Hopes Refuge

This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoat Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

A/N... This chapter will deal with the abuse Harry suffered at the hands of his aunt and uncle. None of it's really graphic as I don't list everything 'written' in the file, but it is applied, with some of it mentioned, all the same.

a/n... Sorry about this... at the moment, this chapter is UNBETA'D... as soon as i get it back, i'll repost.... luvs ya.

Chapter Three.

Portkeying himself onto the Estate before breakfast, Severus Snape found himself pulled into Rosa's office, handed a cup of strong black coffee, and handed a medical folder. Grumbling slightly under his breath, but not daring to say anything more out loud about meddeling females, he looked up Rosa and raised an eye brow.

"Good morning to you to Rosa. How have you been lately? If I may ask how long do you plan to keep me here as Albus would like me back soon, to help with the search of our dear, missing Golden Boy." he asked in a smooth dark voice, carefully blank of all sarcasm.

Rosa raised one of her own eyebrows in response. "Good morning Child, I trust you had a good journey? As for how I've been? I've been worried sick over Horatio Black, and you'll understand why once your read that file! And to answer your last question, You Will Sit There, until I say otherwise. Do you understand me?" she said her voice hard and cold.

Sitting back in shock at a tone of voice that Rosa rarely used with him, he realized that what ever was bothering her, was extremely important. Taking a sip of his coffee, Severus relaxed back into his chair and opened the file. He knew that playing games while Rosa was in this mood was not a good idea, especially since he had considered her as a mother ever since his own had died many years ago. "Alright Rosa, you have my complete attention for as long as you need, and I'll read the file like you want. But couldn't you have at least allowed me to settle in first?" He couldn't resist the last question.

"I'm sorry Severus, but this has waited long enough as is. It's imperative that we come to an understanding before I allow you to leave this office." Rosa told him in all seriousness, but her voice softened slightly.

"Ff it's that bad, why don't you just tell me what is in here?"

"In all honesty Sev, you need to read it to understand and except, as well as to draw your own conclusions. I've kept back the pictures until after you're done, and I'll go through each one separately with you, if you would like, though they explain themselves real well."

Nodding his head in understanding, Severus started to read through the file that he had been handed. Over the next half hour, the only thing out of his mouth were low growls of complete fury. As he reached the last page and read it through, he flipped it over expecting there to be more. To his confusion Rosa had not given him the full medical file. "Rosa?" he asked with a low growl.

Rosa just sat calmly, and looked at him for a moment. "I need to know what you think so far Severus." she asked calmly.

With a muttered oath, Severus stood and started to pace. "What I think, is that whoever had this child under their care should be dragged out into the street and slowly tortured! What I think is that no matter what, this child needs to be protected, and given the best of care! What I think is that who ever has been teaching this child until now needs to be dragged out with the primary care givers! What I think is that you should get to what ever point you are trying to make. Now!" his voice had started out loud, but had settled for a deadly hiss that promised retribution for everyone who had not seen that there was a 15 year old child that desperately needed help. Another thought entered his mind "He is alive right? You were able to heal him completely?"

Rosa nodded and motioned back to the chair with a silent order for him to sit back down. "The last part of the report I removed for reasons I'm sure you will understand by the time we are done. It deals with his mental health as well as some of his injuries that he had received while he was in school. Horatio is alive and if not well exactly, on his way to being so." With a sigh, she also sat back in her chair and sipped from her own cup of coffee. "To all expectations he should still be in a healing sleep. The amount of damage that I found and healed should have guaranteed that he stayed asleep for a good two weeks. Imagine my surprise that after only three days he woke up. He was so severely dehydrated and starved and over long periods of time for the course of many years, that he honestly should have died years ago. I'm guessing that the reason he didn't was part due to his magic and in part due to his will to survive. Above all else, that boy is a surviver just like you. Over the years his injuries without combining them with malnutrition and dehydration should have killed him. And that's without the injuries that happened while he was at school, where to my knowledge he should have been removed from after his second year, if not his first."

