Harry and Professor Snape were in Diagon Alley walking into the apothecary shop just as Aunt Vespa was walking out the door. At first they all froze when recognition took hold. Then Snape whipped his wand out but not before Vespa had her wand pointing at Harry's head.
"Put your wand away Severus or the boy will pay," Vespa hissed in an evil tone of voice.
Severus slowly lowered his wand and put it back into his robe. Vespa kept her wand pointed at Harry's head as she watched her nephew. She continued holding the wand to Harry's head and sneered at the look of alarm her nephew was showing. It became very obvious to her that this boy was very special to Severus.
"So, you are choosing to not heed my warning, I see. It is obvious you are still planning on adopting the orphan. Tsk, tsk, Severus, you are much more dim-witted then I had thought," Vespa reprimanded, as she lowered her wand slightly and pushed it into Harry's chest.
Snape knew she was an expert at non verbal spells and dared not make a move against her with her wand pointing at Harry's heart. He looked into Harry's eyes shaking his head so the boy would not attempt to do anything reckless.
Harry saw Snape's signal to remain still, feeling a sudden panic at the thought of Vespa's control over him at the moment. Harry looked at Vespa and saw the evil glint in her eye and ugly sneer that she usually wore. He could smell her disgusting lavender perfume mixed with the herbs from the apothecary. It turned his stomach and he knew he would never forget that smell. At that moment Harry wanted to kill her and watch her suffer as he had to suffer. She was the cause of him being sent back to the Dursley's, she was the reason why he was so sick, and worst of all she was the reason why Professor Snape could not proceed with the adoption. He was filled with fury and looked into the evil witch's face with revulsion.
"How dare you look at me like that, you pathetic little creature! You have no idea the power I hold over you at this moment, do you? If I refuse to give you the antidote you will die a slow horrible death by having your insides eaten away. You will no longer have those rosy cheeks and bright eyes," Vespa caressed Harry's face with her other hand.
"Don't touch him!" Snape said and took a step towards them.
Vespa looked into Severus' eyes as she slowly caressed Harry's face again, daring the man to make a move. Harry had a look of panic in his eyes and pulled his head back abruptly as memories of Vernon flooded his thoughts. His stomach was in knots and he felt as if he might vomit. Vespa roughly grabbed his face and slapped him hard. Harry was shocked as he put his hand up to his stinging cheek looking towards Severus. He wanted to throw a few spells at the disgusting hag and was wondering why Severus wasn't already doing it.
Severus looked into the boy's eyes again giving a slight shake of the head. He took another step towards them as Vespa quickly grabbed Harry's arm.
Severus knew he would not be quick enough to get Harry away before she cast a curse. He was livid and shaking with fury at Vespa. He saw Harry's violent reaction to being touched like that, knowing he would need to address that with the boy soon. He felt an overwhelming need to protect Harry and moved a little closer to him.
"Back away Severus," Vespa hissed and pressed the wand harder into Harry's chest. Snape heard Harry take in a sudden breath. He quickly stepped back not wanting Vespa to harm the boy any further.
A few ladies had stopped to watch when Harry had been slapped. Now a few more were watching and Vespa suddenly became aware of their whispers.
"Vespa, we are in the middle of Diagon Alley with several witnesses around. You must lower your wand immediately before you begin to draw a crowd," Snape said as he tried to reason with her. His hand was now under his cloak and around his wand.
"Oh yes, as soon as I release the boy I know exactly what you will do. You leave me no alternative but to take young Mr. Potter with me," Vespa tightened her grip on Harry's arm like a vise.
Severus immediately grabbed Harry's other arm and yanked him away from Vespa before she could apparate with him. Vespa lost her grip on Harry as Severus pointed his wand at Vespa yelling out, "Stupefy!"
A yellow streak came flying out of Vespa's wand that brushed by Harry's arm and the boy screamed in agony as he fell to the ground. Snape threw himself over Harry and looked back at Vespa just as she apparated with a loud POP!
Vespa was gone and along with her the best chance they had at getting the antidote along with the formula.
