Harry was eight years and was currently up the tree in the backyard of his relatives home with his leg bleeding and bulldog at the base of the tree trying to get to him, barking and snarling up at him while his relative and aunt Marge were inside the house laughing at the fright and fear of the child, not bothering to stop the dog from trying to get him.
He was being chased by his cousin and his friends, " Come here Freak! " Dudley called after him, he wheezed from the running bringing up the rear of his friends chasing his cousin. He hid behind the trash bins, making himself as small as possible, one second, he saw his cousin and his friends coming near him the next he was on the roof of his elementary school.
" What was that? " Severus asked coming out of Harry's mind, catching him before he could fall to the ground.
" Which one? "
" The dog and your cousin chasing you. "
" The dog belongs to my uncle's sister Marge, I blew her up last year. His name's Ripper, she seeked him on me for no reason other than I upset Dudley. I don't even know what I did to upset him. He got my leg before I got away and ran up the tree, the back yard was closer than my cupboard. "
" She seeked a bulldog on an eight-year-old? She truly is that man's sister. And your cousin? "
" He was bored so, and he and his friends went 'Harry Hunting' as they liked to call it. "
" And last year? What happened to cause you to blow up that foul woman? "
" She insulted my parents, just like how Aunt Petunia does only she compared my mom to a female dog. "
" Did she now? " Severus asked, clearly not happy by this.
" You can look to see for yourself, I'd rather not repeat what she said. "
" You're sure? "
" Yeah, I won't try to push you out of my mind. "
" Very well, Legimens! "
" He didn't work. " Petunia said.
" A drunk too no doubt. " CRASH Her wine glass broke, scarring the three adults, " Oh don't worry Petunia, I got a firm grip! " The large woman brushed it off, she snapped her fingers at Harry,
" You, clean it up. "
Harry stopped cleaning the dishes and grabbed a towel to clean up the broken glass.
" You mustn't blame yourself for the boy Petunia, not his fault, you see all the time with dogs, it's got nothing to do with the father, it's more along the lines of the mother, if there's something wrong with the bitch, there's something with the pup. "
" SHUT UP! " Harry shouted having enough of this woman. Behind him the cabinets rattled and shook, one opened and shut, drawers opened and shut, lights flickered, the woman who had clearly been drinking more than she should didn't realize what was happening and stuck her finger at Harry and only said,
" Right, you... " Before she realized that something was wrong by the tip of her finger swelling up, slowly the rest of her followed and soon she became human balloon floating away, Vernon tried to keep her grounded, Petunia stood back in fright, Dudley continued to mindless watch the tv in the kitchen.
" Well now I must say that she got what she deserved. " Severus said leaving Harry's mind. He was clearly angry at what happened.
" It was the first time I stood up against my uncle. It was also the first time he kicked me out of the house. " Harry replied.
" Do they do that often? Insult your parents. " He asked getting a better grip on his anger.
" Every chance they get. " Harry answered, wiping the sweat off his forehead. A glass of ice water appeared,
" Drink. We are done for the day. "
" I can keep going. "
" No. I told you this was more advanced than the Patronus Charm. You can't learn it in a week. How long did it take you to grasp the Patronus Charm? Weeks. We are in no rush. Keep reading the book I gave you, practice clearing your mind, meditate. "
" How do you Meditate? "
" How I Meditate or Meditate in general? "
" Both. "
" By focusing on something and taking deep breathes and sitting still. "
" Focusing on what? "
" Anything, an object, a smell, a sound, something that grounds you. "
" What smells or sounds works for you? "
" Usually a combination of lavender and jasmine, they are naturally calming scents. As for the sound, a gentle rain. I find those work best for me. But you may be different. "
" Can you teach me? I'd like to try it anyways to see if it'll help. "
" Very well as it's part of learning Occlumency. "
Severus summoned incense sticks and an incense holder then he cast a sound spell and the sound of a gentle rain surrounded them as he lit the incense sticks they were different colored, one was purple the other was a bit yellowish.
Soon the smell of jasmine and lavender filled the room along with the sound of rain.
" Now we sit down cross-legged. Close our eyes. Take a deep breath, let it out slowly, listen to the rain, smell the lavender and jasmine, very good. Now focus on what soothes you, hold that image and continue to focus on the smell of the lavender, the jasmine, the sound of the rain. "
Soon they both were meditating to the sounds and smells around them, it calmed them, soothed them as they focused their minds.
This was how Albus found them when he came into the cleared out lounge to check up on them.
" Can I help you headmaster? " Severus asked, eyes still closed, he was still aware of his surroundings, another thing he'd have to teach the boy.
" Professor Dumbledore? " Harry opened his eyes and saw the older man there looking at him and Severus with a look of fondness, as though he were happy to see them getting along, Harry was too, much to his surprise.
" Good evening to you both. I see that Severus is teaching you to meditate, Harry. "
" He's teaching me Occlumency. I'm having trouble with it and he suggested to meditate. It's working! "
" Good to hear! Occlumency is a very powerful tool to have and I'm glad to see Severus teach it to you. "
" It's evening already? We nearly missed dinner. Will you join us headmaster? " Severus asked getting up, Harry following, the sound of the rain stopped and the incense was put out as well. The lounge was rearranged again to look like a lounge and not a study that led to the kitchen.