"Do you know what school he's going to? I would love to have a word with his Headmaster and his Professors." Severus growled.

Rosa watched Severus in concern. She knew what he heard next would be hitting him hard. Instead of answering him verbally, she instead handed him the pictures, keeping only one back. "Look at these." she said softly.

Severus took the pictures and examined each one carefully. The evidence in front of him showed him the body of child no more then 12 or 13. "Are you sure he's going to be 16 soon?"

"Oh yes, I'm sure. Though unless you're looking him in the eye you couldn't tell. He'll barely come up to your shoulder, where he should be almost looking you in the eye." Giving Severus a hard look she continued, "do you agree that this child needs your protection? And that you will do everything in your power to treat him like the child he is?"

"What are you holding back from me now?" Severus breathed, even as he nodded his agreement to her questions.

"The fact that Horatio Black is not his real name."

A cold feeling of dread started to form in the pit of his stomach as Severus looked Rosa in the eye and saw a mixture of ice cold fury and concern. "I know this child don't I? He's one of my students?" When she only nodded her head in response, he thought back to when he first received that first letter from Cal. "There was only one student removed from the school for the last part of term."

Rosa nodded and handed him the last piece of damning evidence. A head shot of one Harry Potter, the famous scar laying red and swollen. "Do you understand why I didn't give this to you right away?" She asked her voice hard.

Severus didn't bother answering her, as he allowed his body to fold in upon itself. The rage he had been feeling over the mistreatment of the teen by the parents redirected to himself and the others within Hogwarts. "Rosa, why didn't we see this?" he asked in a shaken voice.

"I don't know about the others, but you I can honestly say, never saw Harry, but only his father James. You made the assumption, based on who his father was, that Harry Potter was going to be a spoiled brat, and never looked any further then that." Rosa told him, her voice still hard.

"Where is he Rosa? I need to see him for myself."

"Do you want to see Harry Potter The Boy Who Lived?" she asked not letting up.

"No, I want to see Harry, just Harry."

"He's outside with the others, he somehow convinced Yeo to teach him Tia Chi this morning." she said softly, as she stood and walked around her desk to help Severus out of his chair, and pulled him into a hug. "I've put him in the bedroom next to yours so that we could keep an eye on him. You have the time at the moment to start making things right with him."

Severus nodded and followed Rosa out the door, pulling himself together as he went. As they exited the house, he stopped dead in his tracks when he heard Rosa screech.

"HARRY JAMES POTTER!!!"

~~hp~~

Tio was quick to dismount the broom and stand to face the approaching storm, not sure exactly what to expect. Focusing on the woman coming towards him, he saw in her eyes the exact same concern that Molly Weasley showed to her own children when they've done something extremely stupid and/or dangerous. Relaxing slightly, he looked beyond her to the other figure coming up fast. Severus Snape.

Eyes going wide in horror, he felt panic start to set in, barely aware that Rosa had stopped dead in her tracks. As a chocking sob threatened to work its way free, Tio started to move backwards away from the one thing that threatened his safety, tripping over his own feet in the process. As Snape came closer he scrambled backwards on his hands and feet trying to put as much distance between them as possible. As another set of hands tried to pull him back up to his feet, he pushed them away, wither physically or with magic he was sure, and made his own way to his feet. "I'm not going back! You can't make me go back to them." he cried, ready to run.

Tony watched as Tio slowly started to have a breakdown as Severus came closer. After Yeo and Stephen had been pushed away magically from helping, and then seeing Tio poised to run, he came up slowly from behind and wrapped his arms around the slight teen, expecting but hoping against the reaction he knew was coming.

Feeling arms lock around his waist, Tio started to panic, and struggled franticly to get away. "NO! Let me go, you can make me go back! LET ME GO! Please just let me go" Tio sobbed.

