Chapter 4

Harry Potter was in hell and he had been there since he had left Hogwarts for the Summer Holidays. From the very second his Uncle had dragged him inside the house, it had begun. The beatings, the starving and the mental abuse. Freak, monster, worthless… words they called him everyday, every minute. Well only Vernon and Dudley. Strangely, his aunt never abused him when her husband or son was away. When they were alone she was almost civil.

Harry sighed deeply and regretted it immediately when his chest exploded with pain. 'Damn, uncle Vernon must have broken some of my ribs last time' gritting his teeth he forced back the screams which threatened to break free. He had learned early on not to wake up his 'loving' family at night. But tonight the pain was bad and his strength ebbing. Trying to breathe shallow breaths he fought the pain and tried to relax. When it finally faded, Harry closed his eyes, exhausted. Laying on his back on the small dirty bed, he only focused on breathing.

After some time he opened them again and watched the roof in his small room, which now permanently bore the smell of blood. Turning his head slightly his gaze floated over to the empty place where Hedwig's cage used to be. Yesterday she had been inside it, but when he woke up earlier this day she and the cage was gone. When he had asked his aunt about it she said that she had sent it away, because Vernon had been talking about killing it, for making so much noise. Once again he felt how his heart warmed for his aunt, at least she had saved Hedwig, he really wanted to think that his beloved friend was safe and sound somewhere.

With a smile on his lips he closed his eyes again. His body felt unresponsive and numb all of sudden and his eyelids were heavy. While his breathing slowed down, Harry potter sank down into a blissful unconsciousness and was unaware of the men entering the house.

At once when Severus entered the house he knew that something was wrong. There was something in this place's atmosphere that made his skin crawl. When a shiver ran down his spine he didn't hide it. He turned and met the others gazes and knew that they too felt it.

"Lets hurry" Bella whispered. "This place reminds me too much of Azkaban."

With a nod Severus gestured to them to begin the search. While searching Severus noted something strange. 'Why are there no pictures of Harry? Or any other sign of him?' gritting his teeth he hurried up. 'I don't like this. It's almost as if he doesn't live here…' Suddenly he felt a hand on his arm and when he turned around he met Lucius grim face.

"Severus, I think you should see this." Lucius whispered and then walked towards a small cupboard under the stairs.

Bella was there as well and by her clenched hands and furious eyes he knew that he wouldn't like what he was about to see.

What he saw when he looked inside it made him see red and his magic flared and materialized around him. In the cupboard were Harry's things. His wand, his trunk and a broken owl's cage. But it wasn't what that which made Severus so furious. In the cupboard was a small mattress with blanket and on the wall a paper was kept in place by a piece of tape. On the paper "Harry' room" was written in a child's messy scrawl in red crayon. This little space once had been the home for a small child, Lily's child. With a deep growl Severus stretched out his magic around him thinking of nothing else then finding the boy. He wouldn't leave this place without him and if the boy was hurt or even worse, the muggles responsible for this wouldn't survive the night.

Lucius stared at his friend with fear in his eyes. Never before had he seen Severus like this. So totally out of control. And the magic, well he didn't have words to describe the feeling of it. So strong, so vehement, so dark. He couldn't move, he couldn't breathe. The strength of it nearly sent him down on his knees.

"Sev… Severus, get a grip of yourself" he managed before gasping for breath.

Then he shivered and tried to back away when Severus swirled around and faced him with a snarl on his lips and his dark eyes shining with barely suppressed fury. For a moment it seemed as if his image got blurry, but then there was awareness in his eyes and in the next moment the weight of the magic was gone.

He turned away quickly and murmured "He's upstairs. Let's go." Then he hurried to the stairs and climbed them soundlessly. Lucius stared after him before turning to look at Bella. She was pale and her eyes frightened.

"He's not human Lucius, he can't be. Not with that kind of magic. It was so dark… so alive…"

Her eyes took on a far away look and Lucius sighed and drew a hand through his hair. 'Well at least the Order haven't come running yet…' he thought and then followed Severus.

