Sorry this is so late, but I lost internet and then I forgot. :/ Due to voting and requests I will be adding some slash to this story so if you don't like then don't read. Thanks again for letting me know what you guys thought! :)
Disclaimer: I do not, nor will I ever, own Harry Potter.
Severus and Harry both sat down opposite each other at the table and began putting food on their plates. He watched as Harry barely put anything on his plate and tried to eat as neatly as possible. Severus remembered that while at the Dursley's he had spilled some peas on the table and had been sentenced to the room without eating. He realized now that Harry had probably suffered that same consequence several times. He felt anger rise up inside of him, honestly, this is a teenage boy, he should be eating more than an elephant and as sloppy as a troll. Severus flicked his wand and the food scooped more of itself from the dishes and plopped onto Harry's plate. Harry looked startled for a moment and looked to Snape with confusion.
"Sir?"
"Eat."
Harry nodded and ate almost everything on his plate. He felt blissfully full by the end of the meal and was feeling a bit tired. Once Severus noticed Harry was finished he decided to start with the talk that they would have to have eventually.
"Do you know what abuse is?" Severus asked flatly. Might as well not beat around the bush.
"I'm not abused." Harry replied quickly. He blushed, Snape already knew what happened there was no use denying it, but he always had to deny it. A teacher suspected once and tried to get involved. Things only got worse for him after that.
'Denial.' Severus thought to himself.
"I did not ask if you were, I asked if you are aware of what it is."
"Yes, it's when you regularly get hit by people you're supposed to trust." Harry tried to make it clear so Snape wouldn't make fun of him like in class.
"I suppose, however it is not just physical. For example lets say, hypothetically of course, that your aunt and uncle hit you and leave marks, that's physical abuse. But lets say that they also call you names like freak and they hurt you on the inside, that's emotional abuse." Severus saw Harry frown slightly at this.
"Lets say they tell you your not worth anything and that you don't deserve good things, and after a while you start to believe them, that's mental abuse. The last type of abuse is sexual abuse, and that is when you are used for their own sexual needs. There are smaller forms of sexual abuse like being touched anywhere without wanting it and all forms of abuse must be reported, no matter how small they may seem." He concluded. Harry's frown had only deepened with thought as Severus continued and now Harry sat silently trying to think of ways to justify that this was not abuse, but he couldn't think of any.
Severus cleared his throat to gain his attention. "Now I will ask you, and don't even think about telling me anything but the truth, are you abused?"
Harry thought a moment more, this was humiliating Snape already knew and admitting it would only give him an excuse to be as horrible as he was in class, but there was nothing he could do. He would just have to deal with it, Snape was as bad as the Dursleys when it came to insulting him and he had been able to ignore them.
"I think I might be." Harry admitted quietly and waited for the condescending voice to antagonize him.
It didn't come. Instead, Snape just waited until he looked up.
"In what ways?" he asked.
"All except the sexual abuse I guess."
Severus nodded, satisfied with the answer. "If you wish to talk about it then I am here to listen."
Harry was surprised by that, Snape sounded honest and it didn't seem like he was insulting him. No one had ever 'been there' for him, even if this was just to talk, it was still the first time he could possibly rely on someone and tell them his secret, not even Ron and Hermione knew about this. Still though, he couldn't bring himself to tell him about it. He'd always wished that he could tell someone, but what if Snape was just saying that to seem like he cared, but really couldn't care less, or worse, what if he agreed with his relatives and decided that it wasn't that bad after all and sent him back. Harry gulped, no he couldn't go back, absolutely not. He shook his head quickly.
"No, thank you, but no."
Severus nodded. They never wanted to talk about it. He had always been the one to deal with any students that were suspected to having been abused, he was just better at it than the other teachers, and it was always the same. Eventually some of them would come around and talk, but sometimes they would find someone else to confide in.
"If you change your mind, my offer will always stand."
Harry nodded. He probably didn't mean that, but it was still nice to hear.
"You may take your books to your room and continue to read them until you go to bed." Severus suggested.
"Thanks, I think I will." And with that Harry quickly left the table and headed for the library, then to his room. 'My room?' Harry thought to himself. Even at the Dursleys he hadn't had his own room, it was Dudly's, all he'd had was a cupboard and now he had a room, and a large room at that.
Why was Snape doing this for him, 'Doesn't he hate me?' Harry asked himself. Harry didn't exactly hate Snape, but he hadn't been his favorite teacher and he knew he was far from Snape's favorite student. Harry inwardly sighed, 'He probably just pitties me, in about a week he should be sick of me again.' He told himself.
