Hey guys! I know it's been so long since I've updated this story, but I just couldn't think of how to continue it. I just looked over it recently and was struck over the head by the writing fairy. So here's chapter three, and chapter four will be up soon.

Disclaimer: I do not own the world of Harry Potter or the delectable characters.

WARNING: This is a slash fiction in later chapters, meaning M/M more specifically Harry/Severus don't like don't read. There are also mentions and scenes of child abuse throughout the story.

Chap. 3

The next morning Harry woke up unaware of where he was. The bed was too soft, and the room to large. Then memories of the day before came rushing back, and he realized he was in Professor Snape's courters, in his new room. Then something dawned on him, he felt more rested than he had in a long time. It was amazing! He got out of bed and headed to the bathroom, with a slight bounce.

He took a quick shower, then headed to his wardrobe and got dressed in his old hand-me-downs. He headed back to the bathroom and made an attempt at fixing his hair but it was useless as usual, so he settled for brushing his teeth.

After getting ready for his day, he headed into the small kitchenette to see Snape already sitting at the table sipping coffee. Walking past the table, he grabbed some toast and pumpkin juice then joined his professor at the table.

They ate in silence for a while before Severus looked up from his paper and said, "We'll start your lessons once you finish breakfast if that's all right."

Harry, having his mouth full, simply nodded in reply before they returned to their mutual silence.

After breakfast Severus cleared a space in the sitting area so they could practice. Severus turned to face Potter so he could explain how this would be done, "Now Potter in order to close your mind off from the Dark Lord you'll have to clear mind of all thoughts. No emotions, no thoughts, no memories. To practice I will try to enter your mind using Legilimency. You will try to stop this, understand?"

Harry nodded and replied, "Got it. Clear my mind; should be simple enough." He sat there for several minutes with Snape looking on as he attempted what he had said should be simple. Though every time he tried clearing his mind thoughts would creep in and prevent him from achieving his desired goal. Finally, eyes still closed, he said, "Alright," to indicate his ready.

Raising his wand Severus pointed it at harry and said, "On three. One. Two. Three…Legilimens." Suddenly Harry felt a pressure on his mind then he was seeing his own memories play out like a movie behind his closed lids. A scene of Dudley and his gang chasing him around the schoolyard. Uncle Vernon hitting him at the age of seven, because he'd dropped a tea tray. Aunt Petunia burning his hand against the stove, because he had burned dinner. Finally, Aunt Marge laughing as her beloved dog Ripper chased him up a tree. Harry fought against this all the while. Trying to force Snape out of his mind. After several moments, he succeeded and his mind was his again.

Severus was shocked at how quickly Potter was able to expel him from the boy's mind. "Not bad for a first try Potter. Take a minute then we'll start again."

"Thank you, sir," Harry replied rather surprised.

Severus looked at the boy thinking about what he'd just seen. It was rather disturbing. "Potter if I may ask that memory with your cousin, were you at school?"

"Yes, sir. That was during one of our many recesses," Harry responded casually.

"If you were in school, why did none of your teachers ever help you?" How bad had this boy's life been.

Harry sighed, "They wouldn't. The Dursley's had told the school that I was a juvenile delinquent, and there was probably no hope for me. Then of course, there was the fact that I made things unexplainably happen. They believed it."

Severus couldn't believe what he was hearing. These people had even gotten outsiders to alienate the boy. "What about the beatings from your aunt and uncle? You were a child why were they to that extent?"

"Well the one from Uncle Vernon you saw was because I was supposed to be serving tea. It was too heavy for me and I dropped it, breaking antique china, and ruining Aunt Petunia's new rug. So he hit me." Harry paused before continuing, "Then the one of Aunt Petunia was because she was having a large dinner party. I had cooked dinner for them loads of times, but never for one of the party's. It was half an hour before their arrival and I'd burned the main course. As punishment, she held my hand to the stovetop until I had third degree burns. I don't have fingerprints on my left hand any longer."

Severus felt anger wash over him at the horridness of these muggle's. Forcing his voice to remain calm, he asked about the last memory.

"My Aunt Marge. That was her dog, Ripper. She just didn't like me. Let the thing bite me. Then laughed as I ran up the tree trying to get away," was Harry's calm response.

There was a moment of silence in which Severus tried to contain his emotions. He was furious, but not only that he had the compelling need to protect the boy he had despised for four years. Shoving that thought out of his mind they started again.

They continued for another hour. Each time Severus gaining access to Harry's mind, but each time Harry got quicker at shoving Severus out. When they finished Severus said, "We'll try again after dinner, so you have time to recover."

"Alright," Harry said over his shoulder, walking into the kitchen to fetch himself a glass of water. Severus watched him all the while noticing that he was wearing his famously shabby cloths. This was puzzling, because the boy obviously had money to buy new cloths.

"Potter, why do you wear those rags?" He asked without thinking.

"These are Dudley's old cloths. They're the only ones they would let me have. Even if I bought myself new cloths they'd just take them and say 'Freaks don't deserve new cloths,' Now if I may ask my own question. Professor, why do you only wear black, over conservative robes?" Was Harry's response.

The dark haired professor blinked. He had guessed the answer to his question. What he hadn't expected was Potter to ask a question. Though he answered anyway, "Because they are comfortable, and I prefer the color black."

