Hey people who are reading this, I am unsure if you are reading this but listen closely, the person sending offensive things about my being transgender and my transitioning and also on my child abuse, would you like to grow the balls you think you should have had and put down your email you chicken shit motherfucker because believe me, I am not as cowardly as you. Also if you want people to see what a big bad man you are, make an account and post the reviews. I will even leave them up. That is all for that person. For the rest of you, thanks for your reviews and I will work on your requests.

Chapter Four

Having heard the boy's thoughts, Severus felt his heart he knew to be long missing aching in his chest; however, even with these knew feelings, he was glad he had caught that insecurity so soon. Harry being his exception did mean something, but Severus was unable and unmotivated to analyze this new part of his perception. What he could manage was to see that Harry was so pure even with all that he had been through and that was not a small feet. His thoughts on preserving Severus's interests even when he believed him not to 'like' him was very admirable.

The boy was so good, and Slytherin, as loyalty without merit wasn't his way. He was loyal to those who gave him what he wanted or needed. That loyalty was also not as fickle as a Gryffindors. The boy was such a conundrum.

"Harry, the reason I wanted you to give out that excuse was that the reputation I have cultivated at this school does not match were people to know I was being kind to a child who happens to also be a Gryffindor. You see, Harry, I have a reputation as being unkind and also to favor my own house, the Slytherins, who just so happen to have a rivalry with Gryffindor. I would like that image to be the consensus of the rest of the school, although, you and I will know different. Do you follow?"

The boy nodded, seeming to understand, but the problem, Severus believed, was that children had so many questions. "But, why, Sir?"

Severus played ignorant, "Why what, Harry?"

"Why treat me special? Is it because I'm famous here? If so, I think I rather you didn't. And, also why do you want people to think you're mean?"

Severus felt himself do an uncommon display of immaturity as his mental hand face-palmed. The child was intelligent and brave for him to speak that way, and in his own way, he was a cunning boy. He wanted to be treated special by Severus, but he wanted to achieve this by his own merit. He was so pure it physically pained Severus.

"Harry, the reason I treat you differently is you are special, but not because of that scar that most people will see as a reason to fawn over you. I have treated you with care because you are kind, intelligent, brave, and loyal. You are also a lot like someone I knew as a child, someone very special to me, and also like myself in some ways. Why I want my reputation is a matter I do not believe you could understand until you are older, and the matter is quite personal. However, I will tell you I am not proud of my reputation, neither how it makes me act nor why I must. It is my responsibility, so I must continue. Do you believe you can understand that, Harry?"

The child looked thoughtful but nodded all the same, already showing Severus such trust it was confounding. He could not understand how the boy could be so innocent and so kind after the things he had seen. Severus had never been like that, and that was why they were so different and why Harry was so special. "Very well, Harry. I think it time you headed to class. Are you aware where it is?"

The boy shook his head. "No, Sir."

Severus sighed beneath his breath before standing. He did not need the child thinking he was bothersome. "Well, come along then we will go together. Though, for your next class, I believe you should take your schedule back from Mr. Weasley."

The boy nodded as he stood. He looked around with a look of confusion before focusing back on Severus. "Where is my bag, Sir?"Severus snapped his fingers, and the bag came in from his office. The boy looked so impressed and questions were exploding from his mind. Severus decided to answer them before they were spat in quick succession. "Yes, you will learn that, not this year, and I performed wandless and wordless magic. Yes, you will learn that, but not for a long time. Now, may we go?"

The boy still looked flummoxed as he nodded. Severus, seeing his chance to take advantage of being near such an impressionable child, snapped his robes in a flourish as he strode to the door to the lab. The boy followed, and a quick glance showed his awed face and another longer look showed him moving his arms to try for the same effect. He was ineffective, but Severus was having a good internal laugh at his efforts.

They made their way, the boy looking around his jaw never closing completely as he took in the stone walls, the portraits, the moving staircases in wonderment. A warmth Severus usually denied existed burst from his chest at the look on the child's face. Severus would allow the boy to look like a dunderhead for now while he was in his company, but the child could not look so unguarded all the time around those that were against him.

That would be something to teach him. Maybe he could mentor the boy. That would be enough to watch and mold the boy. He could see the boy any day then and protect him from those who would harm him. What was he doing thinking about this? He just met the child. The boy probably barely liked him and probably only when he was kind, not when he would have to teach and discipline him. It could never work, and why was that such a sad thought that he felt a need for a change. No, thoughts for later contemplation after the little blighter was away.

He nodded to himself and stopped abruptly seeing as they had arrived at the Charms classroom. He snapped open the door and watched with satisfaction as Professor Flitwick fell backwards off his shelf of literature. He rolled his eyes internally at the man's antics as he grabbed Harry by the shoulder and falsely forced him through the door. He ignored the boy's flinch as he looked to the small professor. "A straggler for you, Flitwick. It seems Mr. Potter was lost. You will have to excuse the time, I had to discuss time and maps before giving him the time for his detention tonight."

The demur professor frowned at him but nodded. "Very well, Severus. Mr. Potter, please be seated."

Severus felt his mind soften as the boy turned to look back at him and gave a small smile before trotting to a seat by the red-headed boy. Severus glared once around the room before strolling out with his usual theatrics. He hoped tonight would go well or as well as discussing neglect and abuse can; however, he was already preparing to need dreamless sleep tonight.

