Disclaimer: I took some sentences and ideas from the books for this portion. Just to let everyone know now. (before writing) Gonna be honest, went a little deep on this one, and learned something as I wrote. I was a tad surprised. I get why I shouldn't even write CP in my stories. Damn, odd seeing that now. (during writing) Wow, this is long and I went a little deep. Going to give fair warning on triggers for child abuse near the end. Nothing too graphic, but it's mentioned with some detail. (after writing)

Chapter Ten

The youngest player in a century... Harry blushed to the tips of his toes, his whole body warm warring between pride and embarrassment, as Ron and the twins talked about their chances this year. They were in high spirits, and Harry was feeling rather good himself. He had done something astonishing, and his Professor had said he was proud of him. Not much could ruin his mood.

The one thing was Malfoy appearing behind him, Crabbe at his side. Harry could wonder as to where Goyle was, but the boy seemed less likely to follow Malfoy around after their first encounter. Malfoy sneered, his face looking white and pinched. "Well, Potty, when are you going back to being a Muggle? McGonagall looked ready to tear into your arse."

Harry glared at the boy, but he could see from the behind where he stood that Harry's Professor was watching them with narrowed eyes. Harry was already in for it, lines for two days the man had said, every day this weekend he'd promised, and Harry didn't want to make that worse.

"You act pretty tough here on the ground, Malfoy. Especially with Crabbe at your back. Lot different than facing me yourself."

The blonde-haired boy sneered, his hand going to his wand. "I can take you, Wee Baby Potty. Tonight, a wizard's duel. Wand only. What? Too Muggle to know what a Wizard's duel is, Potty? Do you need to ask the Professor for help?"

Harry bristled at the taunts, but he was stopped from replying when Ron shoved to his feet. "Of course, he knows. I'm his second, whose yours?"

"Crabbe. Midnight in the trophy room that's always left unlocked. Oh, and Potty, do try not to tell the Professor. No one likes little whining babies."

Harry could only watch as the boy stalked off, Crabbe following behind. "What does Malfoy mean by mentioning the Professor all the time, Harry?" Ron's question interrupted Harry's thoughts and was not a welcome interruption. Harry wasn't sure he was allowed to tell anyone Professor Snape helped him, and he was confident that Ron wouldn't take it well. He would just have to distract the boy. "Nevermind that, Ron. What even is a Wizard's duel? Why do I need a second?"

Ron's eyes flew wide, but he didn't make any taunts about Harry's lack of knowledge. That made Harry feel a little better. "Harry, mate, a wizard's duel is just what as it sounds. You shoot hexes and curses at your enemy, and if one of you dies, your second steps in your place."

"Dies! Ron, are you bloody mad!"

The red-headed boy put his hands up. "Come on, Harry, I wouldn't put you into danger. Most that will happen is the two of you shoot sparks at each other. It isn't like either of you know any spells."

Harry sighed, raking a hand through his hair. He felt like this was something his Professor would want to know about, but he also knew that Malfoy was right. No one liked a whining baby, and if Harry told the man about the duel, he would be worse than a baby, he would be a rat. Harry couldn't keep going to his Professor for such small things, or the man would think him weak and a baby.

"Excuse me."

Harry turned to see Hermione Granger standing behind them. She looked to be carrying her own shelf of books, and her face was pinched with irritation.

"Can't a person eat in peace in this place?"

Harry felt the same at this point. Hadn't they been interrupted enough today?

"I couldn't help overhearing what you and Malfoy were saying..."

"Bet you could," Ron sniped.

Harry elbowed his friend, not liking the look his words brought to the girl's face. She seemed a lot less sure of herself now, and Harry could see the slight trembling in her arms. "You really shouldn't go wandering around the castle at night. Think of the points you'll lose Gryffindor if you're caught, and you are bound to be. It would really be rather selfish of you."

