Chapter Five

Snape had been occluding since they began. He had no choice if he were to remain without a murderous look while the boy spoke of endless years of chores and unfair punishments that bordered well past abuse and into demented torture when the whale of an uncle was drunk. He was clenching his fists to keep himself from moving toward the boy to comfort him, but there was no reason. The boy never got upset, never complained that his treatment from the family was unfair because Severus could tell that to him, it was normal.

The boy never cried, never whined, never said it was unfair, not a single complaint was heard and it almost seemed like the child was just talking about his day at school. The most he ever did was defend their actions with things they had obviously drilled into him, calling himself a freak, saying the cousin deserved better because he was their son, and trying to make Severus see how this was what he deserved.

The whale had trained the boy well to believe that everything he had done to the boy was deserved. The whale of an uncle liked to smack, shove, and grab him by the hair; the Aunt, Petunia, liked to swing a frying pan at him, show the cousin love while Harry watched, and starved the boy without thought sometimes for days as punishment; and the cousin was taught to bully the boy into a lonelier existence without even school friends and breaking his arm and other bones when upset. The aunt and uncle made him sleep in a cupboard, would leave him with Mrs. Figg while they went on vacations, and never bought the boy anything not second-hand.

The boy was neglected, verbally and physically abused, and severely malnourished. Severus would not allow him to stay there even one more hour, and this wasn't even the worst case he had seen, unless he excluded magically abused children because then it was the worst muggle case. He would have to contact Lucius to get the boy removed from their care without leaking it past the child protective division of the ministry. He would also have to find the boy a suitable home with people who could handle all that came with being a guardian to an abused Harry Potter.

The boy would need individual attention and understanding, which he could not find at the Weasley Household; therefore, they were the first off the list. Dark families needed no explanation for being crossed off, and some others he was skeptical could handle this kind of responsibility. The prospects dwindled the more he thought, and even worse would be getting the boy's opinion. He would have to halt the mental decision for another time.

He knew he would have to wait for the guardianship to be finalized before telling the Headmaster. The man had controlled the boy's life for too long, and Severus would not be able to stop himself from hurting the codger if he were to get in his way of protecting the boy. First, before he got ahead of himself, he had a vulnerable, young Potter in front of him that may need medical attention, that definitely needed nutrient potions, and also could use all the kindness Severus could spare in his minimal faculties.

Severus knew the boy to be very emotionally observant, and watching the boy now glancing from his face to the boy's knees, he could see the child looking for his reaction. The most Severus had done was clench his hands, knowing anymore anger or emotion of any kind may scare the skittish boy silent. He turned his whole body to face the boy and leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, bringing him nearly level with the bent head of messy hair. "Harry."

He received a flinch, and immediately stopped moving to make sure the boy wouldn't react more unfavorably. "Harry, I would like to discuss with you what actions I am about to take so you are aware ahead of time."

The boy's face looked so guarded. "You believe me?"
The incredulousness in his voice caused Severus to reach a slow hand out and pat the boy's knee. "Of course I believe you, Harry. There is no reason for you to lie, and it was I who brought this up to discuss, not you. You even tried to deny it until the very end while there is every shred of evidence that they have abused you. I will never not believe you, Harry. You have proven yourself already to be a kind and trustworthy boy. Now, what I am going to do is have a very powerful friend of mine," Lucius was much more than a friend, but Harry had no need of knowing something so personal, "and he will get the two of us a meeting, secured for your privacy, with the ministry's child services. They will inquire, of course, who you want for a guardian eventually after they have proven your current guardians unfit. Between now and when we get to that part of the process, we together will look for a suitable guardian. And that is the extent of what will happen, and no one will know what is happening behind the scenes unless you want them inside of this investigation."

The boy looked even more skittish now than he had before, and Severus felt confused internally when he was sure he had allayed the child's fears. "What problem do you have with this plan, Harry? I want to help, but you have to tell me."

The boy nodded while his body shook with fear. "What if no one wants me, sir? I-I can't go to an orphanage, please, my uncle told me what happens there."

Severus grabbed the boy's shoulders before he could babble more. The boy cut himself off with a squeak and flinched slightly away from the man. Severus held strong to the boy's bony shoulders, showing him not all touches were bad and none of those Severus dealt out would ever hurt him. "That will not happen while I am around, Harry."

