The Vow And its Consequences

Chapter 6

Shocking Revelations Long Time Coming

Severus Apparated home, despite it not being far from the hotel. He had made his mind up, he was by no means a healer but he knew how to cast a diagnostic spell. After all the times he'd been to see Poppy as a student then later as a teacher, never quite willingly, but the woman was like a bloodthirsty hound. She could pick someone feeling slightly ill out of a line. She was definitely good at her job. Severus shook of his thoughts as he grabbed his potions case, grateful he continued to brew the concealing potions, it turned someone invisible until the antidote was swallowed. Unlike an ordinary invisibly cloak, there was no magical sight that could give you away. He'd tested it during an order meeting, he'd entered with the potion in his system and even moody and Dumbledore hadn't noticed him. Once he had everything he could possibly need, he swallowed the potion and Apparated again.

With swift movements he backed away into the darkness, avoiding the Muggles coming his way. Sneering at them in a way only Severus Snape could, despite the fact they couldn't see him. Once they were gone, he looked around again before making his way back into the hotel. He was actually glad he came tonight, since they were not from around here, he had only a limited amount of time before they would leave. Severus stalked up the stairs to the room where the child had last been in, absent were the robes that usually billowed around him. Severus had no idea what awaited him in there, he was simply put in for the shock of his life.

Slipping his wand from his holster, he muttered a charm that would let him know every occupant in that hotel room. The results weren't what he expected, his brief confusion turned to rage so potent that if Muggles had been near they would have felt it. What kind of parents left a three year old child alone in a hotel room? His lip curled in disgust an image of his own parents rising to the forefront of his mind. They were probably out drinking, leaving the child by himself. The child should be at the hospital getting that cut checked.

Clutching his wand tightly, he closed his eyes and murmured a low 'Alohamora' and he slipped into the room. The door closed with an almost soundless click, as Severus observed his surroundings. The room was in total darkness, making it almost impossible for him to see anything. He stood indecisively for a few seconds, before he made up his mind. The child was magical so if his magic was detected at least they Ministry couldn't 'reprimand' him. That's all that would happen; Albus Dumbledore would never allow anything to happen to him. He was too valuable as a Potions Master and of course as his spy. He cast a small 'Lumos' that lit the area in front of him it didn't take him five seconds after that to find the child. He was lying slumped against the wall, curled up sleeping. Cursing angrily, he stalked over to the child, noticing the blood stained clothes. The wound was very bad, blood still oozed from the crater in the child's head. The bruise was taking up residence on nearly half his face, he definitely should have seen a doctor, and most assuredly shouldn't be sleeping. He was no Medi-Wizard but even he knew someone who'd recently hit their head shouldn't be allowed to sleep.

Pressing his cold hand to his forehead, he noticed the child was abnormally warm. A fever he guessed, the child didn't stir which wasn't good at all. His worry it looked hadn't been for nothing, this child was evidently neglected at best or worse abused. He pressed the tip of his wand against the child's forehead and started whispering the words to the diagnosis charm, his wand trailing down his body. A scroll unfurled from his wand, as he heard people outside in the corridor. He paid them no mind, as he read the results in front of him. It confirmed every single one of his suspicions, the child didn't need a Muggle doctor he needed a Medi-Wizard and urgently.

The parents be damned, he had to get the child to St. Mungo's immediately, and he was just about to lift the unconscious boy when the door rattled. Cursing silently, he whispered 'Nox' and his wand light disappeared just as the door opened. If he'd been shocked by the child's injuries it was nothing upon seeing the woman when the lights were turned on. He knew that face, and for once in his life Severus Snape was stunned speechless. His eyes closed in horror, as he finally connected the dots and put everything together. The boy beside her was definitely not Harry Potter, he did not have the tell tale scar upon his forehead. So it had to be the boy on the floor, this child was not three years old but five. He had been so wrong; he understood now just how badly he needed a healer.

"BOY!" screeched Petunia, staring at the boy on the floor with loathing that would have impressed even Tobias Snape.

