In the depths of the dungeons of Hogwarts, a school for witchcraft and wizardry, there was a dour man teaching his least favorite class of the day, fifth year potions. It was only his least favorite because of the amount of cauldron melting dunderheads in it. In particular, a defiant raven hair brat known as Potter.

However, on this day, the Potter brat held a mystery the potions master wanted to get to the bottom of. Earlier, when Potter had reached to grab potion supplies, his sleeve had slightly risen, revealing what Severus knew was a bruise. From the brief glance the Professor had gotten, it had looked like the injury wrapped around his wrist. The injury someone would receive if they were grabbed too hard by someone. 

Unfortunately, as a Professor, Severus was required to ask questions if he had any inkling of anyone hurting a student. Severus braced himself and looked around his classroom to make sure no one had blown up yet. He sighed silently and banished both Longbottom's and Potter's potions. They looked like they were both at the brink of exploding into a sticky mess. Why couldn't he have one class without exploding cauldrons? Was it that hard to just follow directions?

"Everyone passes for the day except for the potions that were vanished." Here, Severus glared at his students. 

"Now get out of my sight. Except", Severus pointed at Harry, "you Potter. Stay here."

All the students gathered their books in their bags and quickly left the potions master's classroom, except for Potter and his friends. Ron and Hermione didn't want to leave their friend alone with the dour man.

With the glare from the professor, though, Hermione gave Harry a sympathetic look and Ron gave his shoulder a pat before leaving the room. Behind them, Severus yelled for them to inform Professor McGonagall that Harry would be late for her class. 

Severus had watched the interaction intently and didn't miss the slight flinch the boy gave when touched by his friend. There was definitely something to unwrap here.

Severus sighed, and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Why is it always you, Potter?"

Confused, Harry shrugged his shoulders slightly and looked down at his shoes. He had no idea what he had done apart from not brew his potion correctly. He didn't understand why he had been singled out, though, Neville had also failed at brewing his potion.

Severus pulled a stool out in front of his student and pointed at the seat, indicating the boy to sit. "Sit and roll up your sleeve, Potter."

Harry nervously sat down on the stool and pulled up his right sleeve. The boy knew where this was going now and purposely exposed the wrong arm. Hoping this would be the end of it. He had been so careful to keep the bruise hidden. Harry knew his sleeve had ridden up earlier, but he hadn't thought anyone had seen anything. He really didn't want to cause any more trouble. He had wanted to keep under the radar this year and just survive.

"Your other sleeve."

Reluctantly, Harry lowered his right sleeve and gently raised his left sleeve, revealing the bruise that was now purple and green and quite horrible looking. The boy couldn't look at his professor, instead he studied his shoes. He didn't want to know what was going to happen. Was he going to hurt him more?

Gently, Severus took the injured arm in his hands and examined it with a healers touch. It was undoubtable this injury had come from someone grabbing and pulling the boy, hard. He could clearly see the outline of a hand. "How did this happen?"

Harry shrugged, making Severus sigh yet again. This boy was going to be the death of him. "Mr. Potter. I have some bruise balm in my office. I would like to heal this for you. I would also like to prevent this from happening again, but I cannot do so unless you tell me who did this."

Again, Harry shrugged, making Severus close his eyes for a moment in exasperation. Getting information from this boy was going to be like extracting a claw from a dragon. Severus regained his composure and gently let go of the boy's arm. "Come on then. Let's at least heal it."

Severus motioned for the boy to follow him to his office and Harry stumbling slightly got up and followed his Professor. Severus couldn't help but wonder how a boy so agile in the air could be so clumsy on the ground.

Once through the door to the office, the older man waved the boy to sit in a chair by his desk while he went to a cabinet behind the desk to grab the correct balm. Once the bruise balm was in hand, Severus sat on the edge of the desk next to the boy and asked again for Harry to give him his arm.

With a slight hesitation, Harry did so and expertly, Severus gently began to apply the balm to the bruised arm.

Once Severus was finished healing Harry's arm, he put the balm down next to him on the desk and looked intently at the boy. "Are you hurt anywhere else?"

Embarrassed, Harry looked down at his arm and pulled his sleeve down and shrugged his shoulders. He was grateful for the pain in his arm to go away, but could he really trust this man? 

Severus refrained from rolling his eyes. He was wrong, this was going to be much harder than extracting a dragon claw.

"Mr. Potter. Please, I need a verbal response. Are you hurt anywhere else?"

The young boy looked down at his lap and played with the edge of his robe. He had spent so much of his life hiding injuries from people who 'cared'. He was so tired of running from people and hurting all the time. But what would happen if he revealed the truth? Could he get away telling his Professor that he was hurt, but not how it happened?

The potion professor could see the internal struggle going in the boy's head, and he did what he would do for one of his snakes. He placed a gentle hand on the boy's that was playing with the edge of his robe. He didn't say anything, he just let his presence try to snap the boy out of his inner turmoil.

It seemed to work because the boy looked down at the warm rough weathered hand covering his own and uttered one simple word, "Yes."

"Where are you injured?" Severus paused as he watched the boy sink back into himself again. 

