WARNING: This story is R for a REASON! It is NOT NC-17, as I have read much, /much/ worse that was permitted, so I have abused nothing! Rated for violence, serious angst (later on), and rape. If you have a problem with it, go read something else because I didn't write it just to be safe. It's written because it's how and what I write. So buzz off. :{
(and if my mean attitude offends, I do apologize but I'm sorta protective of my work.)
Chapter 4 – Unhappy Start
Next day, all the other First Year boys kept asking where he had been the night before. After the sixth Question & Answer session Harry got irritated and cursed the next boy's mouth shut.
Five minutes later Ron tapped him on the shoulder.
"Um, Harry? We can't un-hex him."
"Oh, for-" muttered Harry impatiently. "Finite Incantatem!" Seamus' mouth popped open and all the boys turned to stare at Harry.
"What?" he asked defensively. No one said anything so he shrugged, dressed, picked up his wand (A/N: Hint!) and walked down to the common room.
"Hello Harry," greeted a redheaded twin. "Coming to breakfast?"
"Yes. Where's George?"
"I'm George!"
"No you aren't. George blinks faster than you do when you talk to people." Fred gave a whistle.
"Wow Harry. Hey, you wanna come down with us? We won't curse you, we promise." Harry ducked and a spell hit Fred in the stomach. "Oi, George! Watch your aim!" bellowed the youth. The common room stopped to watch and everyone began to snigger uncontrollably as Fred sprouted a donkey's tail. While the boy was still bent over, Harry patted him on the head (he couldn't reach otherwise; the Dursley's rations had deprived him of growth, so he was about as tall as your average six- or eight-year-old even though he's eleven – don't ask; I just like having a short Harry).
"Better luck next time!" he announced cheerfully, and ran for the Great Hall before the twins could retaliate.
*
"I'm telling you! He just waved a hand, said the spell, and uncursed him! Wandless! It's not natural. We haven't learned anything yet!" Ron was gesticulating wildly to the twins, who had related their own encounters (Fred was on his way to the Hospital Wing), about Harry's cursing and uncursing Seamus that morning.
"Frankly Ron," said George, looking at Fred.
"We find it sort of-"
"Cool!" finished George, and they left. Ron gaped before shaking his head tiredly and dashing off to breakfast. He didn't notice a black-haired Slytherin First Year slipping away as he did so.
*
Harry's first class was Transfiguration. This was his first formal magical education, so he wanted to arrive early. Instead, he found himself ten minutes late because the Slytherin Prefect had given him the wrong directions. He cautiously creaked the classroom door open as the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff First Years turned to watch.
"I-is this the Transfiguration classroom?" he asked in embarrassment.
"Yes, and you're late, Mr. Potter," snapped McGonagall from behind the door. She seemed………different somehow; Harry couldn't really put his finger on it, but was too distracted by her scolding that he didn't bother to pursue the change. "I advise you not to do it again, understood?" Harry nodded and said nothing about 'unfairness'. Severus didn't tolerate excuses, and the Dursleys were even worse. No excuse was worth a reprimand or beating; even if the lack of argument sometimes led to more trouble. His teacher frowned at his silence, but motioned for him to take a seat. The one next to Hermione was empty, so he slid in as she gave him a disapproving look. McGonagall nodded curtly and walked to the front of the room.
"You missed my introduction Potter, so catch up later.
"Now, we shall begin by Transfiguring porcupine quills into pins." Harry looked up in surprise. That was it?! He'd done /that/ years ago! "Startled at starting from the bottom, Potter?" the teacher asked as she handed out quills. "Well, that is where everyone starts you know. I will not make exceptions."
"Yes, but-"
"Be quiet and Transfigure your quills, Mr. Potter!" she snapped. Harry sighed and waved his hand before settling down to wait. He soon grew bored and started looking about the classroom. No one had done half so well as he, and Hermione seemed furious at his ease.
By the end of class, Hermione's quills had gone all pointy and Harry's were flawlessly perfect. McGonagall said nothing, but did glare at him suspiciously. Harry slumped, bored to tears, and near ran out of the room for his next class, Herbology. This session proved to be more interesting. Although he had read and studied as much as for any other subject, he hadn't gotten much chance for hands-on work. After the class was complete, he decided that, though it was cool in its own way, he didn't care much for plants. However, he had still found it far easier than expected; knowing every answer practically before Professor Sprout completed the question.
