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Severus walked around the empty, dark hallways, watching for students out of bed. He didn't have that much more time before Harry was supposed to me him for their "session". But he seriously doubted that the boy was going to show. After all, the snake was still wrapped around his shoulders, green eyes watchful for her human child. The annoying thing had been with him all day, never leaving him.
When his class of sixth year Gryffindors and Slytherins entered the potion's room, had had noticed Harry was not among his fellow classmates. The rest of the Golden Trio looked upset from his absence. And Severus, though he would never admit it to anyone, was worried. That made his classes unbearable.
Severus sighed, feeling his nightly headache coming on. Looking at the time on his watch, even though he hated the stupid contraption, he started to head back down to the dungeons. Amazingly, when he finally reached his rooms, he had only taken away thirty points from a pair of Huffelpuffs. He sighed and walked into the dark potion's classroom, thinking about how to spend the evening since he was positive Harry was not going to come see him. That boy was probably still angry at him, for what he still didn't understand though…
Absorbed in his thoughts, he didn't hear the calm breathing, or the soft footfalls of someone else occupying the room, until the person was a few feet away. Severus froze, waiting for the other to make a move. He heard hissing coming from the snake, still residing on his shoulders, and then, Sashi was gone. Severus relaxed before turning to face Harry.
"I thought you might not be coming. You seemed to be vexed with me, running off like you did." Harry turned his seemingly glowing eyes down to the floor. Severus sighed. "Come now. Let's take this to my office"
Harry sighed and followed Severus, talking quietly to the worried snake. By the time they were settled in the office, Sashi had forgiven Harry for dropping her, leaving her, and worrying her to death, promising that if he ever did something like that again, she would make sure he suffered a long, and painful death.
The two people in the room were silent for few minuets before Harry wrote out, 'I guess you want to know what I did today'
Severus nodded. "That might be a good place to start. But there are other things we must discuss." Harry waved his wand over the paper sitting in front of him, words appearing on it. Severus picked it up, staring at it, before looking at Harry. "New trick?" Harry nodded, then smiled, obviously proud of himself. Severus raised an eyebrow, before reading what was on the paper.
'I spent the most of the morning around the Gryffindor Tower, just thinking. Then I decided to do something productive, went to the library, checked out a book, and learned a few things. Sir, I know that I shouldn't have run off like I did…but…it's still hard for me to grasp. You were right. All of this that happened…because…I'm weak'
Severus reread the last sentence, before replying, "I don't recall calling you weak, but if I did…" It pained him to finish the sentence, but he took a deep breath and said, "I was wrong." He finally looked up at the boy, but he was staring at his arms that were still covered with scratches and bruises. "Where did those come from?"
Harry looked up at him. He pointed at his arm, and Severus nodded, handing the paper back over to Harry. Harry preformed the same spell as before and handed it back. This time, it stated one thing: 'Me'
The older man looked pointedly at him. "And why would you feel the need to do anything like this"
The process of Severus handing Harry the paper, and the boy casting the spell and handing it back to him was repeated. 'I'm weak. And, for some reason, pain makes me feel alive. Almost like I can…be myself. Not the boy-who-lived, or the Savior of the Wizarding World, but just…me, Harry.' Severus reread what was written a few more times before looking up at the boy. The boy saw Severus looking at him, and looked away, ashamed. Severus sat for a few moments, before defying his reputation as a hard, cold, heartless man, and stood up to walk in front of Harry. He transfigured a pen into a chair and sat down in front of Harry.
Severus took a deep breath before speaking. "Harry." Harry looked up at him with confusion in his eyes. "What I'm going to tell you is something that only Professor Dumbledore knows. I'm going to…" He paused, before forcing himself to continue. "I'm going to trust you with this secret. Do I have your word you won't repeat any of this to anyone?" Harry looked at him strangely, and then nodded. Severus sighed, and told Harry his story.
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"Severus! Come here"
A young Severus looked up from the book he was reading. The younger version of him looked a lot like the older Severus, except…well, younger. He shut his book and got up, saying, "Coming, Father!" He set his book down before leaving his room and heading down stairs to his father's study. He knocked, then pushed open the black door, and looked into the room. "You wanted to see me, Father"
"Just get in here. I don't have all day." Severus stepped into the room and shut the door behind him. He looked up at his father from where he stood, waiting for him to tell him he could come closer. His father beckoned him closer, further into the booked covered wall, to where he sat at a desk in front of a roaring fireplace. The young boy stopped in front of the desk, waiting for his father to speak. His words never came, though a smack resounded through the room.
Young Severus fell to the ground, holding his cheek. His father was standing over him now, a looming tower of pain to come.
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Harry looked at Severus. He didn't quite understand. He had been abused when he was a child? So he knew what it was like for everything to be blamed on him?
Severus still sat in front of him, onyx eyes glazed over, lost in the memory. Harry reached for the paper, and actually wrote on it. He left it on the desk and stood, nodding his head to the potion master. As he slipped out the door, Sashi looked from his shoulder and waved her tail to him. The door shut, leaving the man alone. A few minuets later, his mother slipped back into her portrait. "Hello, Severus darling! I just saw young Harry leaving, and I was on my way to have tea with the other girls when..."
Severus ignored her and he picked up the paper Harry had left on the desk and read it. It stated one thing that made a single tear fall down his cheek. And Severus allowed it to fall on to the paper he set in his lap. He then stood letting it fall to the ground and went to retire to his rooms for the night.
The paper fluttered to the ground. As it landed, anyone could have read Harry's untidy scrawl that said the one thing that made the cold hearted Severus Snape shed a tear.
'I'm so sorry.'
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I am soooooooooooooooo sorry!!!! It seems really short!!! It may take me awhile, but I'll start on the next chapter tomorrow. So please review!
And, beta??
Thanks!