Hey guys! Sorry about the long wait but i was writing exams. I just want to so thank you for your reviews, they are really encouraging, and thanx also to Melissa for her beta'ing. So heres the next bit, enjoy!

Chapter 9

Harry was staring at his half-filled plate filled with total concentration, not that he was interested in the food, but he needed something to look at while he thought.

What was Snape going to do? He had expected malicious remarks and things along that line but last night they hadn't come. He had been thinking of a way out of the mess he'd made of it, but there didn't seem to be one. He couldn't obliterate the man and wasn't suicidal enough to try giving the Potion Master a potion to make him forget. Snape would guess it from a mile away.

Why did he care? That was another frustrating part of the mystery, why did Snape care? It wasn't like he owed Harry anything. The man had hated him for all five years of his schooling career, possibly more.

He looked up as some one tugged at his sleeve, making himself sit still and not react. Seeing Ron and Hermione standing next to him, he guessed it was time to go to there first double: Charms. After that it was Potions. If there was one down side to taking fewer subjects it was that you had to go to more lessons on your chosen subjects, they now saw Snape more often then most students liked.

He got up and followed them out the great hall.

…..

Severus' eyes followed Potter out the hall. He had been watching him closely, noting how the boy ate hardly any food and how he interacted with people at his table. And his conclusion was Potter was quite the actor. Aside from slipping into a daze every now and again, which earned him an elbow in the ribs from Weasley, he would never have guessed the child had suffered abuse. Who would? But Potter occasionally dropped the façade, and if you knew what to look for you could see it. He wondered idly how long it had been going on for. Sighing to himself, he got up and left as well. He had a class of second years to scare witless and a few other things to prepare.

(That evening)

Harry was once more walking toward the dungeon classroom, tense and agitated. He didn't know what Snape was planning and part of him was already telling him to run. But he was determined he wouldn't fall apart and if the evil git tried something he could deal with it. He patted his pocket to make sure both potions were there. He had taken to carrying the second as a precaution.

All of his bravado seemed to desert him as soon as he reached the door.

Taking a few more calming breaths and trying to compose himself, he knocked and entered on hearing a terse command.

…..

Severus watched the boy as he walked into the room and stopped a distance from the desk he was sitting at. Potter was watching him blankly, but he could see the boy was wary. He stood abruptly, causing Potter to step back involuntarily, one hand in his wand pocket. Frowning at this, Severus moved toward his office door, motioning the boy to follow him. As soon as he was in, the Potions Master closed the door behind them and drew out his wand.

…..

Harry backed away, he didn't know what Snape was planning but it couldn't be good. He quickly reached for his own wand, dragging it from his pocket, wildly looking for a ways to escape. There weren't any. Snape was in front of the only visible door. He was trapped. The man slashed his wand downward…

…..

Severus slashed his wand downward and muttered under his breath, invoking the privacy wards on his office. He was aware of Potter out of the corner of his eye, looking around wildly, wand in hand. Slowly he turned, ready to throw up a shield should the boy try anything foolish. Calmly he walked to his desk, keeping Potter in his peripheral vision.

'Sit down Potter, amulet off' he said, unable to keep the slightly mocking tone out his voice. When you had lived as a created persona for so long, you started to grow into it. Potter, after what Snape thought to be a self-debate, complied.

….

Feeling somewhat idiotic for over reacting so much but still nervous of the mans' intentions, Harry slowly sat but made no move to take off the small pendant. Snape took a seat opposite him.

….

Severus glanced at Potter, collecting his thoughts, before beginning. All the drama and they haven't even spoken yet, damn Gryffidor. His Slytherins' never gave him so much trouble, but then most Slytherins did not fear him the way the other houses did.

'Take it off Potter.'

'N-no… sir.' He could see the boy was trying (albeit not entirely succeeding) to keep to his 'normal' front.

'Potter I am trying to help you. I can not try to heal you blindly, nor will I try. Off. Now.'

Potter looked up; Severus could see the defiance written all over his face. But he could also see the somewhat surprised, uneasy and slightly calculative expression behind it too. Potter's eyes flicked around the room, rested on him briefly, to the door and back to him again. Severus could almost see him thinking.

The boy fingered the chain around his neck for a moment and slowly, without looking at him, pulled it over his head.

..…

Harry slowly pulled the chain over his head and slipped the amulet into his pocket; Snape had already seen what lay beneath. It was pointless to pretend he hadn't, but he felt horribly vulnerable without. He resented the fact that the teacher thought he could barge into his life and assume control. He had managed just fine on his own in the past.

Snape slowly reached down and drew a purple vile out of his pocket, setting it on the table between them. Harry stared at it.

