Suffering Chapter 3: Discussions With Dumbledore
Disclaimer: Ok, class, now who here thinks I could've written the absolutely brilliant Harry Potter books?
(Silence)
What? You don't think I'm an amazing genius?
(More silence)
Well, you're right!
Review responses: Again, thank you to all my wonderful reviewers!
Katani Petitedra: Another reader? Yes! Don't worry, this story will be non-slash.
Amber 16: I'm blushing! You people are so nice to me! Anyway, I've decided there will be no slash in this particular story. I'm a H/Hr fan myself, but I'm considering H/G.
Saf-Saf: Thank you so much!
Ckat44: I won't do slash in this story, don't worry. I'm just considering cutting but I will have to see what happens with this story. I really have no say, I am just being used to type the words.
PadfootsNoxed: Another reader! I'm so excited! Thanks for the encouragement! People like you keep this story going.
A/N: I'm sorry! I'm sorry this took so long! This chapter has been written forever, but I haven't had time to type it! I'm so sorry, but I've had, like 3 Chemistry tests in the last month and I have been getting, on average, 4 hours of sleep a night what with homework and getting up at 4:30 every other day. Plus, any spare time has been used practicing for upcoming instrumental auditions for my school band chair placement and for All State Honor Band.Believe me when I say I am a huge band geek. Once those things die down (like next week), I will hopefully be able to update more. Okay, I have decided that this story will not have slash because right now the majority of reviewers have said no slash. Don't worry, all you slash ralliers, I WILL write a slash story once I get to be a better writer. Also coming soon is a one-shot songfic to Brad Paisley's "Celebrity"- it's all about Harry going insane and becoming the big-headed, arrogant jerk Snape's always accused him of being.
Okay, I realize this story's been pretty generic so far, but it will get more personalized as the story goes on- I promise!
I'm reminding you guys now to review-pleeeeease! It's what keeps this story going. I think I've fixed it so non Fanfiction.Net members can review as well.
Anyway, here's Chapter 3!!!
***********************************************************************
Severus Snape arrived just outside the village of Hogsmeade with a small pop, Potter's owl still on his shoulder, the limp, bleeding form still in his arms. The boy was getting paler by the minute. Severus began running up to the front gates of Hogwarts, the owl quickly taking flight. He knew nobody would believe their eyes if they saw him. The Potions Master's normal bat-like appearance had been abandoned and he was scrambling up the muddy hill, panting and clutching an unconscious teenage boy. Not just any teenager, either. Potter- the bane of his existence.
Reaching the gates, Snape shouldered his way through them and continued across the grounds, never slowing his pace, not caring that the boy's blood was drenching the front of his robes. He reached the front doors and burst inside the castle at a sprint. He passed a very-shocked looking Minerva McGonagall on the marble staircase in the Entrance Hall, but didn't begin to slow down until he reached the hospital wing.
"Poppy!" he bellowed kicking the door open, gasping for breath. "POPPY!"
The Mediwitch came out of her quarters adjoining the wing, wearing a dressing gown and rubbing her eyes. "What is it, Severus?" she asked irritably. "Have you any idea what time it-" she stopped mid sentence, spotting Potter. "Good gracious," she whispered, "what-?"
"Heal now, questions later, if you will, Poppy," Severus cut her off quickly. "He's bleeding quite a lot."
The witch immediately went into professional mode. She cleared away the blood that was covering Potter with a sweep of her wand and rolled back the sleeves of her dressing gown. "Oh, my," she said, staring at the deep throbbing wound in wound in the boy's side.
"Severus," she said, ripping away what was left of the boy's shirt, pushing her hands into his side to stem the blood flow, "I'll need a Blood Replenishing Potion."
Normally, the impatient Potions Master would've coldly told the woman he did not appreciate being ordered about, but the situation at hand was far from normal, and he hurried over to the Mediwitch's supply cupboards. He groaned when he opened them. There were at least a dozen unlabeled potions.
He impatiently drew out his wand and cried, "Accio Blood Replenishing Potion!". At once, a vial filled with translucent purple liquid flew to his outstretched hand from the jumble. Checking it did, indeed, match the characteristics of a Blood Replenishing Potion, he sped back over to the Hogwarts nurse.