Severus saw the boy shaking his head, tears breaking through his eyes and running down reddening cheeks. "No, Harry, I am giving my word to you, and I always keep my word. I promise to you, you will have somewhere, and your guardian will be kind and will love you as you deserve. If you do not like anyone or cannot find anyone safe enough, I will take your guardianship myself while we find a suitable replacement. I promise to protect you, just as you have always deserved."

The boy's tears did not abate, but when the little blighter buried himself against Severus, he counted the conversation as a success if an uncomfortable one. "Thank y-you, s-sir, no… ever… want… me," the boy gasped out between shaky breaths.

Severus frowned at that and rubbed the boy's back, wishing it wasn't illegal to poison muggles. He shook off the thought and looked down at the small, eleven year old. "You were wanted, Harry. Your parents wanted you and loved you so much they protected you until death. I… I can't give that yet, but I do want to help you, Harry. You're my exception."

The boy perked up at him, his glasses askew and his hair mussed and framing his red face like he'd woken from a rough sleep. He looked so young-is so young. "You would want me?"
Severus nodded with his stoney expression, making it a serious statement, not at all heartfelt and emotional. "Of course, I would, Harry. You are a good child, one I would not mind having around. But, I highly doubt you would want me around for that long. I am a very bitter, mean man. I would never hurt you, but I would not be too fun to be around nor a great comfort."

The boy shook his head. "It's not about that with parents, Professor. Parents have to be good at talking with you, protecting you, disciplining you, providing for you, and guiding you. I've seen so many people with their parents and know what makes it fun. The fun is spending time with someone who cares about you, well for me, that's what I thought it looked like."
Severus had never thought about it like that, but he had also never had parents to demonstrate it. The boy had a point that he could not deny, and Severus could follow those parameters. He could be…

'You are getting ahead of yourself, Snape! Wait, watch, and think before doing that to a vulnerable child.'

He could be that, yes, but it was too soon. He was too cold and serious, and he could barely manage to allow physical contact with the boy. They would work it out, but better to take it one step at a time. He nodded to the boy. "I can see that now, thank you, Harry, and now, I think that it is late."

The boy nodded, rubbing his eyes longer than it took to clear tears. "Yessir. Is Ron coming too? Don't wanna walk alone."

Severus looked at the tired boy softly before shaking his head. "He has one more hour, Harry. Would you like me to walk you up to the tower?"

The boy blushed and shrugged. "You don't need to, sir. I can go alone, or I could wait here."

The boy was falling asleep almost. Severus knew the boy needed to go back now, so he used a stern look and angled his head toward the door. "Come along, you're too tired to wait here."

The boy sluggishly got up, covering a small yawn as he went by Severus and out the office door. "Sorry, Professor, I'm just really tired."

Severus frowned in concern and looked over the boy's black eyes. "Did you not sleep well?"

Severus watched the boy's neck flush. "The bed… it didn't… 's weird."

Severus nodded his understanding after having heard about the boy's life. He could see how the boy would feel that way and contemplated how to ease his discomfort. He knew one way, but he was sure he was being an emotional Hufflepuff just contemplating that the only way to ease the boy would be to tuck him in tight. It really would make the space feel tighter for a boy so used to sleeping confined by walls of a cupboard.

Severus was resolved in what he had to do when they reached the portrait hole. He disillusioned himself, causing the sleepy boy to jolt. "Professor? Are you there?"

Severus smirked, but unlike his usual predisposition to unnerve children, he could not get up the deviousness to scare the boy. Who was he and what had he done with the real Severus Snape?

"Yes, Harry. I am still present, just disillusioned from sight. I have a solution to your sleeping problems. I need to go in with you, but I rather not have anyone see me."

The boy bit his lip looking undecided. "What kinda somethin', sir?"

Severus felt slightly impressed at the boy's unease. He could be distrusting and cautious. That was good. The boy need not be so trusting all the time, not without Severus earning it first. "Just a way to make the bed feel tighter around you. Nothing more, Harry."

The boy nodded and turned to the Fat Lady who was eyeing Severus with an evil eye. "No snakes allowed, Little Lion," she said to Harry.

Harry frowned and Severus watched amused as he pouted up at her. "He's helping me sleep, ma'am. Please."

The lady frowned and looked to Severus. Severus rolled his eyes. "I am a teacher, madame. I am allowed through, and I do need to help him to sleep, and you are hindering him from getting to his bed. So make hast. Caput Draconis."

