Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in this, or anything Harry Potter-ish

Death is a blessing

Chapter 2

Rita could not believe what she had just seen, if Dumbledor knew there was no way H

Harry would still be there, she threw floo powder into the fire

"Severus Snape" she stuck her head in the fire

"SNAPE GET IN HERE" the black form of the potions teacher stalked round the door

"Rita" he snarled "what are you doing in my fire?"

"It's Harry you have to help me get him out of that place" Snape chocked back a

laugh

"And why would you come running to me of all people?" Rita rolled her eyes

"Because I can't very well tell Dumbledor I was spying on the boy I'm not supposed to be Animagus can you imagine the reaction! Come on I need your help!"

"I am not helping the brat of James Potter do anything more then live!" he snarled. Rita lost her temper;

"Look for once in your life stop thinking about yourself! The boy is in trouble with those disgusting muggles and stop calling him the brat of James Potter he's the child of LILLY EVANS!" she had not meant to shout the name but it had the desired affect, Snape's eyes melted a little. And he nodded.

"I cant appareate from here; I'll need to go to Hogsmead. I will meet you there. Rita looked relieved and nodded, Snape turned and left without another word, Rita breathed

"Thank fuck for that" and she disappeared from the fire. She pulled her head out and cracked her skull on the fire surround. She grunted in pain, damn that was all she needed Snape may actually get there first.

Snape left the castle without a second glance, he was at the gate a few minutes later. He walked just far enough to be free of the apparating charms placed on the castle. With a loud 'pop' he disappeared. He arrived a few moments later in Harry's bedroom, it took him exactly three seconds to realise what was happening, Vernon was still on top of Harry, the boy practically invisible under the grunting body of his uncle. A black fury came over Snape, this man this muggle was abusing the son of his beloved in the most sickening of ways, he pulled his wand and aimed it at Vernon,

"EXPELLIARMUS!" he shouted, Harry screamed into the gag and his uncle was violently ripped from his body, straining at his bonds. Vernon was catapulted off Harry and out the door, Snape followed, Vernon was zipping up his trousers as Snape approached he looked up and opened his mouth but closed it without saying anything. Snape pointed his wand at the man shaking with rage

"Avada…."

"SEVERUS NO!" Rita screamed from down the hall. Snape took in a deep breath and

lowered his wand.

"Fine" he spat at Rita, "you deal with him" he turned neatly and went back into Harry's bedroom, slamming the door.

Harry wasn't too sure what had happened, he was sure he heard the disarming spell, a wizard had come he didn't see who a member of the order no doubt. He was in so much pain, he didn't want any of the order to see him like this but he could not move. He closed his eyes and pretended to be unconscious, he heard the door slam and wondered who was in the room with him but he didn't want to look. He bit the gag harder. Severus surveyed the hollow that Harry Potter was living in with distaste; he had seen house elves in better. His gazed fixed on the virtually naked body on the bed, his head was on its side and his eyes were shut. The bed itself was covered in blood, his shirt was open revealing that the blood was from his chest, and he was wearing nothing else. Snap looked at his with disdain. So this was where the 'great Harry Potter' spent his summer for the first time he noticed how he even spat the word Potter when he thought it. He tried a different tact, Harry Evans; he found the name did not conjure the same bile to his throat. Snape shuddered; he would deal with that later, at the moment he was not sure how to proceed. The boy was for all intents and purposes naked and tied to the bed, should he cover him up or free him first, the boy hadn't moved. Snape decided to check to see if he was alive, he had lost a lot of blood and looked dangerously thin. Snape sat down on the side of the bed and reached for Harry's throat to check his pulse. Harry flinched a mile at the touch, well that answered that question. Shit Harry thought, he'd just given himself away, he gave up opened his eyes and looked at his rescuer, his eyes went wide it was definitely the last person he had expected to see. Snape looked down into the boys eyes, they were so much like Lilly's. he pulled his wand out, the boy visibly tensed and pulled at the bonds again.

"I'm not going to hurt you Potter" his voice was sharper then was meant. Harry stopped squirming but didn't relax any; Snape pointed his wand at the cuffs

"Alohomora" the cuffs clicked open. Harry quickly reached down and pulled his pants and trousers up. Before looking back at Snape, Harry saw Snape appraising his injuries and lay back down doing his shirt up in the process. Thankfully the shirt was long sleeved, so Snape had not seen the damage on his arms. Harry rubbed his wrists absently momentarily forgetting about the gag and leg restraints, he was so used to them now they were practically part of him. Uncle Vernon has taken to locking him up at night and gagging him to stop his screams from waking the house. Snape on the other hand had not. He reached for the buckle on the gag and once again Harry flinched. Snape rolled his eyes and put one arm around the boy to keep him still and undid the buckles with his other hand. Harry coughed as the gag was removed, Snape was staring at him intently, the gag was on the floor, Snape stroked Harry's hair from his face, so much of him is like her, you just didn't see it before Harry looked away, hey shifted to release his ankles, uncomfortable at the contact. The spell was broken, Snape mentally berated himself for getting lost in the past. It was Harry who broke the silence though, he had curled into a tight ball at the foot of the bed.

