I'm sorry it took me this time that long, but I gave life to my second son and was a little bit busy with other things. Thanks for your patience.

Incident in the forbidden forest

Harry felt a tight knot in his throat as he neared the portrait of the fat lady. What should he say to Ron? How could he apologize for his awful treatment of him? Had he lost his friend?

Taking a deep breath, he entered the Gryffindor common room.

"Harry!" Ron yelled and hurried over from his seat near the fire. "I'm so sorry, mate."

Harry stared at him, befuddled. "Sorry? What for?" he finally managed to ask.

"It was me who sent Snape after you. I'm sorry. I was so worried about you and… well, he kind of seemed to know that something was wrong with you and so I told him about the strange mirror… and he seemed to understand. I didn't mean-"

"Stop," Harry interrupted his friend's babble. "There is absolutely nothing you should be sorry for. I need to apologize."

"But, Snape - " Ron started again, "Didn't he find you?"

"Yes, he did. And it was… well, it was good he found me. I was totally lost in the mirror. And you were right. The mirror…" Harry gulped back tears, "…the mirror lies."

Harry hung his head. It felt as he had lost his parents all over again; he missed them so much. He realized he would never be able to go back to the mirror and see them: his mum's angelic smile, his dad's proud look...

"I wish I could say I know how you feel and give you some stupid advice, but I have no idea how you feel. I can't even imagine what it would be like to lose my parents," said Ron helplessly.

Harry looked at his friend and smiled faintly. "It's okay, Ron."

After a short pause, Ron's curiosity got the better of him. "So what did Snape do to you?"

"Well…" Harry looked at his toes. "We just talked." Harry didn't want to say anything about crying like a baby in Snape's arms although he was sure he still had red-rimmed eyes.

"He didn't give you detention?" Ron asked, astonished.

"No. But I still have to do evenings with him. And he wants to start tomorrow after dinner."

"Humpf. Horrible old bat!"

Harry flinched inwardly. He didn't agree with his friend. Snape was strict, yes, but he also was fair, and he had been good to Harry. But Harry couldn't see a way to point this out to his friend without revealing too much about his relationship with the professor, and he was afraid doing so might cost him his friendship with Ron, as Ron seemed to really hate the potion professor.

-ooo-

The remaining days of the Christmas holidays passed without incident. During his detentions, Harry helped Snape brew potions and learned many helpful brewing tricks. He found himself enjoying working alongside the professor since it was completely different than Potions class. Instead of scathing remarks from Snape, he received useful instructions.

During these evenings, Snape tried to bring up the Dursleys a few times, but Harry skillfully avoided the questions and talked about something else. It frustrated Snape a bit, but he was reluctant to press harder and scare Harry away entirely.

At night, Harry often dreamed about his parents. Sometimes it was a pleasant dream, but all too often it was a nightmare which ended in a green light and Harry waking up with a scream. After every nightmare, though, Ron was at his side and Harry was once again very grateful for their friendship.

All too quickly, the holidays ended, and the other students came back to Hogwarts.

-ooo-

"Did you find out anything about Flamel?" was Hermione's first question as she met Ron and Harry in the common room.

Ron shook his head. Hermione looked disappointed, but then Harry remembered something.

"Chocolate frogs!" he exclaimed, causing Ron and Hermione to give him an odd look.

"Chocolate frogs?" Ron repeated.

"Yeah, do you have your card with Dumbledore's picture?" Harry asked excitedly.

"Yes," Ron said, still confused. He pulled out the card in question.

Harry took it and looked over the text on the back side. "Here," he said, pointing with his finger to the names of Albus Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel.

Hermione's eyes grew larger. Then suddenly she hit her forehead and said, "I'm so stupid!"

"You said it," Ron agreed, hoping to irritate the girl.

But Hermione was no longer there to hear him. She had vanished up the stairs to the girls' dormitory. Ron and Harry exchanged bewildered looks, but almost immediately she returned with an old, heavy book under her arm.

As she reached the boys, she laid the book on the table and said, "That's why we didn't find anything. We didn't go far enough back in time."

Once Hermione found the page she was looking for, she started to read. Moments later: "Here! Here it is," she yelled excitedly.

Harry and Ron looked at where she was pointing and found the information they had been seeking for so long. Now at last, they knew what was under the trapdoor.

"The Philosopher Stone. Blimey! Who wouldn't want to have that? I mean, you can even produce gold with it. No wonder Snape wants to have it!" Ron said.

