Chapter 8

Severus was back in his quarters before he knew where he was going, he went right into the room he had left Harry in, and the dreamless sleeping potion was obviously working as he was asleep and peacefully. No child would be able to sleep peacefully with memories like those. He had dealt with abused children before but this was beyond any extent he had ever seen. Closing his eyes he wished he could get the screams that Harry had let of out of his head, he knew how much it hurt himself, being subjected to it as punishment from the dark lord.

Sitting on the bed next to Harry, he pulled the boy next to him and cuddled him in, with a sigh he fell back, not expecting to fall asleep, but somehow falling straight to sleep. He slept peacefully for most of the night; it was only when it was nearing five in the morning that Harry began whimpering did he shake Harry awake, trying to get him out of nightmare's grip.

"Harry!" "HARRY!" shaking his shoulders gently, not wanting to startle him.

Nevertheless, Harry only continued to whimper and say, "Please no more, I'm sorry, no more, please no more, no, no, no, no, I won't tell please, no more, m'sorry please, no more".

"Harry!" "It's only a nightmare c'mon!" said Severus.

Harry woke up gasping for breath trying to roll into himself but Severus would not let him. He brought Harry's head to his chest and mumbled soothing words as he stroked Harry's hair, which by the way was greasy and could give Snape a run for his money and rubbing his back. It was not long before Harry had calmed down, then he slumped against Severus snuggling into him, his arms and legs still not healed properly, only feeling a dull ache.

"I will get you into a bath clean you up after another sleep, ok?" said Severus soothingly. Harry just nodded against his chest, it was not long before his breath evened out, and was asleep, and Severus himself fell back asleep.

They both slept till lunchtime, Severus was first to wake up, he just sat and stared at Harry, who was sleeping peacefully, making sure that he had no nightmares. He stayed and watched over him, the whole time wondering why James wanted to hurt this beautiful little boy.

Harry stirred and opened his eyes, and found himself lost in onyx eyes that showed love, regret, pity. Understanding and anger, he knew some were directed at him and the anger was directed to the Potter's, before he knew it Severus was out of the bed, through the door, and into another one. Only when he heard water running did he remember that Severus had promised him a bath when he woke up. He for the first time in years found himself looking forward to something.

Before he could think much more he was lifted out of the bed, Harry had the urge to try and get the hands away but before the urge could continue Severus noticed and said,

"It's ok, Harry I'm not going to hurt you, it's ok",

He took him through and when he was, there he put Harry on his lap and he sat on the toilet. Taking his top of he had to hide the growl he wanted to let loose, the bruises did not seem any better than he had seen them yesterday. Taking off his trousers he lifted Harry up gently and put him in the bath, whereupon Harry let out a content sigh and said,

"It has been ages since I had a bath"

"I can tell," said Severus without any scorn or ridicules just plain anger in his voice,

He got the sponge and gently cleaned Harry, it took three times the bath being filled to clean just his body, and as small as it was it should not have needed that much. Harry was red raw by the time he was finished, some of the grime not coming off, Harry did not seem to mind. However, when it was time to do his hair he started panicking.

He started thrashing around in the water as his head was lowered, making the water spill over the tub and on to Severus, "Accio calming potion".

It came smacking onto his hand, keeping Harry's head in one hand he plucked the stopper with his teeth and poured the potion down Harry's throat. Having to close his eyes, hating the fear that was in Harry's eyes.

Harry calmed down, not completely, he was still hyphenating but he could not have a full out panic attack, "Harry listen to my voice, hear me, I am not going to hurt you, or put you under the water. I promise its ok that's it, only going to wash your hair. See that's it there we go, I promised I wouldn't its ok" was all Severus needed to say.

Harry having started calming down became totally calm when Severus had told him he was only going to wash his hair. Severus washed his hair as slow as possible not wanting to panic him again, he washed it three times before all the grime and grease was out of it and then conditioned it, after that was done, he took Harry out and wrapped him in a towel that was much bigger than him.

Before taking him back to the room that would be his, from then on, sitting him on the bed he left him for a couple of minutes. Before coming back with a brush, pulling Harry towards him he started brushing his hair, which was matted beyond recognition. He carefully began untangling it; it being wet made it easier. Once it was brushed it looked a lot better, flicking his wand, Harry's hair began pleating itself with small strands of hair, Severus then put Harry's nightclothes on him. Harry was already nearly asleep on him so he just left him on his lap.

That was how Harry fell asleep; having more sleep, that day then he had ever had in the last three years, happy at last. Away from the Potter's away from the nightmare's if only for a while, away from harsh realities of life.

