A/N: Well! I never expected this to take off like it did, but I love writing this story. And no, I haven't abandoned my others. There are just a few roadblocks there. Anyway, do not own. Some mentions of child abuse and a bit of mild swearing. Enter Harry! Enjoy and let me know what you think! X's are scene breaks and italics are thoughts! (I realized some of the sentences did not make sense. It is now edited and hopefully I caught everything.)
#4 Privet Drive
A skinny twelve-year-old child was sprawled in the garden, his broken glasses resting nearby. His jet black hair was tangled with dirt and leaves, his tattered clothing oversized and worn. He wore no shoes. Harry Potter was quite small for his age, unnaturally so. Currently his eyes were closed, a small gash on his head bleeding. Tossed outside like the trash that he knew he was. It did not matter that his teachers had destroyed the Dark Lord and that he was now safe. He was never safe, would never be safe. Professor McGonagall had snapped at him that he could not remain at the castle, that students weren't allowed. He just wished that he could be somewhere else, instead of at the Dursleys, lying on the grass in the back of the garden. Slacking off, his uncle would say. But he could not move. It hurt too much.
The two wizards apparated to the pristine, flawless house. Severus Snape had his healer bag tucked into a pocket of his robe, keeping one eye on his silent lover. He hoped to the gods that the child was not abused. It was not that he hated the Potter child, he didn't. But he had always felt guilty because of the boy. Severus knew, however, that if the child was abused, he would not leave him here to suffer. Hell, he would take the boy in if he had to.
Remus hesitated before striding silently up the steps of Number 4, which looked exactly the same as all the other houses. Did no one in Little Whinging have personality or individualism? He exchanged glances with Severus briefly before knocking on the door. There were lights on inside the house and noise could be heard from the thin walls, but so far he had not seen any signs of Harry.
The door opened to a large...man, glaring at them. He was quite surprised that the fat lard of a man could actually walk, let alone speak. He looked and smelt like a troll. Severus hoped, briefly, that he was as dumb as a troll too.
"Yes?" Vernon Dursley sneered, surveying the two men on his stoop with suspicion. He was a rather large man and he held his bulk in a way that was meant to be threatening, one beefy hand holding onto the door. These two normal looking men, although one did look quite shabby, had the air of...fairies. And he would not have those type of folks around his son!
"Mr. Dursley? We are here to speak with your nephew." Remus growled, his nearly golden eyes threatening.
"He is not home." Vernon snarled, slamming the door shut. He stalked back to his chair and was about to sit down when the door burst open. "Freaks! Get out of my house!" He screeched, moving as menacingly as he could, which was not at all, really, toward the two slender men.
"We are not leaving until we have spoken to Harry. Now, either tell us where he is or..." Severus let the threat hang, his wand held easily in his hand. He kept an eye on Remus though, as the slightly older man was sniffing the air, catching Harry's scent.
"He's out back." Vernon grunted, turning white and stepping back. He did not like wizards, not at all.
Remus merely nodded, already following the boy's scent, one that he had not smelt in several years, through the kitchen. It was a bit puzzling though, the child's scent had been all over a broom cupboard...odd. Remus opened the back door and froze. There was a small boy lying on the grass, blood on his head. The smell of blood was quite strong, as if more than his head might be bleeding. "Severus quick." He growled, running over to the small, pale body. He crouched down beside the boy, feeling, rather than seeing, Severus drop beside him.
He cursed under his breath, pulling out his bag and dropping it carelessly on the ground. For a brief moment he wished for the feisty little healer, but Alexis would probably curse Vernon first. That would just have to wait...Harry was injured, badly so. Severus waved his wand over the child's body, frowning as the diagnostic spell set in. The most pressing injury was a broken rib that was pressing against the child's lung. He had a healer's training, but he was not as gifted as Alexis or Poppy. Severus took a deep breath, black orbs scanning the boy's body as he spelled away the child's shirt. Belt marks and bruises covered the young boy's stomach and chest. He gently placed a hand on Harry's ribs, his wand carefully tracing the broken ones. For more than one rib was broken, although only one was close to puncturing a lung. A few minutes of muttered Latin and the child groaned, eyes fluttering open. The ribs were healed, but they would still have to be careful until Poppy could check the ribs again.
Harry groaned, blearily opening his eyes. His green eyes widen, he just had to be dreaming. Even if the Potions Master had been less evil toward him in the few weeks before the end of term, he just could not believe that the greasy bat would be crouched on the ground beside him, looking at him with concern. Oh no. They could not know. Nonono.