Harry continued to look at the warm hand on his. McGonagall had told him to keep a low profile and stay out of trouble. Was this keeping a low profile by telling what had been happening?

Severus tried again, this time a different tactic. "Mr. Potter. Would you prefer to go to the hospital wing?"

Harry snapped out of his quandary, going to the hospital wing would surely cause more trouble, and shook his head. "My back, Sir."

Severus nodded slightly and removed his hand from Harry's. "Take off your robe and is it alright with you if I'll lift your shirt up to see your injuries?"

Harry looked down, embarrassed, but nodded. Panic was growing in his chest, but he squished it down as he shook off his robe and nodded again to his Professor, indicating that he was ready. Surely, the marks from over the summer and years past were faded by now.

As Harry removed his robe, Severus re-situated himself so that he was sitting in the other chair by his desk. He wanted to be on the same level as the boy, instead of towering over him. He was aware that he could be intimidating at times, but this was not the time for that.

"Can you move a bit to the side? I'm just going to lift your shirt slightly to see what potions I'll need to heal you."

Slowly, Harry did so, but hunched down further in his chair as he did so, as if he was closing in on himself. The boy's body positioning did not go unnoticed by Severus. If his students could see this interaction, they would have compared it to the look Severus normally gave a particularly interesting potion ingredient.

Very gently, Severus lifted the back of Harry's shirt up. He was dismayed to see scars new and old littering the boy's back. Fresh cane welts were visible on his lower back and probably continued down to his bottom. Belt marks were mostly over his back, with some slightly larger scars, he couldn't make out what they were caused by.  

The potion's professor sat let go of the boy's shirt and then sat for a moment with his eyes closed, calming himself from showing the anger and sadness he felt. Showing his emotions would not help the boy in front of him, rather, it would likely worsen the situation. Regaining his composure, Severus gently put a hand on Harry's shoulder, ignoring the flinch. "I need to fetch some supplies from my store room. Will you be alright here for a moment?"

It had not escaped Severus's notice that a stray tear had rolled down the boy's cheek. Likely Harry didn't even notice he was so tense and was closing off more by the second. 

After a second of no response, Severus tried again with the same tone of voice he used for his sacred snakes. "Po…Harry, Harry, you alright there?" The name felt strange, but right on Severus's tongue at the same time. 

The boy nodded slightly, but was still looking down at his lap, making Severus sigh yet again. Gently, the man patted the boy's shoulder and got up to get the needed potions and balms. 

When Severus turned the corner to go into his store room, he leaned heavily on the wall, resting his head on the door frame and closing his eyes. It was never easy for him to find an abuse case. And clearly that was what Harry was. He had never expected when he had spotted that bruise that this would be what unfolded.

How could this have happened to Potter, of all people? Wasn't he supposed to be the spoiled brat he had thought he had been all these years? Loved by everyone and arrogant as hell?

Severus slowly let out a breath and replayed moments of interactions of him and the boy over the years. Damn. The signs had been there. He had just been too full of himself to recognize the signs. The false bravado, throwing himself into danger time and time, and what he had thought was defiance was fear. 

And now the boy had been hurt by someone inside the castle, and that is what brought everything to light.

The dour man muttered under his breath, "Damn, damn, damn!"

Severus sighed and opened his eyes again and calmed his emotions. He then set himself to the task of gathering what he would need to heal the boy. He could beat himself up later about all he missed through the years.

While Severus was quickly gathering the needed items in the back room, Harry lifted his head and looked around the office really looking for the first time. He had been in here before, but he hadn't really paid any attention to details. After all, he had only been in here when he was in trouble, and he was more focused on how to get away from the situation.

Harry noticed that it wasn't as dark and gloomy in here as it was in Snape's classroom. It was actually quite warm and comfortable and decorated quite minimally. The boy had noticed that the fire in the hearth had been lower when they had first entered the room, but when he took off his robe his professor had subtly raised the fire up, making it warmer in here. Why the man had done that for him, he didn't quite understand, but it warmed a little part of his heart.

He was actually perplexed why his professor would help him at all. He had thought his potions professor had hated his guts. Why was he helping him? Was it, so he could hold this over his head later? What was the man's final goal? 

Harry was so deep in his head again, he didn't hear Severus enter the room with a small handful of potions. Severus couldn't help but wonder just what had happened to the boy as he sighed again. Severus had never sighed so much in one day before. 

The professor put the potions and balms down on the desk in front of where the boy sat, except for one he kept in his hand, and then moved the chair next to the boy. "Po…Harry, look at me." 

Snapped out of his thoughts and with panic in his eyes, Harry looked up at the man. His head had taken him to a dark place, and he had riled himself up so much he was about to have a panic attack. It was written all over his face.

"Harry, you need to calm yourself. You are safe here and have nothing to fear. I will heal the wounds on your back and if you will tell me who did this to you, I will personally make sure it never happens again."

Although Severus was attempting to calm Harry, it seems to do the opposite. Harry looked up at Severus with a fire in his eyes. "You? You? After all these years of putting me down and berating me, expect me to trust you with that? What would you do exactly? Join in on the fun? Why the hell would I ever tell you?"

