Chapter 6

"Well, well, well look what we have here, Harry Potter, or should I say Dursley you have never considered yourself apart of the family. You should forgive Severus for never coming, not everything as it seems, just remember there is magic that can stop anyone finding you if the Potter's wanted and I think they did. Hm… not a bad mind, a great thirst for books and to prove yourself to everyone and make your parents regret giving you away Hm, Tell Severus, The Potters would be in prison faster than they can even lift a hand to you. Severus would protect you with his last breath, there is only one place to put you and it is not Gryffindor, if I do you will keep it quiet if I put you else where you will admit it. You will thank me in many ways, it had better be… "SLYTHERIN!"

Harry shakily took of the hat and sat down on the Slytherin table furthest from people, not wanting to be near anyone, he felt sick and if someone touched him, he would be in pain, under his robes were patches of bruises, cuts and broken ribs he was in agony. He hoped to be able to brew a bone-mending potion, healing potion and pain reliever.

Before they knew it, the headmaster was standing up and spoke "Welcome, to another year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. And to incoming students, it is always good to see some new smiling faces. A few more words before we eat Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!"

Harry ate very little of the welcoming feast knowing his stomach would not be able to handle the food, which looked delicious. He sat and ate some marsh potatoes, some carrots and sweet corn, not eating the chicken; he sat thinking about what the Sorting Hat had told him. 'Was it true what he said, could they really not find me? Do they really care,' and then he thought 'that's until they see how weak I really am'.

Unaware of the black eyes as well as two sets of blue watching his every move, concern written all over their faces. Well two, the other was too good at hiding his emotions, Severus was not just concerned he was scared, scared that Harry meant what he said all those years ago, they continued to watch him as he ate very little of what was on his plate and watched him till it was time to go to their beds. The people who were watching were Severus Snape, Salazar Dudley Dursley Snape and Albus Dumbledore.

Soon the feast was finished; the meal ended. The Deputy Headmistress tapped her glass with a used spoon, effectively silencing everyone as Professor Dumbledore got up to address the students once again before bed.

"The forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. Our caretaker, Mr. Filch has asked me to remind you all that no magic should be used in the corridors between classes. Quidditch trials will be conducted during the second week of term. Anyone interested see Madam Hooch. And lastly, the third floor corridor on the right hand side is out of bounds to all who do not wish to die a very painful death." The Headmaster's voice had turned serious.

A few people laughed, apart from the Slytherins who sat there straight faced no emotions showing on their faces.

Then they were taken down to their common room, Harry was sharing a room with Dudley, Crabbe and Goyle. He slid into bed, not answering his cousin when he spoke to him, a while later Dudley gave up going to bed wondering what the hell had happened to his brother and cousin.

Once Harry was sure that his dorm mates were asleep, he crept out of the common room, not aware that Severus was aware he had left the common room, Severus having long ago put a spell on the entrance so he would be notified if any of his snakes left. He quietly went after who was leaving the common room after curfew, at twelve midnight.

He was surprised to see Harry come round the corner, blending into the shadow he watched Harry, who had pain filled eyes as well as pain filled movements. Severus was frowning wondering what could have happened, so watched silently as Harry took out his book he had taken with him.

Opening it he took some of the ingredients from the student's supplies store, he watched, impressed, as a first year brewed a seventh year's potion. As soon as Harry finished he bottled them and began another potion, having just finished the pain reliever he then began on the bone-mending potion, Severus himself began to get a bad feeling about this.

When he was finished the bone mending potion, he bottled it and then drank the pain reliever in one go and sighed feeling much better. After all the potions were done he bottled them and put them in his pocket, cleaning everything up he was about to leave when Severus Snape came out of the shadows. All Harry could think was 'uh-oh,'

He got right to business and said, "Why are you brewing those potions," he asked.

"Um... headache" said Harry trying to get away but the door was locked and warded it was obvious gulping he tried with all his might to open it but he could not, after trying for ages he fell down on a heap on the floor, trying hard not to beg for the door to be opened.

"Open the door," choked out Harry, "Please open the door," he said when Severus did not open the door, rolling back and fourth closing his eyes and didn't want to open them.

