Chapter 6: Staff

Snape wasn't surprised by most of the teaching staff sitting in Dumbledore's office when he arrived. By now, Harry would have been missed, considering breakfast had ended and morning classes had begun. There was no doubt in his mind, that Granger and Weasley had noticed him gone and reported it to McGonagall. All the heads of house were there. Professor Sprout looked worried while Flickwick was pacing with his head deep in thought. McGonagall's mouth was a thin line. Snape noticed that Moody was standing in a dark corner with a suspicious look on his face, playing idly with his wand. Snape could feel Moody's magical eye trying to bore into him. Dumbledore was drumming his fingers on his desk with a pained look on his face.

"Good morning. Sorry I missed breakfast, I had something to take care of." Snape said sliding into an empty chair.

"I'm glad you're here, Severus." Dumbledore said gloomily. "I was just going to call you. Harry Potter is missing."

"Potter is not miss-"

Snape didn't get to finish because Moody had thrust his wand into Snape's throat. He growled. "I knew you couldn't be trusted. What did you do to the boy? Where did you stash him?"

Snape saw Dumbledore's mouth open to reprimand Moody but he beat him to it. He usually backed down from the man, fear of the auror from 13 years ago usually kept him in place but today he was feeling brave. He guessed that solving the Potter mystery had gave him some courage. "Really, stash him? I'd rather kill him and get it over with."

The room went quiet and Snape could have sworn that he heard Sprout start crying. Moody exclaimed. "See, Dumbledore, I knew it!"

Snape snorted. Yet, when he did look at Dumbledore, Snape was disappointed to see a look of doubt on the headmaster's face. "I haven't killed Potter, you bloody git. He's in my quarters, asleep. That's what I have come to speak with the headmaster about."

He felt Moody digging his wand in his neck but he pulled back when McGonagall said. "Alastor put that away. Severus, why is Harry Potter in your rooms?"

"If Moody can keep his wand to himself," He eyed Moody dubiously. "I'll tell you."

Dumbledore sighed and ushered everyone into seats then he conjured up tea for everyone. Once everyone had a cup, except Moody, who declined, they all turned towards Snape, waiting patiently for an explanation.

Snape smirked, "What?"

McGonagall was furious. "You better tell us what's going on or I'll hex you so bad!"

"Calm down, Minerva." Dumbledore said, "Severus is just pushing your buttons. I suggest you tell us, what has happened."

Snape sighed. "The night of the Welcoming Fest, I found Potter about after curfew. He was acting oddly. I decided to investigate. He was the one who lost the points and I gave them back because I wanted to throw him off guard. I also gave him detention every Monday night after diner till the end of term. With the information I gathered, I was able to tell why Potter was acting so damn strange."

He paused and took a long drink of his tea. He could tell that the other professors were at the edge of their seats, waiting to find out what had happened. He was amused by this and decided to take his time.

"Well?" Grumbled Moody.

"Hmm, oh yes." He said coldly. "Potter is very depressed and can not sleep at nights. Seems, boy wonder is down with a case of insomnia."

For the most part, everyone looked relieved that he was all right and nothing too bad was going on with the boy. Yet, Dumbledore had an odd, thoughtful look on his face and Moody was still hateful and unbelieving. The Moody griped. "Why the hell is he in your rooms?"

Snape rolled his eyes. "Because that's where I took him."

"I think what he means," Sprout smiled and touched Snape's arm affectionately, "Why did you take him there? Shouldn't you have brought him to Poppy?"

He answered her. "Don't you think there is a reason he hasn't told anyone about this problem. Not Weasley. Not Granger. Not even his head of house."

"He's very independent." McGonagall said smugly.

Snape snorted. "No. He doesn't trust you."

Everyone looked very surprised. Snape understood why. They all thought they had very good relationships with Harry Potter. They even looked at each other for some sign that what Snape said was wrong. He would have been greatly amused if it wasn't so very sad. Dumbledore was the most shocked of them all. Moody's expression hadn't changed and Snape knew he didn't believe him at all.

"Why?" Sprout blubbered. "I don't understand."

Flickwick looked puzzled. "Quite right. Why doesn't he trust us?"

