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.

A Promise Fulfilled

By: Mikee

Part 2

Lupin's POV


Albus called me through the Floo network. He never calls me. I was to check on Harry immediately. "Harry?" I thought, "what could possibly be going on that we needed to check on Harry with only two more weeks until school started. Besides, Harry had been with his aunt and uncle for ten years, surely had there been any trouble we'd have known before now. I felt the hair on the back of my neck rise as I heard Albus explain what he needed. Severus (much as I hate to credit the greasy git) had a good point. The magic protecting Harry was only good against magic.

I Flood to Arabella's house, and crossed her yard to Harry's aunt and uncle's house. Arabella advised me their names are Petunia and Vernon Dursley. I knocked on the door, and was greeted by a man who looked to be a cross between a blimp and a walrus.

"Hello, my name is Professor Lupin, and I have been instructed to--"

The blimp slammed the door in my face.

One really shouldn't do that to a werewolf. I bit back my anger and decided to try again. "Sir, you misunderstand. I am a teacher, and I've come to che--"

The door flew open, and I found myself face to face with a very purple blimp holding a very long rifle.

Oh… one really shouldn't do that to a werewolf. Werewolves and guns are a bad mix. I touched the barrel of the rifle and it melted. I enjoyed tremendously watching the purple blimp become the equivalent of human quivering purple Jell-o. As the Jell-o-blimp stood in the doorway quaking, I caught a glimpse of a smaller blimp and a most homely woman (?) scooting up the stairs.


I barged past Mr. Dursley and called for Harry. Nothing. I ran around for a minute before regaining my mind. I realized, that for perhaps the first time in my sorry life, being a werewolf might finally help someone. My keen werewolf sense of smell honed in on blood, fear, and waste, and took me to a door under the stairs. I pulled my wand and whispered, "Alohomora" and the door creaked opened.

The sight that greeted me broke my heart. Huddled there, broken and bloody was little Harry. You won't tell him I called him 'little', will you? He thinks he's such a big boy. No injured child is a big boy (or girl for that matter), they are all little.

I crept into the dark, damp, and cramped cubby. Lightly brushed my hand over his forehead and felt fire within him. Harry cringed and pulled tighter into a ball, crying how he was sorry for whatever it was he had done, and to please not hit him again. My tears burned, blurring my vision, and I had to struggle not to use all four of the "Unforgivables' on everyone else in that house right then and there.

I levitated the boy, afraid any touch I might bestow upon his tortured body would only prove more excruciating to him. I levitated him over the fence separating the Figg home and the Dursley's torture chamber, and Flooed back to Albus' study. I was still crying. I couldn't even tell Albus and Severus what the conditions were in which I had found Harry until Albus, or was it Severus (?), gave me a calming potion.

We uncovered the boy and even Severus blanched, as the child's condition assaulted our eyes. Harry whimpered and shivered, but he didn't cry. I don't think he could cry any more. He had cuts and welts almost everywhere. Both eyes were blackened, and swollen shut. His lips were split and his scar… oh, that damnable scar. I had to turn away.

To my immense shock, Severus knelt beside the couch on which I had laid Harry, and softly as a whisper smoothed his hair, and muttered into the unconscious child's ears. I doubt Albus caught it but little, if anything, escapes a werewolf's ears. I distinctly heard Severus tell Harry that he was safe now, and he'd let no one ever hurt him again.

He muttered so softly, I must admit I did have to strain to (ahem… accidentally) hear him also explain that he was head of Slytherin House, and as such, would ride the boy unmercifully, but that he was to know deep in his heart none of it would be real, it would only be for show.

Amazingly, Harry's shivering slowed, and his whimpering quieted. He even leaned into the soft caresses of Severus' hand. I glanced up and caught the twinkle in Albus' eyes, as well as a trace of a tear. How does that man twinkle? It must come from somewhere deep within.

Albus advised that Harry would stay in his chambers for the night, and summoned nurse Pomfrey to attend to him. He thanked Severus and me for our aide, and effectively ended our visit (if visit it could be called).


Severus' POV


I, Potions Master Severus Snape, shall not cry. I, Severus Salazar Snape, shall not cry. I, the greasy git, the mean old bastard, the most feared and hated prat ever to plague the hallowed halls of Hogwarts (oh, I know all the names they call me behind my back),… I shall not cry…. Until I get to my chambers.

Normally when I arrive at my chambers I burst through the portrait hole, as I do every portrait hole or door through which I enter or exit; but tonight… tonight I couldn't burst through a paper bag if my life depended upon it.

Harry, Lily's Harry, and by my promise, my Harry, had been beaten, nay, nearly killed. And for what? Because the sentiments of an old wizard who doesn't, pardon, didn't believe the boy's own blood could do such a thing…

I sat in my chair beside the fire with a glass of Magic Mist red wine, staring off lost in the violence of the flames, and was transported to my own childhood. Oh how I had hoped for something better for Harry, but it appears those who love… no loved, Lily were destined to hard lives. Thus, history (my history) repeats itself with Harry.

*****


My potion was a success. I would be able to keep an eye on Harry here, but oh how I wish we had kept an eye on him all this time. If I had only known...

"What, Severus… what if only I had known?"


I don't know… I could have…

"Could have what, you greasy git?"

Oh great, now I'm talking to myself…

Oh great Merlin's ghost… if only I had known, I'd have taken him away.

"Away is it? With Voldemort looking for him, and you. How far do you think you would have gotten? You know you are as much a prisoner of Hogwarts as Harry now is. The only safe places for either of you are here and Hogsmeade. Where would you have taken him?"

Here, I don't know… maybe I could have put charms on both of us and assumed new identities. I could have at least tried…

"Severus, you know better."


Yes, I know… I do.

****