Harry had lunch; no one sat next to him. The twins were still off in the Infirmary and it seemed the other First Years shunned him. Strangely enough, Hermione followed their lead (though they ignored her too) and burrowed into a book at the opposite end of the table. After lunch was Potions, and Harry got lost again, arriving just after Snape.
"Detention, Mr. Potter," said his friend silkily. Harry paused, hurt, before remembering their conversation. He nodded and moved to an empty and isolated desk.
By the end of class, Harry's potion was perfect, he was surprised at Snape's bigotry, and he hadn't taken any notes. He had, however, correctly answered every question and turned all Slytherin and Gryffindor First Years effectively against him. His detention was scheduled for that night, so he was left to wander on his own devices for the rest of the day because DADA was cancelled (the teacher hadn't arrived yet). So Harry grabbed a spellbook and headed off to a dungeon to practice spells on the unoffending wall; releasing the morning's frustrations with curses and magic. School wasn't supposed to be this easy! Merlin, he was here to learn, not die of boredom!
It took a while, but he finally calmed down, pocketed his wand, and walked out.
Into a fist.
Harry looked up to see the only other black-haired first year (Dean Thomas' was dark brown), Blaise Zabini, Crabbe, and Goyle standing over him. He felt at his split lip.
"Nice to see you too," he muttered. Hmm………no teacher in sight. "Where's Draco Malfoy?" he asked with an arched eyebrow. Blaise motioned to him with his head and Goyle obediently hauled Harry up by the collar.
"Dunno, but it's none of your business." Blaise had Goyle puch him. Harry looked at them emotionlessly.
"I could hex you right now," said Harry; not boasting, but stating a fact. "But I won't. Go ahead, I don't mind." He held out his arms to make a better target. Blaise looked him over in confusion and scorn.
"Very well, Know-It-All. Crabbe, Goyle," he motioned and his cronies moved in.
*
Severus didn't look up as Harry walked in that night, but growled out, "Close the door, Potter," and placed a Silencing Charm on the room. He then rose and walked over to Harry, still reading a Fifth Year student's summer essay. He finished and found himself gazing down upon Harry's bowed head.
"You had something to discuss, Severus?" asked Harry, voice muffled. Severus was confused, but maybe Harry was just mad at him for last night.
"Yes. There's something I haven't told you." He took a breath. "I used to be a Death Eater, but turned spy for Dumbledore-" Snape stopped in surprise as Harry lifted his head in startlement. Harry's face was sprouting a bruise on his cheekbone and a bloody lip. His glasses were missing from his face, and the front of his robes were crumpled as though they had been twisted. Severus lifted Harry's chin angrily to inspect the split lip.
"Who did this?" he demanded. Harry sighed and looked anywhere but Severus.
"I fell down the stairs. I'll stop at the Hospital Wing later."
"Nonsense. The stairs didn't punch you, and you are far from clumsy. /Who did it/?" Snape hissed. Harry jerked away.
"No one! No one touched me, and no one hit me! It was my own fault, and I fell sir." Snape winced at the title as Harry drew breath. "My fault. Now, you were saying?" The professor sighed and continued.
"Because I used to be a Death Eater, I must keep my connection with the others. Many of their children attend this school, and if they discovered that I favored the very downfall of the Dark Lord when he's not even Slytherin, well, suffice to say that things won't go very well for me. Or you."
"All right Severus. But could I still visit sometimes?"
"Certainly. If you ever need to talk, just drop your supplies by 'accident' during my class and I'll give you a detention." Harry smiled at the irony. "Now," continued Severus, "you go to the Hospital Wing. I don't need you injured. My life is complicated enough as is." Harry nodded respectfully and left. Snape waited until he was gone before stalking off to find out who exactly had been bullying his protégé.
*
Harry walked reluctantly into MP's office. For a moment he stood uncertainly in the doorway; then a plump witch appeared, calling back over her shoulder, "Now if you would stop trying /so many/ dangerous ventures – oh, hello, dear. Oh my!" she gasped as she spotted Harry's face. "What on earth happened?" She bent to examine his lip.
"I fell down the dungeon stairs." The nurse pursed her lips and glared furiously.
"I refuse to buy that. I don't take well to students putting others in my care. What happened?"
"I fell down the-"
"Harry?" It was Fred, now tail-less, appearing behind MP. "Blimey, what happened to you?"