Snape sneered. "He is smarter than I have given him credit for. Much to my chagrin. He understands his role in life as the wizarding world sees him. He is Harry Potter, the boy-who-lived. He is a celebrity and everything he does is monitored. He represents good in good versus evil. He is a beacon of hope. Etcetera, etcetera. Besides, I think he is waiting for what ever hoop he has to jump through this year to happen."

Dumbledore asked. "Hoop?"

"Haven't you noticed by now that something happens every year?" He smiled. "Between the dark lord, basiliskes, and escaped killers, he barley has time for mountain trolls, possessed diaries, and dementors."

Flickwick said. "My word."

"Poor dear." Sprout whispered. "Is that why he is depressed?"

"I will talk to him at once. I'll reassure him." McGonagall huffed.

Snape snapped. "Yes, that is one of the reasons he is depressed. Another I am sure of he is scared someone will get hurt or die. That may be the reason he never told any of friends. He will not talk to you about it. It took me two weeks to drag this out of him and he hates me. What do you think he will say to anyone he cares about? Nothing. He'll only reassure you that nothing is wrong and I'm out to make trouble. Besides, I promised I wouldn't tell you what was wrong with him. I promised I wouldn't tell anyone."

Sprout nodded as if understanding. Snape wasn't sure if she did. Hufflepuffs were bit on the slower side of things in his opinion. "Why is still in your rooms?"

"He hasn't got any real sleep in weeks." Snape answered her. "I gave him a very strong sleeping potion and he is resting. He shouldn't wake up until tonight. When he does wake up, I plan on having a nice, long chat with him."

Moody's eye rolled around in his head. "Talk, eh? What kind of talk?"

"Believe or not, Moody." Snape sighed. "I'm not going to kill, maim, or threaten him. I am a teacher here and am responsible for my students. I'm going to help him."

He noticed rather stunned looks on the teachers' faces. What, did they think he was a monster or something. He had helped students before. He was rather annoyed by their reaction.

"I think everyone should get to their classes. We learned all we are going to today. Perhaps, Severus can update us on his progress with Harry?" Dumbledore said.

Everyone got up and headed towards the door. Snape was relieved that was over with and he hadn't revealed Harry's sadder secrets. He was also happy to say, he hadn't lied to them either. Then Dumbledore's voice called out to him and he was worried all over again, "Severus, could you stay for a moment."

Snape slinked back over to his chair. Wistfully, wishing he was in his classroom, yelling at Hufflepuffs.

"I don't you have told me everything." Dumbledore said.

Snape thought the headmaster had been rather quiet about what had been said today. Then, Snape thought he had used the other teachers well to interrogate him. Very crafty of the old man, he mused. He was starting to see what Harry had said about him and realized he was a bit manipulative. No, it wasn't that Dumbledore didn't care for him or Harry. It was more that the world was a hard place and different people have different responsibilities.

"No," Snape said simply, "I haven't and I am not going to either. Harry will when he is ready."

"You're calling him Harry now." He smiled.

For some reason, one he didn't even know, he smiled back. "Yes. But not in front of students. I do have a reputation to keep."

The headmaster laughed. "Of course you do. Does Harry really not trust me? Should I be worried?"

"Harry does not trust anyone." Snape sighed. "Not his friends, not his godfather, and not you. He has his reasons and they are his own. He may tell you all of them someday. And as for being worried, don't be until he has given you a reason. I will deal with him and if I can't, I will tell you. Now, excuse me, I have a class of dunderheads to teach."

Dumbledore nodded sadly. Snape left wishing that all the teachers would listen to him for once and stay out of it. Right now, he knew they would not be of any help.

The day passed Snape by in a haze. He taught all his classes on autopilot. He had little patience with anyone. The other professors were going out of their way to be courteous and the students were all whispering to each other about the missing Potter. He was sure that Draco Malfoy started the rumor that Harry was expelled for inappropriate charms involving his broomstick. He also heard that he was turned accidentally into a bullfrog. Another story was that he been kidnapped by Sirius Black. His personally favorite was that Potter was chained in the dungeons by the evil potion master for cheating on exams. He had to bite his cheeks to keep from laughing when the Ravenclaws hissed this to each other.