"We don't know if it is Snape," Harry retorted quickly.

"What other teacher would go against Dumbledore? He's the only one who'd do something like that," Ron argued.

Again Harry wished he could tell Ron that it had been Snape who had given him the hint about the chocolate frog cards, but he was sure Ron wouldn't believe him… not unless Harry also revealed all the other information he still wanted to hide.

-ooo-

The next Quidditch game approached, and this time it was Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff. The news that Snape would be the referee spread like wildfire.

"The cheating bugger," Ron grumbled. "Since he couldn't stop you winning the first game, he's trying sabotage this one. You'd better be careful, mate. No one knows what he'll get up to this time."

Harry sighed. Unlike Ron, he felt relieved to know that Snape would be so close by during the game. He felt more secure. Maybe this way Snape would be able to find the culprit if anyone attacked him again.

"You should go to the headmaster, Harry," Ron said again, as Harry seemed to ignore his words.

"Ron, I don't think Snape will do anything. He can't attack me in the middle of the game without the other teachers noticing," Harry said, trying to distract his friend.

"But he did last time! Nobody stopped him till 'Mione set him on fire."

Harry sighed again, "But what if Snape had just been trying to stabilize my broom?"

Ron burst out laughing. It took a long time until he got a grip on himself. "That was a good one, Harry," he gasped.

-ooo-

The second Quidditch game wasn't very spectacular, although Harry terrified his public with a breakneck stunt, diving after the Snitch and nearly colliding with Professor Snape in the process. But when he held up the tiny golden ball, the crowd went wild with excitement.

After the match, Harry took a long shower in the Gryffindor changing room, enjoying the silence and solitude. The sun stood very low, and a golden beam of light cleaved its way through the tent.

Harry felt tired but elated. Finally, he was someplace where he felt at home, where people liked him, where he was respected. He had never been so happy before. He had even found something he was really good at: he loved flying a broom and that carefree feeling when he was in the air.

As he finally left the changing room to go back to the castle, he noticed a moving shadow heading to the Forbidden Forest. Harry frowned. Wasn't that Snape? But then Harry shook his head. So what?

Harry was nearly at the castle entrance when he suddenly heard a scream from the Forest. He stopped dead. Was that Snape? Was he in danger? Nervously he gripped his broom tighter. He stared at the place where he had seen Snape vanish between the trees moments before.

Harry knew students weren't allowed into the woods. It was the Forbidden Forest, after all, and he was sure that it contained plenty of dangerous creatures. But what if Snape really needed help? With everything the professor had done for him, Harry couldn't let him get hurt! Quickly mounting his broom, Harry flew into the Forest.

The air was cold, and Harry wished he had his cloak with him. As he flew over the tree tops, he noticed two human figures in the forest that seemed to be arguing. Harry landed in one of the nearby trees and tried to listen, but the rustling sound of leaves was too loud to hear anything. Cautiously, Harry climbed down a few feet.

He immediately recognized Professor Snape and Professor Quirrell. Snape looked furious, while Quirrell seemed to be terrified. Harry still didn't understand. What was going on? Who had screamed?

"And do you already know how to get past the dog?" Snape growled.

"T- t- the dog?" Quirrell stuttered blankly.

At his words, Snape looked even more irate. Taking a step closer, he loomed menacingly over poor Quirrell, who continued in his desperate attempt of convincing Snape that he didn't know anything.

Harry gulped. He had never seen Snape so angry before, and the man's wild-eyed appearance gave him the shivers.

Maybe Snape really was planning to steal the stone after all. Maybe Ron right about him… This Snape in the forest was not the Snape Harry thought he knew. This Snape was scary.

"It's not over. We will talk again!" Snape hissed, contemptuously pushing Quirrell away. The shy professor stumbled, then recovered his footing and bolted towards Hogwarts.

Harry gulped and shuddered. He didn't know what to think. Why was Snape being so mean to Quirrell?

As the boy tried to climb up the tree again, he suddenly heard a crack and felt his footing slip. No! he thought to himself, but it was already too late. The branch beneath him broke, and Harry tumbled headlong towards the earth.

-ooo-

Severus was still boiling with anger as he watched Quirrell's form vanish into the castle. He tried to decide what his next move should be, when he suddenly heard a dangerous crack above his head, immediately followed by a muffled scream and the sound of several more branches breaking. He jumped aside just as a body fell to the ground in a shower of broken foliage. At first Snape didn't recognize the body, whose face was pressed against the ground. But then an all-too-familiar broom landed on top of the boy.

