Changing Ideals

Body



Well, to all of you who don't hate me, thanks. Your supportive reviews did a lot of good for me. I was really nervous about posting that chapter. To the few I massively squicked, sorry, but I did give you fair warning that it was there.

Disclaimer: *sighs* I'm getting really sick of these. Do you know how hard it is to try to write them, and have them be unique? Do I actually seem like JKR? If so, you have massive problems. I'm simply borrowing, illegally. Suing me will get you nothing, absolutely nothing.

Chapter 23: Breakdowns

Glowering in dark anger, Severus stalked around his private chambers, remembering what had occurred just a few hours ago in the infirmary. He was still in shock that children could be capable of such devious acts. It was simply unthinkable. What made it worse was the fact that it was a Slytherin and a Gryffindor. They were supposed to be Harry's friends. He knew he should have kept a closer eye on Harry after Blaise's little stunt in the Great Hall. Looking over to the slumbering boy on his bed, Sev allowed a bitter smile to come to his face. He had wanted to get Harry into his bed, but not like this.

*Flashback*

After listening to Poppy ramble off a list of injuries, Severus felt himself paling. Shuffling cautiously up to the bed, he decided that acting this way would only cause Harry harm. A determined steely glint entered his eyes, and turning to his Slytherin students, he said, "Everything will be all right. Please head back to the dorm rooms." Noticing everyone complying, he quickly called out to Draco. "Mr. Malfoy, if you'd please stay behind. I might need your help."

"Of course, Professor." Walking up to the bed, Draco watched in abject fascination as Severus tenderly ran his hands over Harry's head, smoothing his ruffled hair.

Rubbing his face tiredly, Sev said, "Draco, please stay with Harry while I go get the Headmaster." Not waiting for an answer, Sev stalked from the infirmary, making his way swiftly to the Headmaster's office.

*End Flashback*

Blanking his face to hide his true anger, Severus couldn't believe how Dumbledore had taken the news. It had almost seemed as he didn't care, at all. He knew that the old fool only viewed Harry as a tool, a figurehead, but he thought he'd at least have the decency to care about him. Nobody deserved to have that done to them. Severus wouldn't even wish the horrors of rape on Voldemort.

Hmph. Albus only wants Harry to stay with me for his own reasons. He doesn't want to have to deal with the boy. I'm not falling for that cock and bull story about how he didn't want other students to see the poor boy in his hour of need.

Breaking out of his pessimistic thoughts, Severus set about gathering potion supplies to calm himself. Laying everything out, he started making potions.

Abruptly awakening from his fitful slumber, Harry frantically looked around the unfamiliar room, attempting to identify where he was. The room was surprisingly well lit even though he could tell it was in the dungeons. Looking at the rather earthy tones, Harry decided that although he felt rather comfortable and calm in these rooms, he'd rather not stay somewhere he didn't recognize.

Harry cried out in pain as he attempted to stand up, quickly sitting back down when the pain in his backside became too much. What happened? Why am I in so much pain? Shaking his head in self despair, Harry sighed. Of course, I remember. Hmph. If I can survive the Dursleys, I can survive this. Biting his lower lip at his weakness, Harry forced himself to deal with the pain, pushing himself into a standing position. Freezing when he heard the door open, he quickly whipped his head in the direction of the person entering. Seeing Severus, Harry quickly schooled his emotions, hiding them from the world, making it appear to the world that nothing was bothering him.

"Cut the act, Harry. I already know what happened." Looking at the boy, Severus was amazed to see that he had enough fight in him to already be standing. This boded well for the boy's recovery. "I also know that it was a Slytherin and Gryffindor who did it." Seeing the boy's bewildered look, Severus said, "There is a spell on the door of the room they used. It use to be used by the old Potions master. Not wanting things taken, he spelled the door to tell him who came and went." Grinning ruefully, he said, "Unfortunately, years of not being used has allowed the spell to degrade with time; thus only telling us the Houses of the people who had recently been in there. The last three people to enter before almost the entire Slytherin fifth year, and their Head of House, were two Slytherin students and one Gryffindor."

