a/n: almost no changes were made to this chapter. I am already in the process of writing the next chapter, and it should be out in a few days. After that I will try to update weekly.
Chapter 18
Dudley followed the man, seething inside. He couldn't believe he had been brought here to stay with these freaks! This was all Potter's fault. If he wasn't a freak, then their house wouldn't have burned down, and he wouldn't have been forced into this nightmare. He couldn't believe he got into trouble just because he wanted to go see his friends. It had been incredibly boring in that house they made him stay in and he just wanted to do something. So he had snuck out and returned to visit Piers.
He had been having a grand time, and thought he had gotten away with it until some of those strange freaks caught up with him. The worst was the girl with that weird hair. He couldn't remember her name, but she caught him when he was only about a block from the horrible house they were making his family stay in, and said that he'd been followed my more freaks! She wouldn't let him go home, and make him touch an old boot. As soon as he did he felt a weird pulling sensation, and all of a sudden he was back at the house they had gone to when their house had burned down.
And that strange old man was there. The first time he had seen him he had seemed kind, but this time his face was a stone mask, with icy blue eyes penetrating him. Dudley gulped. He was filled with fear, as he could feel the power radiating off the old man and knew that he could hurt him quite badly if he wanted to. He sat down immediately when he was ordered to and listened, growing angrier and angrier as he heard the old man tell him he wouldn't be allowed to join his family. He finally stood up and started shouting curses at him, saying that he couldn't be treated this way.
The next thing Dudley knew, he couldn't talk. The man had taken away his voice! And he was told he wouldn't be able to talk again until he 'behaved himself.' Then he had been brought to this house and been forced to do menial labor just for defending himself. If he hadn't attacked those boys first, he was sure that they would have tried to do some of their freaky magic on him. What was he going to do? He had to get away from this place somehow.
The man he was following introduced himself as Remus, and showed Dudley to the bedroom he was going to sleep in. He couldn't believe it. He was still going to have to share a room with the two other freaks. Dudley got ready for bed, but knew he wasn't going to sleep. He was going to get out of this house and get away from these freaky people somehow.
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Severus sighed as he sat down and reached over for his glass of firewhiskey. It had been a long day, but he wasn't quite ready to retire for the night. Lupin had warned him of Potter's propensity for nightmares, so Severus felt it would be good if he stayed awake for awhile to see if the boy had any problems adjusting to his new living arrangements. Strangely, there was no sound at all coming from his room. Severus was a little suspicious and decided to investigate.
He opened the boy's door to find him thrashing on the bed, but not a sound was to be heard. The foolish boy had placed silencing charms on his room. Severus sighed and negated the charms before going over to the boy to see if he could wake him
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Harry found himself in the same room he had visited in his earlier visions. He was again looking through Voldemort's eyes. This time everyone from the department of Mysteries was there. Voldemort said, "You should all count yourselves lucky that I have taken the time to ensure your release from Azkaban. You will all, however, be punished for your failure to obtain the prophecy."
Harry watched as each member was put under the cruciatus curse. Once Voldemort was finished, he said, "Bella, do you have news?"
Bellatrix Lestrange said, "My Lord, we have been unable to find the traitor or the children who defied you at the Ministry. I believe Dumbledore has hidden them all at the same place. He also moved the muggles again before we could attack them. We believe they have killed Kreacher, as he has not reported to Narcissa in some time."
Harry could tell Lestrange was bracing herself to be punished. Voldemort didn't take failure well. And she was right. Voldemort pointed his wand at her and held her under the cruciatus curse for some time.
Harry became aware that someone was shaking him, telling him to wake up. He opened his eyes to meet the dark eyes of Severus Snape. Harry tried to mumble an apology, but all Snape said was, "Why did you place silencing charms on your room?"
Harry said, "I have nightmares almost every night and didn't want to disturb you."
Severus seated himself on Harry's bed, folding his arms while giving Harry a very stern look. When the boy blushed and looked away, he knew the message had been received. He said, "Mr. Potter, are you supposed to be using your wand outside of lessons?"
