The Struggle, Chapter 3

Please remember to review! It means the world to me & I'll put out stories faster!

A/N: Just a shout out to everyone who has given a review so far, thank you so much! Once again, I'll publish a chapter every three to five days. I'm thinking of pairing Harry up with someone later (not Snape), what are you guys thinking? Or, who are you guys thinking of?

He glided away, wondering what would become of the Potter boy over the next several days.

It was around two in the morning, and Snape was sitting in his dungeon, rubbing the bridge of his nose and trying to focus on writing lesson plans for the upcoming year. He had sent Harry's trunks to the Headmaster's office, not quite sure what to do with them. After he dropped off three different colored potions to Poppy, who was still taking notes on various scars on the Harry's body, he sulked down to his dungeon to get some work done.

Unfortunately for Snape, it was hard to get any work done. His thoughts kept lingering back to Potter, and even three stories under where the Hospital wing was, he could occasionally hear screams from the boy up above. Nightmares, he assumed, trying to get back to writing.

His mind drifted back to when he saw Harry's bruised chest, remembering all the scars and bruises. Snape cringed and absentmindedly traced a long scar that ran down his left hand, his mind continuing to wonder further and eventually delve into his own past...

–

Severus awoke with a startle several hours later, panting and sweating. He shook his head and looked at the clock across the room. Seven in the morning. Had he actually slept two hours? Either way, he was glad to be awake, his dreams weren't the most pleasant.

Severus knew he had to meet Potter and Dumbledore in the Hospital wing something this morning to figure out further plans for the boy's summer, as he would not be sent back to the Dursleys, and he could not stay at the castle for the rest of the time. Only Severus, Dumbledore, Poppy, and the regularly employed janitors were here. And Severus had plans of returning home later that day.

After a quick breakfast, Severus swiftly walked upstairs into the Hospital wing, where Harry was alone. He now had a blanket pulled over him and looked somewhat content. Severus conjured a chair beside the bed and picked up the chart on the dresser, reading what Poppy had written.

As he suspected, there was severe beatings across nearly his entire body. He had two broken ribs, a broken ankle, several fractured bones in his arm, and a variety of other sprained joints. Snape perused the page, seeing nothing he didn't suspect. He was, of course, shocked still. No one had suspected that any form of abuse would happen to The Boy Who Lived. Snape was about to put the paper down when his eyes stopped at the bottom of the page.

Possible sexual abuse noted.

He thrust the clipboard at the dresser and leaned back, rubbing his eyes. Sexual abuse? What all had the boy gone through in the past year? Snape heard a groan from the bed next to him as the boy's eyes flickered open. Snape made eye contact with him for several seconds before looking away.

"What do you want?" Harry grumbled. Snape looked back at him and tapped his fingers against his thigh. Unable to think up a simple rude comeback, he sighed and settled for a more complex response.

"Potter, why, dare I ask, did you not tell someone about this? Are you too dim-witted to understand that what you have gone through his considered serious abuse? Did you not think to let anyone at the castle know about this? Or perhaps write it in a letter?" Harry let out a laugh and sat up, glaring at Snape.

"You think it's that easy? Just to walk up to any Professor and say 'Oh, yes, I'm being brutally abused by my aunt and uncle'? And, if you must be so nosy, they checked my outgoing mail before I sent it," Harry replied, his lips formed into a bit of a sneer. Snape recognized it as something he himself would do.

"Professor, if I would have told you, would you have believed me? The great Harry Potter, being abused? Or just seeking more attention? Oh ho, he hasn't been in the Prophet for a whole week, must just want another article!" Harry nearly shouted, mimicking Snape. The Professor stood up, withdrew his wand, and pointed it viciously at the boy's scar.

"You will not address me in such a matter! I am your teacher, even during summer! You could have told anyone, not just me!" Snape shouted, pressing his wand against the scar with a fair amount of pressure.

"You don't get it, you git!" Harry yelled, sitting up even further and reaching across the bed to grab his wand on the table, "You don't get it and you never will!"