"He's lost a great deal of blood," she said, now bandaging his wound, gauze flying from the tip of her wand like a long, white ribbon. Looking down at the boy, Severus was hit with the full extent of his injuries. He saw, for the first time, that Potter's left eye was nearly swollen shut and his face a mass of bruises The enormous gash in his stomach was very visible now, and he was getting paler by the second.
Severus stared in shock as he silently uncorked the vial and poured it down the boy's throat. "How is he still alive?".
Poppy looked quite as bemused as Severus felt. "I don't know," she said as she at last sealed his bandages magically. "He's always been a fast healer and had high resistance to pain, because he's got so much magical energy in his blood. "But to have survived with a wound this deep for as long as he did- I'm guessing at least 5 hours- there must be an incredible amount of magic in his system."
"Now," she continued briskly, "since we've handled all the immediate procedures, I'm going to need an hour and a half alone to take care of him."
"Fine. I need a word with Albus. Is he here?" the Potions Master was back to his cold, irritable self.
"In his office, as far as I know," replied Pomfrey brusquely. "Now OUT!"
Fearing that the Mediwitch might curse him, Snape hastily exited the hospital wing.
Now that Potter was in Poppy's capable hands, Severus allowed himself to process what had happened in the last hour and a half. He couldn't believe he has just rescued Potter from his own house. His sense of urgency now faded and was replaced by shock. The events of the morning flew around his head in rapid succession. Potter's owl, covered in blood, practically attacking him in the middle of London, then finding Potter locked in a cupboard, just clinging to life. His numb shock was quickly replaced by anger. Why had Potter been locked in a cupboard? Why hadn't Albus known? Albus. He had to go talk to Albus.
His feet carried him to the Headmaster's office before he knew what he was going to say to the man. Suddenly he was staring at the stone gargoyle flanking the entrance to Dumbledore's office.
"Sugar Quill," said Severus shortly. Albus really needed to get off the sweets passwords, The stone gargoyle jumped off to the side. The Potions Master stepped onto the revolving staircase.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He didn't know how the boy had been hurt, but there was a limited number of ways, none of which Snape wanted to think about. Of course, the most probable and definitely most unpleasant idea was that Potter had suffered this fate at the hands of his relatives. However, the idea of the pampered Potter being abandoned and abused didn't fit the picture he'd always drawn of the boy in his mind.
Of course, the more the shrewd Potions Master considered the thought, the more blaringly obvious the warning signs seemed. The boy was always painfully thin and tired-looking when he returned to Hogwarts from summer holiday, but would return to full health within a couple of days. He always signed up to stay at Hogwarts during Christmas and Easter holidays, and never looked happy, as the other students did, at the end of the year. In fact, Severus had overheard Minerva McGonagall and Albus talking. It seemed that Potter had asked to stay for the summer term, and had done so every year. More to the point, the boy always seemed to flinch when he was shouted at, and though his short fuse had occasionally blown, he rarely did anything to merit the punishments Severus had given him merely for being the son of James Potter.
And- another thought had suddenly struck the man- when he had given the child Occlumency lessons, hadn't he expected to see parties and presents and friends, and nothing but a head full of happy memories? Hadn't he instead seen a neglectful family, a bullying cousin, and a sad little boy? It seemed, that Severus Snape, for one of those rare times in his life, had misjudged a person.
And, as he thought of the Occlumency lessons, a very guilty thought struck him- hadn't he noted the sheer terror in the boy's eyes when he had taken him from the Pensieve? When he had angrily thrown Potter to the floor, and began throwing things at him, hadn't he wondered later about the speed with which the teen hurried from the room? The Slytherin began to stir angrily. They had all been blind. They hadn't wanted to see. Shouldn't he, Severus, have done something, having been rescued from a position parallel to Potter's not so long ago?
A sudden grinding noise disrupted these very disturbing thoughts and he realized the staircase had stopped moving. Severus took a deep breath, fighting the anger rising in his chest, and knocked on the door. A moment later, the face of Albus Dumbledore appeared.
"Severus!" he said, blue eyes twinkling benignly. "What a pleasant surprise! Just back from the Order meeting?"
"Not quite," replied the Potions Master. Seeing Dumbledore's smile flicker slightly, he elaborated: "I had to make a slight detour. Let's step inside your office and I'll explain."
Dumbledore nodded and stepped inside, his expression one of mild curiosity. "Yes, of course. Come inside, please. I must tell you, I haven't refurbished my office since Mr. Potter and I had that chat a couple of weeks ago."
