A/N: I want to thank all of the folks who followed and commented this story! It's helps a lot!!! Please if you have any suggestions for how you want this to evolve, contact me!!!
I also want to give a warning for this chapter, because it has mention of rape , nothing graphic but we will make a deal of it nonetheless so if you are sensitive skip that part. Don't tell me I didn't warn you though!!!
On with the story...
Harry's next week had passed by in a blink of the eye. He was grateful for when the weekend came as he was so exhausted that he didn't even have the strength to stay awake after 10 o' clock. His progress on healing was remarkable and so it was in transfiguration. Albus and Minerva had been very impressed when he managed to change his eyebrow color in just a few days. "It took me almost two weeks to change a few hair!" Albus had remarked.
He would move to more difficult parts of hair transfiguration soon, such as the scalp.
In potions, he had managed to make a pain relieving potion on his second try all by himself! It had helped that Snape had taken him to an occultist and had his eyes checked. The doctor had been very troubled with Harry's eyes, because his round glasses had been doing more damage than good, since they weren't fit for his condition. He had gotten some round silver ones, similar to what he had before, and he also purchased some contact lenses for when he didn't want to wear his glasses, like when playing Quidditch.
In Occlumency they had made some progress. It helped that when Harry's particularly bad memories surfaced, they had the chance to talk about them. Severus sympathized with the child. A lot of Harry's memories with his uncle Vernon were almost identical with ones he had with his late father.
"Have you built your wall Potter? Can you feel it in your mind?"
Harry just nodded with his eyes closed and and his eyebrows almost touching each other in concentration .
"Great... Now try and put more bricks around it. Like you are the builder. Enforce it as much as you can. Make it almost impenetrable...Good... On the count of three... One, two, three... Legilimens!"
Severus got into Harry's empty mind. For just a few seconds there was nothing but black around him. He poked on it and unfortunately it crumbled to the ground and images of Harry's mind started to show themselves.
"Itty tiny Potter... Where is your mother Potter? Where is that bitch? Is she dead freak? She dead! You don't have a mother!" His cousin mocked him in the playground with his friends. Severus felt anger built up inside of him. He was going to take care of the muggles. They would fucking pay. That whale of a cousin Potter had, dared to call Lilly, his Lilly, a bitch?"
Then the image changed.
Harry was around what twelve? Eleven? He was laying at the ground and Dudley with an older friend of his, around fifteen, Severus guessed, were kicking him as he was curled in the ground sobbing, half naked from the waist down.
"You freakish faggot! I'll show you now!" The older boy told him and then made a move and unbuckled his belt and pants, moving towards Harry.
"NO! NO!" Harry screamed and with all his might, he threw Severus out of his mind.
Severus landed back in his office and he saw a panting Harry who had fallen off the stool he was sitting, and was now curled up in a ball crying and rocking back and forth as he continued to whisper no.
Severus was furious. He would make them pay if it was the last thing he did in his life. They...they raped a twelve year old boy!
He moved closer to Harry. He conjured a Calming Draught and some Dreamless sleep.
He kneeled in front of Harry and put his arm on his knee.
"Potter...You are going to be fine... Take some deep breaths for me..."
"No, no, no, no,no..." Harry was having a panic attack. He felt the air disappearing from his lungs. He felt the walls closing in on him.
"Potter! Look at me! Deep breaths! Come on now..." still nothing.
"Harry!" Severus snapped making the boy look at him. With his hand, he rubbed the boy's knee in a soothing way.
"Concentrate in my voice. Deep breaths. In... and out...in...and out... That's it..."
Harry's body relaxed a bit. Severus helped the distraught child up and got him to Harry's bedroom.
He sat beside him on the bed and was surprised when Harry wrapped his arms around him and started sobbing.
He put on a reassuring, yet awkward, hand on the young man's back.
He couldn't even begin to imagine how the boy felt. He had been a victim of abuse too, but not at this extent.
He didn't let go. Not until, Potter had let go off him.
"Take these," he gave him the vials with the two potions. Harry took first the calming draught and just before he took the dreamless sleep, he looked at Severus with those green big eyes full of sorrow and hurt, and for a moment Severus' heart dropped to Tartarus, Lily's eyes were full of sorrow and hurt...
"Thank you..." Harry said sincerely.
Severus just nodded. He wasn't sure how to respond. The sincerity in the boy's voice almost surprised him.He stood up and for a moment he watched the boy sleep. Then he took a calming draught of his own and firecalled Albus.
"Severus, m'boy! It is rather late for a visit.Has something happened?" Albus said worried,looking at the stiff face of the Potion's Master, through the flames.
