Broken

A/n: Thanks for all the reviews!! I\'m pleased to know that it\'s being taken so well even with the repeat of the plot line, but good to know there aren\'t those who aren\'t already sick of it!!



If you are wanting to be emailed for updates I will have an emailing list for those who don\'t mind an email to allow you to know of it. Just leave the emails in the reviews and I\'ll add you to the list!!



Reviews really do keep me writing more, so keep them coming!



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Morning had come slowly for Severus, but by the time he got up and dressed at dawn he was anxious to do something. Harry still needed new clothes though and he hardly suspected the boy would willingly come with him clothes shopping. He walked across the hall to look into the guest room where the boy was still asleep and had kicked off his blankets in the summer heat. Severus caught himself staring and closed the door quickly, he might not like the boy but he couldn’t help but admit the boy had a great body once you looked past the scars and bruises he’d acquired in that muggle’s care. ‘No Severus, you’re not supposed to be crushing after the boy now. No. No. No.’ Severus repeated in his mind as he stalked down the stairs for a quick breakfast before heading out to pick up some clothes for the boy.



Severus returned to the house an hour later with bags laden with clothes from the nearby muggle shopping mall. He hadn’t wanted to go too far from home with the boy in his place even as meek as Harry had become. He looked around noting nothing had been disturbed, Harry wasn’t up yet. When he went to his bedroom the boy had pulled the covers up to his chin and was staring blankly at him once more. Pursing his lips he wondered how he could at least get the boy to do things by himself.



“I went and bough you some clothes Harry, if they don’t fit I’ll magic them to do so.” Severus said taking out a t-shirt, boxers and jeans and laid them out for the boy on the bed. Harry hadn’t moved so he looked at him in his best imposing way and fell into his teacher’s voice that no one could ignore, even if lost within one self. “You are to get dressed when I leave Harry, if you need to use the washroom it is right outside the door and to your left. Once you are ready, you are to come downstairs and meet me in the kitchen. Do you understand?”



A small head nod was all he’d received from the boy and he restrained another sigh. He turned from the bed and left the bedroom, closing the door behind him. Once more he stood to listen for a moment and there was movement within the room, presumably doing as he’d been told. There’s one thing about the boy being abused, he was much more cooperative. On the way downstairs Severus cursed the thought from his mind, there was no good thing about him being abused.



He set about cooking breakfast for the both of them pulling eggs and cheese from the fridge. Severus enjoyed the peace that cooking can give it determined your skill in the same way potions do, it required the same skill of knowing just how much to mix and how long it should cook. Taking two eggs from the carton he cracked them open over a bowl and whisked them together, taking the cheese grater he added cheese as it was sliced into the eggs. He poured the mixture into a pan and allowed it to cook placing the readied the cheese omelet on a plate he repeated the process for a second one and turned to notice Harry watching him with a strange look on his face. “Didn’t think I could cook Harry?”



“Didn’t .. you want me to cook? .. Sir?” were the first words the boy uttered to him, a small and meek voice. Severus thought of Harry’s potion skills and shuddered, if his cooking were the same he didn’t want to taste the boy’s food.



“No Harry, I like cooking.” Severus said trying to keep the boy responsive but the boy went quiet again as he looked confused about what to do. “Sit down, I’ll get the cups and juice.”



Severus set the plates down at the two chairs at the table and turned to the cupboard to grab two glasses. Harry wasn’t at the table when he turned but at the fridge pulling out a container of orange juice. Severus shrugged and set the glasses down and sat down in his place as Harry approached filling the two cups, it was when Harry stepped to the side that Severus realized something was wrong rather than the boy just being helpful.



“Harry the second plate is for you, eat. Eggs can’t sit waiting.” Severus said turning to the boy. Perhaps omelets weren’t the best meal to start with this day, remembering that Dumbledore had said it was a hard time to get Harry to eat. Severus had just hoped it was an understatement, not that the boy expected to serve on him. The boy remained standing to the side so Severus stood up and gently pried the juice container from his hands. “I’m not going to allow you to serve me, now sit down and eat.”



Harry responded to his teacher’s voice once more and sank into the nearest chair, which happened to be his own and looked at the meal as if it were poison. Severus sat down in the spot Harry should have and looked at the boy as he picked up the for and cut off a piece for himself and took a bite before prodding the boy to eat once more. This time Harry did take a hesitant bite but once he was certain he wasn’t punished for eating it he was wolfing it down like he hadn’t eaten for weeks, and by the looks of him he hadn’t. The clothes he bought him seemed much too big but should have fit an average boy his size if he had any fat on those bones, shaking his head he waved his wand at the clothes and they shrunk to fit the skin and bone frame perfectly.



