Hello! Here is chapter number 3! To be honest I've had this finished for a while, just I haven't been onto my laptop really.

I hope you all enjoy it!

Thanks for all the favourites, follows and reviews, they make me really happy!

And in response to the reader who said that if I wanted Harry to deal mostly with Snape, I should just have him be more comfortable with him. I assure you that that is where the story is heading, but I need there to be more friction first and more of Snape trying to help Harry without him knowing. But it will come!

Enjoy!

Harry stood at the sinks. He rolled up his sleeves, impressed with how well his concealment charms were holding. He proceeded to take the torn apart washcloth from beside one of the sinks and began scraping potion residue from the cauldrons. He could feel Snape's eyes scrutinising his every move. He didn't want any further trouble with his professor so he decided to just work away as he did at home, scrubbing perfectly and keeping to himself.

He'd been working for some time when it happened. A loud clash resonated throughout the dungeon as one of the cauldrons hit the cold stone floor, followed by 2 more. Before he knew what was happening, flashbacks to his previous summer were crashing into his conscious thoughts.

Memories of Uncle Vernon throwing plate after plate, bowl after bowl, saucepan after saucepan at him came forcefully into his consciousness. Harry let out a scream of pure terror as the sound rang through his ears, overtaking any logical thoughts.

Harry did all that he knew how to do; hide.

He sank to the ground, making himself as small as possible, minimising the area that Uncle Vernon had to hit. He crawled into the closest corner, which was between the surface he'd been working at and the wall. He pushed himself as far back into the corner as humanly possible, pushed his head into his knees and braced with his arms. His breathing was far past normal, his breaths hitched in his throat and he was unable to draw in adequate breath. He was trembling, near convulsing through fear.

Uncle Vernon's words echoed around in his skull making everything else wash away. His ferocious voice yelled obscenities at him.

Harry felt hand pulling at his arms.

'No!' He screamed in terror, now sobbing. 'Leave me alone. Please...' He begged, his voice breaking with the final word. His whole body wracked with sobs. The hands retreated and Harry pulled further into himself.

o.o.o.o

Severus watched motionless as his fourth year student screamed in utter terror at the cauldrons falling. He watched Potter make his way into a small ball in the corner of his work benches and brace himself, as if awaiting a physical blow from someone or something.

Realising that as much as the boy reminded him of his father, he was the cause for this sudden emotional display, he decided he really should attempt to calm the fretful boy down. He, himself remembered the terror one could feel when reminded of a traumatic event. Shaking his head and pushing his own recollections back into the depths of his mind,

Severus rose to his feet and cautiously made his way over to the boy. He took in the sight, a young boy with his head clasped tightly in his arms, his chest heaving. Severus felt a tinge in guilt in his chest. He could not have foreseen the boys reaction to be this severe, could he?

Pushing his thoughts aside, he knelt down infront of the trembling child, he placed what was meant to be a supportive and grounding hand on the boys arm but was met with a yell of pure terror.

Severus pulled back and watched in horror as the child before him began sobbing uncontrollably. What he heard next, however, made his chest hurt in empathy.

'Leave me alone. Please…' Potter was begging to be left alone. No child should have to beg to be left alone, nor have such a tone of fear in the word "please". Severus knew he had to calm him down, so he had to find something else.

'Potter, I need you to calm down.' He said calmly but loud enough to be heard over the child's hysterics. No response. He sighed, knowing one way that was sure to get through to the boy. It was not one he wanted to use.

'Potter!' He said forcefully. He watched as the boy held his breath, awaiting what was coming next. 'Calm down this instant.' He demanded. He watched as Harry shook with terror at his words, but his sobs came to a slow standstill and his breathing was laboured but better. Closing his eyes, Severus pinched the bridge of his nose as he bitterly regretted having to take that tone with an obviously abused boy. The child in question regarded him with wide, scared eyes.

'Do you want to tell me what that was about?' Severus asked, calmly. Potter shook his head. Severus sighed internally, he knew this wasn't going to be easy. 'Potter…' He said, his voice taking on its usual icy tone.

'I'm fine, Sir.' Harry said quietly. An obvious lie, Severus caught on.

'That, was not what I would call "fine".' He growled. 'Now, will you, or will you not tell me what that was about?' His patience with the boy was wearing thin. Pushing himself to his feet, Harry answered,

'No, Sir. It was a sudden reaction and I am sorry.' Taken aback by the boys apology, Severus also rose to his feet and raised an eyebrow.

'What are you apologising for?'

'For reacting as I did, Sir.' Harry replied, his voice regaining some of its usual Gryffindor strength.

'You needn't apologise for that, Potter.' Snape said. 'Now-' He began, but was cut off.

'It's dinner time, Sir. That means my detention is over, right?' Harry asked quickly. Severus looked at the clock, it was indeed into supper time. He had no tangible reason to keep a child that did not want to be in his presence.

'Yes…' Severus confirmed. 'Potter-' He tried but was once again cut off.

