Harry woke up. Everything was suffocatingly black, like the time Petunia
had hit him in the face with a pan and broken his glasses. His breath
started to come faster, and he clawed at the stiff unyielding sheets,
trying to free himself in vain. He let out a whimpering moan of terror;
surely he was blind, or dying, or anything. . .and every part of his body
felt heavy, the numbness odd compared to the constant pain he had been in
over the holidays. Regaining a tiny bit of strength, he pulled against the
sheets that bound him again, and flung his arm to one side.
A cool hand gripped his, and held it gently, stroking the scars that ran across the back of it.
"It's ok. You will be ok; you must open your eyes though"
Feeling ridiculous in spite of his terror and confusion, Harry realised that his eyes were jammed shut. Opening them cautiously, he blinked up at the black blur against the wall in confusion.
"Sir?"
He thought he must have imagined the gentle voice he heard earlier because now his Potions Master spoke harshly.
"You have been asleep for a long time. It is important that you eat something."
When Harry flexed his fingers lightly, the friendly had which had enclosed his was gone. And so was Snape.
***************************************
Snape opened the door to Pomfrey's office and didn't even look in as he said, "Potter's awake, Poppy. I'm going to inform the headmaster."
Pomfrey grunted in affirmation and quickly went to Harry's bedside. She had repaired his glasses the night before and now placed them gently on his nose, simultaneously placing a bowl of plain soup in front of him.
"Not hungry, thank you" he mumbled thickly. Frowning, Poppy put a hand on his forehead and felt the boy arch slightly towards the coolness.
"You have a slight fever, but you have to eat something or you won't heal" she said gently.
Just then Albus came in, his eyes twinkling.
"Ah, Harry, how are you feeling?"
"Fine thank you sir" said Harry in a flat voice.
"Poppy, do you think I could have a few minutes alone with Harry?"
Unwillingly, Poppy nodded and retreated to her office. It was never worth arguing with Albus.
"Harry, what happened to you? You were in a terrible state when Professor Snape collected you. . ."
Knowing that the headmaster would not be deterred, Harry nodded and spoke carefully.
"In the muggle world. . .there are lots of small gangs. . .nothing like anything in the wizarding world. My cousin and I are part of one and there was a nasty fight. I was caught in the middle, and my friends didn't realise I wasn't there when they escaped. I had just got home when Professor Snape arrived and they were preparing to take me to the hospital."
Dumbledore nodded, relief clear in his blue eyes.
"I have, and always will maintain that muggles are one of the most violent races of this world. I do hope this will not happen again, Harry?"
Harry shook his head, eyes wide, and smiled as well as he could while his face felt like it would split in two at any given moment.
"I am going to the gymnasium with my cousin next holidays" seeing the look of confusion on the aged wizard's face, he elaborated. "It's a muggle place where you can get fit and strong."
It was clear that Dumbledore didn't understand, but Harry wasn't too clear on the theory of gyms either and was running out of lies. He lay back on the pillows and the older wizard took the hint and left, mumbling something about gymnasiums under his breath, before Harry could ask why Snape had been sitting with him.
***************************************
Snape ran headlong into Dumbledore later on.
"Ah, Severus. I am sure you will be relieved to know that Harry is healing well."
Snape raised an eyebrow, doing his best to look uninterested.
"Did he deign to tell you what happened?"
Dumbledore nodded gravely.
"He was involved in a street fight, something about muggle gangs. When he is better, I will have a word with him. It is not behaviour befitting for a Hogwarts student."
Snape nodded, smiling maliciously, but was unable to stop himself from asking,
"Why didn't his relatives take him to the Hospital then?"
"Well, Severus, if truth be told, you did come at the best time. They were just about to go to the hospital, but Poppy's care is much preferable, don't you agree?"
Snape nodded silently, furious. Why hadn't the stupid boy told Dumbledore?
"Well, Headmaster, if that is all. . ."
"Yes yes, Severus, go back to whatever foul tasting potion you are brewing down there" said Dumbledore with a smile and wave of his gnarled hand.
Snape disappeared through a secret passage until he had heard Dumbledore's steps pass. He retraced his path back to the Hospital Wing, and slipped in through the half-open door. The Granger girl was sitting by Harry, talking softly.
"Miss Granger, I think it is time you were back in your room, is it not?"
She looked up, startled, and rose to her feet.
"Sorry, Professor. Just going."
He was silent as she left, before letting his carefully maintained mask fall down. His son. . .Lily's son. . .was battered and bruised to within an inch of his life. His pale skin was stretched tightly over Snape's cheekbones, and several long red scratches ran down his cheek.
Snape's thought process suddenly stopped, and rewound. His son? His cheekbones? Rubbish! He slapped himself mentally.