"It's a quite urgent matter Albus. Can I step through?"
"Yes, yes, of course, m'boy! Is Harry alright?" Albus asked in a follow up question, as Severus dusted himself off, once he had landed on the office.
"Physically, yes. Otherwise, no. Let me call Minerva first. You both have to see this."
McGonagall arrived only a minute later, asking the same questions that the Headmaster had asked previously, and receiving the same answers from Snape.
"Can you please elaborate?," she asked Severus
"We were doing Occlumency lessons and I saw a memory. Not the whole memory, he blocked me out. I think it is best if you saw it yourselves..."
Severus conjured the pensive and put the memory inside.
Albus looked at him with a puzzled look just before he dove in, Minerva following him, with the same quizzical look. They saw until Harry's panic attack, then they were pushed out of the memory and in to Albus' office. Severus observed Albus' and Minerva's faces. Minerva seemed both furious and regretful, whereas Albus, had lost all the color he had. Severus conjured a chair before the older man had the chance of collapsing and Albus practically fell on it, his head in his hands.
"I did this..." he said in a whisper. "This is my fault...If I had listened to you when you warned me, Minerva, he would be happy now, healthy. I ruined his childhood..." Albus' voice was weak. His eyes were filled with tears and fury, for those damn muggles. How could Petunia do this to her own nephew? Which kind of human being could rape an innocent, small child? Albus shook his head.
Minerva kept her hand in Albus' shoulder as support, both hers, and Albus'. He put his hand over hers and squeezed lightly.
"Where is he now Severus?," the witch asked in a almost unbalanced voice.
"Asleep, in his bedroom. He cried for almost half an hour. I gave him dreamless sleep and a calming drought."
"You did the right thing." Albus acknowledged.
"I'm goin' to Privet Drive now. Those bampot, doaty, dobbers, ain't see the light o' day never again."
It was very bad when Minerva's Scottish accent took over. Very bad indeed. Albus had to practically hold her back.
"We are all going, dear."
Albus stood and after conjuring and drinking a calming draught,he asked Severus:
"Are you coming, Severus?"
"I had already planned of this visit before your permission Albus..."
"Off we go then..."
The three of them left the castle and apparated to Privet Drive.
Albus knocked on the door of number four. The loud voice of Vernon Dursley sounded from inside.
"It's eleven o'clock blimey! This better be an emergency!" He opened the door with a scowl on his face. His fists were tucked by his sides and his fat mustache trembled.
"Oh trust me when I say it is, Mr Dursley." Albus' face was determined. His aura, combined with Snape's and McGonagall's, was creating a very hostile and threatening feeling, around the poor Muggle.
"You...You... Freaks! Get out of here!" He growled. One could definitely detect the fear in his voice, though.
"On the contrary. You are going to step aside and let us in, because your situation is going to become much worse, if you don't." Albus practically pushed the man aside and got in the house, followed by Minerva who stopped and looked Dursley with eyes full of fury. It was hard to imagine that the, usually composed and annoyingly polite, Headmaster was capable of being aggressive.
"Get in Dursley..." Severus pushed the man in.
"Don't touch me, you overgrown bat!" He yelled at Snape as he closed the door. Severus in a flash took out his wand and pressed it to the man's throat.
"When you address any of us, you will talk with respect. Otherwise, you won't be able to speak, ever again. Understood?" Severus said as low and intimidating as he ever had. Vernon almost fell on the ground with fear.
"Darling, who is it?" Petunia asked descending the stairs. She wore brightly pink gown, her hair in rollers. She hadn't changed at all, Severus thought. The same sour and arrogant expressionism her face, as if, she owned the whole world.
"You! The Snape boy! Get out of my house now!" She exclaimed almost frightened, when she recognized him.
"Get down Petunia. And bring that whale of a child you have. There are some serious matters we have to discuss. Sit down!" Severus pushed Vernon on the couch, as Dumbledore and Minerva conjured two armchairs and sat across him. Severus preferred to stand. Petunia came down the stairs with Dudley, who was afraid to the very core of his being and who with a growl from McGonagall let out a squeal. Severus almost smirked at that. It was immensely entertaining to be able to inflict even a hundredth of what they had made Potter go through.
"We are here to discuss your treatment of Harry." The severeness of Albus' voice was unmistakable.
"What about it? We took the boy under our roof and provided him with food, from our own plates and clothes, who our Dudley missed! What else could we do?" Petunia exclaimed in an authoritarian tone, Minerva didn't like at all. She almost threw herself at the woman but Albus was quick enough to restrain her.
"What else? You gave him as much food as it was enough for him to survive! You treated him like he was garbage! You gave him hand-me-down clothes that were thrice his size and you abused him! You were hurting him beyond repair, you scabby nampties!" Minerva yelled.