Snape quickly stood up pulling Harry with him. Harry held his hurt arm close to his body feeling relief at being away from Vespa's control.
"Is it bad? May I take a look?" Snape asked and gently rolled up Harry's sleeve, revealing a giant angry welt.
"I'm okay professor, it just stings a little," Harry lied as he cradled his arm once more.
"Let's get back to Hogwarts and see what I have to fix that," Professor Snape said with an anxious look to his eyes.
Snape was angry at himself for not capturing Vespa, letting her get away. He knew that she would not be sending the antidote again, leaving less then three days for him to find the formula on his own. He had been so close but there was always something missing that he could not find in the formula. He was frustrated beyond belief. The thought of Harry dying was a painful concept to him but he knew it was now a possibility. Snape put his arm over the boy's shoulder and pulled him closer escorting Harry into the apothecary shop.
Harry leaned into the professor feeling safe once again. He took deep breaths and tried to forget about the terrible pain emanating from his arm. He could feel his arm starting to swell as it throbbed and he tried to focus his attention on the professor's arm over his shoulder. All his life he had seen Uncle Vernon comfort Dudley that same way. He had always watched and hoped that someday Uncle Vernon would hate him a little less and comfort him like that. Now the professor was doing just that and Harry didn't want to forget the feeling of having someone care that much. He knew that other people would just take a parent's physical touch for granted but he never would. Every time the professor had ever thrown an arm around him or pushed his hair back or even touched his face had been a memory that Harry would roll around in his mind whenever he began thinking of the abuse he had suffered. He needed those little moments to store away and take out when he began to feel despair closing in on him. It was becoming progressively harder to hide the depression that was always with him. He knew it had a lot to do with Uncle Vernon but also had a feeling it had to do with the poison coursing through his body as well. He didn't know how to keep it at bay anymore and now thought it would only get worse.
Snape steered Harry to a corner in the shop and gave him a pat on the shoulder, "Wait here, I have to talk with the apothecary." Snape looked at Harry closely, "Are you alright Harry?"
Harrynodded his head yes, feeling a lump in his throat and was afraid to speak.
Snape gave him another questioning look and then began to gather all the ingredients he would need. He questioned the apothecary on Vespa's purchases. He purchased the exact same ingredients as she had and hoped he would be able to work out the mystery of the poison in time.
Harry remained quietly standing in the corner, cradling his injured arm and thinking about the poison eating away at his insides. He knew what this encounter with Vespa meant and was nervous at the thought of dying like she had described it. He hoped she would send the antidote or that Snape would somehow manage to find out how to make it in time. He thought of his friends and Remus and the Weasley's and how they would react to his telling them that he had been poisoned by Snape's aunt. He didn't think it would go over well and hoped they didn't get angry at the Professor. He already knew how bad Professor Snape had been feeling over the whole thing and didn't want to make him feel any worse.
When Snape was finished with his purchases he stood before Harry and searched the boy's face for how he was feeling. He saw the bright red hand print clearly on Harry's pale face and wanted to kill his aunt with a vengeance.
"Let's return," Snape stated abruptly walking over to the floo. He needed to get his emotions under control before talking with the boy. He knew how Harry tended to take the blame for everything and wanted to make sure Harry didn't misinterpret his anger.
Harry nodded his head and followed the Professor through the floo into Hogsmeade. On the walk back to Hogwarts, Harry kept letting the thought of the poison inside him come to the surface. He tried to push it away but the memory of feeling his insides burning just last night was strong. He knew how hard it would be to hide all this from his friends and decided not to go back to Gryffindor Tower any time soon. It was so hard to hide the nightmares he had been having every night and he felt so much safer with the professor.
"Sir, do you mind if I stay with you for a while?"
"No, I do not mind at all, as a matter of fact I was going to suggest it myself. I would like to take several more blood samples and keep a close eye on that arm. If my guess is correct I believe your arm may begin to feel worse before it starts getting better," Severus said and looked towards Harry for his reaction.
