Pairings in this chapter: slight Snape/Remus
Disclaimer: Not mine. Not getting money. I wish.
Chapter 14: Their Tears Are Filling Up Their Glasses
"Today, Harry," Hayaka began as he entered the boy's room with fluttering white robes, "I want to talk about those nightmares you mentioned…"
Harry shrugged his shoulders, his body resting up against the headboard with one leg drawn to his chest. He was more alert that afternoon, though guarded as well. Hayaka took this all in with a pleasant smile. After all, it had taken quite a bit less time than he expected for Harry to open up at all.
"They're dreams," replied the green eyed boy. Hayaka settled himself in what was becoming his customary chair.
"Are there any that you'd like to talk about?"
"…Not really." The older man's sharp eyes noted how the boy's body curled more upon itself.
"Harry, I'm here to talk. I won't tell anyone."
Harry looked skeptical for a moment then turned his eyes away.
"…Promise?" he asked, voice quiet and young like a small boy.
Hayaka smiled encouragingly. "I promise."
The boy was still curled in on himself, both arms wrapped about his raised knee and head settled upon it. His emerald eyes held a guarded look, still suspicious but holding a slowly strengthening hope.
"Usually I'm in a room," the boy started quietly, nervous. "When I'm asleep, it's familiar, but I don't remember anything about it awake. Usually, I'm just laying on a bed and my body hurts."
"What happens in this room?" the doctor probed.
"A monster comes in," whispered Harry. Hayaka nodded him to continue. "It's got this big, purple face with a huge mustache…and little eyes…black and beady…"
"What does this monster do?" Hayaka asked softly. The boy looked away, shoulders shaking.
"…He hurts me…beats me…and then he…he…" Harry swallowed thickly. "I don't want to say it yet…"
"That's okay," the doctor assured him gently. "You don't have to say anything you don't want to."
The boy nodded and gave him a weak smile.
Snape nearly missed the quick way his Verifel companion made her rounds around the Manor. Rylia's normally 'no-nonsense' personality was quickly changing to one more quick to anger. She had lectured each of the boys no less than six times, and also he and Remus a few themselves. Any portrait that gave her lip was viciously belittled until their contents ran for the hills. A scowl had been put perpetually on her face as she went about her duties. Snape was almost used to it now, since the day of Hayaka's arrival.
"Don't you dare mess up that desk, Severus Snape!" Rylia snapped angrily before darting from the room. Snape sighed softly and dragged a hand down his face. Becoming used to something did not mean he particularly liked it.
"She's become quite a handful, no?"
Snape debated whether or not the gods hated him more than usual at the familiar voice.
"What is it, Lupin?"
"It's nice to see you as well, Severus," Remus said with a chuckle as he took a seat across from the other man. "How are you this afternoon? You've been locked away in this study for days now."
"I have school work to attend to," Snape muttered. Why the werewolf was always seeking him out, he didn't know. What he DID know was that it was getting harder and harder to ignore his more animalistic urges to ravage the man. Currently, the fantasy in his head was of throwing the pretty werewolf onto the desk and…Snape reached up to rub his temples.
Damn, it must have been years since he'd felt anything akin to lust for someone. He was out of practice in blocking it.
Across from him, Remus smiled softly. The changing scents of the other man amused him greatly. Severus was always a rush of activity it seemed. Always thinking, imagining, planning,…fantasizing. Remus idly wondered what a man like Severus Snape would dream of in the nights spent curled about himself…
Nope, Remus was not going to think about that. He would not think of Snape wrapped about another's body, moving in that oh so ancient dance of…Remus felt his cheeks turn pink and was glad that Snape's gaze was strictly on his work. 'I'm acting like a teenager,' Remus admonished himself, sighing softly.
"Why are you still here, Lupin?" The wolf almost winced at the scathing voice. With a sigh, he thought back to the grim reason and was quite loathed to speak of it, though he knew he must.
"The Aurors were finally able to piece together where the blood came from in the wreckage of the Dursleys' home," he said quietly. Ebony eyes glanced up from writing. "It was…Harry's…All of it…"
The pen stilled before being set down as Snape straightened.