Snape just nodded and stepped over the threshold. There was a moment of silence as he took a chair in front of the Headmaster's desk, his dark eyes glittering as he observed the many empty tables on which whimsical, silvery instruments had once stood.
"Of course," said the older man, "it would be very easy to simply repair everything, but I rather prefer my office this way. I never really needed any of those things that Mr. Potter smashed." The twinkle in the man's eyes seemed to dim.
Severus, of course, knew all about Harry's little eruption, but when he had heard about it he had snorted. Trust the Boy-Who-Lived to have a temper tantrum that resulted in dozens of Galleons of damage.
The Slytherin tiredly rubbed his eyes and Dumbledore looked at him in a gesture that was all too familiar, his penetrating blue eyes shrewd and calculating. After another minute's silence, Albus finally said, " I assume there is something you want to say? I can otherwise certainly think of a more convenient time to hold a staring contest."
"Of course, Albus. I am just. collecting myself. It's been a long day."
"What is this?" chuckled Albus. "The great Professor Snape, feared by all of the Hogwarts student body, showing signs of weariness?"
The younger man did not smile. He was not in the mood for Albus's antics.
"Albus," he finally said, "this morning, after the Order meeting, a certain owl caught my eye. This owl was quite insistent, and I found myself thinking, 'Now who would be writing to the Order who owns a snowy owl?'"
"Mr. Potter," said Albus quietly.
" I did indeed realize that it was Potter's owl. The bird would not leave me alone, until I realized that there was a copious amount of blood on the animal. It occurred to me that perhaps the bird wanted me to go to her master's aid. That in mind, I Apparated to the boy's house, and have you any idea what I found?" It was very hard work for Severus to keep his voice level at this point.
Albus simply shook his head, concern beginning to show on his features. Suddenly Severus found he could no longer take it.
" I found," he began, "Potter locked in a bloody cupboard. And you know what else?" The man's voice was rising, obsidian eyes dangerously angry. "He was bleeding. Bleeding everywhere. He almost died, Dumbledore. At this very moment, Poppy Pomfrey is doing her best to repair the damage that was caused by our bad decisions."
The headmaster, throughout Severus's incredibly rare emotional outburst, remained calm, though those damned eyes lost any sign of a glimmer. "But Harry is alright."
" I don't know, damn it!" he cried. "Had I been unfortunate enough to arrive in that house five minutes later, there would have been no saving the boy! It a miracle he survived. So yes, he's alive, no thanks to the Order."
"Severus." the older man began in a warning tone.
"Albus, do not give me your 'calm down' voice!" cried the Slytherin. "I HAVE NOT EVEN BEGUN BEING ANGRY! IF YOU REALLY WANT TO SEE ME RILED, ASK ME HOW I THINK THE BOY SUSTAINED THOSE INJURIES! GO ON! ASK!" The headmaster was met with a death glare.
"Very well," said Albus cautiously. "How did he sustain those injuries?"
For a moment, the younger man was taken aback by the headmaster's apparent attempt to humor him, but his confusion was short-lived and he immediately felt a new surge of rage at the man's attempt to make light of the subject. "HIS UNCLE! HIS BLOODY UNCLE!" breathing deeply, he continued with forced calm, "Now, of course, I do not know this for sure, but there are very few possibilities and this is the most likely scenario. So, in case you haven't grasped this yet, you left a young boy with a sadistic child abuser. And there's plenty of evidence that this was by no means an isolated incident."
Dumbledore opened his mouth to speak, but Snape cut him off, saying, "You already know my views on this topic, Headmaster. I'm going to see how Poppy is coming along with him. I'm sure you'll want to let the Order know, and someone will have to retrieve his things from that place."
With those words, Severus Snape did something he had never done before: he walked out of a room in the middle of a conversation with Albus Dumbledore.
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When Severus reached the hospital wing, he opened the door to see Poppy Pomfrey bending over the small form lying inept in the bed, still wearing her dressing gown and looking very exhausted.
"Severus," she said, looking up. "You're back. I've just finished with him. I won't be able to fully heal that gash in his stomach for some time now, he's too weak right now. He broke his left leg in 3 different places, all the way up to his femur, but I can't fix that when his energy reserves are this low. It'll have to be in a Muggle cast until it is partially healed."
The potions master just nodded. The nurse fidgeted for a moment before saying, "Severus, have you any idea what caused these injuries?"