Severus stood up his entire being shaken with rage, this was Lily's son! He had sworn to protect him. He should not have to protect him from his own bloody family. Grabbing the vial, uncorking it he swallowed the anti-dote. He appeared as quickly as he'd disappeared earlier, his glare was so ferocious that Dudley Dursley wet himself right there and then. Petunia paled and stepped back, she'd forgotten about this freak, she could barely believe he was here in her hotel room!

"D-d-Dudley go through to the room," squeaked Petunia wide eyed, never removing her eyes from Snape's towering enraged form.

Dudley didn't need to be told twice, Piers bolted right behind him just as terrified.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't just hand you to the Dementor's to receive the kiss for what you've done to Harry Potter, the most beloved boy in the Wizarding world?" asked Severus his voice full of fury.

"He's a freak! Just like Lily was! She had to go and get herself blown up and we got landed with him!" shrieked Petunia at the top of her lungs, red faced she stared defiantly at Severus, refusing to feel guilty.

"Do not insult Lily in front of me," snarled Severus, his wand rising without him even being consciously aware of it. Lily had always been his weak spot, even as a child. She had been the only bright thing in his dull dreary life. He had loved her, unrequited as it was, it had never changed. He had sworn an oath to protect her child. Dumbledore had told him the Dark Lord was not truly defeated. He knew of the Prophecy, and right now the depth of his feelings he felt for the little boy on the floor scared the hell out of the usually cool and reserved man.

"Do you know what it was like to wake up one normal morning and find the freak on my doorstep?" she shrieked, her eyes widening at the sight of the raised wand. She wasn't stupid enough to raise Lily's name again. She knew this freak had adored the ground her sister walked on, with drunks for parents it was no surprise he'd seek out another freak.

"You are not normal," said Severus furiously, his magic lashing out, light surrounding the room, scaring Petunia even worse than when the man tried to kill her with a tree branch. She hated the freakishness! She just wanted to be normal, was that too much to ask? Yet inside she quailed with fear, she'd heard about the Dementor's she didn't want that. Plus her Poor Dudders would be left an orphan. "What you have one to that boy," snarled Severus pointing is long dexterous finger towards the prone figure on the floor. "Is not normal, if he does not get treatment he will die, YOU will have become a murderer, and YOU deserve life in prison. Either prison you end up in would be hell on earth. You know what prisons do to child killers, yet it would be mercy compared to what the Wizarding world would do to you." Severus was in Petunia's face now his voice low, yet still incredibly threatening.

Petunia paled drastically, her face pasty white, she looked over at the freak, she hated his very existence but she couldn't believe he was nearly dead. Snape was probably just messing with her, getting in her head, very successfully too.

"What would you do Tuney if I spelled all those wounds from your nephew, to your precious overweight, disgusting, sprog?" sneered Severus, he had been spending too much time with Minerva, she was the only one that used the term 'Sprog' a Scottish term if he wasn't very much mistaken. Ironically enough if he thought back, he'd realized it had been about the very same boy.

"You wouldn't dare!" choked Petunia, stepping back terrified, almost wanting to run and protect her son from the freak but she was rooted on the spot in fear.

"I wouldn't dare?" sneered Severus, his lips twitching, she knew what he was capable of yet she actually had the gall, the audacity to say he didn't have what it takes to do it? "I. Wouldn't. Dare?" he enunciated each word his face turning completely impassive.

"I didn't want the brat Snape," spat Petunia, "The crackpot old fool forced us to take him! I should have listened to Vernon and had him drowned the second he landed on our doorstep!"

Severus could barely believe the words coming out of Petunia's mouth, he knew she'd been angry at the fact she couldn't come to Hogwarts, and she'd taken it out on Lily. Severus personally found the entire thing funny, and he couldn't have cared about Petunia, but she'd upset Lily. Nobody upset Lily and got away with it. Everyone knew how much Petunia had hated the magical world after that, even Albus Dumbledore. The implications of his own words hit him like a ton of bricks. Dumbledore had sent Harry there; he had to know surely how the woman would treat her nephew. Which meant if Dumbledore had any inkling he had forced Severus to break the vow he'd sworn all those years ago. Just what the hell had he been thinking? Blood wards were not the only way to protect someone in the Wizarding world.