"Potter!" Snape said, shocked. What the hell was the boy doing here? Taken aback, he stared at the motionless boy.

When Harry tried to move, an unbearable pain shot through his body. He moaned and went limp again. It felt like every bone in his body was broken.

Harry's moan brought Professor Snape to his senses. He knelt down beside the child.

"Potter, you stupid boy. What did you do now?" he hissed furiously, taking out his wand. He cast a diagnostic spell to see how badly the boy was hurt.

Harry had been lucky, considering how far he had fallen, but he still had three broken ribs and some abrasions on his hands and face. More importantly, just below his right knee there was a larger gash which was bleeding badly.

Severus sealed the cut and then he checked over the ribs again. Just as he had feared: one of the broken ribs was dangerously near Harry's lung. One wrong movement could cause the rib to pierce the lung; such a wound was dangerous, even for wizards.

"Harry? Can you hear me?" Severus asked as the boy lay quietly – too quietly – during the diagnostic spells.

Harry wanted to reply, but all that came out was another groan. It hurt to breathe, let alone talk.

"I'm going to petrify you and levitate you up to the hospital wing. It's the safest way to move you. Do not panic and do not fight the spell."

Harry let out a little whimper of understanding, and within moments, he found himself floating face down over the ground. He wished he could see Snape's face to estimate how angry the professor was, but in his current position, it was impossible.

Severus was indeed angry. He could not imagine why Potter had followed him into the Forest. Was the boy spying on me? he wondered. How long had Harry been in the tree? How much did he hear? Severus sighed. If Harry hadn't been so badly injured, Severus would have spanked the boy on the spot for such a stunt. Why does the boy think he can spy on me? I'm the spy here, Severus grumbled to himself on the way to the hospital wing.

As soon as they reached the hospital wing, Severus floated Harry to the nearest bed and lifted the levitation spell. The mattress was a bit softer than the floor in the forest had been, and the boy winced as his ribs shifted. He tried to turn over, but Snape immediately stopped him.

"Lie still, Potter," Severus hissed, placing a hand on Harry's back to stop the boy.

"I'm sorry," Harry whispered.

"Oh? And what exactly are you sorry for? For falling out of the tree, for being in the Forbidden Forest, or for spying on me?"

Harry became silent again. He no longer needed to see Snape's face to know how angry the professor was. He could hear it in the man's tone.

"I… I didn't mean to… I was just…" Harry tried to voice his thoughts, but it was so difficult.

"You were just what?" Snape asked impatiently.

Worried about you, Harry thought to himself. But he couldn't bring himself to say it aloud, so he kept silent.

Severus sighed. "You just won your second Quidditch game. Why weren't you with the others at your celebration?"

"I'm sorry," Harry whispered after another moment.

"Oh yes, I'm sure you are now," Severus grumbled and went to fetch the Mediwitch.

-ooo-

Later that evening, Severus headed to the headmaster's office. He really had to speak to Dumbledore about the ridiculous Potter boy. This time, the child had gone too far. Something had to be done, or the boy would get himself killed.

"Severus, what a pleasure to see you. What brings you here?" Albus greeted his visitor.

"Two things," Severus answered. "First, I didn't get anything out of Quirrell. He still refuses to cooperate, but I'm sure he's hiding something."

"Do you still believe he was the one who let the troll into the school?" Albus asked.

"Who else? He brought the troll who's protecting the stone. That can't have been a coincidence."

"I assure you the stone is well protected even if someone gets past all the obstacles. I updated the protections only yesterday, using an idea I had after Harry's incident with the mirror. Now I'm sure that absolutely nobody who wishes to use the stone will be able to find it, so we don't have to worry about it anymore."

"Speaking of Harry; that's the second thing I want to talk to you about. The boy is completely out of control."

Albus frowned. "What do you mean?"

Severus recounted what had happed after the Quidditch match.

"How is he doing now?" Albus asked, worried.

"He is sleeping in the hospital wing."

"Good," Albus said, leaning back in his chair.

"Good?" Severus repeated angrily. "There is nothing good about it. The boy completely lacks any discipline. Since school started he has broken one rule after another. He is always wandering around the school, turning up in places he has no business being. You said we should protect the boy, but how are we to do that when the boy does as he wishes and nobody puts an end to such behavior? If we don't do something, the boy will get the Philosopher Stone himself."

