Summary: When Dumbledore suspects something odd going on at Number Four, he sends his resident spy to investigate. What Severus finds will not only shock the coldhearted PotionsMaster, but revelations that follow will rock the WizardingWorld. AU!Sevitus!DursleyAbuse!
Rating: PG13/T
Disclaimer: Everything (except the plot) belongs to JK Rowling, Scolastice, Bloomsbury, etc.
A/N: Wow- thirty reviews! Thanks everyone! All review responses will be responded via email or private messaging. Updates will be every Sunday (or Monday), and all my other fics will be on hiatus until school lets out in June.
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Change of An Icy Heart Repost
Part the Second Onyx and Emerald
"Mother of Merlin!" Severus muttered as he read Harry's diagnostics. Bruises and lacerations from the abuse went from his upper back and chest to his lower back and chest, and from the back of his mid-thighs to the back of his lower legs, a broken rib, broken leg, fractured rib, pneumonia, malnutrition, burns on his chest, back, and arms, infections from the lacerations, and a minor concussion from his head hitting the wall. Blood loss had been taken care of, though finding O-negative blood had been hard. Letting his gaze wander the room, Severus' onyx black eyes stopping on the sleeping form of Harry. How could this of happened? They'd kept a close watch on the house, and Harry hadn't said anything. Yet Severus had his suspicions of abuse. Harry had been the smallest of his classmates, and still was. He jumped easily, and would apologize frequently. Loud noises, voices, and angered tones would make him pale slightly. Yet nobody did anything. Sighing slightly, Severus waved his wand and concentrated, conjuring a pair of pyjama shorts a pyjama shirt, soft (and clean) bedding, and a blanket that heated up or cooled to the users needs. He set them on the desk, turning to the sleeping teen.
"Harry, come on, and wake up." Severus murmured gently shaking Harry's shoulder. The teen bolted up straight, emerald eyes filled with panic. "I'm sorry for sleeping, Uncle! Please, I promise to do more chores! I'll do them all! I won't eat again the week. I'll go back in my cupboard, just please don't beat me!" He stammered, babbling. Severus had to hold in tears at the teen. His knees were drawn to his chest and arms in front of his face defensively. "Harry, stop, you're uncle's not here. It's me, Severus Snape." Severus soothed, placing his hand on Harry's shoulder. The teen flinched violently as he lowered his arms, hugging his legs. "'Lo Professor." He muttered. "Good morning to you too, and call me Severus, I'm not your professor at the moment. How do you feel?" Severus asked, genuine concern in his voice. "Sore and tired and my head feels like the Willow smashed it." Harry said, rubbing his eyes. "Ah, yes, well that's too be expected after being slammed into a wall." Severus said, handing the teen his glasses. Harry froze, tensing. "Oh shit." He muttered as a spasm of pain went through his back. Unable to hold it in, Harry whimpered, squeezing his eyes shut in pain as he fell against the pillows, stretching his legs. "Harry?" Severus asked worriedly, scanning the teen's face. "My back." Harry moaned as he attempted to curl into fetal position. "Harry, don't move, it'll only hurt more. I'll give you a potion to numb the pain, and then you can bathe." Severus said, placing a hand on Harry's arm to keep him from moving, and uncurling him. Harry nodded weakly as he swallowed the potion, standing hesitantly. Taking his arm, Severus helped Harry stand, steering him to the hall bathroom, picking up the pyjamas as he went.
"Harry; take off your shirt and lie on your stomach." Severus said calmly as he unscrewed the salve jars, back to the room. Trembling slightly, Harry obeyed as he unbuttoned his pyjama shirt, slipping it off and setting it by his pillow as he lied down on his stomach on the recently-conjured bed, burying his face in the fluffy pillows, mentally bracing himself for Vernon's angered footsteps, holding him down by his neck and legs, hiss of the whip, and the pain. It didn't come. Instead, Severus walked over quietly, sitting next to the teen. He was murmuring softly, then there was coolness covering his abused back, Severus rubbing the salve into his mess of Harry's back gently, muttering soothingly to the teen. "Essence of myrtle salve." He supplied as Harry gave a small sigh of pleasure as the cuts sealed and the blood clotted. Severus moved to rubbing the salves into Harry's lacerated legs, watching as the teen relaxed visibly. "Roll over." Severus said as he finished covering Harry's back. "Why not just magic them all off?" Harry asked as he rolled onto his back, wincing slightly. "We could, the scar up worse then left untreated, especially with your, shall we say, condition. I healed your broken bones, but your burns need a salve I don't have with me." Severus explained as he began rubbing the salve onto Harry's torso. Harry rubbed his scar, giving his professor a questioning look.
"Why are you helping me?" Harry asked as Severus wiped his hands off, sealing the jar. "You can put your shirt on now. And I see myself in you." Severus said, not meeting Harry's eyes as he put the salves away as the teen sat, slipping the shirt on. "You were abused as a kid?" Harry inquired as he buttoned his shirt up, feeling brave. "Yes, I was. In the same way as you. Except for one thing." Severus said, sitting on the end of the bed as Harry slipped into his bed, pulling the covers up to his chin. "What, sir?" He asked, crocking his head curiously. "I didn't have anyone to help me, and I don't want anyone else to go through what I did." He explained, handing Harry a goblet. "Drink this, it's Dreamless Sleep potion. You cannot go to Hogwarts, the wards are being strengthened and nobody except the Headmaster, Aurors, and professors are allowed at the moment. The other option is my flat in Dublin. Rest, and tomorrow morning we shall Portkey to my flat." Severus said as Harry downed the potion. Nodding sleepily, Harry fell into unconsciousness as Severus gently tucked him in with the charmed blanket, moving a lock of ebony hair away from Harry's face and keeping his hand resting lightly on the teen's cheek.
In his sleeping state, Harry leaned into the touch. Having been spoiled in his first year or so of life, then to suddenly being neglected and abused, after nearly fourteen years of being starved of attention; Harry craved any positive affection, even a simple, gentle, touch to his face. Smiling faintly in sadness, Severus drew his hand back, watching the teen subconsciously curl into fetus position. Giving a small shake of his head, Severus transfigured the desk chair into a large armchair and sat, his hand running through Harry's messy ebony locks in a fatherly way. Harry immediately relaxed, a small smile tugging at his lips as he stretched out slightly, craving the affection, as he leaned into the touch, making sounds of contentment.