Harry

Harry couldn't eat. Well, he was sure that he could try to eat, but his stomach was all floaty and sick was building as he thought on why the professor would want to talk about this? He didn't want the man to find out what a freak he was, and he knew he wasn't supposed to talk about what his Uncle and Aunt did to him. It had always been like this. He was to stay quiet and to know he was a freak. Why?

He was startled from his internal thoughts by food floating to his plate. He already knew it was from the professor, and he almost ignored the burning in his ears telling him the man was glaring at him. He couldn't withhold longer and looked at the man in trepidation. The professor gave him a stern look and no words were necessary. Why was that look so effective? Sheesh!

He ate all the food that surprisingly didn't make him sick with just enough time to get up with Ron and make his way toward the dungeon's labs. His palms were sweating, and his hands were fluttering nervously at his sides. Ron gave him looks of concern and patted his shoulder a lot to try and calm him while it mostly just made him jump or jerk away. Finally, they made it to the same office as earlier and knocked twice on the broad door.

The professor opened the door and scowled at them, though he really only looked directly at Ron. The man stepped aside and gestured them into the office, where Malfoy was already waiting in one of the chairs facing the desk. The door slammed shut behind him, and Harry could admit he jumped about two feet off the floor. He wasn't scared, not of the professor. He was kind, and Harry was an exception. He could almost convince himself that was true.

The man walked behind his desk, not sitting but making himself tower over the other two boys. "Today, Mr. Weasley, Mr. Malfoy, you two will both write essays on why pointing a wand at another is unwise at school when you both are untrained and know hardly any spells, and you will continue on with why it is unwise except in self-defense. You will write three feet, and I will read them over. Do you both understand?"

The blonde and red-head nodded with white faces. "Yes, sir."

"Very well. You may go into the lab to work, but make no mistake, I am watching you. Act up, and the both of you will be in detention with me every Saturday until Christmas."

The two gulped before gathering their things. Ron hesitated, looking to Harry questioningly, but Harry waved him off, allowing the two boys to leave together for the lab. Harry turned his body toward the professor, keeping his eyes drawn downwards. The professor made a tutting sound, causing Harry to catch the man bringing out his wand. Harry's fear and slight curiosity was snuffed out as the man spelled two comfy chairs and a tea service where his visitor chairs had been. Harry smiled slightly at the treatment, knowing it was because he was an exception, special.

"Have a seat, Harry."

Harry nodded, picking the blue chair and leaving the green for the professor. The man poured their tea and handed Harry a saucer and cup. His hands shook so much from nerves that he wasn't sure he should have a cup at all. The man must have noticed because he sent a spell at the cup, and when Harry jumped in surprise, he saw the effect as not a drop spilled. The man's wand was used a few more times on all the doors before he put it away in his sleeve. Harry thought that a mighty odd place for a wand, but he wouldn't say that to the professor.

The man settled into his chair with black tea and a blank face. "Are you ready to begin?"

Harry was shaking as he nodded his head. The man looked concerned but was leaving him alone. "Would it be easier if I asked all the questions?"

Harry nodded again, hovering over his cup, failing to meet the man's eyes. "Would you mind if I recorded this?"

Harry gulped and contemplated it, but there wasn't enough information to make the decision because why would he want anyone else have to ever hear this? "For what reason would you, Professor?"

The man looked at him like he had gone around the bend. "Harry, if the situation is as bad as I fear, then it will be for the authorities. You will not be going back if you are being harmed, Harry. I will not allow it."

That just confused Harry even more. "But, why? Because my scar? Because I'm a-an… exception." Harry ducked his head at this one before continuing. "Why does this matter to you, sir?"

The professor rested a hand on his leg, and Harry peered at him through his fringe. "It is very simple, Mr. Potter. No one deserves to have a childhood without love, shelter, clothes, or food. If anyone else had been through the same treatment, I would endeavor to help them as well. No one deserves to be treated that way, Harry."

It was meant to be kind, but Harry was stupid enough to think he could be special. He did think more of the professor for being so kind to help people, which shouldn't make him feel so disappointed. Harry looked up to see the man still looking at him sincerely and saw something odd in how emotional the man's eyes were. "Sir, the r-reason y-you are so, uhm…"

Harry was saved as the man interrupted him. "Yes, Harry, I understand what you are trying to say. I am only telling you this because I believe it will help you trust me and to feel less alone in your predicament. My parents neglected me. My mother because she was sick and would be hurt at my father's hand more often than not. My father was a drunk, and he would yell and hit us when in a rage and then drink all of our money away. Neither tried to help me nor be there for me, and I went without more often than not. My mother died my second year at Hogwarts, and I was left taking the full force of my father's anger until I graduated. When he would hurt me, it was only smacks and shoves, but it was enough. No one helped me, but I do not want you to deal with the same."

Harry couldn't stand it after hearing all the man had gone through and threw himself at the man to hug him. The man luckily caught him, but Harry didn't care, he just crushed himself against the man to send all the comfort and apologies he could barely say because he was crying for the man. He didn't understand how people could hurt kids, especially ones that were their own kids. At least the Dursley's weren't his parents.

"I am so sorry, Sir."

The man rubbed a hand up and down his back soothingly as he spoke. "Thank you, Harry. I too, am sorry for you, but I still need to hear you say it before I can help you. Now that I have told you what I went through, I hope you can be brave enough to do it as well. Do you think you can do that, Harry?"

Harry pulled away from the man and sat back down all while taking deep breaths to calm down. "I can be brave, Professor."

"Good, now let's begin."

Snape