"Don't you think you're overstating things a bit?" Albus asked, smiling fondly.

"No! Absolutely not! The boy already knows about the dog, and I'm sure he knows about the stone and what it is. And I'm also sure that the boy was trying to find out who's after the stone. Why else would he spy on me?"

Still smiling, Albus asked, "And what exactly do you think should be done?"

"The boy needs boundaries and clear consequences when he oversteps those boundaries. And I'm not talking about detentions. They seem to be useless as far as he's concerned."

"I think you should talk to Minerva about this. She is his Head of House, after all."

"Yes, but you are the headmaster and you are his guardian, so it is up to you."

"But what would you say if I let Minerva punish one of your Slytherins?"

Indignantly, Severus glared at the headmaster. "We are not talking about just any student. We are talking about Potter. You asked me to protect the boy. How shall I do this if I even can't be sure he's sleeping in his bed during the night? If Minerva were able to control Potter, she would have done so already!"

Slowly the smile on Albus' face faded. Severus had a point. He stroked his beard pensively. "Hmmm. I do see what you mean, but I still think it would be best if we talk about this with Minerva-"

A knock at the door interrupted him; an instant later, a worried-looking Minerva entered the office.

"Albus!" she started to speak as soon as she stepped inside. "Mr. Potter wasn't at dinner today, and Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger told me they don't know where he is - "

"Ah, Minerva, don't worry. Harry is in the hospital wing."

"Don't worry? What is he doing in the hospital wing?" Minerva asked, shocked.

"He fell out of a tree," Albus explained calmly.

"In the Forbidden Forest," Severus added, glaring at the Headmaster.

Minerva's eyes widened. "The Forbidden Forest? How did he get there?"

"By broom." Severus smirked at Minerva's expression.

"Oh my! Why did he go there?"

"I assume that he saw me and followed me."

"But why?" Minerva could not imagine what would cause Harry to follow a professor into the Forbidden Forest.

"That is the question, isn't it?" Severus snapped, hoping the boy's close call was enough to convince his colleague that they had to do something about Potter's behavior. "More importantly, however, what are we going to do to stop him from doing it again?"

"Stop him? What do you mean?" Minerva asked, now a bit skeptical.

"I am talking about boundaries and consequences. It's obvious that Potter has problems following even the most basic school rules, including those that exist to protect his safety."

"You mean you want to punish the boy," Minerva stated flatly, shooting her colleague a stern glare.

"It doesn't have to be me. But someone should do something, because detentions don't have any effect on this boy. Maybe corporal punishment will."

Minerva still glared at Severus. "I know exactly what you are thinking, and I do not agree. First you tell me that Harry was mistreated at home and now you tell me you want to physically punish him?"

"There is a difference between punishment and abuse!" Severus shouted angrily "The boy needs limits, and he needs to feel the consequences of violating those limits. Until he is held accountable for his actions, he will go further and further. Today was the Forbidden Forest, what do you think he'll do tomorrow?" Severus tried to calm himself, adding, "I know Harry is a special case. It's always hard to discipline children who have been mistreated. But we can't simply let this go. We will do him no favors by letting him think that rules don't apply to him, and as far as he is concerned, detentions are meaningless."

"So you intend to spank him?" Minerva asked disbelievingly. "And you think that's an appropriate response?" Severus nodded, but before he could say anything else, Minerva shook her head adamantly. "No."

Severus rolled his eyes in frustration.

"Harry is in my house, and I don't use such punishments. I think the boy has gone through more than enough."

"More than enough indeed," Severus said, peeved. "Since the boy has arrived at Hogwarts he's nearly gotten himself killed three times."

Minerva looked at him, puzzled.

Severus held up his fingers, counting off the incidents. "The three headed dog nearly bit his head off. The troll narrowly missed making mincemeat out of him, and after today's fall from the tree, one rib nearly pierced his lung. And I haven't even mentioned his nightly corridor wanderings or the incident in the library's forbidden section or the episode with the mirror of Erised. Can you name one other student in the entire history of Hogwarts who has gotten into as much trouble as this boy has in just his first few months? How much more will you allow him to 'go through' before you get him under control?"

Minerva stared at him in shock, schooling her features to hide her somewhat hurt feelings. It was obvious she hadn't been aware of all of Harry's activities. "He knows about Fluffy?" she asked slowly.