He glowered and said, "I've got a pretty good idea," rather maliciously. "I was rather hoping you would disprove my speculation."
"Yes, well.this wound in his stomach is definitely a stab wound, and that's a disturbing thought."
"Do you have any way of figuring out what it was he was stabbed with?"
"I'm afraid not."
The dark-eyed man nodded. "What were his other injuries?" he inquired.
"Well, it was really quite alarming. He had 4 broken ribs, a concussion, severe bruising, as well as some infected cuts, and he hasn't eaten much of anything in the last 3 months. Also, there were some.interesting marks."
"Show me."
The Healer protested. "Now, wait a minute, Severus." she began.
"Just show me," he growled menacingly.
The woman sighed and nodded. "Show me what you make of this," she said, pulling back the boys sheets, which had been up to his chin.
There were bandages wrapped around his stomach, but the boy's chest was bare. Snape couldn't help himself. He gasped and looked away, feeling sick. He hadn't seen those marks earlier. The boy's chest was covered with throbbing red welts, gashes, and scars.
"Damned Muggles."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Poppy Pomfrey had seen many things in her years of service to Hogwarts, and she had saw Potter more in one year that she usually saw students in there entire schooling at Hogwarts, but never before had she seen a student as badly injured as Potter was. There had been several worry- filled moments when she hadn't been certain the boy would live.
Apparently, the morning was to be full of surprises, because Severus Snape was actually acting human. He had helped her with no complaint, and had showed real, almost parental concern.
Now the cold, heartless, feared-by-all potions master was sitting there by the boy's bedside, looking for all the world like an anxious father. His anger at the marks she had found on his back had been quite alarming indeed. At the present time, his head was buried in his hands, and he was muttering to himself.
Even though this sight was one so different from the man who installed fear in the hearts of staff and student alike, Poppy couldn't trust him. She had told him the extent of the boy's injuries, but she wasn't going to let him know anything else. She was going to keep a very close watch on that man for a while. He had been a Death Eater, after all.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Albus Dumbledore was a very unsettled man. Following his talk with Severus, he had written a letter to the general Order.
Alastor, Remus, Nymphadora, Arthur, and Molly,
Harry is safe at Hogwarts. An emergency came up and he had to be removed from his aunt and uncle's sooner than expected. Don't worry if he doesn't write to you for a few days, I assure you he is safe.
Albus Dumbledore
He also wrote a letter to Harry's two best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.
Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger,
I am sure you are both very concerned about Harry. He is safe at
Hogwarts. I will let you both know when you'll be able to see him. You
may feel free to owl him at Hogwarts at any time.
Albus Dumbledore
After he had sent these two letters out the window of his office with his own owl, he sat back down at his desk and closed his eyes, resting his head in his weathered hands. After sitting like that for a full minute, he stood up again. He crossed his office and opened a cabinet in the corner of the room. He pulled out the Pensieve that Harry himself had seen into over a year and a half ago.
He put his wand to his temple and pulled away a shining strand of thought. He added the strand to the silver substance already in the bowl and gave it a prod with his wand. The form of a fifteen-year-old boy rose slowly out of the bowl, revolving and speaking loudly.
"Professor Dumbledore, I cannot go back there. I can't and I won't I'll stay at Hogwarts, I'll go to Order Headquarters, I don't care, just don't send me back to that awful house."
"But," Albus whispered, recalling the conversation all too clearly, "you must see, Harry, that it is safer for you at your aunt and uncle's.
"Sir," the silvery teenager said angrily, stressing the single syllable, I don't care. I can't go back there." Then the silver figure melted back into the pool of thought.
"Harry," said Albus mournfully, "why didn't you tell anyone?"
Had anyone been watching, they would have seen a tear trickling down the aged headmaster's face, something only witnessed twice before.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N: Sorry, I had to end it there or this chapter would've been about thirty pages. But, I assure you, chapter four is already written, just needs to be typed, and five is in the works, so please don't hurt me!
Anyway, I am still toying with the idea of cutting but there will be no slash in this story. I don't mind reading it, but I just don't think it will fit with this story. I have also thought of making Harry sexually abused. Please give me feedback on this.
I have one final request: PLEASE REIVEW! Just push "go"!
I will resort to begging, but it won't be pretty, so you can save us both a lot of pain.