Harry wouldn't look up at Severus. He knew when he placed the charms that if Snape found out he would probably be in trouble. He whispered, "No, sir."
"Did you think I hadn't been informed of your dreams?"
Harry just shrugged. Snape continued. "Harry, I am your guardian. Remus has made me aware of the dreams, and that sometimes you need someone to talk to. I had thought that you had begun to trust me, but apparently I was wrong."
Harry said, "No, it's not that."
"Then what is it?"
Harry shrugged again.
Severus reached over and tilted Harry's face up. "Talk to me."
Harry sighed and said, "It's just that I'm not a little kid...I should be able to handle a few bad dreams."
"Ah, so famous Harry Potter should be able to handle everything on his own."
Harry blushed and growled, "No, it's nothing like that."
"Oh, but I think it is, Mr. Potter. Although I must admit it probably has nothing to do with your celebrity status, I believe that you have come to believe that you must handle everything by yourself. Tell me, how old are you?"
"You already know I'm fifteen, SIR," said Harry with a glare directed at Snape.
"Yes. You are a fifteen-year-old boy."
When Harry started to protest, Severus held up his hand and said, "I repeat...you are a fifteen-year-old boy. It is not your job to handle everything on your own. I realize that you did not have the support you needed in your early years, but you have it now. It is important for me to know how you are doing. I have removed the silencing charms and you will not reapply them. Is that clear?"
Harry sighed, and said, "Yes, sir."
"And if I catch you using magic outside of lessons for any reason other than a dire emergency, then you will spend many hours doing the most menial chores I can find for you to do. Understood?"
Harry whispered, "Yes, sir."
Snape said, "Very well. Did you do your meditation last night?"
"Yes, sir."
"Was this a nightmare or a vision?"
"A vision."
"Is your scar hurting?"
Harry nodded and Snape checked his bedside table drawer and found the potion he had given him. He applied the potion to Harry's scar and then sat back down on Harry's bed and told him to tell him what the vision was about.
Harry related the vision to Snape, and waited for the tirade that he was sure was coming because he had been unable to block his mind.
But Severus didn't yell. He said, "The last couple of days may have left you vulnerable. You will practice your meditation exercises for at least thirty minutes each day along with clearing your mind before bedtime. Is that understood?"
Harry nodded his acceptance, and then Snape said, "Would you like something to help you sleep?"
Harry said, "Remus usually gives me warm milk laced with cinnamon and sugar, I think. That usually helps me get back to sleep."
Severus called for Fico, and the elf appeared with the drink for Harry. Snape looked at the elf and said, "How did you know?"
Fico said, "Fico knows when he is being called this late that Master Harry had a nightmare and is needing his milk to be getting back to sleep. Fico is bringing it most every night."
Snape just shook his head. It seemed that Potter could enamor almost anyone to him. Before, Severus would have thought it was the boy's celebrity status, but now he knew better. Potter just had a compassion that caused people to be drawn to him. Severus took the cup from Fico and gave it to the boy. Harry drank the milk, and then lay back down.
Severus was planning to stay with him until he fell back asleep, but Fico popped back in and said, "Fico is sorry for disturbing Master, but the fat child is trying to leave and Fico thought Master would want to be knowing."
Severus turned to the elf and growled, "Where is he?"
"He is being in the foyer, Master Severus, Sir."
Severus rose, turned to the elf, pointed to Harry, and said, "Stay with him." He then stalked out of the room in search of his latest problem child.
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Dudley did his best to sneak down the stairs. Due to his size this was no easy feat. He had gotten to the front door, and reached out to turn the knob when he heard, "And where do you think you're going, Mr. Dursley?"
Dudley turned around to look at the very angry face of Severus Snape. As he still could not talk, he could not answer Snape's question. He quelled under the glare he was receiving.
Severus crossed his arms, and said, "I asked you a question, Mr. Dursley. Where do you think you were going?"
Dudley reached up to his throat to show that he could not talk. Severus raised his wand, and muttered, "Finite." He said, "You may speak. I require an answer to my question now."