"EXPELLIARMUS!" Snape yelled, and Harry's wand flew across the room, crashing into Hedwig's cage, who hooted irritably.

"You are just like your father! Rude, arrogant, disrespectful, ignorant, useless!" Snape spat at the last word, pressing his wand harder against Harry's forehead and cupping his other hand around Harry's neck. He didn't do it very hard, just enough to get the point across. Harry froze and his eyes became dark and haunted.

"P-please...Prof-proffesor...don't...don't hurt me...please...I'm sorry...p-lease..." Harry begged, trying to swallow the ball in his throat to prevent further embarrassment. Snape's jaw dropped slightly as he removed his wand from Harry's head and pulled his hand from his throat as though he were touching fire.

Harry sat quietly as the Professor backed up a few inches, staring curiously at Harry. "I-I—didn't..." he started, his mouth open widely, but was interrupted by Professor Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey entering the room. Harry quickly looked down to wipe a few tears from his eyes, took a deep breath, and looked back up.

Dumbledore's eyes had the usual twinkle as he walked into the room, talking under his breath with Madam Pomfrey. He rose his head to meet Harry's eyes and smiled brightly.

"Hello, Harry. You are looking much better than yesterday," he remarked. Harry forced a small smile and then looked away. Dumbledore sat on the edge of his bed, grabbing the clipboard on the nightstand and surveying it quickly.

"Ah, yes, yes, oh?" he stopped at the bottom of the page and looked up at Severus and Madam Pomfrey, who was trying to get Harry to swallow several multicolored potions. Harry spat each one out and dry heaved for quite some time before Dumbledore tried to speak again.

"Harry, would you like to talk about anything?" Dumbledore asked, setting the clipboard back down and looking directly at Harry, who was now drinking a pink potion that tasted somewhat like cotton candy. He shook his head side to side and continued drinking.

"Alas, you will have to talk to us eventually, but perhaps now is not the time. Poppy, Severus, a word outside, please," Dumbledore stood up and glided out of the room, followed quickly by Snape and Madam Pomfrey. Harry closed his eyes and before he knew it, the pink potion was rushing through his body and he felt very, very tired...

–

Outside the room, Severus leaned against a wall as Dumbledore sighed and rubbed his temples. Madam Pomfrey was flipping through charts, looking up occasionally to see if Dumbledore was going to say something of importance. Eventually, the older man cleared his throat.

"Harry cannot stay at the castle this summer. He will either need to be found a replacement home immediately or go back to the Dursleys. I spoke with them this morning and they would be willing to take Harry back-" Dumbledore was cut off by a loud gasp from Snape.

"Sir, how can you even think to send the boy back to his aunt and uncle? Did you not see the same chart I did?" snarled Snape.

"I did, Severus. I spoke with the Ministry as well, they said that unless Harry is found a suitable, approved home by this evening, he will be sent back to the Dursleys until a home is found. We cannot keep students unattended in the Castle," Dumbledore reminded him slowly.

There was a looming silence as Snape wrapped his mind around everything. "Can Poppy not stay at the Castle and look after Potter? Or perhaps you?" Dumbledore offered a soft smile, but his eyes were full of sorrow.

"I have the job of preparing the castle for next year, and would not have the time to watch over the boy. Poppy, I believe you are leaving for a vacation to Germany tomorrow, am I correct?" Dumbledore asked. Madam Pomfrey nodded quickly, not looking up from her charts.

Dumbledore dismissed Madam Pomfrey back to the Hospital ward to further check on Harry. He and Severus stood across from each other, staring blankly into each others eyes. Severus could sense that Dumbledore had an idea brewing.

"Perhaps, Severus, Harry could spend the remainder of the summer at your property. Only a few weeks to recover, then we could find him a proper home for next summer. I know your Manor is equipped with a recovery room, which Potter desperately will need in order to fully repair his body," said Dumbledore. Severus twitched a bit.

