The loss of Dumbledore hit Harry hard. The headmaster had been honest when he told Harry he had left him almost everything. His money, books, properties, and all of the little metal gadgets in his office.
He had left a few of the books and more of the rare potions ingredients to Severus. Harry hadn't wanted to go to the Dumbledore vault to see what had been left to him though Professor McGonagall had offered to take him.
The raven haired teen hadn't even attended Dumbledore's funeral, but anyone who had paid attention would have seen the lone teenager standing atop the astronomy tower watching the proceedings.
As the weather grew colder Harry was often seen by himself wandering the halls or the school grounds.
On occasion Luna or Neville were to be seen walking quietly by his side. They didn't really speak there was no need for words.
Snape and Draco may have been the only ones to notice this however but then, it seemed all they ever did was monitor the- boy-who-lived.
Harry attended a few of his classes after Dumbledore's passing but more often than not he stayed in the Gryffindor tower and Neville took him the homework assignments.
Snape would shake his head at the boy who trembled and squeaked every time he approached the potions master for Harry's assignments. Finally it became too much for him to handle.
"Mr. Longbottom," Snape pinched the bridge of his nose. "I will take Mr. Potter his assignments for now on. Kindly show yourself the door."
"Ye ye yes sir." Neville stuttered grabbing his things and bolting for the door. Draco waited until the classroom emptied before approaching his godfather.
"You aren't really going to Gryffindor tower are you?" He questioned.
"I am indeed Draco. Harry has missed almost two weeks worth of classes. I understand he is grieving but this isn't going to help him." Snape gathered together a few things and moved out of the classroom Draco on his heels.
"Don't you have anything better to do than to behave as a terrier?" Snape questioned noticing the boy.
"Not really." Draco shrugged with a grin on his face.
"Me walking into the lions den will be bad enough Draco. Do you think it wise for you to follow me?" Snape asked with a sigh.
"I'll wait outside." Draco shrugged again. If something interesting happened he didn't want to miss it.
The portrait of the fat lady opened to let Snape in but eyed Draco wearily with a huff.
"Don't think I'm letting you in without a password." She snapped at the blond.
"Don't get your big painted panties in a bunch." Draco snapped back. "Hagrid won't be able to borrow them to go camping anymore. I don't want to go into your precious lions den." With that Draco conjured a cushion and sat down on the step outside the Gryffindor's common room to wait.
The fat lady continued to mumble about him insulting her but he ignored her easily enough.
He and Snape had been assigned an important task and it was vital that they succeed.
Snape's entry into the common room went virtually unnoticed. Everyone was crowded around the chairs by the fireplace yelling and cheering. Snape pushed his way into the crowd and as the students began to realize who he was they stepped aside parting like the red sea, Snape thought to himself.
Once he reached the front of the group he could see what the commotion was. Neville and Seamus Finnegan were rolling about throwing punches. Hermione had Dean Thomas against the wall with her wand in his throat. And Ron was busy punching and kicking someone on the other side of the chair.
Snape couldn't see who it was but by the looks of things he had a good idea.
"Mr Weasley!" He bellowed stopping the red head from doing any further damage he rushed around the chair to where Harry was laying in a body bind unable to defend himself. His face was bruised and bloodied. His clothing was ripped in several places as well.
"Mr. Weasley three hundred and fifty points from Gryffindor. You along with Mr. Thomas and Mr Finnegan need to report to the Headmistresses office and wait for me there." Snape snapped undoing the spell on Harry.
"But I." Ron began to argue. He didn't get much out though before his face contorted in pain and he began to scream. "Get them off of me get them off. Spiders I hate spiders."
Snape looked at him in confusion before looking down to where Harry was still laying. The brunette had reached out and grabbed Ron's ankle and was looking at the red head maliciously.
Snape nudged the teens arm gently with his foot and shook his head. Harry scowled but released Ron's ankle.
Ron quit screaming immediately and finished his earlier sentence. " Was only protecting myself. He attacked me."
