Chapter 12

Severus sat grading papers as he waited for Potter to pitch for their lesson. Monday evenings always involved dreadful amounts of marking, made tedious by the fact hardly any of the students had half a brain and apparently writing in their own words was far too much to ask. At least a quarter of the assignments in front of him had been copied straight out of a book. In fact Severus had been presented with the exact same paragraphs to mark so many times he could almost recite half the potions books in the library. It was pathetically depressing.

Finishing the last dismal essay and disgustedly crossing out the plagiarised sections, he stacked the lot neatly on his desk. He looked around his classroom idly. The cauldrons were stacked orderly against the back wall and shining cleanly in the light. Severus had had a few first years clean them in detention earlier. He drew his wand and flicked it languidly, moving the desks across the room and leaving a clearing in the middle of the room. Generally he preferred working in his office but he needed the space the classroom offered to teach Potter combat, although he didn't think they would really start today.

Severus steepled his fingers as he thought on his decision. He knew he would have to go carefully about teaching the boy. The child was flighty enough as it was. Anything to sudden would only damage the trust Severus needed him to give.

He was brought out of his thoughts with a hesitant knock on the door.

"Enter" he barked, gathering his thoughts together.

Potter walked in and stopped in what appeared to be becoming his customary spot, a little distance from Severus' desk. He gestured for the boy to take a seat.

…..

Harry walked carefully to the desk and sat has Snape gestured for him to do so. He has reminding himself of his Friday morning resolution. It had gotten him through the weekend; it would get him through this. He was not weak. He would find a way to make sure the man did not tell anyone. He was not going to flinch every time the Potion Master moved. He was strong damnit!

The man in question was watching him through dark, emotionless eyes. Harry was careful not to look straight back.

"Potter I have decided on a different approach to these lessons. I have spoken to the Headmaster" Harry's head shot up, Snape wouldn't have, he said- But his panicky thoughts were interrupted by the Potions Master "No Potter not about your… situation. In regards to our lessons. We've decided it would be beneficial to teach you hand to hand combat together with occlumency."

Harry relaxed a little, relief flooding through him, overriding the annoyance he felt at hearing they had been discussing him. That wasn't so bad. As long as his secret was still safe. The professor gave him a look before continuing.

"From today I will start teaching you physical combat. The objective is for you to try and maintain a shield around your mind throughout the session. While you have managed the basics of shielding in an extremely defensive situation, the point of this is endurance. You will start by maintaining a weak but constant shield and we'll increase its intensity has you become better at it. You will still practice at stopping me actively breaking into your mind at the ends of the lessons. Any questions?"

Harry was trying to take in all the information Snape was giving him. He was even more relieved when he realised what the man was saying. He wasn't going to spend the entire lesson trying to break into Harry's thoughts. Surely that could only be a good thing.

……

Severus was watching the emotions flitting across the boys face, somewhat amusedly. The boy was behind his mask again, he had been all weekend. If Severus hadn't seen what lay behind it he would almost have thought nothing was wrong with the boy. He wondered how much it cost him to act like nothing was.

Careful to keep his voice even he continued the lesson. "To start with you must put a shield around your mind." He paused as he felt the boy erecting one. "Do not make it so strong you can concentrate on nothing else. Good. Now stand up and walk from this side of the classroom and back." Potter looked up at him confused, his shield wavering almost immediately, but then complied. Severus could see he was hesitant to turn his back on him. As he walked Severus could feel how his shield faltered. "Concentrate Potter, keep the shield in place."

And so they carried on. Severus made him walk back and forth maintaining the shield. The boy was struggling to keep protecting his mind, but that might have been because he was constantly watching Severus out of the corner of his eye rather than inability. Every time Severus so much as shifted in his chair the boy would focus on him instead of occlumency. Severus was getting irritated that Potter would not concentrate properly, but he contained the snarky comments on the tip of his tongue. They would not help the situation.

After twenty minutes or so he gave the boy a break, motioning for him to take a seat again.

"Potter what is the purpose of this exercise?"

….

Harry looked up, thinking. Who knew why the man was making him walk in endless circles? It was frustrating if nothing else, compounded by the fact that he couldn't focus on Snape and his shield at the same time. But what really, really frustrated him was his inability to not concentrate on the Potions Professor. He had promised himself that he wouldn't be like this around the man. Why was it so hard?

"I don't know sir"

"Think Potter." Snape said witheringly, "Why? What purpose could it serve?"

Harry thought about it carefully, "Maybe to uhh… make me two things at once?"

"In a sense, yes." Snape steepled his fingers and watched Harry over them. "The purpose is for you to try sustain a shield while doing something else. As most things it becomes easier with practice. Once you have mastered this we shall practice it in combination with combat."

"Sir, when do I start learning combat?" Harry asked carefully. Now it made sense why Snape wanted to heal him. He didn't want an incapacitated student. The man in question was giving him a piercing look. Harry shifted uncomfortably.

"In our next lesson."

"When will that be sir?"

"Tomorrow evening"

….

Severus contemplated his next words carefully. The boy seemed calmer this evening, he had the whole weekend. Hopefully he would stay that way so Severus could talk to him. He felt the boy would relax more if he knew what was expected of him: abused children generally did and that was the sort he was used to working with. He regarded the child before continuing.

"Potter, as I said earlier I did not tell the Headmaster of your situation. However if he isn't to know then you will abide by my conditions." The boy's head came up, eyes wide. Severus could feel his anxiety growing already. Carefully Severus "You will continue taking the potions to heal your injuries and get healthy again. You will allow me to help you in your current situation, and you will tell me if you are hurt again. Lastly you will not wear your amulet when you are in here or my office with the exception of Potions class. Do I make myself clear?"