She scowled at him but opened her portrait to them. Severus put a hand on Harry's shoulder and subtly led the boy through the opening into the common room. Children were all over in chairs, on the floor, hanging off the stair banister. Severus wanted so badly to correct their behavior. No snake would act as they were and neither would Harry. He looked down to see the boy's wide eyes and shaking figure. He would never have to worry about the boy doing this, but it seemed he would have to worry more about getting him comfortable enough to do anything at all.

Severus sighed to himself, 'Children.'

He pushed the boy slightly, steering him toward the boy's staircase and to the first year dormitory. Harry opened the door, and Severus was met with the sight of a messy eleven year old room. No one was in there, so Severus swept past the doorway and shut it where he was alone with a sheepish looking Harry.

Severus took off the charm and stood there with his eyes sweeping around the room with disdain. No one in his house would have dared to have their room like this. He made sure of it. "I-I'm sorry, sir. I didn't know it was so messy. I-I'll clean it up."

Severus wiped the annoyance from his face, turning to watch the boy fidget from foot to foot with nerves. Severus arched a brow. "Which one of these pig styes is yours, Harry?"

If Severus's instincts were correct, which they usually were, it would be the one to little to no belongings and was clean and made up. The boy pointed to that very bed, and Severus nodded. 'Right again.'

"I had thought so, Harry. You will not touch anyone else's mess. Do I make myself clear?" The boy nodded his face puzzled and his nervous hands untwining. "You are only responsible for cleaning after yourself, Harry. They will clean their own. You are not a servant, and they need to learn how to pick up after themselves on their own."

The boy looked like Severus had done a jig, but he nodded just the same. "I understand, sir, I won't."

Snape nodded. "Very good. Now get ready for bed, I will wait here."

Severus conjured a chair and set it facing away from the boy for his privacy. He heard the scurrying and the fast unclothing and clothing. He'd tell the boy to slow down, but he was happy to get out of the door as soon as possible. The boy cleared his throat, and Severus turned to see him with some degree of anger at the state of the boy's bedclothes, which looked fit for a large fifth year boy, not an eleven year old.

Severus sighed. So much to do and remedy for this child. "Up onto the bed then, Harry," he called as he walked up to the boy's bed. The boy got up scantily able to reach. The beds were too big for the shorter younger boys, and no one thought to have them grow with the children. Severus cast a spell, making all the beds lower a bit as to not have Harry feeling singled out.

The boy noticed the change and gaped at him. Severus just rolled his eyes as he stepped up to the bed. "Ready?"
The boy nodded, his lip being shredded again by his teeth. Severus would love to remedy that habit also, but not tonight. He took the boy's sheets and bought them high up to his chest before tucking in the sides tightly. The boy's face turned from nervous to outright shocked. A peek into the boy's mind showed he'd never been 'Tucked in.' Well, Severus was not doing that. He was creating a tight space for the boy to sleep. 'Yes, sure, that's it.'

He rolled his eyes at the boy, but kept tucking until the boy had to feel squished in, but the child's face looked much more at ease once he finished, "Does that feel more comfortable for you?"
The boy nodded, mumbling some things that could be thank yous, already half asleep. Severus rolled his eyes, closing the curtains around the bed and turning to stalk off. He put back on his charms and went to striding quickly away from the hideous lion's den and back to his two miscreants.

They had to have about thirty minutes or less left on their detention for being a couple of wand waving fools. Draco, his godson, would learn nothing from this. He would take no lessons from Severus after what had happened this summer. His parents were divorced and had been since the boy was nine, but up until this summer, Narcissa had lived at the manor. She, having wanted to move in with her new beau, had moved out, and Severus had moved in with the two blonde Malfoys.

Draco had correctly deducted Severus and Lucius were now together, and incorrectly thought that to be the reason his mother moved out. Now, Severus was not the boy's favorite person in the world, and Severus could not say this new attitude the boy had made him any more dear to Severus. He would just have to keep trying, for Lucius's sake.

He made it back to the classroom, where the two were writing an essay on the foolishness of pulling their wands when neither knew a single spell yet. He hoped that made its way into at least one child's essay. The red-head looked up as he walked in while the blonde kept his head bowed, purposefully ignoring his gaze. He looked to see how far along they were, and he saw the Weasley boy had gotten at least a foot in while it seemed his godson had not deigned to write a word. Severus growled and swooped over to hover menacingly over his godson. "Mr. Malfoy, what do you mean by this blank piece of parchment?"

