Coming Clean

By

Snivellus

Thanks to my reviewers. And thanks for pointing out that my title was spelled wrong. I hate not having spell check on the Internet.

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Chapter 4

"Mr. Potter, are you awake?" He asked sharply. Harry rolled over and opened his eyes.

"Yes sir."

"Good, how do you feel?" He felt like he could hardly move, but didn't want to show his weakness, but then he thought that last night was probably the weakest he had ever been.

"Fine."

"Fine, sir." He corrected. If Harry were to be in his house, than he would respect the people in it.

"Fine, sir." Harry replied. Now this was more like the Snape he knew.

"No you're not fine, have you learned nothing from our private lessons last year?"

"No, sir." Harry replied annoyed. Severus wondered why he had given in so quickly.

"Here are some clothes for you, I had to toss your old ones, when was the last time those relatives of yours bought you new clothes?" He questioned.

"Never."

"Never, sir." He corrected again.

"What do you mean never, you obviously had clothes." Severus asked again.

"Those were my cousin's old clothes, sir."

"Your cousin is twice the size of you, Mr. Potter."

"My aunt doesn't want to spend the money, sir."

"I shall discuss the matter with Albus, in the meantime, I hope these work." He said as he handed them to Harry.

"Do you feel well enough to eat breakfast?" Harry wasn't sure. He still felt dizzy from the amount of blood that he had lost the night before.

"I suppose, sir."

"I think that it would be best. Is toast suitable?" Severus asked.

"Yes." Harry answered, hoping that he could stomach it.

"Yes, sir." Severus corrected.

"You don't give up do you, sir?" Harry asked.

"Constant vigilance, you should know that Potter."

"Of course, sir." Harry wanted to ask him who he was talking to earlier, but decided that it would be best not to bring it up.

Severus turned to leave, but saw the boy struggling to put his shirt on that he had given him. Severus knew that he was still very weak from the blood loss. He had to push aside his ego once again, and show some kindness.

"Here, let me help you, you obviously are in no state to do it for yourself." Severus said, grabbing the shirt from the boy. Severus sat on the bed carefully moving Harry so that his back was supported by his left hand. He drew up the shirt and placed it over the boy's head, until it sufficiently settled into the correct place. He then held out the sleeves so Harry could push his arms through.

Harry was a little shocked, Snape helping him? And to top it all of he was doing a good job of it too. Harry started to think that maybe he had done this before. He couldn't possibly picture his mean old Potion's professor to be skilled at dressing a child.

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Severus brought Harry a food tray, and left it lying over him. Eowyn had made breakfast for them all, but Harry was to eat alone in his room.

"Potter, here is some toast. As unappetizing as it sounds, you need to eat some."

"Yes, sir."

"The Headmaster is coming back to check on you this morning, so expect him in an hour or so." Severus informed him.

"Oh, coming back? Was he here before?" Harry asked.

"Yes, last night, when ... well nevermind."

"Sir? How did you know what I had done?" Severus looked at Harry. He wasn't sure how to answer.

"I felt it." He said looking away from the boy's eyes, who reminded him so much of Lilly.

"What do you mean, sir?"

"I can sense danger. I felt the knife cut through my skin, as well as your own." He said simply.

"Oh, I am sorry if I caused you pain." Harry said quietly.

"Potter... I know that you think that you have caused Black's death."

"What, I..."

"Just stop. Let's try and act like adults just for one minute. First, you had good intentions. Second, Black got himself in trouble. Third, you proved to the ministry that the Dark Lord is back." Severus said matter-of-factly.

"You really think that, even though you never told me?"

"Why would I go round telling you that, Potter? Do you picture me as that type of person Potter?"

"I don't know what I think of you anymore. One minute you're an asshole, the next you are perfectly decent." Harry said angrily.

"Watch your language, boy!" Severus said frustrated, knowing that this would be the result of Harry staying in his house.

"Sorry... sir." Harry said sarcastically.

Severus was about to reply, when Albus Dumbledore placed a hand on his shoulder, and stopped him.

"Thank you, Severus. I will talk to you in a few minutes. Please wait outside." Dumbledore said politely. Severus's eyes were glaring at Harry.

"Of course, Headmaster." Severus managed to bite out.

"Harry, I need to speak with you." The Headmaster said, looking into Harry's green eyes. Harry hated it when he saw the disappointment in Dumbledore's eyes.

"Yes, sir."

"I do not blame you for what occurred last night, in fact I blame myself." Albus said in a tired voice.

"It wasn't your fault, sir."

"Yes, Harry it was, I thought you would actively seek help, if you needed it. Instead you kept it all in, causing more damage to yourself."

"And who would you have me talk to? Mrs. Weasly, Professor Lupin? They don't understand. No one can possibly understand what I am going through. I don't want to be famous, I don't want to have to vanquish Voldermort. I don't want any of it." Harry said choking on his tears. Albus took his hands, and wrapped Harry in his embrace, but he fought it.

"No! You did this, you and your stupid prophecy!" Harry said angrily. Albus did not know how to respond, so he chose to take another path.
"Harry, you might be surprised to know that more people that you know, have something that they can relate to you, on more than one occasion."

"Like who?"

"Like, Remus, Molly, Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape." Harry scoffed, the last person in the world that could relate to him was Snape!

"You must be kidding, Snape? He has no idea of my troubles."

"Professor Snape, Harry. And yes he does."

"Did you know that Professor McGonagall lost her husband in the war, and Molly, she lost a brother. You once asked me why I trust Severus, well there are things about him you do not know, and are about to find out. I realize that it is difficult growing up with all of this pressure, but I assure you, you have support if you need it." Albus said getting up off the bed.

"Sir, I am sorry, I just get so angry and frustrated sometimes."

"I know Harry, you remind me of someone else I know, when he was your age."
"Who?"
"Your father." Harry looked at Albus, and then reached out and hugged him. For the first time this year, he felt a little lighter.
"I have to go talk to Professor Snape now, remember, if you need to talk to someone, try talking to him, he may surprise you." Albus winked, and walked out of the room.