The boy is nothing to you, Severus. He is Lily's son, and he is happy like that.
-Happy?- said another voice. -Oh yes, he must be ecstatic, living with a family of abusive muggles!-
It is NOT your problem!
-What when he starts to resemble you? Lily must have put strong charms on, but they won't last forever. What will you do then?-
Silence.
Taking a final look at the sleeping boy, he swept out of the room in a flurry of black robes, his thoughts in turmoil.
********************************
Harry woke up to the sound of the door banging shut. His head was spinning and he felt vaguely ill. He hadn't eaten anything for nearly a week since that Every Flavour Bean so how he could feel like he was going to throw up, he had no idea. But he was definitely going to be sick.
With a groan he emptied his stomach and immediately fell asleep again, but woke up in 5 minutes.
The night continued in much the same way; waking every five minutes from a fitful doze, throwing up, and trying to sleep again.
Harry was aware he would have huge shadows under his eyes. He had tried everything; sleeping potions of the strongest kind which he had ventured into Knockturn Alley for; dreamless sleep draughts stolen from Madam Pomfrey's office; he had even hit his head against a wall repeatedly trying to knock himself out. But even in the worst of the beatings he had received from his relatives, unconsciousness had refused to claim him.
And there was another problem. Dumbledore believed that Harry had been in a fight with some other boys, but surely whoever had found him would tell Dumbledore; after all, Harry had definitely been taken out of the cupboard by someone because he knew the Dursleys would never have let him out.
But then. . .
It must have been Snape! Any other person would have told Dumbledore the truth; Snape couldn't have cared in the slightest.
His heart slightly lighter, Harry's mind wandered back to the more pressing matter of the fuss everyone would make if they knew about his lack of sleep. There was only one thing for it.
Harry was going to have to go to the library.
****************************
Having persuaded Madam Pomfrey he had eaten loads and was feeling completely better, Harry had left the Hospital Wing as soon as he could the next morning and headed towards the library. Halfway down the corridor, the strangest feeling came upon him. He felt light headed and floaty, as though his brain was processing nerve impulses too slowly. Then the feeling grew and grew, until spots danced in front of his eyes, and he clutched at the wall desperately trying to stay upright.
After shutting his eyes and taking steadying breaths for a few seconds, the world righted itself, and with a small shrug, Harry set off again to the library, albeit slower than previously.
From around the corner, black eyes regarded him suspiciously.
******************************
Snape followed Harry around the corridors which he could tell were leading to the library. Years of spying and natural grace inherited from his mother had taught him to glide smoothly and silently around the corridors.
He waited for a few moments as Potter entered the library; saw the boy exchange a few words with Madam Pince and disappear behind a large shelf of books. Muttering an invisibility charm, Snape followed the boy as he aimless wandered around the mounds of books. Every so often he would pause to get his bearings, and set off in another direction through the tomes. Eventually he found what he was looking for.
"Ah!" he exclaimed aloud. "Found it!"
Snape craned his head to look over Harry's shoulder at the book.
'How to get the best sexual pleasures from your pet owl' AN im not sick, just thought it would be funny
Snape, normally such a master of the expressionless face, stumbled backwards into a pile of books, choking. He heard Potter chuckling from above you.
"Whoever you are, you really should learn to walk more quietly. I heard you following me all the way from outside."
Face burning, Snape left as quickly - and quietly - as he could, trying to preserve his dignity.
Harry allowed himself a small smirk at the choking sounds, and a grimace at the revolting book, and went back to the section on healing and concealing charms he had been searching for.
Ten minutes later he had found out that healing charms didn't work on cuts or bruises and he knew that Pomfrey had healed all of his internal injuries. But concealing charms didn't sound so hard. He quickly transfigured a mirror and looked at himself. He gasped and dropped the mirror, which shattered on the floor. He had changed so much! His hair had grown and was straighter and his nose was slightly hooked. Disgusted, Harry fixed the mirror and took out his wand.
'Obscuro' he muttered, imagining his normal face; or, how it had been at the start of the holidays, with only a few bruises. He felt a tingle through his bones and looked into the mirror. Perfect. It looked like the bruises were fading.
**************************************
Harry was fairly upbeat from then on. Nobody would find out what had happened, the bruises would fade, nobody would ever see the scars and life would go back to normal. Until Dumbledore found his outside the library.
"Ah, Harry! It has come to my attention that you need to collect your belongings from your relatives house. Of course, you will be resuming lessons tomorrow, so have prepared a portkey for you myself, which ill bypass the wards around your home and take you straight into the house. You can take as long as you like saying goodbye to your relatives, as long as you are back by tomorrow."
Dumbledore smiled happily.
