Chapter 7

Next morning, Severus woke up and sent a quick note to Mark through the floo.

"Mark, I might need you to come later today and give Potter a full check-up. Severus"

Then he made his way down to the kitchen. He sat down and thougt. Toppy said that the boy threw up his meals half of the time. He had to think of a way to keep the food down before Mark could give a check-up to find the solution. The boy could not afford losing or missing any more meals. He accioed a vial of nutrition potion just in time he received his morning coffee from Toppy.

"Toppy, you said that Potter threw up after his meals. Do you know any way to prevent it ?"

"Hmm, Toppy once heard that drinking milk before meals helps, Master Severus, sir"

"Ok, Toppy. And can you make us pancakes and bacons for breakfast ?"

"Of course, Master Severus" -  the elf replied cheerfully and popped away.

Usually Severus would eat healthily and he didn't eat pancakes or sugary stuff for breakfast . But he was sure Harry would like it and Severus wanted to cheer the boy up after last night. He froze. When had he come to care for the boy and his happiness ?

Half an hour later, Harry came down looking sad and unsure, as Severus had expected

"Good morning, Potter, come in "

Harry came to the table and looked surprised at his plates. They got pancakes for breakfast. He had only got them once last week as a snack from Toppy. He smiled and sat down.

Severus' heart skipped a beat, Harry's got Lily's smile. And he would do anything to see it again.

"Po...Harry" - Severus decided to call the boy by his given name. It would remind him that Harry was not like his father., not arrogant and definitely not spoiled. And Harry didn't need to jump anytime his family name was spat out by his hated professor anymore. He has experienced enough trauma and horror and nervousness. Even though Harry hadn't comfirmed it, Severus was sure he had experienced those. At least Severus' father only abused him when the man was drunk or there was accidental magic, and he never starved Severus and Severus' ribs had never been as visible as Harry's.

"Yes, sir ?" - said Harry surprised 

"I want you to drink the milk and this potion first. It is a nutrition potion" - Snape said handing Harry a glass of milk and a vial of potion.

Harry complied and they started their breakfast

Severus was done when Harry was half way through his breakfast. He waited for the boy to finish. 10 minutes later, Harry started to pick at his food which was 1/4 left of his breakfast.

"Are you done, Harry ?" - Severus said softly.

"Yes, sir" - Harry replied quietly

"Alright, let's have a talk about your relatives, is that ok ?"

Harry nodded but he had started to get nervous. Severus placed a hand on his shoulder, ignoring the flinch and led Harry into the sitting room. He sat Harry on the sofa next to him and ask Toppy for some tea.

He had never had tea with the boy. Severus spend most of his time reading and didn't really know what the boy was doing, perhaps playing with some toys or reading. Harry had only gone flying in the garden for 2 times.

In reality, Harry had been wandering around Severus' library, occasionally took off a book that looked interesting but usually, they didn't keep him occupied for long because they obviously weren't meant to keep kids amused. He didn't have any toys to play with because... well, you know. He had done a few of his homework. Sometimes he would reread his old schoolbooks or look at his photo album.

Back to the present, Harry had started to hyperventilate at the mention of his relatives. Severus quickly accioed a calming draught and pressed it to the boy's lips.

"Come on child, drink it for me. It'll make you feel better."

Harry drank it and started to calm down.

"Harry, look at me please" - Severus said and lifted Harry's chin to make the boy look at him in the eyes.

"You remember what I told you last night, right ? I need you to tell me what your relatives have done to you so I could help you and get you out of there."

"You promise that you won't use what I tell you a... against me ?" - Harry asked shakily. He wanted to trust Severus but couldn't help but ask.

"I promise" - Severus replied reassuringly.

Harry took a shaky breath and opened his mouth but didn't know what to say. Severus noticed it and decided to start to make it easier.

"First, Harry, how often and how much they feed you ?"

"A... about once every t...two of three days, unless I was bad and had to be punished. I mostly got the scrap off their plates, of some leftovers."

"Harry, what did you do that make they say you were bad ?"

"Like I burned food, I did accidental magic or something happened that they thought I did, or if I touched Dudley's stuff. Or sometimes they just feel like punishing me because I...I'm a freak." - He said getting teary, his voice breaking.

Severus was raging, he couldn't believe his ears. What type of people is that. And they have a son themseves.

"Harry, you are not a freak" - he said slowly - " All of those things they told you were, are and will be lies"- Severus wanted the boy to understand. "And I don't want you to call yourself like that again. Am I clear ?"

Harry just nodded.