During lunch, the Gryffindors were all staring at him. He was amused to find that they believed that Potter was chained in the dungeons. Their angry, hateful stares were very funny and he told so to McGonagall, which tightened her lips and narrowed her eyes.

When he saw Weasley and Granger give him odd searching looks, he had known that their head of house had told them where Harry was. He was annoyed they were told, for it wasn't their business, but wasn't surprised that they were told.

Snape left lunch early and went back to his personal rooms. Harry was still asleep as he should be because the sleeping potion was very strong. The glamours were still in place, which was very odd. Those types of charms were very draining and required a lot of power to reinforce. Most people under these strong charms had very little magic left to use. Harry must be very powerful to continue using them and doing his class work.

He looked very peaceful. The charms were most beautiful with thick and glossy black curls. His skin looked so soft and unblemished with a tint of rose in the cheeks. Snape stroked his cheek and he leaned in. He knew if he wanted to have sex with the boy, he could. He shook the thought from his head and headed to his next class. He would deal with him at dinnertime.

After his classes were through for the day, he went to the school kitchens. He ordered two dinners for he and Harry. He thought chicken sounded very good. The house elves were delighted to be of service and with low bows went to work. They said the dinners would be in his rooms in twenty minutes.

Harry was awake when he got there. He was sitting on his bed still wrapped in blankets staring at the floor as if it had him some great injustice. Silent tears were dripping down his cheeks. He didn't look up when Snape entered the room.

Snape sat in a chair opposite of him. "Good. I see your awake, saves me some time. The house elves will be delivering dinner in fifteen minutes. I hope you like chicken."

Harry nodded but didn't look interested. He continued staring at the floor.

"We will be eating in the sitting room." He sighed. "Come with me."

They went to the sitting room and seated themselves. Harry sat as far away from him as possible. He still refused to look him in the eyes. Dinner was served and the house elf, who delivered it, disappeared without a word and without an interest in either of them. Snape ate heartily but Harry played around with his food and only took a few bites.

Snape asked him. "Aren't you going to eat more than that?"

When Harry answered, his voice was very hoarse. "No."

"Is there a reason for that?" Snape eyed him.

Harry muttered something inaudible. Snape told him to repeat it louder. He said very simply. "I have to get used to eating again."

"Weren't you with the Weasley for some weeks? Didn't they feed you?"

Harry shoved his fork around some more. "Yes, they did. I had to eat too much at every meal and it made me sick."

Snape nodded and got up. When he returned he handed him a few potion bottles. "These are nourishment potions. Drink an entire bottle every morning. Each one continues enough nutrients for your body. It will be like eating all your meals at once but you should still try to eat. It shouldn't make you sick. There is enough here for two weeks. If you should need more than tell me. Do you understand what the potions do?"

Harry stared at the bottles in his arms. "I do."

"I take it your family doesn't feed you when you are at home." He returned to his chair.

The boy was very startled. He finally looked at him and Snape could see the worry in his eyes. "I thought you knew."

"I did and I didn't. The spell I used only told me bits and pieces of information. Most of it was feelings and ideas. You just told me what I wanted to know. There are other things I want to know. In one of your memories, I could feel your hunger. Would care to explain. I suggest you don't lie or I may have to resort to doing it again."

Harry sighed and looked down at his plate. He looked a little sick. "They did feed me, just not very much. Sometimes not for days. Once, they were very mad at me and didn't feed for a month."

"How much did they feed you when they did?"

"Not a lot," He garbled, "Never like a real meal like you get here. Usually leftovers or old food."

Snape asked. "Who are they? What are their names?"

"My family is the Dursleys. There is my Aunt Petunia; she's my mother's sister. There is my Uncle Vernon and my cousin, Dudley."

He nodded. "Tell me what they do to you."

"Getting you kicks." Harry snorted. "Did you enjoy what watching what they did to me?"

Snape scowled. "Not particularly. But if you don't tell me, I'm sure the headmaster would love to know."

He grumbled, a few new tears dripped down his face. "Didn't you already tell them?"

"I told you, I wouldn't tell them and I didn't. I told them, you were suffering from a case of insomnia, which from you memories, I can tell you were. Though, I didn't mention you couldn't sleep because you were worried that I knew your secrets. I may have stated that you are depressed about your role in life and the dark lord's return. Your head of house may try to talk to you though I asked her not too."