Pulling Tio tight against his chest, Tony started a gentle croon, hoping that it would work, as well as hoping that the teen would not remember that he could use magic against him like he did to the others. "Sh Tio, you're not going anywhere. You need to calm down, your safe here." he whispered over and over. When that didn't work he switched and started using the name 'Harry' instead. Instead of decreasing the teens attempts to get free, the words only seemed to fuel the struggles instead. Sending a pleading look to Severus, he did the only thing he could. Held on tighter, as he wasn't sure what his uncle would do.

Severus watched in horror as the 'bane' of his existence had one hell of a panic attack. All due to seeing him. Guilt settled in further, as he watched Tony try to calm Harry down with no result, he knew that he would be the only one who could do what was needed. Pulling on his mask and using his best teaching voice, he took a deep breath and opened his mouth. "Seize and desist Mr. Potter. NOW!!"

Knowing it was coming and actually hearing that tone of voice coming from Severus were two different things. Tony himself had only heard that tone once or twice, and the others he doubted had ever heard it before. Unfortunately, it looked like Harry knew that voice very well, as the teen slumped in his arms. Without a thought, he picked up the smaller teen and cradled him against his chest, and waited for Severus to come to them.

Hating himself even more for having had to do that, Severus walked over to where Tony waited. Nodding his head in thanks, he lightly grasped Harry's chin and pushed it up so he could look directly into those green eyes, and using a touch of Legilimeny to get his point across. "You Harry, are not going anywhere."

Ever since Cal had showed up and his aunt and uncles to take him away, Harry knew that it wouldn't last, even though he allowed for a small shred of hope. When he first saw Snape coming towards him, and hope that he had been feeling was squashed. Now with both the words, spoken and unspoken echoing in his mind, he allowed true hope flicker to life if only dimmly. If nothing else, Harry knew that this man had never lied to him. That hope dimmed slightly as another thought came to mind. Unable to voice it out loud, he allowed it to form in the forefront of his mind, knowing that Snape would see it. 'Dumbledore?'

Severus did indeed see the question, and knew before they could move forward that it had to be answered, and did so in the same way that it was asked so the young man before would understand that it was the truth. 'He is very worried about you, and has been since he found you to be missing a few days ago. I will need to tell him that you have been found, and where you are, but I will not allow you to be taken past these wards.'

Harry nodded his head in understanding and allowed that small flicker of hope to take root a little deeper, and glow a little brighter. Resting his head completely against Tony's warm shoulder, he allowed his eyes to close and darkness to over take him.

Severus sighed and stepped away from the two teens. "Take him to my study Tony, and don't allow him to be alone, in fact you stay with him until he wakes once again. I need to go talk to the Headmaster and tell him that Harry has been found, and that I will not allow his removel from the Estate."

Tony only nodded his head and started to move towards the house. Ignoring everyone else around him.

~~hp~~

Headmaster Albus Dumbledore sat in his office surrounded by varies members of the Order of the Phoenix, knowing that all that he had to give him was bad news. Five days ago, the Wards around #4 Privet Drive had collapsed, and after checking in with the Dursleys the only information he had been able to gather was the fact that a man had came to the door, and offered to take the boy off their hands for the rest of the summer. The worst part of this, was that they had allowed it! Without getting any contact information from whoever it was that showed up, and no back ground information. Looking over those gathered, he dreaded giving them the information that Harry was missing. Especially after the loss they had all just suffered recently.

Just as he had started to tell Remus Lupin and the Weasleys, Poppy Pomfrey along with all the Professors but the one that already knew what happened, Severus Snape stormed through the door.

"Severus my boy, to what do I owe this pleasure?" he asked, grateful for the interruption.

Severus sneered, but was inwardly glad that he had gotten there before Albus was able to tell the others anything, and handed over the medical folder that Rosa had first given him, as well as handing over a second copy to Poppy Pomfrey. "I know what you have to tell them is important Albus, but I need you to look this over first. It's a matter of life or death." he said with quiet intensity that he normally didn't show in front of the others.