"This is Ossis-paean, a draught which will straighten and heal any damaged bone in the drinker's body. It is extremely potent Potter. It..." Harry however was not listening. No, he was far to occupied with tight ball of fear in his chest. It had just occurred to him that Snape, being the Potions master, was obviously going to use a potion to heal him, which had some difficulties. And if Snape found out about his potions… Harry remembered perfectly well how angry Snape had been when he thought it was him stealing ingredients, he remembered Snape's threats…

"Potter!" Snape snapped, nearly startling Harry out of his chair completely. He clamped down on the fear which was threatening to overwhelm him. Snape wasn't going to find out he told himself sternly, he wouldn't let it happen. He focused on his keeping his breathing even and looking calm.

There was a knock on the door.

……

Potter's hand grabbed the amulet, and got it on quicker than Severus would have thought humanly possible. He cursed himself for forgetting about Lupin. He'd been so distracted by Potter that he hadn't remembered that the lycanthrope needed to collect his Wolfsbane potion. He got up, walked around the desk and to a cupboard near the back of the room. Potter had paled considerably and Severus could see the hand inside his robes, reaching for his wand.

"Calm down and shield your mind Potter" This as he walked to the door, without so much as a backward glance to check what the boy was doing. He opened the door…

….

Harry quickly erected his mental shields, trying to keep his emotions hidden behind them. He gripped his wand tightly and watched the Potions Master open the door…

…..

"Good evening Severus" The man looked horribly haggard, with dark rings under his eyes and a slightly grey complexion.

"Lupin" he replied tersely, handing him the smoking goblet. The said man seemed to stiffen ever so slightly as he looked past him.

"All right Harry?"

"Ya" This with a small half smile, 'Evening Professor".

Severus saw Potter was back behind his facade, standing straight, body only slightly tensed and wand loosely by his side. The only thing giving his game away was the fear that hung around him. Lupin looked at him with a small frown, his eye's asking for an explanation.

"Shield Potter" He said sharply. "It is merely remnant emotions from Potter's memories." He did not like having to explain himself, but if Lupin was worried he would, no doubt, go to Dumbledore and that could lead to…. problems.

"Will that be all?" This to the lycanthrope.

"Yes, thank you Severus, bye Harry."

"Cheers Professor." Severus shut the door and turned back to his student. The boy stood tensely, watching him carefully. He stared pointedly at the amulet until Potter gingerly took it off, keeping wary eyes on him.

"The vial Potter, is behind you. Swallow all of it or else you will not heal properly." Severus waited, but the boy made no move to get the potion…

…..

Harry was trying desperately to think of a way out of it, but nothing came to mind. He could feel the fear rising up in his chest again, and again he fought it down. He couldn't take the potion…

"What are you waiting for Potter?" Snape was becoming impatient. Harry placed a hand on the desk to steady himself, realising that he was started to shake…

…..

Severus started to walk to his desk, intent on getting the potion himself if Potter wasn't going to listen. As soon as Potter saw he was coming closer, the boy tried to back away, only to hit his desk. Severus noticed Potter was beginning to shake, his eyes were wide and dilating with terror.

"I-I-I don't n-need it, I'm f-fine." His hand appeared to have a death grip on his desk.

"You are not fine Potter." He said quietly, hoping to calm Potter, as he moved forwardly slowly.

"N-no, please y-you don't…" When Potter realised what he was doing, his voice took on a slightly hysterical note. "I-I didn't mean, no-"

…..

Harry realised Snape had him trapped against the desk. He also realised dully, in the back of his mind, that he was panicking. But his fear was choking his thoughts. Snape would be beyond furious if he found out, Merlin only knew what he would do to him. He knew exactly what would happen to him if it were his uncle. Unbidden the memories came back to him… Snape moved. He ran.

The boy panicked, bolting for the door. Severus knew Harry wouldn't be able to get out, as the door was spelled to open only when he allowed. But the boy needed to learn he couldn't run from this.

….

Harry felt the arms grab him from behind. He lashed out desperately, struggling as violently as he could against the man who held him. The man cursed as he managed to kick him hard. Suddenly Snape let go, causing Harry to lose balance. The man caught him again just as quickly and span him round, facing away, using one arm to lock his arm behind his back and holding him with the other…

….

Potter struggled frantically against his hold. "Stop it" Potter only fought harder, flinging his small weight against his grip. Severus was more worried about the boy hurting himself rather than him. "What did I say last week Potter?" He spoke into his ear. The boy stopped, becoming rigid in his arms, trembling, his breathing ragged. "Here or-r the in-infirmary, s-sir"

"What else?"

"Y-you won't t-tell anyone"

"What else?"

"I-I don't k-know"

"What else Potter?"

