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Harry Potter and The Father

Chapter 7

Dumbledore knows

Harry did sleep all day it even after the dreamless sleeping potion had worn off, McGonagall Poppy and Severus never moved from Severus' quarters. Dumbledore had just got back from the ministry, he was furious with what he had been told. Severus Snape was now Harry Potter's adopted father. It was unbreakable for it had the child's parent's signature at the bottom. To remove him from his adopted parent would cause uproar especially in the pureblood society. They wouldn't like the thought of their pureblood children being grabbed by the Ministry and taken elsewhere. No one knew Severus was a Death Eater not even the Minister of magic and didn't have any problem with Severus having Harry other than the fact he seemed to dislike children. So Dumbledore furiously, trying desperately to keep his benevolent 'Headmaster' masks up.

"Severus Snape you will answer this door right now!" demanded Dumbledore, knocking on the door to Severus Snape's quarter. He didn't get in with the override password, the portrait seemed to really like Severus and never let him in. Plus it was so much like Severus scowling and sneering at everyone that came by.

"Well he knows now" said Severus closing his eyes in irritation. Severus got up and closed the door to his bedroom wanting Harry well away from the oncoming confrontation. He also placed a bubble spell, so he could hear in but Harry wouldn't hear out.

"Yes he had a meeting with Fudge" said McGonagall the truth dawning on her in a heartbeat.

"There we have it, it must have landed on his desk during the conversation" sighed Severus in irritation. All adoptions and other important information was funnelled through the Minister of magic, probably why he was so busy all the time. They really should just have different divisions for different things. They had an Auror division and a Muggle Artefact division he couldn't see why they didn't have an adoption division.

"Damn it you best let him in before he has a heart attack" sighed McGonagall getting herself ready for the confrontation.

Severus opened the door and let an enraged bull, er, Headmaster through his door not even bothering with pleasantries he wasn't happy with the old man.

"When did you get custody of Harry Potter?" asked Dumbledore calming down when he couldn't see hide or hair of a little boy.

"I got sent a time delayed letter by Lily" said Severus simply, crossing his arms over his chest his eyes narrowed in anger.

"I see, well you do know that he has to stay there for the blood protection" said Dumbledore adamantly, "You promised to protect him and he's happy there"

"Indeed I did promise, and I'm keeping that promise" said Severus fury bubbling just under the surface, happy indeed he was going to cures the old man.

"Good" beamed Dumbledore thinking he had got his way.

"So just how happy is Harry? Have you seen him?" asked McGonagall if Dumbledore had looked he would have seen the look of fury on her face.

"I have! Happy as can be!" said Dumbledore happily.

"So getting beaten and locked up is what you call happiness?" asked McGonagall her voice low and furious.

"What?" asked Dumbledore wide eyed, how could they know that? Had they seen him? That must mean he was here already, damn it he was hoping to avoid that. How on earth was he going to be able to get him back to the Dursley's he should have suspected after all Poppy was there. "There must be some kind of mistake, misunderstanding" protested Dumbledore.

"Not at all, I have his records here" said Poppy pointing to the file.

"The protection is important" soothed Dumbledore, trying to get them to see it was more important than any happiness he might find.

"What protection? There's nothing there Petunia isn't his real Aunt" sneered Severus ugly.

Dumbledore gulped audibly, this couldn't be happening Dumbledore thought, he couldn't have found out it was impossible. He had promised Lily to tell Severus when his father died, but he hadn't of course. He had also broken the promise to not send Harry to the Dursley's should anything have happened to her.

"You knew" snarled Severus furiously, the magic in the room built uncomfortably as Severus let the fury out the only way he could.

"I did not" said Dumbledore indigintly, but the three new better now.

"Leave" snarled Severus furiously.

"He has to go back home" said Dumbledore adamantly.

Severus snarled, grabbed Dumbledore by the front of his robes and bodily threw the old man from his rooms. The door closed angrily behind him, sending a big boom around the room. Then Severus began pacing the room, his entire form shaking in silent fury, his hands balled up in anger.

"Calm down Severus" said Poppy softly.

"He knew! He knew!" hissed Severus grinding his teeth in fury.

"He also knew everything else…Dumbledore cannot win either way so just please calm down" said Minerva sadly.