Poppy was already reading the file handed to her, and Albus with a quick look in Severus' eyes started to do the same thing. Severus for his part, sat and watched both of them for their reactions, and was not disappointed.

"HOW CAN PEOPLE ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN" Poppy screeched as everyone stared at her. "Severus, did Rosa heal him? Is he going to be okay?" she demanded to know.

Before Severus could answer, Molly broke in. "What's going on?" she asked.

Albus looked around the room, with with a nod of permission from Severus, gave the others an explanation. "Cal McGill found a child, who was being severely abused. He took the child to Severus' Estate to be healed.

"How badly was he abused?" Remus asked, his voice shaking. Everyone in the room knew what kind of Power Cal had, and if he had been called to a child, then things were extremely wrong.

Poppy took over the explanation. "According to this file, this child has more luck then anyone else I know, including Mr. Potter. In all rights he should be dead, many times over." she seethed. "How I would love to get my hands on the adults who cared for this little one."

Severus decided to step in. "He's tiny for someone his age. He looks no more then 12 or 13, but will shortly be 16. He's alive, and awake, despite the odds." Looking over to the Headmaster, he asked. "I have promised him that he could stay on my Estate. When I left him, he had just finished having a panic attack at the very thought of being removed. I left him asleep, using my nephew as a pillow."

"What do you need from us Severus?" Albus asked.

"I need to remain home until the new term starts. I'm hoping by then he will be willing to go back to his school by then." He said carefully.

"You would trust his school with his care once more?" Poppy demanded.

"I would now." Was the growled response, "do I have your agreement that he will be staying with me at my home and for my caring of him?" He asked carefully, not willing to give them any more information until he had the Headmasters promise.

"Of course My Boy, of course, you have my word, along with any help that you may need." Albus agreed quickly, before continuing. "With all this information, you left out a few things. Who is this child Severus?" Albus asked, a slight twinkle starting in his blue eyes at the protectiveness that Severus was showing.

Severus saw the start of the twinkle, and found an evil joy, in destroying it. "He calls himself Horatio Black." he told them, and watched as Remus' eyes went wide with dawning horror. "He's true name, is Harry James Potter." and waited for the uproar.

"WHAT"

"That was pretty much my reaction. Rosa made sure that I would be the very first person she saw, so that I wouldn't do anything to harm him more. She has the pictures still to prove everything. When he saw me, he went into full flight or fight mode. Tony actually had to restrain him before he could do anything foolish, and when we finally got him to stop struggling, I told him that he wasn't going to leaving."

"I'm sorry My Boy, but you will need to bring young Mr. Potter here." Albus said, remorse coloring his voice.

Here Severus glared at the Headmaster even as a sneer twisted his lips. "Sorry to disappoint, but you have already given you word that he would remain with me. Just like I've already given him my word that he would not be leaving. I have yet to a lie to him, and I refuse to start now!" by the time he was finished Severus' voice had once more taken that deadly quality.

"Now Severus..." Albus started.

"No Headmaster. I have an abused child, who to my surprise, refuses to leave my Estate, even after finding out that I will be there. I refuse to break what little trust he has given me."

Before Albus could protest Remus spoke up. "And how will you treat him Severus?"

"Like I treat any other child that comes through my gates in his state. With respect."

Remus nodded his head with a quick glance at Molly gave his permission. "When Sirius died, he left guardianship of Harry to me, or as the case may be to who I deemed suitable. I was going to give it the Weasleys, but it seems that due to the circumstances, I'm believe that it's best going to you."

Severus bowed his head to hide the shock that he couldn't hide. All he needed in truth was the permission to keep Harry Potter on his Estate by his new guardian, who he figured would have been Albus. He never thought that the Mutt was the young Potters magical guardian and had remained so during his incarceration over the year. Nor did he figure that he would have had the brains to have had it transferred to the Wolf. "I'm honored Wolf, but I don't want it, unless it's Mr. Potter making the request. I refuse to decide his fate without asking his opinion." He said softly, knowing everyone would know he spoke the truth.