"He was raped by Dudley and his friend." Albus uttered what Minerva couldn't. "He was hit repeatedly by all of you. He is scarred both mentally and physically, for the rest of his life. You had only one task. Protect an innocent baby. Your sister's baby. And you failed miserably." he emphasized each phrase.
The Dursley's didn't even try to protest.
"He deserves it. He's a freak. An abomination. He shouldn't exist. None of you should!" Dudley said with disgust, but yet fearing to look at any of the wizards in the eyes.
"You fuckers!" Snape growled, as he drew his wand on them. Albus didn't stop him this time. Severus transformed them into cockroaches and then casted the stinging charm on each of them. The Dursley's tried to escape, but Severus was good at his aim. The stinging charm was powerful enough to hurt a grown up. Think about how much more pain it caused to a small, little cockroach. The plus side was, that cockroaches only lived about two years and Severus was very pleased with his choice of animal.
"Let's go Severus. They aren't even worthy of our rage..." Albus stood up, squeezing Snape's shoulder and disapprovingly, moving his head.
Minerva hit her foot on the floor next to the cockroaches, intimidating them and she almost let out a chuckle when he saw Vernon trying to escape with a screeching sound.
They apparated back to Hogwarts. Minerva squeezed Albus' hand seeing how distraught he was.
"We took care of them Al... They won't touch Harry again..." she whispered to the older man.
"They shouldn't have touched him in the first place Minerva."
"I'm going to my quarters. I think a glass of brandy is calling my name. Would you like to join me?"
"I'd love to, dear, but I have to do something else first. Severus do you mind terribly, if I stop by your quarters for a bit?"
"Not at all Albus." He knew Albus was a sentimental man. And he knew why he wanted to visit. He couldn't say no to him. It would be cruel.
They parted ways with Minerva and arrived at the dungeons.
"A cup of tea Albus?" Severus offered.
"No thank you Severus, I won't stay long."
Albus went to Harry's room and conjured a chair. He sat himself beside the sleeping teen and took his hand in his.
"I'm so very sorry Harry... So very sorry..." he whispered. Severus stood at the doorframe and knew right then, that Albus cared deeply for Potter. More deeply than he ever had imagined. Truth was, this young man, had found the way into their hearts. Well, not through Severus' yet, but he was getting close. Day by day, Severus found Harry more similar to himself, more similar to Lily.
He moved to the living room and sat on his favorite armchair, nursing a bourbon on his hand, his mind racing. How could have he missed this? Potter, from the first day he stepped foot on this damn school, was malnourished and unattended. First signs of abuse. Having experienced abuse first hand, it was unacceptable of him not to recognize the signs. He had been blinded by hate.
He sighed, and drank his bourbon with a big gulp. He refilled it and tried concentrating on something else, otherwise, the thoughts would eventually depress him.
He was trying to find ways to help Potter heal. Make him stronger. An idea occurred to him! Potter was practically running on emotions. Severus, was running on logic.To occlude, he emptied himself of emotions, but Harry was full of them. So what if Potter's wall wasn't emptiness but fullness? Fullness of any kind of emotion. That should do the trick. And frankly Severus needed the breakthrough.
After five minutes, Albus emerged in the living area. He suddenly seemed more aged.
"Thank you Severus for taking care of this.I can't say it enough."
"It is my duty Albus."
"I think that duty has become care... You two are getting along better. Young Harry seems to be comfy around you."
"I do not...care. And I find his presence almost annoying." Severus was quick to snap and Albus chuckled lightly.
"At least you do not find it insufferable."
"It's not...insufferable, that is true."
Albus was a very intelligent man, and he could see the worry in Severus' expression and the deep concern. He patted the young man on the shoulder as he walked to the door. Both Severus and Harry were stubborn, but zero possibility of reconciliation now had become a higher percentage.
Five minutes later, Albus knocked on Minerva's door.
"Come in Albus!" The witch sounded from inside.
"Do you have the glass of brandy you were talking about Minerva, dear?" He took a sit on her couch, facing the flames of the fireplace.
"Of course!" She handed him a glass and sat beside him. "Are you alright Albus?"
"Just a bit shaken. I can't believe that Harry went through all that and didn't say anything."
"We never gave him the chance to feel that he could count on us. We chose to distance ourselves. That is the reason."
"In retrospect I think our call was entirely wrong." The older man tried to joke, but still, neither him or Minerva were able to smile.
"We have time to fix it." Minerva emphasized.
"Do we? The war is closing in. We don't know who will be dead or alive by then and if I don't find a way to save Harry... I'll be the reason he will be..." he couldn't finish his sentence.
