Title: Past, Present, Future

Summary: The past will come back, the present will change them, now what will the future hold?

Disclaimer: I do not own them, sad but true

A/N: Yes this is an AU fic. Reviews are welcome, flames are shared with friends for amusement. Forgive the error in the last chapter of Diagon Alley

Chapter 8

Severus wasted no time climbing the hill to Hogwarts. As he entered, Harry began to struggle.

"You can put me down now," he said with a bit of an attitude.

Severus snorted. "Why would I do that, so you can bleed all over the floor? You are injured, Harry, and you will be seeing Madame Pomfrey and getting fixed up. I will be owling your mother, as well, Mr. Weasley."

"Great, just what I need, an irate mother hovering over me like a vulture. Could you possibly knock me completely out, so that I do not have to suffer?" Ron pleaded.

"Would you rather she not know?" Severus asked, his eyebrows raising slightly.

"I would like not to be carried into Hogwarts again, by one of my teachers no less. I would also like to restate my dislike for cats, Professor McGonagall excluded."

Severus sneered at the boy and hoisted him further up on his shoulder. This produced a very amusing yelp, and Severus smiled despite himself. Pushing open the door to the hospital wing with his foot, Severus called out for the mediwitch. Laying Harry down and plopping Ron on the bed opposite him, he went to see what was keeping Poppy.

Harry tried sitting up, but his back seared like it was on fire, and he could see that his shirt was stained with his own blood. Trying again, he was shocked when a hand pushed him back down gently onto the bed. Harry looked up and saw his father giving him a warning look.

"Do not move again. Are you trying to further injure yourself?"

Harry was about to tell Severus that he did not need any help when the door to the hospital wing opened. In swept Dumbledore, followed by McGonagall.

"Severus, if you are looking for Poppy, she is gone home for the holidays. It seems her father was coming from Wales this year."

Severus' face began to twitch. "Then who is going to help them out?"

"I would assume as Harry's father you would help him. You are not without some healing knowledge."

"You mean he is going to heal me," Ron said, his eyes growing wide. "No offense, Professor, but it is not as if you have ever healed anyone before."

"I am afraid, Mr. Weasley. I am your only option, unless you wish to continue to go about with your arm gashed open. I'm sure by next week, when the infection sets in, we will be able to cut it off in time."

"Severus, are you sure you can handle this," Minerva said, her mouth twitching a little.

"Severus will be fine, I'm sure. Call us if you need anything. I would think that both boys could return to their dorms after you are finished with them."

Ron watched the retreating forms of his headmaster and Transfiguration teacher. He was nervous, despite the pain in his arm, and the advancing Snape with needle in hand did not help matters any. "Can't you just spell them closed?"

"As you well know, Mr. Weasley, I could, but I fear using an improper spell. I can give you a calming draught beforehand, if you need one."

Ron nodded his head yes for the draught and, once he had drunk it down, watched as Professor Snape threaded the needle. The calming draught kept him from wanting to bolt for the door, but it did nothing to ease the pain, Ron thought. When he heard Harry trying to hold back the snicker, he glared. "What is so funny?"

"It's nothing, just that you sounded like Hermione after she saw the mouse in the hall."

"Very funny, Harry, but let's not forget you are next."

As the last stitch was done, Severus walked over to Harry's bed and sat down. Harry peered into his eyes and saw no malice in them, but he still did not trust the man. Sure, he had saved him and Ron, but that did not excuse a whole year of being an ass. Flinching, he drew back as Severus touched him. Harry wanted to leave, and he wanted to leave now. Severus was lifting his shirt, and then Harry heard the gasp.

"What in bloody hell is this!" he yelled, and Harry realized what he had seen. Backing up on the bed, Harry cowered at the foot of it.

"Harry who did this? Tell me it was not those damn muggles."

"I can't tell you that sir," Harry mumbled. "It doesn't matter. I shouldn't have made Uncle Vernon mad by making the book fly. He was angry, and I yelled at him."

"I do not care what you did, there is no excuse for this. Harry, does this kind of thing happen often?"

Ron was sitting up on his elbow now, staring at them both, too scared to move, but wanting to help his friend out. "Harry, what is wrong mate? Did something happen to you?"

Harry felt the helpless feeling rising in him. He could feel the anger pouring out for every time Uncle Vernon had to punish him for his mistakes, the worst being existing at all. Looking at Snape, he felt the resentment he had felt for all the times he had given him unfair deductions, and finally Harry exploded in a rant.

"Yes, Okay Uncle Vernon, did it. I made the book fly across the room, and he carved the word freak on my back with a knife, so what! It was not as bad as living in a cupboard for the past ten years, or only getting to eat once a week. You think I have it so good, don't you?" he said, his voice getting higher as he spoke.

"Well, try having to wear your cousin's old clothes and doing chores from sunrise to sundown, and then when you finally make a friend, being too scared to invite him home to see your room or meet your family because they think you are nothing but a bastard who should have been drowned. I am fed up with everyone thinking my life is so great. If they want it, they can have it! Oh, but be sure to tell them of the daily beatings given at random, and then do not think of asking for a bandage to stop the blood, for that will only lead to more beatings. Now if you don't mind, could you sew me up so I can get out of here!" Harry roared at the stunned professor.

Severus Snape was speechless. Here was his son, and now he finds out his life has not been the picture perfect scene he had played out in his mind. Dropping the needle, he reached out to Harry, but the boy cringed. Looking at him, he could see the unshed tears in his eyes and quickly sewed up his back. When he was finished, Harry jumped up and ran out of the room, not even looking back. Stunned, Ron stared at the Potions' professor. When he saw the man's face harden into something wicked, he took off running as fast as he could to get away. Smirking to himself, Severus got up and walked down the hall. He did not head to the dungeons, but instead walked right out of the front door.