Remus smiled with satisfaction. It seemed that what he had learned today about Harry rocked Severus to his very core. Even more then it did to everyone else in the room. "Good, because if you had accepted it without consulting Harry, I would have removed Harry from your care faster then you could say his full name assumed or otherwise." Looking up, his grin turned slightly wicked, "you will allow us to visit him yes?" It was not exactly a question but he was not willing to push the man that had his cub at his mercy.

Annoyed with falling for the Wolf's trap, Severus could only sneer. "I'll think about it Wolf, but don't hold your breath."

"That's all I can ask Severus, that's all I can ask."

"If there is nothing else, I need to collect Harry's owl, and then get back to my Estate, hopefully before he wakes up."

Molly looked up at Severus with tears in her eyes, "Just one more thing."

"And that would be?" Severus drawled.

"Take care of him for me. He's been my 7th son ever since his first year!"

"For that you have my promise." Looking over at Poppy he figured he might as well get the rest of Harry's medical file. "Poppy, would it be possible to have Harry's medical file, so Rosa may look it over and complete her own records?" he asked softly.

Poppy looked up, her eyes red and puffy as her mind continued to whirl with all this new information. "Of course Severus, I'll just set them on my desk, pick them up before you leave."

"Thank you."

Giving a short bow to those in the room, Severus made his escape from the Headmasters tower, before his temper could escape him.

~~hp~~

Harry slowly followed a voice singing softly in his ear to the land of the living once more, not sure if he really wanted to be there. Along with the singing he could hear voices talking softly nearby, and the familiar hoot of an owl. Opening his eyes slightly, he glanced around the room he was in, to the best of his ability before closing them once more, and allowing himself to drift. A soft chuckle that made his pillow vibrate, brought home the fact that he was curled up in someones lap, and made him snap open his eyes.

Tony looked down into confused brilliant green eyes, and chuckled once more. "Welcome back Little One." He said softly and watched once again as the delightful blush crept across Harry's face.

Opening and closing his mouth a few times, Harry finally found something to say, although softly, "I'm sorry."

Tony cocked his head to the side and gave Harry a puzzled frown. "Why?"

Dropping his eyes once more, Harry sighed "Everything."

Pulling Harry tighter, Tony nuzzled the soft hair on top of Harry's head, "oh my Little One, there's nothing to be sorry for as your reaction to a threat to your safety was well deserved. I'm just trying to figure out how Uncle Sev managed to stop your fight for freedom with that voice of his."

Harry laughed softly and relaxed into the body holding him before answering. "Conditioning. Every first year student figures out in their first week in the school, wither or not they even had potions that week, the exact tone of Professor Snape's voice. If it starts loud, and then goes really soft you know you are in a huge amount of trouble."

"Indeed, and what else did you all figure out during that first week, Mr. Potter." came that dark silky tone.

Harry shuddered lightly, "the darker and silkier the voice the better the chance of detention." came the soft answer, before tilting his head back and whispering so that only Tony could hear him, "Beware the Bat of the dungeons. Those who enter his lair, have little chance of coming back!"

Tony tipped back his head and laughed, with Harry joining in, much to the befuddlement of the adults.

"What was that Mr. Potter? I seemed to have missed it."

Harry tried to hold back his laughter, and managed to suppress it to just a few giggles as he answered. "Nothing Sir, nothing at all."

Severus looked over at Rosa while throwing his hands up into the air. "Do you see what I put up with during the year. He's shows no respect."

Harry froze for a moment as he analyzed that tone of voice. He had never heard that exact tone from Professor Snape before, although he knew it well from his time with the Weasleys. Twisting around in Tony's arms so that he was facing the rest and of the room, and stared at his Professor in shock, meeting those dark eyes that were for the first time that he remembered, laced with amusement. Shaking his head slightly to make sure he wasn't seeing things, Harry finally managed to ask, "who are you and what in Merlin's name have you done with Professor Snape?!"