Pretty Boy

Chapter 4

The Truth Is Revealed

Harry lay on the bed, finally wakening up; Severus Snape was the first thing he saw. He hadn't realized his body could feel like this, he had completely exhausted him beyond endurance. He'd always been the one giving pleasure rather than receiving it. His clients were always women, with the occasional male who was 'experimenting' or coming out of the closet so to speak. It was always his job to make them feel good and forget their worries. It was nice to be taken care of for once, even if he wouldn't admit it out loud. He blinked when he realized Severus was awake and observing him, he had that look in his eyes…he swallowed thickly having a feeling he was busted so to speak.

"Why did you leave Hogwarts?" asked Severus, wondering at Harry's reason, obviously Dumbledore had lied when he said Harry was being trained. Not just to the student body and teachers, but the Order as well. He knew with definitive proof this was Harry James Potter. The scar upon his forehead was laid bare for him to see, the make-up he used had faded away. It was a rather ingenious move; no wizard would have looked for it. Last night had been amazing, considering what Harry did; he was so responsive, so maddeningly delightfully impatient and gorgeous. Harry was different from any partner he'd ever had. With what he knew, he'd been determined to make this so good for him, so much so that he would be spoiled for anyone else. He wanted to lay claim to this young man who had been abandoned. He wanted to claim him, and make Harry his; train him and look after him. That's if Harry would be willing to allow it.

"What makes you think I didn't complete my education?" asked Harry stiffly.

"Harry," sighed Severus exasperated, even after a sound round of sex he was still defensive. "I know you left, I want to know why." he wasn't going to stop until he had his answers.

"Why should I? For all I know you could just report everything back to Dumbledore and force me back." said Harry, suspicious by nature. He didn't trust anyone, the last time he'd done that had been exactly that the last.

Severus smirked, half pleased with the suspicion but also unsure of how to proceed. His word probably wouldn't mean much to Harry, yet he didn't know about oaths and vows so there was no point in taking them. "Indeed I could, but I won't you have my word on that - despite the fact I know you don't trust it."

"I left because of Dumbledore." said Harry, it didn't matter if they forced him back; he wouldn't do what they wanted. He was beyond caring about others, at least those in the magical world.

Severus' eyes widened, of all excuses or reason for leaving, this had been nowhere on his list. Just what did Dumbledore do to make Harry Potter, his golden boy, Gryffindor hero back up and disappear into the night? The biggest question still, why had he lied about it instead of searching for Harry and bringing him back? Had the Headmaster secretly been searching? And once again he couldn't help but suspect…did the Order know and he was being kept in the dark? He might not be the only one. McGonagall wouldn't have allowed it, she'd have been furious, slipped up at some point. She hadn't been the slightest bit worried when she found out Harry was being tutored privately. She'd been saddened that she wouldn't have him in her house any more, but that was the extent of her emotions. "What did he do?" asked Severus eventually utterly gob smacked.

"It's not what he did, it's what I heard him saying to Moody." said Harry his voice filled with anger and consternation. Even after all those years, he could still hear them talking about it as if it happened yesterday.

"What did he say?" asked Severus naturally alarmed, what could he have said to make an abused eleven year old run to the streets? Staying away from the magical world deciding he was better of without it? Whatever it was, it couldn't be good. Moody? Well he was close to Dumbledore…but what could he have heard them say?

Harry snorted in derision, his face a mask of utter disgust and fury. "The run down of their conversation was that I'd be sent back to my relatives each summer. Evidently he knew just how they treated me, they abused me. So it would ensure I was malleable. I'd be ready to face Voldemort at the end of the year, I'd become his hero as I was born to be. Also that Dumbledore had added extra wards against my magic, whatever that meant, because I was still too powerful to be let loose in the world. More likely because a few weeks before I joined Hogwarts, I had made the glass at the Zoo disappear."

Severus inhaled sharply almost choking on nothing at what he heard. "Wards…on your…magic? He said those words?" asked Severus his entire world landing on its axis. Dumbledore had made Harry less powerful…expecting him to take on Voldemort and survive? Merlin the old fool had finally lost the plot he was sure of it.

