Chapter Four: Bruises?

A/N: Hey guys thanks for reading and reviewing. Many of you gave me plenty of things to think about for the story and I promise I will think about them but I really have a good idea going for this story and I want to keep going with it, I'll try to intertwine some of your ideas into the story seeing how I am writing this for you guys but the plot I've got my ideas :]

Thanks, Severus Addicted

Harry slowly opened his eyes to light shining through his window. Harry sighed and closed his eyes again only to open them wide and jump from the bed.

Harry groaned as he felt a slight tingle in his behind. The memory of yesterday suddenly came to the front of his mind. Harry felt his face flush with embarrassment by the way he acted during his punishment.

Harry slapped his hand to his forehead, 'I can't believe I cried like a baby! It was only a spanking, I've had worse obviously and I never cry during those! It feels different though when my uncle and Snape punish me though. I deserve them both so that can't be the reason… Maybe just maybe it's because Snape punishes me because he cares.' Suddenly Harry burst out laughing, 'No that can't be it. But why then?' Harry sighed and shrugged.

Harry quickly got ready then ran down the stairs to get breakfast ready before eight-thirty and it was already eight o'clock!

Harry literally slid into the kitchen from the slippery floor tiles. He quickly ran to the fridge and grabbed the eggs and bacon. As Harry turned to run to the stove he stopped short. There flipping bacon was Snape.

Harry gaped at him with his mouth hanging open. 'How did I not smell the food?' Harry shrugged and put the food back where they belong.

Severus turned and pointed to the table, "Have a seat, Potter. What time did you say your relatives wake up?"

Harry looked at the clock on the wall and said, "In five minutes."

Severus only nodded his head and said, "I have to go to the Headmaster's office today for about a half an hour. Do you think you could stay out of trouble while I am gone?"

Severus didn't even wait for Harry to answer before he said harshly, "Of course not, the famous Potter can not even stay out of trouble while I am here. What was I thinking?" Severus smirked and turned back to the bacon.

Harry glared at him and snapped, "Why should I stay out of trouble? I'm famous I don't have to worry about anything!" Harry mocked angrily.

Severus spun around and narrowed his eyes at him, "Mr. Potter."

Harry smiled brightly and said, "That's what they call me."

Severus frowned deeply as he said, "That was not funny."

Harry swung his legs back and forth at the table and laughed, "Really? I thought it was hilarious. It's almost as funny as giving you shampoo as a gag gift."

Severus gave him an icy glare and said, "Apologize now!"

Harry smirked and said, "Why should I? I'm the 'Famous Potter', The-Boy-Who-Lived; I shouldn't have to do anything except smile for the newspapers."

Vernon and Petunia walked into the kitchen just then and sat at the table.

Vernon gave Harry a glare and said, "Why did you not cook? You shouldn't make our guest cook our breakfast boy!"

Harry rolled his eyes and said, "Yes well he apparently isn't our guest."

Severus coughed and said, "What I meant by that Potter is: You did not invite me into your household, so you do not have to treat me as a guest."

Vernon shrugged and said, "It's only polite Mr. Snape. You don't have to cook anything while you are here."

Severus inclined his head and said, "As you wish Mr. Dursley, as you wish."

Harry groaned as he saw the glare thrown at him by his uncle. "Uncle Vernon I don't see how this could be my fault at all, I mean he is the one who cooked, I did not tell him to."

Vernon threateningly stepped towards his nephew and said harshly, "I don't care. Go start your chores!"

Harry looked from Snape to his uncle then said, "But Uncle-"

Vernon slapped him and bellowed, "I SAID NOW!"

Harry stumbled backwards and touched his cheek, biting back a cry Harry nodded and sent Snape a glare before he ran out of the house.

Severus gulped as he watched Harry run from the kitchen and outside, "Mr. Dursley there was no need for slapping the child, it wasn't his fault at all."

Vernon grunted and sat heavily on his chair before he said, "The brat needs to remember who he is speaking to, and he should know better then speak back to me by now."

Severus still felt guilty as he slowly lowered himself onto the seat beside Petunia and began serving himself breakfast. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Harry watering the garden while rubbing the sting out of his cheek.

Suddenly he felt as if he couldn't eat anymore so he just sat there and sipped at his coffee.

