Gold - Part 3

By: Mikee

This story is the product of my own mind (muddled though it may be). The characters are, sadly, not mine. They belong to J. K. Rowling. I just play with them, and bend them to my will occasionally. Occasionally they see fit to take over the story, and then I am at the mercy of their will.

Warning: Child abuse.

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The rest of the students returned the following day from their holidays and filled the castle with exuberant noise. Snape prowled the halls trying to keep some semblance of order before finding the strength to go to the Great Hall for lunch. He was surprised to see Granger and Weasley at the Gryffindor table without Potter. He thought it quite odd that Potter wasn't there, but didn't pursue it. Instead he amused himself watching Weasley and Granger crane their necks around searching for their friend.

Finally Weasley left the Great Hall alone. Returning several minutes later Snape could see the boy was quite upset. He was waving his hands around, and his face had become more red than usual. Intrigued, Snape made his way to the two and asked with a sneer and much sarcasm, "Trouble in paradise?"

"Sir, It's Harry. We can't find him anywhere. He did stay here for the holidays, didn't he?"

"Indeed, Miss Granger. Mr. Potter did remain at Hogwarts. No doubt he is off somewhere getting into trouble. Most likely he has forgotten the time."

That said, Snape exited the Great Hall and began his own search for the boy. Not really knowing the boy, it would be hard to figure out just where he might be. He thought about the last time he found him unexpectedly and went to the Quidditch Pitch, but no boy. He resumed his search beginning with the least likely place, the dungeons, he worked his way up the castle floor by floor.

Finally after several hours, he found Potter in a deserted room next to the owlery. He was just sitting there in the middle of the room. Snape stopped just inside the door watching. The room was hot, yet it was January and a snow storm raged outside. He ventured slowly toward the boy who remained sitting statue-still on the floor. Snape hesitated as he advanced and noticed the warmth increased with each step.

The boy's eyes were open but unseeing. Snape, not knowing what was going on, knelt in front of Potter and softly called his name. Harry didn't answer. Snape put a hand on the boy's shoulder and felt an intense heat. It felt as if it was going to burn his hand, almost as soon as his hand made contact he was again assailed by the vision of a very young Potter being hit.

Gritting his teeth, he put his other hand on the other shoulder, and began to hear Potter's screams, "No, Uncle Vernon, please….." Snape withdrew his hands, and sat down on the floor in front of the boy. He called a little louder, "Potter". Still no response was forthcoming. He tried again, "Potter… Potter."

The boy swayed, and his eyes came back in focus, "Professor?"

"Just what are you doing, Potter? And why were you not in the Great Hall for lunch? You're friends are worried."

"I needed to be alone, sir."

"You needed to be alone, Potter." Snape's anger and distress were just barely contained. He was watching the boy carefully and saw him shiver once. Softening his voice a little he asked, "Why?"

"Sir?"

"Why did you find it necessary to seek solitude up here without letting anyone know where you were?"

"If anyone knew I was here, my time alone would have been cut short. As it is, it appears it was cut short anyway, does it not?"

"Insolence… boy" As soon as he said those words, Snape wished he could take them back as he saw the boy cringe and begin to tremble, and his eyes became glassy as if he were going to cry.

"Potter, tell me why."

"The noise, sir. I couldn't take the noise."

"The noise has never bothered you before, in fact I dare say you have been a prodigious participant in noise-making yourself, if I am not mistaken."

"I… it… there's…"

"Eloquent as ever, Potter. Well, if you are not going to tell me, then at least get up and go to the Great Hall for dinner."

"Dinner?"

"Dinner, Potter. That meal one eats prior to close of day. You do remember, do you not?"

"But I just got here."

"Potter, perhaps a visit to Madam Pomphrey is in order. You've been here all day, it's now 6:30pm. I didn't see you at breakfast, you weren't at lunch, it is now dinner time. Just when did you come here?"

"I came after I got up this morning."

"So it would seem your time here was not cut short as you thought."

"It may seem a long time, sir, but it was not long enough."

"Potter, how long would long enough be… rhetorical, don't answer." Snape rose and offered a hand up to the boy. They left for the Great Hall together and parted company upon arrival.

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