"I fell down the stairs. Give me a minute; I need to repair my glasses." He held up the shattered frames as proof and quickly fixed them. After putting them on, he sighed in relief. "Good, now I can see you. And I fell down the stairs," he added stubbornly as MP opened her mouth again. She frowned at him.
"Very well. Fred, you may leave. Now dear, what did you say your name was?"
"I didn't, but I'm Harry. Harry Potter." She gasped and dropped her wand. Harry bent to pick it up, wincing as he did so. Her sharp eyes caught his expression and she tugged his shirt up before he could stop her. She hissed in shock, and Fred turned back to look at Harry; his eyes widening as he saw the bruises Harry was hurriedly covering again.
"That's it," she snapped, "you're staying the night." Harry opened his mouth to protest, so she threw in a new threat. "And if you do not do as I say, you'll be here tomorrow too." Harry sighed resignedly as Fred slipped out the door behind him.
*
"-and now he has to stay the night," finished Fred. George's eyes narrowed.
"He obviously won't say anything, so we'll have to find out what's going on ourselves." Just then, Ron entered the common room and made a beeline for the other First Years. Fred and George looked at each other and followed after their younger brother.
"Potter's in the Hospital Wing. Whole night," Ron began.
"Why?" asked First Year Jedd Hurst, who was in the second First Year Boy's Dormitory.
"Maybe someone gave him a papercut," said Amelia Banton nastily. Everyone laughed – Fred and George looked murderous.
"Nope," grinned Ron. "Apparently someone beat him up. /He/ said he fell down the stairs."
"I guess someone didn't like His Snobbishness." Titters.
"Wish we could thank them," said Dean Thomas thoughtfully.
"Well, now who's gone Slytherin?" asked Fred angrily. The students jumped and regarded the duo with unabashed surprise.
"Why do /you/ care?" asked Hermione.
"Why don't you?" George shot back.
"Because he's stuck-up!" yelled Ron.
"He's not stuck up; you pricks are!" snarled Fred. "Poor kid doesn't even know he's advanced! And here /you/ lot are; making fun of him like a bunch of Slytherins! I thought there was a /reason/ people were picked to be Gryffindor, but maybe you just got in on pure LUCK! So leave him alone; George and I won't have it!"
"Next time we hear something like this, someone'll be hexed and experimented on for the rest of the year!" growled George. The twins stalked off as the First Years turned to Ron. He glared back.
"What? I can't control them!"
"Well, let's observe Potter," decided Hermione. "When we have proof to give Fred and George maybe they won't be so quick to defend him. Everyone agreed. No one would talk to him, but watch him and avoid insults until they had ammunition against the twins.
*
MP had put Harry to bed after giving him a Heal-All Potion which was commonly used to treat minor injuries. She gazed at him; brow knit with worry. Finally she rose, went to her fireplace, and threw in some floo powder. She had to speak with Dumbledore.
As she strode out of the fireplace, Dumbledore looked up from his papers. His wizened face crinkled into a smile through the long beard, and MP found herself smiling back.
"Hello Poppy. This is an unexpected surprise; what can I do for you?" Poppy Pomfrey lost her smile as she recalled her mission.
"Headmaster, I have in my ward one Harry Potter, who came to me with a bruised and bloody face. I managed to pull up his shirt, and he was absolutely /covered/ in bruises. I didn't get a chance to look over the rest of him, but gave him a Heal-All and put him to sleep."
"The boy's story?"
"He says he fell down the stairs, but some of those bruises were /old/, and I know that stairs cannot inflict that much damage! Especially the dungeon stairs." Dumbledore kept smiling.
"Well, keep me posted and don't pester Mr. Potter so. I'm sure he will not like it." Pomfrey nodded to him and left.
Dumbledore popped a lemon drop into his mouth, thought for a bit, and shrugged before going to bed.
~
A/N: How was the chapter? I'll try and update more often, but typing the story after it's written down is BORING no offense. Any way, I'd be happy to hear any suggestions you have, as there are parts that I could change, but please don't flame me. I'm not totally sure that I would appreciate a sarcastic attack.
Hmmm, lessee………if anyone is really good at doing sarcastic remarks for Severus Snape, please tell me, because I have another story (not posted yet) that needs his biting wit. Unfortunately, I am woefully inadequate for the task, so I'd appreciate help. That about covers it. Have a good summer! ;)