…..

Harry's hand gripped his amulet unconsciously. He did not want Snape's help. He didn't even want the man to know about his 'situation' as he so carefully put it. How had he let this happen?

"S-sir." Harry hated how his voice sounded so thin, "I a-appreciate the help you have given me with the potions and everything, but I don't need your help. I'm fine. Nothings wrong. I got into a bad situation once this summer, but I'm all right now." By this stage Harry was standing up, preparing to leave.

"Sit down Potter." Snape said levelly.

"I don't want your help" he snapped as he turned to leave, his chin tilted defiantly. Inside he felt sick.

"So you would not mind if Dumbledore knew then?"

Harry stopped abruptly. He had known it would happen. The bastard was going to blackmail him. And there was nothing he could do about it.

…..

"Honestly Potter, I thought you would know better by now than to lie to me." Severus said smoothly. "Surely even you must have realised by now that it does not work."

The boy turned round warily, eyes watching him intently.

"I may be many things Potter but stupid is not one of them. If that was all you would have sort help at the infirmary at the start of the term instead of going to such length to try to hide it."

"I was embarrassed, that's all." The child ground out.

"Sit down." Severus said sharply, and waited for the boy to comply. "If you continue to lie to me, you will find the consequences most unpleasant." At that the boy paled, and swallowed thickly. Snape cursed himself, this was not helping. How easy it was to fall into the trap of how things had been. He took a breath before continuing in a quieter voice. "Potter, you are not 'all right'. 'All right' people do not panic when their teachers try touch them nor do they flinch whenever their friends knock into them. Nor throw themselves down staircases." Potter looked surprised at him, cheeks flushing. "Yes I know about that." He said, fighting the urge to smirk. "You are anything but all right"

"I'm managing just fine"

"Are you?" Snape asked, abruptly moving his arm. Potter flinched, then looked down again. For a moment Severus thought the boy was trying to hide tears, but looking again he realised not. In fact Potter looked angry if anything.

"What do you want?" He bit out, glaring at him. Definitely angry.

"Nothing." He said calmly

"Of course you do. You wouldn't be helping me otherwise. Do you expect me to believe your doing it of the goodness in your heart? After showing me nothing but contempt and hatred for 5 years?" The boy was shaking now, although from anger or fear or what Severus was unsure.

…..

Harry stood shaking, hands on the desk, not even realising he had stood up. He tried to hold onto the anger that had suddenly seized him, trying to mask the fear that was starting to rise in him againHe managed. Barely. He had to make the man understand is help was not needed nor wanted. He had to made Snape not want to help him.

Snape just kept watching him over his steepled hands, seemly unmoved by his outburst.

"Potter," He spoke quite calmly, pensively even, "I will not deny it, I did not like you. At all. You reminded me of everything I hated school. But I am offering you help now." Harry snorted, but his teacher merely raised an eyebrow before continuing. "Do you think me so hard hearted and cruel I would ignore you? Whatever happened to you?"

……

From the look on Potter's face, evidently he indeed did. Ah well, it was true he had not shown the boy much that would change such an opinion. "Even if I were, I could not. All teachers at Hogwarts take an oath Potter, that they shall look after the students best interests. To help ensure students are not harmed by their teachers."

"It hasn't worked very well though has it?" The boy asked derisively. "Quirrel, Barty Crouch Jr. and Umbridge managed just fine."

"No system is foolproof Potter. There are always ways to bend the rules. As I'm sure you are fully aware of." Potter at least had the grace to blush. "And as usual it works in your favour. I need only tell the Headmaster if I do not deal with it myself."

"So you are going to 'deal' with me then?" He spat. Severus forced himself not to snap back. He suspected the boy's anger was nothing more than a twisted defence but he still had to hold back the acid retort on his tongue. "Yes Potter. Sit down"

The boy just glared at him. He looked back, trying to keep his own glare minimal. Potter gave in first and sat down unwillingly, still glaring. Severus fought the urge to sigh.

"Once I have checked your injuries you may go."

"They're fine."

"Regardless I must check Potter. Such potions cannot be used unmonitored."

….

Harry did not want Snape to come near him, or touch him. But the man wasn't going to put up with it. It would be fine he told himself. He was strong, he wasn't going to let the man hurt him.

He got up and stood next to the desk, wishing his stomach would stop its uneasy twisting as Snape stood and came to him. He shed his robes and stood as the man began checking the wounds that had began to knit together. He forced himself not to flinch or move away. He was strong.

….

Although the boy stood quietly enough and let him check him, Severus could feel his anxiety. Potter did not want or like him being so close. Still at least it was not the abject fear that it had been in that first occlumency lesson.

Potter's wounds where healing well, although the scars remained bearing witness to what had happened to the boy. His eyes traced the scars down Potter's back. He could see that the boys' legs must also have had some damage: the scars did not stop at Potter's waist. That first night he had not thought Potter would be able to take him asking more though so he had not queried it.

"Do you have injuries on your legs Potter?"

"Y-yes sir." Potter stiffened, turning around quickly. Severus felt his anxiety spike dramatically. At least he hadn't tried to deny it.

"Calm down Potter." The boy probably thought he was going to make him take off his jeans as well. "Are the healing as well?"

"Y-yes." The boy wanted to get away, he could see how he was trying to edge back.

"You are sure Potter?" He kept his voice steady.

"Yes s-sir." He would let the boy go before he panicked.

"You may go then."

Potter grabbed his robe, through it on and was through the door almost before he had put his amulet over his head.

Severus sighed. Dealing with Potter was not going to be fun.