Where He Belongs
Disclaimer: i own absolutely nothing you see that you recongnize, or in other words only the plot.
A/N: OK I would like all my reviewers for all the confidence. I know I should be working on my other story but I like this one better. OK this is not SLASH. Kay Read and Review.
Chapter 3: Marks and explanations
When Harry awoke all the pain that had been put off during the night came back full force. He bit his lip to stop himself from yelling out. He sat like that for a couple of seconds before the pain got worse. He was shaking now with pain. With one final lurch the pain stopped and he found himself on the floor, unconscious once again.
It wasn't until midnight that Severus felt a tingling sensation that woke him up. It took him a couple of minutes to realize what it was that woke him up at such an ungodly hour. When he did he quickly got up and threw on a bathrobe and went out to the sitting room where Harry was lying on the sofa, or where Harry was supposed to be lying on the sofa. He quickly ran over to the unconscious child. He carefully scooped the boy up into his arms and brought him into his own bedchambers. After laying the boy down in the bed he picked up a book and sat down in the chair by the bedside.
Severus sat in the bed until morning. When Harry didn't wake up in the morning Severus decided to try something different. He gently picked Harry off the bed and placed the boy on his lap. Severus propped Harry up so that the boy's head was resting on his shoulder. Gently rubbing the boy's back, Severus tried to coax him to wake up.
Harry once again woke up in an unfamiliar room. He started to panic when he felt strong arms wrap themselves around him.
When Harry awoke Severus noticed him start to have another panic attack. He put his arms around the child in what would normally, be a calming gesture, seemed to make the boy panic more than before.
"Shush Harry, you're safe. You will have to calm down. I moved you to a different room so that I could keep a better eye on you. Madame Pomfrey had to go back to Hogwarts," Severus continued to whisper comforting words to him until the boy started to calm down.
Harry was about to ask Professor Snape something, but Severus placed a finger against the boy's lips, "We can save the explanations for later on today. You've had a rough morning, right now you need sleep."
Harry could only nod his head at his professor's odd behavior.
After placing Harry back on the bed, Severus realized that Harry had not been wearing his glasses since he and Poppy had picked him up. He decided that he would ask the boy about where his glasses are when he woke up again. He covered the child with the quilt, picked up his book, and settled himself back into his chair.
It was noon and Harry had still yet to wake up again. Severus quietly left the room as to not wake up the now peacefully sleeping child. He made his way to the kitchen to make coffee for himself and a bowl of chicken noodle soup for Harry. He had just finished making the soup when he heard a noise from the bedroom. He quickly picked up the tray with their lunch and made his way back to the room.
Harry woke up and forgot where he was. He looked around and remembered when he looked beside the bed and saw the chair that Snape was sitting in earlier that very morning. He attempted to get up but found his legs were to weak and he collapsed back onto the bed.
Severus walked back into the room in time to see Harry attempting to stand before collapsing back onto the bed panting. He walked over to Harry and helped him sit up against the pillows. He gently covered Harry with the quilt. After making sure the boy was comfortable he placed the tray on the boy's lap and sat down in the chair with his coffee.
"Now I know that I said you could ask questions, and you can, I just thought that I would tell you the main things," Severus explained, taking a sip of his coffee. After receiving the boy's nod he continued, "That letter you received is one of the Dark Lord's weapons. You do not have a choice whether or not to open it. It is one of His favourite ways to cause pain to his followers. It seems as though he modified this particular one. I'm not sure how long the pain will last, but eventually it will go away. I want you to tell me if the pain gets any worse though," Severus stopped talking, waited until all the information had sunk in and for the boy to ask his questions.
"OK I guess that all makes. One thing I don't understand is why am I staying with you sir?" Harry asked, careful not to offend the professor.
"That's a good question. You are staying with me because it isn't safe anywhere else. I will explain why when you are feeling more up to it," Severus explained patiently trying to figure out how to tell him the truth.
"Will I be staying here, or go back to the Dursley's?"
when Severus saw Harry start to move away from him he couldn't help himself, he picked the boy up and again placed Harry on his lap. They were quiet until Severus sighed and started talking again.
"It's been a long day. You get some rest, I'll be nearby if you need anything," with that Severus laid the boy back down and placed the quilt over him again. "Do you think you will need a Dreamless Sleep potion or will you be alright?"
"I think I will be OK, but I do have one more question though. How often will I feel the pain?" Harry asked with slight temptation.
"First of all, if you have questions don't be afraid to ask them. As an answer to your question…it is hard to tell. I would guess maybe every hour or two. The potion you drank yesterday makes the pain bearable; you'll have to drink more of it later. For now just rest, I will be back in a moment," Severus again blew out all the candles, leaving one lit by Harry's head, and left the room with the door closing behind him.
He sat down on the sofa and looked around his cottage. It wasn't mush, a small kitchen with joined family room, a bathroom, stairs that led to a potions lab, the door that led to bedroom, and a door that led to a guest room. There was also a small cupboard by the door to the bathroom. It wasn't much, but to him it was home. He lit the fire and sat back into the cushions of the sofa.
He started to think about the changes in his life. He knew that he couldn't help the boy then send him away and, not that he would ever say this aloud, he didn't really want to. It felt right taking care of Harry. Severus knew it was only temporary, until they could tell Harry the truth, but that didn't stop him from liking it. He extinguished the fire and made his way back to the master bedroom.
Severus quietly walked back into the room and settled himself back down into the chair he had occupied for the past day and a half. He was reaching over to the bedside table to pick up his book, when he noticed a fairly recent looking scar on the base of Harry's neck. He carefully removed Harry's shirt, what he saw made him gasp out of shock.
When Harry awoke from hearing Severus gasp, Severus just ignored him and relit all the candles in the room. After all the lights were on he could clearly see the scar went from the bane of the boy's neck right to his lower back. When he was finished examining the scar he gently, but forcefully, turned Harry around so the boy was facing him.
"What is that?!?" Severus demanded, gesturing to the boy's back.
"I-I don't under-understand wh-what you mean S-Sir," Harry said as he began to tremble.
"You don't have to lie Harry. What happened to you're back? Don't give me a lame excuse like 'I fell'," he said in a slight mocking tone, "I cant help you unless you tell me what the problem is," Severus finished, a lot calmer than when he had started.
Harry looked unwilling to talk, but he thought that he was dreaming, after all, why would his most uncaring professor try to help him? So with that thought in mind he started his explanation, "I got it from my Uncle. A couple of nights ago he came home drunk. I hadn't finished my chores by the time he got hom and I was punished for it. That's it. I deserved it," He finished, looking straight at Snape.
By the time Harry was finished Severus was staring at him in disbelief.
A/N: OK the more reviews I get, the sooner I will review.