"I know how to deal with her." Harry relaxed.

Snape said again. "Tell me what they do to you."

"You know what they do to me!" Harry screamed at him. "Leave it alone!"

Snape yelled back. "Tell me what they do to you!"

He throw the table at the potion master. He dodged them but the plates broke on the floor. Food was thrown everywhere. "You know what they do to me. They starve me. I do fucking everything they want done, I'm their little house elf. Their slave to fuck, to cut, to beat. I'm their freak and they don't want me. They hate me. They never wanted me. They never wanted me."

He started crying and collapsed on the floor. Deep and heavy sobs come from him. He wrapped his arms around himself. Snape walked over and held him again. He sighed and rubbed circles into his chest. He told Harry. "Shush. I needed to hear you say it. You understand, don't you? You needed to say it, you needed to admit it."

He sniffed. "You're a bastard."

"I know." He smiled.

"I didn't need to say it, I all already knew it. I lived it." He pulled away from him.

Snape exhaled noisily. "When I was your age, I didn't have any friends and my family had very little contact with me. All my pain stayed there because there was no one there who cared, to share my pain, and empathize with me. The pain made me the angry, bitter man you see before you. You need to talk about it or it'll eat you alive. That's what happened to me."

Harry was astonished. "That doesn't sound like you. I mean, I can't see you saying something like that."

"It wasn't something that I would say." He laughed. "Dumbledore told me that years ago and it took me years to understand it but it is true. It'll eat you alive and twist you into something horrid. It did to me. I would hate to see that happen to anyone else."

Harry nodded but didn't say anything. The room was quiet for a moment as Harry thought about what he had said. "Can I trust you? You won't tell, will you?"

Snape fought the urge to role his eyes. "How many times do I have to tell you. I will not tell anyone unless there is a reason. One, that you are lying to me. Two, that you are in danger. It's that simply. I am trying to help you."

"Okay, it's just hard." He said softly. "It's hard to talk about. It's hard to believe you want to help me."

Snape agreed. He and Harry didn't have the best relationship. Years of mutually loathing did not result in a very trusting relationship of any sort. He thought about his for a second and decided not to push for all the answers to his questions at once. He had to earn his trust. He could only try to help and hope they could move forward. "I understand. We'll take a different approach; we'll take it slow. Each time you have detention with me and yes, you still have detention with every Monday night until the end of term. We will talk about one of your memories until we're done with that. Then we may talk about your current problems or something else you wish talk about. But, if there is another problem and you need help or you need to talk to me admittedly, you can come to me. My password to my chambers is 'Dumbledore is sexy.' I know, it's very funny. I trust you won't steal or anything, if you do I will be very angry. Is that agreeable.?"

"Yes." Harry said.

"There is something we do need to talk about right now."

Harry gulped. "What would that be?"

"Your glamour charms." Snape told him.

Harry settled down. "Oh, them. What would like to know about them?"

"It is very advanced magic. Most glamours are done only on one area, for example a scar or blemish. Sometimes on an entire face but it very draining. Did you know, you still do them in your sleep. You do them on your entire body to make you look healthy, taller, and flawless. How do you do it? Where did you learn it?"

"I started doing them when I was little." Harry said. "I didn't realize what I was doing, I didn't learn I was a wizard until Hagrid brought me my letter. Uncle Vernon would give me black eyes and stuff and I didn't want anyone to know at school. He said if I ever told anyone he would kill me and I think he would have. I was doing it but didn't know how. They would just disappear. When I came to Hogwarts, I look them up in the library and taught myself. It was just easier that way."

"I need you to remove them." Snape understood.

Harry blanched. "No! I can't! I won't!"

Snape gave him a moment to calm down and said. "I need you to remove them. I need to see if you require medical attention."

"No, I don't. I'm fine." He snarled. "The potion took care of that."

"I'm sure it did but I want to make sure you're healthy. I'm trying to help you." Snape sighed.

Harry laughed bitterly. "I'll be fine by winter. I just need to adjust to eating again."

"You probably are. I still don't care, take them off."

He pleaded with him. "Please, I don't want to."

"I don't care. Take them off."

