Blood Protection... or Protection from Blood?

Severus Snape sighed. He had taken this job as a Muggle psychiatrist only because Dumbledore had told him to. Said it would 'clear his mind.' That man has definitely got some issues, Snape thought.

There was a knock on the door. His first patient. "Come in," Snape called miserably. Well, it could be worse, he thought to himself. At least I'm not with...

"POTTER!" Snape cried. Sure enough, Harry Potter, scar and all, was entering the room.

Potter looked up. His eyes widened in shock. "No," he said firmly. "No, no, no, no, NO! It's bad enough Uncle Vernon made me come to this stupid place. I am not going to be your patient."

"One thing we agree on, Potter," Snape said angrily. "Get OUT!"

"As much as I would love to Professor," Harry said. "I'm locked in. With you. Could this get any worse?"

Snape sighed in disgust. "Magic, Potter. You got your wand?"

"No. Students aren't allowed to do magic over the summer."

"I know. I just didn't think it would stop you."

"Well, sorry, Professor, but that's the rule." Harry looked just about as miserable as he did.

"DANG!" Snape shouted. "I knew I shouldn't have taken this job..."

Harry looked at him in disgust. "And I thought this summer couldn't get any worse," Harry sighed. "I have to come here twice a week. For the rest of the summer! I don't think I can survive."

"Neither can I, Potter. Neither can I."

They sat reminiscing in their own miserableness for a few seconds. Then Snape said. "So- why are you stuck in here?"

"A few truthful statements about my cousin escaped my lips," Harry shrugged.

"And they were..."

"Oh, that he's a fat nosed pig with five chins."

"I see."

"You know, Professor, if we both manage to make it back to Hogwarts alive please excuse me if I don't have my homework done."

Snape snorted. "Fat chance, Potter. You're just like the rest of them, too lazy to do it."

"Actually, I physically can't."

Snape snorted. This was the lamest excuse he had ever heard. "And why not?"

"Because the Dursleys burned all my things."

Snape looked up at Harry. He had an honest expression on his face. Oh bloody hell, Snape thought. And I thought some time with that family would do him some good...

Suddenly Snape noticed that Harry was not sitting in his usual, lax way. It seemed whenever he tried to relax into the chair, he winced and sat up straight again. What have they done to him? Snape thought.

"Come here, Potter."

Harry walked forward grudgingly. Snape put his hand on Harry's. Harry winced and pulled it away quickly.

"Pull up your sleeve, Potter."

Harry looked nervous. "Why should I?"

"I am on Dumbledore's orders right now and if you don't do it he's going to know."

Harry winced and slowly pulled up his sleeve. Snape grimaced at what he saw.

Harry's arm was white like a sheet of paper. There were cuts and bruises all up and down it. On closer examination, Snape saw they were whip marks. In one area there was a white piece of cloth, which seemed to be covering something. Snape took it off at Harry's protests and almost threw up. There was a hole of Harry's flesh, going right down so that you could see the bone.

"How - how long has that been there?" Snape asked tentatively.

"Since this morning," Harry whispered, putting the cloth back on carefully. Snape shook his head.

"Let me see your other arm."

Harry bit his lip, but slowly lifted up his other sleeve. Snape winced. The arm was bent backwards.

Harry revealed that there were nasty cuts all up and down his legs also. Snape closed his eyes. "Before I say anything, is there anything else I should know about?" Harry bit his lip again, then slowly turned around and lifted up the back of his shirt. Snape gasped at what he saw.

He had seen people hurt before, but not like this. Harry's whole back was covered in whip marks, some of them still bleeding, some just scabs. But in the middle of his back was what made him gasp. What made him want to throw up again. Right smack in the middle were three knife marks. Not regular knife marks either. They were swelling. They were swelling almost an inch. They looked as if white-hot knives had made them.

Snape took a deep breath as Harry sat down again. "Why didn't you contact someone?"

"They- they sent Hedwig to Hermione's," Harry whispered. "Burned all my parchment with my other stuff."

"Who?"

"Uncle Vernon," Harry said hoarsely.

"Did they burn your wand?"

Harry shook his head slowly. "No, I managed to get it out of my trunk, and one piece of parchment and a cloak too. And my Firebolt they sent to Hermione's house."

Snape almost consoled him. He really felt sorry for Potter. "Any-anything else?"

"They've been poisoning me," Harry said quietly. "I'm going to die."

Snape bit his lip. "With what?"

"I don't know... I saw the poisonous label on a bottle of the stuff. He force-fed me."

