A/N: Hi everyone. Sorry for the lack of an update last week but my kid was sick so I didn't really write a lot. But here you go!

Here stood that trunk, and there that chest,
There lay that store I counted best.

Chapter 12

It was a good thing that the trek from the hospital wing to the dungeons was a lengthy one. It gave Snape some time to process what just happened. To mull over the evidence that supported the opposite of what he had always believed of the boy. He was never pampered or spoiled. Not past his first fifteen months of life, that is. His arrogance was merely a mask. His confidence? A lie. It must have been. After everything the boy went through, there was no way that he was the overconfident prince Snape had always believed him to be.

He gritted his teeth in frustration. The students he passed stepped out of his way with a wary expression on their faces, clearly worried that Snape was coming for them. But no. For once, the students that would have to face his ire were those in his own house. And it certainly was a very bad day for that to happen.

Damn it, Albus. As Snape had let slip to Potter, he had urged the man to have every student undergo an examination. The old codger had seen no need for it. Not even after several cases of child abuse surfaced in Slytherin house. Did the man honestly think that only Slytherins were abusers? Or perhaps, he imagined that being abused would land any victim into his house by default. Ridiculous notion, of course. One that a man Dumbledore's age should surely not have.

A fat rat scampered away as Snape reached the bottom of the stairs leading to the dungeons. Had it been any slower, it would have been squashed now.

No, Dumbledore was no fool. Snape knew that he thought it important to give his heads of houses the freedom to decide such things for themselves. He believed that they would take action if they suspected something to be amiss. He didn't know – he couldn't know – just how much children were capable of hiding the abuse they underwent.

Snape couldn't have known. Surely, he was not to blame for missing the signs. The boy hadn't been in his house until a few weeks ago. He only saw him and his acts of grandeur in his class and perhaps during a couple of detentions. Admittedly, he had formed his opinion of the boy before he had even uttered a single word but even if he hadn't, he couldn't have known.

Could he?

What he should have picked up on, though, was the fact that Potter didn't want to undergo the check-up and had gone to great lengths to avoid it. Snape supposed that it had been presumptuous to assume that the boy merely didn't want his most hated Professor to know the ins and outs of his past. To perhaps find out about an injury sustained during illicit activities. Snape felt a hurt burn in his chest. He had been such a fool. And because of his blindness – be it to be expected or because of his bias – Lilly's son had been beaten nearly to death. Starved beyond belief and – apparently – locked into a cupboard.

Snape had half a mind to simply retreat to his chambers and down several bottles of whisky. But that would be neither helpful nor wise. First, he had several things to take care of.

He didn't wait a single second when he reached the wall that concealed the Slytherin common room. The castle seemed to sense his urgency as well as his fury because the wall parted ways even before he could give it the password.

He stormed into the room where most of his Slytherins were already situated. They looked up in surprise and fright when he entered, cape billowing and his expression no doubt furious. His eyes searched the room for the most likely culprits. He was no fool. He knew how Malfoy felt about Potter. But – until now – he had assumed that the boy would come crying to him or at least to McGonagall the moment one of the Slytherins hurt a single strand of his messy hair. He hadn't known that with his past, the boy would never do that. How could he have trusted an adult? And how could he have told his friends?

"Messrs Crabbe and Goyle," he said darkly. His words tasted like poison and he knew that even those thick-headed goons would sense the danger he was exuding. The paled visibly and stood to attention the moment he said their names. Malfoy wasn't there but maybe that was for the best. His two lackeys likely knew exactly what had happened and would come clean easily.

"You two will come with me right now," Snape barked. He turned on his heel and could hear the two boys scramble to follow him. Even though they were afraid, they knew their punishment – if one was warranted – would be far worse if they didn't follow his orders.

They walked into his office and as soon as both boys were inside, Snape flicked his wand at the door to close it with a loud slam and lock it in place for good measure. He didn't take his seat. He was too angry to do so. Instead, he crossed his arms and tapped his wand against his elbow while he waited for the two imbeciles to sit down.

They did so quite quickly, their frightened gazes meeting each other every now and then as their eyes searched Snape and his office for a clue as to what was going on. Snape watched them squirm for a bit before addressing his suspicions.

