Disclaimer: It's not mine! Stop pestering me!

Rating: R, Harry angst and abuse, slash (eventually)

Author's Note: I'm still here, don't worry. I'm terribly sorry it took so long for me to update. I hope you guys are still reading *listens and hears a silent room* Anyway, I've been studying for finals, and doing end of the year projects which I have procrastinated in doing - heh - but here is the next chapter. finally! Read and review, please.

Trouble at Home

Chapter 4

Arabella Figg continued looking into the fire. Albus had just talked to her, asking if she could go to the Dursley residence. Apparently, Severus had been sent to check up on Harry, but had yet to return. She had never really trusted those people, and now that bad feeling was growing stronger. Was Harry okay? Was Severus okay? And if they were, where were they? These questions had been floating around Arabella's mind since Albus had left.

Mrs. Figg finally exited the house, on a mission. To make sure Harry was being well-treated, and find out where the hell Severus was. She walked down the street and reached the Dursley household. It looked quiet inside. But that was not much to go by. The way they treated that poor boy sometimes was downright despicable. Locking him in a cupboard, never letting him play, and other things she probably had never seen. No wonder barely anyone in the neighborhood even knew that a nearly fifteen year old boy lived here, and had for fourteen years.

Knocking on the door, Arabella waited apprehensively. Finally, the door opened to the pinched face of Petunia Dursley.

"Why hello Mrs. Dursley. I just came by to ask if you needed me to baby- sit Harry for you. It's such a beautiful day, and I thought that you and Mr. Dursley might want to go and do something." Arabella said politely. She waited while Mrs. Dursley went inside and talked to Mr. Dursley.

"No thank you. We are staying at home today." Mrs. Dursley said shortly when she returned. "Well, can I at least take Harry off your hands. He won't be a bother, I promise you." Arabella desperately wanted to see Harry. The Dursley's never turned down an occasion to get Harry out of the house, and she was beginning to get suspicious.

Mrs. Dursley went back into the house, leaving Arabella to her silent worries.

~*~

Severus did his best to ignore the helpless boy who occupied the same room as him. But labored breathing forced him to glance up. What he saw did not please him. Potter looked pale, as though he struggled for breath, and had dried blood all over his face and the other body parts that were visible. Severus cursed the bad luck that seemed to exude from this boy. He got up and moved cautiously over to the figure. When he placed a gentle hand on Potter's back, the young boy cringed away from him, trembling uncontrollably.

"It's okay, I'm not going to hurt you. I am just going to clean off your face and try to help you breathe easier." Severus said all of this in as calm and soothing of a voice as he could manage. He did not like the boy much, but even Severus had limits. He was not about to sit by and watch as the young boy obviously suffered. When Potter finally stopped shaking, Severus ripped a part of his own cloak off and began wiping the dried blood off the boy's face and extremities.

As Severus did this, Harry fought to stay calm. Just being in the same room with his most hated professor was enough to make him uncomfortable. But the fact that he was seeing him in such a vulnerable position made him feel even more so. Nobody had known about his life at the Dursley's, and Harry had planned to keep it that way. But now, his terrible secret would be out. And he would get pity from his friends and others of the wizarding world. Harry didn't want pity. He just wanted to be left alone. In peace.

But Snape's careful, soothing motions helped Harry to start to marginally relax. They only partially aggravated his wounds. //It's not like I don't deserve the extra pain. I'm such a horrible person. I only bring pain to others. Cedric died because of me. How can I, or anyone else, even stand to look at me?! I'm cursed...\\

Right at that moment, as Severus was finishing cleaning Harry up, the door burst open. Harry cringed and rolled himself into a protective ball. Severus, without his wand was completely defenseless. Looking up, he saw an enormous man come through the door. With or without a wand, Severus would do whatever he could to protect Potter.

The large, beefy man, who Severus assumed was Potter's uncle, came slowly into the room, keeping one eye on Severus. His attention focused on Potter, Severus tried to get around behind him. "Move one more step and I'll beat the boy within an inch of his life." Vernon hissed when he finally noticed the movement behind him.

"AND FOR YOU! STUPID BOY!! TELLING THE NEIGHBORS WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS HOUSE!! WHAT DID I TELL YOU I'D DO IF YOU TOLD ANYONE?! DO YOU REMEMBER MORON?!

Severus was not a strong man. Without his wand, he had no chance at all of defending himself against this monster of a man, much less protecting Potter. But this little fact would not deter him. Dumbledore's orders were to get the boy to safety. And Severus would do his damnest to fufill this responsibility.

Vernon advanced menacingly as Harry cowered away in fear. "I didn't tell anyone, I swear Uncle Vernon! Please don't hurt me.. Please..." Harry whimpered as his uncle got closer. He didn't care that Snape had probably heard every word he uttered. Harry curled into a protective ball in an attempt to lessen the blows. He waited for the first strike.

But it didn't come. Harry peeked out and looked up in shock. Mrs. Figg was standing in the doorway, brandishing a wand. And Uncle Vernon lay unconcious on the floor.

~*~

Arabella decided that enough was enough. Something must be wrong inside, or else Mrs. Dursley would have let her see Harry.

"Alohamora." She whispered, opening the door and sneaking inside. Looking around, she noticed the absence of Mrs. Dursley. Arabella decided to go and find Harry and Severus.

Walking upstairs, Arabella heard yelling coming from one of the rooms. She crept up to the doorway and saw a sight that astonished her. Severus standing in the middle of the bedroom, looking ready to kill someone, if his wand had been handy. And Harry. Poor Harry was being screamed at by his uncle while curled up in a ball, begging the man not to hurt him. Arabella could not take anymore.

"STUPEFY!" The witch yelled, and Mr. Dursley fell unconscious to the floor. Severus looked up sharply, with a look as close to gratitude written on his face that he would probably ever get. Then Harry's head peeked out of it's shelter. He looked shocked at seeing his old neighbor standing in his room holding a wand. Then the young boy's gaze fell to his uncle.

Vernon had blood on the side of his head from hitting the bedside table as he was struck by the spell. Harry studied the form of his uncle, then began to get up. Severus rushed over and helped him stand. The boy continued to stare at his uncle, until Severus finally steered him out of the room.

"Thank you Arabella. Now, will you kindly open the fireplace so we can all Floo back to Hogwarts?" Severus requested in a clipped and toneless voice. He was incredibly relived that they had gotten out of that room, but was also angry that they had to be saved in the process.

Arabella did as she was asked, and opened the Floo gate. Severus pulled out a bag of Floo Powder from his bag and through it into the fireplace. Picking Harry up when he realized that the boy could barely walk, he took him into the fireplace, and yelled, "Hogwarts!"

Arabella stared after the badly broken boy and the man who hated him. Then she also threw in Floo powder, and was on her way back to Hogwarts.

~*~

A/N: Okay, I'm really sorry it took me soooooooo long to finish this one chapter. I just have to say, writer's block's a bitch! Anyway, now that school's out, I'll hopefully have more time to write. Keep reviewing cuz it helps me to write more quickly! Till next time.

So sorry I forgot to thank my wonderful reviewers when I first updated!! Oops. Well, thanks to redrose2310, Shadowsofpain, Not A Muggle, Maikafuiniel, chantalmalfor, trinity Avalon, Jennifer, Midnightrider, desertwren, Kayla Summers, VegetazGrl, selua, Kateri. You guys are all what keep me going!