The room went eerily quiet each person more confused than the next.
"I said go." Snape hissed dangerously. That was all it took and Ron and his counterparts scattered.
Snape could only hope he didn't have another fight to break up when he made it back into the hallway. He had left Draco out there after all.
Everyone had gathered around Snape and Harry while the professor tried to help him up. The teen gasped in pain as he tried to move and Snape looked around at the gawking students.
"Clear out! Back to your homework and trivial tasks!" Snape sneered at them all. Slowly they all moved back to the various activities they'd been working on.
Neville and Hermione were the only ones who remained. Snape pulled a vial of purplish liquid from his robes and tipped it into Harry's mouth. The teen sputtered a bit at the bitter taste but swallowed it regardless.
"What the hell was that?" He shuddered.
"A pain numbing potion Mr. Potter. You have several cracked ribs and I highly doubt you want to be carried out of here." Snape mused.
Harry shook his head and gingerly got to his feet Neville and Hermione quickly flanked him taking either elbow. The pain was significantly less but it still hurt to move. Harry smiled and Neville and gave Hermione a skeptical look but didn't try to shake her off.
Snape nodded and moved towards the door. He stopped before opening it and turned to study the Gryffindor's behind him.
"Draco is probably still in the corridor waiting for me. I would appreciate it if none of you flung any curses at him."
He received three curt nods and followed him out into the hall where Draco was in fact still sitting chin in his hands watching bemusedly as the three Snape had sent out earlier tried to free their legs from the floor which seemed to have turned into quick sand.
"Draco? I thought I told you to behave yourself." Snape spoke up and the blond turned his head.
"I didn't do it professor. I swear. I hid myself when they came out and as they were walking down the hall muttering about you and being in trouble they sank through the floor. All I'm guilty of is watching in amusement but not bothering to help." Draco smiled innocently.
Harry began to chuckle then stopped realizing it hurt. Draco turned and stared at him taking in the bloody nose, busted lip and black eye. Then looked at the people supporting him, then went back to staring at Harry.
"What Malfoy? Never seen someone with a bloody nose before?" Harry sneered worthy of a Slytherin.
"Wow that was a good one have you been practicing?" Draco asked without missing a beat.
Harry glared at Snape for making him promise not to curse the blonde nuisance. Snape got the hint and ushered the group along leaving the three Gryffindor's stuck in the corridor.
"Are you sure you aren't responsible for them?" Snape asked looking at Draco.
"I swear to Merlin I had nothing to do with it." Draco held up his hands in defense. Harry just snorted in amusement.
"What? I didn't do it." Draco exclaimed.
"I know you didn't do it Malfoy." Harry smirked. Neville and Hermione both looked at him in shock. Normally Harry would blame Draco for anything and everything rather the Slytherin was guilty or not.
"You, you do?" Draco floundered over his words.
"Of course, The Weasley twins did it. I helped them with it." Harry shrugged.
"Harry, Fred and George haven't been to Hogwarts since last year." Hermione spoke softly looking at Harry curiously wondering if he had been hit too hard in the head or something.
"No, You just haven't seen them in the school since last year. They come to visit me quite often particularly since you and Ron turned your backs on me." Harry retorted before looking around at his surroundings realizing they weren't heading towards the hospital wing. "Why are we in the dungeons?" He then asked curiously.
"I thought you might be more comfortable in a private room." Snape replied stopping in front of a painting of a fair maiden brushing her hair. " Salazar." Snape gave the password and the portrait swung open to reveal a comfortable looking room with a king size bed and a fireplace. There was a couch and two armchairs placed in front of the fireplace.
Hermione and Neville helped Harry onto the bed and went to make themselves comfortable on the couch.
"I can either call for Poppy or I can heal you myself it's your choice." Snape locked eyes with the raven haired teen.