Severus just nodded.

Minerva frowned in thought, but finally said, "I will have a long talk with Harry. However, I'm still quite certain he doesn't need a lesson over your knee, Severus."

Exasperated and angry, Severus glared first at her and then at Albus. Seeing no hope of changing their minds, he spun around and left the office.

-ooo-

The next morning, when Severus entered the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey called him into her office. Pomfrey had checked Harry over more closely while the boy was still sleeping, and the Mediwitch had detected some disturbing things.

"Look at that, Severus," she said, handing the Potion Master a parchment containing Harry's medical record. "I know you've had some Healer training. What do you think?"

Snape scanned the document as Poppy continued, "Some of his bones have been broken and never set correctly. There is an awful scar on his right leg from what looks like a dog bite. And he had some faint scars along his waistline that I think were inflamed for some time and didn't heal over until after he started here at Hogwarts."

Severus frowned. He followed Poppy over to the sleeping boy. Harry was lying on his left side and the blanket didn't completely cover his back. Poppy gently lifted Harry's pajama top a bit and revealed the two scars.

"What do you think?" she whispered, looking sadly down at Harry.

Severus frowned. "I would say they were caused by a heavy wooden stick."

She sighed. "It's so awful to see a child treated like this."

"Yes. Bloody Muggles."

As Severus and Poppy returned to her office the Mediwitch said, "I also found out that he hasn't been vaccinated against dragon pox or any other wizards childhood illnesses. Obviously nobody taught his relatives about the risks not to vaccinating him against wizards' illnesses. And there is one more thing: His blood work shows a chronic lack of nutrients. I doubt he's had the chance to eat regularly. It's very disturbing, Severus. I'm worried about his welfare."

Severus nodded. He also wondered what Harry was going through at home. The medical report made it more than clear that there was something alarmingly wrong. But how could he make the boy speak?

-ooo-

When Harry woke up, he kept his eyes closed and started to stretch, but he halted in mid-movement and opened his eyes wide as memory returned. At the same time, he noticed someone at his side and nearly jumped out of his skin.

"Good morning, Mr. Potter," said a familiar silky voice.

Harry fumbled for his glasses, but he couldn't find them. So he squinted at the blurry figure next to him and said shyly, "Good morning, Sir."

Severus pulled out Harry's glasses and placed them on Harry's nose.

"Thanks," Harry whispered. He hung his head sheepishly as he remembered what had happened the day before.

After a moment of silence, Harry raised his head and looked at Snape anxiously. "Are you going to punish me now?" Memories of the man's earlier threats rang in his ears.

Severus shook his head. The question annoyed him to no end. Why is that the first thing the boy always thinks about when he's done something foolish?

"No. Professor McGonagall will speak with you about your behavior. Your punishment is up to her."

Harry nodded. He wasn't exactly relieved to hear that because he didn't know what to expect from his stern head of house. On the other hand, he was quite certain what Snape's punishment would have been, so maybe he was better off with McGonagall.

"But I also want to talk to you. I'd like to know why you were spying on me," Severus said sternly.

Harry looked surprised. "I wasn't spying on you."

"What about yesterday? What do you call that?" Now Severus was curious.

"I…" Harry started and broke off again. He looked down at his fingers and searched for words. "I was just on my way back to the castle when I saw you going into the Forest. I was late because I wanted some time on my own after the Quidditch match. Sometimes all the fuss around me is too much and I just want some time alone, when it's quiet."

Severus studied the boy thoughtfully.

"Well…" Harry continued, "on my way back I saw you and I wondered where you were going, but I didn't follow you, not then. But then I heard a scream and I… I…" Harry stopped again. He didn't know how to say that he had been worried that something bad had happened to Snape.

But it wasn't necessary for Harry to go on; Severus understood, although he was surprised that someone other than the headmaster was worried about his welfare. The corners of his mouth twitched a bit, and his face softened.

"Harry. You know that it is the teachers who protect the students, not the converse."

Harry's face grew hot. He kept his eyes locked on his nervously twisting fingers.

"What do you think you could have done if I had been in danger?"

Now Harry looked up. "I could have gone for help."

Severus cast a skeptical look at him. "Would you really have done that? Or would you have rushed to my side to try to do something?"

Harry was about to argue that of course he would have run for help, but then he closed his mouth with a snap. The professor was right. If he had been hurt, Harry would have gone to check on him first.

