The Worst Summer

Severus was livid. He had spent about 4 hours questioning Potter. And in those 4 hours, all his judgments about the boy had been shattered. Potter was not the pampered boy he thought him to be. He had spent 10 years living in a cupboard under the stairs, had been neglected, and emotionally and physically abused. It was a miracle that he didn't have deep emotional problems. After questioning him, Severus had given the boy a mild sleeping potion so he could meet with the headmaster undisturbed.

Severus was doing his best to calm himself. What he really wanted to do was tear the old man's head off. No child should have to grow up in the environment Potter had. He walked over to his fireplace, and used floo powder to call Albus. The headmaster's face appeared in the fireplace. "Yes, Severus?"

"We need to talk. Mr. Potter is sleeping in the next room and I do not think he needs to wake up alone. Would you and Lupin please come to my quarters?"

"Of course. Stand back." The next moment Albus came through the fireplace, followed by Remus, who was carrying Harry's trunk. Dumbledore conjured a third chair to sit in while Remus set the trunk down before seating himself.

Dumbledore said, "Before we begin, Remus would like discuss the items we found in Harry's trunk." He motioned for Remus to speak.

"We decided that we needed to go through Harry's trunk to make sure there wasn't anything to hurt himself with. I'm concerned with the clothes I found. Except for his school clothes and a few items that appear to have been handmade for him, his clothes appear to a few sizes too big for him and in disrepair. We need to take him to get a whole new wardrobe. I don't want to be chased by Lily holding a frying pan in the afterlife because I let her son be dressed in rags. We sent those clothes to the house elves to be burned."

"The only things that I found that Harry could use to hurt himself with were his wand, a melted knife and a broken mirror. I repaired the mirror and placed an unbreakable charm on it. Professor Dumbledore is going to attempt to repair the knife, but we won't give it back to Harry until we are sure he won't harm himself. I also think that we should confiscate his invisibility cloak for the time being."

Lupin opened Harry's trunk and handed Severus the wand and invisibility cloak. He then asked, "Is Harry ok?"

Severus replied, "Yes, I've given him a mild sleeping potion. He should sleep for several hours, perhaps even until tomorrow morning."

Snape turned to look at Dumbledore. "He should not return to his relatives. I don't know what you were thinking when you sent him there. No child should have to endure the environment this child has. And before you ask, no I will not tell you what he has revealed. It doesn't pose a threat to the school or the order."

Dumbledore looked grave. "Harry must stay at his relatives. It is the safest place for him. We will just have to send someone to stay with him."

Severus had not expected this. "Surely you must be joking. The boy has grown up in an environment almost as bad as my own, has witnessed death more than once, and has just lost the closest thing that he recognizes as family. I myself cannot understand what Potter saw in Black, but it does not change the fact that he is devastated, and blames himself for his godfather's death. And you still want to send him back to relatives that despise him. Has Potter become another pawn in your game?"

Severus knew he went too far in his last statement but he didn't care. The old man claimed to care for Potter, but Severus was beginning to have his doubts. He was interrupted from his musings by Lupin.

"Headmaster, there has to be another way. I know for a fact that Harry is not treated well at his relatives. I told you last year that when we picked him up we had to unlock the door to his room. While our threat to his family may have kept the muggles from directly harming him, he will not get the love he desperately needs there."

Dumbledore had that damned twinkle in his eye. This could not be good. "Well, gentlemen, than the two of you will have to work together to help Harry. That way someone will always be with him if Severus is summoned. I will send someone to relieve Remus during the full moon. I am convinced that the two of you can help Harry through this."

Severus said, "There is no way I am spending the summer with that brat. He may not have had the childhood I thought he had, but it does not change the fact that you are condemning me to spend the summer with not one, but two insufferable Gryffindors. I will not have it."

Dumbledore took the bait. "Oh, but you will, Severus. You have just told me that Harry's life has been similar to yours. You are one of the best people to help Harry. I do not need you to tell me that Harry has been hurting himself to know. It was in Petunia's letter. And since Harry already has some trust in Remus, he will prove to be of invaluable help to you."

Dumbledore stepped up to the fireplace, and added, "Well, you gentlemen should be preparing to return Harry to his relatives. I imagine you have a long evening ahead of you. And Severus, please don't cause lasting damage to the muggles." Before either Remus or Severus could argue, the headmaster had taken the floo back to his office.

Severus was deep in thought. He knew that he was a pawn for Dumbledore, but he was an adult and had taken the role willingly. The boy had never been given a choice. Harry (when did he become Harry?) had been placed in this role because of something that happened when he was a baby. It was time for someone to look after the boy's interests for once. Severus only needed to see if Lupin would help or hinder him.

He took his wand and placed a silencing charm on the room, then turned to Lupin and asked, "How much do you know about Potter's life with those muggles?"

"Not much. Harry doesn't like to talk about it. I know they began to treat him better after Harry told them his godfather was alive. But if locking him in his room was better, I would hate to see how they treated him before."

"Do you believe the Headmaster has Harry's interests at heart?"

Remus gave Severus a hard look. "No, I agree with you. He is only thinking about Harry in light of the role he has to play. But I don't know what we could do to help Harry."

"I have a plan, but it will make the headmaster very angry and will expose the fact that I have been a spy. It will only work if Potter agrees to it." Severus outlined the plan to Remus. He agreed to go along if Harry did. The only thing they could do for now was wait for Harry to wake up. The men spent the rest of the night alternately sleeping and keeping watch on the boy.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Harry awoke in a soft bed. 'One thing's for sure,' he thought, 'I'm not at the Dursley's.' His bed there was no where near that comfortable. He opened his eyes and was looking into the face of his least favorite, hook-nosed professor. Harry closed his eyes and groaned, "And I thought this day was going to be better." Harry could have sworn he heard Snape laugh. But that couldn't be. Snape and laughter definitely did not go together.

