"Clear your mind!" Snape snapped and Harry groaned.

"I don't know what that means…" Harry said. He heard Snape scoff and looked up to see him glaring, shaking his head as if Harry were an idiot.

"You can break out of the imperious curse yet you can't perform the simple task of clearing your mind. Why is that Potter?"

Harry shrugged. "Dunno…" he mumbled.

"Don't be incompetent, Potter! Try." He pointed his wand at Harry who flinched and closed his eyes. "Legilimens!"

'Clear your mind. Clear your mind. Clear your mind… What does Snape think of you? He hasn't really changed the way he acts against you. Disgust. It's the only natural thing he should feel. Disgusting.' He felt something snap as his concentration slipped.

The cupboard under the stairs. Getting tugged around by Vernon after the boa incident. His cousin and his friends 'hunting Harry'. Mr. Emwood giving him some cake when he was eight.

The memory went back. He was seven. It was snowing and Harry grabbed an empty flower pot with his numb pale fingers, turning it upside down. He climbed it to look into the Dursley household. Duddley had opened his third present at the table, his parents letting him start early as they all enjoyed the roast meal together. Harry saw Petunia petting Duddley's hair, kissing his forehead and a sadness and loneliness filled the child. He reached and knocked on the window as best he could. Vernon turned and walked over not even looking at Harry as he closed the curtains.

He was eight. He was in Mr. Emwood's livingroom, watching cartoons. The man came to sit next to him and Harry leaned back against him, distracted by the cartoons, but welcoming the comfort. Then the man took off the cartoons, instead making Harry watch things no child his age should be watching.

Snape pulled out and stood up, pacing the room, not looking at him.

"I'm sorry." Harry whispered, feeling the heat of shame on his face.

Snape didn't respond at first. "I believe we've done all we can for tonight. Follow me." He said.

"Where are we going?" Harry asked and followed him. Snape said nothing, walking with the light of his wand lighting the corridor. They walked the cold dark corridors in silence. The odd portrait grumbled at the light as they passed.

They went further up the stairs. Harry felt the tremble in his fingers and held them together. With a deep breath he stopped. They were heading to Dumbledore's office. It must have taken a few seconds for Snape to realize that Harry had stopped because by the time he stopped and turned, Harry was already shrouded in darkness.

Snape walked back and lowered the wand light slightly. "Follow me, Potter." He repeated. Harry frowned and shook his head.

"You're taking me to the headmaster."

"I'm taking you to the hospital wing." Harry's eyes flickered up to him for a second. He didn't know which was worse.

"I don't need to go to the hospital wing." He said. He was fine. If Madame Pomfrey finds out then Professor Dumbledore would find out and then… well, how long before everyone discovers the truth? Snape simply grabbed him by the arm and dragged him the rest of the way. Harry stumbled after him but didn't argue for now.

Once in the hospital wing Snape dragged him to the bed closest to the small door at the back of the wing, sat him down, and went through the door that led to Madam Pomfrey's office. Funny, this was the bed he most often landed in every time he got injured. It made him chuckle without humour at the thought that he already had an assigned bed that he naturally gravitated to.

He sat in silence, trying to discern any sounds of Snape of Pomfrey approaching. Maybe he could lay his head down for a few seconds. This horrid occlumency lesson had given him worse of a headache than after seeing that vision… that vision connecting him to Nagini.

'Clear your mind… clear your mind.'

oOoOoOo oOoOoOo oOoOoOo

"And what could mister Potter have done to himself at this unholy hour?" Madame Pomfrey asked as she gathered her emergency kit. However Severus stopped her.

"It is not a medical emergency. But you do need to see him now." Severus said. The woman stopped what she was doing, turning her full attention to him, a frown on her face.

"I have stumbled upon information on mister Potter of a very delicate matter." The mediwitch sat down. It didn't surprise Severus. It wasn't everyday his words could be misinterpreted for concern. "Upon asking mister Potter I can confirm that the information I discovered on the matter holds a level of accuracy with reality."

"You're going in circles Severus." She said. Severus sneered feeling uncomfortable. How do you say such a thing delicately? He sat down as well.

"Mister Potter is a… Mister Potter has had…" Severus wanted to kick himself at his pathetic stuttering. "A muggle targeted Potter when he was younger… It appears that Potter's home life is less than ideal. Following emotional abuse and neglect this muggle had an easy target. And… well…" Damn it. He was doing so well. But having to say it out loud… it made him sick to his stomach to even remember the scenes he saw. It was not something he would wish on his worst enemy. Or the child of said enemy. And he pushed Potter into telling him. The child complied. The child was braver than him already.

He looked up, controlling his emotions, Madame Pomfrey already sitting straight, eyes wide, as if anticipating his words. "Potter was sexually abused by that muggle." Madame Pomfrey gasped, covering her mouth.

"No. Are you… sure Severus?" She whispered horrified.

"Understandably he was shaken by the recollection and my questioning. Begged me not to tell anyone. Yet it's clear why I have to tell you. This matter must not reach the headmaster however." He said.

"Of course I must inform the headmaster. This is a very serious accusation." She whispered with urgency.

"The boy explicitly demanded that no one else know. On one night two people already know, bringing the headmaster into this will… I don't know! Surely the psychological impact can be damaging. You should know, you're the mediwitch." He said. Pomfrey seemed to ponder on this and sighed looking around trying to decide on what to do.

"You speak the truth Severus… however. Come summer, I can't simply allow the child to go back to his muggle family without the headmaster knowing the truth."

"… That is a long way away. For now, maybe just check that he is alright." Severus said then regretted his words. "I mean…"

"Don't worry Severus, I doubt anyone would believe me anyway if I were to go around announcing your humanity." She said standing to go out and see Potter. Severus scoffed at her words and stood, following her closely. Potter was already lying down over the covers, sleeping soundly.

Madame Pomfrey removed the boy's glasses with magic and folded them to the side. For now, without the dark lord in his mind, the boy looked calm, innocent. Unaware of the dark world around him. She passed her wand over him, a green light evaluating the boy. She pulled back and with a wave of her wand the covers came from under Potter, covering him up.

Severus faintly wondered if the boy had any recollection of ever being tucked into bed. He did. His mother, on her good days, would often when he was very small, tuck him in, pet his hair gently and whisper comforting words to him until he fell asleep. He couldn't imagine what it would be like, not being able to remember that.

He recalled the scene he saw. Christmas at age seven. Then he reminded himself that Potter didn't have a mother because of the one and only Severus Snape. He glared at the teenager and looked away.