"You can do it." Harry retorted through gritted teeth. Either because the pain potion was wearing off or because he didn't want to trust Snape to heal him no one knew. "But I want everyone else to leave." He then added.
Neville got up quietly waving good bye. Hermione stood and approached the bed. "Harry I know you aren't happy with me right now but I would like the chance to explain myself." She bit her lip nervously.
"I'll let you explain and I'll listen. But not right now and I make no promises." Harry replied coldly. Draco almost flinched from his tone. Something had changed about the teen and Draco was determined to figure out what.
"Everyone means you too Malfoy."
Draco jerked out of his thoughts looking around Granger had left and Snape was setting potions on the night stand.
"As you wish." Draco gave a slight bow and a smirk at Harry's confused face before sweeping out of the room.
"Not that I'm not grateful but why are you doing this?" Harry questioned accepting the foul potion that was forced down his throat.
"As you know Potter, I owed your Father a life debt. One I was never able to fulfill in his lifetime. Therefore it has passed down to you." Snape retorted waving his wand to remove Harry's shirt to get a better look at the boys cracked ribs. There were bruises and scarring from more than just this incident. Harry was also a lot skinnier that was healthy.
"Not to be smart sir. But a few cracked ribs has never killed me before and I doubt they would have this time. Besides you could have just taken me to Pomfrey." Harry replied.
"And let her know how you were treated over the summer? Are you even aware of your own condition?" Snape's features softened slightly.
"I'm treated exactly the same every summer and she has never said a word about my condition before. I've just learned to deal with it." Harry shrugged barely even wincing as Snape ran his wand over the cracked ribs healing them.
"She didn't DO Anything?" The potions master's eyes glinted furiously.
"She would heal any damage she found and force a few nourishment potions down my throat that's about it. Why?" Harry shrugged again not understanding why Snape was making such a big deal about how he was treated. The slime ball didn't even like him.
"A few nourishing potions? That incompetent hag! You are severally malnourished and it seems you have been all your life, this has affected your growth, and your organs. I can understand the reason behind your continuous headaches and bad temper now. But the worst this has caused is that your magic hasn't had the opportunity to comply with your body as it should have by now. You should have been
given 6 potions everyday since you arrived at Hogwarts in first year to make up for it, and that is only speaking about your malnourishment." Snape stood up and began pacing around the room his robes billowing and swishing with his movements.
"My Aunt and Uncle hate me okay, They've never treated me very well and that includes feeding me regularly. I've gotten used to it. Every summer I go back to that hell hole and deal with it the best I can then I come back here and eat as often and as much as possible to compensate. I'm fine." Harry crossed his arms over his bare chest stubbornly.
"I would guess Petunia" Snape sneered. "would treat you like that, insufferable jealous wench of a girl that she is. But I disagree, you most certainly are not fine. Because of this malnourishment, you haven't been able to heal properly from all your other ailments, accidents and cursed thrown upon you. In fact, the bones in you arm are frail, second year? You still have lingering effects on your nervous system from several cruciatus curses. Your mind hasn't healed properly from the imperius cursed, thus the true reason from your lack of abilities in the art of occulmancy This and much more because your body hasn't received nutriments to heal itself." Snape began running all sorts of diagnostic spells on Harry.
"Well not like there is anything I can do about it now." Harry sighed. "They told me I was worthless then set out to make it true."
Snape sat down on the edge of the bed pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'm sorry Harry," He began his voice soft. " I should have seen this sooner especially knowing how awful your aunt can be. Please forgive me?" Snape's obsidian eyes locked with Harry's bright green orbs.
Harry blinked stupidly a few times trying to register what had just been said to him. Not only had Snape called him by name but he had apologized.
"Umm. I'm not sure how to respond to that sir." He admitted blushing.
"Understandable, I have a lot to explain. That will come another time though, after I have healed you." Snape smiled softly.
"But you healed my ribs and stopped the bleeding, I'm healed right?" Harry looked at himself searching for whatever else was wrong.