Harry chewed his lip and then smiled a bit. "I need my wand."

Snape smirked. "Good thing, I brought it with me."

He handed Harry his wand. He looked miserable but whispered the incantation to remove the charm. When it disappeared the boy looked much different. He was very small, much smaller than a first year. He was sickly looking and too thin. He looked like a miniature skeleton. His face had scars from cuts in linear lines on one cheek form brow to chin. The burn by his left ear was much larger than Snape had previously thought, it continued behind it and slinked down his neck to be hidden by his robes. His bottom lip had a thick scar that pointed down. His nose was stubbed and thick like a boxer's, it appeared to have been broken many times. His mouth hung a little to the left, Snape was sure that it had been broken and never probably fixed. His eyes had a dead look in them, even the green in them looked faded. His right eye was more closed than the other, it was obvious that he had some muscle damage there. He was one of the saddest sights that Snape had ever seen. It made him sick but he didn't show it. He walked up to him unstudied the marks of him. Harry looked away with an empty look but Snape was sure he was ashamed.

"These scars can be removed. I will have to do some research to find the best way."

Harry look at him with hope on his face. "They can. I couldn't find anything in the library on how."

Snape smiled. "The library does in the restricted section." He asked.

"Then why doesn't Moody do something about his?"

The potion master frowned but not too deeply; he didn't want to frighten the boy. "Moody's scars are magical and can't be removed. There may be some that are not, but I think he is rather proud of them."

Harry nodded and picked up his wand but Snape stopped him. "Not so fast. I want to you to talk off your clothes. I need to check your body as well."

"No." Harry moped darkly. "You don't there is nothing on my body."

"Yes, there are marks. Now, take you clothes off or you can take them off for Pomfrey!"

He started crying again. He took them off. He mumbled something that sounded like ugly, dirty freak but Snape wasn't sure. His chest had freak carved into it and his left nipple was gone, a circular scar left in its place. His stomach had loose swirls of white disfigurements on it. There were several marks shaped like bites on his shoulders. He had more thin scars on his arms. His left arm hung at an odd angle in two places and his right arm did the same. Snape thought that his arms had been broken as well. His fingers didn't look straight either and his left thumb couldn't bend at all. They had to be fixed as well. Poor boy, too many broken bones. His legs had more of the same linear scars on them. Also, his thighs had more of the bite marks on them. His penis looked peculiar with little scars embedded on them. His testicles were unblemished but were oddly small and higher on the pelvis then Snape had ever seen. He didn't think was an injury just an oddity of the human body. His buttocks had more of the bite marks on them as well as the scars. He wanted to check his anal crevice but did not because he knew Harry would panic. It would be best to leave to another time. The worst injury of them all was his back. It was one giant scar, not one area was left of unmarked skin. Thick, grotesque whip scars layered on top of each covered every square inch. Snape carefully checked his arm to check for self-harm but was relieved to find none. At least the boy wasn't suicidal.

"You may get dressed." Snape was pleased that his voice was firm.

Harry dressed quietly and returned to his chair. He replaced the charms at once. He did look not at him.

"Next Monday, I may have something for the scars but because there are so many I need to do some research on the best approach on fixing them. In two days, I will have a potion that will help you with weight gain. You are suffering from malnourishment. You are two small for your age, we both know that. I will have something for that as well. Everything else, like the improperly healed broken bones will take time, I need to do research for that as well. Would you like to talk about anything?"

"No." Harry whispered.

Snape nodded. He wished he had something inspirational to say but he couldn't think of anything. "You may go then. Your friends may know where you have been, you will have to deal with them and I'm sure your head of house may bother you. I'm sure you'll think of something appropriate to say. If you don't want anyone to suspect, I suggest we go back to loathing each other in public. Good night, Harry"

"I was thinking the same thing. Good night." Harry straightened himself. He took some calming breaths and left.

Snape called some house elves to clean up the mess. He took along hot shower and got ready for bed. He went to bed after a few mouthfuls of a sleeping potion. He knew he wouldn't sleep otherwise. He was sick to his stomach and felt dirty for witnessing the boy's shame. He would kill the Dursleys if he ever meets them. He would and he wouldn't feel guilty about itone bit.