"Calm yourself, Mr. Potter. You are injured and I need to treat you before you make it worse, you silly child." Severus drawled, scowling down at the small boy. Really, the child did not look eight, let alone nearly thirteen! The boy had stilled instantly, staring at him with wide, scared emerald orbs. Severus sighed, running his wand over the child again, returning to whispering healing spells. A few groans later and it was safe to move the scared boy. He had healed his head and leg, knowing that while the bruises were uncomfortable and the welts were painful, it was best to treat those at Hogwarts, instead of in the scum's back garden. He wordlessly handed the child a pain potion, waiting for the child to tip it back before speaking. "Mr. Potter, it is quite time that we leave. I am going to pick you up now, is that alright?" He asked briskly, knowing better than to touch the child without his permission. Who knew how far the abuse might extend, it was better to be safe than to have a panicked child on his hands.
Harry stared at his evil potions professor. Wait, could the man still be evil if he healed him? He didn't think so. But he was not sure why the professor wanted to pick him up if he was just going to leave him? Unless he wanted to take Harry with him and the sandy-haired man. But he knew that he was just being silly. The professor would not want a worthless waste of space such as himself. "Sir?" He whispered.
"You cannot walk, Mr. Potter. You are still injured and we need to have you checked over extensively." Severus growled softly, wishing that he did not have to attend to the boy currently. He would rather be hexing the large oaf. Hopefully Remus, who had disappeared inside to get Harry's things, would do so for him.
Remus snarled at the large oaf of a man, doing his best to keep his temper. The body-binding hex was all he dared to cast at the moment, after inquiring about the lard's wife and Harry's room. He turned sharp eyes to the small cupboard once more. To think that the child lived in here! There was barely room for his school trunk, let alone the small pile of blankets in the corner. With a growl the normally level-headed man quickly gathered all of the boy's things, what little there was, placing them inside the previously padlocked trunk, before shrinking it down and pocketing it. He turned to leave the cupboard, freezing when he spotted the little sign on the door. Curse those muggles! Alexis would be the least of their worries. He carefully took down the sign that declared this small space as Harry's room, adding it to his pocket before storming out of the cupboard. He turned predatory eyes on the fat walrus, baring his teeth. A swift stinging hex and he strode out the back door, growling curses under his breath. He would get the man later, that was for sure.
Severus gave a small sigh of relief when the child finally nodded, picking the boy up. He turned to look at his friend, eyes narrowing at the anger radiating off of the normally calm werewolf. "Ready, Remus?" He held out a small coin for the wolf to take. Remus did, watching the snarky man swing the child easily onto his hip. Both men checked to make sure that the boy had a good hold on Severus before taking hold of the coin. "Healing." Severus whispered causing the coin to turn blue and then the three of them disappeared.
Both men landed easily, Severus striding toward one of the beds and setting young Harry upon it. A muttered spell and the boy was asleep. The pestering mediwitch was over instantly, taking charge of the boy and muttering spells of her own. "Shall we?" He asked quietly, not bothering to hide the concern for his partner. They both needed a drink and he knew that Alexis, although she did not drink often, would have just the stuff to help.
"She will not be happy." Remus growled, fighting back his anger once more. But he nodded anyway. Both men strode toward the fire-place and disappeared into it, causing the new Headmistress to scowl at them when they appeared in her living quarters, but only for a moment.
"What happened?" Alexis asked sharply, setting down the parchment that she had been examining. It was going to be a long night.
-x-
Severus did not answer at first, striding to the small cabinet that he knew housed some fine whiskey and brandy. He grabbed the bottle of Odin's and three glasses before stalking back to the coffee table. He deposited the glasses, pouring the fiery liquid into two of them, before dropping gracelessly into his favourite armchair. He then proceeded to place his head in his hands, knowing that this was indeed going to be a difficult conversation. Remus had yet to stop pacing, he knew the other man was lost in his own thoughts. "Potter was being abused. He is currently in the Infirmary." He stated finally, looking up to meet eyes of steel before grabbing his fire whiskey and taking a long sallow of it.
She had known of course, from their behaviour, that it would not be a good discussion. How many other students had been overlooked? "Remus, sit." Alexis ordered finally, raising an eyebrow at the older man. The werewolf merely dropped into the chair nearest Severus' own, grabbing the other glass of Odin's. "What do we know of the situation?" She asked sharply, looking between the two men.
"He had several broken ribs, a slight head wound, numerous welts and bruises, as well as a broken leg when we found him." Severus scowled darkly, wanting desperately to go back and show that muggle exactly what he thought of the oaf.
"He is also severely underweight and...his room was a small cupboard under the stairs." Remus added darkly, glaring into the depth of his glass.