"I assume that you can already guess why you are here," he said smoothly. It was best not to divulge how much or how little he knew at this point. Let those two oafs fill in the blanks.

"No sir," Crabbe said sheepishly. "We didn't do anything."

"Oh you didn't, did you?" Snape asked. "Nothing in regards to one Harry Potter then, I take it?"

The fleeting glance between the two told Snape that they knew exactly what he was talking about.

"Nothing, Sir," Goyle dared and before he could expand on that, Snape lunged forward and grabbed the two armrests of Goyle's chair to stare uncomfortably close into the boy's eyes. His fear was obvious.

"You know how I despise liars, Mr Goyle," Snape said, his voice harsh but nearly a whisper. He enunciated each word distinctly. "And I know for a fact that that was a lie. Try to deceive me one more time and I just might see to it that you're expelled for this transgression."

"Please sir," Goyle said shakily, his voice stuck in a register that was entirely too high for him. "It was Draco's idea, I swear. We didn't mean it."

As he suspected.

"And what – pray tell – was his idea?" Snape asked. "To assault a fellow Slytherin right under my nose and pray to whatever deity of his choosing that I not notice?"

"I wouldn't call it assault, sir," Crabbe chimed in. "We were just goofing off a bit."

"Goofing off," Snape repeated, the words entirely foreign in his mouth. "I will have you explain to me exactly what that entailed. You will not lie nor omit anything because I will know. And if you dare to even try and deceive me, I might just have Potter show me the entrance to the chamber of secrets just so I can throw you somewhere no one will ever find you again. Do I make myself clear?"

Both boys nodded, their faces now entirely devoid of colour.

"Good," Snape said. "Now speak."

"Sir, we didn't make anything unusable, really," Crabbe then said. Snape had no idea what the boy was talking about but just let him carry on.

"And it wasn't just us. Theo and Blaise were also in on it."

"Though you probably already know that, sir."

Snape hoped the boys would start making sense soon. He just stared at them so they would keep babbling.

"He has plenty of money, anyways," Crabbe said. "So he can replace the clothes easily."

"And the books were only lightly damaged," Goyle argued. "He can still use them for his homework."

Snape gripped his wand a little tighter. "Do you mean to tell me that you destroyed Potter's belongings as soon as they arrived? Belongings that were funded by the school, mind you?" And here he had thought that the state of the boy's books was caused by indifference or carelessness.

"We're sorry, Sir," Crabbe said. "We thought that's what you were talking about."

Snape felt almost feral. "I was talking about the beating Potter has received a couple of days ago."

"Oh," Crabbe said.

"That was kind of minor, sir," Goyle chimed in. "We just kind of held his arms. It was Draco that punched Potter a bit. He's not really that strong so I don't think Potter got hurt. Not really."

"Is that so?" Snape asked smoothly. "And were Theo and Blaise involved in that as well?"

"No, sir," Crabbe said. He told the truth, Snape knew.

"Anything else I should know about?" Snape asked. The tone of his voice warned them not to lie to him.

"Not really sir," Goyle told him. "Just small pranks like thumbtacks in his bed. But he always saw those in time so no harm done."

"Please sir," Crabbe said. "It's not like he's a real Slytherin anyway. He'll probably be gone by the end of the year, right?"

Snape scowled. "Not even Professor Dumbledore knows for certain when Gryffindor tower will be replaced," he said. "But no matter the timing, what you have done is most egregious. I will consider your punishment for a while but be aware that castigation will come."

"Please sir," Goyle said. "We'd rather know now."

"I assure you that you do not," Snape said. "If I were to make a decision now, you will most likely not remain at this school. And that's for starters. I have half a mind to report your destruction of property and assault to the Aurors. Therefore, I suggest that you make yourselves scarce. Begone."

Snape didn't need to say anything else. The two burly Slytherins nearly fell out of their chairs as they tried to get away as quickly as possible. For a moment, Snape wondered if he should have told them not to speak to Draco about what Snape found out but no. It was a nice thought that the more cunning of the threesome would quiver in fear of what's to come for however long Snape thought that would be prudent.

