Author: SoExasperating
Rating: PG-13 for now thanks to language and a lack so far of sexuality of any kind. Don't worry; I'm getting there
Disclaimer: Well, I've been trying to get them on some kind of installment plan but JKR isn't answering any of my e-mails so for now I'm just kind of...um, borrowing them. In a non-profit or copyright infringement meant kind of way.
Summary: The Dursleys are the scum of the earth, Harry follows the rules instead of doing the right thing, and Snape wishes to Merlin that he started drinking earlier in the day. (A/N: I honestly have no clue how this thing took a serious turn. scratches head Oops?)
Chapter 3 : Worse things have happened… I think
previously
"Potter, if that is you I suggest you answer because otherwise I may have to just Avada you on principle."
The harsh breathing broke into a puzzled gasp. "Professor?"
Only one person could be that clueless. Snape breathed out an 'Alohomora' and flung the door to the little cupboard open. Crouched inside, apparently also not having a good day was one scrawny Gryffindor. The two stared at each other for a moment before the Potions Master heard himself say quite possibly the stupidest thing he'd said to date-
"You aren't at Hogwarts."
Thrown off by his Professor's apparent non-sequiter it took a minute for Harry to respond, "How observant. Think about that one long, Professor?"
Snape, wisely, used the time he could have spent verbally tearing the Harry down for his inappropriately timed sarcasm to
catalogue the boys injuries. He was a mess, pale from his obvious imprisonment and even scrawnier (he hadn't thought it possible)
than before. That, however, looked to be the least of his problems. A dark bruise, the yellowing edges telling it's age, decorated one swelling cheek that, in turn, cradled an ugly blackened eye. There was a gash near his hairline that had left a gruesome dried blood streak that obscured the trademark scar...and that was just from the neck up.
"Dare I even ask what happened or should I simply get names so that Mutt godfather of yours can rip them apart?" The words were standard Snape fare but the quiet tone caused Harry to pause and blink warily at his savior. Apparently deciding that he
was too tired to lie or even distrust his least like professor he replied with a sigh. "Same old, same old."
"You know, that's what I was afraid of." Severus Snape was not, despite all appearances, a soulless creature from Hell. He may have detested children and the means by which he was made to teach them but he never never wanted to hear that soul-weary voice from someone so young. Despite his unfortunate Potterness.
"How long were you in there?" Those glazed green eyes tried to focus on him again.
"Until you came along?"
"Don't act stupid now, Potter, how long since you were locked in that pitiful excuse for a coat closet?" Snape gritted out as he unobtrusively helped the boy out of said cupboard and to his feet. The younger wizard blinked for a minute.
"Seems like forever..."
'Okay, not a good time for getting a straight answer, ' Snape noted silently, 'Possibly delirious from the head wound?'
Temporarily lost in his thoughts, he resumed half dragging the broken child. "Well, try to remain conscious a little while longer, Potter. Once we're to past the front door we can apparate to right outside the wards of Hogwarts."
Still silent, Harry nodded and the strange pair staggered in unison through the entrance of number four Privet Drive before disappearing with a barely audible pop.
( A/N: I almost stopped here but, after such a long wait, I decided to make it an extra long chapter. Who loves ya, baby?)
Harry was unconscious by the time he'd been port keyed and hauled through the doors of the illustrious school. Severus only noticed when his burden became so much dead weight and paused to frantically check for a pulse. Relieved at the steady beat at the Boy Who Lived's wrist, he quickly cast a Revelo to make sure no was around to witness his actions before swinging the too light boy into his arms and striding quickly towards the Hospital Wing.
Oh yes, the fewer who saw this the better.
"Poppy!" Snape bellowed barely mindful of his precious burden, "Honestly, never here when you actually need the blasted woman..." He trailed off, however, as said 'blasted woman' emerged from a nearby bed curtain and cast him an extremely unamused glare.
"What now, Severus? Already cursed a first year, maybe? I must say, if so, you've finally beaten your old record. That was a week, wasn't it?"
"No, " Snape replied shortly before silently adding, 'But an excellent idea...' "Our resident celebrity needs your talents
again."
The nurse squinted closer at the rag-covered bundle that, even now, Severus was lowering to a bed. "Oh dear."
"Quite. I just collected him from his family," the sneer was audible at the word, "so if you could be so kind as to patch him back together while I have a few words with our esteemed Headmaster?"
"Of course, "She nodded an absent affirmative, already grabbing potions and salves for the patient. At that, Snape made for the door, glad to have passed on the safekeeping of the boy to another and almost didn't hear her call out after him. "And,Severus? If this truly was the work of those muggles than tell Albus he'll be hearing from me as well."
Acknowledging her words with a tip of his head, Severus Snape exited the Hospital wing, now simply relieved to not be the one on the good nurses bad list.
