Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns all. ALL.
A/N: I have finally discovered where I am going with this thing. (Also known as…the plot). Hurray! So people, know that now I really am going somewhere with this.
Chapter 14
Severus stared down at the horrible essay, trying to focus. The handwriting was simply awful, and Severus checked the top to make sure that it was not written by Potter. He suppressed a swear when his mind suddenly returned to the topic he was trying to evade.
Harry James Potter.
A couple of weeks ago Severus would have said with utter certainty that Potter was a bully. A day ago he would have said Potter was used to being worshipped. But now, he was almost sure that Potter was not the bully, but the bullied. The look on his face, when he had said he was used to bullies, had been sincere, and resigned. Exactly the face all bullied children wore. Exactly the face Severus wore. Bullies did that to a person, made them give up a part of their spirit. And although Potter still had a lot of spirit, it was clear that bullies had taken part of it away from him.
And Severus did not take bullies lightly.
Perhaps that was why, after running to Voldemort, he had run right back. True, part of it was because Lily's life was at stake, and he was content to allow Dumbledore to think that was the only reason, but it wasn't. The other reason he ran right back was because the Dark Side was just as full of bullies as the Light Side was. Severus was surrounded by bullies, whichever side he chose. And the only reason he had run to the Dark Side was to be rid of bullies. When that didn't work, he came back to the Light Side.
At least on the Light Side he could defend himself against the bullies without worrying about being Avada Kedavra-ed.
He shook himself and got back to the essay. He needed to get this grading done, or else he would likely lose his job. And though he loved to grumble about it, he really did enjoy his job. There was always one student who wasn't a dunderhead, and Severus loved enriching the one person's life.
A knock sounded at the door and Severus set the essay aside. Clearly tonight was not a night for grading.
"Come in," He said. The door opened and his godson walked through, the Boy Who Lived close behind. "Hello Draco."
"Severus," Draco nodded, apparently believing that he did not need to address him formally in front of Potter as he did in front of the rest of the students.
"What can I help you with?" Severus asked, glancing suspiciously at Potter, who was quiet in the background. He couldn't have possibly been hurt again in such a short time period, could he?
"Harry has something he needs to show you," Draco announced, grabbing Potter's hand and towing him forward, placing the hand in Severus'. Severus had an odd flash of the tradition of the father placing his daughter's hand in the husbands at the wedding and suppressed a gag. Not exactly what he wanted to be thinking about with Potter's hand in his.
"It's nothing, really," Potter said, trying to pull his hand out of Severus'.
"Turn his hand around," Draco advised, his silver eyes flashing. Severus did so and carefully read the carved words with thinly veiled anger.
"Who did this?" Severus demanded.
"Umbridge," Potter said nervously. It took a moment for Severus to realize that he was nervous because of him, and he gently released Potter's hand.
"And you saw fit to tell no one?" Severus asked.
"What would it change?" Potter asked plaintively.
Yes, Severus decided. That was definitely the attitude of someone who had been bullied.