Chapter 9: Found

After Harry's birthday, the boy was shocked that he got a letter stating that he would be moved immediately. Not because of his relatives treatment, but because his life was apparently in even more danger. There was a breakout from the prison, and the Headmaster wanted Harry out of the mans way.

The letter was very vague, but Harry had a feeling that if they were moving him, the person that was targeting him was dangerous. He was curious as well to know what had happened to cause that.

From what he'd been told, Azkaban was the most secure place after Gringotts...

But if the man got out, just what else was he capable of?

That very same night he was pulled from his thoughts by his mentor, a grim and deadly look on the mans face when he saw the state of the room.

Dobby's magic had made it look better, but his relatives found that those were the only things that could still be broken. So they locked him in his cupboard that afternoon, and spent the time wrecking the furniture, and trying to pry open his trunk. He knew they'd want another go at his clothes so he had taken to keeping it in the trunk.

Only he could open it, as it noticed his innate magic and opened without ever needing a spell. He knew he couldn't use magic, and they knew it too because of Dumbledore...

Harry was really unhappy with the man, and he wondered if the Headmaster did these things on purpose. He'd give the man the benefit of the doubt for now, but the odds were not in his favor.

To be completely honest, when his mentor looked around the room, it seemed like everything got staticy and hotter. Like a lightning strike was just begging to crack into existence. A fire was waiting just behind the lightning, as if it could tear the house apart with glee.

The man wasn't even supposed to be there, his friends father was set to pick him up. Harry still didn't know who exactly was the escapee, or why the blood wards weren't enough, but it didn't matter.

"Sir?" He'd asked in a timid voice.

"Mr. Potter. I only have a few moments, but I must remove the spell before you leave." The man explained, taking a further step into the room.

Harry had been surprised to say the least, as his mentor had just popped in out of nowhere, like Dobby had on his birthday.

The boy nodded, getting off of his cot and stepping closer to the man. He once again stood still for his mentor who had his wand out.

"Harry. Do not trust others so lightly. Even if they look like myself." Severus sighed. He should have known that while the boy had a great sense of justice and morals, he was also just a child. He could see through others to some extent, but he also trusted too easily if shown any modicum of positive attention.

"Instead of leaving yourself open for attack, confirm if I am who I say I am." The man wanted to pinch the bridge of his nose, or even roll his eyes, but refrained.

"But you did sir? I knew it was you when you mentioned the spell..."

Severus snorted. "I did not, however, mention which spell. I could have assumed you were under one, or have been trying to make you believe so in order to get your guard down."

Either way, Harry thought, the man had lectured him in the way only Snape could. There was no further point in Harry questioning him, and Snape seemed to understand. Shaking his head at the boy, Severus simply pointed his wand at Harry and spoke the counter spell.

"Passiones Finem!" He spoke. His voice clear but low, especially as he heard Arthur Weasley at the door.

"Who are you?!" Was all the two could hear coming from downstairs, as Vernon screamed at the wizard.

Harry was scared. Who wouldn't be? He may not have been in pain very much this summer, but he noticed that he still got the bruises. Now that the spell is off, would he start feeling all of the pain again?

Not to mention that his uncle was still a large man, and still had him scared because of how his life had gone til now. The boy was conditioned not to fight back, to become submissive in the wake of his uncle's fury. Albus had tried to 'reassure' the muggles that Harry couldn't do magic after his first year. It's something that Severus knew would have made the muggle feel more superior.

He knew it because that was exactly what happened with him and his own guardian.

"Pack up." The man said instead of dwelling on his past. He would need to leave soon, lest he wanted to be caught, and Arthur was already coming up to the stairs.

"I'm already packed." Harry beamed. Glad he hadn't unpacked in the first place.

"Good." Snape replied, his face impassive, but his eyes held a glimmering pride. His gem was adorable, but he had to go.

Ruffling the boys feather soft hair, Snape nodded once at the boy then left.

Harry realized that this time the man hadn't popped away, but had instead vanished with a puff of fire. He hadn't left so much as a pile of ash in his wake, but Harry didn't have time to wonder about it at all.

For the very next second, his door was unlocked and opened by his uncle.