'Sorry, Sir, I must go! I said I'd help Ron with his divination homework during the meal. Sorry again.' Potter said as he hastily grabbed his bag and exited the dungeon classroom leaving a bewildered and confused potion's professor behind.

Severus stood in the same spot for a few moments after Potter had left. He was sure now that the child had been subject to abuse, but remained unaware of its extent. Drawing in a deep breath, he concluded to himself that he would once again try to talk to the boys head of house.

o.o.o.o

Severus entered the Hall with his robes billowing behind him. Anyone with any sense could tell that he was not in the mood to be crossed. He assumed his seat at the head table and proceeded to eat his meal. He looked around the hall at the many students it held. To his right, the table where his house resided. He looked upon the students, thinking carefully about those he was aware had been abused. He thought back to how he'd drawn that information out of them. Most of them had quietly admitted to it after some probing questions. He wondered why Potter, the boy who sought out any and all attention, was different.

Severus scanned the rest of the hall. His eyes landed upon the Gryffindor table, at the group of fourth years in particular. He could see Seamus and Dean attempting to do Merlin knows what to a slice of steak and kidney pie. He saw Neville, Hermione and Ron all actively engaged in some seemingly enthralling topic of discussion. He did, or rather didn't, notice that Potter wasn't there. Had the boy not just said he needed to help the redhead with some homework?

He couldn't assume why Potter wasn't there, but if from personal experience he could make an educated guess, the boy would be in his dorms reliving the events of the afternoon and beating himself up over them.

His food suddenly became tasteless and settled like lead in his stomach. If it weren't for the fact that the child was Lily's son, he wouldn't be this hell-bent on helping him. He'd leave it to the child's head of house had he noticed something. But despite him being the spitting image of his father, he had Lily's striking green eyes. He was the last remaining piece of his best friend and true love. He wasn't about to let her child suffer.

He turned to his left and waited patiently for Minerva to notice him.

'Severus,' She said after a moment, 'if you want my attention, do just ask.' Severus eyed the witch up and down, expressing his distaste for her comment.

'Potter.' He said.

'Oh, you're not still on this, are you?' She asked, going back to her food.

'Yes.' Severus drawled. 'I am.' Minerva drew in a deep breath, as though calming herself.

'Severus, I must insist you let this matter g-' She was cut off.

'The boy was serving a detention with me today,' Severus began, not caring for her objections. 'A few cauldrons fell to the ground. I ended up having to talk him out of an hysteric state. He'd forced himself into a corner and was trembling and sobbing. He said 'No. Leave me alone. Please.'.' Minerva drew in another breath, her eyes widening. She was not able to deny that this was behaviour she needed to explore further.

'Is he okay?' She asked, her voice thick with a sudden concern for the child in question.

'He climbed to his feet and insisted he needed to come down here to help the Weasley boy with his homework.' Severus said. He took another glance at the Gryffindor table before continuing. 'But, as you may see, he is not here.' Minerva looked at the table, confirming for herself Severus' words.

'We will both talk to him tomorrow morning before breakfast.' Minerva stated. Severus opened his mouth to object but was beaten to it. 'No, you are the one that has noticed this, he'll tell me you are lying. If you are there he would have to lie directly in front of you. You will be there.' Severus glared at her before nodding in submission.

'Fine.' Was all he said.

o.o.o.o

'Harry, mate, where were you at dinner?' Ron asked as he came flying into the Gryffindor common room after the meal had finished. Harry was sat in one of the big armchairs by the fire when the rest of the cohort trampled in. Ron and Hermione went to join Harry by the fire.

'Sorry, the detention with Snape tired me out so much I just needed to sit down.' He lied. Ron and Hermione bought his lie, however. Ron and Hermione sat down with him and began a conversation. Harry contributed small things here and there, but for the most part he sat and stared into the fire.

Just as the three were headed up to their respective dorms, Professor McGonagall walked in, muttering something about the fat lady who'd not stopped singing for ages before letting her enter. She scanned the room until her eyes landed upon Harry, whose chest clenched as he realised just why she'd be here.

'Weasley, Granger, off to bed. Potter will be up in a second.' She said as she approached the trio. Ron and Hermione made their way out of the room, leaving just Harry, McGonagall and a few seventh years who were engaged in a game of wizard's chess.

'Yes, professor?' Harry enquired, acting as if nothing had happened.

'I've been speaking with professor Snape.' She said. Harry felt his heart clench in fear as to what would come next. Would he be reprimanded for his outburst? 'And you will report to my office first thing. So half an hour before breakfast. Am I clear?' Harry swallowed, fear rising in his chest.

'Yes, professor.' He agreed, forcing his emotions down. 'Goodnight.'

'Goodnight, Potter.' She said. She watched as Harry turned away and made his way up the stairs to his dorm. She noticed the clenched right fist, but not the glassiness of his eyes, nor his shoulders hunched up, nor his inability for eye contact. She watched as he ascended the stairs, wondering what horrors had befallen over the boy.

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