Chapter 10
After the last of the tears ceased Lucius opted to take Draco down for breakfast while Severus scanned Harry, but both boys insisted on staying with each other. Neither men had the heart to refuse their request and Lucius went to breakfast after dropping a quick kiss to Severus’s lips, and both children’s forehead. The soft gesture took Harry for a surprise as he had never known the Malfoys to be anything other than ice cold. But then again he felt the same way about Snape and yet the man had just sat with them for the last ten minutes with Harry in his lap and he comforted him. All the while he watched Lucius give the exact same treatment to his son, and while it was definitely weird to be on the receiving end of such affection it was certainly not unwelcome.
Severus had Harry lie on the bed and asked him to remain completely still as he ran a diagnostic scan. Draco sat on the edge of the bed and wrapped his fingers around Harry’s. The raven haired boy lifted his head and sent the blond a small smile of thanks which caused said child to beam at him. Severus watched the interaction with fondness and no small amount of hope. He wasn’t exactly sure what had gone on in this room to cause the floodgates to open but it really did seem to be the very thing they needed in order for them to develop some sort of understanding and trust between the residence of this house. Don’t get him wrong, they still had a far ways to go before Harry was completely trusting of them as well as for Draco to feel secure in the budding relationship he may have with the young Potter, but Severus was beyond hopeful that by the end of the summer the boys would be as thick as thieves.
That seemed to be the case now as they sat together whispering and giggling. The scan didn’t take as long as the night before since the potion that Narcissa had given Harry had indeed done its job and fixed the child’s physical injuries. He was still malnourished, but that was an issue that would be dealt with over time and would come to pass with a proper diet. Unfortunately, Harry would always be on the shorter side due to the neglect and abuse he suffered at the hands of his relatives. No matter how many nutrients potions they had him take or how much vegetables and fruit they filled onto his plate, he would never surpass Draco in height. Casting a tempus charm Severus saw that it was far too late for breakfast but was much too early for lunch, and he was sure that by now the rest of the house had already eaten.
In order to make up for this blunder they would opt to have a light brunch to hold them over until lunch time when they could have a proper meal. He looked down at his two students.
“Alright, Mr. Potter, you are free to go.” Severus made sure to keep his tone light and carefree as he didn’t want the boy to think himself to be in any trouble. Be that as it may the child sat up with a slight frown on his face. He raised his eyebrow in question and instead of Harry elaborating on what was bothering him said child simply looked towards Draco with a smile on his face that just seemed a little too forced. Draco gave Harry a look, but the boy chose to ignore it.
“Draco, why don’t you take Harry out to the garden and we will have the elves bring us a light brunch before lunch in an hour or two.” Severus said to his child, then paused for a moment. “If that is what Harry would like to do.”
The child in question looked up at his professor with a look of uncertainty on his face as if they would get angry at him refusing. He let go of Draco’s hands and looked down at his lap while fiddling with his thumbs.
“Harry”
The boy flinched when he felt a finger hook under his chin to lift his face to his professor. Dark eyes searched his and when the man spoke his tone was still gentle and light.
“If you do not wish to eat out in the garden you do not have to. You may eat here in the house if you would like, you may even eat in here if you would like. I would prefer it, however, if you get yourself acquainted with the residence of the house seeing as you will be with us for quite some time.”
Severus’s words did not produce its desired effect. What were supposed to be calming, reassuring words did the opposite and put the child on high alert. Harry looked down again, but this time mumbled something under his breath that neither Severus or Draco could hear. When Severus hooked his finger under Harry’s chin again to lift his head again he was both surprised as well as somewhat pleased when the child fought against his motion in order to keep his head tilted. He tried again but Harry refused to budge. By the third attempt, Severus did the only he knew to do when dealing with a defiant child.
“It is rude and improper to not look someone in the eye when they speak to you, Mr. Potter,” Harry and Draco flinched when Severus used his teacher voice, or as Draco liked to call it his “Disciplinary voice.” Harry slowly raised his head and let his eyes meet the dark pools that belonged to his professor. Severus' lips were turned into a frown, and it was taking everything for Harry not to look back down at his lap. “Now, can you repeat what you said without mumbling?”