Any ideas or requests will be greatly appreciated and carefully considered.
Disclaimer: Ok, class, now who here thinks I could've written the absolutely brilliant Harry Potter books?
(Silence)
What? You don't think I'm an amazing genius?
(More silence)
Well, you're right!
Review responses: Again, thank you to all my wonderful reviewers!
Katani Petitedra: Another reader? Yes! Don't worry, this story will be non-slash.
Amber 16: I'm blushing! You people are so nice to me! Anyway, I've decided there will be no slash in this particular story. I'm a H/Hr fan myself, but I'm considering H/G.
Saf-Saf: Thank you so much!
Ckat44: I won't do slash in this story, don't worry. I'm just considering cutting but I will have to see what happens with this story. I really have no say, I am just being used to type the words.
PadfootsNoxed: Another reader! I'm so excited! Thanks for the encouragement! People like you keep this story going.
A/N: I'm sorry! I'm sorry this took so long! This chapter has been written forever, but I haven't had time to type it! I'm so sorry, but I've had, like 3 Chemistry tests in the last month and I have been getting, on average, 4 hours of sleep a night what with homework and getting up at 4:30 every other day. Plus, any spare time has been used practicing for upcoming instrumental auditions for my school band chair placement and for All State Honor Band.Believe me when I say I am a huge band geek. Once those things die down (like next week), I will hopefully be able to update more. Okay, I have decided that this story will not have slash because right now the majority of reviewers have said no slash. Don't worry, all you slash ralliers, I WILL write a slash story once I get to be a better writer. Also coming soon is a one-shot songfic to Brad Paisley's "Celebrity"- it's all about Harry going insane and becoming the big-headed, arrogant jerk Snape's always accused him of being.
Okay, I realize this story's been pretty generic so far, but it will get more personalized as the story goes on- I promise!
I'm reminding you guys now to review-pleeeeease! It's what keeps this story going. I think I've fixed it so non Fanfiction.Net members can review as well.
Anyway, here's Chapter 3!!!
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Severus Snape arrived just outside the village of Hogsmeade with a small pop, Potter's owl still on his shoulder, the limp, bleeding form still in his arms. The boy was getting paler by the minute. Severus began running up to the front gates of Hogwarts, the owl quickly taking flight. He knew nobody would believe their eyes if they saw him. The Potions Master's normal bat-like appearance had been abandoned and he was scrambling up the muddy hill, panting and clutching an unconscious teenage boy. Not just any teenager, either. Potter- the bane of his existence.
Reaching the gates, Snape shouldered his way through them and continued across the grounds, never slowing his pace, not caring that the boy's blood was drenching the front of his robes. He reached the front doors and burst inside the castle at a sprint. He passed a very-shocked looking Minerva McGonagall on the marble staircase in the Entrance Hall, but didn't begin to slow down until he reached the hospital wing.
"Poppy!" he bellowed kicking the door open, gasping for breath. "POPPY!"
The Mediwitch came out of her quarters adjoining the wing, wearing a dressing gown and rubbing her eyes. "What is it, Severus?" she asked irritably. "Have you any idea what time it-" she stopped mid sentence, spotting Potter. "Good gracious," she whispered, "what-?"
"Heal now, questions later, if you will, Poppy," Severus cut her off quickly. "He's bleeding quite a lot."
The witch immediately went into professional mode. She cleared away the blood that was covering Potter with a sweep of her wand and rolled back the sleeves of her dressing gown. "Oh, my," she said, staring at the deep throbbing wound in wound in the boy's side.
"Severus," she said, ripping away what was left of the boy's shirt, pushing her hands into his side to stem the blood flow, "I'll need a Blood Replenishing Potion."
Normally, the impatient Potions Master would've coldly told the woman he did not appreciate being ordered about, but the situation at hand was far from normal, and he hurried over to the Mediwitch's supply cupboards. He groaned when he opened them. There were at least a dozen unlabeled potions.
He impatiently drew out his wand and cried, "Accio Blood Replenishing Potion!". At once, a vial filled with translucent purple liquid flew to his outstretched hand from the jumble. Checking it did, indeed, match the characteristics of a Blood Replenishing Potion, he sped back over to the Hogwarts nurse.