Harry crawled onto the large fluffy bed and flopped down starfish style. His body was still a little soar and it took him surprisingly little effort to fall asleep.
Severus sat down heavily in his chair. Harry wasn't very open, but that would take time and he would need patience. He was prepared to take as much time as was needed to uncover exactly what those monsters did to him.
Severus's musings were cut short as his fire flaired green and a blond teen stepped out with a suitcase. Another taller blond gracefully stepped out with similar luggage.
"Lucius? To what do I owe this spontaneous visit?"
"Hello Severus. Don't worry, I'll explain. Only I'd like to set these bags down first."
Severus watched as they headed up the main staircase toward the wing they usually used when visiting... The one Harry was in.
"Actually, I'm doing some work on those rooms, I'm afraid you'll have to take the west wing." Draco nodded solemnly and turned to go in the other direction. Severus looked quizzically at Lucius, but he just shook his head and followed Draco. Once their bags were all put in their rooms they all continued to the nearest sitting room and Severus ordered their tea. Once they were settled Lucius began to explain.
"Narcissa is having some problems accepting a fact and until she does we cannot return. I'm terribly sorry to bother you here, but if the papers saw me renting a room they would have a field day." Severus nodded his understanding.
"Lucius, you are my best friend. It's no bother. May I ask what this 'fact' is?" He added after thinking about his friends wording.
"Only if Draco wishes me to." Lucius replied with a questioning look at his son.
Draco swallowed. "It's ok, you can tell uncle Sev." He said in a low voice. Lucius smiled at his son.
"Draco has had a recent... Epifany and Narcissa couldn't really handle it."
"And this revelation would be?"
"Draco, I think you should be the one to tell him."
Draco nodded at his father. "I'm gay, uncle Sev."
"I see." To be honest Severus had had his suspicions.
"That's it? Just an 'I see' nothing else?" Draco asked sounding irritated.
"To be honest I have had... suspicions."
Draco gawked at this. "How could you know before I did?" He yelled indignantly.
Severus's lips turned upwards slightly.
"Don't worry I'm sure your mother will come around." Severus said rather than replying.
"Thanks uncle Sev." Draco said, and to be honest, he did feel slightly better.
The three Slytherins talked for a bit longer before heading off to their respective rooms to sleep.
Draco had just finished getting ready for bed and settled down under the covers when he remembered that the last time he was here he had left his favorite pair of slippers in the other room. He frowned to himself. If he wanted to use those slippers tomorrow morning, then he would have to go and get them now. With that he rolled out of bed and made his way back to the other wing.
Draco walked down the long, familiar cooridores and stopped at 'his' room. He frowned to himself, he hadn't seen any signes of construction yet. 'Oh well uncle Sev must have a reason for it.' He thought to himself. With that, he walked back towards the other wing, but he stopped outside a guest room that had always been empty. He could have sworn he'd just heard someone shout from inside it. After hesitating for a full minute, Draco pushed the door open and stepped inside. What he saw surprised him.
Under the covers was a messy head of black hair that he could swear only belonged to one person. He lightly walked over and noticed him thrashing and almost whining in his sleep. Draco was almost next to the bed now and just then Potter snapped awake and sat bolt upright in bed.
"AAHHHHHH!" He yelled upon waking up to see a blond something standing right next to him.
"AAAHHHHHHHH!" Draco yelled at the same time, too surprised by the raven haired boy's shout to do anything but shout back.
Just then Severus came hurrying through the door, wand in hand. He could have groaned when he saw the two frantic boys in front of him. Instead, he just ushered Draco out quickly and told him to wait until morning and he would explain.
Draco could only nod dumbly as the door closed behind him and he began his walk back to the other wing. 'The hell?' He thought to himself, 'Why's Potter here.' Once Draco made it back to his room he slid back under his covers and tried not to think too much so he could sleep. The sooner he slept, the sooner he could figure out what was going on, but one thought seemed to replay in his mind until he finally fell asleep. 'Why had he seen tears on Potters face?'
That's all for now. I promise the next wait won't be so long. By the way this won't consist of Drarry, just a friendship and it won't consist of Snarry or LuciusxSeverus either. Nothing like that. Sirius will be making an appearance, hopefully in the next chapter and I really appreciate you guys sticking with this story. I have NEVER abandoned a story before and I NEVER will. Also the idea of this story is open to pretty much everyone so if you have an idea for a story similar to this, I encourage you to write it! If you do, leave me the name or something so I can read it. I love reading good Harry Potter stories. Even if they aren't similar. :)