Harry shook his head, "Nothing ever goes right for me, does it?"
Snape wished that he could deny what Harry had just said, but with all honesty he knew he couldn't.
"Someday you will have everything you ever wanted and look back to these days as a mere memory."
Harry quietly replied, "I almost did have everything I ever wanted."
Snape looked at the boy's slumped shoulders and hanging head, suddenly realizing what it was that Harry was referring to. The only thing the boy had ever wanted was a family who loved him unconditionally.
"Harry this adoption will go through. Suffice it to say there have been a few road blocks but I will not give up and neither should you. In the mean time I still consider you my son. Do you understand?"
Harry glanced up at the professor's face, "Yeah, but it's not real."
Snape gave him a look of confusion but didn't say anything further as they walked through the castle doors.
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When they reached Snape's quarters, Harry went right to the sofa and lay down with his arm pulled close to his chest. Snape put his purchases down and sat by Harry's side.
"May I?" The professor asked as he reached for Harry's injured arm.
Harry watched as Snape rolled his sleeve up once again and analyzed the angry bruise that was now the size of an orange. He rubbed some healing balm on it as Harry looked away, squeezing his eyes closed from the pain.
"Does it hurt?" Severus asked as he gently turned Harry's face towards him.
Harry shook his head, no. Severus raisedan eyebrow looking Harry in the eyes.
"Maybe a little, but I'm alright," Harry begrudgingly admitted and pulled his chin away.
"Yes, well I am going to give you a pain potion to take some of the discomfort away. You must keep from using that arm for a few days until the swelling comes down. No Quiddich for two days," Snape caught Harry's chin again, giving him a firm look.
Harry agreed with a nod.
"I will be spending the rest of today down in my laboratory and want you to sleep down there so I can keep an eye on you. Do you mind?"
"No sir," Harry replied and actually felt better about not having to be alone right now. He was getting more nervous about the poison in his system and being by himself would only make him think about it more.
"Harry there's one more matter I wish to address. When Vespa touched your face, you reacted in a most peculiar way," Snape stated and hoped Harry would open up.
"Yeah, so?" Harry said with anger rising.
"So … I wonder if it has anything to do with Dursley?" Snape asked cautiously. Snape wasn't exactly sure what had happened to Harry behind closed doors. He had seen into Vernon's memories but it was through the man's interpretation of events. He knew that Harry had experienced a completely different memory that was no doubt much more painful.
Harry pulled his bad arm back to him and rolled to his side with his back facing the professor. "Just leave me alone," came a tired voice.
"I would be a substandard guardian if I were to leave you alone. Something about the way she touched you brought back bad memories for you, did it not?" Severus asked patiently.
Harry pushed his face into the back of the sofa and remained quiet.
After a few long minutes Snape finally spoke up, "After you have had a rest, I am going to require you to write in the black book I gave you. You may not do anything else until you have answered my question adequately. Is that understood Mr. Potter?" Snape wasn't sure how a real parent would handle this uncomfortable situation but being patient had not seemed to be working thus far. He would have to try a new tactic.
"I don't want to do that, okay? Can't you just stop trying to make me remember that stuff? I mean it was awful enough having to go through it and now you want me to think about it and write it down!" Harry said emphatically with his face still facing the back of the sofa.
"Yes, well I have no doubts that it will be hard to face but it will continue to rule your emotions unless you confront it," Snape said sympathetically and placed a hand on Harry's shoulder.
Harry shook Snape's hand off his shoulder and struggled to stand up with his bad arm still held close to him. He started for his bedroom but suddenly stopped when he heard Snape's voice.
"Mr. Potter, do not walk away from me until we have finished with our conversation. Now get back over here and take a seat," came the harsh command.
Harry wanted to flee but habit had taught him to obey. He begrudgingly walked back and sat down on the sofa looking down at his shoes.
"I thought we already agreed that you would rest down in the lab? Stop acting in such an immature manner and just do as you are told. It is for your own good," Snape said as he began to lose his patience with the boy.
