Harry groaned, shaking badly from the pain as he slipped gently into bed. The only time he had felt this bad was when the Basilisk had bitten him. Then he had had poison moving swiftly through his veins. Now, though, his pain was for an entirely mundane reason.

His left eye was so badly swollen that he would have had a hard time seeing with it. The blood that dribbled from a cut above that eye simply finished the job, completely caking the eye shut. He reckoned he had at least two broken ribs, as breathing was becoming harder to do. His right arm was so badly broken that the bone was facing opposite to it's normal position. And though he couldn't see his back, he figured that he would have to have the fur clipped just to get rid of the knots.

Four days had gone by after he'd sent Hedwig on her mission. Harry wasn't sure if he could survive much longer. He hoped and prayed that she hadn't been caught by any of the wrong sort. His mind, however, was beginning to go into a downward spiral of worry. Thoughts of the 'What if they don't come at all?' sort were flashing through his mind.

He sighed, and tried to push the saddening thoughts away. He needed to get to sleep early, for he was unlikely to sleep that night. So, despite the sun still being up, he began to drift. His cat ears, however, were perked to any sound. It wouldn't be ten minutes before he was awoken again.

***

Two muggle-dressed figures popped into existence at the end of the street Privet Drive. One was a man, dressed all in black, and had black hair. His dark eyes held the look that would often have students ducking for cover. The other was an older women, in a gentle style of clothing. Her eyes too were hard though, and her lips were pursed.

As they started walking down the block to their destination, the man whispered just loud enough for the woman to hear "Honestly, Minerva, you'd think there would be some difference in these houses. Muggles, honestly!" Minerva just rolled her eyes in agreement with his statement. Soon enough they spotted the house they were headed for. Number 4, home to the Dursley family.

They debated on who should knock. Severus got the short end of the stick. With a sigh, he walked up the perfect stairs to knock on the perfect door. His knock had never been quiet if he was aggravated. That was most likely what spooked the inhabitants, who sounded as if they were watching the Television. The Potions Master didn't expect a whale of a man to answer the door. Said man's face was a deep shade of puce just then.

Minerva stepped up to join Severus on the porch. Once she saw the man, she stated "We are here to check on Harry." If possible the man's face grew a deeper shade, then drained completely of color. His voice, however, was gruff "Can't. The boy is out playing." Always able to spot a liar from quite a distance off, Severus nodded to Minerva. The witch smiled icily "We'll just wait for him then."

Vernon Dursley blinked, then nodded sharply and moved out of the way. The two Professors entered, and followed the man into the living room. A large boy, obviously Dudley, stared at them before waddling into the kitchen to hide. A horsey looking woman nearly gaped at seeing them. Particularly Severus, it seemed, for she mouthed 'Sev....' while her husband's back was turned.

Severus pretty much ignored the small talk Minerva had cajoled Vernon into. Instead he concentrated on Petunia. She was motioning with her eyes to the ceiling. She kept doing it so often, Severus was afraid she would get dizzy. But he got the hint, and said "May I use your bathroom? Just upstairs is it?" After Vernon nodded sharply again, he got up, locking eyes with Minerva briefly. He then headed upstairs.

***

Harry quickly hid under his bed as he heard feet on the stairs. He'd heard knocking, then voices. But his heart had been hammering so hard from hearing the distinctive pop of apparating that he could hear what was being said. However, he knew it was better to hide then to face his Uncle if he was angry. He bit at a knuckle gently, conscious of the fact that his teeth were sharp enough to break his skin easily. He then proceeded to wait.

***

Severus grumbled to himself, thankful that Petunia had told him to look upstairs. He began checking doors. One was obviously the bathroom, one a guest room. One had many toys in it, and he would have said this was Potter's room. Except that the boy wasn't in there. One was obviously the master bedroom. He looked to the last door, and was shocked to notice that there was a row of locks and chains on it. They were unlocked, but just the fact that they were there disturbed Severus greatly.

He opened it cautiously, peering inside. The room was fairly empty, except for one bed, a small wardrobe, and a desk. He would have turned and left if something hadn't caught his eye. The very tip of a black furred tail peeking out from under the bed. His mind quickly flashed back to that Spring, when he had seen a tail-tip similar to the one he was seeing now. He entered the room slowly, eyes on the bed now.

"Potter? I know your in here, I suggest you show yourself before my patience is expended." Severus said in a cool voice. Though no others would know it, save for a few, this was a cover. He was deeply shaken by what he had seen. His sharp black eyes noticed that the bed seemed to be stained with something. It was a deep red color, so deep as to be almost brown. That shook him more then he cared to admit, for he suspected he knew what that stain was.