The boy gazed up haughtily at him. "I think we both know what I mean, Severus."

Snape felt his blood run hotly through him at the boy's cheek. "Weasley!"

He did not turn to see the boy, but he knew he had jumped in his seat judging by the clatter it produced. "Yes, Professor," the child squeaked.

"Leave us! Your detention is over and your work adequate. Defy me, Weasley, and the next detention will leave your fingers bleeding."
The boy scurried from the room shouting, "Yes, sir!"

Severus had not lifted his glare from the blonde, but he allowed it to move over to the fireplace in his office. He hoped for the boy's sake that he would remain where he was. He flooed the Malfoy residence waiting for Lucius to answer. It took one more second of shouting for the man to come running into the sitting room. "Lucius! Get here, now! I am going to strangle your offspring!"

The man snorted but came through the floo as soon as Severus moved from the grate. The blonde looked as well-groomed as usual and was wearing dark navy robes. Severus rolled his eyes. "Dressed like that at this hour, Lucius? Honestly?"

The blonde smirked. "Jealous, Severus?"
Severus scoffed, glaring hotly. "Hardly, Lucius."

The blonde got in closer to him, causing Severus to narrow his eyes at the man. "I was just about to call my male suitor; however, it seems he called me."

Severus rolled his eyes. "For good reason. That blonde delinquent was in detention for pulling a wand on another student after bullying another, which will be why he serves the next few weeks of detention. I set them to writing an essay and came back to it not written and to the boy giving me an attitude. Fix your child before I ring his skinny little neck."

The man looked less than amused after he had told him what the boy had done, and Severus stormed into the classroom with Lucius following him. Draco was smirking when Severus first stepped into the room, but once Lucius followed him in, the flocking peacock deflated before him looking like the scared first year he was. Severus felt sick satisfaction at his fear.

"Draco, remain in your seat. As you can see, your father has come by, and I thought it to be an even better detention for you if he were to try and penetrate that stubborn blonde head of yours. As I know why it will be a waste of my voice to try, Lucius has gladly decided to take over your scolding."
The blonde corrected his slack jaw, by setting it in anger. Severus smirked, settling himself onto the front of his desk. He wanted a good seat for the show. "Draconis Lucius Malfoy! Pulling a wand on another student, bullying, and then having shown a lack of respect for your Professor, you really are wanting a punishment. What were you thinking?"

The boy stumbled with his words before looking down. "It was Potter, Father."

Lucius looked back at Severus, but Severus just rolled his eyes with a shrug. Lucius turned back on the boy, towering over him. "That makes no difference, Draco. You do not bully people. It will not make you a better man or wizard, and it is beneath you. Do I make myself clear?"

The boy nodded. "A verbal response, Mr. Malfoy," Severus sneered.
"Yes, sir," the boy spit with a glare.

"About that attitude you have with Severus, Draco, that is ending right this instant. Your mother left to be with her boyfriend, not because of Severus."

The boy scoffed. "Poofs," the boy said under his breath.

Severus almost jumped as Lucius smacked his son across the face. Severus was on his feet in the next second, grabbing Lucius and dragging him away from the boy. Lucius shouted, "Don't you dare disrespect me you, wretched whelp! I made you, boy!"

Severus understood it was hard to be called that by someone you loved, but he would not allow another child to be hurt in his presence. "Lucius, stop! Go home! I will take care of this!"

The man growled, but he nodded his head and left the way he had come. Severus went over to the shaking boy sitting in the same desk as he had been while his head was ducked. "Draco, I apologize for Lucius's actions. I am sure he will as well once he calms down. What he was getting at was also what you just did. We would like you to stop disrespecting us, and maybe somehow we can come to an understanding."

The blonde boy looked up at him with anger in his eyes. "I'm going to live with my mother before one of you poofs buggers me. Sod off, Snape."

The boy spat at his feet before running out of the room. Severus had occluded as soon as the slurs were thrown, and it was lucky he had. He would have hit the boy as well. The disrespectful sod never appreciated anything they did or gave him. He was the biggest git Severus knew, and it was entirely Lucius and Nacrissa's fault.

He finally stood from his seat and incendio'ed the parchment where the boy had failed to write his discrepancies. He glared at the spot and sent a charm to clean it of the ash and black. He stormed to the floo and whisked himself away to Malfoy Manor. "Lucius," he called as he made it into the entrance hall.

