Hey y'all! So I got my new computer and it's awesome! It's fiesta red which is different but I love it and it comes with a pen!

Anyway I decided to post this chapter since I already have a lot of this written. I'm not actually sure where all I am going with this story so bare with me as I figure it out. Again this is a secondary story I write during writers block to get my mind moving again.

Hope y'all enjoy it!

Blinking the world back into existence Harry was met with an even paler Snape, if that was even possible. The greasy haired professor seemed to be lost in his own mind, his lips pressed together in thought. Nervously Harry clenched his fists, preparing to take any sarcastic remarks the man might make, or something more. Snape had always been making comments about how Harry needed to be put in his place, maybe now that he knew that others had been doing it, he would punish Harry that way as well.

Snape hadn't looked at him since they left the memory, something that he wasn't exactly sure about. "Potter," the almost whisper caught him off guard, but he straightened, prepared to take what he was dealt. "How long?"

"Sorry?" Was Snape asking how long he wanted a punishment? It's not a question he hasn't heard before, but it didn't feel exactly like that was what the professor was asking for.

"How long have the Dursley's been hitting you?" Snape was making eye contact now, something that made Harry even more uncomfortable.

"Um, I think I was about 4 or 5 the first time. Uncle Vernon had asked me to make him tea, but I broke the mug and spilt it on the floor." Harry was slightly rambling, he knew it, but Snape wasn't exactly stopping him. "He took his belt to me for it. Didn't care that a piece got lodged in my leg."

Snape almost paled again. "And Professor Umbridge? She's been doing this too?"

"Yes Sir. The first detention was just lines," he rubbed the back of his hand subconsciously, something that Snape didn't miss but didn't point out either, "then it kind of escalated." A single nod was all he received.

"I have things to do Potter, go back to your dorms." Snape hurriedly turned away, his cloak billowing behind him as he made his way back to his office and closed the door. Harry stood there for a moment confused before it was replaced with anger.

You just found out that I get beaten all the time, isn't some dream of yours come true? He wanted to yell through the door but figured it wasn't worth getting in trouble. Quickly he made his way back to the dorms, the Fat Lady letting him in without much grumbling, she had only been dozing and not fully asleep yet.

He didn't notice anyone in the common room as he flopped on the couch in front of the fire. The embers were still lit, about the same as when Sirius had popped up earlier that year. However there was no smiling face that greeted him, only the deep orange and burnt wood from the fire. Slowly he took off his robe and rolled up his sleeves exposing his arms to the remaining warmth. He had been wearing long sleeves when around his friends to hide the scars, the once tan skin had lightened over the past year with lack of sun but no one had caught onto his change in wardrobe.

Letting the light crackling of the fire lull him to sleep, he was surprised when a soft gasp was released next to his ear. Opening his eyes, he found Hermione standing in the portrait hole, holding her wand in one hand, the other covering her mouth. It took him a moment to realize what had made her gasp, and quickly tried to cover up his arms but it was too late.

"Harry, no don't you dare hide those!" She almost ran to the couch as she grasped his wrist and pulled his arm away from him. Hermione already knew of the words etched into his skin, and after checking to make sure that they hadn't deepened she pushed back his sleeve. The small white circles were joined by thick lines, some more healed than others. "Where did you get these?"

"Allergic reaction to some plants in herbology." He lied, but Hermione already knew, just wanted to hear it from him.

"That evil toad! Bad enough that she's making you etch words into your own skin, but now she's physically attacking you!" Harry was worried her yells were going to wake the other gryffindors but he heard no footsteps. "How did she make these?"

"Her wand." There was no use trying to lie his way out of it, she would be able to tell. "I think she burns the circles, but she makes some sort of whip form from the tip of her wand to make the lines." Hermione dropped his hand in horror.

"She does that to you? Harry, you have to tell Dumbledore! This is illegal, worse yet she's abusing you!"

"Dumbledore's busy with running the school. I'm fine Hermione, really, it's not the worst I've gotten." Damn his stupid mouth. Hermione ran the words silently over her tongue.

"Who else?" Harry looked away, not really wanting to give up this information for the second time that night. "Harry, who else hits you?"

"The Dursleys. But I'm alright alright? I can handle it." He tried to reassure the girl but she shook her head. He could see the tears building up behind her eyes.

"Oh Harry, I know you can handle it. But you don't have to. In fact you shouldn't be handling it." The tears fell and Harry pulled her into a hug, knowing the girl could use one. "I'm going to tell Dumbledore tomorrow. He'll get that woman -that hag- fired. And I'll find some way to get you away from the Dursleys, there has to be some sort of lawyer or something-"

"No Hermione. You can't do that. Umbridge would just come after you, and I don't want you getting hurt. And for some reason Dumbledore wants me to go home for at least a month every summer." She squeezed him tighter. "Don't worry about me Hermione, I can handle it." He pulled her back to look into her eyes. "Promise me you won't tell Dumbledore?"

It took her a moment of hesitation before she nodded and he pulled her back into a hug. They stayed that way until Hermione could cry no more, knowing that they wouldn't be disturbed.

"We should probably go to bed, we have classes in the morning." He suggested it after a while. Ron would know if he didn't get the best sleep and he didn't want anybody else to find out about his treatments, he would be having enough trouble keeping Hermione from telling anybody, much less the entire Weasley family. She nodded and wiped her eyes, before they walked to the staircases and separated to head to their dorm rooms.

After changing into pajamas, Harry spent most of the night thinking about Snape's reaction. Sure he'd pictured adults finding out about his treatment before, but in none of his dream scenarios had people acted so closed off and distant. He finally drifted off, glasses skewed haphazardly on his nose as rain began to sprinkle on the window.

Hope y'all enjoyed! please review it helps me I swear!