Author's Note: Bwahahahaha! Here's another chapter! At the rate I'm updating that might be a hope that I may actually finish this fic before 21st June! Aren't you all so proud of me?

I would like to thank Frankie the Wonder Wiener Dog with the website by the RCF of Wales and England. It has provided plenty of useful info that I've used here, and, perhaps, latter on. And there's also Erika, who reviewed 14 times! One for every single chapter! Wow! This chapter is for is for both of them…

A Fallen Angel

By chibi_tenshi

Snape sat back on the bed placed to the right where Potter was sleeping. He had finally given up the struggle for his privacy inside his own rooms after being screamed awake for the past few days whenever Potter had a fit. The boy was having nightmares at an alarming frequent rate and he seemed to be the only person that was able to sooth him. It may be because of the fact that /he/ was the one that took him out of that hell, which would make it an entirely psychological effect. Or it may be because Snape was the only one that even vaguely knew what he had been though, which would make it more of an emotional one. None of them really /knew/ why, and they would probably never find out.

Back to the issue on hand, Snape had moved back into the infirmary. He had even gone as far as to transfigure a desk in one corner, complete with a comfy armchair. They were nothing overly fanciful. In fact, they were rather plain, but practical enough to suit his purpose and would allow him to get his paperwork done.

He looked back to the sleeping child. Granted, he may not have ever had the chance to /be/ a boy, but it was hard for Snape to think otherwise when he looked so young and vulnerable when safely ensconced in his blankets. He could still remember the little conversation they had some way back…

/Flashback/

They were both sitting together, enveloped in a rather uncomfortable silence when Potter spoke up.

"Professor? W-why are you still here?"

Snape just /looked/ at him, arching a single elegant eyebrow and replied calmly, "Why not?"

"Um…because you hate me?" the little rise in pitch at the end of the sentence made it sound more like a question.

"Whatever gave you that misconception?" Snape asked, slightly amused at Potter's ruffled countenance.

Potter looked down at his clasped hands, as if they were the most interesting contraptions in the world. "Because you hated me since you first saw me. You were glaring at me as if I was the vilest creature you have ever seen. And because you took every chance you've got to deduct points from me and to get me expelled…though that might have been because of Voldemort…but I couldn't help but wonder sometimes…" he paused a little, looking away to the left, and mumbled an almost incoherent phrase, "and because I deserve it…"

The last bit was not meant to be heard, Snape was sure, but he had a sharper hearing then most. He frowned a little, shocked at how little self-esteem Potter had, and he felt an smothering rage welling up from somewhere deep within him at the sight of a charming, confident boy being reduced to a guilty, self-doubting mess.

"Potter, I assure you that no one, especially not you, deserved to go through what you have! And while I have never been too charitable towards you, I have never /hated/ you. Dislike, yes, I would be lying if I said I did not, but I feel the same towards practically every student that have ever walked through the hallways of Hogwarts. And, as you have mentioned, there was also the threat of Voldemort hanging above us. I cannot afford to treat you nicely."

"I suppose…" Potter mumbled under his breath, yet again. Snape had to relax his hands when he realized that they were clenched so tightly that the knuckles had turned white. "Potter," he grounded out, trying not to let his anger show. "You. Do. Not. Deserve. To. Be. Hated," he articulated every single word for emphasis. Potter just flinched slightly away from him, the movement so small that he barely caught it. Evidently, his effort to conceal his anger had failed miserably.

He sighed, taking a deep breath before trying again, in what he hoped to be a kind, soothing tone. "Potter, I assure you that /no one/ deserves the life you have led, no matter how anyone has told you otherwise. In fact, you would have more reason to disbelieve it if it was that madman's words."

"Of course." At this, Harry looked up and smiled brightly at him, and they both fell back into silence.

/End of Flashback/

Snape knew that that smile was entirely fake. Oh, it did look real enough, and one could almost see a shine in his eyes. But this only served to show what an accomplished actor Potter was, and how difficult it would be to get him to trust anyone enough to fully open up.

It was not healthy for an abuse victim to bottle everything up inside. They would need someone they could trust; someone that could believe, and even understand what they had went through. They would need plenty of compassion, care and concern. Snape was under no illusions that he was a nice person, and he was not sure if he had the capacity for kindness. And it was quite clear, to himself at least, that he was not the most suitable candidate to be appointed as Harry Potter's counselor. Albus, as always (the man sees to it that he contradicts all his opinions and everything he says), thought otherwise, and since Snape was the only one that could bring about any sort of positive response from the boy, he was, by default, the one appointed to take care of Potter.

Of course, the fact that he had risen up to Poppy's challenge had not helped matters at all. He scowled and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "In short," he thought, "I'm stuck with that Potter brat for the rest of the summer…"

Not that Potter was adverse to the idea. Come to think of it, Potter was oddly contemplative and otherwise emotionless when he broke the news to him…

/Flashback/

"Potter."

Potter looked up, tilting his head questioningly at his Professor.

"You would be staying in the guest room at my quarters once Madam Pomfrey declares you fit."

Potter had just nodded and turned back to stare at the ceiling.

/End of Flashback/

That was all. There was no protests, no questions, no demands to know /why/ he was being sent to live with one of his most hated Professors, a Professor that had confessed to disliking him. It was, in a way, anti-climatic. Snape had already braced himself for plenty of shouting and swearing before he had to drag Potter, kicking and struggling the whole way down the dungeons. This showed how little he knew about the boy. He wondered how much of the Potter he knew had ever existed in the first place. Potter was an enigma, one that he wanted to learn more about, despite his mind's protests at growing too attached to the boy.

Still, whether he liked it or not, he would have to spend several weeks with Potter, and he might as well start getting to know the boy now…

***

TBC

(1164 words)

N.B. You may have noticed my weird switches from 'Potter' to 'Harry' and back again. I use Potter usually when the situation was seen in Sev's POV, mainly because he is trying /not/ to get too attached to Harry. It would switch to 'Harry' when Harry is in trouble or in pain, as Sev's mask would slip a little and get overwhelmed by the concern and protective instinct. I also use 'Harry' when the scenes feature Harry alone or when he was interacting with Sirius, Remus, Dumbledore, and, maybe, his friends later on.

Also, I will refer to Sev with 'Snape' unless it is in Dumbledore's POV, until Harry and Sev get close enough to feel comfortable using each other's given name.

Yap…just clearing up some stuff just in case you get too confused.

In any case, please REVIEW!!!