The next thing Harry knew someone was else was at his bedside. "Harry, open your eyes." It was Lupin. "Are you o.k.?"

Harry tried to sit up, but felt very weak. Remus helped Harry sit up, placing his pillows so he could lean against them. "I think so, but I'm really thirsty." Lupin got some water out of a pitcher beside the bed.

"Thank you," said Harry. "Where am I?"

Harry gulped the water down and handed the cup back to Lupin, who sat in a chair next to Harry's bed. "You are at Hogwarts. Don't you remember?"

Harry sat and thought for a moment, and then he remembered. 'Bloody Hell. I told him everything.' Harry placed his head in his hands.

Lupin said, "What's the matter Harry?"

"Snape gave me something to drink, and I told him lots of things I've never told anyone, plus stuff that could get me expelled from Hogwarts. My life is over."

"Aren't we being dramatic this morning," said Snape as he came in carrying a tray of food. "I think you are overreacting a bit Mr. Potter. Your life is not over and you will not be expelled. Most of the things you told me happened several years ago. And the other things you told me needed to be told to someone. As I told you yesterday, I will protect your secrets." He placed the tray in front of Harry and continued. "We have a lot to discuss this morning. I need you to focus on eating and listening. Do not interrupt. You may ask questions when I am finished."

Harry nodded his understanding, and Snape sat down, cast a silencing charm, and continued, "Lupin and I do not believe the headmaster has your best interests at heart. We are willing to help you out, but you must agree to the plan. In order for the headmaster to not have control over you, someone from the wizarding world must be named your guardian. Unfortunately, because of Lupin's condition, he cannot be your guardian. That leaves me."

Harry looked horrified, but Snape just continued, "Now if you agree to have me as your guardian legally, I will sign a personal agreement with you. It will be valid in a wizard court, but no one will know of it unless it is needed. The agreement will say that in all practical purposes, Lupin is also your guardian. In addition you will have decent clothes to wear, food to eat, and I will strive to treat you as the 15 year old boy you are, not the-boy-who-lived. I will do my best to protect you from the headmaster's meddling. Do you have any questions?"

Harry thought for a moment and said, "What happens if I do something wrong?"

Snape looked into Harry's eyes and said, "You could be restricted from privileges, or you might have do things similar to what you do in detentions. I will never hit you or cause pain by using a curse."

"Will you lock me in my room?"

Severus knew this would be one of Potter's questions. It was important that the boy understand that he would never be locked up as a punishment. "I need you to listen very closely to this, Pot-Harry. You need to understand that if we go through with this we will have to go into hiding for a while, and I will be taking you and Remus to a property I have that no one knows about. It is similar to Grimmauld Place in that it is unplottable, and therefore very safe. But it is a mansion and the rooms are different that what you would consider a bedroom to be. The rooms are actually suites, so even if I had to lock you in your room, you still will have access to a bathroom, and your sitting room. And you'll only be locked in if the mansion comes under attack. Do you understand?"

Harry looked up and said, "Yes, but why are you doing this for me? I know you told me yesterday that you don't hate me, but I'm still having a hard time believing you would do something to help me."

Snape said, "I would do this for any child that was being made to put up with the abuse you have. In this instance it matters not who you are."

"What is my other choice? I mean, what does Dumbledore want me to do?"

Remus answered this time, "Professor Dumbledore wants to send you back to the Dursley's, with me and Severus to act as babysitters."

Harry sat back on his pillows and ate and thought for awhile. What Snape was offering wouldn't be any worse than having the Dursley's for guardians, and he wouldn't be thought of as a freak. And Snape said yesterday that he wanted to help. Harry looked at Snape and said, "Will you put all the stuff you promised today in the agreement too?"

Snape looked straight into Harry's eyes again and said, "Yes, if that's what it takes for you to believe I am being honest with you."

Then Harry turned to Remus and said, "And you agree to this and trust him to do this?"

Remus said, "Yes, Harry. Severus and I just want to help you. You need someone to look after your interests for once."

Harry looked back at Snape and said, "O.K., I'll do it."

Snape said, "Then we have much work to do." He strode over to his closet and returned with a robe and other clothing, including shoes. "Your clothes from the Dursley's have been burned. I have spelled these items so that they will shrink to fit you when you put them on. Finish your breakfast, take a shower and get dressed. We will be leaving as soon as you are ready." He then turned and strode out of the room.

Harry looked at Lupin. "Are you sure that's the real professor Snape?"

Remus laughed and said, "Yes, Harry. It's just that he has come to see that you are your father's son instead of your father. And I think he has also come to see that you are also Lily's son, and Severus always liked Lily. Severus is trying very hard to treat you differently. I want you to do the same."

Harry nodded and then said, "I really miss Sirius. You guys aren't trying to take his place, are you?"

"No, Harry. We know nothing will ever take the place of Sirius. I also know that you need to be around people who are supportive while you grieve. But I don't think Sirius would want you to be hurting yourself to deal with you grief. In fact, I bet if Sirius were around he would kick your butt for how you've been acting."

Harry felt ashamed. He wouldn't even look at Remus. In small voice he said, "How did you find out?"

Remus said, "Professor Dumbledore let me read the letter your aunt sent. I want you to promise me that you'll talk to either me or Severus the next time you want to hurt yourself."

Harry looked a little reluctant, but said, "O.K. I'll promise. Professor Snape made me promise him the same thing when he talked to me yesterday, anyways. Are you mad at me?"

Remus reached over and tilted Harry's chin, forcing him to look up. "No, Harry. I'm not angry just concerned. We can talk more about it later. Right now, you need to get ready. I'll be in the next room waiting." Remus stood up and left Harry to his thoughts.