Disclaimer: Everything belongs to the marvelous J.K. RowlingI'm just borrowing.
Summary: What happens when a mistake made in a fit of drunkenness comes back to haunt Severus 16 years later? And what of Harry? R for later chapters, mild language, sexual innuendo, and slight BZ (Blaise Zambini)/HP Slash in later chaptersNOT HP/SS SLASH!*
There will be violencejust a reminder. I want to poll my readers: How do you think that Harry should find out whether Snape or Sirius is his father? A) a pensieve, B) a magical 'blood test', C) Dumbledore, or D) Severus should figure it out first and be the one to tell him
Sorry it took so long to updateMuses, especially titchy males, are SO fickleplease keep R and R-ing! Hope you like
And Then, Things Got Complicated
Chapter Three: Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde, a.k.a. Harry Potter, Major Headcase
Harry fumed silently as he lay crouched over in the now filled-beyond-capacity cupboard under the stairs. He had been drifting in an out of consciousness for the last few hours. The inevitable result of a sound beating from Uncle Vernon for foolishly 'being an insolent prat'. When he had finally regained consciousness enough to realize where he was lying, Harry had been furious, but NOT at Uncle Vernon. Harry was utterly disgusted with himself. 'I knew what would happen if I mouthed off to Uncle Vernon but, I goaded him anywayPRAT!!'
This single phrase had been repeating for an entire hour and a half when he paused, mid-thought, to listen to the commotion out in the hall. A commotion that, for once, HE wasn't causing. Harry was faintly aware of the muffled sounds of his Uncle's booming voice shouting at someonewait, shouting?! That couldn't be right. Why would Uncle Vernon shout at Petunia or Dudley? Intrigued, Harry listened carefully for any sound, only to cringe when he heard the unmistakable sound of his uncle's footsteps approaching his cupboard. Shaking with anticipation, Harry pressed himself as far into the far wall as possible, flinching in agony at the intensity of pain his new 'battle scars' were causing him. He clenched his eyes shut against the glare of the bright light of the hallway as a hand reached into the cupboard and reached for him. Harry yelped in sheer fright as the hand closed around the front of his shirt and, throwing all dignity aside, he tried to make himself shrink further back as he quickly murmured pitiful appeals for mercy.
When the second hand reached into the cupboard and clamped down on his shoulder, in an attempt to remove him from the cupboard, trembling in a fresh wave of pain, Harry passed out.
* (~Earlier that same day~)
Severus Snape had been livid when the Headmaster had interrupted him during his private time in his chambers for a 'cup of tea'. Oh, he had requested that Severus allow him to join him in his chambers but, as every one who knew the Headmaster on more than just a colleague/employer or student/Headmaster basis, Dumbledore never REALLY made requests. So, Severus had grudgingly allowed Albus, his 'dear old friend' and mentor to join him, utterly disrupting the dark flow of solitude that was Severus's salvation.
"Severus, my dear boy, how are you?" The Headmaster asked, an almost feral twinkle in his eye.
Warily, not liking where this conversation was ALREADY going, Severus answered, " As fine as can be expected at this time, Albus. WHY?"
"Oh, I was just wonderingyou never seem to have much planned during the summer holidays. Truly a shame".
There was that damned twinkle again. Even more suspicious, Severus paused before repeating, " WHY, Albus?"
The Headmaster laughed to himself softly as he regarded the on-edge, stiff postured form of Severus Snape eying him with an air of suspicion. Throwing all merriment aside, the Headmaster leaned forward so his face was barely six inches from his ex-pupils.
"I have an assignment for you, my boy, if you are willing. I can not, and WILL not tell you what it is until I have your promise to complete the task, and all that it entails. Now, you will be working with Madam Pomphrey for this but, this is all I will say until I have your agreement".
Severus sat, shocked at the sudden shift in attitude in Albus. The twinkle was gone, replaced by almost a grim expression. One not to be argued with.
Paling slightly, Severus nodded in stern agreement, not able to make much more than a gutteral groan in his throat in his anxiousness.
Almost as if a switch had been flicked, Albus was reclining in his chair again, smiling kindly. "Excellent! Now, I requested that Poppy accompany you to your destination, as we will need someone of her expertise therejust in case". Albus's face fell to a weary frown at the last part, but returned to normal when he noticed Severus watching him in well-hidden curiosity.
"Albuswhere exactly are you sending Poppy and I?"