He was startled when he felt a cool hand on his face, and opening his eye, he was started to see sad eyes looking down on him with a glimmer of suspicion in his eyes too. The thought of someone still loving him made happy hopeful filled eyes looked up at him; Severus understood and opened his arms for Harry to come.

And come he did, he threw himself into the man's arms and sobbed his heart out, the loneliness the pain leaving him, making him feel lighter. Severus held Harry as Harry sobbed his heart out, pulling Harry closer he started rocking him back and fourth unaware that he had tears running down his own face, the sobs stopped to hiccups and muffled breathing until it evened out, as he fell asleep. Severus seeing Harry was asleep took him through to his son's room, Dudley already being adopted properly, Dudley Dursley-Snape.

Settling him under the covers, school would not start tomorrow it being Friday today, taking his robes of he spelled clothes on him not wanting too see the state of him just yet. He knew the pain reliever would last until he woke up, putting the potions Harry had made on the nightstand so if he needed them he could take them, running his hand through his hair, Harry leaning into his touch, until his breathing evened out.

Then he himself got ready for bed, vowing tomorrow that he would tell his mentor, the person who was like a dad when his own died. The one who has protected him since he could remember the only one who accepted him with the mark on his arm. Now Harry knew and yet he still trusted him as well as liked him. He knew Harry did not really mean what he said, but knew he deserved it because he had promised Harry and now look.

It looks like he has been beaten and abused, Severus just wished he had been able to find them, Dumbledore thought they had been under the Fidelus charm, they came out when it was time for him to go to school, after all they don't want to become wanted criminals, unaware that they soon would be.

Harry slept the whole day away, Severus trying to get the powerful glamour charm of Harry, the whole morning but nothing he did seem to work, growling he had had enough deciding he would wait till Harry would wake up, he flooed his mentor and asked to speak to him.

"Headmaster's office," not having to say anything more than that, with him already being in Hogwarts,

"AH hello Severus what can I do for you?" said Dumbledore joyfully at his surrogate son.

"Can you come down here please," he asked.

Dumbledore frowned and asked, "Is everything aright my dear boy?"

"Please headmaster it's important it's about Harry," said Severus sounding old and wary.

Dumbledore was instantly out of his seat chucking in, "Severus Snape's quarters the Dungeons."

And he came out not as gracefully as Severus did but still graceful none the less, he sat down and noticing Severus' state he poured them both coffee as well as summoned cookies and biscuits. Settling down sipping his coffee wait for Severus to start after collecting his thoughts.

"Headmaster, I was notified that one of my Slytherins were out of bed, I got up and followed him, he went to the potions classroom and brewed three potions, a bone mending potion, a pain reliever potion and a healing potion, drinking the pain reliever. I closed the door, Harry began to panic crying huddled on the floor, eventually I got him to quieten down, and I think he has been abused. I want him to give evidence against the Potters get them arrested if we can." Finished Severus.

Dumbledore had been sitting silently as Severus continued his tale his eyes dimming every second, as he told the tale until there was rage and hate in Dumbledore's eyes. The Potters if they saw would have run for the hills, after all no one had seen Dumbledore this mad. One thing Dumbledore hated more than child abusers was a Death Eater, a real one not a spy!

"I will set a trial date, get everything sorted out for in a weeks time, don't worry. Use that time to get Harry to confess everything or get him to put his memories in the pensive I will have my phoenix bring down,"

"I would like to adopt him too headmaster, if he will let me" said Severus

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled big time, Severus had changed when he took Dudley into his care, washing his hair and wearing green, which was an improvement, he knew Severus would care for Harry, just as he saw that day in the hospital wing.

"I will also need you to remove the glamour charms seems I'm not strong enough to move it, I mean powerful enough," said Severus.

"Very well Severus I will have it sorted worry yourself not. I will be back soon," said Dumbledore getting up and leaving thought the fireplace, Severus slumped in his chair, head hidden behind his hands and hair.

He went to the Slytherin Dungeons and told Dudley, "I think your brother has been abused, so stay here for the weekend. I need Harry to testify if he doesn't there is no case."