"Albus Percival Woulfric Brian Dumbledore! Stop speaking nonsense at once! We will all make it through the war! All of us! Do you hear me? I can't lose you...or Severus, or Harry."
Albus took her hand in his and moved closer, allowing Minerva to lean in his shoulder and rest her head there. Albus inhaled the scent of jasmine and pine from her, letting it work as a soothing feeling. They eventually drifted to sleep like that.
Harry woke up the next morning feeling groggy. He checked the clock. Nine o' clock! Oh shoot! Snape was going to chop him into Potion's ingredients. He was already late for class! Then his recollections from last night flooded him.
Snape had seen his worst memory! And then, Harry had cried in his arms, not even remembering for how long... Oh fuck! He sat up in the bed quickly. He changed clothes and brushed his teeth as quickly as he could. He got out and practically ran to the Professor's office.
He knocked on the door.
"Come in." Snape's steady and deep voice sounded.
Yesterday, it had sounded a lot more soft and reassuring, Harry mentally compared, and he was take aback. What if Snape was mad at him?
"Sorry I am late Professor. I know I broke one of your rules. It won't happen again sir." Harry talked to the floor.
"Come and sit Potter. We have to talk." Snape snapped.
There it was! They would throw him out of Hogwarts! He had done it again! Now Snape would tell him off about how disappointed everyone was at him and that he overstepped his boundaries and he was going back to the Dursley's.
"I am sorry sir, about yesterday, I shouldn't have..." Harry managed still looking at the floor, before Severus interrupted him.
"Don't ever apologize for having a normal reaction to such a horrible experience. Potter, look at me." The command was soft, and Harry, surprised at the change of tone, looked up despite himself.
"There is nothing to be ashamed of." Severus reassured him. "Have you eaten breakfast yet?"
"No sir... I was in a hurry and didn't have the time. I'm sorry."
"Stop apologizing Potter. It is tiring. Apologies are a sign of weakness. Let's go to the kitchen, then, to put something in your stomach before we talk."
A lump formed in Harry's throat and suddenly, it seemed like he wouldn't be able to eat anything. Despite this feeling, and probably because of Snape's continuing stare, he ate everything that was put on his plate.
"Before we begin, let me inform you that both Albus and Minerva know about yesterday's events. We won't tell anyone about it.As your temporary guardian, Albus had the right to know, and Minerva, is your head of house and cares for you. She must be informed of such things. Furthermore, we visited the Dursleys last night. Let's just say, that they are paying for what they've done to you."
"I... I didn't want them to pay..."
"Don't worry Potter. They deserved what came to them. Now, if we are to make any progress, we should talk about yesterday's events. I know you think it is hard but discussion can do miracles."
"I... I didn't really remember that memory. It was like my brain shoved it on the back of my head, never to be seen again... I was twelve... Just gotten back from Hogwarts. Dudley had seen my letter to Ron. We were quite affectionate to each other. Not in a romantic way though. He's just my best friend. Then, when I was taking care of the garden, Dudley came out with his friend, Jack. He was 17 at the time. The fences were high. It was summer, the neighbors were in vocation. I had learned from a while ago not to scream or cry for any reason when I'm at the Dursleys. I... they stripped me and..." Harry stopped he cleared his throat. He had glittering eyes with tears. Severus gave him as much time as he needed.
"You can imagine what happened next... Aunt Petunia came out, they yelled at them to get off me. She thought I was going to give them AIDS... She drugged me to the cupboard, gave me half a toast and some water and locked me in there for the rest of the day. Then everything went back to normal. Like nothing had happened."
Severus passed him a bar of chocolate. Chocolate always made his mood better and he imagined Potter would appreciate the sweet.
"I can't tell you I understand what you're going through Potter. I was abused by my father too, but not to that extent. Never. My mother, always stepped in before it became too dangerous. I can tell you though, that none of this is normal, and that none of this is your fault. That, I want you to put in your thick scull for good."
Harry looked up at Snape, grateful that someone could give him a bit of comfort and even more surprised, that the Potions Master divulged such delicate information about his own past.
"I can tell you for certain that the memories won't fade. But the feeling of fear and that you are a disappointment will, eventually. You are lucky to have people that are concerned about you, around. Myself included."
"I just wish, my life was different...You know about the...?" Harry stopped not so certain that Snape knew about the horcruxes.
"You mean the horcruxes?"
"Yes...Then, you know I'm probably going to die..." Severus didn't notice even a flick of sadness or hesitation as Potter spoke these words.
"Not necessarily. Albus is working very hard to find a way to get you out of this war unharmed."