Snape had made a decision. "I'm owling Black," he said firmly. He pulled out the quill and parchment he kept in his drawer so that he could contact Dumbledore.

Black-

His aunt and uncle have abused Harry. They poisoned him and beat him. He's going to die, Black, but not if we can help it. Go to their house with Lupin and bust him out later tonight. Later, Black. Later. After the sun goes down. And be careful of the wards. Don't do anything stupid, Black, if you can help it.

-Severus Snape

"Black and Lupin will get you from that house at dusk," Snape said.

"Sirius and Remus?" Harry said weakly. "Th- thank you, Professor."

Snape nodded. "I wonder... Arabella should have notified us..."

"Who?" Harry asked weakly.

"That would be Mrs. Figg to you."

Harry's jaw dropped. "Mrs. Figg is a witch?"

Snape rolled his eyes. "Very good, Potter. Ten points to Gryffindor."

"Did you really just say that?"

"Oh damn, I'm losing my touch," Snape said.

"But- Mrs. Figg is a witch?"

"Of course she's a witch, you idiot. Dumbledore wouldn't let you go unsupervised all that time. Someone should be around to pick you up now."

Harry groaned. A very, very, very fat man walked in. Harry sat up straight.

"You ready to go boy?" said the man.

"Yes Uncle Vernon," Harry said sharply.

"I'm sorry if he was a trouble," said Vernon to Snape. "Very sensitive... we send him to Saint Brutus's Secure Center for Incurably Criminal Boys you know..."

Snape raised an eyebrow. If that was the best excuse he could come up with, he was surprised someone hadn't found out Harry was a wizard yet. Well, pretty soon Harry would be free from those horrid people.

"Come on, boy, get up!" Vernon snapped. He slapped Harry on the back hard. Harry winced. Snape bit his lip. He never thought he'd do this, but...

"Mr. Dursley, could I speak to you alone for a minute?" Snape said through gritted teeth. Vernon shrugged.

"I don't see why not. Boy, your aunt is waiting in the car." Harry walked out sulkily. He gave Snape one last backward look, and Snape winked. Harry smiled grimly and winked back. He left.

"I'm so sorry if the boy caused you trouble," Vernon said. "He'll be back in a few days, he'll be coming twice a week all summer..."

Snape shook his head. "No, no, I'm afraid he won't." Snape drew his wand and brandished it. Vernon gasped.

"You're a- you're a- you're one of them," he hissed.

"Oh, very good," Snape said to sarcastically. "Ten points to... Slytherin, I would imagine. Normally I would be lenient, but under the circumstances..."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Vernon hissed.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about. Evans surely would have told you something?"

"I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!"

"Yes, I know your wife had sister, and I agree she was pretty useless, and her husband was a real dork, and Harry is probably the worst Potions student besides Neville Longbottom. But when you try to kill him, your own nephew! Yes, I know what you did," Snape said through gritted teeth. "You'd be surprised how much I know. I know your son is a good-for-nothing, fat idiot, that your wife is even worse than her sister, and that if you touch another hair on Harry's head Black will turn you into dung beetles and squash you into nothing. Either that or he'll set the werewolf loose on you," he mused. "Of course, Lupin isn't a total idiot, he wouldn't do that, or he would, but not purposely, but you don't know what I'm talking about so it doesn't matter anyway."

"The boy is as good as dead," Vernon hissed. "Another week and he'll be gone like his parents. They were fools. So are you, if you think you can save him."

"I won't take any of that, you idiot. The joke's on you, and that's never a good sign when you're dealing with Black and Lupin. Believe me, I know. So I'll be seeing you, Mr. Dursley. Just don't forget what I said."

"I'm not taking the boy back here," Vernon mumbled under his breath. "I'll bring him to a different shrink..."

"I heard that, Mr. Dursley," Snape snapped. "And if you think I'm wasting my time in this dump on my own free will, you're gravely mistaken."

"Pshaw," Dursley said. "How else would you make a living, Doctor?"

"I have my ways." Snape fiddled with his wand. "And that's Professor, not Doctor."

"You- you're a teacher at that freak school, aren't you?" Dursley said, fear flooding into his voice. "You're the boy's friend!"

Snape burst out laughing. "If I had any friends, which I don't," he said, calming down, "Potter would be the last one on my list."

Dursley didn't answer him. "You can go now," Snape said, telling him off like a student.

Dursley began to walk away, then turned around and whispered harshly, "Don't count on seeing the boy alive again."

"Oh, I will," Snape said. "And I thought I told you to get your ass out of my office."