Harry felt it would be even more selfish of him if he were to tell his Professor. He didn't like the guilt the girl brought out in him, so he glared at her. "And it's really none of your business," Harry snapped at the girl.

"Good-bye," Ron pronounced before turning back to his meal.

Harry agreed with the boy's words and turned his back on the girl, hoping she didn't feel terrible. He didn't want to be mean to anyone, but the girl needed to mind her business. This was no concern of hers, and if she kept on, she'd make him feel guilty enough to tell his Professor everything Harry had done wrong. Harry couldn't have that happen, not after he already got in trouble for the day.

Snape

Something was definitely going on with Harry, but Severus decided to allow the child to deal with it on his own. The boy was not an invalid, and Severus was no Nurse-maid. If the boy needed his help, he would seek him out.

Severus's Friday night was looking a lot better than his day had been, even if seeing the excited look on Harry's face had made him feel a degree of happiness. Lucius was set on them having a date night, but as Severus was needed for his duties at Hogwarts, they were going to have it in his quarters. Severus had even forgone food at dinner so that he may eat with Lucius.

Severus made his way to his quarters and was unsurprised to see the man was already there, a meal prepared and the record player set to some sort of muggle music. Severus rolled his eyes as his partner smirked in his direction, but he allowed that to fade into a light smile as he took his seat. Lucius joined him, fire-whisky in hand, and Severus found his own tumbler of the liquid waiting on him by his plate. Severus raised his glass at the man before draining it in the one go.

"Well, are we having a go of getting sloshed or was your day just that good?"

Lucius already sounded more inebriated than usual, his usual proper tones fading. Severus smirked at the man and called the bottle to him, pouring himself another. "Let me catch up while I inform you, hm?"

The man nodded, sipping at his own drink. "Please, go on, Sev."

Severus rolled his eyes at the nickname, allowing it while the man was so... disarmed. It was as attractive to Severus as the way Lucius was smitten with Severus's Harry persona, or so Lucius had dubbed it. The two of them were a pair, falling for each other's least guarded personas.

"The first-years had flying class today."

"What did the little ankle-biters do?"

Severus let himself snort in an undignified manner. "Ah, only two blighters deigned to cause a ruckus."

"Two? Well, if you are so exhausted, one was Harry."

Severus nodded, taking another sip of his alcohol. "The other was Draco, of course. He had stolen something from the Longbottom boy, a weak-willed child, and then taunted Harry. The little hero that he is, he jumps onto a broom for the first time and saves the object in a fifty-foot dive, at least that is how McGonagall tells it."

"Fifty feet on his first go... A Potter he is."

Severus snarled. "Do not remind me."

Lucius looked surprised. "Is that what has you so bent out of shape, Severus? We already know the boy could be less like James Potter than any random child on the street."

Severus sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You are right. That's not what has me so tense. The boy is going to be the Seeker."

"AS A FIRST-YEAR? Are they mad?"

Severus shook his head and allowed it to collapse into his hands in his frustration. "They aren't. Merlin, he's brilliant on a broom, Lucius. Minerva had the boy demonstrate for me, and you should have seen how he moved. I wanted so terribly to yank him from the air, but his face... Lucius, I have never seen the boy so relaxed. It was like he was a part of the broom itself the way it responded to him. He did this on a Cleansweep, Lucius, and now, he will be the youngest Seeker in a century."

Severus was surprised to hear his partner laughing and turned from his resigned position to glare at the man. "I'm sorry, Severus, truly. It's just... You get so worked up just to fawn over the boy. He has you wrapped around his tiny finger. Merlin, you let him convince you to let him on the Quidditch team. Did you even punish the boy for his actions in class?"

Severus blushed, thinking of his lame attempt to be stern that afternoon, telling the child he would be doing lines for the next two days. "He has detention for the next two days with me. Filch is taking Draco."

Lucius sighed. "Yes, Draco. Still into trouble, still acting out, but what am I to do? What does he want from me, Severus?"