Five minutes later Petunia and Vernon stood to leave for work. Once he heard the door close behind them Severus stood and grabbed a plateful of breakfast food for Harry.

As he stepped out of the house he looked around for the black haired boy, he found him trimming the bushes at the side of the house, "Mr. Potter."

Harry gritted his teeth and ignored him.

"I am sorry for getting you in trouble Potter." Severus hopefully waited to see if Harry would acknowledge his presence, "Here I got you a plateful of food for your breakfast that you missed." Severus stepped closer to the child and tried to hand him the plate.

Harry spun around to glare at him, then he spat angrily, "Don't worry about me! I have put up with his shit for fourteen years now, I am sure I can handle his occasional slap to the face. Oh and missing breakfast, its normal so don't get your knickers in a knot!" Harry spun back around to finish the trimming.

Severus sighed and placed the plate of food on the ground behind the angry child, "Fine, I will be back later tonight."

Harry pretended to ignore him and not care if he was leaving him alone. Harry's mind was screaming, pleading to not be left alone with the monsters. The monsters that haunt his every move, his every breath.

Severus slowly nodded and apparated away to the Headmaster's office. He had a feeling he shouldn't leave the boy alone, but what was he supposed to do when the child wouldn't even look at him, wouldn't even acknowledge his presence.

The rest of the day Harry quickly tried to finish his chores before his relative's got back from work, but when they did get home, it was too soon.

Vernon glared Harry down as he entered the kitchen and saw the sink half full of dirty dishes. "Why are the dishes not finished?!"

Harry gulped and tried not to look him in the eyes. "I-I'm sorry Uncle."

Vernon growled and grabbed his wrist, "Oh trust me Freak, you will be!"

Vernon then proceeded to drag the child up the stairs to his room.

Harry whimpered as he was thrown to the floor and kicked in the ribs; the last thing he heard was his uncle saying, "You deserve this, Freak!"

Harry silently agreed as he fell into unconsciousness.

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Severus quickly ran up the spiraling staircase to the Headmaster's office. Upon entering he saw Albus sitting behind his desk eating Lemon Drops.

Albus smiled at him and motioned for him to sit down. "Good morning Severus, I take it you haven't killed Mr. Potter yet?"

Severus snarled at the old man in front of him and muttered, "Not yet."

Albus chuckled and said, "Well then I will get right to the matter at hand. Have you noticed any change in your Dark Mark?"

Severus slowly nodded his head and said, "Yes Albus I have. It is getting darker, coming alive I might say."

Albus sadly nodded his white head, "What does it mean, Severus?"

Severus gulped slowly and said, "He is coming back."

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Harry whimpered as he looked around him. He was lying in a puddle of blood, his blood. Harry slowly sat up and immediately regretted the movement for all of his muscles screamed in protest.

Harry pushed himself into a sitting position and took in his appearance. For what he could see all the bruises and cuts were under his clothing, no where that could be seen unless he was nude.

Suddenly his door was thrown open to reveal a smirking Vernon Dursley, "I see you're finally up, get this mess cleaned up boy! We are heading next door for the neighborhood get together at Miss. Highly's house."

Harry slowly made his way to the bathroom where he found the cleaning supplies. Then he made his way back into the blood filled room and began slowly scrubbing the blood away.

Vernon snickered and walked back down the stairs. Harry heard him call to his wife and Dudley then all three disappeared outside, the door slammed shut and Harry knew he was alone at last.

Quickly Harry finished the scrubbing then he made his way back into the bathroom where he put the cleaning supplies back in their place and checked out his appearance.

"I deserved it." Harry mumbled as he slowly took his clothes off and started the water in the tub. Harry turned back to the mirror and looked at his chest. Three lines were across his chest that looked as if they were made by a kitchen knife. It wouldn't surprise him if they were.

Harry slowly opened the mirror and took out bandages and ointment to clean up his injuries. After most of them were cleaned up Harry shut off the water and stepped in the warm water. Harry left out a sigh of relief as he felt his muscles relax.

After a well needed bath Harry slowly wrapped a towel around him and walked back to his now blood free room and slowly changed into sweats so the clothes were comfortable over his injuries.