"If left unattended your nervous system could shut down. You are frail and weak and you bone structure brittle. I don't know how you survived this long you foolish brat." Snape snapped at him.
"You can fix all of that?" Harry questioned. He would give most anything to be closer in size to other boys his age. "Are you saying that you can make fifteen years of abuse and neglect disappear?"
"I believe so, yes." Snape nodded.
"Then why the hell hasn't it been done before?" Harry snapped. "I've suffered needlessly year after year. I've kept my mouth shut about it. Now you tell me it can all be taken away."
"It seems as though a great misdeed has been done to you Harry, but I am going to do all I can to fix it." Snape looked thoughtful a moment then looked at Harry. "Why don't you spend the Christmas holiday with Draco and I?"
"No offense sir. But being eaten alive by the giant squid would be more pleasurable than spending Christmas with the Malfoy's." Harry rolled his eyes.
"Not the Malfoy's Harry just Draco, myself and Cole." Snape reiterated.
"Who is Cole?" Harry asked remembering Dumbledore mentioning the name.
"Cole is my son." Snape replied shortly.
"You can stay in this room for the night. I expect to see you in lessons tomorrow and I want to see you in my office after dinner. We will put you on a potion regiment that should reverse most of the damage." Snape spun and left the room robes billowing behind him.
Harry let his head sink into the pillow. He hadn't been sleeping well in the Gryffindor tower, he was always on alert for attackers. This evening they had caught him off guard as he dozed in the armchair in front of the fire. He really was lucky Hermione and Neville had jumped in to help.
His thoughts strayed towards the Potion's master who was suddenly treating him like a human being, even Malfoy's taunts had lost their edge. Harry didn't have time to delve into their curious behavior any further before his eyelids drooped and he fell into a deep and peaceful sleep.
"Wakey wakey Potter." Draco kicked at the bed until Harry opened his eyes scowling at the blond.
"What do you want Malfoy?" Harry grumbled.
"Severus sent me to make sure you were awake for breakfast." Draco shrugged throwing an armful of clothing on the bed. "Shirt, slacks, shoes, tie, robes, socks, and underwear!" He announced.
Harry looked at the Slytherin strangely but never had a chance to comment as Draco began whistling a tune as he headed out the door.
Harry did finally force himself out of bed grumpily putting on his clothes and trying to brush his hair down a little. He eventually made it to the great hall where he sat at the end of the Gryffindor table.
"Feeling okay Harry?" Neville asked sitting down with Luna right behind him.
"Yeah I guess." Harry shrugged feeling Draco's eyes on him. "I just wish I knew what those two were up to."
"Time will tell Harry." Luna piped up.
"Harry can I talk to you before class starts." Hermione asked sitting down beside of Luna. She looked around nervously. "Somewhere private." She corrected.
Harry just shrugged finishing his eggs and bacon he stood and grabbed his bag ushering for Hermione to lead the way.
Harry rolled his eyes when she led him into the library of course they would be the only ones there this time of the morning.
"Harry let me start by apologizing for treating you the way that I did." Hermione began. " I had to do it to keep up my charade with the Weasley's." She wrung her hands and began pacing back and forth. " Dumbledore became suspicious of the Weasley's several months before the incident at the ministry. He asked me to continue to watch them for as long as possible. To figure out what they were up to at all costs. When Ronald decided to hate you I had to pretend I did too because I was so close to figuring it out." Hermione began to chew her lip nervously.
"And did you figure out what they were up to?" Harry asked curiously.
Hermione nodded her head enthusiastically and quickly began to tell Harry what she had seen and heard.
AN- BOM BOM BOM. Cliffy what have the Weasley's done? Any guesses? Sorry for the long wait between updates I started a new job that keeps me pretty busy. I'm going to update "A Different Story." Next so keep and eye out for it. Thanks for reading. Oh yeah I don't own the characters. Other than Cole anyway. Also sorry for any spelling or grammar boo boo's I wanted to get this posted.