Harry was going to argue, he was going to tell the professor that he couldn't open the door to those memories or he might crack, but he was so tired. All of a sudden he felt physically drained and just wanted to sleep. The quickest way to be able to do that was to just agree with the professor.
"Yes sir," came a defeated voice.
Snape found that answer a little disturbing. He thought there might be an argument and maybe a compromise but the way Harry just agreed made him uncomfortable.
Harry slowly followed Snape down to the lab and rested on a soft cot as the professor began to work on the antidote. He was just drifting off to sleep with his eyes closed when the professor came and stood next to him.
Snape conjured up a blanket and covered the tired boy with it. The professor was feeling like there was a giant boulder sitting on his shoulders and the anxious feeling deep inside was growing.
"I will not fail you, son," came a quiet whisper from the potions teacher.
Harry let himself relax further and drift into a dreamless sleep.
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Harry awoke to the sound of voices arguing several hours later but pretended to still be asleep so he could listen.
"Severus that is too perilous a plan," came an insisted Dumbledore.
"But I must do something Albus! I will not stand by and watch him suffer while that hag continues to gloat. It is well worth the risk," Harry could hear the potion master pacing while he spoke. "We have no time to argue Albus. You either go along with the plan or pretend as if you never heard it."
"Severus, the aurors are close to finding her. They know that Miss Charlet is attending Beauxbatons and they are tracking her mail. They could actually capture Vespa within days," Harry heard the headmaster say and thought the man sounded tired and old.
"And what do you think they will accomplish by bringing Vespa in for questioning? She has the antidote to Veritiserum as well as a host of other means to question her. They have no proof Albus. Don't you understand, we must fight back with the only thing that matters to the evil hag!"
"Severus you could end up in Azkaban over something that evil. Do you really feel you could follow through if it came down to it?" Dumbledore pleaded.
"Oh yes! You know my past, even if you wish you didn't. You know what I am capable of." Harry heard Snape walking towards him and quickly shut his eyes.
"Mr. Potter! Are you listening in on this!" Snape snapped harshly and threw the covers back off Harry. "What did you hear?"
Harry sat up and shrugged his shoulders.
Snape pulled his wand out and pointed it at Harry's head, "Legilimens."
Harry felt a presence in his thoughts and tried to push the professor out. "Get out!" Harry cried and after a moment felt the presence leave. Harry looked up panting with the effort it took to try to push the professor out of his thoughts.
Snape was glad to know that Harry hadn't heard the entire conversation, especially the part requiring him to pull from the darkest part of his soul. But he also found out that Harry was exhausted and feeling tremendous pain in his arm. He tried to remain calm at the boy's insistence to hide his pain from him but began to lose the battle.
"Why is it that you choose to hide your ailments from me Mr. Potter?" Snape barked as he poured a few potions into a vial. "Merlin Potter, is it so hard for you to let me know when you are in pain!"
Harry was about to lie but thought better of it, knowing the professor had just seen his thoughts and would know the truth. "My uncle never allowed me to tell him when I was feeling bad. He thought I was acting like a baby and I would get … punished."
Snape gave him a look of horror and was about to say something then clamped his mouth closed.
"I heard you have a plan but whatever you have planned I don't want you getting into trouble on my account. I don't think I could live with myself if I knew something happened to you because of me." Harry said in an angry voice. He was not happy Snape had violated his thoughts in such a way. Professor Dumbledore had turned his back and Harry knew he did not want to get involved, which was just like the headmaster these days.
Snape forcibly shoved the vial into Harry's hands. Harry looked up into the professor's face seeing irritation clearly written on it.
"Drink it," The professor said. He thought about what Harry had just said and felt compassion for what the boy had gone through his entire life. "Unlike your previous guardian I do wish to know when you are in pain," Snape stated in a more sympathetic voice. "Please do not hide it from me again."
Harry's arm was throbbing dreadfully so he swallowed the potion. The professor unceremoniously pushed him back on the cot and covered him with the blanket. Within a few minutes Harry was in a deep dreamless sleep and Snape was back to plotting.
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