"Well as much as I have faith in Albus, I don't think he will achieve his goal at the end sir. As things are, I don't have a lot of time in front of me. I want to live a better life than the one I had this far. Sirius could have given me that. We had plans, you know... He was going to take me in Grimauld Place. We would live together... As much as you hated him, he was a good Godfather."
Harry cleared his throat, trying to compose himself. Severus just looked him with a studying look. Stupid mutt. He could have been alive now. Potter wouldn't have to unburden his weights to him. After an awkward moment, Severus broke the silence.
"We have decided, myself, Albus and Minerva that is, that you have earned a day to relax. The Weasleys and Granger are coming. A Quidditch match is arranged in an hour. Ms Granger should arrive at any moment though. If you feel like it, you can go welcome her in Albus' office."
Harry felt decided. He really had missed his friends, but he wasn't sure if he could be a good company for them today. He gave a small smile nonetheless and stood up.
"Thank you sir! I really mean it..."
"Don't be a dimwit, Potter. It is my duty to make sure that the students of this school are safe. More than so, if the student in question is the Boy Who Lived."
"Good morning Harry m'boy!" Albus stood behind his mahogany desk, reading a book in his half moon glasses. He was wearing a bright cyan robe, with golden details around it. He grinned at Harry, once the young man stepped inside.
"Hey Al! I just came to get Hermione."
"Oh, of course! So Severus has told you of our devious plan! Do you like it?"
"I love it! I really need the distraction right now..."
Albus stood from his chair and hugged Harry tightly.
"Everything will be fine Harry..."
"I know now it will Al... Thank you..." Harry squeezed back. From anyone who had ever given Harry a hug, Albus' were the best, more reassuring and comforting.
Just then, the flames flared and Hermione came through.
"Harry!" She hugged him tightly, almost surpassing Albus' hug.
"Hey Herm..." in just a month and a half, Hermione had changed. Her face had become more grownup, she was taller and her hair were more tamed, not so bushy anymore. She was beautiful.
And Hermione didn't miss the muscle Harry gained, his new glasses and change of style. He smelled of cologne and she loved his scruffy look with the small beard.
"Hello Headmaster... Nice to see you." She gave the older man a small bow.
"Ms Granger, it is truly a pleasure." Albus smiled at her.
"Do you mind if we went to the tower Al? Just stay and chat for a bit?"
"No, of course not Harry m'boy! Go on then!"
Harry took Hermione's hand and practically pulled her down the stairs.
"Al?" Hermione inquired with a puzzled look.
"Yep! The fun thing is he likes it!" Harry smiled at her. "I've missed you Herm... Ron too..."
"Why didn't you say you were here Harry! You haven't written to us at all!"
"I... It was hard... Things have only started to get better... Minerva and Albus and Snape, they have helped a lot. They train me and treat me great Herm! Look I'll tell you all about it alright? Just give me some time more..."
"You know I'm here to support you no matter what Harry. You can talk to me when you feel ready."
They arrived at the common room. The fat lady opened without even the password. They sat on the couch and Harry told Winky to bring them some pumpkin juice and biscuits.
"So how have you been?"
"I'm fine... It could have gone better though. I train and practice everyday. I am tired for most of the time, practically collapse on my bed at night. But I'm really grateful that I don't have to see the Dursleys any longer. Having a lot to do, takes my mind off Sirius for the most part too."
"You look great Harry! That's for sure!"
Harry blushed a bit.
"You look beautiful too Herm... You've changed a lot! I love it..." Hermione gave him a shy smile.
"The style is upgraded too!" She observed.
"Snape and Minerva took me shopping the first day I arrived here. I also changed my eyes prescription. Hence the new glasses..."
"How is it with Snape?"
"He's been treating me very differently Herm... He's still a slimy bastard but he's nice sometimes. It's weird and awkward."
She smiled at him and put her hand on his squeezing it.
Just then the door opened with Minerva stepping in.
"Hello Mrs Granger, Harry... The Weasleys are arriving any moment now. Don't you think it's time to change and prepare to eat my dust?" Minerva said addressing Harry playfully.
"Oh please Minnie! You're talking to the youngest sicker of all time!" Harry rolled his eyes in a way that Minerva was very much reminded of Snape. Minnie had been a nickname that Harry had come up with. And when Minerva heard it first she was surprised but she couldn't say no to the boy.
"Chop chop! We don't have all day to wait for the Golden boy!" She said in a provoking tone, still smirking though. There was one thing certain about Minerva McGonagall, and that was her competitive spirit. But that was also a trait of Harry's.
And so it began! The greatest Quidditch match that Harry would have in his life!
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