Severus took a deep calming breath. He knew, from experience, it was quite common for anger to be expressed when faced with abuse. As hard as it was to wrap his brain around the new knowledge that the Potter brat had been abused, he had to admit it was true. And in his school, no less.

"As a professor it is my duty to make sure all students are well and if injured then to heal them and solve the issue. You were hurt at Hogwarts, and that is unacceptable."

Harry seemed to deflate a little. He was still on edge, but his outburst had seemed to tire him. "But you hate me. Why do you care?"

Severus pinched his nose and closed his eyes, willing the budding headache to go away. Why did this brat have to be so annoying? "I do not hate you. As I said, it is my responsibility to care."

"But you never cared before!" Harry blushed and looked down at his lap. That was revealing a little too much. Maybe he should look for an escape route. He could get through the castle unnoticed if he tried hard enough. Stealthily, or so Harry thought, he started looking around for an exit.

Severus could see the darting eyes and silently locked the doors, the one to his classroom and the one to the hallway. He then shoved the potion he had carried with him in Harry's hands and ordered him to drink it.

"I have no idea what you are talking about, Po…Harry, but I assure you I care that someone injured you. Again, it is my duty as your professor."

Harry, still searching for an exit, thought he saw his chance to escape and ran to the door, throwing the potion on the floor. Thank goodness Severus had good reflexes and caught it with a cushioning charm.

No matter how hard Harry pulled at the handle, it wouldn't open. So desperate to get away, Harry had forgotten he had use of his wand and could have simply blown the door apart. Slowly he came to realize he was defeated and sunk to the floor in a sobbing mess. From his perspective, everything was falling apart. He was hurt, and he was alone with his most hated professor was here. How did this happen?

Severus just watched from his spot until Harry hit the floor and curled into himself. With a steadying breath, he picked up the potion where it fell and uncorked it. He then when over to the boy and knelt down before him. Gently, he pulled the boy's hands from his face and pressed the potion up to his lips. "Drink."

Harry, of course, tried to fight his professor, but with gentle prodding, the cool liquid that tasted like socks was eventually swallowed. "There now, this will help you calm down. I promise you, you are safe here."

With a few more calming mutterings from Severus, eventually the teen calmed down to where he was just hiccuping instead of a teary mess. The calming drought would leave him a little sleepy, so Severus decided to take advantage of the time he had to heal the boy's wounds.

Severus gently placed an arm under Harry's and lifted him up to his feet. "Now then, why don't I heal you, and then you rest. We shall talk later."

Harry a little dazed nodded and allowed the older man to set him back in his chair. The man then quickly got to work, lifting his shirt and slathering one of the creams over the boy's back. These would heal the newer cane marks on his back. He would leave what he thought was hidden beneath the boy's pants for later. The boy was in too much of a fragile state to even bridge that subject.

The potion professor then picked up the other cream and started applying that over the older scars, hopefully it would start to fade the scars. When he was done, Severus tapped his wand on the boy's clothing and transfigured them into pajamas.

The older man then pointed his wand to the corner and transfigured the chair there to a comfortable couch. The young boy was drowsy, so there was little to no fight now to lead him to the couch and deposit him, so he was laying down. Once there, Severus transfigured a clean tissue from his pocket into a blanket and draped it over the boy and plucked the glasses off his nose, placing them on the nearby table. He then stood there and watched the boy as his eyes got heavier and heavier and finally fell into a deep sleep. Once he was fully out, Severus silently cast a monitoring charm that would alert him if the boy woke.

Once the boy was all squared away for the moment, Severus in long strides went to the doorway that lead to the hallway and exited the room, locking it behind him. He then turned and walked to his private quarters, so he could make a floo call without being overheard by students.

Once inside his rooms, Severus went directly over to the fireplace and threw some floo powder inside before kneeling and placing his face inside. "Minerva!"

It took several minutes before there was an answer, and it was not the kindest of responses.  "Severus Snape, I am in the middle of a class and I have a missing student! Release Mr. Potter from whatever detention you have him in and send him here this instant!"

Knowing there were likely students nearby who could hear their conversation, Severus calmly, even though his budding headache was now full force, took a breath. "Please dismiss your class, Minerva. I am unsure where Mr. Potter is, but I need you to summon Poppy and both of you come down here. There was a potion's accident." 

Yes, Severus lied to Minerva, but she would soon know the truth. He didn't want any eves droppers knowing exactly what was going on. 

The elder witch was still skeptical of her colleague, but nodded slightly. "We're not done discussing this matter, Severus, but I will fetch Poppy and be down momentarily."

Severus pulled his head from the fireplace and went to his bathroom to fetch a headache potion. He downed it in one go and was so glad he did because not fifteen minutes later Minerva flooed in with Poppy and the older professor was in a right state. He braced himself for the tongue lashing he knew was coming.

"Severus Snape! You better not have called us down here to just hide!"

Severus put the potion bottle down and stepped back into his living room. "Thank you for coming down. Please sit, we need to discuss some things."

Madam Pomfrey gave him an appraising look, but did as Severus asked quietly. Minerva, on the other hand, she was not done quite yet. 

"If you don't tell us right this instant what is going on, so help me, I will stick your nose in the corner like you were still a teenager. Don't test me, Severus. Where is Harry?" Minerva was twisting her wand in her hand, ready to send a hex if she didn't get her way.