"Yes, why?" demanded Harry, his worry showing through his partially impassive masks.

"May I cast a diagnostic on you?" asked Severus, a normal spell to detect problems wouldn't find it; you had to be looking for magical binds specifically. He remembered Harry saying to him he could only do so much magic. The fact he had been able to heal him with two bonds on his magic, at least, meant Harry was more powerful than he'd anticipated. "It's only to see if your magic is still bound, if it is I must fix it immediately or you will die."

"Fine," said Harry, it didn't look like he had much of a choice; he didn't want to die thank you very much. He would just have to trust Severus, considering their earlier activities well…it was stupid to distrust him for the moment.

Severus pulled out his wand and began chanting over Harry, his Latin words smooth and admittedly sexy as hell. His voice, when he wasn't snarling or sneering was a heady brew. He could have listened to it all night, not that he got to hear much more before parchment was coiling out of his wand.

Severus looked over the results, looking steadily sicker and paler by the second. Ninety percent of Harry's magic was bound. His words had been true; Harry would die in excruciating agony upon his twentieth birthday if they weren't undone. Everyone received a second 'maturity' upon their twentieth birthday, more magic once the wizard or witch was past their adolescence and teenage drama years.

"It's bad isn't it?" asked Harry, feeling fearful, and unable to hide it. Had he ran away, living this way for nothing? Had he always been destined to die? Had this been Dumbledore's plan all along? Have him defeat Voldemort and die? Placing his hands over his face, hating how he was feeling but unable to help it. Unfortunately one cannot control their emotions completely, even if he didn't show it…he would still be feeling it.

"It's not lost, we have a year to get the bonds undone, otherwise you will die. Harry it takes trust to allow someone to do this, you cannot fight me otherwise it will just hurt both of us. It's down to you whether you can do it." said Severus, feeling pity stirring within him. It was the first time he'd seen anything other than impassive or anger on Harry. Not including what they'd done that night, sex was different. He reached out, attentively touching him and bringing him into an awkward cuddle, at least on his part it was. Severus wasn't used to comforting people; he'd rather poke a sleeping dragon with a stick.

Harry allowed himself to be manipulated; he hated himself for being scared. Scared of dying, scared of trusting someone…the last time he'd done that Dumbledore had been anything but trustworthy. He realized though, he didn't have a choice, if he didn't trust him he'd die anyway. He didn't want Dumbledore to win, so yes, he'd do it. "I'll do it."

"Good." said Severus somewhat relieved, he was getting in a lot deeper than he's thought he would already. The simple emotions he was feeling were testament to that. "Now can you tell me why you are living like this? You have vaults filled with money at Gringotts, if you ran you should have taken your money with you." he winced at how much disapproval had leaked through. Hopefully the boy wouldn't assume it was at his job. Truth be told Severus couldn't care less about it; he'd done what he had to, to survive. Although he still didn't understand why he hadn't just taken the blasted money.

"Vaults? Gringotts? Money?" echoed Harry his voice laced with confusion.

"How did you acquire your school things?" asked Severus feeling a headache coming on.

"Didn't the school pay for them? Dumbledore sent them to me…Moody took me to get a wand the day before Hogwarts started up." said Harry obliviously.

Another injustice foisted upon the young man, he had been denied his inheritance. It was Wizard and Goblin nation law to introduce the heir to the fortune right away. Dumbledore had alienated him, for what? Obviously he'd been worried if Harry knew about his properties and money he'd run or become spoiled and not go with his carefully laid plans. A lot of good it had done him, Harry still had spoiled them and Severus respected him a great deal for that alone. He had guts; he'd left and made a better life for himself. Not many would have been able to do that, he truly was in awe at how strong Harry was.

"You're the last heir to the Potter fortune Harry; you have more money than you could possibly spend in one life time sitting in an underground vault waiting for you to claim it. The fact that you didn't get to go into Gringotts when you first arrived in the magical world was wrong. You should have been made aware of your standing immediately. Both Dumbledore and Moody know the law better than anyone else, they have wronged you immensely." said Severus still holding onto the young man, loving the feel of having him in his arms. It had been so long since he'd had a partner, strangely enough he didn't want to let Harry go. "Come back with me Harry; get your revenge on him…on both of them. Dumbledore and Voldemort for destroying your life. I will help you in any way you want."