Arthur was then standing in the room, his eyes holding a look of pity as he took stock. The boys window was boarded up, likely due to the car incident last year. His car was still missing even after the boys had gotten to school...

The floors were bare, as were Harry's feet, but there were splinters of wood all along the floor. The man banished the splinters, and continued to look for another moment, at the bare walls and unhappy gloom that surrounded the room.

Before even Dursley could speak up about how long he was taking, Harry grabbed his things.

"Where are we going?" Harry asked not liking the look in the mans eyes. He didn't know what it was, but his primary school teachers used to look at him like that too.

It made his skin crawl, and he felt ashamed for it, but he didn't want to think about the look anymore. He could leave and he wanted to be done with this.

Mr. Weasley shook himself from his thoughts, telling Harry to send Hedwig to the Burrow, but to take her cage along as well.

Once Harry had his things, as well as put on some shoes, the man ushered him out of the room, down the stairs and out of the house. Uncle Vernon hadn't tried anything as he simply watched them leave, seething.

The man wouldn't want him to come back, but he also wanted Harry there to do all the chores. He'd never lay a hand on his own son or Aunt Petunia, so the only other option was for Harry to come back next summer as well.

That's when he would try again to break the little whelp.

HPSSHPSSHPSS

Severus Snape was a controlled man. He knew his bounds and emotions, no matter what others contrarily thought. He only seemed to express anger or a sense of calm that never failed to put others on edge.

But today? No, his emotions were whipping about in his head, drawn back and forth between his logic and his heart. He wanted to pull Harry from that house, he wanted to torture his relatives half to death. He wanted to let them cling so harshly to life, then obliviate them of every happy memory they'd ever collected.

He wanted them to wet themselves from fear of what he'd do next, he so very much wanted them to beg Harry on hands and knees to get Snape to stop. For he would listen to no other.

The very thought of what he had seen, both today and in the boys memories months ago turned his stomach. Lily's treasure-- His treasure-- was in pain. Not physical for now, but mental and emotional pain nonetheless.

The ex-death eater wanted the foolish family to grovel at the feet of the boy they so hated, and even the whale child-- Harry's cousin-- would not be exempt.

No they'd all wronged his gem, and if anyone had a right for retribution it was Harry.

The man paced his quarters at Hogwarts, unhappy to say the least. Here he was planning the humiliations of the Dursleys, but he had been too blinded by anger and urgency to clean the boys neglected room.

He'd not banished the bars on the windows, nor assured his little one that all would be sorted out soon. He hadn't even told the boy that if he so pleased, the Dursley's would be crushed beneath Severus' feet for the misery they'd inflicted.

No, but he had saved the boy from a summer of anguish, so he would have to content himself with that. The punishment he had for the muggles was eminent, and he would see them suffer tenfold for his gem's upbringing.

Taking some floo powder, he made his way back to his manor and poured himself some coffee.

He had a lot to plan, especially due to recent events.

HPSSHPSSHPSS

Harry was still confused, who had gotten out, and why did it affect him? What made this so scary that they had to take him from the 'safest' place he could ever be?

He hadn't had to wait very long, since once they were at the edge of the Burrows land, Mr. Weasley told him just who had gotten out.

Harry had a Godfather! And the man was the reason why his parents died...

If he wasn't already wobbly from being side-along apparated this would've done it.

The rest of his summer was almost a haze, he had gotten to see a real Quidditch game with Ron and his family, but that too was sullied by a sudden attack, which made them leave the game early.

Ron and the twins tried to keep his attention, and Mrs. Weasley kept him fed, which worked a lot, but by the end of his stay he still could not get the thought out of his mind.

Harry didn't have the full story. Didn't think anyone would even tell him, but if anything he knew that one person besides his friends had never lied to him. He would wait to see if he should ask the man but that slipped his mind once they were on the train back.

They had gotten their supplies days ago, and while they were out, Harry felt overwhelmed. It helped that he had Ron with him, and even Hermione after a little bit, but it still weighed on him.

The entire train ride had seen him in a state of pensive despair, and the beginning of the school year was just the same. He had no idea what to think, but at least he was learning some useful stuff in his classes.