Severus was just about to sit down on the couch when they were all distracted by a moan, as Harry came round he was only able to move his hands his arms still healing his legs were not healed yet seemed he needed more Skele grow to heal properly getting up the nurse went back over to Harry who was still trying to move despite his best tries he could not move. Not that he knew how, he was not used to being able to move, he spent most of his days unconscious or lying in the cot in his Cupboard.

He tried to reject the disgusting drink but he could not, it was forced down his throat he was feeling sicker by the minute trying to retch up nothing was not a pleasant experience, he was then given cool water, something he could not remember having for a long time. He began gulping it but it was taken away, he whimpered to his surprise he was given the cool water back, gulping it down most of it going down the front of him he could not help but sigh in happiness, his mouth was no long dry. He couldn't remember what happened or where he was, he assumed he was in his cupboard he wondered why his Aunt was giving him water.

Opening his eyes to his surprise, he was somewhere in deep black and green colours. He remembered that man, it was the one who saved him, and he vaguely remembered him petting his head like his aunt had done with his cousin.

"Severus do you want to feed him?" asked Poppy kindly.

"Sure" said Severus.

Poppy handed him over four potions and a Tippee cup, one used for one year old children. He could see the contents of the cup, milk which was to help his new bones get stronger. Severus gave Poppy a look that stated 'what the hell' she just laughed at him before explaining.

"Severus, you gave him a cup of water…most of it ended up down his front. It saves time and mess if we just use that at least until his ribs are better, and he can sit up without soreness" explained Poppy.

"Ah, I see" said Severus nodding grudgingly. He gave Harry the three potions; decide ding to leave the pain reliever for last knowing it would make him tired and drowsy.

And it was much better; despite the fact his mouth was just about too big for such a thing. He managed to drink the entire cup of water, Poppy then handed him over some lukewarm soup and a big spoon. Then Severus began feeding Harry some food, unfortunately he only managed three spoonfuls' before he looked green around the gills. Not wanting to make him sick Severus withdrew the soup and tucked Harry back in whispering soothing nonsense as he gave him the last potion.

"You are safe now little one, nothing's going to harm you, not while I'm around" whispered Severus carding his hand through Harry's hair. A small smile played on his pale face when Harry leaned into the caress of affection rather than flinch. He knew it wasn't over; Harry would take a long time to get over the abuse. Severus was a patient man despite all signs that he wasn't, especially when something meant the world to him.

Harry fell asleep feeling safe for the first time in his memory, and he liked that very much indeed - his wish had come true and he hoped it never ended.

X.X.

Once they had done everything they needed to do for Harry, clean him, take care of his needs magically and got him full on potions and some food.

"He needs to eat more; I think we must have some broth made for him…feed him every time he comes around. Other than that I'd say he was healing quite nicely, those bruises don't seem any better though. I think he needs a proper bath, his private area looks much better though," said Poppy as she sat down comfortably.

"I'll brew some more bruise salve, but it will take a while for them to disappear magic isn't spontaneous all the time" said Severus.

"Oh believe me, I know" sighed Poppy. People thought mostly Muggle born's though magic was a miracle but it wasn't always. Sometimes people died, got too badly hurt to be healed. Sometimes people act like they could re-grow arms and legs but it just wasn't like that.

"When are you going to tell your mother Severus?" asked McGonagall softly.

"I don't know, I really don't want her to see him like this…it will make her guilt even more profound" said Severus sadly. Harry Potter's family tree had just undergone major reshaping; he was in fact as pure as they come. With the Prince, Snape and Potter family lines running through him. He was also extremely wealthy and would give Malfoy a run for his money. That didn't matter right now though, as he just wanted to concentrate on getting him better. Having an overly emotional guilty grandmother wouldn't do him any good.

"You are probably right Severus" nodded Minerva, she wouldn't want to see any her grandchildren like that.

"Indeed" said Poppy using Severus' favourite word. None of them were feeling particularly hungry and didn't eat a lot of dinner. Usually they had to go to the great hall but they couldn't face it. They weren't breaking any rules after all they were still in Hogwarts.

Will Eileen Prince/Snape have a big role in the story? as you can see its AU obviously.