"I don't k-know sir" The child started struggling again. Severus tightened his hold slightly.

"Think Potter" The boy was tiring, his thrashing weaker.

There was a pause and the struggling finally ceased.

"You won't hurt me." Came the near inaudible, broken whispered.

….

Harry stopped struggling hopelessly. He couldn't fight Snape, the man was too strong. Just like… no don't think about it! There was no point. He couldn't bring himself to believe Snape's words. He always got hurt, in the end.

….

Snape wondered what had set Potter off. Obviously the potion had something to do with it, but what? He thought back to all his observations of the boy, then decided to play it by air. He didn't let go of the boy just yet. "Potter why won't you take the potion?" He spoke quietly but the boy tensed in his arm again, Severus could feel his fear and desolation battling in his mind.

"I can't" he whispered.

"Why not?"

The boy just shook his head mutely. Snape could feel something hard and small pressing against his leg through Potter's robes. Vials perhaps? A flash of insight.

"Does it involve the blue potion you take?" Potter jerked as if Severus had hit him.

"I'll take that as a yes." He smirked slightly. Potter would make a terrible Slytherin, he gave too much away.

"What is it?"

"Pain killer" The boy said defeatedly

" Its name Potter"

"Brenston's Brew"

Severus was taken a back. That was an incredibly strong potion, how in the world did the boy get his hands on it? But then again it explained why Harry could still move. However something was beginning to dawn on him. The boy had obviously been taking the potion for a while, at least since the incident with the stairs... But why was he afraid? Although the potion was strong it was not illegal…His mind raced through all the possibilities and things he knew… Snape thought he had an inkling why he was so afraid. "How Potter, did you manage after our first occlumency lesson of the term?" He knew by the way the boy tensed in his arms and began panicking again that he had guessed correctly.

"I-I I'm s-sorry Sir, I didn't mean, I-I, it w-was a mista-"

"Calm down Potter." Snape cut him off before he could become hysterical again. The boy flinched, expecting, no doubt, to be hit. "What did you do?"

"I-I…." Potter took a deep breath, "I managed to get a potion to clear my system of any magical substances."

…..

"How?" Snape's voice had taken on a slight edge. Harry resigned himself to the fact he couldn't hide this from the Potions Master. He was not, however, prepared to get Dobby in trouble. The little elf didn't deserve to be punished.

"I got hold of a purging potion, s-sir."

"How Potter?"

"I-I… just did." He managed without faltering too much.

"And from where, Potter, did you manage to obtain such a potion?" The edge in Snape's voice was now so pronounced you could have sliced cheese with it. Harry nearly giggled at the mental picture. He had a tendency for inappropriate reactions, especially when he was scared.

"It w-was supposed to be from the im-infirmary s-sir… But it came from y-your office…" He braced himself for the anger sure to be coming, closing his eyes tightly and trying to still his shaking limbs.

…..

Potter was trembling slightly, hunched over as if he was waiting for Severus to strike him. While Severus was none to pleased in the least to find out the boy was responsible for the mess in his private stores, he knew it was not Harry who actually did it. The boy would have been incapacitated by that stage. He was, grudgingly, impressed at how Potter had coped, it was not something most students would manage. But none the less he would find out who the perpetrator was, just as he would find out what happened to the boy. But now was not the appropriate time.

"Do you have it here?"

"Y-yes sir."

The boy was still shaking, convinced he was going to hurt him. Severus shook his head to himself. The boy didn't believe him. Not that Severus, of all people, could blame him. He let go of Potter slowly, but kept himself in front of the door.

"Take it, then lay down and take this," he said, handing Potter the vial of Ossis-paean. As the boy complied, guiltily drinking the remains of the purging potion, Severus continued speaking, "Potter the Ossis-paean is going cause you to become unconscious." The boy looked up quickly, alarmed and stopped uncorking the vile. "Understand Potter that your damaged bones are going to re-break and set properly. As they re-break the bones are going to damage the tissue surrounding them. That means you will bleed internally. Your body is going to go into shock and it will be agonising, to say the least. Knocking the consumer out is the only option with this potion. I will not touch once you are out."

….

Harry did not like the idea of passing out. He didn't know if he wanted to put this amount of trust in the man, willing, or even if he could. But realising he did not have that many options, he uncorked the small purple vile and swallowed all of it in one go, watching the Potions Master carefully as he did.

The effect was almost immediate. His lids began to close although he tried not to let himself black out, regretting at the last moment his decision. It was useless. The darkness swallowed him.

Hey again guys. I just want to get some ideas on where this story is headed, so i need you to vote. Should Dumbledore be evil? Any other thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated, either drop me a review or send me an email (Its in my profile.) Thanx everyone ;-)