"Get the hell out of here Snape, get out!" hissed Petunia, "Dumbledore swore I'd never see any of your freakish kind when I took the freak in!" Petunia's face went slack, tears springing in her eyes as she stared at the man in disbelief. Her ears were still ringing with the slap Snape had just delivered to her face.

"You have the nerve to cry Tuney, after everything you've done to that child you cannot even take an ounce of your own medicine?" said Severus his voice filled with disgust, his hand tingling from where he'd slapped Petunia across the face. Spinning around he hoisted the still form of Harry Potter into his arms, "Tell anyone about this and I will tell the truth, it will mean the Dementor's come for not only you but your entire family." he threatened before he Dis-apparated on the spot.

Severus landed back in Spinners End, his mind overwhelmed by everything he'd seen, done and the ramifications of his actions this night. He had expected to help a three year old Muggle born abused for accidental magic. Instead he'd come home with Harry Potter, a five year old child, a child he'd sworn an unbreakable vow to protect. To have left him there would have meant his magic being stripped from him. Not that he would have left him there anyway, he wasn't a bastard no matter what his students thought. Ironically enough they were too stupid to realize he'd protect them even to death.

He had to get Harry help, he was beyond his ability to heal, and if it had been a cold or fever he'd have no problem. He didn't know how much potions it was safe to give a five year old under malnourished child. He couldn't go to St. Mungo's the entire world would know, and he wouldn't get near him again. He truly feared that he'd be placed back with the Dursley's. Dumbledore obviously felt he had to stay there despite the fact he'd grown up abused.

His thoughts immediately turned to Poppy, but she would be duty bound to tell Dumbledore. Any suspicious injuries she came across were to be reported immediately to the Headmaster. He didn't know if she would keep it quiet, but no, Poppy and everyone else in Hogwarts adored the Headmaster. They didn't see the manipulative side to him. He had the very night he'd begged Dumbledore to save Lily, he'd been practically coerced into spying to keep Lily safe. Then manipulated into staying and teaching imbeciles at Hogwarts, with the vow and threat that the Dark Lord would be back. No he needed someone who would keep quiet about it, someone with enough money and connects to ensure they were afraid to break their word.

There was only one person he knew, that had that kind of reputation and power in the Wizarding world. It was tricky business to deal with Lucius though. Lucius might not want the Dark Lord brought back, but he would go to any means necessary to keep his family safe. Lucius had aligned himself with the Ministry, gaining power and status there despite the fact he was or rather had been a Death Eater. He trusted Lucius to some degree, but did he trust him with Harry's life? Looking down at the unconscious child, he realized if he didn't the child would die.

Severus could only pray he was making the right decision that it wasn't going to backfire on him. Narcissa wouldn't see any harm befalling Harry, she hated the course Lucius had chosen but could do nothing. Yet she had managed to get thought to her stubborn husband, he'd saw his first glimpse of remorse the same week Draco had been born. Perhaps being a father had changed Lucius, he'd never know because they didn't discuss it. It was just too dangerous really, despite the fact they were both brilliant at closing their minds off. He wasn't planning on leaving Harry's side; he'd protect him as promised.

He Apparated them to the gates of Malfoy Manor, keeping a tight grip on the child.

Im sorry its so short i promise the next chapter will be longer ive just not had the time to sit down and properly write it out and the fact i was conflicted on what to do to the Dursley's i hate when they get away with it. unfortunately this is what happened she got slapped in the face (bad muse) nothing will ever beat a new place to stay with them getting turned into rats will it? :P haha R&R please!

someone asked to 'Explain the diary' i do not think even Malfoy knew what it was. He was given something and he kept it until his home was going to be raided and he got rid of it. i think malfoy did what he did to keep his family alive and safe. not excusing the shit he probably did but im just saying. the main question now is will sev raise harry or will the malfoys? with his connections malfoy could make it happen and bury the paperwork so deep nobody will find it until its too late.