Sorry for the OOC-ness later on, but it's necessary for the story. You don't like that? Then go away. Also, there will be slash later on, so again, you don't like, you go away.
It's M for a bit of language, slash, angst, and non-con
Not mine, I just play with 'em. The characters all belong to the very lucky JK Rowling. This disclaimer applies to all of the future chapters.
Review, review, review!!!
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"Ah Severus, my boy, sit, sit," greeted Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts: School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Severus Snape, most feared Potion's Master of Hogwarts, nodded curtly and sat down.
"Tea? Biscuit? Lemon drop?" the Headmaster politely offered with a twinkle in his eyes.
Snape rolled his eyes and declined. "Albus, we both know this isn't a social call. So, if you please, get on with it."
Dumbledore chuckled and said, "Right you are Severus. Now, I have a favor to ask you," Professor Snape resisted the urge to sigh, "I need you to check up on young Harry-"
"No, absolutely not."
"Now Severus, I know you dislike the boy," Now, Snape did sigh and roll his eyes at the Headmaster's view of his and Potter's relationship. "But this is of utmost importance. I have received owls from both Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley. They are very concerned as to why Mr. Potter has not sent them any owls yet and frankly, it is a bit unsettling."
"I am not going to check up on Potter just because he has deemed himself too important to write a letter, Headmaster," Snape snapped.
"Severus I do not think that is the case at all. I am worried about the boy and I need you to go check on him."
"Why can't Minerva, or Hagrid, or even you?"
"Because Minnie is currently visiting her family and Hagrid would stand out with all those Muggles," Albus explained patiently.
"And you?"
"I am simply too busy Severus."
Professor Snape sighed. Of course Albus' Golden Boy needs to be checked up on. In complete honesty, Potter probably just forgot to write. The ungrateful brat. How the wizarding world is supposed to be saved by a careless, annoying, stupid boy like Potter, Snape would never know. The Potion's Master sighed again. He seemed to be doing a lot of that today.
"Fine Headmaster. I will go baby sit Potter."
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"Nutty old man. What a cracked up-"
"Yes?" a particularly bony woman asked him.
Startled, Snape blinked a few times, almost forgetting why he was at Number 4 Pivet Drive. "I am here to speak with my student, Harry Potter. Is he-"
"There is no one here of that name," Petunia Dursley stated quickly and started to slam the door.
But Severus was too quick for her and stopped it with his hand. "I need to speak with Mr. Potter, now," he said in his trademark Snape voice.
"There, there is, is no one," Petunia stammered in fear.
Snape drew his wand and said, "Move."
"Vernon!" the hideous woman screeched.
"What is it Petunia?" a beefy man asked, waddling into view.
Snape pushed himself through the door and stood in front of the fat man. Vernon Dursley saw his wand and froze. "Get out of my house. We won't allow your, your freakishness."
Severus Snape by nature was not a patient man, so by now he had enough. He cast a body binding spell on both of them and went in search of Potter. Severus liked to think of himself as an intelligent man, certainly not ignorant. So even though he despised Potter, his spy-honed skills were telling him something was amiss.
"Potter! So help me God, if you're ignoring me-"
That's when he heard it- a small moan, barely audible. The sound was coming from the cupboard under the stairs. Snape quickly strode over to the small space, cast alohamora on the padlocks adorning the door, and cautiously opened it. Nothing in his life could have prepared him for the sight he saw. Potter was lying on a flimsy mattress, naked, covered in blood. There seemed to be a weird angle to him. Snape concluded he must have broken a hip.
"Fuck," Snape breathed, "Hang on Potter."
He levitated Potter and apparated to Hogwarts, knowing full well that the Durleys were still bound. Snape ran through the grounds, careful not to jar Potter too bad, straight to the infirmary. He gently laid the small boy onto the nearest hospital bed and called for Poppy.
"What is it Severus?" Poppy Pomfrey asked.
Severus stepped away from Potter and heard a gasp. "What is that, Severus?" the nursemaid questioned in shock.
"Harry Potter," he answered simply.
Madame Pomfrey went into full nurse mode. She pushed Snape aside and pulled the curtain closed.
Severus decided to tell Albus the news.
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On the walk to the Headmaster's office, Severus contemplated how he was going to break the news to the old man. He decided to just let the Headmaster see him.
"Snickers," Snape muttered to the gargoyle guarding the Headmaster's office.
Where does that crazy man come up with these names, Severus thought. The gargoyle jumped aside to let the Potion's Master in. Snape knocked on the door.
"Come in Severus. How is he, my boy?" Albus asked, concerned.
"You'll have to come and see," Snape answered seriously.
Whatever twinkle that was left in the Headmaster's eyes was gone now. Dumbledore nodded and got up to see what had become of the young man he loved as a grandson.
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The trip to the infirmary was a quiet one, each of the men were lost in their own thoughts. When they arrived, Poppy was finished with the initial check on Harry.
"How is he Poppy?" Albus asked, fearing the worst.
"He will live. Barely though. He has a shattered hip, 4 broken ribs, 2 broken arms, and multiple fractures to his legs. I have stopped the internal bleeding and have healed his broken bones," she paused, "It's lucky he's alive at all. Right now he is in a slight coma, but he should wake up in a few days."
Both men looked shaken. Albus walked over to where Harry was resting and whispered, "I'm sorry, my boy. So sorry."
"There's one more thing. He…well, Albus, my tests show severe rectal tearing. I believe he was raped, multiple times."
Snape's knees gave out. Raped? No matter how much he hated Potter, no one deserves that.
"He will have significant mental scarring, as well as physical. He will be so fragile, so very fragile. Albus, really, how could you leave him there with those people?"
Snape was asking the same question. How could the Headmaster never have checked up on him? But more importantly to Severus, how could he not have seen this happening? Was he so blinded by his hatred for James that he completely disregarded Potter's problem? Snape was ashamed of that. He's seen firsthand how horrible rape was. Could Potter's have been prevented? Then a horrifying thought came to him, could this have happened more than once?
"I didn't know Poppy. I thought he'd be safe with his relatives," the Headmaster answered quietly, looking quite pale.
"How long has this been going on?" Snape asked.
"For a long time. Probably his whole life. Every year I see Potter come to school thinner and thinner. How could I have not known? He's skin and bones!" she raged. "How could no one have noticed?" Madame Pomfrey ended sadly.
This baffled Snape too. How did Potter hide this from the whole school? Obviously Potter was cleverer than he thought. What else did they not know about Harry Potter?
They all stood there for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts, before Dumbledore said, "I need to inform the Weasleys and Ms. Granger."
"Albus, I warn you, do not tell them about the rapes. That is Mr. Potter's choice. What was discovered here should not leave this room," she told them both sternly.
"Of course," they both agreed.
"Oh, Albus. The Dursleys are currently bound at their house. Shall I get the Ministry?" Severus inquired.
"Yes Severus, be sure they get their justice," Dumbledore said in a rare moment of coldness.
Snape nodded and looked at Potter for one more moment.
I'll make it up to him, Snape vowed.