"With all due respect, Potter and I do not get along, the mere idea of him living at the same house as I..." Severus's voice trailed off, but his mind stayed focus. As much as he knew Potter needed a place to recover, he did not like the boy much at all. Living with him, feeding him, and supporting him for several weeks during his holiday? Severus frowned at the idea of it.

"Is that a no? Severus, regarding your own past, you know how important it is to have a stable environment after traumatic events like this. Your can brew the proper potions, make sure he takes them on time, watch over him-"

"-You want me to waste my holiday playing a father in Potter's life?" Severus nearly shouted. "I have nothing in common with the boy! We are polar opposites!"

Dumbledore sighed and walked a few steps away from Severus, and then back, pacing slowly. "You have much, much more in common than you think, Severus. Do it for Lily," Dumbledore whispered. Snape drew his wand quickly and pointed it at Dumbledore.

"DO NOT BRING HER INTO THIS!" Dumbledore stood calmly. His eyes twinkled and he had almost no reaction to Snape's wand held inches from his face. "Severus, he has her eyes. Her innocent eyes. Do you not see her when you look at him?"

Severus's hand shook as he pulled the wand away, slipping it back into his pocket. "Of course I see her," his murmured. The corners of Dumbledore's lips curled upwards into a half-smile. "Will you, then?"

Severus pondered it for several moments. The idea of having Potter living in his house, eating his food, sleeping his one of his bedrooms, was painful enough. Then, he would have to observe Potter daily, prepare him potions, set bedtimes and punishments, and act as a father to the boy. This idea was even worse. The boy would probably wreck the house and not listen to a word he said anyway.

Then, Severus thought of Lily. He thought of her long hair, the way she smelt of roses and honey, the way her gums showed when she was laughing. He was her son, her flesh, her blood. He remembered the last time he saw her, the last time he held her, the last time they...he flashed his mind away from that memory, feelings that he preferred not to have building up in his stomach.

"Yes, sir. I will," Snape replied softly. Dumbledore nodded sympathetically and patted Severus on the shoulder before walking away. Right before he reached the end of the hall, he turned and looked back at Severus.

"Oh, Severus, I also assume you will be routinely talking to the boy and trying to get him to open up? His things will be sent to your home immediately. Good afternoon," Dumbledore walked away quickly before Snape could reject to the 'talking to the boy' part.

Severus sighed and leaned against the wall, rubbing the bridge of his nose. How was he supposed to care for a boy whom he despised? Whom every time he looked at, saw Lily? How was he supposed to look at him all day, for several weeks? Severus tried to clear his thoughts as he walked back into the Hospital ward, preparing to tell Harry about his new housing arrangements.

Harry lied on his bed, sleeping calmly. His hair was scattered across the pillow and his feet were hanging off the bed. Oddly enough, the boy seemed to have grown several inches over the short span of this summer. Snape rose his wand lazily and flicked it at Harry, who awoke with a startle, then glared at Snape.

"Couldn't possibly just poke me? Or even a shove?" Harry grumbled in a deep voice.

"It does not please me to pass along this information, Potter, but you will be released this evening and staying at my house for the remainder of the summer. After this summer, we will find you a more permanent place to live," Snape said calmly. Harry sat upright almost instantly and began yelling.

"YOUR HOUSE? WHY WOULD I WANT TO STAY WITH YOU? WRITE TO RON! WRITE TO HERMIONE!" he yelled furiously. Snape's eyes ignited with anger.

"Potter, do you think for one second I had a choice in this? Do you think I want you living at my house for the remainder of the summer? Do you think, for even one second, I will enjoy this? Get your stupid, empty head out of your arse and think before you speak!" Snape shouted back, gripping the end of his bed so hard that his knuckles turned paper white.

Harry sat back in defeat, folding his arms and staring Snape dead in the eye. He did not want to leave the Castle. The Castle was a place where he felt safe, not at his least favorite Professor's house. Prefer to be at the Dursleys, then? He thought. Harry sighed.