"Take care, Harry!" he said, and pressed the portkey into Harry's hand. With a jerk, Harry felt the world dissolve, and landed a split second later in the Dursley's kitchen. They were standing around a table leering unpleasantly, and as Vernon moved towards him, Harry had a brief thought.
Welcome to Hell
A cool hand gripped his, and held it gently, stroking the scars that ran across the back of it.
"It's ok. You will be ok; you must open your eyes though"
Feeling ridiculous in spite of his terror and confusion, Harry realised that his eyes were jammed shut. Opening them cautiously, he blinked up at the black blur against the wall in confusion.
"Sir?"
He thought he must have imagined the gentle voice he heard earlier because now his Potions Master spoke harshly.
"You have been asleep for a long time. It is important that you eat something."
When Harry flexed his fingers lightly, the friendly had which had enclosed his was gone. And so was Snape.
***************************************
Snape opened the door to Pomfrey's office and didn't even look in as he said, "Potter's awake, Poppy. I'm going to inform the headmaster."
Pomfrey grunted in affirmation and quickly went to Harry's bedside. She had repaired his glasses the night before and now placed them gently on his nose, simultaneously placing a bowl of plain soup in front of him.
"Not hungry, thank you" he mumbled thickly. Frowning, Poppy put a hand on his forehead and felt the boy arch slightly towards the coolness.
"You have a slight fever, but you have to eat something or you won't heal" she said gently.
Just then Albus came in, his eyes twinkling.
"Ah, Harry, how are you feeling?"
"Fine thank you sir" said Harry in a flat voice.
"Poppy, do you think I could have a few minutes alone with Harry?"
Unwillingly, Poppy nodded and retreated to her office. It was never worth arguing with Albus.
"Harry, what happened to you? You were in a terrible state when Professor Snape collected you. . ."
Knowing that the headmaster would not be deterred, Harry nodded and spoke carefully.
"In the muggle world. . .there are lots of small gangs. . .nothing like anything in the wizarding world. My cousin and I are part of one and there was a nasty fight. I was caught in the middle, and my friends didn't realise I wasn't there when they escaped. I had just got home when Professor Snape arrived and they were preparing to take me to the hospital."
Dumbledore nodded, relief clear in his blue eyes.
"I have, and always will maintain that muggles are one of the most violent races of this world. I do hope this will not happen again, Harry?"
Harry shook his head, eyes wide, and smiled as well as he could while his face felt like it would split in two at any given moment.
"I am going to the gymnasium with my cousin next holidays" seeing the look of confusion on the aged wizard's face, he elaborated. "It's a muggle place where you can get fit and strong."
It was clear that Dumbledore didn't understand, but Harry wasn't too clear on the theory of gyms either and was running out of lies. He lay back on the pillows and the older wizard took the hint and left, mumbling something about gymnasiums under his breath, before Harry could ask why Snape had been sitting with him.
***************************************
Snape ran headlong into Dumbledore later on.
"Ah, Severus. I am sure you will be relieved to know that Harry is healing well."
Snape raised an eyebrow, doing his best to look uninterested.
"Did he deign to tell you what happened?"
Dumbledore nodded gravely.
"He was involved in a street fight, something about muggle gangs. When he is better, I will have a word with him. It is not behaviour befitting for a Hogwarts student."
Snape nodded, smiling maliciously, but was unable to stop himself from asking,
"Why didn't his relatives take him to the Hospital then?"
"Well, Severus, if truth be told, you did come at the best time. They were just about to go to the hospital, but Poppy's care is much preferable, don't you agree?"
Snape nodded silently, furious. Why hadn't the stupid boy told Dumbledore?
"Well, Headmaster, if that is all. . ."
"Yes yes, Severus, go back to whatever foul tasting potion you are brewing down there" said Dumbledore with a smile and wave of his gnarled hand.
Snape disappeared through a secret passage until he had heard Dumbledore's steps pass. He retraced his path back to the Hospital Wing, and slipped in through the half-open door. The Granger girl was sitting by Harry, talking softly.
"Miss Granger, I think it is time you were back in your room, is it not?"
She looked up, startled, and rose to her feet.
"Sorry, Professor. Just going."
He was silent as she left, before letting his carefully maintained mask fall down. His son. . .Lily's son. . .was battered and bruised to within an inch of his life. His pale skin was stretched tightly over Snape's cheekbones, and several long red scratches ran down his cheek.
Snape's thought process suddenly stopped, and rewound. His son? His cheekbones? Rubbish! He slapped himself mentally.
The boy is nothing to you, Severus. He is Lily's son, and he is happy like that.
-Happy?- said another voice. -Oh yes, he must be ecstatic, living with a family of abusive muggles!-
It is NOT your problem!
