12 | I Am Sorry, Don't Leave Me

Albus cast him an angry look before making his way towards the door but stopped when Lucius grabbed his wrist, motioning towards Severus, who was standing beside the fireplace, shaking, not having lifted his head from the minute he stepped out the fireplace. Severus was scared. He could feel the waves of anger and displeasure radiating from his father. He tried to block it all out but was unable to even raise his weakest occlumency shields.

When his father was this angry, Lucius and Severus decided to join the dark lord to spy on him even after Albus' ongoing protests. He remembered that day clearly. That was the day Albus has indeed raised a hand on them. He had slapped them right across the face for their foolish actions. Severus was so scared that he had peed himself right in front of his father and brother. Father has held them both after their punishment, saying it was alright and they will walk together no matter what may come. His thoughts were interrupted by Lucius' voice.

His thoughts were interrupted by Lucius's voice.

"We have to tell him, Albus."

"I am too angry to deal with him at this moment. I can't just get it out of my head. He is the reason my grandson is in the hospital wing fighting for his life."

That made Severus look up at Dumbledore with red-rimmed eyes who was himself trying to keep the dam in.

" Harry?" he spoke almost inaudibly but was clearly heard in the silence of the room.

"Yes, Professor Snape Harry, my grandson, tried to suicide because he thought of himself as a freak who deserved to die." Albus all but spat at him.

"Da..." he started but was cut off before he could even finish a single word.

"DON'T YOU DARE CALL ME THAT. YOU ARE NOT MY SON. I DON'T WANT TO BE A FATHER TO YOU." The bookshelves shook as magic surged out of Albus at an alarming rate. Lucius came forward, placing his hand on Albus's shoulder, trying to calm him down, but all in vain.

Severus was experiencing an array of emotions from guilt to fear as he tried to digest his father's words. He knew what he did to Harry was wrong, but now he knew exactly how his child must have felt when he denied him the right to call him anything except a formal title.

"Albus"

"I don't want to hear any excuses, Professor Snape," Albus replied calmly, having gained little control over himself.

It stung more when his father addressed him by his formal name instead of the nickname, he usually called him by, since the finalizing of the adoption paper between his third and fourth year after Tobias's death.

Albus has taken Lucius in after his fourth year when he found out about the abuse he suffered at the hands of Abraxas. Albus had been a father to them since then. He was able to deflect them from the dark path their fathers were preparing them to follow. They were both very grateful to have Albus in their life.

"Please"

"Do you think this will get you anywhere? Have I raised you to be an abuser?" Albus asked, disappointment evident in his voice. He sank down into the armchair in front of the fireplace, unable to hold himself up any longer.

He sighed when he looked up at his younger offspring. He could see the emotional trauma Severus was going through, but he was more upset, which was turning into anger, and it raised with each passing minute. He was determined to teach Sev a lesson without wavering.

"Lucius, please tell me you treat Draco with love and care rather than being a bully to him."

"Albus, how can you? Of course, I love Draco." Lucius answered, astonished at the fact Albus even thought about it.

"I don't know Lucius. After all that happened today, I can't take the risk." Lucius nodded, looking at Sev, who was yet to speak a word.

"Lucius, please get the paperwork for the guardianship started," Albus said quietly as he kept a close eye on Severus. Those words were the doing as Severus sank to his knees sobbing openly, clutching onto Dumbledore's pant leg, all but begging him for another chance.

"Dad...please...dad...don't...take...him...away...from...me...please... I... am... sorry... I really... am... beat...me...punish...me...but please... don't take him away... please...I will...apologize...I... will...do...anything...for...him...please...I... am... sorry." He sobbed uncomfortably, burring his face in Albus's cloak.

That was when the first slap was delivered, the sound echoing in the whole room. Severus was stunned to silence as he looked up at Albus, who held him away from himself by the back of his cloak.

"First, do not call me dad. You are no one to me. I have only one son, and that's Lucius. Second, you will be punished as I see fit. No amount of apologies can take back the damage you already did or the punishment I am about to carry out. You bullied Harry to the extent that the child thought of suicide as his only option. Merlin knows what would have happened if Draco hadn't found him in time to take him to the hospital wing. You want to know how we found him lying in a pool of blood with a paper clutched in his fist. You know what it said that he loved you and was sorry for being unworthy to be your son."

That only made Severus cry harder. A moment of silence later, a knock sounded on the door, and Lucius left to rush Minerva into the sitting room.

She leaned over Sev, wanting to comfort him but was stopped by Albus.

"Let him be."

"But Albus."

"No Minerva, you will not want to look at him after I told you about what he had done to Harry."