Dursley left the room. Black, if you're going to get Potter out, you'd better do it tonight, Snape thought grimly.

Harry sat down in the car nervously. He winced: Dudley was pushing him against the side of the car, since he was so fat. His arm was broken so badly he wanted it to just fall off. Dudley gave a great shift, and Harry almost screamed. He was now pressed almost flat against the wall, his arm-twisting even worse than before.

But he didn't scream. Screaming would mean giving in. Plus, Harry thought, I deserve every second.

Yes, Harry Potter still blamed himself for the death of Cedric Diggory. Harry could hardly believe it had only been a few weeks. Those weeks had felt more like an eternity.

Yes, Harry Potter thought he deserved to die.

I don't know why everyone makes such a fuss about me anyway, Harry thought. All I do is cause everyone pain. I do deserve to die. I do. I do. And I will.

Harry didn't want to die. He wanted to scream. He wanted to run away. But you deserve it, said a voice in his head, you deserve all of this.

So Harry stayed.

Please let Sirius come, Harry thought miserably as his arm twisted, please.

Sirius Black looked at the owl that had come to the window. He scowled in disgust. He recognized that owl. And it meant only one thing.

Snape.

Sirius reluctantly took the letter. "Shoo, you," he said, shooing the owl off. It flew away.

Sirius opened up the envelope and read the note inside. His face whitened. His hands trembled. Tears came to his eyes. "REMUS!!!" he screamed.

Remus Lupin hurried onto the back porch, where Sirius was. "What's wrong, Padfoot?"

Sirius took several deep breaths. "We're going on a trip."

Remus raised his eyebrows. "What in bloody hell are you talking about, Sirius?"

Sirius, taking several more deep breaths, said, "Harry's dying, Moony. We've got to save him."

Remus's heart skipped a beat. ""What- how- who says?"

"Snape," Sirius spat.

"Sirius, deep breath. Since when has Snape ever told us the truth? It's probably a joke..."

Sirius shook his head. "No. He wouldn't joke about something like this. We're going to Privet Drive. If this is a joke, Snape will wish he was never born."

Still unconvinced, Remus took the note from Sirius's trembling hands. He read it. He went rigid. The paper fell to the floor.

"Sirius, we should wait til later... Snape said..."

"WHO CARES WHAT SNAPE SAYS???" Sirius screamed. "HARRY'S DYING, REMUS! DYING! WE ARE GOING NOW, AND NOT ONE THING YOU SAY IS GOING TO STOP ME!"

Sirius took several more deep breaths and said, "Sorry Moony, but I'm going now, and whether you come with me or not is up to you."

"We're going. Now. We're not going to fail Lily and James again, Padfoot. Let's go."

A car pulled into Number 4, Privet Drive noisily. Harry was the first to get out of it. He waited while the Muggles got out. He entered the house after them and waited for the blow to strike.

Uncle Vernon looked at him, his face purple. "You- you- you told the shrink," he said, breathing heavily. "Lay down!"

Harry looked at his uncle in surprise. "LAY DOWN I SAY!" Uncle Vernon cried. Harry did so, wondering what his uncle was going to do to him.

Suddenly Harry felt a pain in his feet, like there was a thousand-pound weight on them. He winced and closed his eyes. Slowly the pain moved up his legs. It left behind almost paper-thin skin. Harry opened his eye a little bit to see what his uncle was doing. He almost screamed.

Uncle Vernon was rolling on top of him.

When his uncle reached his stomach, Harry bit his lip. This is the end, Harry thought. He's going to kill me.

Harry gasped for breath as his uncle slowly rolled over his lungs. Slowly the pain lifted away, but now it was time for the worst...

Harry closed his eyes and bit his lip as his uncle approached his head. The pain started in his neck. Harry wheezed. Vernon rolled heavily onto his head, and with a crack Harry heard his jaw break. It hurt, but it was nothing to what he felt next. His glasses broke in two. Harry dimly heard another crack. He supposed part of his skull had broken. Just add it to the list of broken bones... Harry thought.

Suddenly the pain was released. But this left Harry so weak that he couldn't move. I'm sorry mum and dad, Harry thought. Like Remus said, you died to save me, and look how I come to my end, deserving every bit of the pain.

"DUDLEY!" he heard Uncle Vernon's voice call distantly. "Come here!"

Great. Now Dudley was either going to help or laugh at him.

"Help me lift him..."

Together Dudley and Uncle Vernon lifted a surprisingly light Harry and put him into the kitchen. They dropped him on the floor. Harry winced again.