The biggest changes in the school so far, was the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor Remus Lupin. The man was nice, and actually knew his stuff, so everyone seemed to like him and his classes.

He also knew Harry's parents, which pulled him even further out of his sadness.

Professor Snape had been even more distant, and he didn't seem to like Professor Lupin either. Harry still trusted the man, so he kept his distance from the amber eyed man up until he really got to know him.

The brown haired man really truly was nice, and he had such wonderful stories to tell Harry. The boy didn't know why Snape didn't like the new Defense Professor, but he was also smart enough not to ask.

Their classes were fun with Remus, as Harry had taken to calling the man. They had so much to learn, especially from previous years, but it was as if the man knew how to get them involved. It took Harry's mind off of the sadder stories he had been told, of Sirius, his godfather, and their adventures.

One class that stuck with Harry and his friends, was that in which they learned about bogarts. The class had been awful, but they each learned that they could face and control their fears.

Ron's had been a giant spider, likely from when they faced the Acromantulas last year. But even further back to when Fred and George turned his teddy into a spider. When Ron told Harry that, it had been hard for the boy not to laugh. He'd never had siblings, so the anecdotes made it clear what a family should have been, and he yearned for it.

Neville's Boggart seemed to be the funniest, as he was afraid of Professor Snape. Harry could understand that, as the other Gryffindor was one of his mentors least favorites and it showed. However, he laughed a bit when he saw what happened to the image of his mentor when the Riddickulus spell was cast at him.

His mentor would never dress that way, and despite the humor of the situation, he still felt bad for laughing. He knew by now that Snape was a proud man. He wasn't the type who would take kindly to jokes at his expense, so Harry sobered up quickly.

They were still keeping their friendship a secret, and Harry wasnt really sure why, but he knew that there was nothing wrong with it. The man hadn't touched him wrong, or looked at him in any way like the boys in his dorm looked at girls. He didn't speak to him in any untoward way, and overall he was just acting as a mentor and friend.

There wasn't anything behind the mans looks or actions that said he liked Harry like that. But his stomach still flipped unpleasantly when he reminded himself of the fact. He didn't want the professor to like him, did he?

Shaking his head of the thoughts, he remembered about his own boggart. He was excited but still dreaded the thought of what his would be. But when the mass of floating darkness came out of the box, he wasn't immediately struck with fear.

No, the first emotion to fully encompass him was dread. It was the feeling of something pulling all the warmth and happiness from him slowly, and he started to hear his mum again.

He tried the spell, but nothing happened, and as it swooped forwards, Remus got in the way.

In the things place was a full moon, which confused Harry and the rest of the class, but he hadn't time to think on it, as he was still recovering from the dark feeling that had taken over him. They learned a bit about what it was, a Dementor, and what they did. He explained how to get rid of them too, but that wasn't for this class or year, so they went back to finding out their own personal boggarts.

After the class, Remus asked Harry to stay and speak with him.

From there he gave the boy lessons on how to cast the patronus spell, and how to defeat his boggart since the normal spell would not affect it.

It took several days and several lessons before Harry got it. He had struggled for a happy enough memory, but when he had found one, it was more than enough to cast the spell. He overcame his boggart by sheer force of will, and he was well and truly happy with himself.

His patronus was a Wyvern. Whether it meant courage and strength, or if it stood for protection Harry didn't know. Personally after he looked it up in the library, he decided that his favorite possibility was that it stood for vengeance or the concept of slaying his 'dragons' aka memories.

That became a blip in his mind as well as everything else, when he and everyone else in the school started getting feelings of dread and sadness. They had no idea what was coming or what was there, but when they learned, it was a cause for panic.

Dumbledore had allowed Dementors near the school?? Why were they there, and how did they get away from those feelings.

As per usual, Harry found himself being the most affected, as the sounds of his parents last night in the world played through his mind over and over again. The last time it had happened was before he learned the Patronus spell, and he had passed out screaming while he was forced to relive that memory.

But this time he focused on his happiest memory, and as awkward as it made him now, he knew that he wouldn't have had much of a summer, if it weren't for his mentor giving him a way out.