Severus sighed as well because he knew he could not answer that for his friend. Draco wanted what every little boy wanted, his family to be together and whole, and sadly, that could not be the case. His parents had already moved on, and Draco was unable to accept it. Severus knew Lucius knew that already, so there really was nothing Severus could provide as an insight. It might be better if the boy spent some time with his mother to see how pleased she was with her new beau.

"I have nothing more to offer on the subject, though I gather the time with his mother may help matters. It may be best to leave it up to Narcissa for now, Lucius."

The blonde nodded and downed the rest of his glass. "Pass me the bottle, love."

Severus rolled his eyes at the pet name and conjured water into his partner's glass. "I think we have had enough, 'love.' I think it's time we had dinner."

Lucius groaned but began sipping the water and taking bites of his food. Severus smirked in the man's direction before following his lead. They finished after some time and retired to the bedroom. Severus was sure they wouldn't be disturbed for the night and trusted his wards to alert him to the needs of his students.

Harry

There had been a gigantic three-headed dog, huge and monstrous, a-and... It had almost eaten them all. Harry had nearly gotten all four of them killed or at least caught out of their beds, and why? Because he didn't want to look like a baby...

Now, he looked stupid, letting Malfoy lead him out of bounds in the middle of the night, almost getting caught by Filch. Why did he let the boy get under his skin so terribly? It wasn't as if Harry was an idiot... Well, maybe now he should reconsider how he saw himself. He had to be an idiot because, here, he was out of bed again in the middle of the night, standing in front of his Professor's office door.

Harry was going to tattle on himself because he still felt guilty, and the guilt was eating away at him, not letting him sleep. Ron and Neville had already fallen asleep, but Harry had just stayed flat on his bed, dreading his thoughts but being unable to stop them. How could he have been so stupid?

Harry raised his hand and knocked on his Professor's door. He waited, knowing it was late but hoping that just maybe the man was in his office, but that was an even dumber thought. Why would the man spend his night in his office? Why would he even come to the door for Harry? Harry had acted like a git. A stupid, selfish git, just like Hermione had said.

"Harry?"

Harry glanced, from where he was wringing his hands, to see his Professor coming from farther down the corridor. Harry snatched his hands apart, stuffing them into his robe pockets. His teeth scraped over his lip one last time before letting go. "Professor."

The man's eyebrow was tilted at an angle, and his arms were crossed over his chest, and even though Harry knew that meant he wanted an answer, he just couldn't get the words out this time. His gaze dropped to look at the slippers the man had gotten him last weekend, and the guilt ate at him some more for having woken the man. Why did he feel the need to burden his Professor so much? The man must hate him, or at least find him irritating.

"Come."

Harry looked up from under his fringe in confusion as the man gestured for him to go in the direction he arrived. Harry stepped past the man, keeping his distance, but that was for no reason as the man grabbed his shoulder and gently steered him to a door down the corridor. His Professor opened the door after whispering the password and led Harry to a couch just inside past the entryway.

Harry was unceremoniously pushed onto the couch, his robe magicked away onto a coat rack. The blanket from behind the sofa snaked its way around his shoulders, bringing his attention to his shaking body. He clasped his hands in the soft fabric and tightened it around his body as he curled his legs up to his chest and pulled himself into a ball. His breathing, which he noted was running fast, slowed as the seconds ticked away.

"Better?"

Harry looked up to find his Professor seated in an armchair directly across from him, a cup of tea in his hands. Harry looked down to see another waiting for him on the table between them and reached for it. He didn't check before taking a sip, knowing the man would have made it perfect. The small drink warmed him inside, but his mind still felt racing with guilt and thoughts.

"Are you able to discuss what brought you here, or should this wait till morning?"

Harry's eyes shot up to his Professor's in shock. "Let me wait?"

His Professor cocked an eyebrow. "You hardly seem able to form a coherent sentence. If time is what you need, I am agreeable to give it. However, you will stay in these quarters if all you are going to do is have another panic attack."