Uncle Vernon took out his whip. Harry felt someone remove his shirt. He felt the now-familiar pain of when his uncle whipped him. He winced once more.

Then he heard Uncle Vernon laugh. "I've got an idea," Uncle Vernon told Dudley. "Put him on the stove."

Harry wanted to scream. He's going to burn me alive! Harry thought. Cedric, I hope you appreciate this...

Harry felt himself being dropped onto the stove. "Say good-bye, boy," his uncle hissed. "No one can save you now..."

Harry screwed up his face. If now was the end, he wasn't going to give in and scream, no matter how badly it hurt... he was going to die like his father...

Slowly Vernon turned the gas on. Pain erupted in Harry's back like it had never been felt before. It was white-hot... this is the end, Harry thought, good-bye...

"HARRY!"

The pain stopped almost immediately. Harry opened his eyes a crack. Sirius and Remus were running into the room, screaming their heads off. Harry heard Sirius shout an incantation, and the Dursleys hushed up. Remus hurried over to him while Sirius was taking care of the Dursleys.

"Harry..." Remus said, tears in his eyes. "Come on, we're going to get you out of here..."

"Remus..." Harry croaked.

"Don't talk, Harry, you'll make it worse, Sirius and I are getting you away from here now." Harry felt strong arms lift him onto a newly conjured stretcher.

When Sirius had screamed himself hoarse (which didn't take too long, considering how loud he was yelling), he hurried over to Harry.

"Harry," he croaked. "Oh bloody hell, Harry, look at you... it's all right, Harry, I'm here, Remus and I will get you out of here..."

Harry fell unconscious before he could say any more.

When Harry gained conscious again, he was in a room that seemed - well, it seemed different. Familiar. Safe. Harry closed his eyes again to make sure he wasn't dreaming.

"Are- are you awake, Harry?"

Harry squinted his eyes. "Sirius?" he croaked.

"Yes, Harry, it's me... we're at Remus's house. You're safe now."

"Than- thank you," Harry whispered hoarsely.

"Don't talk, Harry, you're deathly ill..."

"What happened?" Harry whispered. "I can't remember anything..."

"Sirius? Is he awake?" said a new voice.

"He's awake, Remus," Sirius said. Remus walked into the room.

"Harry, do you feel any better?" Remus asked.

Harry nodded and closed his eyes again. "What happened?" he repeated hoarsely.

"We got you out of that f***ing house and brought you here," Remus said. "Sirius got a little -er- over-enthusiastic and changed the Dursleys into slugs.

Harry smiled, but stopped quickly, for he found it ached. "Am I- am I going to be okay?" Harry whispered.

There was silence. "You just got here, Harry, we really don't know," Sirius whispered. "We Flooed Dumbledore and he and Madame Pomfrey are on their way. So are Hermione and the Weasleys. We really don't know if you'll be okay." Sirius choked back a sob.

Harry found new strength in this. "Sirius," he whispered, "if I die and you blame yourself, I will haunt you for the rest of your life."

Sirius buried his face in his hands. Remus hugged him.

"We aren't going to let you die, Harry," Remus choked. "We're not going to let you. Don't even try."

At that moment, Dumbledore and Madame Pomfrey hurried in. Madame Pomfrey gasped. Dumbledore shook his head.

"What happened?" Dumbledore asked Remus.

"What happened? The Dursleys happened," Remus said. "If you even suggest letting Harry go back there Sirius and I will have to tie him into this bed."

Sirius nodded. "Who cares about blood protection? That sour Dursley blood is what he needs protecting from."

"I'm all right," Harry choked.

"That is the biggest lie I ever heard," Madame Pomfrey said. She unpacked her bag of different medicines quickly. Ron and Hermione burst into the room at that moment.

"Harry!" Hermione choked. "Oh no... oh damn..." She took his hand. "Are you all right?"

Harry slowly shook his head. Ron was white and trembling. Harry saw he was crying

"Harry?"

"It's okay Ron. Don't cry," Harry whispered.

"How can you say that, Harry? You're half dead!"

Snape walked into the room at that moment. Sirius took a deep breath and stood up. This was going to be hard.

"Thank you," Sirius choked. "Thank you."

Snape looked at him. "I wasn't about to let him die." Snape turned away from him and walked over to Harry's bed.

"I'm sorry, Harry," he said. "I shouldn't have let you go back with those horrid people."

"Thanks, Professor," Harry whispered.