He was overjoyed that someone had listened, and cared for him. Not just the boy-who-lived part of him, but for Harry himself. So he was happy to have a wyvern protecting him, though his mentor reminded him more of a traditional dragon.

News of his patronus got around the school fairly quickly, as all things involving him did. And while some were envious of his skill at just 13, others, like Severus were shocked by what it was. The man had almost choked on his coffee when he heard his colleagues speaking on it.

It made his mood a bit lighter, even with the dementors prowling and 'guarding' the school grounds. The students weren't safe with them there, and Black was probably insane enough to disregard them and still come for Severus' treasure.

The more he let himself think of Harry like that, the harder it was to show indifference to the boy.

Even Lupin was shocked, and he had been the one to teach his treasure the spell. No doubt the wolf probably expected it to be something like a stag or even a doe. Severus knew, he could see that the wolf was a bit disappointed, so that means he's already started telling Harry about the saintly Potter, Black, and Pettigrew that he knew in school.

He wouldn't stand for that, so moving from his seat, Severus made his way out of the great hall. He had a message to send.

HPSSHPSSHPSS

Every year held a mystery for Harry and his friends, and this year was no different. It just seemed that more than one was unraveling this time around.

They had found out about the Order of the Phoenix, and just what they stood for, Ron's rat kept disappearing off around the castle, Hermione was rarely around because of her Time Turner and extra classes, and Snape had started sending Harry their messages again.

He wanted to talk to him for the first time since school started and Harry was happy to know that the man hadn't abandoned him. A large weight had fallen from his shoulders that he didn't fully realize was there. His mentor still wanted to know him, even despite him hanging out with Remus.

And truth be told, Harry had some questions that he needed answered.

So he was on his way to his mentors office, but he didn't want to risk being seen. He was under his cloak and watching his map to make sure that neither Filch, Mrs. Norris, or any Slytherins saw him.

But he did also see a name on the map that he didn't understand. The dots name was Peter Pettigrew, and as it passed him, he remembered that name, and from where. Looking up from the parchment, all he saw was his best friends pet scurrying in the same path as the dot.

He would need to talk to his friends about this. Until they could without a doubt confirm it was Pettigrew, they would keep it to themselves. Harry truly didn't want a repeat of the articles he was seeing last year. No one believed him about Voldemort, being on Quirrell, or about how he wanted to get back to life through the Chamber of Secrets.

No one wanted to believe that he was back, so they labeled him a liar up until the next best thing came about. The recent break outs from Azkaban had people jumping to believe him now, as most of the escapees were probably proven death eaters.

Rushing to his mentor now, Harry skidded to a stop at the mans door. Here he checked to see where the man was, and sighed in relief when new saw his mentors dot.

It was just past curfew, so the man was likely about to leave soon. Knocking on the door, he waited patiently until his mentor opened the door. Harry was admittedly a few minutes late, but he could explain that, and he wasn't usually late either.

Snape had just bade him entrance, and as he slipped into the room he double checked his surroundings. Good, they were well and truly alone, and soon enough his mentors wards snapped into place.

The two got straight to the point of their meeting, and while Severus wanted to speak about Harry's parents, he was also in for a shock. Harry said nothing at first, showing his mentor the map, and pointing at Pettigrew on it. He spoke not a word, less from trying to be secretive, and more so from sheer confusion.

Severus felt a jolt of pure shock rush through him, though he remained outwardly impassive. The little rat was presumed dead, so why had his name come up after so long? He was seething now, no one had missed the sniveling, cowardly prat, but if he were alive, then why hadn't he shown himself?

It spoke volumes, but Severus didn't have all the pieces he'd need to solve this just yet.

"That's Ron's pet rat, Scabbers." Harry whispered, feeling antsy. The rat had run past him earlier, when he saw it. "I need to tell him..." Harry thought aloud, though he was stopped by a hand on his shoulder.

The weight of Snape's hand was warm and safe, and it calmed Harry easily enough.

"No. Track him down first, find what he may be up to. Then you may tell Mr. Weasley. He will scarcely react properly if you tell him his pet has actually been a man this entire time..."