"I'm sorry, but I believe I heard you incorrectly. Mr. Potter's room is a cupboard?" Alexis drawled, her eyes flashing dangerously.
Severus growled under his breath. Oh yes, did he have quite a few things he wanted to say to the scumbag!
"You heard me correctly, Alexis. Harry has been living in a cupboard. He might have even lived in there for his entire life." Remus' quite replied was met with an angry hiss from the young witch.
Alexis took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. She had seen many abused and neglected children in her line of work. Even after becoming a teacher, she still saw children who had suffered so horribly, because nature could be quite cruel sometimes. Family members were often crueler, she knew for a fact. She also knew what a protector of children might do in a moment of anger or temper. The two men in front of her were protectors of children. They would never hurt a child, but woe be the adults who crossed their paths. Remus had worked as a primary school counselor in muggle England, while Severus was the healer, mind and body, for those damaged children at Hogwarts. She knew her next order would not be taken well, but it needed to be given. "Neither of you are to return to Little Whinging or the Dursleys. I do not need either of you in Azkaban right now. I will deal with those despicable people as soon as I speak with Mr. Potter." She growled, steel eyes flitting between them.
"Alexis.."
"I will not let those muggles get away with this!" Severus snarled.
"Nor shall they. But we do this legally. They will get what they deserve, Severus. I will not let a family get away with treating their children like trash." Alexis replied calmly, meeting angry black eyes easily. She knew how he felt, but as Headmistress of this school she would take care of it. "There is, of course, the problem of who will take care of Mr. Potter for the rest of the holidays. He cannot just go stay with a friend, he needs a strong support system and someone who knows how to help him."
Remus sighed, his anger quickly deflating. They did need to focus on helping Harry, rather than getting revenge for Harry. He met Severus' eyes for a long moment, not even surprised when the dark man nodded. "Severus and I would love to take in Harry. He might not know me yet, but I am sure we can make him part of our growing family." His soft reply was met with a grin from the feisty newly-minted Headmistress.
"Severus would have to take primary custody but otherwise, that shall work out well. If you do not manage to scare the child to death in the first week!" She glanced at Severus, who merely smirked, and shook her head.
"As you are a part of our 'growing' family, I assume you will make sure of that personally." Severus drawled, quirking an eyebrow at the young woman. Alexis' mouth had dropped open, gray eyes staring at him like he had finally lost his mind. "You will catch flies." He smirked.
Her jaw had dropped at his statement, mostly out of surprise, but she quickly closed her mouth, sneering at him. She had known, of course, that they had grown closer over the last two years, but she had not realized that they considered her family.
Remus was merely watching her, his sharp eyes intent. "That is, of course, if you want to consider us as part of your family." He added softly, not wanting the young healer to feel pressured.
"Want to? Of course I do!" She snarled, but with no heat. Her eyes shimmered with pleasure for the first time since they had started this conversation. Really, for the first time in over a week. Family, what a foreign concept to a woman whose blood family had tossed her aside like trash. To have those who would be her family...perhaps something good would come from teaching after all.
-x-
Alexis sighed, setting down yet another file. These were not applicants for teaching positions or letters. No, this large stack of files in front of her, and the other two stacks that she had already finished, were the health files on some of her students. The abused or suspected abused students, those that ended up in the infirmary, anyway. These stacks of files, a list of names from each house, and the Heads of those houses own notes and files only covered those that they knew about. The child in the bed beside her had his own medical file, now thick with scans and notes. Eventually she would have to read all of the student files, to assess both grades and health. She'd be damned if Hogwarts would continue to slide further on down, with some of the lowest grades in Europe. No, Hogwarts was going to change. She needed healing and She would be healed. It appalled her that some of her students could not even read on their year level! And yet, nothing had been done to change that. No, students had merely been expected to just pick up reading easily. No more. One class devoted entirely to reading and writing the Queen's own English. Teacher assistants to help with all classes; new subjects to add variety and understanding; a rewards and consequences system for grades; a new house system...Hogwarts was going to change, many of the changes already in process. Helping Her most vulnerable and hurting children was going to be a major part of those changes.
She finally glanced up from her reading and musings when the nearby boy groaned, starting to wake up. A quick glance of the timepiece told her that it was nearing two in the morning. The pain potions had probably worn off. With a quick tap of her wand the files, all but one, vanished. She would recall the ones that she had yet to finish when the boy was asleep once more. Alexis strode the short distance from her armchair to the child's bed. A slight wand movement and she cast yet another diagnostic spell on the boy.
Harry groaned, he hurt so much. He was sore all over, like an elephant had stepped on him. If he was honest with himself, an elephant probably did. But he did not hurt as much as he did before he went outside. He didn't think that he was still outside though. He had just been lying there and then...Shit. Emerald green eyes flew open to meet steel gray.