Looking blankly at the man, Harry said, "I haven't the foggiest idea what you are talking about. You're going to have to be more specific than that."

Startled when a new voice entered the equation, Harry looked at Draco, his eyes slightly widening at what the other boy had to say. "Don't keep this inside, Harry. You tried before; it almost destroyed you."

"No... I have no idea what you're talking about. No idea..." Trailing off, Harry burst into uncontrollable sobs, feeling wretched and horrible about not being able to hide his weaknesses in front of the other two occupants of the room. When a pair of strong arms wrapped themselves around Harry, he initial reaction was to stiffen, but he quickly relaxed, throwing himself into the embrace with abandon. Crying out his grief into the black clad chest, Harry held onto the man for dear life, never realizing who he was holding onto.

"Sshh. It's all right. It's okay. Everything will be fine now." Stroking the boy's hair, Severus continued to murmur comfortingly to the distraught boy. "Come on, baby, we need to know what happened."

Hearing the endearing title from Sev, Harry felt his resolve slipping, and began to spill the entire story to the two men, leaving nothing out, not one sordid detail was not relived. "Please. Please, Sev. Tell me."

"Tell you what, Harry? I don't understand?" Severus was looking at the crying boy, wondering what it was he wanted to hear, not understanding his request.

"Tell me it isn't my fault. Tell me I'm not a whore, a slut, a tease. Tell me that I didn't do anything to deserve that. That they were wrong!" Clinging to the man, Harry started muttering under his breath. "I'm a tease, just a fucking tease. It's my own fault. Shouldn't have made them do that. Shouldn't have aroused them. God, so stupid. So dirty."

Feeling the boy attempt to pull away, Severus tightened his hold, not allowing the boy to leave him. "No! No, baby! It is not your fault! Not your fault at all! Don't let anything those sick, twisted people tell you affect you. They're liars." Kissing Harry's hair in a fatherly manner, Severus handed the boy carefully to Draco. "Please, please, keep him safe. I'll be back soon." Getting an vicious glint to his eye, Sev said, "There is something I have to take care of."

Striding from his chambers, Severus quickly made his way to the Slytherin common room. Before entering Severus placed an emotionless mask over his face; he didn't want to give his purpose away so soon. Upon entering, Sev was surprised to see both the people he needed sitting together, talking in quiet voices. Sneaking behind them, Severus listened intently to their conversation.

"Damnit, Thomas! I'm telling you we should go back and kill him! If you don't want to kill Potter, then let's at least obliviate him! He's a danger to us!" Yelling in frustration, Blaise glowered at the cowardly Gryffindor.

"Wel,l excuse me! I'm sorry that I don't want to go around killing people off!" Huffing in anger, Dean calmed down. "Besides, I don't think Harry will tell. What would it do to his reputation?" Chuckling, he said, "Hey, maybe we'll be able to blackmail Harry into willingly givinmselmself over to us?"

"That'd be great!" Rubbing his hands together in glee, Blaise jumped to his feet when he heard someone clearing their throat.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything." Looking sternly at the two boys, he watched in satisfaction as they gulped in nervousness, both wondering how much he had heard. "You seemed so intent on what you were talking about, mind telling me? It seemed like such an interesting conversation."

Looking at each other with wide eyes, Blaise shook his head. "It wasn't that interesting, sir. Just...just our Care of Magical Creatures joint project." Trying to look disgusted, he said, "The oaf partnered me with this bloody Gryffindor."

"Indeed. Well, we'll have to have a talk to him. Come along. I believe he is with the Headmaster. I simply will not tolerate this any longer. Honestly, what was he thinking partnering you two up?" Sneering at Dean, it was all Severus could do to stop from killing both of the boys at once.

Sighing at their good fortune, both boys believed the Snape had not heard anything of importance, neither suspecting that Harry had already been found, and that they were walking to their doom.

TBC

OMG!!! It's so short! Wha-what's wrong with me?! Um...hehe. Don't kill me, or you get no more!