Severus rolled his eyes at his former professor. "I would love to tell you exactly what has passed, but I need you to please calmly sit down first. Would you like a calming potion?"

Minerva huffed and sat down next to the Mediwitch, who just snapped her finger, summoning a house elf. Apparently, the elves knew Poppy quite well because they appeared with a fresh pot of tea spiked with a calming potion. She suspected they would all need some calm through this conversation. Severus didn't just bring them down here to chat about the weather.

The dour man nodded his head in thanks to the Mediwitch and quietly poured them each a cup of tea. He waited until they all had a few sips and then began telling them why he had asked them to come down.

"Mr. Potter is currently sleeping in my office. Some…new-found information has come to light, and I need your help setting everything right."

Madam Pomfrey sat there quietly waiting for Severus to finish, but Minerva was glaring daggers at the man. Apparently, the tea had not done its job yet.

"And just why is he sleeping in your office? Why is he not in class like he should be?"

Taking a calming breath, Severus took another sip of tea and then continued. "During class, I saw a bruise on his arm. One indicating that he had been grabbed quite hard by someone. I help him back after class to heal his arm and found he had other injuries. Ones new and old."

Before Minerva could speak again, Severus held up his hand to stop her. "I do not know who hurt him or any details, I thought he might open up to you, Minerva. I do know he still has some injuries that I thought Poppy would be the best one to heal. I must warn you two that his latest injuries happened in the castle."

Madam Pomfrey reached access the table and placed a gentle hand on Severus's. "I'll go tend to him. I assume he wishes to stay out of the hospital wing?"

Severus shared a meaningful look with the woman who knew him probably better than anyone else in the castle and nodded. They had spent many nights together helping his snakes. and after all that time, she had learned to look past his harsh exterior. She then removed her hand from Severus and took her leave, leaving Minerva alone with her former student.

The silence was broken by Minerva. "Are you saying a professor of this school hurt a child?"

Severus nodded gravely. "Yes, and he would not divulge who it was to me." Here he paused, thinking of the right words to say. "When you speak with him…there is more to this story. He is in a fragile state."

Minerva looked oddly at her colleague. "Since when do you care about Harry? You are the one always complaining about him."

The younger professor looked away. "I do not know what you mean. He was injured, and I am a professor."

"Severus Snape, in your own way, you just told me to be gentle with him." 

Continuing to look away from his once, professor Severus finished the rest of his tea and sighed. "How many children in Gryffindor come from homes where they have been abused?"

Taken aback, Minerva shook her head. "I had a boy a few years ago whose Father neglected him. He came to me for help."

"I believe you now have another. There are scars, Minerva. Extensive scars." Severus poured himself another cup of tea and finally looked up at his elder. He regretted it almost immediately when he saw the pity in her eyes. That would not help the boy. "Do not pity the boy. He needs help, but not pity. If you look at him like that, he will feel even worse."

Curiously, Minerva schooled her features. "And how would you know this?"

Severus got up from his seat and went to get a book from the desk in his living room. He opened it to a page and then handed it to the elder woman. "This is a list of all the current children in Slytherin who have come from homes that have harmed them in some way. Some worse than others."

Minerva's eyes almost widened as she counted the list of names. "There are close to 30 here. And this is just this year? So many…."

The man just nodded his head and accepted the book back. As he placed it back in his desk, he sighed silently. Still not facing his mentor, he let slip a small confession. "I thought I had figured out all the signs to spot a child who needed help. I am ashamed I missed the signs for five full years. Five years he walked the halls and sat in my classroom and I missed that someone was hurting him at home."

Minerva silently got up from her seat and stood behind the dower man. She gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "And how do you think I feel? He has been in my house all this time, and he never came to me for help. And if he is as injured as you say…"

The woman sighed and then removed her hand from her former student's shoulder. Quietly she walked to the door, but before she left she turned and looked at him again. "Thank you for spotting this Severus. I'll be in your office with Poppy, I trust you are going to alert Albus? He truly didn't say who it was in the castle?"

 Severus nodded. "Yes, I will speak with him about his injuries, but I think we need further information first. I will keep my distance and cover your class while you take care of the boy. He didn't, wouldn't divulge anything to me."

Minerva just slightly nodded and then left the room quietly, leaving Severus behind to his thoughts and planning. He had an idea who had injured his student, and he wasn't going to get her get away with it.

While Severus prepared to go cover Minerva's next class, he was fortunate to have a double planning period today, Minerva went over to the man's office to see her little lion. 

Quietly she entered the room and nodded to the nurse who was finishing his healing. She had a long parchment of paper and was skimming it with a sad face. Once at the bottom of the list, without a word, the mediwitch handed it to the boy's head of house.

Minerva read it and then looked sadly at the sleeping boy on the couch. The mediwitch had run a through diagnostic charm to document all the injuries the boy had faced through the years. She couldn't believe the length or the types of injuries it held.

Especially the injuries the meditwitch had just healed. Apparently, the boy had been caned. Caned! And had been walking on a broken foot all term.

