuable. Spotty's mother's leash he found in Dudly's extra room that he was told to keep straightened. Even though she didn't have a name, he kept the leash. Then he used a sharpie and wrote "Spotty And Mother, My True Friends" on it. He put anything he thought was important. He kept the picture of Severus Snape, which he didn't know at the time, in the small space. He hid a flashlight and old books he picked from trash cans, stolen from school, or used by his relatives to beat him with and then forgot about. He also put old rags he found with tiny bottles of cleaning supplies, hid bottles of medicines hidden in the back, some were expired but it kept him happy thinking he could take care of himself, even a little bit. He also hid old sponges that the Dursleys told him to throw away, old towels that were still in perfect condition but were touched by him, and three water bottles: one with soapy water, one with regular water, and the other with antibiotic liquid. Harry kept himself hidden when they returned and they all sounded like they forgot about him.
"We want to do what is best for him." Poppy said with question in her voice. Harry looked up and noticed he was in the room with these adults. His hand was clutched in the memory. He held in the lump in throat. He held in the tears of remembering everything he did for his cupboard. He made it feel more like home than the larger bedroom he got. He couldn't sneak everything he had from the cupboard into his large bedroom. Harry could hear the robes of the dark and brooding Professor shift from behind him. Severus spoke in a cold dead tone.
"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 spoke quietly, almost in a mumbling tone. Severus glared at him. "Speak up, Potter." He snarled. Everyone looked at Snape. Harry blinked away thoughts of Spotty and his cupboard. His hands clenched tighter to the point that his knuckles turned white. His eyes were getting darker and he wanted revenge. No, he was breaking down. He wanted to rip his hair out. He wanted to tear into the skin on his face.
"Erm..." Harry began.
"Do NOT mumble Mr. Potter. Please refrain from the common words you use when articulating a simple sentence." Harry looked at Snape and 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 coughed. Severus stood right behind the boy and Harry forgot how tall Severus actually is.
"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, abandoned, 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. Harry felt the dark mark on his chest dance in the power of rage.
"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. Once out of the room, and alone in the corridors, Harry leaned against the wall and let out a sob. Severus held onto the boy and pulled him into a hug. "Shhh...it's okay, Potter. Come on; let's go to the Slytherin Chambers and before I head back to my class, I'll sit with you for a moment and I'll give you some potions. We can talk about this tonight." Harry just nodded his head as tears rolled down his face. His cheeks were turning red, as well as his nose. His eyes began to water more as he felt Snape grip him and guide him through the corridors into the dungeons.
12:50 PM: November
Severus walked the young boy to the Slytherin Common Rooms. He didn't understand the distraught of the boy, but he did want to help. Once they got to the boys dorm, Severus pulled out a Sleeping and Calming Draught for the boy. The boy happily took it and Severus could see the way the boy's muscle relaxed and calmed. The boy gently closed his eyes and his body seemed so silent and small. Severus covered the boy with the blankets and left the room quietly. Snape saw the look of his reflection in the pasing mirror of the Harry's dorm. The way his eye looked...he felt the defeat of himself. He knew the war was still on. Maybe in a different sense now that the boy was on The Dark Lord's side, but there was going to be a war. And even then, war of custody was going to go on. Minerva seems to follow the rules of the school. May sound like the right thing to do, but the thing is...every school is a business. Every school does what it can so they can protect themselves. As Severus went onto the next class he had to teach he remembered one of his friends and their situation. Just to prove the reality of schools and the law system...may be any system.
Avery, her name was. She was a PureBlood. Avery was affiliated with the Dark Lord are almost certainly members of the pure-blood Avery family, one of the twenty-eight truly pure-blood families. Avery was abused. Well...Verbally, Emotionally, and Mentally. Her mother called her nasty names and ridiculed her in front of her friends and made her a slave. Avery learned how to cook and clean at the same time. During her years at Hogwarts, she met a nice Professor. This professor was male, but it was all based on a healthy relationship. The professor was twice as old as Avery and was married and had three kids: one set of twins and a newborn son. The professor helped Avery with her self-harm and provided her proper robes and just someone to talk to. He helped her through a couple years until she broke down completely and went into an institution. Then...Hogwarts found out about the relationship and damned them both. She was not allowed to see him unless she was part of his class. He was supposed to stick to what he did best: teaching. He wasn't trained in helping students who were depressed. But Hogwarts was in its prime time of the law. Avery became more and more depressed as everytime she went out of her way to see the professor, the school stopped her and punished her. Eventually banning her from Hogwarts. She turned to Voldemort who promised to give her the help, the help she always wanted and got with this professor. And she was then imprisoned for countless murders. One of being her mother. The next of being her father who lived with her yet ignored everything that was happening. And while in jail, the professor visited her. He told her that he loved her as one of his own children. And even though she became a killer, he still loved her and wanted her to know that he was always proud of her. He wasn't proud of the killings and the other crimes she did, but that wouldn't stop him from loving her as part of his family.