He was, quite surprisingly, unaccosted as he strode silently but purposefully for Dumbledore's office. Thoughts tumbled around his head at a furious pace as they fought to catch up with the recent revelations. By the time he was facing the old man's gargoyle guard, it had all boiled down to fury aided by a dangerous douse of personal guilt.
Guilt for not noticing the signs of abuse, which as Head of Slytherin he was unfortunately familiar with, and fury for Dumbledore's continued erratic and absent-minded care of the child. Even caught up in such dark thought, Snape was not shocked to hear the voices of the boy's friends politely but firmly demanding to know of his whereabouts. The Headmaster cut them off when his twinkling attention shifted totally to the Potions Master standing in his doorway. "Severus, have you collected Mr. Potter already?"
It was obvious from the man's buoyant mood that he was completely unforgivably ignorant as to the situation he'd sent Snape into earlier that day and the boy circumstance. "Yes, Headmaster, and if I might have a word about that with you in private..."
He did his best not to growl out his request, as it would serve no one to agitate the already frantic children further while still getting across the urgency of this meeting. It was apparent he succeeded a touch too well when Albus merely twinkled at him.
"If it's about Mr. Potter than his friends would find out shortly either way."
"If you insist, Headmaster..." 'Dammit, this isn't something mere children should be hearing!'
"I'm afraid I must, my dear boy. Now, what is the news?"
It was the 'dear boy', in front of Gryffindors no less, that broke the fragile hold Snape had retained on his temper. "Before I tell you of young Mr. Potter's condition, might I inquire how often, if at all, you've checked on the boy?"
Dumbledore looked mildly puzzled and made to answer when his own employee rudely cut him off. "Don't bother. We both know damn well that you left him to his muggle relatives mercy and as good as forgot about him despite, I'm sure, being warned of their nature."
"Nature, Severus, "The older wizard encourage, eyes becoming harder as the Potions Masters tone became more biting and harsh.
"Magic phobic, hateful, abusive wastes of oxygen. That nature, Headmaster. And if they hadn't already ruined their childhood with their lies and treatment, maybe you can explain the exact circumstances that lead to you sending him back every summer since. I'm sure Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger are equally curious."
Both Gryffindors had paled drastically at the beginning of this speech but it was the hollow realization in Granger's eyes, her muggle upbringing allowing her to connect the dots between 'abusive' and 'Harry' that gave Severus the slightest pause. He meant what he, um, thought earlier. This wasn't something even these idiots deserved to hear.
Dumbledore, twinkle almost entirely dim at this point, stared as his Potions Master with an intent expression. "What exactly are you implying, Severus?"
Snape glanced once more at the white faces of the boys friends. "I'm implying as to the cause behind my own finding of Potter beaten near to death and starved in a muggle cupboard earlier today. A cupboard, I might add, well inside his overly warded relatives home."
"You're saying his relatives hit him."
"Repeatedly, unless some other Muggles broke in and assaulted him continuously withholding food. " He continued with no small amount of exasperation. He'd barely said his peace and the conversation had already drained him. "Albus, there were no traces of any other magical beings besides Potter or myself for quite sometime."
The Headmaster nodded absently, dwelling on the younger wizards word and their consequences.
"Professor?" Granger had found her voice, "Is Harry going to be alright?"
"That remains to be seen but he is in Madam Pomphrey's care right now, "Snape answered, almost kindly now that a good part of his frustrated rage had been released.
"Yes, yes, no need to be alarmed. You understand how talented our Madam Pomphrey is at fixing up Mr. Potter, "Dumbledore spoke, collecting himself noticeably and shooting the students a reassuring smile. The look of desperate hope on Weasley's face was just pathetic in the Slytherin's eyes. However, his blind trust was not reflected in his female friend. Granger frowned, "May we visit him then, Sir?"
"That's up to Madam Pomphrey, I'm afraid. In fact, I believe Severus and I should be heading there now. I'll be sure to
ask on your account." One grandfatherly gesture later and he had ushered the two children out the door and towards the tower.
The gargoyle closed and Dumbledore took the moment to look deeply into a pair of onyx eyes. There was the push of Occlumency and Severus let the man see everything from the moment he entered Privet Drive until he reached his office, a picture does tell a thousand words after all.
A second later and the Headmaster was again composing himself, this time with eyes full of shame and remorse. "Well than, Severus, maybe we should actually be heading to see Mr. Potter now." Snape eyed the older wizard thoughtfully. He didn't regret his words or in allowing the man to view his memories of an occasion that he knew would haunt him as well but...kicking him when he was down was a little low, even for a Slytherin. He nodded and the two headed away from his office and towards the waiting Infirmary.
TBC
A/N: Thank you to all my wonderful divine reviewers who I would personally reply to if I could get to my reviews (my roommate is hogging the Internet. I barely got to upload this.) Either way, I hope the slightly longer chapter and uncharacteristic drama made up for it in someway. Cheers!