Hedwig gave him a sad hoot as she tried to get to him, she couldn't however seeing how her cage had a padlock on. Hedwig didn't look like herself and Harry feared she wouldn't make it through the summer, she was skinnier then ever and her bright blue eyes were now pale with sickness.

Harry coughed and winced as the pain flared in his chest, he slowly made his way over to his pet owl and put his finger through the side of the cage, "Don't worry girl, I will get you out of here, I promise. If it's the last thing I do, I promise."

Suddenly Harry had an idea of how he could protect his snowy owl friend, "I'll be right back girl." With that said Harry ran downstairs and tried to ignore the pain as he looked for a saw. Harry found one in the shed outback then he quickly went back to his owl and began sawing the cage open.

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Albus gave him a small smile before he said, "So how is our young Mr. Potter?"

Severus sighed and looked away, "I uh, accidentally got him in trouble today and now he won't speak to me."

Albus nodded knowingly and said, "So his home life is not the way you anticipated?"

Severus glared at the wall behind Albus' shoulder as he said, "Unfortunately."

Albus smiled, "Oh come on now Severus everyone is wrong once in a while."

Severus rolled his eyes making Albus laugh.

"So other than that, how is he?" Albus asked once he got over the laughing hysterics.

"He is a very disobedient child Albus; he has no respect for his relatives causing him to get into plenty of trouble. The boy is a menace! But for some reason I feel as if they are hiding something… something important. I don't know what it is but the family just doesn't seem right."

Albus wrinkled his eyebrows and asked, "What do you mean by that, Severus?"

Severus huffed angrily and said, "I don't know! They just don't seem like a normal happy family, it's like they are playing different characters, like they are hiding something. For instance one time Potter did not have his chores finishes before his Uncle got home and his Uncle got extremely mad and made him go outside to speak with him, I have no idea what they said but when Potter came back in he look slightly panicked and scared. Then there is the way Potter cooks every meal! I just don't understand Albus!"

Albus stroked his long, white beard as he thought, then suddenly he looked up and said, "Maybe they are hiding something, Severus. Just keep your eyes open and if you feel Harry is in any danger pull him out of the house, bring him back to Hogwarts or your own manor. Now I have another meeting Severus so I will speak to you later."

Severus inclined his head and walked to the apparating point back to Number Four Private Drive.

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Harry smiled broadly as he helped Hedwig out of the now ruined cage. "Come on now girl before they come back." Hedwig hooted in agreement and together they went outback.

Harry blinked back the tears as he looked at his beautiful bird, "Hedwig you need to leave, go back to Hogwarts or you could go to The Burrow anywhere but here girl. It's not safe for you, you need to save yourself. Go on now girl, I love you." Hedwig had a glint of refusal in her deep brown eyes at she looked at her owner. Harry shook his head and motioned for her to fly, "Go girl, you're free now. Hopefully I will see you someday, someday but not today, today you need to go hunt, you need to go somewhere safe. That's all I ask of you girl, please."

Hedwig gave a small hoot and nudged her face up against Harry's. Then with one look back she flew off into the night sky.

Harry watched with tears streaming down his cheeks as his bird, his best friend disappeared behind the mountains.

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Severus walked into the house and immediately knew something was wrong. He quickly ran up to Harry's room to see if he was okay. He slowly opened the door only to see the child fast asleep on his bed.

Severus sighed in relief but his relief was short lived as he saw Harry whimper and mumble something in his sleep. He quietly made his way over to the sleeping form to wake him up.

"I-I'm sorry! Please!" Harry mumbled sadly in his sleep.

Severus quickly pulled his hand back before he shook the child awake.

"Uncle please enough! P-please!" Harry cried out in despair, he rolled onto his side and whimpered again.

That's when Severus saw it; Harry's shirt was rolled up in the back so he had a perfect view of a big bruise on his lower back. Severus tilted his head and pulled out his wand; with a muttered Lumos he saw the big bruise.

Severus narrowed his eyes and stood. He knew exactly who did this to him but if his guess was correct…?

Severus lightly shook the child awake, "Mr. Potter, are you alright?"

Harry whimpered at the touch and flinched back into his bed, "Go away." Harry mumbled quietly.

Severus shook his head, "Mr. Potter, care to tell me what happened to your back?"

Harry's eyes snapped open to stare at his professor in panic.

A/N: Hey guys don't forget to review please!