Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters in it.
Chapter 5
Warning: Child abus and some harsh words!
Important Author's note: I see there was some confusion about the "blood shot eyes". If you read it again you will see that I refer to Harry as the one with the blood shot eyes. He's peering from behind the headmaster with blood shot eyes.
Would you like me to continue with these short one a day chapters or longer twice a week chapters?
Red.
Red. All he could see was red.
He was sure that his eyes were as red as his thoughts. Whether from the sting of holding the tears back or from being possessed by Voldemort, Harry couldn't say. He was certain that he was being possessed. It was the only way to explain his anger.
Yes, he had invaded Snape's privacy. Yes, he had seen one of Snape's most private memories. And yes, he did feel bad about it but it was nothing, nothing compared to what Snape did.
Snape had invaded not one, not two but all of his most private memories of the summer. His most hated memories. And now Snape sat there, accusing him of invading his privacy. And now Dumbledore knows what Harry had done. Now Dumbledore knew that he was no better than his father.
That he was a self-centered bastard.
He, Harry, was now most probably on Dumbledore's disappointed list. Or maybe his pity list. That would be worse and with Harry's luck, that would be where he would end up.
Was everyone becoming an enemy?
Was everyone becoming red?
He could see his side of the box quickly repositioning itself forming a nice cross which resulted in four red blocks, each next to his white, and only four other colours in the corners.
He was the only white on this side of the box.
In the dead center.
Why was he always right in the middle of things?
Snape and Dumbledore was speaking but Harry couldn't hear a thing they said. He just wanted to run. Wanted to get out of there.
"Harry? Harry! Come on Harry, snap out of it."
Harry just stared blankly ahead of him.
"Potter! Get your inflated obnoxious head out of the clouds and back to earth. We, humans, can't fly that high for we don't have wings!" The maliciousness was dripping from Snape's voice and Harry was instantly reminded of just where and more precisely in who's presence he was.
Severus knew that he was taking things a bit over board, that it was a low even for him, but anything just to get some expression on the boy's face.
Severus had never seen Potter's face so expressionless.
So lifeless.
His eyes were one thing. He remembered all too well the lifeless eyes staring at him through the darkness, but this, his whole face, emotionless. It was unnerving.
Down right frightening.
"S..so…sorry professor." Potter seemed to still be miles away as he spoke. A dreamy expression suddenly made it's way upon his face and a slight lazy smile could be seen if you were looking for it.
Then his expression became stony again.
It seemed he had just processed the insults thrown his way. Severus could pinpoint the exact moment that Potter had realized what he, Severus, had said. Potter's face was twisting into an angry sneer and Severus was sure that if they didn't do something soon, one of them would most likely kill the other.
Harry had just been thinking that maybe, if Voldemort would be nice enough (Voldemort, nice?), maybe he would come and kill Harry. It would be quick. Painless. He would be with his family again. The red blocks would be replaced with white ones. This picture actually produced a smile.
Then he remembered his professors standing with him and put an expressionless mask on his face.
His thoughts quickly turned to what his professor had said and he could feel the anger growing in him.
How dare he!
How dare he!
To Harry it sounded like a barb at what he had said at the end of last term in Dumbledore's office. When he said that he didn't want to be human. He hadn't meant it. Not really. He had wanted to be human, to have a soul so that he could one day be with his family again. He didn't mind if he died, if he were to lose his 'human quality' in that way.
Snape insinuated that Harry thought he was some sort of god, or angel.
Harry was anything but an angel. He had killed someone. Two people actually.
Maybe Harry was actually a red?
He certainly felt like a murderer. An enemy. Yes, he had never actually fired the killing curse or killed someone in cold blood but he was the reason that they were dead.
Either must die at the hand of the other. Harry knew that he would become a real murderer one day. He would have to kill Voldemort. Kill him or be killed. That actually didn't sound so bad. Maybe he could fake a stumble with their final confrontation and Voldemort would kill him and be done with it.
Yes, that did indeed sound very nice.
The professors were looking at him with something akin to concern. Well, Dumbledore looked like he wanted nothing better than to throw his arms around Harry in a bone crushing hug and Snape looked like he was fighting to keep his stern controlled expression.
What happened?
What had grabbed their attention so fully?
Did he have something in his hair, or on his face?
Harry could see Dumbledore approaching him slowly and then felt the extended hand rest on his shoulders.
He wanted to flinch, to step away. Run away.
But he also wanted to fall into those arms. Cry all his fears and doubts away. He wanted someone to be the family he never had.
He wanted a white block to replace those red blocks but knew it was impossible.
No one was his family. He was no one's family.
Harry only realized that he was sitting when a cup was placed in his hands and he was gently pushed back against the backrest of the chair.
"Now, Severus. Harry has had a traumatic experience and you behaving like a vengeful bat is not helping. Unfortunately, only you, poppy and Minerva are still at the castle. Poppy is leaving within three days and Minerva will be gone mostly during the day time to debrief new muggle born first years and their parents of the magical world."
Snape really did not like where this conversation was going and looked towards Potter to gauge his reaction. He was a bit disappointed to see that the boy still had a far away look on his face and that he was the only one at the moment who was horrified with what was happening.
Oh, they would definitely hear it when Potter had snapped out of whatever little fantasy he was in.
"Severus? Severus! really, one detached mind is enough to deal with please concentrate on the now and here."
Dumbledore's voice was gentle but firm and Severus could do nothing but listen to the headmaster.
"As I was saying. I'm needed at the ministry to sort out all the educational decrees and bans that were placed. It could take days or it could take weeks. I trust Harry with my life but I would feel much more at ease if there were an adult with him."
The sinking feeling in Severus's stomach had reached his feet.
"Because Harry is here at Hogwarts, there will be no stopping him from doing magic, even though he is under age. The wards around Hogwarts prevents the ministry from recognizing the underage use of magic."
"You, Severus, are the only one I trust with Harry at this moment. I know there are a few grudges between you both and that it would be a hard road ahead but I would really appreciate it if you would please be a mentor or guardian to Harry until school starts."
"Albus, you know that I respect you and would lay my life down for you but this, this is really asking a bit much."
Severus's voice was hard but soft. He knew that there was no fighting with Albus Dumbledore, but he wanted Albus to know exactly how he felt about this arrangement.
"I know Severus and I would be eternally grateful to you if you would do this for me. Harry can stay here or in the Slytherins common room. As long as he is relatively close to you."
"What?"
Apparently Potter had come out of his daze.
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