Harry's eyes felt misty, and his hands started shaking. His Professor shot a spell at his cup, and Harry watched as the liquid stopped from spilling. He flashed a small smile to the man before looking back to the drink that awaited him. "Stay here?"

"If that is what you need," the man pronounced slowly.

Harry felt too insecure about looking up, but the offer to stay had seemed precisely what he needed. Well, it wasn't an offer exactly, more of a threat, but the idea of being so close to his Professor made him feel safe. Harry wanted to feel safe and less like a burden and less guilty and less stupid... He should just tell the man the truth.

"I was outta bed."

Harry heard the man snort and glanced up to see him smirking. "I can see that."

Harry flushed, digging his fingers into the blanket. "B'fore this, sir. Malfoy wanted to duel at midnight. It was just supposed to be Ron and me going, but Hermione and Neville got locked out of Common Room cos the Fat Lady had left for something else."

Harry cut himself off as tears started to fall. He jammed his palms into his eyes and huffed, exasperated with himself for crying when he was the one at fault. Harry should have never gone in the first place. He was so stupid, and now, he was crying like some baby.

"What happened at the duel, Harry?"

Harry's eyes found his Professor's, and the man's face betrayed none of his feelings. "Nothing, sir. I-I was tricked by Malfoy. Filch was there instead, and well, we ran off. We were on the third floor, and then we hid behind this door when Filch got too close. But... There was this giant monster, and it was right there behind us, and... Sir, could we have died? I-I think we could have."

Harry cut himself off with his own sobs, and his breathing was heavier than it had been as he tried to choke down on his tears. He felt a dip in the couch before he was pulled to the chest of his Professor. Harry let go of the blanket and grasped onto the man, burying his face in his Professors chest as he sobbed.

He could have gotten them all killed, and all because of some stupid rivalry with Draco bloody Malfoy. He would never do something like this again. He couldn't take it if he got someone hurt. He would be bloody stupid to let his pride get to him like this again, and it hadn't even meant anything. No one would have even seen the duel, no one would have cared about some first years firing off tickling jinxes at each other.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I won't do it again, I promise. Please, sir, I'm sorry."

Harry found himself babbling apologies as his sobs lessened enough for words, but he was hushed quickly by his Professor as the man patted him on the back. Harry was soothed by the man's calm presence and the comforting hug enough that he found his tears ending and his breathing slowing. In the next second, he fell into sleep, allowing the tiredness he had been fighting to take him.

Harry blinked as he looked up at the stone ceiling above him. His eyes were blurry, and he couldn't feel his glasses on his face. He didn't remember taking them off, but they were obviously missing. He sat up, looking around in confusion as he saw he was on a couch in someone's sitting room.

No, not someone, his Professor's sitting room. Had he really slept there last night? He remembered crying and being hugged, and then... Well, he must have fallen asleep.

Harry spotted his glasses on the end table and put them on so he could see better. He looked around, seeing a kitchenette behind him as well as a small table and chairs. In front of him was a fireplace with a fire warming him as Harry took in his Professors rooms. Bookshelves were lining the walls, and he followed them to a desk in the corner of the room, a desk where his Professor sat.

Harry blushed as he stood up, coming around the sofa to where his Professor had sat, glancing at some parchment on his desk. Harry stood by the desk, waiting for the man to say anything at all, but he was left waiting for what might have been three minutes. The man glanced up at him and gestured to a chair placed by the man's desk, facing... The chair faced the corner, and Harry felt his stomach sink to his feet.

Time-out... His Professor was going to put him in time-out, but that was a babies punishment. Harry wasn't a baby, even if he kept acting like one with all his whinging. He could take a real punishment, he would just have to explain.

"Sir, I can take a thrashing, promise. I can take anything, really. I know I keep crying, but I promise, I'm not a baby. I can even take the cane, really, sir."