Severus shifted again slightly when the feral twinkle returned to Dumbledore's eye. "You will be relieving a certain Muggle couple of their 'burden' for the summer. Poppy has the address and you two will need to leave immediately".
As Severus headed for the hospital wing, a sinking feeling was disturbing his stomach. 'Why do I have the feeling that this is all bloody Potter's fault?' The feeling didn't abate when he saw Poppy's expression but, they headed to a safe apparating point in silence despite Severus's unanswered questions. Just as silently, Poppy handed Severus the slip of paper with the address on it, waiting for Severus to memorize it. Severus stared in dawning horror as he realized'Wisteria WalkLittle Whingingisn't that wherePOTTER!!' The last thing that Severus did before disapparating was let loose a string of curses that would make even MALFOY blush.
Truding silently up the distinctly Muggle walk-way of Wisteria Walk, Severus was desperately awaiting the moment when he could be back in his roomsFAR away from the Potter-brat. He sighed audiably in relief when he saw the sign for 'Privet Drive' and nearly ran to #4 in his impatience. Despite the late hour, Severus knocked loudly and hastily on the door, uncaring of the brashness of this act. A few moments passed before a beefy man, all neck and almost round in his blimp-ness opened the front door, looking furious.
"WHO the HELL are you and WHAT are you doing at my house?!"
The man's anger was enough to make Severus forget about Poppy's presence for a moment before she answered for him."We are here to collect Mr. Potter".
Severus was sure that in all the times he had dealt with Muggles, he had never quite seen one CHANGE COLOR before. His masked amusement was cut short however, when the man spoke again. "You-your one of THEM, aren't you?! I've told the boy before, and I'll only say this to YOU onceI DO NOT. WANT. FREAKS. IN MY HOUSE!!"
Madam Pomphrey could be heard stuttering in indignation in the background as Severus levelled a glare at Potter'suncle, was it? "We are here for Potter. Now, we can collect him peacefully, or we can make thisdifficult". Despite his soft tone, Severus was sure that even a thick Muggle could feel the dangerous venom behind his words. Snarling, Vernon nearly pushed them inside before slamming the door with a resounding BOOM.
"TAKE the bloody boyand tell that-that FREAK Ministry of yours to put him up for adoption, or something because, WE DON'T WANT HIM!! I've listened to reason for far too long on this mattereither take him for good, or we throw him out!! We should have drowned him like a rat when he was left on his doorstepgood-for-nothing scab that he is!!"
Severus stood stiffly, listening in silent indignation (not that he would ever ADMIT to being offended for Potter's sake, mind you) to the boy's uncle. Poppy was not so used to hiding her feelings and looked like she was barely restraining herself from hexing Mr. Dursley into oblivion.
"It was you, wasn't it?!" she began furiously," YOU. All those times I'd seen him in the hospital and noticed things that couldn't possibly have been recent. YOU did it!!"
Vernon merely sneered and went an angry purple, but this seemed to confirm Poppy's suspicions. Severus watched in confused fascination as Poppy looked ready to hex Vernon into the next century.
"You VILE, DISGUSTING, ABUSIVE SCUM!! You DARE to harm a hair on your NEPHEW's head!! You don't even DESERVE the protection 'our kind' offers you for housing the boy!!"
Severus stood stock-still, trying to process what Poppy had said. 'ABUSE?! The Dursleys ABUSED their own NEPHEW?! Because of something he could not change?!' Even Severus found himself growing furious at Vernon Dursley. However, realizing that his anger would make him dangerous if he tried to talk to Dursley, Severus settled for finding the boy himself. With a nod to Poppy to tell her to watch his back, he murmured a Locater Charm and let it lead himto a cupboard. His heart beat pounded as he heard the almost-inaudable sound of pained, panicky breathing coming from behind the door. With a flick of his want, the cupboard door swung open and Severus nearly cried out at what he saw.
Potter was bent nearly in half, wedging himself against the far wall. His eyes, were scrunched shut, as if he were unused to the light. The boy's face was lined with deep, purpling cuts and nearly-black bruises. Judging by the state of the boy's clothes, he was obviously not wearing any that were made for him and, as a result, his arms and legs, sticking out of the sleeves and legs of the clothing, displayed a miriad of scars from self-inflicted and abuse related wounds. The boy seemed to be unaware of who Severus was as he was begging for mercy under his breath. Reaching for the trembling boy silently, Severus frowned in dismay when the boy flinched and shied away from his touch. However, Severus knew that he had to get the boy out of the cupboard, and so, grabbing the boy's other arm, he gently pulled him from the closet. Only when the prone figure of the boy was laying limply in Severus's arms did the man realize that he must have passed out in pain. Lifting the boy, he realized that the boy was far too light for his heightwhich he noticed was considerable, indeed. 'When did THAT happen?' Severus pushed aside his confusion as the boy's new height and ('new appearance as well? Is it possible to grow a new face?!') concentrated on getting the boy to safety.
