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Harry Potter And The Father

Chapter 8

Coherent For The First Time

Harry Potter that night slept without a dream, which was unusual he was used to having nightmares about his uncle, then them turning into a living nightmare. When he woke up, he did not move he was not used to being allowed to move because if he did it meant punishment. It was something he did without thinking, if his uncle heard him move he would be right over there like an enraged bull. Once he became aware, properly aware he sat there thinking about everything that had happened within twenty-four hours.

He was saved, healed and feeling much better than ever, especially his bum. It was rather odd that the place the hurt the most was the part touched the least. Then again he had peed the nappy they had forced upon him. He had nothing else to use, and no strength left to take it off. The pee made the area even sorer if possible, even days afterwards. So yes, feeling no pain was rather strange to this little boy.

He was just thinking when the black haired man came in and up to the bed. Harry stiffened when he heard it gulping quietly wondering what was going to happen. Was he going to be beaten by this man too? After all uncle Vernon said, that was all he was good for. He was never able to be a good boy and he deserved everything he got. He tried very hard not to think things like that, but after all it being told to him for the past two years it kind of stuck.

"I know you are awake," said the voice sounding amused.

Harry stiffened more wondering why he was being nice to him. He deserved shouted at. Was it a trick so he opened his eyes and got too see him hurting him.

"I'm not going to hurt you, you know," said Severus. Looking at the boy worriedly. He just hoped the boy would be able to get over the treatment of his uncle some day. He knew what it was like to be hurt but at least for him it did not start until he was older. Who could hurt a three-year-old boy?

Harry opened his eyes slowly there was hardly any light in the room so he could see right away no blinding white light. This was something he was used to the cupboard was always dark. Nevertheless, the light seemed to come on more and more by the minute. He remembered the room slightly; everything this man had done for him was coming back as well. He loved the feel of the dark haired man petting his head; he had to stop the smile spreading on his painfully thin face.

"Would you like a bath?" asked the man remembering what Poppy had said how cleaning charms only did so much. Harry had slept till eleven o'clock and Severus had already been up and had a shower before Harry had woke up he had been reading a book when he had heard a charm go of telling him that Harry was awake.

Harry's eyes widened when he heard that word slowly he nodded his head in disbelief not believing he was getting a bath. He remembered the few times Petunia had stuck him in the bath, perhaps two or three times. She had been very rough with him; the water had been warm though, which didn't matter as it still hurt his wounds. She had gruffly washed his hair and had him back in his cupboard ten minutes later.

Severus had to stop the sadness he felt showing, the disbelief tore at his heart. Harry had been through so much he didn't deserve what his family had done to him. He wondered silently if Dumbledore would actually hurt Petunia's son. If she did he would reapply the charm, even if he hated Petunia and Vernon for how they treated his son the boy didn't deserve it. If he didn't watch it he was going to die of a heart attack before the cancer would have finished him off, he was too fat by far for a child of three years.

Shaking of his thoughts, he had no place for them he was looking after Harry now. He began running the water, having everything he needed nearby, he made sure the water was nice enough for him before nodding in satisfaction. The smell of lavender filled the air; he didn't have children's bubble bath so he was going to have to use that. He added a healing potion to try and help the bruises and cuts still on his body. Poppy had given him a few things, clothes, toiletries which didn't include bubble bath. She had also given him a baby sponge which wouldn't tear open his cuts again.

Walking back over to the bed, slowly already knowing the child would flinch at any sudden movements. Smiling kindly, he began removing the snitch night gown, which by the way was actually a rather large t-shirt for an eleven year old. It was easy to forget what was under it, a painfully thin youngster, each and every rib showed, you could feel his entire spine. The legs and arms were the same, sighing softly, he told the child he was picking him up and not to panic that he wasn't going to hurt him.

Harry nodded slowly, deciding to trust this man; after all he had yet to hurt him. He had saved him and made him all better and gave him lots of milk. So he decided the benefit of the doubt. He lifted his arms up, so Severus could grab his under arms and hoist him into his arms. Harry grabbed a hold of the black robes, feeling better when he knew he wasn't going to fall. Not that he was in any danger as the black man had a tight hold of him.

"Good boy" said Severus softly, as he entered the bathroom.

Harry's green eyes twinkled at that, he hadn't been told he was good before! That was new. He had tried so hard to be good for his Uncle, yet all he had done was raise his arms here and he was good! Harry couldn't help the smile that spread across his face. It was only then did Severus realize Harry was missing most of his teeth, his baby teeth were gone. He knew most children didn't loose them until they were around six or seven, he had lost his first one when he was five, but there was no way Harry could have lost all his teeth at the age of three. He closed his eyes in horror, they hadn't even thought about his teeth.

"Are your teeth sore?" asked Severus kindly.

Harry gave him a funny look "They always are" murmured Harry, he didn't remember a time where they weren't painful.

"We will deal with that later" sighed Severus, lowering the child into the bath. He noticed Harry tensing until he actually felt the warm soothing water on him. He closed his eyes he just wanted to kill Vernon Dursley now. However, Harry needed him, and it would be the excuse Dumbledore would want. He in Azkaban and Harry back at his Aunt's and cousin's even if the bastard was dead.