His Professor stood and lifted Harry from his feet. Harry tensed in fear, but all that happened was the man placing him on the chair. Harry turned to argue again, but he was met with the man turning his head to face the wall. Harry sighed, his shoulders sinking in resignation. He would just have to face a babies punishment until the man let him up, then he could convince him he was tough enough.

"You will sit there for twelve minutes, barring any need for the facilities. We will then discuss what you did wrong, and all will be forgiven. I will not hear any more about you being hit, Mr Potter. Have I made myself clear?"

Harry felt shocked. This was all the punishment he was going to get. He couldn't let himself get off so easy. "Sir, this isn't enough. I-I did something awful."

His Professor sighed. "We will discuss after your time is up."

Harry nodded, his shoulders slumped. His Professor thought he was too weak to get a real punishment. No one besides babies got time-outs, and they weren't even a punishment. All Harry could do was sit here and think about everything he had done... Was that the point? Was he supposed to sit here and think about how much he screwed up? That did kind of seem like a punishment, but not one that Harry had ever had.

Did ordinary people get punished like this? Fre... People like him, well, they got the belt or the cane or whatever else suited Uncle Vernon, but was that all wrong? Was that why his Professor kept from hitting him even when he got into so much trouble. Maybe he should listen to his Professor, the man seemed to always be right.

"Okay, you may turn your chair around, Harry."

Harry did as the man said and faced his Professor. The man was seated at his desk and had his hands steepled to his lips. Harry felt himself shiver just a bit at the stern look, but he knew he deserved that and more. "I-I'm sorry, sir."

"What are you sorry for, Harry?"

Harry blanked. Didn't the man remember, or was this also part of the punishment? "Uhm, well, I'm sorry for being so stupid and selfish..."

"Stop. You will stop berating yourself, in your mind or here while we speak. You are just to state what you did wrong and understand it was a mistake. We are all humans, we all make mistakes. We are not infallible. You will only tell me where your actions went wrong, and then we will move on with our day."

Harry's eyebrows disappeared into his hairline, but he continued as his Professor prompted. "I snuck out after curfew. I ran from a teacher when I was going to be caught. Uhm, I went to the third-floor corridor. I let Malfoy get under my skin and trick me. Uh, I think that's all, Professor."

The man nodded. "Yes, because if you hadn't come to me, that would have been your last offence. When something bothers you, or you think your actions made lead to trouble, I want you to come to me, Harry. Preferably, before you scar yourself for life, which I am sure is the case now."

Harry smiled weakly at the man, but his Professor was also giving his trying for smiling face. "I'm sorry again, sir, but I don't think time-out is enough. I could have gotten Ron killed."

His Professor sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Who accepted the duel, Harry?"

"What?"

"I just want to know, who was it that said you would be at the duel?"

Harry felt his hands want to wring nervously. "Well, Ron, sir, but I agreed."

"Now, Mr Weasley was the one to accept, what was his position in this duel?"

Harry flushed. "My second, sir."

"And he gave himself this position as I assume you had no idea what even consisted of duelling in the magical world. Correct?"

Harry nodded, lightly scraping his teeth over his lip. "Yessir, but Ron isn't the only one."

"No. You are right. I am also trying to explain that Mr Weasley made his own choices to be there with you."

"What about Neville and Hermione?"

His Professor smirked. "Did you force them to come with you? I doubt Ms Granger would allow such a thing, though I can see where Longbottom would not have the gall to disagree."

Harry glared at the man, his temper riled. "Neville chose to come with us because he couldn't get inside, but he's not as cowardly as you always say. He's a Gryffindor too, and he's my friend."

His Professor didn't lose his smirk. "So you agree, he can make his own decisions? What a surprise. Everyone there made the decision to come along, knowing it was not where you were meant to be."

Harry flushed, realizing his Professor had tricked him, and he couldn't even argue it because he was the one that said so. His Professor was right. He had made mistakes just like everyone else. But, that didn't mean a baby's punishment was all he deserved. "Sir, I still think I deserve a harsher punishment."