"No, Albus, Don't tell me..." Minerva replied, covering her mouth with her hand to stop the sobs from escaping as she connected the dots.

"Yes, exactly that's what he did."

"How is Harry?"

"Out of danger. Poppy ran a diagnosis on him just now. He has some scars left on his wrists from all the cutting, some on his back, but they will heal quickly. The main problem is his bladder is damaged beyond repair. Apart from that, he is fine and will wake up soon."

Albus nodded, turning his attention to Severus.

"Let's give you a dose of your own medicine." He said, beckoning Severus to come over as he fished out a vial from his pocket. Sev backed up when he recognized it, but Albus was faster to grab him by the hand and force the potion down his throat before stirring him to stand in a corner facing the wall.

"Don't as much as twitch a muscle until I say you can."

With that, Albus settled himself in the armchair he was sitting on previously as Lucius and Minerva took a seat on the sofa.

Severus squirmed as the sudden urge to pee overtook him, and with every passing minute, it increased. Half an hour later, Severus was openly holding himself, trying to be as still as he can be while keeping it all in.

"A...L...B...US"

"I think I told you not to speak."

"I need to use the bathroom."

"I think not. You are more than capable of holding it in until the end of your punishment."

Severus was horrified. He knew if he didn't use the toilet right then, he would wet himself.

His thoughts were cut off by the floo flaring to life as Poppy stepped out with Harry right behind her.

"He wanted to see you." She said to Albus, pointing at Harry, who was now sitting comfortably on his grandpa's lap. Severus felt a stab of longing in his heart as he watched Harry converse with Albus, forgetting his need momentarily.

"How is my grandson? Ha." He asked, smiling down at Harry, who hugged him as if he were a teddy bear.

"Good," Harry replied, simply snuggling more into his cloak.

"Harry, I want you to promise me that you won't repeat what happened today. We love you and always will." Albus scolded him softly, pushing him away slightly.

Harry nodded, looking down in shame. Albus took hold of his chin, making him look up.

"It's Okay. I get it but..."

He was cut off by the gasp from Severus, who looked down at himself in horror and shame as his already black pants grew a shade darker.

Lucius felt terrible for his younger brother but knew he deserved it.

"Are you two or thirty-two, Professor Snape, or maybe you still need nappies?"

All Severus could do was stare at the now wet floor beneath him, ashamed of himself.

"Clean it up," Albus demanded, conjuring cleaning supplies.

Severus sat on his knees cleaning up his mess when another towel and a pair of small hands came into view. He looked up to find Harry kneeling across him, helping him clean, and all Severus could do was stare at the child, 'his Child,' as all the other adults looked at the boy with astonishment.

"Harry?" It was Albus.

Harry looked towards him with confusion.

"Why are you helping him?"

"He is my father." He shrugged, dropping the towel into the bucket of water after he finished before taking the other towel from Severus and dropping it into the bucket. Albus banished the bucket as Harry walked into the bathroom to wash his hands.

Harry walked up to Albus, standing by him.

"Remove your clothes," Albus demanded, looking at Severus.

Severus just stood there rooted to his spot gaping at Albus.

Poppy and Minerva were making their way towards the door to save Severus of embarrassment but were stopped by Albus's voice.

"Don't go. He is getting what he deserves."

He said, grabbing Severus by the front of his pants, undoing his belt and buckles as Severus begged him to stop when he grabbed the waistband of his underwear, pulling them down with his pants turning him over the knee in a swift motion.

They all knew better than to disobey his command, arguing him over his methods of punishing Severus. They were all aware that Severus bought it upon himself, and it's solely his fault he was in such a situation in the first place.

Harry covered his eyes, and Poppy, Minerva, and Lucius turned the other way. Severus cried silently, murmuring apologies as Albus spanked him for about twenty minutes without taking a single break. After he was finished, he stood Severus up, giving him time to righten his clothes before standing up with the others following him as he led Harry by the shoulder towards the door.

He turned around, holding the door handle in his hand, looking at Severus, who was staring at Harry, tears flowing down his face.

"Wait for the guardianship papers. You won't have Harry back as long as I am alive. Don't even try to talk to him unless you want me to disown you, pressing charges of abuse against you and assort you to Azkaban myself."

Albus said before closing the door behind him, not even giving Severus time to answer, who sank to the floor sobbing in the privacy of his quarters.

He took out a bottle of fire whiskey, pouring himself a good measure before sitting down into the armchair Albus emptied earlier and pondered over all that happened today.

How has his world fallen apart in merry seconds? How had he lost his child due to his foolish actions?

"I am sorry, don't leave me." Were his last words before darkness took over him.