"The muggles…?"
"They won't say anything…Not even after Arthur threatened to hex them…" Remus sighed softly and ran a hand through his long hair. "Severus, what did they do to him?"
"You didn't see him when Dumbledore brought him in," Snape murmured quietly, his eyes haunted and solemn. "Every inch of that boy was covered in bruises and cuts. There were sighs of… other abuse…Recent."
Remus covered his face with his hands. "Merlin…"
"It is little wonder why the boy cannot stand to be touched," continued Snape in an even more hushed voice, nearing a whisper. "Those muggles should be killed for doing that to a child…"
"There's more," the wolf whimpered. He reached into his robes and pulled out a small black book. Remus's eyes shined with tears as he handed it over. Opening the book, Snape frowned when he read the first page.
Death by Avada Kedavra: June 20th-4, June 27th-26, July 4th-53, July 11th-13...
"What is this…?" Snape gasped, looking over other pages. "Death by Cruciatus, Insanity by Cruciatus, Suicide by Imperius…"
"I checked the newspapers," Remus whispered. "They correspond perfectly with how many people died…Harry kept a weekly record of how many people died since school let out…"
"Why would he do this?" the other man murmured in horrified confusion.
"He thinks…thought…that they were his fault." Remus shivered and hugged his arms tightly. "Harry's believed all this time that…people died because of his inability to kill the Dark Lord."
Snape set the book down, jerking his fingers away as if it burned to touch it. He stared at it instead while Remus fought to recover himself.
"Every time I think I have the boy figured out, something like this happens," murmured Snape with the tone of an aged man. Remus solemnly nodded in agreement.
"Does he touch you, Harry?"
Ron's blue eyes went wide as the question was suddenly asked within the room. He pressed his ear harder against the door for the reply, his face pale and breath quick. The two had been in silence for so long that he'd been getting worried and-
"He beats me," replied Harry almost too quickly. His voice sounded on the edge of panic.
"I know that." Hayaka wanted the boy to continue, to let out everything. Ron swallowed thickly before he held his breath to hear the little shifts of the two occupants behind the door. He could almost hear Harry's breathing quicken to near hyperventilation.
"That's all!" Harry cried as if Hayaka had accused him of there being more. Ron shut his eyes tight. He heard the doctor murmur something, but he couldn't understand it. Harry's voice rang out again, panicked and high pitched. "NO NO NO NO! I don't wanna think of it! I don't wanna remember it! NO!"
"Calm down!" Hayaka said in a calm but stern voice. The sounds of Harry's whimpering broken Ron's heart.
"No, don't…don't…" His voice was getting weaker, broken by sobs. "No, not again…don't do it again…"
Ron jerked up and grabbed the knob, opening the door with a slam. He stared at the sighed of his friend clutching Hayaka's robes rightly, eyes wide and face pale as tears trailed down his face. Those eyes…Ron swallowed again at the sight of them. So haunted…So terrified. Harry's voice moaned over and over, "No no no no…"
Hayaka himself had the boy wrapped in his arms, his face tired and worried. The pale eyes slowly turned onto Ron, regretful but not angry.
"Please fetch Severus and Remus," he murmured. "I must speak with them."
Ron nodded and backed out of the room. He turned and ran as if for dear life.
A/N: Eh...not much for today...Sorry for the cliffy...
I've decided that this fic will only be as long as there are lyrics, so expect 10 more chapters before FOllies is over. It WILL have a sequal with another song. Follies is only about Harry's time at the Manor without his memory. The next story will be the return to Hogwarts.
Merph. Question: Since this story will be a serious of fics with meaningful songs, should I rename "Phoenix Follies" to "Mad World" and use the song names for the sequals?
Doesn't matter much to me. Titles often loose their meanings.
Last note: I know Hayaka doesn't act like a normal shrink (both my grandparents are shrinks, so I know). He's just himself.
The cat is outta the bag, next chapter! Bye for now!