His Professor stood, grasping his shoulder as he knelt before him. "Harry, the punishment I gave you was enough. Let me ask you, do you think what you did was wrong?"

Harry nodded, almost outraged the man would ask. "Of course, sir."

The man smirked. "Would you do it again?"

Harry shook his head, fiercely. "No, of course, not. I couldn't do that again."

The man almost smiled. "Then you have gotten all the punishment you need. You learned your lesson."

Harry was still confused. "But, sir, punishment is supposed to hurt?"

Harry found himself pulled against the man, the man hugging him to his chest. "No, Harry it is not. Punishments are meant to teach you that you had done wrong, not to hurt you. Pain is not a tool to use on children, no matter the circumstances."

Harry was so confused, but he grasped onto his Professor and tried to understand what the man said. If what the man said was true, then every punishment he had ever received was wrong. Was everything from the Dursley's wrong?

Severus

"Harry, have you finished your lines?"

The small child looked up from where he was writing his lines in his office. Saturday's lines were already at his desk, but Severus had not even counted them to verify the child had done the two-hundred set. The child had argued for more punishment the same day. There was no possible way he would have shirked even a letter.

"I have about ten more to go, sir. Should I finish up soon?"

Severus felt the need to tell the boy about his meeting with his caseworker, but he had not gotten up the courage to explain to him after the weekend they had experienced. She was coming by before dinner, and it was only twenty minutes until she and Lucius were due to arrive. It was now or never, and Severus would hate to blindside the child.

"Finish up and then join me."

The child nodded and began writing away with his quill. The work he had put into his writing showed in his lines. The boy was a hard worker who gave all his effort. Severus watched from his desk as the boy finished the ten or so lines. The child brought the lines to his desk, and Severus made a cursory pursual of the page before dropping it to settle with the other.

"Good job, Harry. Thank you for putting in so much effort."

The boy smiled, and Severus took the lull in conversation to lead them to their usual conjured chairs. Severus called for tea and biscuits for the boy, being answered with the requested items nearly immediately. He began making the boy's tea and serving his plate before handing both to the wide-eyed boy. Today was supposed to be their lesson time, but Severus found himself dreading the meeting too much to put in the effort.

Severus was unsure how the boy would react to the news, but there was no reason to prevaricate. "Harry, I need to inform you that in a manner of minutes, we will be meeting with your caseworker. She is a kind lady, and she wished to discuss with you some details that you already told me. Would you be alright with that?"

Severus watched the boy's hands as the trembled slightly, but the boy seemed mostly together if a little too pale. The child nodded and went back to his tea. Severus could understand avoiding a topic until absolutely necessary, so he didn't badger the boy for more.

It was nearing five when the floo sounded. Lucius stepped through and settled at the entrance with his hand extended. The witch that followed took the hand and allowed him to steady her as she exited. She had black hair, arched eyebrows, and a face that reminded Severus of someone he had long thought in Azkaban. Severus knew Bellatrix to be in Azkaban, and he knew this woman as well, she was the eldest sister, Andromeda.

"Thank you, Lucius. Honestly, I have such trouble with the floo, as does my daughter."

Lucius was smiling, though Severus noted it was his half-genuine smile, and he kissed the witch's hand before gesturing her forward. "Please, take a seat, Andromeda."

The witch's smile reached her eyes when she caught sight of Harry, and she made her way to him, stopping short of his personal space and extending her hand slowly. "Hello, you must be Harry. It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Andromeda Tonks, but you may call me Andromada."

Severus was pleased with her introduction and mannerisms. They were slow and cautious, allowing Harry to process them. The child took the hand after a moment with a shy smile. "Hullo, I'm Harry. It's nice to meet you."

Severus would have to teach the boy more about wizarding customs as he was supposed to have stood for that introduction. Still, there was something to say about how polite the child was. He would discuss the topic on a later, less taxing date.