Damn it all. What was wrong with these kids. And why hadn't Snape seen it? Merlin, but he had been blind.

He sighed. Next, he would need to talk to Albus. And that conversation could go two ways. Either the wizened wizard owned up to the mistake of placing The-boy-who-lived with his despicable relatives and would do everything in his power to rearrange his housing situation or he would double down, talk about those blasted wards and their need for Potter's safety and say that his situation was regrettable but for the greater good. In such a case, Snape would have no choice but to advocate for the child as he did for all children coming from abused homes. And he would do the same even for Harry Potter.

"Drink this, dear."

Harry accepted the offered nutrient potion as he lay back down in the hospital bed. It was entirely silly and way over the top if you asked him. He had been back from home for a while now and there was really no reason for him to lounge in a bed all day. It made him feel uncomfortable and bored. But most of all, it made him feel weak.

"Madame Pomfrey," he asked. "Can I please go now? I promise I'll take whatever potions you want me to but I really don't see the need for staying here."

Pomfrey clicked her tongue. "The need is in your poorly healed injuries, Mr Potter," she said. "As I explained to you, those need to be magically repaired. If I don't, they'll likely bother you for the rest of your life."

"But can't it wait?" Harry asked, already exasperated. "No one knows where I am and I really don't see the urgency. Maybe we can do this during the Christmas break or something. It's not like I ever go home for those, anyway –"

Pomfrey looked at him sadly. "No, I imagine that you don't" she said. Harry hated the look in her eyes. But he hated even more how that look would likely change when the Dursleys got the chance to give her their version of things.

"I suppose they can wait," Pomfrey said slowly, as if tasting the words before using them. "It would take over a week to try and rectify all of the damage and that would cause you to miss a great deal of school."

"Exactly," Harry said eagerly. "Besides, Fred and George will be wondering where I am and it's only a matter of time before they find out I'm here. And then –" Harry stopped talking. He was not telling the twins anything. Their banter and playfulness is part of what kept him afloat in Slytherin. And that would be especially true after Daphne's betrayal. He knew all too well what happened to people once they suspected you were abused. They start treating you like a fragile animal that can't take a single joke or rough activity. And pretty soon, they'll stop talking to you altogether because you're just too much hassle.

"I understand that you don't want to tell them, Harry," Pomfrey said. "And you absolutely don't have to. But I do know from experience that it would be best if you talk to someone about this. That someone can be me, if you'd like. It could also be one of your close friends or Professors. Professor Snape is a pretty good listener and he won't judge you."

Harry scoffed and Pomfrey smiled a bit. "He won't," she assured him. "Not about this. But if you don't feel comfortable, then you don't need to talk to him either. I'm just giving you your options."

"I don't want to talk to anyone about this," Harry told her. "I can't bear the thought of anyone knowing this about me. They'll… laugh at me."

"I don't think they will," Pomfrey said. "But it's quite alright Harry. You don't need to tell anyone if you don't want to. Not just yet, anyway. And you don't need to talk to anyone who already knows either. But eventually, you're going to have to try and open up a bit."

Harry nodded, just wanting to get out of there. "Can we revisit that during the Christmas break s well, please?" he asked. "I'll think about it until then. I promise."

"Very well," Pomfrey acquiesced. "But do think about what I said."

"I will," Harry said, already taking a step towards the double doors.

"One more thing," Pomfrey said, stopping him in his tracks. "Do you need dreamless sleep potion for tonight?"

Harry blinked uncomfortably. "Er…" Nightmares weren't really new to him. And he did know how to handle those but it would be nice to be able to sleep without having to worry about them. But would Pomfrey think he was a basket case if he accepted?

Apparently sensing his hesitation, Pomfrey pushed the vial into Harry's hand and closed his fingers around it. "Just take it with you," she said. "You don't need to drink it if you don't want to but it's nice to have with you just in case."

"Thank you," Harry muttered.

"Very well then," Pomfrey said. "Off you go. But be careful not to get into anything… violent until we can sort out those injuries."

Harry managed a wry smile. "Me?" he asked. "Never."

