"Take this potion Harry, it will make you feel better." A warm voice soothed.
Blurry eyes opened and darted about the room as his body flinched. "Wha – !"
"Shh, relax Harry." Snape murmured before the fearful words could continue.
"P-professor Snape?" The confused youth blinked back tears.
"It's alright Harry, you're safe now."
It grew almost impossible to hold them back now, as emerald orbs filled with tears immediately. Here he was, the great Harry Potter at his lowest and his supposed enemy was helping him.
"Thank you." His whisper was almost lost as he bowed his head.
"Harry, tell me what happened." Snape urged.
Harry clenched his fists in his lap as his body froze. It wasn't just the fact that his name sounded foreign on the wizard's tongue. He didn't want anyone to find out.
"Nothing Sir." He whimpered.
"Harry." Snape warned.
"I swear." Harry pleaded quickly. "N-nothing happened!"
"I don't believe you." Snape replied flatly. "And I will speak with Albus on the matter if you – "
"No! Not Dumbledore, nobody is to know!" He interrupted desperately.
"So you admit something did happen." The voice was cool.
He couldn't hold back the tears any longer, no matter how weak he looked. He nodded as his cheeks flushed with the suppressed tears.
"H-he t-touched m-m-e." The Gryffindor felt betrayed by the nervous twinge in his voice.
Dark eyes narrowed. "Who Harry, I need to know exactly who before I can understand."
"M-malfoy." He hiccupped in reply. "H-he – he…" Harry couldn't continue at the mere thought of his rape.
Disgusting, dirty, soiled, just a useless nothing to be used.
He buried his face in his hands as the torrent of images evaded his mind.
"Damn him." Snape hissed.
"Sir?" Harry glanced up.
The Potions Master sighed regrettably. "I locked Mr. Malfoy in his dorm, he had been highly…intoxicated." He shook his head. "But he obviously escaped." He spat in disgust.
Harry nodded his head numbly, feeling that the disgust in the wizard's voice was meant for him. He lowered his gaze and pinched his eyes shut painfully.
Of course, how could you think otherwise when you've been used so whorishly.
"No." He whimpered, biting his lip in an attempt to regain control of his rebelling mind.
"Harry?" The deep voice was laced with concern.
"Don't touch me." He muttered, not opening his eyes. "Dirty. Used. So dirty."
"Listen to me Mr. Potter, I will only tell you this once." Snape lifted the trembling chin and remained unmoving until Harry opened his eyes.
"It was not your fault."
Slowly recognition dawned in the broken child and he felt a small smile form as he took in the heart spoken words. He closed his eyes and nodded with a serene air.
"Now take your potion Mr. Potter." Severus said lightly.
The tousled head nodded again and Harry willingly took the potion offered. The soothing effects washed over him and he felt himself growing heavy.
"Thank you Severus." He whispered as he fell into sleep.
"You spoke with Dumbledore?"
Harry released a frustrated sigh as he threw himself into an abandoned seat. "Yes." He spat.
"And?" Severus urged. "What does he have to say on the matter?"
There was an un-amused snort. "He banned me from Quidditch and told me I would have to be tested under Veritaserum."
"What! That's it, he's not going to take action against Malfoy?"
Harry sighed and toyed with a lock of hair. "You know as well as I do that Malfoy would get his father to pay the court anyway. There's no helping it."
Dark eyes flamed. "Don't sell yourself short Harry, Malfoy may be high ranked but he is still human. What Draco did to you is inexcusable and he should be punished."
Harry nodded distractedly as he gazed toward the ceiling.
"Are you hungry?"
Harry snapped back to attention at the oddly placed question.
"What?" He frowned.
There was a slight coloring to Snape's cheeks as he glanced away.
Merlin, is he blushing? Harry's eyes widened.
"I asked if you were hungry Mr. Potter." Severus replied, turning back with a cool and collected mask. "I saw that you haven't been shoveling your face with food for the past couple days."
Harry smiled to himself. Watching me have you Sev?
He shrugged. "I don't know what's wrong, I'm hungry." He assured. "I have a craving for something, but I don't know what it is." He faltered.
Severus nodded. "I understand. Let's see, you've been," he gestured toward Harry's stomach. "For how long?"
"About a month I think." Harry replied nonchalantly.
"'You think'?" Snape repeated with slight disgust. "Potter, your use, or lack, of words astounds me."
Harry smirked. "Aw Sev, don't be mean." He chuckled. "You never know when the mood swings will kick in."
Severus rolled his eyes. "Indeed."
Harry swung his legs as he thought. "Well I've been, pregnant for about a month." The slight shudder did not go unnoticed. "And I still can't figure out what I'm craving."
Severus nodded slightly. "Perhaps a visit to the kitchens? Surely your friend Dobby would be happy to help you and I know you can find the kitchens yourself. Merlin knows you've probably snuck there before." He sneered.
Harry laughed and nodded in agreement. "You're right, I have been there a few times." He admitted.
It was funny how they had forgotten all of their anger towards each other in the last month, the time spent together was as friends. They were civil now and Harry found that the older wizard wasn't such a git.
He's actually quite nice once you get past the cold exterior. He mused.
The Gryffindor stood with a yawn and stretching. "Well it's almost past curfew, I'd better head back."
"Yes Potter, I wouldn't want Filch catching you for detention." Severus smiled amusedly.
Harry smiled in return. "Thanks for detention Sev, it was fun." He waved over his shoulder.
"Remember Harry, my door is always open whenever you need help." Snape called.
Harry smiled to himself as he left the lab and opted for the shadowed corridor. He sighed. Sev is too kind to me, it's too bad he's so much older or I might find myself liking him.
There was a slight bounce to his step as he walked toward the staircase. His day had at least ended on a good note in his opinion.
He was suddenly distracted by a rather loudly whispered conversation coming from the portraits at his side.
"Oh dear, you don't say!"
"Yes, yes, I saw him myself, wandering through Hogwarts as thought searching for someone."
"Should we warn Headmaster Dumbledore?"
Harry drifted away from the hurried gossip, curious as to what the two ladies were talking about but too tired to actually stop and listen in.
I wonder what that was about.
"Why good evening Potter."
Harry jerked around with wide eyes as the shadows revealed a fiendish sight.
"What do you want?" He growled as he reached for his wand.
"You. Stupefy!"
Harry fell heavily to the ground and all he knew was darkness.