Severus nodded to himself. "Yes. Just as I suspected. You would have come to me without a single thought for your own safety."

Harry hung his head once more. He felt so stupid and young. And he felt exposed; it seemed the professor know him all too well.

"You have to learn to think before you act. You have to learn to see more than just the obvious."

"I'll try, Sir," Harry whispered miserably.

Severus nodded again. He felt touched by Harry's concern for him and was strongly reminded of Lily. She too had always been concerned about him, but he had never expected to find that attribute in the son of his most bitter rival from his schooldays. Severus sighed and then shook his head. This is also Lily's son, he reminded himself and focused his attention back at the problem at hand.

"Harry, there is something else we need to talk about," he said more gently.

Harry looked up at the change in his tone.

"Madame Pomfrey examined you while you were unconscious, and she shared her findings with me. They're alarming. You have several old wounds that didn't heal properly. And you have some scars on your back that are new."

Severus noticed the boy stiffen at these words.

"I know you don't want to talk about it, but it would make things much easier. The medical report is proof that you have been mistreated at home. Your relatives could face criminal charges if we report this to the Aurors or the Ministry of Magic. But more importantly, we can remove you from the house if you testify that you are beaten at home."

Harry closed his eyes tightly. "Uncle Vernon doesn't beat me," he said in a small voice.

"Harry-" Severus tried again but the boy shook his head vehemently.

"No, please. You don't understand."

"What exactly is it that I do not understand?"

"Please, I can't talk about it. He said I wouldn't like the consequences if I did, and that kind of promise is one he's sure to keep."

"But if he beats you, then -"

But Harry shook his head more wildly now "No, Sir, please. You're not listening. He doesn't beat me. He doesn't want to touch me. I never get more than a slap in the face from him, and a few slaps isn't real abuse. Talking about that won't get me removed from their house, but it will get me in big trouble."

"What kind of trouble? What will happen?" Snape pressed.

Harry closed his eyes again and hugged his knees into his chest. Severus sighed, frustrated, but then he suddenly remembered something. "Does it have something to do with your fear of darkness?"

Harry gulped and his face paled. His hands started to tremble so he hugged his knees more tightly.

"So he locks you up somewhere dark? …In the cellar?"

"No," Harry whispered. "Just my room."

"But doesn't it have any windows?"

Harry shook his head again. "It's the cupboard under the stairs. No windows."

"You live in a cupboard?" Severus asked, shocked.

"It's not a big secret! My Hogwarts letter was addressed to me there!" Harry yelled, suddenly angry at how his secrets were being stripped away against his wishes.

"The student letters are addressed magically. I doubt anyone noticed the exact wording of your address," Severus explained rather apologetically. He could understand why Harry would be upset – getting a letter addressed in that fashion would certainly have suggested that the faculty were well aware of his treatment.

"Oh…" Harry said softly, dropping his eyes as his burst of anger left as abruptly as it had flared.

"All right. So you have been locked in this cupboard. May I ask for how long?" Severus returned to his questioning.

But Harry refused to answer. He just rested his head on his knees and ignored Snape.

"For an hour?" Snape guessed.

Silence from the huddled child.

"Longer than that? Several hours?"

Another stretch of silence.

Snape could feel his anger at the Dursleys rising. "Overnight? A whole day? Longer than that?"

After a long pause, Harry nodded once.

"Longer than two days?"

Harry nodded again.

"Three days?"

"Please, Sir. Don't ask me. Can't we just drop it?" Harry blurted.

"More than three days?" Severus went on inexorably.

Harry closed his eyes and shuddered. That was all the answer Snape needed.

"That's torture and abuse! It's just as illegal as beating you with a belt!" Severus ranted, and Harry flinched at the furious tone.

"So what else did they do?" Snape demanded, now too angry to attempt any sort of gentle questioning.

But again Harry just shook his head. "I won't say."

"Harry, you need to tell."

"No. I can't. You can't help me in this. He'll find out and he'll convince you that I'm a liar. And then he'll send me to Her."

"Who is Her?" Snape demanded, his mind working busily.

Harry buried his face in his knees. He hoped if he couldn't see the professor that Snape might vanish. He had already said too much, and he knew he was going to be in deep trouble when Uncle Vernon found out.

