Trust In Me
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
A/N: Sorry for the delay in posting this chapter, this time of year gets quite hectic what with Christmas and my mum's birthday on New Year's Eve. Happy (Late) New Year! I hope you wonderful readers had a fantastic Christmas. Thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed this story or added it to their alerts or favourites. Trust in Me has even been added to 2 communities, Harry's Many Mentors and The Super Awesome Reading Library! Thank you so much. Feel free to let me know what you think of this chapter, I'd like to know what you think of my portrayal of Dumbledore and Snape, I hope they're not too OOC. Thanks again :)
Chapter 3
Severus Snape was troubled. For years it had been easy for him to hate Potter, to see him as a James Potter duplicate. But now, as he headed towards Albus Dumbledore's office, he wasn't so sure. If Harry Potter had been like his father, Severus thought to himself, he wouldn't have suffered in silence, trying to hide his injury from others; instead he'd have shown it to everyone, desperate for attention. Minerva had been saying for years that Potter was more like L- his mother. That he had his father's looks but his mother's personality. Now, Severus could see where she was coming from, as much as he hated to admit it. Yes, Severus Snape was troubled. To admit to himself that Potter wasn't like his father went against everything he believed in; the idea that Harry could be more like his mother was too painful for him to consider. Severus frowned before rearranging his face so that it lacked any emotion; not that it would make much of a difference when he was talking with Albus; the headmaster always seemed to know how he was feeling. The gargoyle guarding the entrance to Albus' office slowly came into view and Severus hoped that he was alone; he did not have the patience to deal with any of his co-workers.
He gave the password, "Fizzing Whizzbee," and made his way up to the polished oak door, where he waited impatiently for the door to open after knocking twice. The door opened of its own accord and Severus was relieved to see that Albus was alone; hopefully this wouldn't take long and he could go back to his quarters and forget he'd ever noticed any differences between Harry Potter and his father.
"Evening Severus," Albus greeted warmly. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" He suddenly frowned, "Has Tom called for you?"
"This is not about the Dark Lord, Headmaster." Severus said, walking forwards to stand in front of Dumbledore's desk. "I wanted to talk to you about Potter."
"Indeed?" Albus Dumbledore murmured. "Sit down Severus, would you like an Acid Pop?"
"No thank you Albus." Severus responded curtly, before moving to sit in the chair opposite the Headmaster.
"Very well Severus, what crime is Mr Potter guilty of now?" Albus asked, his lips twitching in amusement.
"It is not Potter who has committed a crime Albus, as much as I hate to admit it." Severus replied, his face not betraying any of the fury he felt towards Umbridge earlier that day.
"No?" Albus Dumbledore questioned, amused that he did not have to sit through another meeting about what a pest Harry James Potter was.
"No. That would be our dear High Inquisitor." Severus said, knowing that the Headmaster's amusement would not be there for much longer. "Potter is involved of course."
"Of course," Albus sighed, "What did Mr Potter do this time?"
"Ha-Potter," Severus quickly amended, "merely carried out his detention with Dolores. I caught him sneaking back to Gryffindor Tower tonight, just before midnight. His hand was covered in blood Albus."
"Blood?" Albus sat up straighter, ignoring the chatter that had broken out amongst the portraits on the wall as he focused all his attention on Severus. His piercing blue eyes showed the alarm Severus' words had caused.
"You heard me correctly Albus. He was covered in blood. Not knowing how he came to be this way, I took him to my office. I didn't want anyone to get involved while I questioned him."
"And what did you find out Severus?"
"Dolores Umbridge's methods of punishment are questionable to say the least. He didn't tell me what exactly went on during his detentions with her but Potter did tell me that he has been doing lines, sometimes up to 6 hours a night, for the last 2 weeks. My guess would be that she provides him with a Blood Quill." Albus Dumbledore sat in silence as he digested this information, so Severus decided to continue.
"She has made him carve I Must Not Tell Lies into his hand, over and over again. Potter's been writing in his own blood for weeks! I may be many things Albus, but I'm not sadistic. I do not doubt that she enjoys the torture she put him through during every detention. That woman should not be at Hogwarts, we have a duty to protect our students from harm, especially knowing the dangers they will one day be exposed to!" Severus was not able to disguise the anger and disgust he felt towards Umbridge and he took a deep breath to keep calm.
"I appreciate you telling me this Severus." Albus finally said, his tone of voice not giving away any of the anger and regret he was feeling. "Unfortunately, there is nothing I can do to stop her. You and I both know how the Ministry feels about myself, and Mr Potter, and any attempt of ours to remove her from the teaching staff will only add to their hatred and distrust. The last thing we need is to alienate them further; Tom would be only too happy to manipulate the situation and use it to his advantage. The fewer contacts Tom has at the Ministry, the better."
For a moment Severus was speechless. But then he recovered. "But what about Potter? You cannot allow him to continue to endure this – this torture?!" Severus snarled, his anger now aimed at the Headmaster.
"I do not want Harry to suffer any more than you do Severus, but my hands are tied. There is nothing I can do to stop Dolores. I will advise Minerva to speak with Harry again, see if she can convince him to control his temper, but there is nothing I can do." Albus said sadly, his frustration at his helplessness reflected in his eyes. "Was there anything else you wished to speak to me about?"
"No, that was all Headmaster." Severus said, annoyed at Albus' lack of helpfulness.
"Very well Severus. You may go." Albus said quietly, dismissing Severus.
"Goodnight Headmaster." Severus replied before leaving the office. Albus, lost in thought, did not respond.
After his conversation with Harry, and then the subsequent discussion with Albus, Severus had found it very difficult to get to sleep, and after half an hour of tossing and turning, he had given up, instead choosing to pour himself a glass of Firewhiskey. Severus had spent years telling himself that Harry was just like his father, and he'd believed that he was right. After the Flying Car incident, after sneaking into Hogsmeade, after the Triwizard Tournament fiasco last year, Severus Snape thought he finally understood who Harry Potter was. Attention-Seeker. Rule-Breaker. Arrogant. But now, he was starting to see that he was wrong. That he had been wrong for years. Harry Potter was Lily's child too. He had her eyes, her personality, her courage. He'd endured so much pain over the years, and now he was being made to suffer even more, and not once had he spoken out, not once had he asked for help. Severus knew that, had Lily lived, she would have hated for her son to be in pain, to continue to suffer. Severus had never pretended to be a kind man, or a caring one, but that night he vowed to himself that, unlike the Headmaster, he would ensure that Lily Potter's son would not be tortured any more by Dolores Umbridge.