But Pomfrey didn't laugh at his joke.

After ascending those tightly wounded gargoyle stairs, Snape found himself staring at the closed door to Dumbledore's office. The headmaster knew he was there and Snape knew that he knew but he still couldn't get himself to open the door.

"Severus?"

Snape shuddered at the thought of the conversation that was to follow. Oh how he wished that it was anyone else to tell Albus that his golden boy was being mistreated so terribly at home. Why couldn't Minerva be here instead of him?

But it was absolutely ridiculous to just stand there, waiting for some sort of deus ex machina to save him from this horrendous situation. So he steeled himself, straightened his back and opened the door.

"Good afternoon, Albus," he said.

"Good evening, my boy," Albus greeted him kindly. Evening? Merlin, had that much time passed already? Soon, it would be time for dinner. Why was this day proving to be so long?

"Is everything alright?" Albus' worried voice shook Snape from his reveries and he fixed the headmaster with a stern look.

"No, Albus," he said. "Everything is most decidedly not alright."

"Do tell, Severus," Albus urged. He gestured towards the plush chair waiting for him at the desk.

Snape gratefully accepted the offer but didn't even entertain the idea of taking a sweet from the bowl.

Dumbledore took his seat as well. "Now tell me," he said in that grandfatherly tone of him. "What has you in such a dire mood."

This had already been going on long enough for Snape. So he decided to just get to the bloody point. "This is about Mr. Potter," he said. "And his check-up."

"Ah yes," Dumbledore said. "Has he continued to elude you or have you finally managed to get him into the hospital wing?"

"Madame Pomfrey and I have seen to him this afternoon," Snape replied. "The results were quite terrible."

"That was to be expected," Dumbledore said.

"Excuse me?" Snape growled. He felt a bubble of anger start to form in his stomach.

Dumbledore didn't seem to sense Snape's shift or he simply didn't care. "I hate to admit that he hasn't exactly been safe at Hogwarts," Dumbledore said. "Every year he's been in mortal peril and this year has been no different. It is no wonder that those perils showed up on your check-up."

Snape deflated a bit. There was no way Dumbledore was that obtuse. He was stalling. Deflecting. He didn't want to know. "Albus,…"

"Plenty of accidents to do with quidditch as well, of course," Dumbledore continued. "Not to mention what happened when he was just a babe –"

"Albus, stop it," Snape snapped at him. "Stop it right now! You know exactly what I'm talking about and I will not have you denying reality. It is important that you acknowledge that your chosen one is being abused."

The immense sadness that emerged in those blue eyes made Snape wish he hadn't uttered a single word. But it was necessary. A child needed his protection far more than this naive old wizard did.

"It can't be," Dumbledore said softly. His voice sounded broken and his posture suddenly showed all 150 of his years. "They are his only living relatives."

"Blood relations have little to do with how a child gets treated," Snape told the headmaster. "You know that. Or you should know that."

"I know," Dumbledore sighed. "I just… wish it wasn't so."

An uncomfortable silence hung between the two wizards for a long time. Snape didn't want to break it. He understood that Dumbledore needed a moment to process the news. Hell, Snape had needed more than a moment himself and he didn't even like the boy. Dumbledore – on the other hand – loved Potter. He loved him like a grandfather would. It was no wonder that he was heartbroken.

"How bad is it?" Dumbledore then asked. Snape looked away from Fawkes whom he had suddenly found himself staring at.

"Does it matter?" he asked tiredly. "Either way, he shouldn't go back."

"He shouldn't" Dumbledore agreed. "And he won't. But I just need to know –"

"I don't think that's a good idea," Snape said.

"Severus," Dumbledore pleaded. "I need to know. Please don't keep this from me."

Snape sighed. "If you insist," he said. He flicked his wand to conjure the parchment that was proof of Potter's records. He handed the rolled up scroll to Dumbledore who accepted with a trembling hand. The thickness of the scroll was already an indication of the severity of things. Snape himself could definitely not stomach to read through the thing a second time.