“W-when are you going to take me to him?” Harry’s voice was no higher than a whisper and even Draco had to strain to hear him.
“Him?” Severus asked with a raised brow although he had a feeling that he knew who Harry was referring to.
Harry nodded. “Is he going to kill me?”
Draco had slowly put the puzzle together and knew that Harry was referring to his grandpa Tom.
“I assume you are referring to the Dark Lord?” Severus asked. He again received a nod. The potions master did not say anything instead waiting for Harry to look him in the eye. When he did, he spoke in a calming manner. “At some point today I will have to take you to him-”
Harry’s eyes widened and he began to tremble. He looked back down at his lap and fiddled with his thumbs again in a show of anxiety.
“But,” Severus continued, “it is not for reasons that you think. It is not to kill you as the Dark Lord has no intention of doing so. He is the only one here who knows how to remove those magic cuffs from your wrists and wishes to do so as soon as possible.”
Harry looked down at his wrists. He had forgotten about the cuffs. But what about…?
“But the prophecy said-”
“You know about the prophecy?” Severus interrupted with a sharp gaze. He tried to keep the anger out of his voice since he didn’t want to scare either of the children, but when Harry gave a small nod he could not keep from growling. Harry looked frightened of his professor. Draco took Harry’s hand and glared at his daddy something that the man chose to ignore. The boy kept mumbling "I'm sorry" under his breath.
Severus knelt down in front of Harry who flinched back a little.
“I am not angry with you Harry, child." The boy looked at the slytherin in confusion and fear. Severus continued, "I am angry at the headmaster."
"Why?" Harry asked with a tilt of the head. He reminded both of the slytherins of a confused puppy.
"You should not have been told that. The headmaster was wrong for telling you that especially when it is a lie.”
“I-it is?”
“Yes, it is. Things are never as black and white as they seem as I am sure you gathered. That is such the case in the relationship between you and the Dark Lord.”
“B-but-”
“But what, child?” Severus prodded gently. He took Harry’s other hand in his and the touch calmed the last of Harry’s trembling.
“He said that we had to fight for him to kill me. A-and he rescued me. Isn’t that why you showed up?” Green doe like eyes looked up at the dour man. Severus ran a hand over his face and exhaled.
“No, that is not why he rescued you. He has no intentions to kill you or fight you. You are a child. It is not a child’s place to fight in a war started by adults for adults. Such a heavy burden should have never been placed on your shoulders. You deserve to live as carefree a life as any normal child does.”
Harry bowed his head. “But I’m not normal. I’m a freak.”
Severus sucked in a sharp breath and Draco looked at the boy next to him in shock. He had no idea Harry thought so low of himself. He did not know much about his home life but Harry was anything but a freak. Draco wrapped his arms around him. Harry stiffened at the first contact but relaxed after a second.
“Harry you are not a freak, and you will refrain from referring to yourself as such both in my presence and within the walls of this house.”
“But my aunt-”
“Your aunt is an insecure woman who projects her own insecurities on those who cannot protect themselves. She and the rest of what your relatives have ever said to you had been completely wrong. Do you understand me?”
He wanted to. Harry wanted to believe Snape so badly. Oddly enough he felt that he could trust the man after spending an hour with him than he ever could at the Dursleys. He wanted to believe it to be true, that Snape would never lie to him, but old habits die hard.
Severus could see Harry contemplating his words and he could not and did not blame him in the slightest. In all the boy’s short life all he had ever known was lies. And for what? Because his aunt was as jealous of him as she had been of her sister. Petunia Dursley nee Evans was a pathetic excuse for a human being and would pay for the trauma she had caused Lily’s son.
“Harry?”
The gryffindor looked when Snape called his name and nodded his head. They both knew he was lying. This was the reason that Severus reached out and ran his hand through the boy’s hair.
“We will work on your confidence at a later date, but for right now we all need sustenance before we go see the Dark Lord.” Severus said as he rose, wincing when his knees cracked. He turned to head downstairs for some much needed food when he was sure that both boys were following closely behind him.
Harry started trembling a little as they made it towards the staircase but not as hard as before. Draco took one look at his nervous classmate before taking his hand in his and giving it a gentle squeeze. The blond received a soft smile of thanks from Harry as they followed after the potions master.