"Here." Snape took a vial out of his cloak and put it on Harry's bedside. "It'll help."

"Snape," Remus spat, "Yes, I appreciate your help. I thank you for it. BUT GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!"

Snape made a face at him and Disapparated. Harry picked up the vial and toyed with it. He opened it.

"HARRY, ARE YOU MAD?" Ron screamed. "IT'S PROBABLY POISON!"

Harry glared at Ron and drank the whole bottle in one gulp. Instantly the color returned to his face. Harry's broken jaw fell as he saw all of his cuts and scratches turn to scars, and then the scars disappeared. There were several cracks - Harry's bones had healed themselves. Snape had healed Harry. Only one scar remained - the scar on his forehead. Even the pain in his back was gone.

"Poison my butt," Harry said. "Snape cured me."

"I don't believe it," Ron said, fazed. "I don't believe it. Snape's gone goody-two shoes. Will wonders never cease?"

Dumbledore chuckled. "God old Severus," Dumbledore said.

"Great," Sirius mumbled, "just great. Spiffing. Now I have to track him down and apologize to him again. Ugh."

"And you're going to make me come with you," Remus added. "Double ugh."

"Are you sure you feel all right?" Hermione asked Harry.

"I'm fine," Harry said. "What do you think I am, a liar?"

"A pretty bad one," Sirius mumbled. "Just like James."

"Sir," said Madame Pomfrey, "sir, you can't believe that Snape has truly healed him..."

"Of course I believe it," Dumbledore said softly. "I would trust Severus with my life."

Remus mumbled something under his breath. Harry was sure it was nothing kind.

"Now, Harry," Dumbledore said. "Since Sirius and Remus would hang me if I suggest you do back to the Dursleys, you shall stay here until you go back to Hogwarts, all right?"

"Professor, he could come stay at the Burrow with us," Ron said.

"No," Dumbledore said quite firmly. "No, here Harry will be the safest. Perhaps next summer, Mr. Weasley."

Ron's face fell considerably. "Ron, I am not letting Harry leave my sight until he is on the train to Hogwarts," Sirius said. "He's my responsibility."

"Sirius, you can't follow him everywhere," Hermione said. "You'll be caught."

"Then I'll be caught," Sirius snapped.

"You most certainly will not!" Remus said. Sirius glared at him. Remus raised an eyebrow. "You're not going back to Azkaban, Padfoot. But we'll still keep Harry safe."

Sirius sighed. "Moony, why are you so - good?"

"Why are you so - stupidly brave?" Remus said sarcastically.

"I must go now," Dumbledore said. "Send me an owl, Sirius. Come, Poppy."

Madame Pomfrey reluctantly left, giving Harry one last piercing glare as she left.

"Are you positive you're all right?" Hermione said. Harry groaned.

"Hermione. Please. You're the cleverest witch in the world. Yet you can't understand the five words I have to tell you. I'M FINE, YOU GREAT NINNY!"

Hermione sighed in disgust. "You would say that if a Lethifold got hold of you."

Ron rolled his eyes. "Hermione, you're so - woeful."

"I had no idea you knew what that means," Hermione said.

"Hmm," Remus said, studying the three of them. "Now who do they remind you of, Padfoot?"

"Hmm, let me think... three certain boys... not to mention a rat..."

"About twenty-five years ago..."

Harry looked at them. "If you mean who I think I mean, that's impossible. I mean, Hermione's a girl."

"Really?" Hermione said sarcastically.

"History tends to repeat itself," Sirius said. "You are your father's son, Harry. Ron is just like me. And Hermione... well, she's not exactly like Moony, you know what I mean by that, but... they've got the same initiatives. And they're both too smart for their own good."

Remus slapped Sirius. "Shut up, Padfoot. At least I'm not too stupid for my own good."

"Are you saying that I, Sirius Ian Black, am stupid?"

"Yes, I am," Remus said firmly.

"Oh shut up Moony."

"Why should I?"

"Because if you don't I'll hex you."

"Hmm... pretty good reason."

"Hmm... they bicker like you do, too," Harry said.

"Shut up, Harry," said the rest of them in unison.

"Now Harry, are you absolutely positive..." Ron began, smiling slightly.

"Now you're just trying to annoy me," Harry said firmly.

"Well, it's working, isn't it?"

"You are so... irksome."

"You two really have been studying, haven't you?" Hermione asked in amazement. "Will wonders never cease?"

Ron glared at her. "You know, it gets kind of old the second time around."

"It never gets old, Ron," Hermione said, smiling at her two friends. "It never gets old."