"Thank you for meeting with me, Harry. Would you mind terribly if I took a seat with you and your Professor?"

Severus watched the child shake his head, his eyes wide. Severus knew the boy was surprised to be asked, but in this matter, the boy's opinion trumped all others. Severus stood as Andromeda approached. She smiled kindly as she grasped his hand. "Hello, again, Professor Snape. I am glad this is the first time we have seen each other this year. I assume we will have less frequent meetings now that Nymphadora has graduated."

Severus smirked. "One can hope, Madame Tonks."

She rolled her eyes. "Andromeda. But, yes, I hope we never have to attend to matters like these, but I am always glad to help."

Severus frowned, nodding at the mention of his other cases. If only she knew how different this one was for him, she might understand how much he never wanted to see another case. "Thank you for coming. Please, take a seat."

She and Lucius both sat in the other armchairs, Lucius closest to Severus and Andromeda closer to Harry. Severus retook his seat and kept his attention on the boy as Andromeda began. "Now, Harry, I wanted to ask you some questions and see how you are doing, would that be alright?"

The child nodded, his hands tapping restlessly on his pant legs. Severus appreciated it more than the hand wringing or lip biting, so he would allow it for now. "I think that's fine, ma'am, uh, Andromeda."

"Good, first, can I ask you about where you slept when you were living with the Dursleys?"

The boy gulped. "Well, the, uh, cupboard under the stairs, ma'am."

Severus noted Andromeda's professionalism. "Thank you, Harry, and how long did you sleep there?"

The boy's lips received a small scrape of his teeth. "Since I can remember. Then when the letters started coming, they got worried they were being spied on and moved me to my cousin's second bedroom."

"Second bedroom?" Lucius asked.

The child nodded, sitting up slightly. "Yeah, I mean, yes, sir. He had a room where he put all his broken toys. They were still there when I slept there."

Lucius frowned. "I see. Sorry for the interruption, Andromeda."

She nodded slightly, turning back to Harry. "And did you have any toys, Harry?"

The boy frowned, his eyes staring at his feet. "There were these toy soldiers I kept from the bin. They were broken because Dudley thought them rubbish, but I kept them."

Andromeda nodded, and Severus focused more on the child and keeping his face as schooled as possible. "Was there anything else they gave you that was Dudley's?"

The boy nodded, his eyes not resurfacing. "Yeah, his old cast-offs. They were massive on me, cos I'm small. I got new clothes now though, but I have to keep from losing them the Professor said. Dudleys were always getting lost or turned to rags. They were always stained too, and I never could keep them clean while I did my chores."

"Chores, Harry?"

Harry's eyes resurfaced his eyes less dim. "Yeah, I did all the chores. I cooked, cleaned, weeded the garden, did the washing, and anything else they could think of."

"And your cousin, what did he do?"

The child looked back down at that question, his hands slightly twining. Severus tapped the child's hands and was rewarded with a small smile from the boy. Severus tried to smile back, to reassure the child, and Harry faced Andromeda again, his eyes meeting hers. "He didn't do anything, ma'am. He was their precious son, and they loved him."

Severus was happy she didn't ask the boy if his guardians loved him. He could do without seeing how broken that would make the boy. It was hard enough seeing the light dimmed in his eyes. "Now, what happened if you did something wrong, like not finish your chores?"

Harry winced, rubbing his stomach in what might have been remembered pain. "They liked to lock me in my cupboard without food as punishment. The worst punishments were if I did magic."

"And did you do magic a lot?"

Severus watched as the boy shrugged. "Sometimes. Once When Dudley chased me at school, I ended up on the roof. Another time a teacher was rude, and I turned her hair blue. Then there was this snake at the zoo that my cousin and his friend were bothering. I let it out of its cage, and Dudley got scared."

"And what did the Dursleys do to you?"