Heading out the door, hearing Poppy follow close behind with the boy's belongings, ("she must have been getting them when I was getting Potter") Severus headed for the nearest FlooFigg's place.
*
Harry woke up in a cosy-looking room with stone wall, flickering torches, and and extremely comfortable couch, on which he was laying. He was faintly aware of whispers coming from behind him and he tried to sit up to see where he was. The movement however, was unwise and elicited a pained moan from him. This seemed to have the desired effect as the people who had been whispering about him passed into his line of vision. There was Professor DumbledoreMadam Pomphreyand Professor Snape?! Looking around wildly, Harry looked like he was struggling to speak. When he finally was able to manage speech, all he managed was, "Professors?Madam Pomphrey?Where? Why? How?! Remus, I've missed you!"
Everyone except Professor Snape smiled kindly at Harry, glad that he was feeling well enough to acknowledge his friend. Remus, smiling shyly, sat on the edge of the couch and looked at Harry seriously. "Harryyour uncle has been abusing you again". This was more of a statement than a question but Harry answered anyway.
"Yes, he hashe's gotten worse too. He's deemed me worthy of a wooden cane and small frying pans now," seeing the look of horror and fury on Remus's face, "but it's okay Remmy, really. No more than I deserve and I'm used to it nowreally. Don't worry".
Harry knew as soon as he began to protect his uncle's actions that it was a mistake as Remmy now looked close to tears, Albus was looking old and feeble, Madam Pomphrey looked pained and Professor Snape lookedworried?!
"Potterhow long has_this_been going on?" Snape looked stern, his face paler than usual and his voice strained.
Nervous that he might be revealing too much, Harry replied, "Uhwell, uh since I wasum, eleven sir. BUT IT'S NOT SO BAD! REALLY!" Harry was getting desperate as even his most-hated professor looked indignant on his behalf.
" 'NOT SO BAD' Potter?! You were nearly dead with exhaustion, not to mention under-nourished when we found you and all you can say is that it's NOT SO BAD?! I would be grateful if you did not insult your elders' intelligence with that pitiful excuse!" Snape sneered viciously.
Harry, his anger, frustration and annoyance that had been building up finally boiling over, exploded. "WHY the HELL do you PRETEND to care anyway?! I've been living with this for YEARS and not ONCE has anyone even askedeven PRETENDED to be interested, ever! You want to know WHY I didn't say anything?! HuH?! It's because nobody wanted to hear it!! Everyone was just FINE pretending that life was perfect for the sodding Boy-Who-Won't-Bloody-Well-Die!! You KNEW, Professor Dumbledore, you KNEW and did nothing, for years!! And you expect me to be grateful for your rescuing me now?! SO Sorry, YOUR LORDSHIPS, WHERE are my manners?! Thank you SO much!"
Everyone was taken aback by the pure venom and bitter sarcasm behind the words. Even Harry's scowl was unrivalled by Snape, the Master of Intimidation himself. Ignoring the choked sobs coming from Remus and the pleadind look of the Headmaster, Harry stormed out of the mysterious room in a fury.
When the door slammed, signifying Harry's departure, a teary-eyed Remus turned and grinned wryly at a thoroughly shocked Severus. "You saw it too, huh?"
"What?!" snapped Severus, shaking off his shock.
"Harry looked like you when he yelled at usalthough, I think he's even better than you at sneering, as disturbing as that is," Remus joked. Although Remus had merely been trying to lighten the mood by goading Snape into saying something, ANYTHING, he had no idea that that thought would haunt the man for several nights to come.
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So, whadda ya think? Sorry my Chaps are so short but, when the Sev/Harry Harry/Blaise and all the secrets/intrigue/angsty comedy gets underway I PROMISE they will be longeranyway, tell me what you think. Next Chap will be happier, I PROMISE. It will have a lot of Remus/Harry (father-figure/son) fluffit will make you go 'awww!' *lol*
SO, stay tuned for the next installment in which Harry tries to uncover his parentage with the help of Remus inChapter four: Sirius Questions