A/N: I don't own Harry Potter

This is for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

September Monthly Build a bear - Pawsport - "You make me so mad sometimes."

Writing Club September:

Book club: 4 -Bernard - Dialogue: "Why do I somehow doubt that?" / Word: Banished / Emotion: Smug / Setting: Office / "I knew your father. He was a good man." / Item: Key

Disney Challenge: Characters - 1. Tarzan - Write about an orphan.

Liza's Loves: -8 - Guild Artisan - Write about a guild artisan. Alt: Write about learning a new skill

Scamander's Case: 2 -(word) respect

Word Count: 470

Warning: Mentions of bullying and abuse

Harry stared at the pensive, his eyes filled with rage, with shock. He felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned and stared at Snape.

"He... That was horrible! He never should have done that to you, you didn't... you..." Severus nodded.

"Yes, your father was a bully, Potter. Now you know the truth, how does that reconcile with the image of St. James Potter you cultivated in your little mind?" Harry glared leaning against the wall of Severus' office. He wasn't sure what what to do now, now that every thought of the man he'd thought his father had been was banished. His father had been no better than Snape.

"Was he always like that, sir," Harry finally asked. "Was he always that horrible?" Severus stared at the boy, looking desperately for any sign that maybe his father hadn't been a horrible person. Severus remembered those days, when he looked for the good in his father. There had been none. He couldn't help but feel a slight kindred with the boy at this moment.

"He grew up some, I hated him regardless. There was a time where we shared a common goal though."

"Why do I doubt that?" Harry asked. Snape and his father had nothing in common from what Harry could see. Other than the fact they were both bullies maybe?

"We both shared an affection for your mother. She was the one good thing in my life, until I ruined it, until James made me ruin it. I remember how angry I was with him. How I lashed out at her."

"You make me so mad sometimes too, sir," Harry stated. "Why are you telling me all this, sir?" he asked. The respect felt odd on his tongue, but something in his mind was telling this man deserved at least some of it. Harry knew how it felt to be bullied. He hadn't seen it in the pensive, but he could tell Snape had been abused more than just being hung upside down."

"I'm telling you this, Potter, because the past need not repeat itself. There is a war coming. Lord Voldemort will have no qualms using this connection between you and him to destroy you. Now, you see how important it is to keep your mind locked under a metaphorical lock and key? Now you see how damaging it is to see something you don't ever wish to know?" Harry nodded.

"Good, ready to go again?" Harry took his place, wand in his hand. Snape nodded. Harry felt the spell hit this time, felt an anger flow through him. This time, he managed to finally make that shield Snape had been babbling about. A slight smile crossed Severus' lips when he knew Harry couldn't see. Maybe he might be able to save the boy after all?