"He's lost a great deal of blood," she said, now bandaging his wound, gauze flying from the tip of her wand like a long, white ribbon. Looking down at the boy, Severus was hit with the full extent of his injuries. He saw, for the first time, that Potter's left eye was nearly swollen shut and his face a mass of bruises The enormous gash in his stomach was very visible now, and he was getting paler by the second.
Severus stared in shock as he silently uncorked the vial and poured it down the boy's throat. "How is he still alive?".
Poppy looked quite as bemused as Severus felt. "I don't know," she said as she at last sealed his bandages magically. "He's always been a fast healer and had high resistance to pain, because he's got so much magical energy in his blood. "But to have survived with a wound this deep for as long as he did- I'm guessing at least 5 hours- there must be an incredible amount of magic in his system."
"Now," she continued briskly, "since we've handled all the immediate procedures, I'm going to need an hour and a half alone to take care of him."
"Fine. I need a word with Albus. Is he here?" the Potions Master was back to his cold, irritable self.
"In his office, as far as I know," replied Pomfrey brusquely. "Now OUT!"
Fearing that the Mediwitch might curse him, Snape hastily exited the hospital wing.
Now that Potter was in Poppy's capable hands, Severus allowed himself to process what had happened in the last hour and a half. He couldn't believe he has just rescued Potter from his own house. His sense of urgency now faded and was replaced by shock. The events of the morning flew around his head in rapid succession. Potter's owl, covered in blood, practically attacking him in the middle of London, then finding Potter locked in a cupboard, just clinging to life. His numb shock was quickly replaced by anger. Why had Potter been locked in a cupboard? Why hadn't Albus known? Albus. He had to go talk to Albus.
His feet carried him to the Headmaster's office before he knew what he was going to say to the man. Suddenly he was staring at the stone gargoyle flanking the entrance to Dumbledore's office.
"Sugar Quill," said Severus shortly. Albus really needed to get off the sweets passwords, The stone gargoyle jumped off to the side. The Potions Master stepped onto the revolving staircase.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He didn't know how the boy had been hurt, but there was a limited number of ways, none of which Snape wanted to think about. Of course, the most probable and definitely most unpleasant idea was that Potter had suffered this fate at the hands of his relatives. However, the idea of the pampered Potter being abandoned and abused didn't fit the picture he'd always drawn of the boy in his mind.
Of course, the more the shrewd Potions Master considered the thought, the more blaringly obvious the warning signs seemed. The boy was always painfully thin and tired-looking when he returned to Hogwarts from summer holiday, but would return to full health within a couple of days. He always signed up to stay at Hogwarts during Christmas and Easter holidays, and never looked happy, as the other students did, at the end of the year. In fact, Severus had overheard Minerva McGonagall and Albus talking. It seemed that Potter had asked to stay for the summer term, and had done so every year. More to the point, the boy always seemed to flinch when he was shouted at, and though his short fuse had occasionally blown, he rarely did anything to merit the punishments Severus had given him merely for being the son of James Potter.
And- another thought had suddenly struck the man- when he had given the child Occlumency lessons, hadn't he expected to see parties and presents and friends, and nothing but a head full of happy memories? Hadn't he instead seen a neglectful family, a bullying cousin, and a sad little boy? It seemed, that Severus Snape, for one of those rare times in his life, had misjudged a person.
And, as he thought of the Occlumency lessons, a very guilty thought struck him- hadn't he noted the sheer terror in the boy's eyes when he had taken him from the Pensieve? When he had angrily thrown Potter to the floor, and began throwing things at him, hadn't he wondered later about the speed with which the teen hurried from the room? The Slytherin began to stir angrily. They had all been blind. They hadn't wanted to see. Shouldn't he, Severus, have done something, having been rescued from a position parallel to Potter's not so long ago?
A sudden grinding noise disrupted these very disturbing thoughts and he realized the staircase had stopped moving. Severus took a deep breath, fighting the anger rising in his chest, and knocked on the door. A moment later, the face of Albus Dumbledore appeared.
"Severus!" he said, blue eyes twinkling benignly. "What a pleasant surprise! Just back from the Order meeting?"
"Not quite," replied the Potions Master. Seeing Dumbledore's smile flicker slightly, he elaborated: "I had to make a slight detour. Let's step inside your office and I'll explain."
Dumbledore nodded and stepped inside, his expression one of mild curiosity. "Yes, of course. Come inside, please. I must tell you, I haven't refurbished my office since Mr. Potter and I had that chat a couple of weeks ago."