"You know, thanks and all, but can you not tell anyone?" Snape was surprised at the request

"Not tell anyone what Potter?" Harry shrugged looking for the right words

"About this, me what was going on when you got here" Harry looked away quickly, he was overly thin, pale and frightened and Snape was about to make it worse

"I can't do that Harry, you can not stay here. Where is you stuff? You can come with me to the school, and we will decide what to do from there."  Harry looked positively petrified

"But why do you have to tell? I mean it's not…" Harry caught himself but it was too late, Snape went from surprise to pure shock

"It's not what Harry? Not the first time?" Harry just shrugged, he drew himself in to a tighter ball. Snape was going to have words with Dumbledor, if that man had even the slightest inkling of what was going on Harry would not have been sent back he idiot that was a stupid line of thought of course the headmaster had no idea.

"Where is your school stuff?"

"In the cupboard under the stairs" Harry's reply was very quite. Snape nodded. He opened the door and told whoever was there, Rita Harry suspected where everything was. There were a few murmurs and then he returned. Harry had not moved

"Can you walk?" Harry nodded

"I think so" slowly he got off the bed. He was sore all over and was limping more then walking. It was painfully slow getting out of the room, even with Snape supporting him in an iron grip. At the bottom of the stairs Rita was waiting for them with Harry's belongings, included Hedwig's cage. They made it to the street and Rita hailed the Knight bus. As they got on, Stan took their money, he was about to enquire as to the state of  Harry, whose shirt was know stained with blood but a look form Snape silenced him. The three went upstairs and waited to be taken to Hogsmead. The bus disappeared with a loud bang once they had got off. Rita sighed

"Right I must be getting on" Harry was now very worried

"Rita wait!" she turned and read the boys expression.

"Harry, I may be a hardened journalist, but I am not cruel, tonight's event will not be in the Daily Prophet until you are ready for people to know." Harry chewed his lip, it wasn't a lot but it was all he was going to get. Rita apparated away. Harry looked around, he was say, but he had truly hoped that he would never be in this state when he arrived here. Snape levitated Harry's trunk and the cage and they started towards the castle. They had just got inside the grounds as dawn broke, Harry tripped and fell forward landing on his face. He was in no hurry to move the earth was cool and he was tired. Footsteps were coming towards them; this did not encourage Harry to move.

"What's this Severus? Rounding up students for extra potions over the summer?" Harry recognised the voice it belonged to Professor McGonagall. Professor Snap sneered,

"No actually Minerva, I have been doing one of the things that the order should have done a long time ago by the sounds of it" Harry sighed and rolled onto his back, his head of house gasped when she looked at him

"Ghost of Merlin what happened to him? He couldn't have been attacked his house in charmed"

"No he was not attacked by he-who-shall-not-be-named, this was done bu that muggle uncle!" Snape's voice had got even harder. Professor McGonagall recovered,

"Well don't just lie there Mr. Potter get up, you need to go to the infirmary" Harry tried to obey but his legs were like jelly and his arms refused to push against the earth and help. Neither of the professors looked happy about this, they are angry at me, I'm trying! But he could not get up.

"I am sorry professor, I can't" Professor McGonagall's jaw stiffened. How did they miss how poorly he had been treated, why if she ever got her hands on the disgusting muggle… She looked back at Harry, he looked away, still fighting the tears

"I'm sorry, if you give me a minute I don't mean to hold you up"

"That is quite enough Harry" she said more kindly she bought out her wand and conjured a stretcher, she levitated Harry on to it and the three of them headed into the castle in silence. They arrived at the infirmary a few moments later.

"Poppy!" Professor McGonagall shouted as they arrived, Madame Pomfrey came out of her office as Professor McGonagall levitated Harry onto a bed. Harry collapsed unwilling to do anything but sleep… and take a shower, he desperately wanted a shower. Madame Pomfrey bustled over

"Hello" Harry said weakly. She gasped when she saw the shirt, but not as loudly as Professor McGonagall when she opened it, the lashes across Harry's chest were deep and had only just stopped bleeding. As Madame Pomfrey attended Harry's wounds the other two left. They returned in the middle of an argument between Harry and the nurse as to why Harry should take off his shirt.

"No. look please I just want a shower and a bed, I don't care"

"Harry please let me treat you, you can sleep soon I promise"

"Poppy, Harry has been through a very traumatic event tonight it is not surprising given the circumstances that he is unwilling to undress" Severus's tone was silky smooth and had it's usual control back. Madame Pomfrey stared at him;

"Well it would help if I knew what these circumstances were"

"We are about to determine that very fact, if you would kindly bear with us Poppy" Harry had not noticed the arrival of Professor Dumbledor with the others, but now had that feeling that bed was a very long way off. The three professors came to the side of Harry's bed. Harry found that he could not make eye contact with any of them. Dumbledor broke the silence

"Harry I understand that you have had a very long night I am sure that you are exhausted but I must ask you to tell me what has happened" Harry was silent, he was close to tears, not tonight, please not tonight, tomorrow yes but not now he knew he would not be able to hold himself back tonight, he drew his legs into his chest and wrapped his arms around them, he was shaking, he rubbed his shoulders trying to stop it. Suddenly he flew off the bed, someone had put and arm round him, he didn't know who, but it scared him. He could take no more, the lack of food and blood combined with the journey and the stress was too much, he felt unconsciousness creeping up on him, and for the first time did not fight it, it claimed him and he hit the floor.