-What when he starts to resemble you? Lily must have put strong charms on, but they won't last forever. What will you do then?-
Silence.
Taking a final look at the sleeping boy, he swept out of the room in a flurry of black robes, his thoughts in turmoil.
********************************
Harry woke up to the sound of the door banging shut. His head was spinning and he felt vaguely ill. He hadn't eaten anything for nearly a week since that Every Flavour Bean so how he could feel like he was going to throw up, he had no idea. But he was definitely going to be sick.
With a groan he emptied his stomach and immediately fell asleep again, but woke up in 5 minutes.
The night continued in much the same way; waking every five minutes from a fitful doze, throwing up, and trying to sleep again.
Harry was aware he would have huge shadows under his eyes. He had tried everything; sleeping potions of the strongest kind which he had ventured into Knockturn Alley for; dreamless sleep draughts stolen from Madam Pomfrey's office; he had even hit his head against a wall repeatedly trying to knock himself out. But even in the worst of the beatings he had received from his relatives, unconsciousness had refused to claim him.
And there was another problem. Dumbledore believed that Harry had been in a fight with some other boys, but surely whoever had found him would tell Dumbledore; after all, Harry had definitely been taken out of the cupboard by someone because he knew the Dursleys would never have let him out.
But then. . .
It must have been Snape! Any other person would have told Dumbledore the truth; Snape couldn't have cared in the slightest.
His heart slightly lighter, Harry's mind wandered back to the more pressing matter of the fuss everyone would make if they knew about his lack of sleep. There was only one thing for it.
Harry was going to have to go to the library.
****************************
Having persuaded Madam Pomfrey he had eaten loads and was feeling completely better, Harry had left the Hospital Wing as soon as he could the next morning and headed towards the library. Halfway down the corridor, the strangest feeling came upon him. He felt light headed and floaty, as though his brain was processing nerve impulses too slowly. Then the feeling grew and grew, until spots danced in front of his eyes, and he clutched at the wall desperately trying to stay upright.
After shutting his eyes and taking steadying breaths for a few seconds, the world righted itself, and with a small shrug, Harry set off again to the library, albeit slower than previously.
From around the corner, black eyes regarded him suspiciously.
******************************
Snape followed Harry around the corridors which he could tell were leading to the library. Years of spying and natural grace inherited from his mother had taught him to glide smoothly and silently around the corridors.
He waited for a few moments as Potter entered the library; saw the boy exchange a few words with Madam Pince and disappear behind a large shelf of books. Muttering an invisibility charm, Snape followed the boy as he aimless wandered around the mounds of books. Every so often he would pause to get his bearings, and set off in another direction through the tomes. Eventually he found what he was looking for.
"Ah!" he exclaimed aloud. "Found it!"
Snape craned his head to look over Harry's shoulder at the book.
'How to get the best sexual pleasures from your pet owl' AN im not sick, just thought it would be funny
Snape, normally such a master of the expressionless face, stumbled backwards into a pile of books, choking. He heard Potter chuckling from above you.
"Whoever you are, you really should learn to walk more quietly. I heard you following me all the way from outside."
Face burning, Snape left as quickly - and quietly - as he could, trying to preserve his dignity.
Harry allowed himself a small smirk at the choking sounds, and a grimace at the revolting book, and went back to the section on healing and concealing charms he had been searching for.
Ten minutes later he had found out that healing charms didn't work on cuts or bruises and he knew that Pomfrey had healed all of his internal injuries. But concealing charms didn't sound so hard. He quickly transfigured a mirror and looked at himself. He gasped and dropped the mirror, which shattered on the floor. He had changed so much! His hair had grown and was straighter and his nose was slightly hooked. Disgusted, Harry fixed the mirror and took out his wand.
'Obscuro' he muttered, imagining his normal face; or, how it had been at the start of the holidays, with only a few bruises. He felt a tingle through his bones and looked into the mirror. Perfect. It looked like the bruises were fading.
**************************************
Harry was fairly upbeat from then on. Nobody would find out what had happened, the bruises would fade, nobody would ever see the scars and life would go back to normal. Until Dumbledore found his outside the library.
"Ah, Harry! It has come to my attention that you need to collect your belongings from your relatives house. Of course, you will be resuming lessons tomorrow, so have prepared a portkey for you myself, which ill bypass the wards around your home and take you straight into the house. You can take as long as you like saying goodbye to your relatives, as long as you are back by tomorrow."
Dumbledore smiled happily.
"Take care, Harry!" he said, and pressed the portkey into Harry's hand. With a jerk, Harry felt the world dissolve, and landed a split second later in the Dursley's kitchen. They were standing around a table leering unpleasantly, and as Vernon moved towards him, Harry had a brief thought.
Welcome to Hell