Severus fled up the stairs and let his magic lead him to his target. He moved without really seeing where he was going, occupied by the chaotic thought running through his mind. How was he to explain that? They had seen his magic materialize and felt its power. He was pretty sure that Lucius had noticed the flickering when his glamours nearly fell and he knew that Bellatrix had felt the darkness of his magic. 'What am I to do? The likeliness of they knowing my secret is higher now than it has ever been and if they find out about what I am… I don't know what will happen' Biting back a groan Severus covered his face with his hand stopping for a minute. He didn't have time to deal with this now. He had to calm down. Harry needed him.

Taking a deep breath he forced his feelings and mind back under control and then opened his eyes. Scanning his surroundings he then locked his gaze on a door with heavy padlocks on it. He felt his fury rise again, but this time he kept it under control. Harry was in there. Sudden footsteps behind him made him tense, but then the scent in the air told hi m it was Lucius that had caught up with him. Gathering himself he turned to face the other wizard.

"Harry's behind that door. Let's go in" He said and then aimed his wand towards the door.

"Alohomora" He whispered and the locks flew open.

After one last glance at Lucius he then stepped through the door and entered the small bedroom. At once when he stepped inside he was hit by the pungent smell of blood and it made his stomach revolt. It didn't only smell blood. There were blood stains on the roof and walls. 'By Merlin… what has happened in this house?' Then he saw him.

His eyes widened and he froze when he saw the still form on the bed.

"Harry!" He gasped and ran to the boy's side.

The boy was unnaturally pale, but he still breathed. Casting quick diagnostic spells he gritted his teeth when the extent of injuries became clear for him. 'That's it. The Dursleys won't survive this night' Harry had several broken ribs, internal bleeding, a broken wrist and a concussion. 'It's a miracle that he's still alive' Severus thought and cast healing spells on the boy, hoping to stabilize him enough for moving him. A gasp from behind him told him that Lucius had arrived.

"Merlin, is he alive Severus?" Lucius whispered and hurried to the bed.

"Barely. We have to get him out now, otherwise he won't survive the night"

Suddenly there was a cruel grin on Severus lips and Lucius shivered. His friend began to remind him of a predator, who had found a prey to play with.

"Go and get Bella, then you get his Aunt and take her out of here. From what I've gathered it's only the whale of a man and his son who has done this. Let Bella at them and tell her to have fun, without setting of the alarms. I'll take the child to Tom"

At first Lucius stood still frozen in place, but then a scary smile appeared on his lips.

"As you wish Severus. I'll make Narcissa bring her to Malfoy Manor. Then I'll return to help you"

With a short nod in acknowledgement Severus turned towards Harry again and continued his spell casting.

When he was sure that the boy was stable he carefully gathered him in his arms. Looking down upon him his grim face mellowed and his eyes went soft. 'I'll protect you from now on. No one will ever lay a hand on you again' he thought and then left the room. In the hallway he met Bella, who stared at him with wide eyes. When he smirked she flinched and bowed her head in respect. Severus eyes narrowed, but he kept his calm.

"Have fun with the muggles in here Bella, but don't set of the alarms. Don't use anything you think will set them off" He said.

She nodded softly, and then she left and entered the master bedroom. Soon a mad cackle was heard followed by a man's agonized screams.

When Severus left the house with Harry in his arms, the other Death Eaters closed in around them in a protective circle. Suddenly Tom was beside him and after one look at the unconscious child in Severus arms, Severus could feel how his friend's magic raged and how he had to struggle to keep it under control.

"Will he be okay Severus?" Tom asked in a worried tone.

"If we get him to the base and fetch a mediwitch, then yes I believe he will"

Severus met Tom's crimson gaze and then whispered:

"Tom, I want the house burned to the ground. With the Dark Mark in the air. I can't let them get away with this. Especially Dumbledore. He knew!"

There was such rage in his voice and when his eyes gleamed and his magic materialized Tom took a step away, but then nodded. Turning to his Death Eaters he said:

"Burn this place to the ground and then leave immediately. Lucius, send up the Mark in the sky before you leave"

With a bow the Malfoy patriarch whispered "Yes my Lord". Tom nodded and then he and Severus apparated away.