Chapter thirteen

It was two days later that Severus saw that another death eater had been killed while under guard in Azkaban, Albert Rankhorn was discovered dead in his cell. Again there was not a mark on him but like the others his insides had been boiled. Severus knew he would need to speak with Harry, but he also knew it was time to enter his mind.

When Severus stepped out of the fireplace he saw Harry sitting on the floor with piles of parchment and books around him.

'Those pictures aren't of brooms, but wands.'

Harry smiled as he looked up, 'I spoke with Mr. Ollivander about an idea and he liked it. I was good at carving wood, so I asked him if maybe I could add designs to the wands he makes, even make them shaped differently. He said to make a few designs and types so he could see if it would work. He'll still be adding the cores and the charms to them, I'll just be carving the wood into wand shapes.'

'He is very protective of his wands so it's surprised me he would consider this.'

'He realised that since he's getting old that he might not have anyone to pass his knowledge onto. So we talked and he said if I would learn how to make the wands not just the wood carvings then he would seriously consider changing the way some wands look and feel.'

'Yes, I do know that Garrick lost his two children during the first war and neither of them had children of their own. His wife died many years before your parents.'

'Yeah, he explained, sad really. So did you find out if they were using the shrieking shack?'

'They were, their excuse was to escape everyone's bullying. I believe they thought I would put a stop to it once they explained, I refused. I explained that children learn to adapt by how they handle their lives during these years. If they were left alone then they would not know how to handle themselves as adults in the real world. I do not like bully's, but as long as it does not get physical or cause emotional problems than I leave them alone.

The tunnel has now been sealed by all the staff which makes it unbreakable and they are now serving detention every weekend for the next two months with Mr. Filch. Mr. Weasley is cleaning the trophy room without magic, Miss Weasley is cleaning the potions room again without magic and Miss Granger is going into the forbidden forest to collect certain plants that can be used in potions. Hagrid has been ordered to stay clear and just allow Mr. Filch to do his duty. Hagrid did pass on a message though, he is very angry with them but he misses you.'

'I miss Hagrid, he was my first ever friend.'

'Yes, I heard,' Severus sat down, 'I need to go into your mind Harry, do you think you're up to it?'

'Knowing you've been helping and you've been taken all this off my shoulders that has given me a chance to cope with all this, not with everything, but I'm getting there. So okay, but I might end up drunk after though.'

'That would be understandable. First though, the night after we were in Hogsmeade, did you have any dreams or nightmares?'

Harry sighed as he nodded, 'Yeah, I remembered one of the men dragging me to a wall where he chained me by the wrists and ankles. I never saw his face because I was facing the wall, I could have given you a description otherwise, but he kept his hood lowered anyway. I did see a scar on his leg though, jaggered, went from his left side of his right ankle around to the front and all the way to his knee. It was really thick as well.'

'I will explain soon, but I believe you did see him, your subconscious is keeping his face buried.'

'So you might be able to find out if I did see him,' Harry got up off the floor, he was going to get a drink but ended up sitting on the sofa with his head in his hands, 'I don't want to remember his face.'

'I believe the man you dreamt of the other night is dead but until I go into your mind I cannot be sure.'

Harry looked up, 'So if I do remember what he looks like it won't matter now because I know I won't see him, if he is dead?'

'Exactly, now unlike when I tried to teach you how to occlude your mind, this time I want you to allow me access.'

'It means you'll see,' Harry shuddered as he lowered his head again.

'Yes, but I saw those films, I know what to expect, but it is you that will suffer and I wish you didn't.'

'The dreams I have don't involve those ones you said are dead, they're all of Dumbledore, except the other night. If we can find out that the others are dead or locked up at least then maybe I won't dream about what happened anymore, about any of it.'

'I believe that could happen.'

'Okay, then let's do this,' Harry blew out a huge breath then faced Severus, 'You have nice eyes.'

Severus smiled, 'Thank you, but I think that is the first time anyone has ever said that to me.'

'Because everyone is afraid of you Severus, like you said, your reputation proceeds you. Who would be foolish enough or game enough to stand close to you so they could see your eyes. But they are nice, like dark pools, it's also hard to look away now I'm looking into them.'

Severus had a feeling about why Harry was staring into his eyes, so he concentrated to see if Harry saw the different. It was instant, the moment Severus thought of sex, desirable, heated, enjoyable but loving sex, his pupils dilated and Harry's eyes widened as his breathing was heavy. Severus relaxed then waited for Harry to relax, but it told Severus that Harry was feeling more for him than just gratitude, yet he did not realise it. Severus also knew he would not say anything to Harry, right now it would scare the young man and that was the last thing Severus wanted. Harry was finally feeling safe and secure especially with him, nothing could spoil that now. He knew this would need to be discussed, but they had time.

'Let's begin shall we,' Severus gave Harry an encouraging smile, waited until Harry nodded, 'Legilimens,' Imagines flashed as Severus made his way into Harry's mind, he ignored everything from the last few years, pushing towards Harry's childhood. It wasn't long before he found what he was looking for. During different times over many years the three death eaters that were still alive in Azkaban and the one that just died were the four that had bought Harry as a child, to use and molest for their own perverted pleasure.

The moment Severus removed himself from Harry's mind the young man sobbed as he slid off the sofa and onto the floor, Severus sat beside him, pulling Harry against his chest.

'It's okay Harry, your safe, they can never hurt you again.'

Severus never moved, he just held Harry while he cried. It seemed so often lately Harry was losing control, either by crying, drinking or getting angry. He was still concerned that everything this young man has been through might end up being too much. Severus just hoped if he could keep showing Harry that he cared, that if he just let Severus help him through this then he could have a good life, Harry just needed to give himself time.

'Did you recognise them?' Harry's voice was almost a whisper.

'Yes, the one you dreamt of the other night is dead. There is something serious I need to discuss with you, something I found out not long ago. So how about we get up off this floor, have a drink before I explain?'

'Okay,' Harry pushed himself up as Severus did the same, then he poured them both a drink before taking a seat, curling is legs under him, 'They're still out there doing it to others, aren't they?'

'No, four are dead, three are in Azkaban. It does not mean there could be others out there that never…interacted with you. For all we know Albus might have brought other men into his perverted circle for them to use on the other boys.'

'Yeah, maybe, we never spoke, he charmed our cells so we couldn't hear each other. At first we did, Dumbledore found out that we'd been talking so he made sure we couldn't. So what did you want to talk about?'

'A few things, but first, do you remember using magic as a child?'

'In my fake memories I did, but when my real memories returned I didn't. It took me a while to sort out why,' Harry lifted his head, 'He gave us potions, it stopped our magic.'

'Yes, I was concerned about that. Most children even from the day they are born will perform magic. Some call it wish magic others call it thought magic, which is basically right. A child might wish for a toy, the toy floats to the child. When they are a little older they might want a biscuit or a chocolate, something they are not allowed to have too often, the food, whatever it is summoned to them. Once they realise what they can do they try it more often and it seems that is when the parents find out. Until you were at Hogwarts as a student your magic was suppressed, add that to the soul which also suppressed your magic is why you are extremely powerful right now.'

Severus could tell Harry was taking all this in, now he had to explain the rest to the young man and just hoped that Harry handled what he was about to hear.