"Ok, how did they punish you, child ?"

"They would lock me in my cupboard..."

"Your cupboard ?"

"The cupboard where I was kept in until I received my first Hogwarts letter."

Severus was fuming with rage. He took deep breaths. It would not do to lose his control in front of the boy.

"Continue Harry, what else did they do to you ?" 

Harry  started shaking "Aunt Petunia would hit me with a frying pan. Uncle Vernon would kick me, punch me or hit me. Sometimes he used a... a belt. Like... twice a week. And... he would tell Dudley and his gang to play "Harry Hunting""

The boy was now full on crying. Of course, Severus thought, he had just relived the ten horrible years of his life.

Harry was scared, he didn't know what to do. He didn't know what was going to happen to him now. He remembered last night, when Severus had held him. It felt nice. He had never been held before. Of course he had hugged his friends, but it wasn't the same. He had never felt comfort from being held before, as long as he could remember. Was it what he felt last night ? The warmth that engulfed his body ? Right now, he was craving it badly. He wanted to feel it again.

"Why... why does everyone hate me ? I didn't do anything. I tried to be good. I really did" - Harry sobbed.

"Last... last night, after I woke up, and you were there and h... hugged me. It was nice. I've never known what it felt like. T...thank you"

Severus' heart ached for the boy. At least Severus had his mother to tend to his injuries and love and care for him. Harry ? The boy had no one except for a few friends since the age of 11. But those couldn't give him what every child needs. The boy had never known comfort or love.

Harry opened his mouth again, but seem hesitated, like he wanted to ask for something, but then closed his mouth sadly, still sobbing.

After knowing Harry had been denied the simplest, the smallest things for the most of his life, Severus decided he would give the boy what he wanted no matter how silly it was. The boy needed to now it was ok to ask for something he needs.

"What is it, Harry ?" - Severus asked softly - "What is it that you just about to tell me ? It's ok, if there's something you want or you need, there's no reason not to ask it. Just tell me."

Harry looked hesitated, then shook his head.

"I... I can't" - Harry said tearfully. He had wanted comfort. But he was sure no one would want him, let alone Severus of all people. The man would reject him. And in this state, he couldn't bear being rejected. He wrapped his small arms around himself.

Severus looked at the boy. That was a self-soothing act. He now knew what the boy wanted. His heart clenched at the fact that the boy was that afraid to ask for something as simple as comfort.

Severus slowly put an arm around the boys smalll form and held him close. He felt Harry tensed for a few seconds and then the dam broke. He cried harder. And the truth hit Severus badly. Lily's child had been abused and neglected. How lonely the boy was. How he hadn't been James Potter at all. And how the boy had been dealing with everything on his own as a very young child. The boy needed a break, needed an adult to help him and needed to know that he didn't have to deal with everything on his own all the time.

After a few minutes, Harry calmed down. That was probably the best cry he had ever had. It felt nice to let everything out. And having someone to hold him while he cried had been awesome, even if it was Snape.

Severus held his chin up to make the boy look at him in the eyes.

"Harry, listen to me. Those relatives of yours are vile creatures. They're not even fit to care for a stuffed dog, let alone a child" , 'especially Lily's child', he told himself. "They hate you for no reason and you didn't do anything, you didn't deserve to be treated to that. and you certainly are not bad. You deserve care and love. So don't blame yourself for their treatments towards you."

The boy was still sniffling, but had mostly calmed down.

"Harry, I have one more question for you. Please answer it truthfully, ok?"

The boy nodded.

"Has someone ever... touched you ?... Like inappropriately ? Not like when they are hitting you with their hands ?"

Harry looked at him confused, innocently.

"What do you mean ?"

Severus was quiet shocked. The boy hadn't known about that ? It's understandable though, those so-called relatives only wanted harm for him, why would they talk to him and teach him to protect himself ? That was a problem for later though.

"I mean has anyone ever touched you somehow or somewhere in a weird way ? At some certain places ? That made you uncomfortable ?"

Harry took time to think, then looked up with tearful eyes.

"I...I think so"

"What did that person do ? and who is that ?" - Severus asked, struggling to keep his voice soft. He was very angry, but not at the boy.

"He touched my...my... down there. I hate it" - the boy said tearfully.

Silent tears started to roll down the boy's face again.

Severus was raging. He had barely kept a straight face. Harry didn't need to be scared by him.

"It will be alright, you're not going back there, I promise" - He said softly.

Harry cried, letting out those burdens that he had been bearing on his small shoulders for all those years.

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