Dudley shuffled his feet and whispered "I w-was leaving."
Severus looked down and sneered at the boy cowering before him. "So, do you always run from your problems, boy?"
"I d-don't belong here," said Dudley.
Severus said, "That very well may be. However, when you choose to disobey the rules laid out for you, then you must suffer the consequences. The consequence in this instance is that you must stay in this house. I believe you know little of accepting responsibility for your behavior. However, by the time you leave here I assure you that you will be well acquainted with the concept."
"For now, you will learn the consequences of attempting to run away. Follow me."
Severus reached over and grabbed the boy's arm, dragging him along as he headed towards the dungeon. He was going to teach the boy a lesson and he was going to enjoy it.
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Dudley was terrified. What was this man going to do to him? It took all of his effort not to stumble as he was unceremoniously dragged through corridor after corridor.
All of a sudden the man stopped in front of a large iron door. Dudley heard the man utter some strange words and the door opened. Dudley was pushed inside, and all of a sudden the torches in the room lit. He looked around in horror. The walls of the room were lined with belts, paddles, and canes of all sizes. Dudley gulped and started shaking as he realized the purpose of the room.
Severus turned and eyed the boy. He looked petrified. This was going to be too easy. He leaned down and said, "Do you have any idea what this room is used for boy?"
Dudley nodded.
Severus sighed in annoyance. The child would learn to answer his questions verbally. He summoned a paddle and struck the boy once on his arse. Dudley bellowed like a stuck pig and began to cry loudly.
"Stop your blubbering, boy," said Severus.
Dudley immediately quieted, although he continued to whimper.
Snape said, "Look at me."
Once the boy complied, Snape continued. "You will answer all questions, and you will address me as Sir or Professor Snape at all times. Is that clear?"
"Y-yes, Sir," whispered Dudley.
"I will ask you again. Do you know why I brought you to this room?"
Dudley started shaking again, and said, "T-to beat m-me, Sir."
Severus looked at the boy, exasperated. "I do not beat children, Mr. Dursley. I do however believe in corporal punishment. Your cousin will not be spanked due to the abuse he suffered at the hands of you and your family. I have no qualms in providing the necessary discipline to you. I strike children in only one place, and I'm sure you have already realized where that is."
"Yes, sir," whispered the defeated looking boy.
"I trust I will have no more problems from you tonight?"
Dudley shook his head. Severus struck him once more on his arse.
"OWW, No Sir," hollered the teen.
Severus threw the paddle on a nearby table and said, "Then follow me."
Dudley turned, and followed Snape out of the room. Severus stopped in front of a door across the hall from the one they had been in and motioned for Dudley to enter. Dudley looked around the room in fear. The room looked more like a jail cell than a room. There was a small iron bed on one wall, a sink and toilet on another. A third wall contained a plain wooden table and a chair. "Do I h-have to stay here, Sir?"
Severus sneered Dudley and said, "Yes. Since you were not appreciative of the accommodations given to you, and because I do not want to chase you should you decide to try to run away again, I have decided to place you somewhere from which you cannot leave. You should have plenty of time to think, Dursley. You will stay here tonight, and in the morning a house elf will bring you breakfast. Afterwards, you will be escorted back to my lab to complete the cleaning you were instructed to do today. I suggest you work hard, as you will not eat again until the job is finished. If you behave yourself tomorrow, I will allow you to return to Lupin's care. However, if you step one toe out of line, we will return to the punishment room, and I assure you that sitting will be uncomfortable for some time. Is that very clear to you, boy?"
"Yes, sir," whispered Dudley.
Severus turned and left the room in a flourish, closing the door securely behind him. Dudley waited until he could no longer hear footsteps before cautiously going to the door and trying to open it. It was locked securely. He sighed and walked over to the bed, lying down carefully on his side. The mattress was lumpy and uncomfortable, and his arse was still burning from the two swats from the paddle. He knew now that he would never escape. He could only hope his mum and dad would find a way to get him away from this place. For the first time in his life, Dudley Dursley cried himself to sleep.
