My Father's Shadow
Disclaimer: I lay no claims to the world of Harry Potter
A.N. I apologize for not responding to reviews last chapter, please see the end of this chapter for my response to them.
Chapter Five
It's Darkest Just Before Dawn
Severus had worked for years for the ability to control his emotions. This was an imperative feature in his work as a spy. Never once had any of the atrocities had seen Voldemort commit ever invoked more than a look of cold indifference–on the outside at least.
But now all of that carefully kept self-control wavered. The knowledge that his son hd been mistreated not only physically, but sexually as well w as enough to tumble his barriers. His face was a turmoil of rage, sadness, and despair.
Albus and Poppy tried not to notice (which wasn't hard because they were dealing with their own grief) and for that he was thankful. They all took a moment to get their bearings and Severus schooled his expression as close to neutrality as he could.
Then the hospital matron let them in and even that expression fell off his face. Severus was not used to fear. He had faced it very few times in the extent of his life. Apprehension yes. He danced with apprehension every time he was called. He had been nervous before, concerned that his cover might be blown, but he had never faced real fear. You don't face that kind of fear-the heart-breaking, tear-jerking, angry fear, until something you care about is in danger, and Severus, seeing his spitting image wheezing and bundled into a ball with only a nightgown on and the scars on his legs and arms apparent, w as met with fear for one of the first times.
Harry uncurled himself suddenly to glare with rather watery eyes at the three. It did not take them long to see the burning rage in his angry emerald orbs. At first, Severus thought he was shivering because of his son's anger. Then he realized that the temperature in the room ha d actually dropped and the shutters were rattling dangerously. The whole room was practically permeating with magic. And there was no doubt where it was coming from. A wild dark aura had surrounded Harry and blazed in waves around him.
Severus gulped, and even Dumbledore looked slightly frightened. Madame Pomfrey had retreated out the door as soon as she felt the dark energy.
"You betrayed me," Harry whispered in a hoarse voice to the headmaster. "I trusted you and you betrayed me."
Dumbledore's eyes widened in surprise. It was obvious that he had no idea what the boy was talking about. For that matter, neither did Severus. He opened his mouth to say so, but at that moment the small control Harry had over his magic disappeared.
And all hell broke loose.
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Severus woke up to a headache and a very large bump on his head. HE was settled depp on a hospital bed and looking to one side he could see Dumbledore-the old man's breathing wheezy and slightly erratic. On his other side was Harry, asleep now.
He sat up and Poppy came bustling out of her office, her eyes slightly frantic, "Thank goodness you're awake. I came in and the entire wing looked like a tornado had swept through it. You and the headmaster were on the floor and the boy had collapsed. I didn't get any help because of the whole secret thing but its been hours Severus!"
"Calm down woman!" he snapped. She quieted and he got out of bed and stretched. "Did you give Albus a stabalizer potion? It would calm his breathing."
Poppy stared. "No, I didn't think of that ." Severus sneered. He got the potion and administered a dosage to the still-unconscious headmaster.
In the other bed Harry stirred. "He's not going to be happy when he wakes up," said Madame Pomfrey. "I had to restrain his magic."
Severus looked and sure enough there was a restraining band wound around his upper arm. He nodded his approval. "We should tie him down too–at least until we know he's capable of being rational."
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He felt tired. Dirt tired. And he felt his magic like a heavy weight inside of him. Then it was pressing against him, pushing inside of him so hard that he gasped heavily and felt sweat trickling down his forehead.
Then he felt a cool cloth press against his head and the resistance inside of him faded enough so that his vision could focus. He saw Madame Pomfrey about him and spotted his father to the side. He made to sit up but found he couldn't. His limbs were securely strapped with soft cloth to the bed. He gave up and settled for a glare in the direction of his father.
"Is there a reason for this?" he growled.
His father sneered (with much less potency then usual, Harry noticed) and replied, "We were worried about how you would react to the fact that we bound your magic."
"You what!"
"That is a binding band," Severus said, pointing to Harry's arm. "It will remain there until we deem that your magic will remain in check."
"Why is this necessary?"
Severus blinked, "You don't remember?" It was possible that hte boy may not have been completely conscious but it was highly unlikely...
"Remember what?"
Severus pointed at the still form of the headmaster. Harry gasped, "I did that?" He looked ashamed.
"Pot...Harry why do you think that the headmaster betrayed you?" Severus questioned. Maybe this would lead to conclusions about the boy's injuries.
"I...I don't sir," Harry answered rather unconvincingly, averting his gaze. By this time Poppy had once again retreated to her office.
Well, though Severus, there's no better time than the present. He stood and, gripping Harry's chin forcefully, causing the boy to shrink into his bed as much as the bonds would allow, he brought pain filled eyes up to meet his. Harry tried to force his chin away but Severus' grip was too strong.
"How did you come by your injuries Potter?"
"Please sir," whimpered Harry, "I don't like being tied down."
This sudden statement startled Severus so much he released the boy's chin and stared at the small form before him. That plea....it sounded as if Harry had uttered it many times before.
His heart went out to the boy and he almost released him. Then his mind hardened his heart as it had so many times before and it was saying that here was another way to get answers.
"The restraints remain Potter, until you can be truthful with us."
Harry averted his eyes once again, but Severus didn't miss the tears.
Someday Harry, you will get better. You will come to terms with your past and you will get better.
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Review Responses:
Thank You To (Chapter Three):
Dalamar Nightson: Thanks for the compliment.
Tia Evans
Miss Teinge: I'll see what I can do. No promises though.
Mikee
Hecate DeMorte: I really like the combination of your name. Hecate: the protectress of the dark moon. A misunderstood and supposedly dark goddess. And Voldemort, a misunderstood child who turned into something dark and dangerous. Kudos.
Rika-chan
Wynjara
Lillinfields
Erere
CoolCat411: Thanks, I'll look for the mistake
Tia
Remo Con: Thank you O Wise One
Nation El-Diablo
Kateri1
Moni
FairyGirl131129
Samantha Black
Kylena: Actually, James is going to play a huge part in this. No, he's not going to mysteriously come back to life, but he will play a large part-if only in memory.
Staragel2106
JE aka Yessina
LeggyLover03
Jedina
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Thank You To (Chapter Four):
Hiei girl 003
Tigris Tethys Silvanus Bellona Draconis: dude, long name, but cool
Mama-dar: I'm stuck too
Drunken Pirate 683: Ok! I'm so glad someone noticed my funky title chapters. Ok: what I mean by Satisfaction Brought it Back is that last chapter (Curiosity Killed the Cat) Severus was basically putting himself out on a limb there and he may be killing any relationship he might eventually have with his son. With Satisfaction, Severus found out that he was right to bring Harry to the hospital as he found out about all the things that had happened to him. You can really take it any way you want.
Mayhem El-Diablo: Well, that makes me love your sister. The more readers the better, and I'm glad you like the story.
Nightshade13: I've actually never had anyone thank me for leaving a cliff-hangar
Miss Teinge
Alexis Lee: I understand how you feel about the whole "sexually mistreated thing" but I'm hoping that mine will be a little bit different than most.
Dalamar Nightson
Spiral-Digger
Goombahann
HecateDeMort
Amber16
Starangel2106
Nation El-Diablo: You know, I just realized who you were. Death is a Blessing is one of my very favorite stories. I was really excited when I realized that I had attracted one of my very favorite authors to my story. As to the cliff-hangar thing, well, you write. You know the power of a cliffy. Hahahaha *diabolical laugh*
LeggyLover03