"Harry, you have to understand that I can only help you if you'll talk to me. If I'm able to take you out of there, then there will be no punishment from your uncle ever again. His threats to punish you are just to stop you from telling anybody. But you have to tell in order to put an end to the abuse, otherwise it will never end. Believe me, I know when somebody lies to me or not, and I know you're not lying about this."

Harry sighed and slowly looked up again, his eyes full of pain. He nodded slowly.

Snape found himself touched anew by the small boy's courage and faith in him. "All right. So who is this person that your uncle threatens to send you? Not your aunt Petunia?"

Harry shook his head. "Uncle Vernon's sister, Aunt Marge. She hates me, and so does her dog."

"But why does your uncle threaten you with her?"

"Because she isn't afraid to touch me."

"What exactly does that mean?" Severus asked, not really sure he wanted to know the answer.

"She's really mean, and she pulls me around by the ears, and she smacks me really hard for practically nothing, and when she gets really mad, then she'll whip me with a stick from the garden."

"So she was the one who gave you those scars on your back?"

Harry colored. "That was my fault. I earned them."

Now Severus shook his head angrily. "No. You definitely didn't earn such a punishment, no matter what you may have done."

Harry shook his head, disagreeing with Snape. "She thought I was going to hit her dog."

"And were you going to hit it?"

"No," Harry whispered. "But I picked up a stick and waved it at him. I wanted to get him to let go of my foot. His teeth hurt a lot."

Severus had difficulty suppressing his anger. Harry picked up a stick to protect himself from a dog that was biting him, and he got a hiding for that? Just how unfair was this woman?

Harry kept his eyes down and didn't see Severus' livid face as he continued, "When Aunt Marge saw me with the stick she started screaming. She grabbed the stick and yelled at me, saying how dare I try to hurt her dog. She didn't care that her dog had bitten me. I tried to convince her that I wasn't really going to hit him, but she didn't believe me. She grabbed me by my ear and dragged me over to the garden bench in the backyard and she pulled down my trousers…"

Harry stopped and hid his face. He felt so ashamed.

Severus was shocked. It was obvious that this woman didn't care anything about Harry. This wasn't a deserved punishment. It was sheer torture. She ignored the fact that her dog had bitten him and had whipped a defenseless child because she obviously enjoyed doing so.

No wonder Harry had problems following the school rules. In all probability, at his home it didn't matter if Harry followed the rules or not; his horrible relatives would punish him for anything or nothing.

"Harry," Severus started. The boy's face was still buried in his knees, but at the sound of his name he lifted his head a little bit to peer over his crossed arms. "I have to talk to Professor Dumbledore about this. We will determine what to do. It's possible that you will have to tell this story again. But I promise I will do whatever I can to take you away from there."

Harry shot him a worried look, but he finally asked, "What… what will happen to the Dursleys?"

"I don't know yet. We'll see."

"They won't be put in prison, will they? I… I wouldn't want that. I think they had enough problems because of me."

Severus stared, aghast, at Harry. "Enough problems? What are you talking about? Do you think it was your fault that they treated you so badly? They deserve to be imprisoned."

"But it wasn't really their fault. They never wanted me, but they had no choice. I've got no other living relatives. They were the only ones and so they had to take me in. They aren't bad parents. They love Dudley. They just didn't want me."

And at those words, Harry could no longer hold back his emotions. He tried to hold his breath, but big tears rolled down his cheeks anyway. The boy looked so lost that Severus acted on impulse. He sat down on Harry's bed and pulled the boy into his arms.

"Harry, they made the decision to take you in. It was their choice to accept the responsibility for you, but then they ignored that responsibility. You've described the worst kind of torture to which an innocent child can be subjected. To treat their child with love while you were locked away in a dark cupboard was one of the cruelest things they could do."

Harry pressed his eyes shut and leaned deeper into the strong arms which were holding him. For a while both were silent, but finally Harry whispered, "I always thought if I were good enough, if I could just obey their rules, then they would love me too. I always dreamed about being hugged by Aunt Petunia after a nightmare or after I got beaten up at school. But she never did anything like that. She'd just scold me after a nightmare because I woke her up. She wasn't interested in what happened to me at school, and if I got hurt, I got locked into the cupboard. I didn't know what I should do so that she could love me like she loves Dudley."

Severus tightened his hold on Harry but remained silent. He couldn't bring himself to say that there was absolutely nothing Harry could ever do to make his aunt love him.

So he said instead: "We will find a solution, Harry. I promise."