"Welcome back to the land of the living, Mr. Potter."
That was not the potions master. He knew the woman, from sight at least. She taught...healing? He had planned to take that class next year, knowing that it would be useful. She sounded so much like Snape though. Ugh, his head hurt so much. "Professor?" He croaked
"You are at Hogwarts, Mr. Potter, in the Infirmary. You have been here for quite a few hours now. Do you remember how you came to be here?" Alexis asked sharply, studying the boy closely. His wounds were healing nicely. Severus had made a fresh batch of a bruise salve for him, a few more applications and the results of his latest beating would be gone. His ribs were healed completely as was his leg. But the child had quite a few old breaks that had healed badly. Poppy had re-broken and fixed the bones, his arm was still in the healing process.
"Snape and this other man came to my relatives and brought me back here. Where's Professor Dumbledore?" Harry frowned, trying to not remember. Snape had healed him, had helped him. But the man probably hadn't wanted to. He was just a bother, a waste of time. That was it. The headmaster had probably ordered Snape to heal him. But then, why was he here? He would just be sent back to the Dursleys and it would be so much worse.
"Professor Snape, Mr. Potter. Now, I'm going to check over your arm. Is that alright?" Alexis replied sternly, frowning down at the small child. From her own spells she knew that the boy was severely underweight and malnourished, anemic even. She was aware that his arm was hurting him, but she also knew from experience that the child would probably not mention it unless she asked.
Harry frowned, confused. Why was she asking? Madam Pomfery never asked to check him over, she just did it. Even if he did not want her to or if he didn't want to be touched. But perhaps Professor...Monheilem? Perhaps she was different, like Snape. Snape had also asked him for permission to touch him. It was just...strange. With that last thought he gave a small nod, trying to sit up.
"Lie still, Mr. Potter. You are still healing and it would do no good to cause more harm to yourself." She ordered sternly, placing a gentle hand on the injured arm. She muttered softly in Latin, causing parts of the arm to glow briefly. Closing her eyes, she sent her magic into the child's arm, shaping it to finish healing the breaks and to strengthen the weak bones. With her hand still on the child's arm, she sent her magic flowing throughout his body, adding just a touch of calming magic. She finally sighed, releasing her flow of magic and removing her hand. "Are you in pain, Mr. Potter?" She asked quietly, wordlessly summoning a pain potion. She already knew that he was but she wanted to see if he would answer her.
Harry looked away from the Professor, biting his lip. He wasn't suppose to say anything, he was just supposed to deal with the pain. He knew that. But he was not allowed to lie either. He glared at the wall, finally giving the tiniest of nods. He didn't actually say anything, so perhaps his uncle wouldn't punish him for it when he was returned to his relatives house. Their house, because it was not his home. Not really. Hogwarts, though, now this was a place he could call home. But only for most of the year. He gave a small sighed, flinching when the bed was raised up and a potion's vial held out to him.
Alexis frowned. She had not meant to startle the boy, but perhaps he had been lost in his thoughts and did not notice her lifting the bed up so that he could sit. He did need the potion, after all, and she did need to have a chat with him. One that she was not looking forward to. "Drink this Harry." She growled when the boy merely stared at the vial that she was trying to give him. He finally took it, eyeing the potion before downing it. "Good boy. Now, I believe we need to talk." She added quietly, summoning her armchair. She sat down in it, meeting wide emerald eyes.
"Professor?"
"You asked me a question Harry, and I will answer you honestly. However, I would be pleased if you would do the same for me." She stated, sighing when he merely stared at her in confusion. "You asked me about Professor Dumbledore, and I will tell you. But I also want to ask you a few questions and I would like you to be completely honest with me." She explained slowly. Merlin.
"W-what do you want to k-know?" Harry stared down at his lap, stumbling over his words. He was not supposed to ask questions and he knew that he was not allowed to tell about the Dursleys. But what else could she want? They know and now they will all know how much of a worthless freak I am and they'll send me back and he'llhurtmeand..
"Mr. Potter!" The sharp tone brought him quickly from his thoughts and he gasped, suddenly filling his lungs with air.
"If you do not calm yourself, Mr. Potter, I will be forced to give you a calming draft." Alexis stated briskly, eyeing the child. Or some calming magic. The boy was working himself up over nothing. She hadn't even started her questioning yet! But she did know where the child's mind had gone. He was frightened, it was to be expected.
"Sorry, Professor." He replied softly, staring down at his lap. He was such a burden, he knew that. She probably just wanted to question him so that she could tell Dumbledore and send him back. Fine then. He'd tell her what she wanted.