While they were asleep Dumbledore had came down to see them, when he saw them both asleep, he smiled at his boy, before leaving their rooms saying to himself 'Tell them the news when they are awake,' said Dumbledore nodding he left the room, smiling knowing the would both find love and happiness in each other. He had been trying to tell Severus he deserved to be happy no matter what he did he never listened, it seems that Harry would change his ways in a way he already had. He had adopted Dudley now it was Harry's turn.

Dudley, after taking the adoption potion, looked like Severus with long black hair he still had the same face just higher cheekbones and onyx eyes and he was taller too. He now had the Snape blood flowing through his veins. The adoption potion was permanent there was no going back.

When Harry woke up Severus brought him out into the main sitting room and sat reading to him. Harry snuggled into his side, listening to him, dosing occasionally. Harry was nearly up and running when he heard the door open but Severus did not let him. He whispered soothingly, "Harry I would not let anyone harm you, please don't try and run, I promise its ok it's only the headmaster," said Severus rubbing Harry's back.

Harry eventually relaxed against him letting out a sigh, when Harry snuggled against him. Dudley was not the cuddly type, hugs yes, cuddly no. Of course, he had not been through what Harry had been through if he had, he would have been the cuddly type, Harry cuddled into him for reassurance and comfort, Dudley did it because you hug your parents.

"Ah Severus, I'm glad I caught you awake!" said Dumbledore, making sure to walk slowly and speak not too loudly but friendly, Severus gave him a nod telling him he was doing ok.

"Yes headmaster we have been awake for some time now, just reading a potions book" said Severus.

"What else would you read my dear boy," said Dumbledore.

As if he was not surprised at all, that the boy he thought of as a son was reading a book on potions and Severus was a boy in Dumbledore eyes. He knew that Severus would not read anything apart from Defence and potions books. He had gotten Severus a potion's book for Christmas once. Which had been read probably more than any of the other ones; it had been actually been from the Dumbledore vaults. Something Severus had found out after the downfall of the Dark Lord.

Which made Severus smile and Harry snigger, before that was turned into a cough which made him go red, he had not laughed for a long time, to Harry he felt like he had never laughed.

"It's ok to laugh, Harry," said Severus.

As he began rubbing Harry's back, for some reason Severus loved someone depending on him and Harry was indeed depending on him. And Severus found he liked it very much.

"Severus we have arrested the Potter's. I'm sorry to say they deny doing anything to the boy, he will need to testify, to make sure they get put away," said Dumbledore.

Severus sighed he really wish it had not had to come down to this, Harry had stiffened on hearing the Potter's name started to shake he could not and would not do as they asked.

Severus closed his eyes and opened them he brought Harry face to face with him, saying coaxingly, "Harry open your eyes. Please, please open your eyes, you're at Hogwarts now Harry, the Potter's are not here," said Severus.

Slowly Harry opened his eyes and said "Not here?" quietly.

"Not here, you're safe," said Severus shaking his head when he said no.

"Safe?" inquired Harry.

"Safe" said Severus nodding his head.

"Harry you are going to have to tell the court what the Potter's did to you or they will get off and you may have to go back with them. Moreover, I will not let that happen, if the Potter's are still your guardians then I may end up arrested for kidnapping you. Will you help yourself and me? Will you tell them what the Potter's were doing to you?"

Harry just started shaking and did not stop, shaking his head, he tried to get up again get away from the prying eyes and begging voices, but Severus would not let him go. He kept him right next to him on the couch, through the boy's panic attack and mumbled to let him go. Eventually Harry fell back exhausted, he could not move much more, he did not have the energy, and he fell asleep soon after that.

Severus summoned a cover for Harry when he went limp from exhaustion. He had known eventually he would be exhausted. Severus knew he would not have enough energy to fight for long, with a sigh he looked at Dumbledore, wondering why else he was down there.

"How is he Severus?" asked Dumbledore.

"Better than I thought he would be, I've been able to calm him down today, he has had three panic attacks so far, one in the bath, when you mentioned the Potters and yesterday. I have been able to calm him each time. I'm thankful that I could and I only needed one calming potion." Replied Severus.

"That's good Severus we need someone who can calm the boy down if he has a panic attack again. Well done, it's better than stuffing him full of potions every time." said Albus nodding his head.

"Yes I suppose it is," said Severus agreeing with Severus.

"Do you think he will do it Severus?" asked Albus no twinkle in his eye.

"Yes, for me he will. Hopefully" said Severus his eyes full of determination.