When they finished breakfast Harry quickly picked up the dishes and carried him to the sink. Severus allowed him silently wondering if chores would be the best way to get the boy comfortable around the place and to set a routine for him to begin to learn to function and get out of the shell before trying to get the boy to do anything more. Severus stood up and picked up a dish towel, he was often the one who did the chores around the place and he wouldn’t be turning Harry into his slave but as a helper instead. With the dishes done Harry looked lost, and Severus realized it would be something Harry needed.



“Harry,” Severus tested as he looked into emerald eyes, they seemed less dead than they had last night but they still lacked the life they once had. The boy scarcely responded more than a flicker of eyes. “Gardening is next, follow me.”



So the day passed slowly with odd house chores around the house keeping both of them busy. They weeded his herb garden, mowed the lawn and trimmed back a tree that threatened to break a window the next big storm. Back in the house they dusted and swept the floors, did the laundry and put the clothes away. They’d only paused for lunch breaks where Severus had to remind Harry to eat once more but the day had gone by uneventful and Severus realized that even if they repeated the chores every day there wouldn’t be anything left to clean for the next day anyhow.



Sinking down into an armchair Severus sighed, he’d never done so much in one day without resorting to magic. Harry seemed to excel at the tasks and held his own with everything thrown at him, though he didn’t say another word the boy seemed to appreciate keeping busy which is why Severus had remained doing so. He felt something bump into his legs and he looked down, his eyes widening at the sight of Harry between his legs. The boy’s hands fluttered hesitantly over his thighs to the front of his pants. Severus grabbed the boy’s hands and hauled him up so he was standing and looked into those eyes. “What are you doing Harry?”



The boy stared at him blankly for a moment, a confused look crossing his face as he tried to understand the question and form an answer. “Trying to please my Master after a day’s work.”



This time it was Severus’ turn to stare at Harry blankly as the answer sank in. A sick feeling filled his gut as he got a peek into the life that Harry had lead back in the muggle household. Severus shook his head and gently pushed the boy back to sit on the coffee table as he remained holding Harry’s hands within his own. “No Harry, I do not want you to do that. Do you understand?”



The apparent confusion that Severus watched cross Harry’s face told him the answer, but Severus remained silent as he waited for a verbal response from Harry. He was going to get the boy talking if it took all night, although a moment of thought passed how he once wished the boy would remain silent back at Hogwarts. He held back a laugh that was bubbling to escape him at how his place in Harry’s world shifted suddenly and he was trying to understand where Harry sat in his world now as well.



“But.. Master always wants pleasure after work,” Harry replied finally. Severus could see where reality mixed with the past, the boy didn’t even recognize he wasn’t the muggle that had put him through such abuse. Fear flashed through Harry’s eyes as he tried to pull away. “Have I displeased you sir? I did everything you asked... Please, let me please you.. I’ll make you feel good..” Harry was back on his knees and trying to get his hands free from Severus’ grasp.



“No Harry, you did good..” Severus was at a loss of what to do as the boy fought to get his hands free to do who knows what the bastard had taught him in the ways of pleasure. With a grunt Severus released his hands only to lift Harry and settle him on his lap and tried to hold him still. “You’re not under his roof Harry.. Look at me. I’m not him.. It’s Snape, Severus. That’s my name, you don’t have to do that. I don’t want it.”



Harry paused in his arms as he stated his name looking at him with blank eyes but there was some recognition there Severus could tell. Hopefully enough to know that he wasn’t that muggle bastard who’d done this to him. “He’s not your Master anymore Harry.. you’re free of him.” Severus murmured trying to calm the boy even more. What he hadn’t expected though, not yet anyhow was the boy breaking down and crying on his shoulder.



Severus stiffened slightly but didn’t move to make him stop or pull him away. Gently he rubbed Harry’s back in what was hopefully a soothing manner, rather than making him uncomfortable even further. “Thank you.. oh, thank you..” Severus heard Harry whisper and his hands paused a bit wondering what it was Harry was thanking him for, not allowing him to give him pleasure or informing him that he was no longer with his Uncle.



Severus sat there for a while even after the sobs quieted and Harry’s breathing evened into sleep. He stared at the sleeping form for a while longer wishing he hadn’t seen that insight of Harry’s life under his Uncle’s roof and yet knowing he’d have to be more careful from now on.



“I’m sorry you’ve had to live through that Harry...” Severus whispered in a gentle voice.