Snape just nodded and stepped over the threshold. There was a moment of silence as he took a chair in front of the Headmaster's desk, his dark eyes glittering as he observed the many empty tables on which whimsical, silvery instruments had once stood.
"Of course," said the older man, "it would be very easy to simply repair everything, but I rather prefer my office this way. I never really needed any of those things that Mr. Potter smashed." The twinkle in the man's eyes seemed to dim.
Severus, of course, knew all about Harry's little eruption, but when he had heard about it he had snorted. Trust the Boy-Who-Lived to have a temper tantrum that resulted in dozens of Galleons of damage.
The Slytherin tiredly rubbed his eyes and Dumbledore looked at him in a gesture that was all too familiar, his penetrating blue eyes shrewd and calculating. After another minute's silence, Albus finally said, " I assume there is something you want to say? I can otherwise certainly think of a more convenient time to hold a staring contest."
"Of course, Albus. I am just. collecting myself. It's been a long day."
"What is this?" chuckled Albus. "The great Professor Snape, feared by all of the Hogwarts student body, showing signs of weariness?"
The younger man did not smile. He was not in the mood for Albus's antics.
"Albus," he finally said, "this morning, after the Order meeting, a certain owl caught my eye. This owl was quite insistent, and I found myself thinking, 'Now who would be writing to the Order who owns a snowy owl?'"
"Mr. Potter," said Albus quietly.
" I did indeed realize that it was Potter's owl. The bird would not leave me alone, until I realized that there was a copious amount of blood on the animal. It occurred to me that perhaps the bird wanted me to go to her master's aid. That in mind, I Apparated to the boy's house, and have you any idea what I found?" It was very hard work for Severus to keep his voice level at this point.
Albus simply shook his head, concern beginning to show on his features. Suddenly Severus found he could no longer take it.
" I found," he began, "Potter locked in a bloody cupboard. And you know what else?" The man's voice was rising, obsidian eyes dangerously angry. "He was bleeding. Bleeding everywhere. He almost died, Dumbledore. At this very moment, Poppy Pomfrey is doing her best to repair the damage that was caused by our bad decisions."
The headmaster, throughout Severus's incredibly rare emotional outburst, remained calm, though those damned eyes lost any sign of a glimmer. "But Harry is alright."
" I don't know, damn it!" he cried. "Had I been unfortunate enough to arrive in that house five minutes later, there would have been no saving the boy! It a miracle he survived. So yes, he's alive, no thanks to the Order."
"Severus." the older man began in a warning tone.
"Albus, do not give me your 'calm down' voice!" cried the Slytherin. "I HAVE NOT EVEN BEGUN BEING ANGRY! IF YOU REALLY WANT TO SEE ME RILED, ASK ME HOW I THINK THE BOY SUSTAINED THOSE INJURIES! GO ON! ASK!" The headmaster was met with a death glare.
"Very well," said Albus cautiously. "How did he sustain those injuries?"
For a moment, the younger man was taken aback by the headmaster's apparent attempt to humor him, but his confusion was short-lived and he immediately felt a new surge of rage at the man's attempt to make light of the subject. "HIS UNCLE! HIS BLOODY UNCLE!" breathing deeply, he continued with forced calm, "Now, of course, I do not know this for sure, but there are very few possibilities and this is the most likely scenario. So, in case you haven't grasped this yet, you left a young boy with a sadistic child abuser. And there's plenty of evidence that this was by no means an isolated incident."
Dumbledore opened his mouth to speak, but Snape cut him off, saying, "You already know my views on this topic, Headmaster. I'm going to see how Poppy is coming along with him. I'm sure you'll want to let the Order know, and someone will have to retrieve his things from that place."
With those words, Severus Snape did something he had never done before: he walked out of a room in the middle of a conversation with Albus Dumbledore.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When Severus reached the hospital wing, he opened the door to see Poppy Pomfrey bending over the small form lying inept in the bed, still wearing her dressing gown and looking very exhausted.
"Severus," she said, looking up. "You're back. I've just finished with him. I won't be able to fully heal that gash in his stomach for some time now, he's too weak right now. He broke his left leg in 3 different places, all the way up to his femur, but I can't fix that when his energy reserves are this low. It'll have to be in a Muggle cast until it is partially healed."
The potions master just nodded. The nurse fidgeted for a moment before saying, "Severus, have you any idea what caused these injuries?"