Severus was young when he knew her. She was a year or two older than he was, but she seemed so...happy. It was obvious she had depression. And even before she was sent to the mental institution, all of the Hogwarts professor knew about the relationship. And the professor didn't do it just for her. He did it for all his students because that is what a true man is. He watches out and takes care of every young boy and girl that had failed families. It is a true man to inspire what family is and help change the view of the world. Severus watched her die. But she died of happiness as she remembered the professor accepting her in his family. And the dementors kiss came and went. However, when they searched for her body, there was none. At least when a Dementor kissed, there would be a body. But no one, not even Severus Snape, or the Dark Lord ever saw or heard from her. She just...disappeared.
Snape continued his day in a daze. He didn't want Harry to end up like Avery. He didn't want him t end up like the soon-to-be-missing-professor.
1:00 PM: November
Voldemort sat in his chair. His long, boney fingers rested on his snake who hissed to him. There were dimly lit candles and a fireplace in his view. He was waiting for the last follower to come. And he knew they would be coming. He then heard footsteps along his stone floor. "Come in...Bellatrix..." He hissed. Bellatrix Lestrange was a tall, beautiful woman with long, thick, shining black hair. She had thin lips, dark, heavy-lidded eyes, and a strong jaw. She had the classic arrogant look bearing common for members of the House of Black, but like her cousin Sirius, time in Azkaban took a toll on her appearance. Voldemort enjoyed her...alliance to his. But the main fact that he hasn't killed her yet was merely because she was part of the "Sacred Twenty-Eight." These 28 families all managed to remain completely pure-blood into the 1930s. And Voldemort took pride in the purebloods. Bellatrix was part of a gang during her studies at Hogwarts that later joined the ranks of the Death Eaters. Among the others in that gang were other future Death Eaters, like Evan Rosier and Severus Snape. Voldemort hissed when she spoke.
"My Lord, he is asleep." Voldemort smirked. Although she could not see it, she could feel it. She cackled. "Shall I give it to him, then?" Voldemort cackled darkly.
"Yesss, Bella...do ssso...and make sssure he feelsss trapped in it..."
"Yes, My Lord." She looked into the ceiling and a dark fog covered her as she apparated to another place. Voldemort stared in the fireplace. Then, Nagini hissed as she sensed someone coming through the fireplace. And there the last follower was. Not as tall, but scarred on the face, long, deep, war-like scars. Voldemort stood up.
"Welcome...I have been...expecting you...to come...pleassse...let usss...talk..." And then the shadows crept on them as the meeting was beginning.
12:50 PM: November
Severus walked the young boy to the Slytherin Common Rooms. Harry was shaking the whole way to the Slytherin Common Rooms. Never had he once spoken to adults like that. And his head was pounding, not for any other reason than an increase of anxiety. Once they got to the boys dorm, Severus pulled out a Sleeping and Calming Draught for the boy. The boy happily took it and Severus could see the way the boy's muscle relaxed and calmed. The boy gently closed his eyes and his body seemed so silent and small. It was bad enough that Harry kept revisiting the graveyard in his nightmares, and nonetheless about his past, but now this dream was different. There was burning in his scar. Because even when he escaped nightmares about Cedric he had unsettling dreams about long dark corridors, all finishing in dead ends and locked doors, which he seemed to have in his dream worlds.
There were grey-blue swirls that swarmed the boy. His scar was reopened and blood was oozing down his forehead dripping onto his shirt. He didn't feel any pain. In fact, he didn't feel anything. He was just existing at the moment. Watching the grey-blue color swirl and dance around him. His body felt like it was floating. Something serene. But when the boy felt his forehead and saw the blood, the serenity stopped. He looked at the blood that was now on his fingers and he felt his body plummet downward. He tried to scream, but no words came out. He felt terrible pain shoot throughout his body when he landed. It was another dark corridor. Another long, dark, and lonely corridor. "Harry...Potter..." He heard a hiss and found the little strength he had to pick himself off the cold, stoned floor. He lifted himself up and held his right hand onto the walls. No, not walls. They looked like mirrors. Or...reflective walls. Not exactly like mirrors but not hard, solid, boring walls either. He saw the way his scar was ripped open, but he looked forward and made his way down the corridors.