The boy's eyes filled with tears, and his lip was pierced by his teeth. Severus tapped the boy's chin and watched blood drip from the wound as the child let the lip slip from his teeth. "They beat me. They would hurt me, and Professor Snape says punishments shouldn't hurt. He says they should make you understand you had done wrong. I never knew I was doing anything wrong. All I knew was I had to stop being freakish, but I didn't know how. Honest. I didn't."

Severus gathered the boy close, hugging the child to him as he sobbed. He glared at Andromeda, watching as her eyes filled with sympathy. He did not feel any kinder at her apologetic face. How could he when the boy sobbed so heavily against him? "I think that's enough."

She nodded. "I agree. Would you like to settle him somewhere then we should speak?"

Severus nodded, gathering the boy into his arms as he stood. He carried the child to the entrance to his quarters and didn't bother whispering as he said the password. Now that the child knew where he lived, there was no reason to hide how he could get to him if he needed him.

He sat on his couch, placing the boy beside him. The child was wiping at his eyes with his robe sleeve, and Severus tsked as he handed the child one of his handkerchiefs. "Use that, child."

The boy nodded, wiping his eyes and blowing his nose before pocketing the cloth. "Thank you, Professor. I feel a little better now."

Severus nodded and gestured to the couch. "Lie back."

The boy looked confused as he followed the order. Severus spelt the boy's robe to the rack and his shoes to the front door before taking the blanket from the back of the sofa and draping it over the boy. "Sir?"

Severus smirked as he tucked the child in, making sure he was secure. "I think you would do better with a rest while I go speak to the caseworker. If I find out you have gotten up in my absence, well... you will regret it."

The boy giggled before nodding. "I'll rest, promise."

Severus nodded as well before sweeping out of his quarters. He shook his head, trying to understand what had just happened and who he was before returning to the other two. It was for nothing as his head still spun when he stepped back into his office.

"Ah, Severus, thank you for joining us."

Severus sneered at Lucius and turned his black gaze to Andromeda. His emotions felt uncontrollable and fierce as he thought of how she had made him cry. "Just what were you doing? You already saw the Pensieve memories, you heard already what he told me."

She nodded. "I know that, Severus. I was only here to confirm the details and see how the boy was mentally. In comparison to the first time, he was much better emotionally. His words didn't speak of brainwashing, and their actions were not defended by him. In only two weeks, the boy has managed to at least question everything they said, but you know that because you are the one helping him, aren't you?"

Severus rolled his eyes. "Well, of course, I am. The boy needs my help."

She was smiling now, her grin stretching across her face. "Yes, he does seem to favour your help. So, I suppose the hunt for a guardian is finished?"

Severus snorted. "Hardly. The child will only want to be with me until we find him a proper guardian."

"Proper guardian? Severus, you do realize that anyone can be a guardian, anyone can take in a child, including you?"

Severus sneered at her sentimentality, her optimistic views. "The boy does not deserve me as a guardian. He deserves someone better."

Lucius decided now was the time to bud into the conversation, "Does he think that?"

Severus glared. "He doesn't know any better, as you can tell from his past guardians."

"I disagree. It seemed, he was very sure who was correcting the mistakes of his past guardians," Lucius said with a smirk.

Severus growled low in irritation. "He deserves someone better than me. Why don't you understand that?"

Andromeda stepped forward her face masked, but her tone gentle, "He deserves to be happy, and if his happiness is found with you, would you turn him away?"

Severus glared at the gall of the woman. "I would never turn him away."

She nodded. "So it is settled. You will take Harry's guardianship until such a time as he considers someone else. If that time never comes, well, I suppose you are stuck with him. Agreed?"

"Agreed," Lucius said grinning.

Severus sighed, nodding his head in resignation. "Very well."

Andromeda smiled kindly, patting his arm. "I will have the paperwork drawn up and signed by the correct officials by next weekend."

Severus could feel nothing but nerves eating away at him.