Poppy finished putting away the potions from Severus's stores and came behind Minerva, patting him on the arm. "He will wake soon. Why don't you give me this list back, and you have a seat next to him? Hmm?

The head of Gryffindor nodded and pulled over one of the desk chairs to sit next to her student. Looking at him laying there on the couch, he looked so small. Like a much younger child, who had worry marks etched on his face like someone who had seen things no one should. It was jarring to see such a site.

Gently, Minerva placed a warm hand on Harry's as his eyes fluttered as he woke. Tenderly, she stoked his hand and murmured soothing words, so he would wake gently. When he was more alert, he bolted up right and blurrily looked around the room in fear.

"Harry, dear. It's alright. Only Poppy and I are here with you. Are you in any pain?"

As she spoke, Minerva put the boy's glasses in his hand, so he could see what she said was true. He gladly took them and placed them on his face, looking around again, and visibility relaxed. "I'm still in Professor Snape's office?

His professor nodded. "Yes dear, how are you feeling?"

Harry looked down at his hand that was covered by the much warmer and larger hand of his Professor and took an appraisal of his body. He felt great, probably the best he had felt in a long time. His foot didn't even hurt anymore. "I…I feel fine."

Minerva nodded. "I'm glad Harry. You had Professor Snape worried."

The boy looked up at Minerva. "Worried?" He guessed that was the odd look he couldn't decipher from the man earlier. But was he worried about him? The boy brushed that thought away and asked what he really wanted to know. "Where is he now?"

Patting the boy's hand, but not removing her small gesture of comfort, Minerva smiled slightly. "He's currently covering my next class. Those poor second years are going to get a surprise. Hopefully, no one faints and needs Madam Pomfrey to come to their aide."

Harry heard Poppy snort from the other room and smiled. That would be quite a scene. He almost wished he could see it unfold.

The smile from his professor's face fell slightly though as she asked what she really wanted to know. "Who hurt you in the castle, Harry? It's ok to tell me. I want to make sure it never happens again."

Harry pulled his hand away and looked down at his lap, avoiding his professor's eyes. "I don't know."

 Minerva pulled her hand back and sighed. "Harry, please tell me. I don't want this to ever happen to you again or any other student."

"It won't happen to anyone else. It was just me….because I broke the rules."

Minerva slightly frowned. "What rules Harry?"

"I didn't keep my head down and out of trouble like you said."

Minerva sighed and replaced his hand on his. "Oh, Harry, you are not in any trouble. Please just tell me who hurt you."

The young boy looked down at the warm weathered hand of the older woman and drummed up all the courage he could. "It was Umbridge. She said liars needed to be punished. That the Minister would understand."

The boy's professor patted his hand to try to comfort him. "Well, all that is utter bullshit. Corporal punishment has been banned from Hogwarts for centuries. She will be fired for this, and I dare say prosecuted criminally."

Harry finally looked up at Minerva, and sadly, she saw a tear trailing from his face. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a handkerchief. Tenderly she wiped away the tear that was falling down his cheek and then brushed away the stray hair that had fallen into his face. "My dear boy. I am so deeply sorry I failed to protect you from Umbridge. I promise I will set this to right."

The young boy just nodded, accepting the care his professor was showing him. He was beginning to believe that things were going to be ok. Umbridge would go away and then things would go on as normal. He felt a twinge of sadness at that thought, but shook it away. He knew it had been too good to be true to think he might get away from the Dursleys. 

He, of course, hadn't told anyone about that bit, but he had secretly hoped that the adults would have dug deeper and found out his secret. Oddly, though, he felt relief that it would continue to be hidden. Oh, his emotions were just everywhere, he really didn't know how he felt.

Just then, the mediwitch came over and looked at her patient gently. "While you were sleeping, I ran a diagnostic charm to see everything that was wrong and any injury you had in the past."

Here the mediwitch sat in the nearby chair, for she wanted to avoid appearing as if she were hovering over the boy. "There were quite a few injuries, Harry."

The boy knocked Minerva's hand away from his lap as he drew his knees to his chest and hid his face. Here it was. What he had been fearing and dreading all these years, but for some strange reason his heart felt warm with relief.

He felt a gentle hand on his back, he knew it belonged to his stern professor. It was so odd to have such a stern woman be so kind and gentle to him. 

Minerva closed her eyes to calm the emotions that were swirling around in her heart. It hurt her so much to know one of her students had been hurt, it hurt even more that it was Harry. The child of two of her former students she had loved and lost. She had sworn to protect this boy, and she had failed. And she couldn't help the nagging she had felt about Albus. Had Albus had known Harry was going through all this when he had reassured her that everything was fine in his home?

Pushing those thoughts aside for later, Minerva opened her eyes and calmly smiled at the boy before her. She would help her lion though this no matter what.

"Harry, you are safe here and can tell me. But if you would rather speak to another professor or counselor, I can arrange that. I just ask that you speak with someone before Christmas break."

Harry turned his head and looked over at Minerva with strangely wet eyes. Still hugging his knees, Harry gave a slight nod. "I don't really want to talk about it right now. But…."

The young boy closed his eyes and willed back the tears he knew wanted to fall. He would not cry now. He would not cry in front of his professor. Harry didn't know what was coming over him, it was like all these bottled up emotions that he had been holding on for years were ready to burst out of him, and it was getting harder to hold them in. 

