The Rules of Life

Title: The Rules of Life

Summary: There was no Harry Potter at the Dursley’s when Dumbledore sent Hagrid to fetch him in first year. Where in the world is Harry Potter? This fic is SNARRY slash, Snape!Dom, Harry!sub.

Disclaimer: I don’t own Harry Potter or any of the other familiar characters. Harry Potter and this magical world belong to JK Rowling and her publishers. No money made from this.

Warnings: This fic is Snarry slash, which means two men in a sexual relationship – specifically, Harry and Snape. This fic also contains BDSM elements with Snape as the Dominant partner and Harry as the submissive. If you don’t know what this means then please don’t read the fic – you won’t understand most of what happens. The fic starts out before Hogwarts and contains elements of chan (just mentioning of it), dub-con and non-con (rape). Don’t read if you don’t like!!

Important AN: This fic will not collaborate completely with JK’s books. The events that happened every year will still mostly take place but I’m going to play around a bit with the ‘times of events’ and ‘who’ is involved… :)

How Harry lost his voice will be explained in a later chapter. I’m not saying anything as it is part of the plot… :)

He sighed deeply as he looked at the downtrodden face and ushered the boy to the living room for a long discussion.

Chapter 4

Harry stared up at the ceiling of his room as he lay on his bed. Master Snape explained to him that it was very rare for anyone, especially one so young, to do wandless magic.

It took a while for Harry to understand that, no, his Master was not angry at him, merely puzzled and a bit apprehensive about his magic use.

Master Snape told him not to do any magic without his wand when he was not in one of Master Snape’s rooms. The headmaster, though on the ‘good’ side of the war, would do anything in his power to use Harry – to take advantage of his youth and ignorance.

Harry was really beginning to dislike the headmaster. From what he’d seen and heard, the man was not very nice.

School was going great. Harry enjoyed it more than anything he had ever enjoyed in his life. With the other children in class, Harry was hesitant to do any magic but after his talk with Master Snape, Harry knew what he would do.

Though unusual for a first year, it was not uncommon to do ‘wordless’ magic. With Harry’s problem, it explained his use of ‘wordless’ magic but he still needed to use his wand wherever he went.

Master Snape also promised to help Harry with his ‘wandless’ magic.

Closing his eyes, Harry fell asleep within minutes.


*---------------------------------------------------------------------*


Severus looked over at Harry where the boy sat in his usual place by the bookcase. He could not believe how quickly he had gotten used to the boy’s presence. Though Harry was unable to speak, he was by no means quiet. Whenever the boy did school work, pages could be heard turning, quill scratching on parchment, soft puffs of air as the boy blew his hair out of his eyes. Severus itched to cut the hair but was uncertain about how the boy would react to that.

After once suggesting that Harry could from time to time make use of the bath in Severus’s bathroom – should the boy need a break from showering – Severus was careful to suggest anything else. The boy practically hyperventilated at the thought of having a bath and it took Severus ten minutes to calm the boy down.

He could make an educated guess as to why the boy feared baths but decided that it was too early to ask questions yet. He needed to build up the fragile trust between them before asking any potentially harmful questions.

“Tomorrow is Halloween; I will not be here when you return from school. Be sure to come straight here after school, you do not want to give the headmaster reason to throw you out. I will make sure the house elves have dinner ready for you. Do not wait up for me; the feast could go well into the night. Finish your homework, take a shower and then go to bed – you may leave your homework on the table for me to go over.

For now, go clean up and get in bed. I’ll come to make sure you are asleep in twenty minutes.”

Severus watched the boy quickly finish the last paragraph of his homework before he went to do as told.

The boy’s handwriting was still messy but at least it was fairly legible now. When Severus first went over the boy’s homework he had to suppress any scathing comments, as he could see that the boy really was trying. Suggesting calmly that the boy might want to try improving his handwriting, a slightly hurt look was Severus’s reward, which the boy quickly turned into a smile and nodded that he would try.

Picking up the piece of parchment Harry had been working on, Severus had to marvel at the change in handwriting. When Harry first consented to try improving his handwriting, Severus thought it would be the same as with most of his first years, but Harry surprised him by actually working hard on improving his writing and it was clearly paying off.

Going over the questions and answers, Severus took a separate piece of parchment and wrote a few suggestions on it. He never corrected any of the boy’s homework but he suggested improvements from time to time. Sometimes he would suggest that the boy read over it carefully and correct any spelling mistakes or calculation mistakes.

From time to time, Harry had trouble recognizing any of the mistakes Severus could see at first glance, but at least the boy tried.

Severus put the parchment he was reading down and quickly wrote a suggestion that the boy should recalculate his answer to the fourth question.

The ‘Potions book’ prescribed for the Hogsmeade first years was different from the one Severus used but no less useful or informative. Severus knew the boy would be able to see his mistake when he reread his assigned pages.

Standing and stretching, Severus made his way to the boy’s room and quickly pulled the covers up to the boy’s chin – it was freezing in the dungeons. The boy was fast asleep and Severus put out the candle still burning before turning and going to his own room.


