Hello there. Thank you so much for the reviews!  Here comes the next part. After this part, the story will fast forward a couple of weeks, when Harry's got back some of his confidence…

Oh, and I'm sorry if there's any grammar faults, as I am just 15 and I'm Swedish.

Also, I'll try to remember to put up warnings for chapters that are not suitable for young people.

By the way, do you say "Damn him" or "Damn he"? I didn't really figure that out… :P

Rate and review please,

See you xxx

The following day passed by without any major occurrences. Once more, Severus watched Harry not-eat. It disturbed him that the boy wouldn't tell him why.

When the clock turned seven, Severus was waiting in the same room as yesterday and a couple of minutes later, Harry arrived, looking even more tired than yesterday.

"Good evening, Mr Potter."

"Good evening, Sir." Harry replied politely.

To Harry's surprise, Severus moved to the other couch, where Harry sat, and sat down next to the boy.

"Will you tell me?" The man asked softly.

"I… I can't!" Harry looked away.

Severus raised his hand a bit, eyeing Harry's reaction carefully. To his expectations, Harry flinched and moved a bit further from Severus. The professor put his hand on Harry's shoulder, feeling the boy tense under his touch.

"Who made you act like this?" Severus whispered.

"My uncle." The boy replied quietly.
"He abused you physically?"

"Please… don't force me to tell you…" Harry begged.

I was right about that. He's telling more than he thinks he is,Severus thought.

"How often?"

"When he was drunk… At least twice a week…" Tears were falling from his eyes. "It doesn't matter. I don't need you too, to tell me I'm not worth anything."

Verbal abuse too. Please don't say it's more.

Severus took a deep breath. "Sexually?"
Harry looked away in shame and let out a small gasp as his back ached. "Once." He whispered and refused to meet his professor's glance.

Damn it, this is more emotions than I can handle.
"You are undernourished too." The older man stated. "When was the last time he beat you?"

"The day before I got here…" Came the answer reluctantly.

"Poppy needs to check on you. It is obvious that your body aches."

"NO! Please, no. I don't want anyone to know." Harry objected loudly.

"May I do it then?" Severus asked impatiently.

"Yes." The answer came immediately.

"I need you to take off your clothes. Can you do that or do you want me to use my wand?"

"It'd be easier if you do it." Harry blushed lightly.

"Very well then." Severus swung his wand and Harry's clothes landed in a neat pile on the floor. "Lay down on your stomach." He mumbled something and his wand started glowing as he let it caress Harry's spine and legs. "Your back is remarkably bruised and so is your bottom." Severus said seriously.

Hell, this isn't anything that I am supposed to do.

To Severus' amazement, Harry showed no sign of embarrassment, although he was naked in front of a teacher.

"Turn around." Severus mumbled. He searched for any sign of displeasure in Harry's eyes, but found none. Instead, the boy looked at him in a mixture of fear and curiosity.

Harry flinched as the wand moved over the left side of his waist. He tried to hide his reaction from Severus, but he should have known that the professor would notice anyway.

"Potter…" The professor muttered. "Your ankles, your genitals, your waist and your torso are hurt badly. If you want, I can apply a lotion, on the worst bruises, that will help in the progress of mending your injuries. For best results, you would need someone to apply the lotion every night. I will also give you a nourishment potion, because you are undernourished." Severus said. Seeing the boy like this had been an eye-opener for him. Obviously he wasn't his father's son.

"Err… okay…" Harry whispered softly. "But… err… there's one thing that I don't understand, Sir. Why are you helping me? You hate me…" The boy looked at his teacher with nothing but sheer vulnerability in his eyes.

"Because you are in a need of help." The man answered simply. He exited the room and returned a few moments later with a small jar. "I'll apply this on your ankles and your waist. Tell me if it hurts." Severus explained patiently. He opened the jar and took some lotion on his hands and smeared it into the student's ankles.

At first, Harry flinched under Severus' touch, but it didn't take long until he realised that he wasn't going to get hurt.

"It aches..." He managed to say.

"I would assume so." The older man replied. "It will hurt for a minute or two." He put some more lotion on his fingers and moved his hands to the boy's unnaturally thin waist. The professor was shocked how thin the boy was, but he didn't display it.

When Harry felt Severus' hands on his waist he tried to pull away but Severus had his waist in a firm grip.

"Look at me Potter." The professor demanded and let go of Harry's body. He waited until he had eye-contact with his student. "I know you have been through a lot and the way you react when I touch you is understandable due to your treatment." He put a hand on Harry's torso and let it slide over the boy's chest. "Have you been treated so badly you do not even recognise a gentle touch anymore? Do you think I am going to hurt you?" He whispered.

The student's eyes went teary and the professor realised he had to be kinder.

"You have you allow me to help you. You know that I am not going to hurt you." Severus put some more lotion on his hands and massaged it into the boy's waist, more carefully this time.

"Turn around." The professor ordered and watched his student oblige.

Ten minutes later, Severus was done and he put away the jar. When he returned he watched Harry getting dressed.

"Thank you, Sir. Good night." Harry said quietly when he was finished.

"Good night, Mr Potter." The professor answered sternly.

When Harry woke up the next day, he felt much better than the day before. His bruises didn't hurt half as much as they did before, although they still ached when he sat and walked.

As the following day, he walked around all by himself, avoiding his friends' questions and glances. All he wanted was the day to come to an end.

During the lunch, he noticed his potions professor eyeing him and although he never caught his eyes, he knew he was watched. Also, he knew exactly what his professor wanted him to do – eat. He tried but as he stuffed a tiny bit of a potato into his mouth, he was ready to vomit.

Carefully avoiding looking at the Head table, he rose and walked out of the room.

Just as he got out of the great hall, a note arrived in front of him, levitating in the air. He quickly grabbed it before anyone noticed and read it as he walked to the next lesson.

Mr Potter,

Your presence is required in my office.

Professor Snape

Damn he, Harry thought angrily. Why can't he just leave me alone? Despite his thoughts, he knew that deep inside he appreciated that someone cared, for once. He moaned slightly when his thoughts were interrupted by a voice.

"Hey, Harry! There you are." Hermione smiled at him and walked up to him.

"Hi." Harry replied silently.

"How are you? I've barely seen you all day. Why are you avoiding us?" She asked concerned.

"Oh… I've just been studying, you know, I paid interest to the classes for once." He lied.

"That's great, Harry. Really!" She exclaimed beaming at him. "Maybe you could try to talk some of that sense into Ron?"

"Nah… doubt he would listen." He faked a laugh.

"Well, I guess you're right. Umm, I need to go to the library, you coming?"

"Sorry, I can't, I need to see one of the teachers. See you later." Harry explained and spun on his heels, walking down to the dungeons.