Willing the tears to stay inside, he took another breath and look at his professor again. "It was my Uncle. He doesn't like magic."

The understatement of the century, but that would do for now.

Minerva could see the young man struggling and nodded in understanding and rubbed his back gently. "You don't have to say anything more, right now, Harry."

Inside, she was fuming. She was going to stick Albus's nose in the corner like a naughty schoolboy and then kill him. That's precisely what she was going to do. Outwardly, though, she worked to try to soothe the boy.

Seeing the situation was in control, the mediwitch silently slipped out of the door to give the Headmaster a piece of her tongue and then to track down the man who had discovered the teen's secrets. She knew these discoveries always weighed heavily on his heart, and to have one that had slipped by him for years must be affecting him deeply.

While the mediwitch retreated to find the Headmaster, a certain Professor was finishing teaching Minerva's last transfiguration class of the day and starting to head back down to his office. He assumed they would all still be there. There was something nagging him about the boy.

Down the stairs he went, ignoring two certain students who were following him. He knew they were there, but he didn't care that they were trailing him. He figured they were worried about their friend, and as much as he hated to admit it, he couldn't blame them.

Turning the corner that lead to the dungeons, he tired of their presence though and turned heel, almost running into them. "And why are you two following me?"

Ron took a step back, but Hermione ever bold starred her professor in the eyes. "Harry, sir, where is he?"

Knowing this was going to be the trail of conversation and wanting to keep the boy's privacy, he smoothly lied. "The fumes from his botched potion were toxic. He is now recovering and will be back to your dorms tonight."

Nodding, Hermione eyed her professor, trying to suss out any lies. She knew something was not right, but didn't know what. "We would like to see him."

Severus nodded. "You will later this evening. You have your answers, now go on."

Ron seemed to gain a little bravery and stepped beside Hermione. "Why can't we see him now?"

Their professor rolled his eyes. "Because he needs rest and seeing his friends will not help him do so. Now run along, or I'll give all three of you detention."

Severus pinched the bridge of his nose. He was getting soft. Earlier this week, hell earlier today, he would have deducted points and given the detention right then and there without the warning. But today's events were weighing heavily on his heart and mind.  

With that thought, he turned heel and started back down to the dungeons, glad he no longer heard the two pairs of footsteps trailing him.

In no time, he reached his office, but he paused with his hand on the door handle. It was this moment, probably the only one ever, he wished he had not put up such strong charms on his door to prevent eavesdroppers. 

His hand dropped from the handle and then raised to knock softly on the door. Figuring this was the better way to enter. Even if it was his own office. He then slowly opened the door and spotted Harry on the transfigured couch with his knees up to his chest and Minerva sitting next to him rubbing his back.

He entered quietly and closed the door behind him, receiving a slight nod from Minerva. She was doing what she could to comfort the boy, but he sensed she was struggling knowing just what to do.

The boy's shoulders were clenched tight, like he was fighting to hold everything inside. He was closing himself off from the world. 

He came over and knelt before the boy next to his mentor. Gently, he placed a hand on Harry's foot, making the boy look up at him. Harry hadn't heard him come in and wondered why he was back. He then remembered that he was in the man's office and was probably here to kick them out.

The man was not here for that reason, though, as Harry would soon find out. Severus looked the boy in the eyes and gently probed his thoughts. He felt the whirlwind of emotions barely being kept at bay and said the one thing he knew would set them free. 

"It's alright to cry, Harry. We are here for you."

And like on cue, Harry let out a large sob, and he buried his face in his knees yet again. This time, though, the tears freely flowed and his back heaved as he sobbed his feelings away. All the hurt he had felt through the years, the pain he had felt, the loneliness of his secret and the most recent Umbridge event that was weighing heavily on his mind.

Minerva gave a concerned look to her colleague, but he just returned a reassuring nod. The boy needed this release, desperately, it would seem.

The three sat there for a while, just letting the boy cry all he needed to. Severus's knees were not too happy about his chosen spot, but he had silently cast a cushioning charm on the hard stone floor to at least stop their protesting a little. He hated getting older.

When the boy's deep sobs slowed down to small deep breaths, Severus patted the boy's foot to gain his attention. Slowly, a tear streaked face looked up at the older man. "How are you feeling?"

Harry nodded slightly and then looked down, embarrassed. "Better, sir."

This time it was Minerva's turn to speak up. "There is no need to be embarrassed, Harry. We are both here for you."

Minerva shared a look with Severus, who nodded. He couldn't believe this was happening, but his heart was telling him this was the right thing to do. "Pott…Harry. My office door is always open for you. If you need to talk to someone or even if you just need someone to be there."

Before he could stop himself, Harry blurted out, "But why?"

Severus signed, but refrained from rolling his eyes. "Like I said earlier. I care about my students, and you are one of them. You are my responsibility."

Harry didn't know why, but that comment made his heart flutter. Maybe because he could hear the care that was truly in that statement, and he had never really had that before. His friends and the Weasley's had cared, but that had always been conditional. This, this, felt real. He didn't know why, but it did.