Every step he took he felt pain shoot through his body. And yet, he continued. "Isss..." He heard another whispering hiss. Along the corridors were doors. Locked doors. Doors he tried to enter but couldn't. He would give anything for the pain to stop. When he stopped walking and looked at himself he saw them: his mum and dad. They were in their house. His dad did his best, shooting strong spells at the evil, Dark Lord. And once the green light flashed, his father's body collapsed. His eyes were open and his face was...lifeless. Then the cloaked man went to the staircase and followed it, leading to a bedroom where his mum protected him. He watched as the Dark Lord raised his wand. Everything seemed to have lost silence. And then another flash of green. His mother screamed in pain as Harry witnessed her soul being ripped out of her. And then the cloaked man turned to Harry, almost looking at him through the mirror-walls, and hissed, "Dead.." The man cackled and fled the scene. Harry felt rage surge through his body as he heard the cackling down the long corridors. With the rage and physical body pain, he rushed to find the man. He heard it behind every door. And every doorknob Harry touched it burned his hand deeply. He screeched in pain as every time he looked in to the wall, the scene would play out, over and over...and over again. The haunting scene. Every door was locked. And as Harry felt his way reach the end of the corridor...it was a dead end. There was no door. And he heard the cackling getting louder and louder. Pounding in his ears. And as Harry huddled to the wall, holding his ears and squeezing his eyes, he felt his breathe leave him. When he opened his eyes again, the corridor was getting shorter and shorter. Trapping Harry in it.
Harry ran with all his might, pulling at every doorknob. Banging on the door as he heard loud whisperings and laughter behind each door. The doorknobs burned his hands, or what he could describe, thousands of needles shooting in his palms. He tugged and begged and sobbed. "Let me in! Someone! Please!" He watched as the walls started to close around him, enclosing him in his tomb. Harry tried, but it seemed that now every door he went to and every doorknob he pulled, only made the corridor close faster. Harry looked up and saw Voldemort chuckling darkly. Beside him was Bellatrix Lestrange who gave no fear in laughing loudly at Harry's soon-to-be-death. And on the other side? Severus Snape who was smiling. But Snape's face was paled and looked dead. "Snape?" Harry whispered. But then Snape's body fell through the glass, through the ceiling, and dropped. Lucius Malfoy was standing there. No smile, but looked very much alive. His son Draco stood next to him with a forced smile filled with fear. Harry looked at Severus who had a slit throat, a ripped soul, and an attacked face. He was more than dead. Harry looked up and held his hand out, "Please! Please!" He cried.Then Snape's body disappeared. It apparated away. Then the ceiling-glass, became a regular ceiling. And Harry James Potter felt himself being trapped in his tomb until he dies.
Harry woke up sweating and shivering. His eyes seemed puffy and his body seemed unnerved. He looked around the Slytherin Common Rooms and saw Draco and Blaise who were by his side in the dorm. "Are you okay, Harry?" Blaise asked. Harry laid down and squeezed his eyes shut.
"What- what time is it?" Harry shakingly asked.
"Nearly midnight, Potter." Draco replied tiredly, yet worried. Harry rolled to his side facing away from his friends.
"I-I-I'm fine. I just had a bad dream..."
"We should talk to Professor Snape, then." Blaise said.
"No! I mean-I-I'll talk to him in the mornin', or tomorrow, okay?" Harry insisted.
"Fine..." Draco said. "Let's all get back to bed." Harry heard Blaise and Draco get into their beds and heard them fall asleep quickly. Harry stayed up the rest of the night afraid of a nightmare like that.
11:30 PM: November
Draco was in the Common Rooms, awake. Blaise was softly asleep. Draco watched the ceiling and closed his eyes.
"Draco." Lucius Malfoy called from a large living room space. Draco knew that whenever he was called, he needed to stop whatever he was doing. In this case, Drco was doing his summer homework. He was working on Potions. He was trying to remember the tips his GodFather Severus Snape told him, but failed due to the current lessons his father has been giving him for a few weeks.
Potions is a required subject for students, from the first year to the fifth year. Potion recipes can be found in many books, including the books the students at Hogwarts use in their classes, but the intricacies of timing, ageing, stirring techniques, and bottling which are much more difficult to learn without the mentoring of the experienced masters. Certain ingredients can be found in the cupboard in the classroom, but others have to be bought before the start of the year at the apothecary. Ordinary Wizarding Level examinations are taken at the end of a student's fifth year; as such students are spent learning Ordinary Wizarding Level potions and possibly revisiting the past four years of lessons. As part of their Potions O.W.L., students must sit a written exam one of the questions asks to describe from Polyjuice Potion and its purpose to something such as Twilight Moonbeams. and after students must complete a practical exam. Professor Snape mentioned that achieving a high mark at Ordinary Wizarding Level is difficult.,which was later demonstrated in 1996, when only twelve students reached the required level to advance to N.E.W.T.