He knew Harry was far too weak to move, so ensured he had a tight grip of him as he began cleaning the child. The water still managed to turn murky, despite the cleaning charms it looked like Poppy was correct. He noticed how nervous Harry was when he lowered him down to clean his hair, muttering soothing nonsense he began washing the hair, adding shampoo he began rubbing it into the hair, the shampoo became a fine lather. Once the hair was thoroughly washed he cleared it out, the hair was brown just like James Potter. He thought on more about what Lily had told him, how Harry looked like him and Lily - he had obviously taken the Snape genes.

Once that was done, he lifted the painfully thin youngster out of the bath and wrapped him up in a big soft fluffy towel. He softly began drying him off, avoiding the bruises and cuts on the child. Which was actually hard to do as most of his body was made up with them. Severus couldn't wait until they healed; he summoned a potion missing those green eyes going impossibly wide. He began to soothingly put them on each and every bruise and cut. They were already closed and less swollen but Severus didn't want them there anymore. Which was why he had brewed a stronger version of them for Harry, it made a difference he noticed the bruises went a very faint purple now. The cuts closed even more, he sighed in relief they wouldn't be there for much longer. Harry flinched when his face was done unable to stop himself. Instead of getting mad the black man actually took his chin very softly, and began smoothly soothingly rub the cream into all his bruises. So much so he could actually open his eyes properly for the first time.

He watched as the man took out some clothes, they looked really nice and brand new. Harry had never had brand new clothes before, he was dressed in a cotton t-shirt, a pair of briefs and jogging trousers. Nice soft thick socks and a pair of slippers were stuck on his feet. A nice dressing gown was placed next to him; he blinked looking at Severus strangely wondering why this man was being so nice. He wasn't used to it and it was going to take some getting used to. However, he still looked like an underfed waif he had just brought home if it weren't for the clothes.

Once that was done he sat next to the child and shouted "Blinky"

"Yes sir?" asked Blinky popping out of nowhere, his eyes widening in shock when he caught sight of the child. Harry whimpered, staring right back wide eyed, unable to believe what he was seeing. Was this man going to turn him into that? Made him do that? Thankfully Severus explained before Harry could begin hyperventilating.

"Calm down, this is a house elf, my house elf Blinky, he only answers to me and now you ok? He cooks and cleans for room and board here at Hogwarts" said Severus soothingly "And no you wont have to do such a thing to stay here!" he added as an afterthought knowing that's probably what the child was thinking. As soon as he saw the stunned look in those beautiful green eyes he knew there and then he had been correct.

"Blinky I would like some scrambled eggs, fresh milk a full English breakfast and my usual coffee pot. Some fresh fruit as well might be advisable" said Severus softly.

"Right away Master Severus but may I recommend some pancakes? They would be good for the child" said Blinky.

"Good idea, bring some pancakes for both of us" said Severus nodding in confirmation.

Harry watched everything curiously, thinking what on earth are pancakes? Was he actually allowed to eat? He dared to hope, he almost squeaked when the black haired man cuddled Harry into him. He could feel the heartbeat of the other man; it surprisingly soothed the frightened youngster. He wasn't sure what was going on, where he was, why he was here and who on earth he was with. At that very moment he didn't seem to care, he had never been held before, and he lived for that moment alone right now.

The house elf was back; putting the tray of food and drink on the table he nodded curtly and popped away. Harry looked at the food almost longingly, causing him to feel vibrations to shoot through him when his black man laughed. Severus picked up the pancakes and broke it in half giving one half to Harry the other went back on the plate. Severus grabbed his full English, watching Harry discreetly; his heart went out to the child who had been through so much as he relished half a pancake as if it was the best thing in his world. He passed over the milk, wondering if the child was strong enough to hold on to it. Instead he helped the child swallow some before putting it down, and gave him the other half of the pancake.

Severus was finished his big breakfast before Harry had even eaten two pancakes.

"Can you manage some more?" asked Severus soothingly.

Harry just shyly nodded his head.

Severus gave Harry his scrambled egg, feeding the child when it became too much for him. Eventually he did start looking green, putting the not even half eaten scrambled egg down he gave him what was left of his milk. Severus didn't think he had ever seem a child seem so peaceful or happy at just having a meal. It made him think of all the spoiled brats at Hogwarts eating unaware of children all over the world were being neglected such a thing they took for granted.

Harry soon fell asleep soon after, he was getting stronger but it would take time. His body wasn't better, it was just the beginning, and it would take time especially to get him walking and active. The broken bones had been healed, the Skele grow had done its job but they had been unused for so long it would exhaust him like it would a child just learning to walk.

Smiling grimly Severus got Harry into a more comfortable position and covered him with a nice green cover which usually lay at the bottom of his bed for cold nights. Severus then grabbed his potions book and began reading it. The potion he had wanted to brew with unicorn blood was well and truly forgotten. Thankfully it wasn't the letter that had been forgotten or Harry Potter would have already died and nothing would have mattered. Severus Snape would have lost his sister, his nephew and eventually killed himself with the guilt for not opening the letter sooner. The 'if's' and 'buts' would have killed him in the end and Dumbledore would have been furious. Of course in the end Voldemort would have won and the Wizarding world in England would have been enslaved under the rule of Lord Voldemort.

There we go want to see a trial with Dumbledore vrs Snape for Harry Potter? R&R