"Why would you want to do that? You work for him." said Harry incredulity thrumming through him.

Severus realized he would need to tell Harry the complete truth, otherwise when he found out - that would be it. He'd never trust again, never mind anyone in the magical world. "I work for both of them." he admitted, "I am a spy and have been since you were a toddler."

Harry stiffened in his hold, but listened as Severus continued on.

"I joined the Death Eaters, that's the name the Wizards and Witches who follow the Dark Lord Voldemort when I was young. A stupid mistake I regretted immediately, but I had no way out. You do not just hand in your resignation or tell the Dark Lord you no longer want to work for him. Any sign of me wavering I would have been killed on the spot. When your mother was targeted I immediately went to Dumbledore, warning him." said Severus stopping when Harry spoke.

"My mother?" asked Harry surprised; he didn't know anything about her.

"Yes, we were childhood friends, I knew her from when she was eight years old. We had a falling out when we were sixteen. I stayed away after I joined the Death Eaters, for her safety. Unfortunately our measures were for nothing, they were betrayed by their secret keeper, Peter Pettigrew your fathers best friend." said Severus.

"Betrayed?" asked Harry quietly, his voice filled with pain and perhaps longing? Severus couldn't quite decipher it.

"Yes, the Dark Lord killed them but you survived because of your mother's protection. You were surely told this much?" asked Severus.

"Just that they'd died protecting me," whispered Harry, his face changing to a deep hatred.

"Since then I have been spying, during my tenure as spy I had to act the part. Which included treating you and nearly everyone at Hogwarts, not a Slytherin the way I did." said Severus, no doubt the boy could remember, he seemed to remember everything else.

"So it wasn't me you hated?" said Harry wryly.

"No," said Severus, "Not particularly, although people will tell you it was because your father and I hated one another. Not everyone was aware of my position as spy, so they assumed it was because of it."

"Yes, I remember. I was constantly compared to him." said Harry bluntly.

"Yes he couldn't brew a potion to save himself; he barely passed…how he succeeded in making it into N.E.W.T'S classes I do not know. You need N.E.W.T'S Potions class to become an Auror. Which is exactly what your father went on to do, he'd just passed the Auror training when he went into hiding." said Severus honestly. "Auror training is the equivalent to become a Police officer in this world, arresting bad wizards." he added as an afterthought since Harry probably didn't even know what an Auror was.

"Oh," said Harry nodding his head from where he was still cushioned on Severus' chest. It felt so good to be held this way, to be comforted, he'd been alone so long…so very long. He just wanted companionship, someone to love him, to be loved.

"Indeed," said Severus wryly, "Unfortunately I cannot stay, I must return to Hogwarts I have things to do. I will be back as soon as possible with the books I'll need to dissolve the binds on your magic, you have my word."

"Alright," said Harry, not moving, he really didn't want to give up the warmth. His bed had been magically fixed, the springs no longer dug into him. The covers even looked brand new. He had to remember that spell no matter what! 'Reparo' very handy to have around.

Severus regretfully did have to move, donning his clothes once more, pulling out some Muggle money. He handed it over to Harry, ignoring the hurt in his eyes; no doubt he thought he was being paid for his services. Oh no, if he had it his way, Harry would be his completely. "Buy some food, proper food, since I'm going to be training you here…I want more than just soup - meats, chips, potatoes, vegetables, everything is that understood? I want a proper meal." when Harry accepted the money he knew he'd won. Harry had agreed to it without him having to convince him. Seeing the darkness lurking there, he knew, that he would indeed get revenge on both Dumbledore and Voldemort. Perhaps if they were lucky they could make Moody pay also.

The shame and hurt faded away as Harry nodded inwardly gleeful, all but grabbing the money. He didn't get many opportunities to have proper food in the house. The thought of all the different kinds of food he could buy, with all that money had him hopping out of bed too. He was grabbed and kissed passionately before Severus disappeared again.

There we go Chapter four :D