He heard crashing and the sound of spells rebounding, which made him correctly deduct that the man was in his dueling room. He went to see the man exploding dummies and burning half the room in his anger. Severus sighed and settled himself into a chair to wait the man out. Lucius sent one last dummy into extinction with a bombarda before turning to where Severus sat.
"What did that little… where is he?" Lucius bit out.

Severus sighed. "He stormed off. Says he is living with Narcissa. You might warn her."

Lucius nodded before coming over to him. "What did he mean about Harry Potter being the one he was bullying? Shouldn't a Gryffindor be more brave, more brash?"
Severus sighed harder this time. "This will be a longer conversation than I am prepared to give. I still have to go over it myself. I'm not ready to speak of it, just know Draco caused the boy to bust his nose and degraded the boy."

"Yes, he seems to be very good at using words to degrade people. He continued once you left, but I highly doubt I can get through to him."

Lucius growled and whipped his wand, sending a laceration spell at a well placed dummy. Severus understood it was painful for family to hurt you in this way as his father and mother had been the same with him. He rested a comforting hand on the man's shoulder and pressed his lips to the top of the man's head. "I must leave, Lucius. I am not supposed to leave the school, but I invite you to come to my rooms if need be."

His partner nodded before turning to kiss him full on the lips. Severus smirked against the lips before kissing him back. He winked before sweeping away from the man and heading back to his rooms by floo. He settled himself into his favourite armchair and allowed himself to drop his masks fully.

He looked to the heavens expecting Lily to be there looking down on all this. His sister in everything but blood, his closest confidant, and the mother to the boy he was now trying to save. He knew too much about the boy now from his poor childhood to his poor habits caused from that abuse.

He did not know how to use cutlery. He expected to be given nothing and thought of himself as a freak. He did not cry from pain like most eleven year olds and could speak of his abuse with no emotion. The boy was shaky and nervous, and his body often made itself hunched and smaller. He flinched on reflex from any loud noises or movements and angled away from touch but could not stop from pushing toward comfort.

He had seen all of this in both his talk with the child and at the meals, where he had kept his eyes on the boy. He had sent food to the boy, but knowing what he knew about the child, it would be hard for him to get much of the food down as malnourished as he was. He had seen how malnourished he was, he had seen the screaming large man in his head, and all of it made Severus feel things he had thought only Lucius brought out of him.

He wanted to protect the child. He wanted to help him. And though emotion and comfort were not his strongest skills, he would be there for the child. He was going to help him get out from under the Dursley's guardianship. He was going to help him find new guardians, who would be there for the child. He was going to do everything in his power to make it up to his sister.

He rubbed his weary eyes. "I am sorry, Lily," he said to the ceiling. "I should have been there for Harry, and I should have been there for you. Albus sent your boy to your sister. She tortured the boy as did her husband and son. I am sure you have no love left for your nephew, so I will be frank when I say he is a whale of a boy with a brutish physicality aimed at your son. They hurt him, Lily, and I am so sorry. I should have been there, and then today, I was too late to stop him from getting hurt. Lucius, as you should know, is my partner. His son Draco is not very respectful and is an ingrate. He is the one that hurt your boy, and well, I tried to punish him, but it seems everything I do is a mistake, Lily."

He sighed at himself, talking to her like this. She was long dead, and still he missed her. He missed his friend, his sister, and he felt the weight of both that and the undeniable disappointment she must feel at how he has been proceeding with his life.

He got to his feet and went to his personal bar. He was not his father, but he would not lie and say he did not enjoy a nightcap every now and then. It would be more than that tonight. It needed to be to calm the moving thoughts and ideas in his head. He poured three fingers of scotch and lifted his glass to Lily. "What's one more, Lily?"

He downed the drink in one go before setting his glass back to the bar. He didn't feel it as of yet, and he expected he would need more to feel anything. He poured another and downed it before having another on standby as he went to his seat.

He looked back to the sky as a good buzz filtered into his thoughts. "I know this isn't what you meant for me, Lily. I want to do better, and I will. For you. The boy needs my help, and I want to be there for him. Hopefully, I can find someone who loves him to take him."

He downed the third glass and stood up to go to bed. There was no reason to stay awake worrying over things. He would also not be able to make any better preparations in the state he was in now. He changed into his bedclothes and moved to his bed. He would have to settle more of these variables in the next few days and get the process for Harry's new guardianship rolling. He let those last thoughts leave him as he fell asleep.