Draco sat his feather down and closed his ink jar. He looked in the mirror and straightened his clothes. He wore a black suit. The suit made him itch and made him especially sweaty since it was summer after all. He fixed his cuffs and fixed his hair by combing it back with his hands. He breathed in and saw a slight purple color around his wrist and pulled his sleeves down. He walked out of his room and closed the door quietly behind him. He mad his way to the large, open room where his father sat with his back towards the opening. "Yes, Father?" Draco said. His dad didn't bother turning to face his son.
"Your mother is out with some friends." Draco breathed deeply, yet quietly. He knew what that meant. He put his arms behind his back and straightened his shoulders. "So I think it is best if we continued our lessons." Draco merely nodded his head. His father put his red wine glass down on the side table of the leather chair he was sitting. He took his wand out from his greyish-black suit and held it against his son. Draco grudgingly took his wand out and aimed it at his father. "Ready, Draco?" His father asked. Draco nodded his head once. And then they began throwing spells at each other. Their wands illuminated different colors. Then Lucius caught Draco off guard, as normal. "Cruico!" Lucius yelled and his son fell. The wand escaped Draco's hand as he squirmed under the pain that writhered throughout his body. He grunted and tears started to fall from his face. He gritted his teeth. He had learned best to not scream as his father kept the spell on his son. Draco squeezed his eyes until he heard a familiar voice.
"Lucius-" It was Snape's voice. Draco opened his eyes slightly and saw the man standing in the doorway. Draco felt the spell being released on his body and he stayed where he was, tired and still in pain. Lucius spoke up.
"Ah! Severus! What a dear friend of mine! What come about you to drop by?" Lucius looked at his son. "Get up, Draco. Severus and I must catch up!" Draco closed his eyes and found slight strength to pick himself up. He walked towards his room and looked back at his father who stood tall and proud. "Run along now, Dragon." Draco disappeared into his room where he laid on his bed and decided he had no will to move. Draco closed his eyes.
Draco opened his eyes slowly when he heard a gentle knock on his door. He groaned in pain. "Come in..." he mumbled. When he looked toward his door he saw Severus Snape. He tried to sit up but Snape walked closer and held him down lightly.
"Shh...it's okay. I'm here to talk." Draco nodded his head slightly. "What happened?" Draco knew he was out of breathe.
"Father...says...to...not...talk." Draco lightly spoke. Severus sighed.
"Dragon, please." Draco felt burning tears in his eyes.
"Crucio..." Draco whispered. Severus placed his hand on Draco's face and gently caressed it.
"How long has it been?"
"Since...ten..." Draco felt his body getting lighter. He felt coldness spread on his body but then warmth swarm his insides. Severus was putting cream on him.
"Along with the beatings? I see the bruises, Little Dragon." Although Draco was thirteen, he was still a child. Draco slightly nodded. Severus rubbed the bruises and they vanished. Draco felt tired. "Sleep, now. I will help you." Draco felt his eyes close and he dosed into a sleep.
Draco woke slowly to hear murmuring from the bedside over. It was Potter, Harry Potter. Draco looked at the sleeping Blaise and got out of his bed. he gently shook Blaise. "What...Go to sleep..." Blaise murmured. Draco shook more. "Merlin. What?" Draco pointed to Harry who was squirming in his sleep and looked entangled in his sheets. Blaise sat up. "Oh...shit... What's up with him?" Draco shrugged.
"I don't know. I just woke up." They walked to Harry's bedside and they shook him.
"Are you okay, Harry?" Blaise asked. Harry laid down and squeezed his eyes shut.
"What- what time is it?" Harry shakingly asked.
"Nearly midnight, Potter." Draco replied tiredly, yet worried. Harry rolled to his side facing away from his friends.
"I-I-I'm fine. I just had a bad dream..."
"We should talk to Professor Snape, then." Blaise said.
"No! I mean-I-I'll talk to him in the mornin', or tomorrow, okay?" Harry insisted.
"Fine..." Draco said. "Let's all get back to bed." Blaise and Draco get into their beds. Draco stayed up the rest of the night. He touched his wrists where there used to be scars. Professor Snape helped him from his father. What would have happened if he didn't see? Would I still be with my Father? Draco thought. Who am I kidding? I would still be with him. I never had the guts to confront him. And I never would. I still am a weak wimp...Draco then remembered the way his father used to taunt him. You are weak. The Dark Lord wouldn't think twice before killing you. Why don't you grow up? Why don't you just accept your family line? We are purebloods. We should rule the Wizarding World. And we will. With the Dark Lord. He will give us everything. But not you. You need to grow up. You need to stop being weak! Crucio!
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