"Okay. I actually didn't think you'd answer," Harry said sheepishly, "I only asked, because that's generally my response when people ask me that. A question about their own cloths. But now that you mention it, I could probably buy new cloths. Ones that fit…ones that I like. Seeing as I could easily keep them hidden when I'm back at Privet Drive now.

"Yes I believe you could," was Severus' response as his mind had slipped into thought, of how willing the boy seemed to answer his questions. "Potter, you always answer and truthfully, why?"

Harry stood there for a moment thinking about the response to this. It wouldn't make much of a difference if he said why now. "Because that was the first rule of the Dursley's, never ask questions, but if you're asked one you better answer."

"I see," Snape's mind was sent reeling again.

It was several hours later and Harry heard a brief woosh and then Hedwig was perched beside him on the back of the chair. "Hey girl what you got there?" He asked removing the package and letter from around her leg.

The letter was from Hermione. It read:

Dear Harry,

I hope you're doing well, and eating all right. You get far too skinny during the holidays. France is so beautiful I wish you could see it. We've been having a wonderful time. You may be wondering about the package I sent with Hedwig, if you haven't opened it already. It's a mobile. I experimented with it when we visited the wizarding community here. It can now be used in any magical setting, so even if we were at the burrow we could talk to each other, or even the castle for that matter. And I put a spell on it so it can't be traced and has unlimited minutes, as I've done to my own. I programmed my number in so you can call me any time. Hope to hear from you soon.

Love, Hermione

Leave Hermione to think of everything. He wanted to crush the girl in the biggest hug, because he missed her so much, and there was actually something he needed to talk to her about. Resolving that he'd give her that hug the next time he saw her, he hit the call button under her name and waited for her to pick up.

"Harry! Hi, how are you!" Hermione answered after two rings.

"Hey Hermione," Harry chuckled, "I'm so glad you thought of this. There's so much I need to tell you!"

"Really? Did something happen? Are you alright?" Harry couldn't hide his smile that was Hermione always worrying.

"Something did happen, but nothing bad actually pretty could," he started to explain.

"What happened?" she asked with interest. Harry imagined her sitting up straight and on the edge of her seat like she did in class.

"Remember how I told you I was having those awful nightmares and visions?" He asked knowing she would say yes.

"Yes of course."

"Well they got more out of hand the more summer's gone on. My relatives finally got fed up and made me send a letter to Dumbledore. Well he was really worried so he came to get me, and now I'm at Hogwarts for the rest of the summer," he told her quickly knowing she would have a million questions and then some.

"They were that bad? Oh Harry I wished you'd told me. I would've tried to help! You're at Hogwarts? Are you in the infirmary? You know if you're not you should be. It's not safe what if you get hurt in the dorm in your sleep?" Hermione shot off all her thoughts at once.

Harry waited for her worried rant to finish knowing she wouldn't stop, "Hermione they're no worse from when I told you, but you know my aunt and uncle they got tired of the screaming in the night pretty quickly. Yes I'm at Hogwarts, but I'm not in the infirmary or the dorm. Dumbledore thought it best that I stay with a professor for now."

"Oh really a professor. That's okay, and rather logical, but why not the infirmary, and which professor are you staying with?" Hermione said thoughtfully.

"Dumbledore knows how much I hate the hospital wing, and he thought there was a professor that could help me more if I was to stay with them-"

"Which professor?" Hermione quickly cut across.

Harry sighed before telling his ever curious friend, "Professor Snape."

"Oh Harry I'm so sorry! You must be miserable!" the young witch said sympathetically.

"Hermione it's not that bad. It's better than being with the Dursley's. Plus it's pretty quiet," he said trying to calm her down.

It was then that Severus came into the room unnoticed by Harry. He quickly looked over the couch the boy had stretched out on and noticed the muggle device at his ear. Severus had seen mobile's before and knew they were ways for muggles to communicate with each other. Judging by the calming tone and the fact that Weasley wouldn't be intelligent enough to know what one was, let alone spell it so it could be used inside the castle he assumed it must be Granger he was talking to.

"I still wish I could've helped you," Hermione said a bit drearily.

"Hermione I told you don't be so upset. Just being able to write you about the dreams have been is enough," Harry said. He heard a distinct snort behind him. Looking over the couch he saw Snape trying to contain a chuckle.

Holding the mobile away from his ear he said, "Oh be quiet! You should know just from teaching her how she is."

Severus just smirked knowing the boy was right. The Granger girl could be rather eccentric at times.

"Well if you say so Harry," she finally said.

"Great, now I've got to go, but I'll call you later on there's something else I need to talk to you about, but not right now," he said getting off the couch.

"Alright I'll talk to you late then. Bye Harry," Hermione said cheerfully.

"Later, 'Mione," Harry said hanging up.

"I suppose your girlfriend is pacified?" Severus said with a smirk.

Harry gave a snort, "Girlfriend? More like sister. I could never date Hermione, trust me."

Severus simply hmmd, "Are you ready to continue your lessons?"

"Yea sure."

Several hours later Harry collapsed on his bed exhausted. They had trained for hours then ate dinner, and he now felt like just passing out, but he'd promised to call Hermione. She would assume the worst if she didn't receive a call before tomorrow. The question was how would he tell her what had been bothering him all summer.

I hope you guts liked this chapter. Please review it inspires me! But remember flames will be used to cook marshmallows! :D