" If it's not any trouble. "
" Not at all headmaster, though I apologize for size of the table. "
" No need to apologize my boy. "
" How are you fairing Harry? " He asked once they were seated, tonight was spaghetti and meatballs with mozzarella cheese on top with breadsticks.
" I'm doing great Professor! "
" Very good! It's good to see you happy Harry as well as healthy and I apologize once again for not helping you as I should've. "
" It's fine Professor. You didn't know because I didn't tell you. "
" Speaking of that, have you spoken anymore of what happened? "
" Not really. I've been writing it down mostly when I couldn't talk about it like I wanted to. "
" It takes time Albus. You know how long it took me. "
" Yes, I do. Is there anything either of you can give me so that I may continue the proper paperwork to have the Dursley's brought to the Ministry? "
" Harry? " Severus looked to him, surprising Albus that he was using the boy's given name now.
" There's a couple of pages, but I'd like for you to go over them first, Professor. "
" Very well. After dinner. Then it's off to bed. "
" Yes sir. " Harry nodded and returned to his dinner.
" Harry's made an improvement since coming here. " Albus commented once Harry was upstairs in his room.
" Indeed, you never think..."
" Indeed. " Albus agreed.
They were quiet for a moment before Severus handed the papers, copies, of Harry's writings to give to him to add to the evidence against the Dursley's.
Albus looked over it and frowned, " His aunt tried to hit him with a frying pan over his head when he was 6 years old? Because his hair had regrowned over night? "
" She had gotten 'fed up' with it being messy and had lopped it nearly all off, nicking his head with the scissors.
" His uncle put bars on his window...after taking a belt to him for ruining dinner? "
" His second year. Dobby ruined the dinner not Harry. But Dursley thought it was him. "
" He never let on. "
" Another thing those of abuse do Albus, we hide it. And we hide it well. "
" Yes, took you until you were 18 to tell me of what you went through. "
" And I was 20 when I finally told Henry and Rose Evans of what I went through. I trust they will get what they deserve and Harry gets the justice he is owed? "
" Most defiantly. "
" Good to hear. When do you think they'll go to the ministry for their crimes? "
" Soon after the paperwork is filed and turned in. They would want Harry to be present and hear from him all that was done to him. "
" Does he though? Can't they use a pensive? I may be teaching the boy Occlumency, but he's still too new to it to alter the memories. "
" We can use that as well, but we would still need Harry's own words. "
" He's getting better, far better than I did when I first began talking about what happened to me. "
" Perhaps if you told him of your experience, he may open up more? "
" I-I could try. As you know, it's still hard to talk about. But as you say talking about it with him may help. The Mutt giving you any grief? " Severus changed the subject.
" He keeps asking where Harry is and if he could see him. I keep telling him that Harry is safe and that it is too risky for him to come see him. "
" Are suggesting I take the boy to see his godfather? "
" It might do him some good. "
" I'll not stand for Black's antics. "
" I'll ensure he is on his best behavior. "
" That's never stopped him before. "
" For Harry's sake, I do hope he is civil. "
" I highly doubt it.
---
Severus' prediction turned out to be correct, Black was not happy when he discovered that it was he that Harry had been residing with since leaving his relatives house.
" Leave him alone Sirius! " Harry defended Severus, standing in front of him so that Sirius wouldn't do anything to the man.
" What have you done to Harry Snivelus? "
" He's done nothing to me! And don't call him that! "
" I can fight my own battles Harry. Clearly your godfather is bored being cooped up in his old family home and has decided to revert back to old ways. "
" Clearly. " Harry agreed.
" There he goes again! "
" He is standing right in front of you and he is fine. I've been doing better since Professor Snape got me out of that house. If you're not going to be civil towards him while we are here then I would like to leave. "
" Do you have any idea who he is? "
" Black. "
" He's a Death Eater Harry! He a supporter to Voldemort! "
" Is that true Professor? "
" I may have taken the Mark, but I was never a supporter of the Dark Lord or his views. I only joined his ranks because I got fed up with the likes of your godfather thinking he was stronger than me and better because of the house I was put in. And yet it was his so called friend who was the true supporter of the Dark Lord. "
" Oh that is it! "
" Sirius! " Harry was pushed out of the way of the man charging at him and Severus, Severus pushed him out of harm's way.
Harry watched in what could only be slow motion as Snape caught Sirius' fist and threw his own punch to the other man's gut, knocking the air of him and dropping him down from the force of the punch.
Severus stepped back, leaving Sirius on the ground clutching his gut.
" We are leaving Harry, perhaps after your godfather does a bit more growing up, when can try again for a visit. "
" Agreed Professor. Can you teach me how to do that? "
" Only if you promise use it to defend yourself. "
" Of course Professor. "
With that, they left, leaving Sirius still on the floor of his family home clutching his gut, Remus stood in the back of the room, and he saw it differently than Sirius, Harry was better and the happiest he's ever seen him.
The only thing he saw Severus had done was help Harry. He may have also told Harry of how he was treated by Sirius and James, but Harry was the one who made the decision on what to do about it.