Chapter 16 – Opening Up

Severus Snape was on his way to the headmasters office, he was walking swiftly as usual scowling at all the students that dared to look in his direction. He needed to talk about Potter, the young boys reaction to everything yesterday was very concerning, the boy needed to open up, he was not going to let the boy avoid talking about his relatives any longer after the state of the clothes he saw yesterday.

Without realising it Severus was at the Gargoyle, he said the password and the gargoyle lept aside. He then knocked on the door and entered into the old mans office which was filled with many different magical equipment as usual. The headmaster had Gareth already sat down opposite his desk talking about Harry.

"Ah Severus, we are all ready for the meeting to commence"

"Its good to see you again Healer Richards, Headmaster"

"Enough with the niceties Severus, what is so concerning about the boy you need to talk about?" asked the headmaster in a rather definite tone.

"There are a few things Healer Richards needs to be aware of before he talks to Harry this afternoon we do not need your involvement if you have projects to attend to" replied Severus slightly snarling, getting annoyed at the headmasters lack of care.

"Severus I would like an update on Harry so please continue" replied Albus.

Severus sighed before continuing. "As you were both aware I took young Mr Potter to see Lily and James yesterday afternoon. The only floo network in Godrics Hollow was the potters residence and of course it was untouched from that dreaded night eleven years ago. Mr Potter seemed to go into some sort of trance as if he was seeing something different to I. Of course, I removed him from the situation and he managed to calm down. After that we visited the graveyard, Mr Potter found their graves and after encouragement he broke down and there was nothing I could do to help. After some time Mr Potter placed his tear filled hands onto the earth by the headstone, a white lily appeared before a ring formed around the grave, he then lost his battle with exhaustion."

"Magic can sometimes do that Severus especially if we miss someone its nothing to be concerned about" replied Albus

"If Harry has that much bottled up about his parents and I'm sure there is plenty more emotion trapped under him about them, this much emotion can break someone. That is just about his parents. I am still concerned about the conditions the boy lives in with his relatives"

"We have discussed this Severus, its only discipline which is needed to keep him in line, I am sure he is overreacting about it all" said Albus calmly

"Then why are ALL his muggle clothes torn, ripped and about five times too big for him? Why does Harry go into himself and panic as soon as they are mentioned? Why is the boy scared of his relatives? We know its Verbal abuse, now evidence of neglect and I am sure there is more. This isn't anything you can push under your rug anymore Albus!"

"I am sure it is all a big mistake, we all know the boy likes attention"

"NO ALBUS! Harry hates attention|! He cannot eat in the great hall when its full anymore. Classes he doesn't want to answer questions. Have you ever heard him talk? Don't you even remember the situation we were in this time last week? Doesn't that tell you anything!"

"Severus, losing your temper is not helping at the moment. I will talk to Harry today about his relatives and try get him to open up, hopefully yesterday was a turning point for him. Headmaster you can be assured if there is anything happening to Harry that is unsuitable it will be addressed after my meeting today" discussed Gareth calmly. "If you don't mind I will be late to the seventh floor may I leave"

"Of course Gareth"

"This will not stay unnoticed for long Albus, Gareth if anything occurs during your meeting please let me know"

"Yes of course Severus" replied Gareth as he left the office.

On his way to the seventh floor, Gareth bumped into a very tired looking Harry who walked beside him without a word. The room was already set up so they both sat down, Harry curled into himself resting is head in his knees facing Gareth.

"How are you doing Harry?" asked Gareth

"Tired" replied Harry shortly

"Would you like to expand on that? Tell me what happened yesterday?"

"Went to see mum and dad, saw the old house, saw them dancing around the room. Saw the grave. Why can't they come back? Can't they be with me? Why'd they have to go?"

"Harry, no amount of magic can bring them back but they are always with you everyday, in your heart. Can you explain more about your mum and dad dancing?"

"They were just dancing like they did most nights to the radio, I used to sit with my bricks while they danced, mum usually picked me up and danced with them. I was back there last night, it was so real. I wish it was real" harry stared to cry again, it wasn't too bad but it was significant enough for Gareth to feed some calming magic into him. Harry never cried too much, always one word answers, it was if something had changed overnight. Once Harry had calmed down a bit Gareth started to question again looking at the boys jumper that was way too big for him with holes down the bottom of It he started with that.

"What happened to your jumper Harry?"

"It was Dudley's, he grew out of it"

"Do you have any of your own things, new things"

"Freaks don't deserve clothes, freaks appreciate what they are given, freaks do as they are told"

"You are no freak Harry, you are special. Who used to call you that?"

"Everyone, aunt, uncle, Dudley, kids at school"

Deciding Harry was being open enough to talk a little about home Gareth carefully asked the next question.

"Wasn't Dudley your friend, I'm assuming you shared a room?"

"Freaks don't deserve rooms, freaks deserve cupboards and Dudley must be kept happy or I'll be punished. He is no friend, freaks don't have friends" realising what he had just said Harry clasped his hand over his mouth, curled up into a ball and panicked faster than anyone could ever imagine.

He's going to kill me, Uncle Vernon said if I ever said anything about my cupboard he would hurt me until I begged for death, that the punishments this summer was a tap on the had to whatever would happen if anyone found out. Suddenly he was back in privet drive in the living room, his uncle towering over him with his belt outstretched. "Please don't hurt me sir, please don't, ill be a good freak ill do chores, let you do whatever you want to me, just don't hurt me! Do not kill me! I will be good! ILL BE GOOD PLEASE SIR!"

Gareth carefully approached the young boy, Harry was panicking, worse than he had ever seen anyone, he was curled in a ball shouting "Don't hurt me, don't kill me, I'll be good" who could ever make a child feel like they have to curl into a ball to keep themselves safe from being killed. Harry must be having a flashback, who knows what the boy's relatives had done to him; this was evidence enough that it was more than verbal, but physical abuse. Gareth bent down to place his hand on the boys back to calm him but the boy flinched violently away.

"Don't touch me! Do not hurt me! Please"

"I'm not going to hurt you, you are safe, and you are at Hogwarts with me, Gareth. Come back to me harry, you are safe" Gareth kept repeating this until the boy let him feed calming magic into him. After a while, Harry let Gareth pick him up and hold him close. "I am so sorry it's taken until now for me to help, I promise you your relatives will never come near you again." Gareth sat there with Harry crying for a long while, Harry didn't want Gareth to go, and couldn't he stay? Harry cried until he exhausted himself to the point where he slept. Gareth decided that he would stay here with Harry tonight to keep an eye on the boy.

Once Harry was asleep Gareth set him down on a bed that appeared I the corner of the room again, placed a monitoring charm on him before sending a patronus to Severus to get to the Headmasters office. They had some serious things to talk about.