He glowered and said, "I've got a pretty good idea," rather maliciously. "I was rather hoping you would disprove my speculation."
"Yes, well.this wound in his stomach is definitely a stab wound, and that's a disturbing thought."
"Do you have any way of figuring out what it was he was stabbed with?"
"I'm afraid not."
The dark-eyed man nodded. "What were his other injuries?" he inquired.
"Well, it was really quite alarming. He had 4 broken ribs, a concussion, severe bruising, as well as some infected cuts, and he hasn't eaten much of anything in the last 3 months. Also, there were some.interesting marks."
"Show me."
The Healer protested. "Now, wait a minute, Severus." she began.
"Just show me," he growled menacingly.
The woman sighed and nodded. "Show me what you make of this," she said, pulling back the boys sheets, which had been up to his chin.
There were bandages wrapped around his stomach, but the boy's chest was bare. Snape couldn't help himself. He gasped and looked away, feeling sick. He hadn't seen those marks earlier. The boy's chest was covered with throbbing red welts, gashes, and scars.
"Damned Muggles."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Poppy Pomfrey had seen many things in her years of service to Hogwarts, and she had saw Potter more in one year that she usually saw students in there entire schooling at Hogwarts, but never before had she seen a student as badly injured as Potter was. There had been several worry- filled moments when she hadn't been certain the boy would live.
Apparently, the morning was to be full of surprises, because Severus Snape was actually acting human. He had helped her with no complaint, and had showed real, almost parental concern.
Now the cold, heartless, feared-by-all potions master was sitting there by the boy's bedside, looking for all the world like an anxious father. His anger at the marks she had found on his back had been quite alarming indeed. At the present time, his head was buried in his hands, and he was muttering to himself.
Even though this sight was one so different from the man who installed fear in the hearts of staff and student alike, Poppy couldn't trust him. She had told him the extent of the boy's injuries, but she wasn't going to let him know anything else. She was going to keep a very close watch on that man for a while. He had been a Death Eater, after all.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Albus Dumbledore was a very unsettled man. Following his talk with Severus, he had written a letter to the general Order.
Alastor, Remus, Nymphadora, Arthur, and Molly,
Harry is safe at Hogwarts. An emergency came up and he had to be removed from his aunt and uncle's sooner than expected. Don't worry if he doesn't write to you for a few days, I assure you he is safe.
Albus Dumbledore
He also wrote a letter to Harry's two best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.
Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger,
I am sure you are both very concerned about Harry. He is safe at
Hogwarts. I will let you both know when you'll be able to see him. You
may feel free to owl him at Hogwarts at any time.
Albus Dumbledore
After he had sent these two letters out the window of his office with his own owl, he sat back down at his desk and closed his eyes, resting his head in his weathered hands. After sitting like that for a full minute, he stood up again. He crossed his office and opened a cabinet in the corner of the room. He pulled out the Pensieve that Harry himself had seen into over a year and a half ago.
He put his wand to his temple and pulled away a shining strand of thought. He added the strand to the silver substance already in the bowl and gave it a prod with his wand. The form of a fifteen-year-old boy rose slowly out of the bowl, revolving and speaking loudly.
"Professor Dumbledore, I cannot go back there. I can't and I won't I'll stay at Hogwarts, I'll go to Order Headquarters, I don't care, just don't send me back to that awful house."
"But," Albus whispered, recalling the conversation all too clearly, "you must see, Harry, that it is safer for you at your aunt and uncle's.
"Sir," the silvery teenager said angrily, stressing the single syllable, I don't care. I can't go back there." Then the silver figure melted back into the pool of thought.
"Harry," said Albus mournfully, "why didn't you tell anyone?"
Had anyone been watching, they would have seen a tear trickling down the aged headmaster's face, something only witnessed twice before.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N: Sorry, I had to end it there or this chapter would've been about thirty pages. But, I assure you, chapter four is already written, just needs to be typed, and five is in the works, so please don't hurt me!
Anyway, I am still toying with the idea of cutting but there will be no slash in this story. I don't mind reading it, but I just don't think it will fit with this story. I have also thought of making Harry sexually abused. Please give me feedback on this.
I have one final request: PLEASE REIVEW! Just push "go"!
I will resort to begging, but it won't be pretty, so you can save us both a lot of pain.
Any ideas or requests will be greatly appreciated and carefully considered.