Severus lightly brushed through the boy's thoughts to ascertain his feelings. He didn't really have to try, though, the boy was practically shouting his thoughts and feelings at him. The poor boy needed some occlumency lessons, badly.

The annoyance he had felt just minutes before faded quickly when he realized the boy was just looking for more reassurance that he was in a safe place. Likely he was going to be asked again why he cared before the day was out.

Minerva gently brushed the boy's hair away from her face and handed him her handkerchief, so he could wipe his face. He did so, and visibility relaxed a little. His stomach then ratted him out and let out a small growl, making Minerva slightly smile and Severus snap his fingers for a plate of food.

The food appeared on Severus's desk, and the man got up from his spot on the floor. His knees were grateful to be off the floor, but not happy with him, and let him know all about it as he got up and started to walk stiffly. but he grabbed the plate nonetheless and brought it back over to the boy.

The man handed the plate of food over to the boy, who took it with a small wet smile. He straightened his legs and put the food on his lap. "Thank you, sir."

Severus then pulled up a chair and sat next to Minerva in front of the boy. He took a note from his knees that getting on the floor again would be ill-advised. Once he sat, he indicated to the plate and for the boy to start eating. Wouldn't do any good for the boy to be hungry.

He then looked over at his mentor and shared a quiet meaningful look. He sighed internally. At least when it was one of his snakes who had been hurt, he didn't have to deal with the emotions of other adults. That's beside Poppy, of course. 

The two professors quietly began to discuss their classes and inconsequential things to make the boy eating feel more comfortable and less awkward. Over time Severus noticed the tension from Harry's shoulder slowly began to fade and by the end of his mean Severus could tell he was starting to feel sleepy again. Good thing it was almost time for bed. He was obviously not going to have any homework done tonight, and he would suggest to Minerva that he have the day to rest tomorrow. It was Friday after all and the boy could use the weekend to catch up what he missed.

Once the boy finished the last bite, Severus took the plate and placed it on the desk behind him. "Why don't you go back to your house for the night, Harry? We will take care of any arrangements. I'm also…" Here he looked at Minerva. "recommending that you sleep in and take tomorrow off. Your work can be sent to you, and you can catch up over the weekend."

Harry nodded, and so did Minerva. She was grateful for her colleague and his cool mind, able to think ahead.

Severus and Minerva got up out of their seats, putting them in their proper places, and Minerva helped Harry up to his feet. While he was turned around, grabbing the boy's robes, Severus stealthily pointed his wand at Harry and transfigured his clothing back to his school wear. He then handed his robes to Harry and watched with a small nod as the boy put them back on.

Minerva and her lion then walked to the door, but before they left, Harry turned to Severus, who was transfiguration the lunge Harry was on back to a chair and putting to right his office. "Sir?"

Severus looked at the boy softly and nodded for him to continue.

"Thank you sir. Could you….never mind."

The man nodded and urged the boy to continue.

"Could you, could you walk with us? Umbridge…If she is out there…"

Cogs turned in Severus's mind at that little statement. So, that had been the staff member who had hurt him. He had his suspicions, but knowing the truth was something else. He reigned in his emotions and nodded. "Yes, I assure you she will not harm you when I am around."

Severus followed them down the hallway and was grateful they arrived at the boy's common room without any incident. Minerva escorted the boy inside and Severus proceeded on to her office, wanting a word with her before they both went up to see the Headmaster.

It took her no time to get Harry settled in his room and for Minerva to come to her office. When she entered, she quietly shut the door and visibility deflated. Severus couldn't help but notice how much older she looked. 

The woman went to the cabinet behind her desk and rummaged around for a second, pulling out two bottles and a couple of cups. "Scotch or rum?"

“Rum please”

The witch poured him a glass of rum and herself a glass of scotch. She then collapsed into her desk chair and took a swig of the strong alcohol. With a sigh, she finally exclaimed. "How the fuck did this happen?"

Severus took his own sip and rose an eyebrow at his mentor. He had only heard her use such language a few times in his tenure here. The man then watched as she took another long swig of the amber liquid in her cup. "I have been asking myself that question since seeing that bruise. We cannot dwell on what was, though, we need to look forward."

Minerva sighed and took one last sip, downing the rest of the liquid. She went to refill her glass, but Severus stopped her with a hand on hers. "Now is not the time to get utterly wasted. We have things to do first. I have already put some plans into place."

The elder woman nodded and fell back in her seat with a sigh. "You are right, Severus. What plans do you have?"

"Peeves has a new residence. He is keeping a certain witch to her room, at least for the night until something more permanent can be done. I've also urged a few pure-blood students of mine to write letters home about her detentions."

Minerva nodded. "How did you know? You said he wouldn't speak with you."

"I had a feeling and regardless, she needs to go."

Severus took another small sip of his drink and then put it on the table in front of him. "We have things we need to discuss with Albus. A permanent removal of….that woman and better accommodations for Harry when he's not here."

"We certainly did a damn good job protecting him here. We should send him to a school where he's actually safe. First year Quirrell, second year the chamber of secrets, third year the dementors and a werewolf, fourth year the triwizard tournament and now this. We've done a spectacular job throwing him into danger at every turn."

