AN: None of the recognizable characters in this story are mine.

CW: Minor torture in later part of chapter.

Dealing With Constant Depression

Or

"What Defines Kid Knapping?"

As soon as Harry was brought to Grimmauld Place, he had been sent to the kitchen where Mrs. Weasley had been in the process of cooking dinner. Of course, once people knew he was there, he was asked questions. He didn't know most of the people in the room, but they seemed friendly. Still, it was somewhat intimidating, even if Headmaster Dumbledore was at the table and so where some of the other Weasleys. At first, he didn't quite have the time to answer before the next one was asked.

"Harry, Harry, are you feeling okay? How were they treating you, the heathens?"

"Why did Professor Snape have to rescue you?"

"What were you doing with the Death Eaters?"

"Why is it so cold in here?"

"Wait, is that a dementor?"

Harry was almost relieved once they figured out that there was a real dementor in the room. It gave him time to answer. However, he was somewhat concerned about how slow it took them to realize the presence of the dementor. Seriously, didn't the fact that the creatures created ice in their immediate surrounding area not make anyone aware of one's presence? What about the sudden sadness? Was the whole group having to deal with sad thoughts recently?

"Yes, this is a dementor, and he is my guard. I have one following me all the time now."

"Chocolate. Take a row, pass it around," said Remus Lupin, holding out a large bar of chocolate.

"Yes, Severus passed on that you were around the creatures," said Professor Dumbledore. "Could you share how it came to be this way?"

"Well, it started with me going for a walk and getting punched by Dudley because he thought the dementor effects were being caused by me. We both blacked out, and then next I knew there were two arguing dementors hovering over me, and then suddenly they were adopting me, or as close as they can as I am human. Then we visited Voldemort, who decided on a truce between the two of us for now, and then we were crashing at Malfoy's for a bit. Oh, that's where all my stuff is."

"Why's your stuff at Malfoy's?"

"I wasn't expecting to be kid knapped by Snape."

"Kid knapped? I didn't kid knap you, I was rescuing you."

"That's where my rescuing party brought me."

"Or did the dementors kid knap you?"

"If that was the case, I wanted to be kid knapped."

"Those muggles..."

"I thought, Albus, you said those bars were for his protection?"

"No, they were keeping me and Hedwig from getting out. That was right before second year; that's why the twins had to rescue me," he added for the confused faces at the table.

"Were they feeding you when they did that?"

"Not much. One can of soup a day."

"What is normal for you to eat?"

"A snack at lunch and a small serving of supper, after the others served themselves, and water. Some days, it was only the snack at lunch. Thankfully, the primary has a lunch program."

Mutters went around at that. It included a pause in the questions.

"So, what all does the adoption do?"

"Well, one thing it does is allow me to talk to them, and another thing was that it allows me to be in their vicinity without them feeding on me. I also don't feel freezing."

Head nods around.

"We need you to leave the room now, youngsters. Why don't you show Harry around?"

That was a signal that Harry followed as he saw the rest of the young people leaving. He found himself being towed around the creepy looking house, and in one room, picked up a necklace that seemed important.

"Potter, it has been decided that it probably would be for the best if you went back."

Snape had slammed into the room where the teenagers were talking, silencing the conversation as he did so. The expression on his face was a slight grimace that quickly smoothed itself out as he came further into the room.

"Can I send letters?"

"I would not be able to guess, but they would be open to receiving them if you get that ability once you get back."

"Yeah, we sure would, Harry," stated Hermione.

"Okay."

"Now we must leave," said Snape as he ushered Harry and guard from the room and out of the house, making Harry have to slightly run to keep up, "unless you would have me executed upon our arrival and all your privileges revoked. Do you know what you are going to say?"

"That I went to see my friends?"

"As you cannot say anything about where we are, as we are under Fidelius, that would be sufficient. Why did you come with me?"

"You're my teacher, even if we don't like each other."

"I suppose that will need to be sufficient. It's not like I have anything else at the moment. Is that true?"

"Basically. I got closer to you because I trust you somewhat."

"Well, now it is going to be put under pressure," stated the man as he apparated back to Malfoy Manor.

To say Voldemort was unhappy upon their arrival would have been unnecessary. It was obvious just in one glance, for Harry. Apparently, it was the same for Snape, because he immediately got into his place, and bowed, dragging Harry to just beside and behind him.

"And what was the reason for your abrupt disappearance from the grounds of this manor?" was the hissed out question by a man so angry he was gripping his wand tightly.

"Weren't you told that you were to be basically my heir, and that I was to look out for you? Why did you not come to me if that was something you desired?"

Harry had felt Voldemort's anger before, had even been around him when he was angry, but this was different. He realized in that moment that he would have to live with this individual who was directing his anger towards him.

"I wanted to go see my friends. Professor Snape took me because he's my teacher, even if we don't like each other."

"Is that the whole truth?"

"The invitation to leave was sudden, and I took it."

"I know that you and the Malfoy boy are not on good terms. I understand that you would want to be somewhere you weren't sure of your welcome. However, because you left without permission, crucio!"

It lasted a second, but it was a long second to Harry. He fell from the onset of pain to his nerves, even though the curse wasn't on him anymore.

Voldemort was continued speaking when he stood up, "And for that, any privileges like visiting or sending mail will not be yours until the start of September. Now Severus, I get that you might think it was a good idea. You were here in the last meeting, weren't you? You didn't talk with me before taking my heir, did you? He is living with me, not whatever former person that let him leave all the time. It makes me wonder what other things you are doing against me and I am not seeing. First, Crucio."

Snape shuddered and screamed under the curse for definitely longer than Harry was, but he was trembling when the curse was lifted and did not stand immediately, choosing instead to stay on his knees, as he was trembling so much.

"Second, what is it to you that you, Potter hating man you, would not only allow but take him to visit the Weasleys? Do you view him as endangered here? Despite my words?"

Once he said this, Voldemort stood and walked closer to Snape, making him have to look down unless he was willing to sit with his head craned upwards to see him.

Then, Voldemort looked to Harry, and said, "Do you not trust me to hold to my word to keep you safe?"

"Since when do words mean much when I know that you and others have been trying to kill me since my first year?"

"Ah, yes, trust takes time. However, I have, I believe, only lied to you on one occasion, the time before you somehow burnt me to death. Is that enough to trust me somewhat?"

"A bit, sir," Harry trailed off

"You will stay with me during the day unless I tell you otherwise. We need to get used to each other's presence without either one of us being in mortal danger. Now, you will head to bed, and I will need to ascertain whether or not your teacher is a traitor."

Harry left.