"When we will be leaving, sir?" he murmured, not taking his eyes off Snape, who stared back painfully, cocking his head slightly to the side.

"Be dressed and ready by seven this evening," Snape replied, noting that Harry was still only wearing his boxers with a sheet pulled half way up his chest, revealing some of the deep scars that even magic could not take away.

Snape stared at Harry for a few seconds longer, taking in his eyes, before looking away quickly and beginning to walk away.

"Um, sir? I-I have no clothes," Harry called after him. Snape stopped and turned around, raising an eyebrow. "Well, you see, uh, Madam Pomfrey threw mine away, she said they were much too large and, well, pretty, uh...blood stained..." Harry whispered the last two words so quietly that Snape barely heard him.

Snape quickly turned around and pulled out his wand, flicked it once, and a pair of clothes appeared at the end of Harry's bed, folded neatly in a pile. He turned and looked at Harry again, who was studying his fingernail beds quite intensely.

"Thank you, sir," Harry murmured very quietly, not looking up to meet Snape's eyes. Snape left the room without another word, walking quickly down the hall, trying to keep his mind clear. You just clothed the boy. How fatherly, Severus, a voice in the back of his head said sarcastically. Snape stormed into his office, slamming the door behind him.

–

Several hours later, Harry lied in nearly the same position, having only moved with Madam Pomfrey insisted on applying a healing salve to him. He had dumped the sleep potion in the trash, having too many thoughts to even think about sleep. Looking at the clock across the room, it was nearing seven o'clock, when he would leave to live with Snape for the rest of the summer.

Harry grimaced at the thought. Living with Snape? The man would probably not be much better than the Dursleys if you took away the beating. He would probably be assigned to studying potions all hours of the day, doing extra credit, just so Snape could sit around and insult him for a few extra weeks before school began.

At seven sharp, Snape glided into the room, to find Harry sitting at the edge of the bed. He was dressed, but didn't look much better than when they had arrived. His face was pale, his body was still weak, and when he arose to stand, he still had a limp and winced slightly at every step.

"When did you last take a potion for pain, Mr. Potter?" Snape asked nonchalantly, grabbing the clipboard off Harry's nightstand and reading Madam Pomfrey's dismissal summary. She had written out which potions to give him, at what times he was to take them, which lotions and healing salves he would need, where he would need to apply them, and at what times, along with a variety of other 'in case this happens' information.

"Uh, several hours ago, I think," Harry replied. Snape sighed.

"You were supposed to have one before we Apparate," Snape hissed back. Harry shuddered at the word Apparate, which was he new least favorite activity.

"Sorry, I don't think Madam Pomfrey brought me anything...," he said, not looking up at Snape, who simply stretched his arm out.

"I will give you something once we get there, Apparation seems to dull the effect of potions anyway. Take my arm," Snape said. Harry reached out and hesitantly took Snape's arm. Snape could feel the boy's hand shaking against him.

"On the count of three, yes?" Harry nodded feebly, still staring at the ground.

"Don't be so nervous, Potter, it will be over soon enough, ok?" Snape murmured, looking down where the boy was. Harry could hear concern in his voice, which made him shift awkwardly. He could only nod.

"One, two, three." On three, Harry felt a familiar pulling and twisting, his stomach doing back flips, and then they hit the ground. Snape absorbed the impact on the balls of his feet, while once again, Harry's knees buckled and hit the ground. Snape sighed in annoyance.

Harry tried to steady his breathing, his stomach still threatening to empty itself. He closed his eyes and breathed through his nose, staying there for about a minute before opening his eyes. He saw a hand reach down in front of him, and he took it, getting pulled back to his feet slowly. He released the hand quickly.

"Thanks," said Harry, blushing out of embarrassment and shock. He had Apparated twice now, and the thought of doing it again made his stomach flip. He tried to think of something else, which was easy, now that there was a huge mansion in front of him. Harry's jaw dropped a bit.

"Welcome," Snape said with a smirk.