Sighing Severus nodded. "I know, but now is not the time for these thoughts. We need to move forward."

Minerva got up and sighed. "As you keep saying. I guess Albus needs to have his ears chewed off. Don't you dare hold me back."

Severus stood and raised his hands in surrender. "I would never get in your way. Just please don't kill him."

Rolling her eyes, Minerva opened the door, with Severus trailing close behind. "If you insist."

The two silently walked up to the tower where they knew Albus was. Severus said the insane candy name that was the password this month and walked up the long spiraling staircase to Albus's office.

Albus greeted them with a large smile and of course an offering of lemon drops. It took no time for Minerva to point her wand at him, and the elderly man ending up with his nose in the corner. 

Severus, slightly amused at this interaction, just sat in one of the too comfortable chairs and watched as Minerva informed Albus of what happened this day, all the while not able to move from his place in the corner. It was quite fitting, if he did say so himself.

When the woman was done chewing his ear off, she released the spell, making Albus turn around. She then socked him in the face. "You promised me he was safe there! You promised me!"

Albus was quite shocked at this interaction, and he was slowly absorbing the information that was being shoved at him. He put his hand to feel his now broken nose, but stopped when he saw her grim, hurt face. "Minerva, can we sit, and you can clearly tell me what is wrong? Is Harry alright?"

Minerva with a grumble huffed and then collapsed into the seat next to Severus. Minerva was still grumbling when Severus spoke. "The boy is ok now. He was not earlier, I found that he had been hiding injuries. You have a professor to fire and need to find other accommodations for the boy to go when on breaks."

Albus got up from where he had rested and walked over to the window. A hand went to his nose and his other rested behind his back. "Umbridge?"

Minerva nodded, but then realized the elder man could not see her, so verbalized her yes. "Peeves is keeping her contained for now."

"The Ministry is going to make this difficult. How did she harm him?" Albus continued to study the rain drops that were slowly making their way down the window. No wonder Minerva was so angry. She had been upset when the appointment had been announced, and now that this happened. He let out a silent sigh. This was not going to be easy to navigate.

Severus was the one who spoke up. "She grabbed him so hard he had a bruise on his arm and then caned him. He had extensive welts on his back and bottom. It looked as if it had happened on more than one occasion."

Albus closed his eyes to reign in his temper. For that to happen under the roof of Hogwarts. "I will see that she is removed. It'll take some time, unfortunately."


"You should know that several of my Slytherin's have written home about her. I would suggest you have her removed by tomorrow." Severus smirked despite the grim circumstances.

Albus turned and looked at the younger man somewhat sternly. "You know these things take time."

Severus raised an eyebrow. "Time is not on your side."

Albus deflated with a nod and looked back out the window. "You said something about Harry needing other arrangements for time away from the castle? That unfortunately is not up for discussion. He has nowhere else to go that is safe. There are blood wards protecting that house."

It looked like Minerva was going to get up and sock the Headmaster again in the nose, so Severus placed a gentle hand on her, stopping her, and spoke what she could not. "That is not acceptable. He has been abused."

Albus turned and sadly smiled at the younger man. "Surely, it could not be that bad. I know there was no love lost, but surely, they wouldn't hurt him."

Severus summoned the parchment Poppy had given him in the hallways of all the boy's injuries. "You can have a look for yourself. It's quite the read."

Albus walked over and picked up the list, sitting back in his chair. As he read further down the list, his face fell deeper and deeper into despair. When he was finished, he put the parchment on the nearby table and put his head in his hands, careful of his nose.

The two opposite Albus just watched him. Severus was the first to break the silence. "He never needs to go back there. Never."

Albus looked up at the man and nodded. "I never expected anything like this."

Minerva couldn't keep it in any longer. "Did you ever check on him? Even once?"

"Only from the outside and afar. I never imagined in my wildest dreams. Petunia promised me she would take care of him."

Severus rolled his eyes. "And you actually trusted what that woman said."

Albus sat back and nodded. "I don't know where he could go that is safe enough. He would need to be housed by a strong witch or wizard."

Severus knew exactly where this was going, and it was his turn to get out of his chair, but he walked to the door instead of the window. "Not in your lifetime, Albus."

"Severus, he would be safe with you."

Minerva just watched the conniving old codger, wondering just what he had in mind. She couldn't help but think that this might be a good plan. Severus did desperately need someone in his life, and Harry needed a strong protector. She knew Severus would fill that role nicely.

Severus though was not thrilled. "He needs more than just to be safe. He needs people who care about him and can show him love. He has been hurt by those who love him, and he needs to be shown that that is not the normal. What about the Weasley's?"

Albus sadly shook his head. "They have too much on their plates already with all their kids, and there is security to think about with everyone coming and going all the time. Severus, why not take him for Christmas break and see how it goes? We can discuss it further after that."

Before Severus could protest again, Minerva spoke up. "Severus, he asked you to escort him to the tower tonight. He trusts you."

Severus turned away and had his hand on the knob to the door. "Fine." And then he left the room with his robes billowing behind him.

Minerva was up out of her chair soon after he left, with a final parting glare to Albus. "You are not forgiven, Albus. You have a lot of making up to do."

"I know, my dear. I know."