It turned out that watching Dumbledore read the parchment was not a much better experience. The man's visage held no secrets. He didn't even try to mask his feelings in front of Severus. And they were clearly in turmoil. Sadness, disgust, anger, nausea and white hot rage all made their appearance. Snape understood all too well where the wizard was coming from. When he finally put down the parchment, their gazes locked in mutual understanding.

"Severus," Albus said. "You have my thanks for uncovering this… this evil. I only regret that it wasn't seen sooner. Though I fear that I only have myself to blame for that. Perhaps you were correct in your pleas."

A small victory but one that Snape could have done without.

"What do you propose we do now?"

"You're asking me?" Snape said. "I did not expect you to entrust to me those kinds of decisions when it comes to Potter."

"I would prefer to have a discussion," Dumbledore clarified.

"I see," Snape said. "I suppose you're talking about his living arrangements?"

"Among other things," Dumbledore said. "But his living arrangements are one of the most important things to establish early on."

"I agree," Snape said. "It would be best not to have the boy wonder where he's going to end up or to even entertain the idea that he might have to go back to those monsters. Until something permanent has been decided, he will keep having that fear."

"I feel fortunate to have someone on my staff who has the experience to know such things," Dumbledore said. "Less fortunate, though, that that experience stems from the discovery of other such cases."

"As you say, headmaster," Snape said. "I assume that Potter's is a special case though, am I correct? The home of his relatives was one where powerful wards were established, after all."

"Quite right," Dumbledore said. "While Voldemort is in hiding, who knows what he might plan to do next. I'd rather not take the risk by sending Harry somewhere unsafe."

"Would the Weasley household do?" Snape asked. The youngest male Weasley was Potter's best friend, after all. And the Weasleys were a powerful and ancient wizarding family.

"A valid suggestion," Dumbledore said. "But I fear that they entertain far too much company for it to be safe. Not only that but the burrow is not easily warded. The structure of the Weasley home itself is not sturdy enough to bear the load of a ward necessary to protect young Harry."

"Damn it," Snape growled. "The Granger home won't do either. With two muggle parents they would have nearly no defence."

"Not to mention that an ordinary ward would not be strong enough to protect Harry in a muggle neighbourhood," Dumbledore agreed. "There's too many ways for a dark wizard to circumvent any taken measures.

"What about Lupin?" Snape suggested. That earned him quite the side-eye. Though well-intended, Snape immediately realised how asinine that thought was. "My apologies," he said. "I wasn't thinking straight. It's been a long day."

"I honestly only see one solution," Dumbledore said. "We should have Harry stay here at Hogwarts."

Snape nodded. "That does seem to be the most sensible solution," he agreed. "Though not as strong as the wards at the Dursleys, those surrounding Hogwarts are still quite formidable. Certainly strong enough to withstand the Dark Lord in whatever weakened state he's in now, as well as the odd death eater."

"We'll just need an adult or two to remain at Hogwarts for the duration of summer," Dumbledore said. "Can't leave him here by himself. Even if the house elves stay."

Snape groaned. "I can sense where this is going."

"Not necessarily, my boy," Dumbledore said. "We can appeal to others. But it will be difficult to convince anyone to stay if young Harry wishes to keep his predicament a secret. And he is – of course – a Slytherin at the moment."

"You know he will not be happy in the dungeons, Albus," Snape said. "It's a dreary place to stay in by yourself. And your manipulations are not appreciated. If you wish for me to stay, show me the decency to ask."

"You're right, Severus," Albus said. "When the time comes, I will. But I promise that I'll explore other options first."

"I appreciate that, Albus," he said. "Now, what else do we need to discuss?"

"Let's keep the rest for another time," Dumbledore said wearily. "I need to sleep on it for a night or two so I can get a clearer picture. I would hate to forget something important."

"Thank Merlin," Snape said. "In that case, I think I'll be heading to the great hall for dinner. I have to keep a closer eye on some of my Slytherins, it would seem."

"I noticed that too," Dumbledore said, glancing at the parchment. "See to it that you do."

And with a final nod of understanding, Snape headed down again. This dreadful night was almost over. He couldn't wait to wash it all away with some good fire whisky. Thank Merlin for Sundays.