Harry stopped chewing on his finger when he heard the Professor's voice. They had come! Hedwig had made it and someone had come! But what if it wasn't for the right side? What if Snape was trying to get him for the evil sort? Better to be safe then sorry in any case. He thus crept closer to the edge of where the shadows were, just enough so that his good eye could gaze at Snape. He reckoned he could be seen from there without showing too much of his wounds. It wasn't a good idea to show weakness in front of what one would call an 'enemy'.

Severus sighed, and murmured "Stubborn child. I said show yourself, not just an eye." With that he levitated the bed across the room. It took all his control not to drop the bed as he saw Potter in his full glory. Besides the eye and arm, his back was covered with welts. So many so that the shirt was barely staying together by threads. And by the way the boy was breathing thinly, it wasn't too hard to guess that a rib or two was broken.

Harry cursed mentally as he was revealed. Sitting up, he bit his lip to keep from crying out as his movement jarred his broken arm. Quickly cradling the injured limb with his good arm, he looked at Snape with a mixture of fear and relief in his eye. Relief that he would undoubtedly be getting out of here. Fear for what the Professor thought of him just then.

Severus thought 'What did that bastard do to you, Potter?' He then backed up his thoughts, shocked that he was concerned for the brat. With a mental sigh, he conjured a Patronus to tell Minerva to come upstairs, and make sure Vernon was well bound before doing so. He then approached Potter slowly, pulling out one of the few potions he had brought with him. A disinfectant, as he noticed the wounds had an ugly green tinge to them.

Harry blinked, surprised to see what looked like a doe Patronus bounding away. However, when he noticed Snape approaching, it took all his self-control not to back up, or even flinch. His ears flicked as Snape lowered himself onto his knees so that he was looking Harry in the eye. The Professor then held out a potion that looked disgusting, and stated simply "Drink." Knowing that it was likely one of the healing potions that tasted nasty, he swiftly opened it and downed the contents.

Severus fought to keep from smirking as the boy-cat shuddered at the taste, and muttered "There has to be a way to make potions taste less objectionable." He ignored that last bit, and said "Where's your wand, Potter?" The child seemed surprised at the question, then said "Locked in my trunk, sir. Which in turn is locked in the cupboard under the stairs." Severus cursed softly under his breath, but stopped at seeing the boy's eyes widen.

Just then Minerva came into the room in a rush. She stopped dead at spotting what looked like a beaten and bloody panther. She then caught sight of the good eye, and the lightning-bolt scar above said eye. This was one of her little lions(which would be quite literal just then.) She felt a rage start bubbling in her stomach to spread through her limbs. Whether the child had been in a fight or not, to let the wounds start going septic meant heavy neglect.

Severus said quietly "Watch him, Minerva. I need to get the boy's trunk." She nodded, and the Potions Master headed back down the stairs to see this cupboard. He found it easily enough, as it wasn't hard to miss if one was looking for it. Unlocking the door, he saw the boy was indeed telling the truth. Something made him cast Lumos however. What he saw in one corner made him want to curse the Dursleys five ways to Monday. Casting the same levitation spell that he used on the bed, he brought the trunk up to the boy's room.

Harry's mind was still reeling at the colorful curses that Snape had spoken. How would his Uncle be able to do that, even if he'd been magical?! He didn't notice that McGonagall was watching him with sadness in her eyes. Or barely concealed rage for that matter. If he had, he most likely would have thought that she was angry at him. After all, he was the wizard, shouldn't he have defended himself somehow?

Harry did his best not to start as the trunk lowered next to him, with the lock facing towards the door. He had to hide a smirk however, as both Professors tried and failed to open it. After three minutes of that, he finally stated in a controlled voice "Let me do that, Professors." He approached the trunk, after having gotten up rather wobbly, and knelt so he could pass the left hand over the locks. The trunk immediately sprang open, and Harry reached in to grab his wand. He felt complete again, as well as more in control of his magic.

Both Severus and Minerva gaped as Harry opened the trunk simply by passing his hand over it. Severus recovered first, and shook his head. Closing and relocking the trunk, he shrunk it so that it would fit in a pocket. He then sent out a Patronus to the Order to make sure the Dursley's were taken care of. Afterwards, he withdrew a simple potion's vial, and tapped it while chanting an unknown spell.

Harry gazed, mystified, as Snape took care of things. He then gazed warily at the now glowing vial. Snape said in a quiet voice "This is a Portkey, Mr. Potter. It will take us directly to Hogwarts. You simply have to grab it with your good p...hand." Harry nodded, and proceeded to do so. He was still a bit out of it, or he might have caught Snape's slip of the tongue.

Minerva also grasped the vial, her eyes cloudy as her thoughts progressed. If they couldn't get Dursley to trial for this, she was going to handle it herself. And from the look Severus passed her just before the Portkey activated, he was thinking the same thing. Either way, Vernon Dursley was going to reap the rewards of his abuse towards one of her lions. Of that, she was determined.