"Ok, just get my brother better I will stay here dad, cya," said Dudley pulling his dad into a hug he left to get changed into his robes.

Severus just rolled his eyes in amusement, he turned and left the Slytherin common room and headed back up to the privacy of his own rooms to check on Harry, once seeing he was ok he sat down and drank a brandy.

It was well into the night before Harry stirred, Snape went over too the fire and shouted after putting the floo in the fire, "Headmaster he is awake please come down",

"I will be there right away Severus," said Dumbledore seriously; within minutes, he was standing in Severus Snape's private quarters.

He walked over to Harry raising his wand he was not surprised when he flinched he tried to get away but Sev held on to him, Harry began whimpering he didn't want anymore pain, not tonight he actually felt better.

He said a string of words in Latin, the glamour's came of, and they got a look at Harry, he looked worse than they thought, Severus ran over to the floo network while Dumbledore calmed the boy down, Poppy was there within minutes.

They took pictures for evidence against the Potter's and they started fixing him up, they had to remove all the bones in his arms and legs them having being broken too many times, he was forced to drink skele-grow, he was not allowed sleeping potion, the potions would interact with each other.

Fixing his ribs and getting any liquid out of his lungs, thankfully there was not much else wrong with him. Severus had to rub in salve on the bruises, doing it with extra care because Harry was awake, Harry just stayed silent while they did what they needed to do.

Once they had done all they could do they noticed Harry was crying silently, Severus climbed on to the bed and pulled a very jelly like Harry into his arms. Harry put his head on Severus chest and cried, because he was abused, because he was loved still even thought they knew, and because he was in pain, his bones were regrown and Harry could get nothing to help the pain. Severus slowly rocked Harry back in fourth as he had a day ago in the potions classroom.

It took Severus much longer to fall asleep. Giving Dumbledore the evidence he told the man "I will try and get his memories headmaster even if I have to remove them forcefully, the Potter's are going to pay for doing that to Harry!"

Severus sat on the bed, he used a spell to tell him when Harry would wake and went to his own bed, and it was after 10 hours of sleep that the spell informed him that Harry was awake. Grumbling getting up, he took his wand Harry's wand and the pensive, and walked over to Harry's room.

Walking in he sat down on the edge of the bed, before putting the pensive on the bed beside him and Harry, and then he asked, "Harry do you know what this is?"

Harry shook his head, no.

"This is a pensive, something that stores memories, memories you don't like. I want you to put your memories into this pensive, ok and I'm going to take it up to Dumbledore. We will make the Potter's pay for what they have done to you!" said Severus

As predicted, Harry shook his head, no. He could not do that, he could not show everyone his memories, them finding out was embarrassing as it was.

Severus had predicted this. He lifted Harry's head and held it in his hands and spoke, so Harry ended up having to look into his eyes, and said to him that "Harry it will be ok, do you want the Potter's to hurt you more?" said Sev.

Harry shook his head, no and mumbled, "No." in a horse whisper.

"Then you have to do this. You are not the only one who has suffered abuse Harry; the people who will see these memories will have had many cases on child abuse. You are strong Harry, weak ones are too scared. Work thorough the fear for me Harry, I swear it will make you stronger, you know I never lie to you." said Severus.

Before prowling on saying, "I just wish I could have found you, but I could not no matter how hard I looked. I looked in both the wizarding world and the muggle world, and never ever found you. I really wish I had, even Dumbledore tried but we never could." said Severus.

Harry nodded asking, "How does it work?"

Severus smiled and said, "You just think about all the memories I will draw them out ok?"

Harry just nodded, watching as Severus brought his wand to his temple drawing out his memories they kept going for ages. Harry was worn out by the time they were done. He walked over to his potions cupboard went back over to Harry and said.

"Open up."

Harry opened up and felt the sleeping potion slide down his throat, it tasted minty. He felt his eyes shutting and he drifted into darkness, not hearing Severus getting up with the pensive looking at it darkly, not really wanting to go in, he went up to the headmasters office and put the pensive on the desk.

They went in together to view the horrors that were stored within the pensive, leaving them with different views of Lily and James Potter than they had ever had.