"You have nothing to apologize for Mr. Potter. I understand that your situation is tough, so I have just a few questions at the moment. But I do want you to know that you can come to me at any time, for anything." She replied with a much gentler tone. Shocked green eyes looked up at her and she sighed. It never got easier, seeing the pain in a child's eyes. Not at all.
Harry merely nodded, staring at the woman. She did not even know him, she must not realize that he was a freak yet. But she would, just like all the adults in the Muggle world had.
"Mr. Potter, does your Uncle...hurt you?"
"No, Professor. I fell." He lied, looking down. She had been nice to him, but he knew better than to answer. She'd just think he was lying anyway.
"I see. Tell me Mr. Potter, how is it that you managed to break three ribs and your leg in this fall? That is not to mention the interesting marks and scars that cover your body. Did you also fall then?" She growled. Merlin, she hated being lied to. Especially about something that she could clearly see. "I am no fool, Harry. I know a beating when I see one." She added softly.
"I deserved it." He muttered, glaring at the bed. He had too. He forgotten to clean the mirror in the upstairs bathroom and he had not managed to finish the yard in time. It was his fault, he knew this.
"I doubt that." She drawled. "No child deserves to be beaten, for any reason. Nor does any child deserve to sleep in a cupboard." The boy paled quickly and she grimaced. Perhaps that had not be the right thing to say, but it was the truth and the child needed to know it.
"It is what a good for nothing freak deserves." Harry stated, the words flat and emotionless.
"No, Harry. It is not. You are not a freak and you do not deserve to be abused, no matter what your relatives told you." Her quiet reply was met with flashing green eyes. Good, some emotion was better than none.
"I am not ABUSED!" He shouted.
"Yes, Mr. Potter, you were. But you will not be any longer."
He glared at her for a moment before gasping. "What d-do you mean-n?"
"You will not be returning to your relatives, Harry. You will stay at Hogwarts and you will have new guardians, but that can be discussed tomorrow." She replied gently, knowing that the news was a lot for a child to take in, and to believe.
"But Professor McGonagall said I couldn't stay at Hogwarts! She said it wasn't allowed!" Harry argued angrily. He didn't want her to trick him! She seemed so nice, but he couldn't believe her. He just couldn't. After all, wasn't it the Headmaster's decision and not hers? Where was the Headmaster anyway? Dumbledore would never let him stay.
"Professor McGonagall is no longer employed at Hogwarts. She was wrong. It is allowed for students to stay at the castle during the summer if their home situations are undesirable or if there is a reason for them to. It has just not been put into practice in the last few decades, but that changes now." Her dry response left a green-eyed boy staring at her with an open mouth. "You'll catch flies." She drawled, refraining from smirking at the child. He didn't need that right now.
Harry's mouth snapped close. But it couldn't be true? McGonagall gone? And surely Dumbledore wouldn't let him? "But the Headmaster-"
"Is dead." Alexis cut off, sighing. That was not how she meant to tell the child, but he needed to stop worrying so.
"What? But then...why did Professor Snape come check on me?" Harry asked, eyes wide. Dumbledore, dead? But why? How? Why was the professor telling him this?
"Calm down and I will tell you, Mr. Potter. Professor Dumbledore passed away about two weeks ago, peacefully in his sleep. He was old, even for a Wizard." There was no need for any of the children at Hogwarts to know more than that, none at all. "Hogwarts decided to choose a new Headmistress from those who remained. I believe Her goal was to choose someone who would help in healing this castle. I am the new Headmistress, Mr. Potter. I have the power to remove you from the loving care of you relatives and place you with new guardians. I will not allow you to return to that house. Now, it is late and you need to sleep." She drawled, hiding her amusement at the child's open expressions. "We can talk more in the morning, Harry." She added at his hesitation.
"Yes Professor." He muttered, taking the vial that she had just summoned. He hesitated before drinking it, raising his eyes to meet hers. "Professor?" At her raised eyebrow, he gave a small smile. "Thank you." He whispered, downing the dreamless sleep potion. He had a lot to think about later but for now, he was tired. He felt the bed being lowered again and a blanket being tucked around him.
"Goodnight Mr. Potter." She brushed the child's hair away from his eyes, ignoring the small flinch. In a matter of moments he was asleep. Alexis moved back to her table, summoning the rest of the files once more. She still had work to do. Hopefully at least one of her students might be on the path to healing this summer. Although, she might need to get the child a mind-healer.
A/N- Because I know someone will ask, her name is Mundheilen. Remember, she is German. It literally translates to Moon Heal, or rather Healing Moon. Think on it.