*-------------------------------------------------------------------*


Harry woke at six the next morning and quickly made his way to the bathroom. Taking care of his morning ablutions, Harry made his way over to the table in the living room where he knew he would find either some suggestion on improvement or a scathing comment of how the answers could possibly pass for ‘Troll’, if not ‘Acceptable’.

If it was the latter, Harry knew that his answers were acceptable, and would most probably earn him one of the highest marks in his class.

The ‘suggestions’ on the other hand, meant that he had screwed up one way or another and would have to redo one or all of the answers.

He was lucky today as there was only one suggestion and Harry quickly went over his assigned pages to see what he had missed. Hitting himself on the head as he found the part he had missed the previous day, Harry quickly erased the answer on the parchment and redid it.

Master Snape walked up to him and read over his shoulder as Harry finished the last sentence. A sharp nod and a scathing look made Harry beam up at the man – he had gotten it right!!

“Next time, be sure to get it right the first time.”

Harry nodded at his Master and quickly followed the man to the kitchen. They spent breakfast in companionable silence and Harry waved at the man as he left their rooms.

Making his way through the dungeons, Harry silently left the castle, pleased that no one was up yet and he could exit without any mishap.

Harry met up with one of his classmates, Andy Zabini, and together they made their way to school.

Andy chatted happily with him and had no problem deciphering Harry’s body language as answers. Andy was Harry’s first friend at the school and since day one, he had gone out of his way to make Harry feel as comfortable as possible.

The other boy told him of his twin brother at Hogwarts – Andy had not received an acceptance letter and thus attended the Hogsmeade School.

Listening to his friend chattering away about their last family vacation, Harry couldn’t help but feel a pang in his chest as he thought of his family – or lack thereof.

Smiling at Andy as the boy paused for a moment; Harry couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to have a family - Someone to care for him, someone who didn’t look at him as if he’d come out of the garbage can.

Master Snape’s face appeared before him and Harry quickly shook his head before the idea could take root in his mind. No, he would not fall in that trap again.

He knew he owed Master Damen a lot but he could not make himself feel anything towards the man – not after everything that happened.

With Master Snape, things were different, but Harry refused to let his guard down or get his hopes up. He would do anything for his Master, anything, but he would not let the wall around his heart down, for if he did so, his Master did not only hold his life in his hands but his every thought, every feeling. One wrong move and Harry would shatter, never put together again.

No, he would do anything his Master told him, he would make his Master proud, he would obey his every wish – it was what Harry did best, after all – but where his heart was concerned, Harry didn’t trust anyone, not even himself.


*-------------------------------------------------------------------------------*


Severus watched as his prefects led the younger students to the dormitory. Quirrel’s act just didn’t add up. Firstly, Severus did not know a lot about stuttering, but as far as he knew, someone who stuttered did not stutter on every single word. Another thing was that Severus’s mark burned every time he passed the other Professor. Looking down at the man lying face down on the floor in the Great Hall, Severus had to repress the urge to kick the man.

The Longbottom boy passed him with a gang of first year Gryffindors and Severus looked closely at the boy. Albus had announced to the school – and thus the whole wizarding world – that the Potter boy was lost to them and that they had made a terrible mistake. Albus and the ministry proclaimed Longbottom as the child mentioned in a prophecy and though not everyone believed it, the world now had a new icon to look at.

No one knew exactly what the prophecy said except those who had been there when Trelawney made it, but Albus’s word on the matter was good enough for most people.

Severus could not help but feel sorry for the Longbottom boy. To go from ‘clumsy, stupid little Neville, to an idolized wizard had to be hard on the boy.

The boy walked a bit straighter these days but Severus could see the haunted look in the boy’s eyes. He could see how the boy felt the weight of the wizarding world on his shoulders. Cursing Albus’s meddling did not help in any way but it did make Severus feel better, if only a little.

Swiftly striding to his chambers, Severus felt a strange sensation creeping up his spine and knew that something was terribly wrong.

Opening the door to his quarters, Severus immediately looked toward the bookcase and the feeling only intensified when he did not see the boy in his usual place. Quickly checking the bathrooms, Severus cursed to himself as he realized the boy was not in their chambers.

Half way up the stairs to the Great Hall, Severus heard a loud thump and a roar that could only come from the troll. Breaking out into a run, Severus did not slow even as he took in the scene in front of him.

Harry lay crumpled against a wall at the far side of the entrance hall. The troll stood in the middle of the room and as Severus saw Harry’s eyes close, the huge bat that hovered above the troll dropped and the troll stared stupidly at Severus before falling over.

Severus felt his heart rate quicken as he knelt down next to Harry. The boy moaned softly as Severus prodded his head and found a bump forming on the right side at the back.

“Sorry Master. ‘M Sorry. Tried… too slow… ‘m sorry.”

Severus shushed the boy and lifted him carefully in his arms. Turning around, Severus scowled at the Professors who stared dumbstruck at the troll. Giving the headmaster a look that dared the old man to say anything, Severus stalked passed the gawping audience and made his way to the hospital wing.

“Poppy!”

Severus laid the boy down on one of the beds and then proceeded to take off his shoes and outer robe. Harry shivered a bit as Severus removed his robe, and Severus quickly pulled the blankets over the boy.

“He hit his head hard and there is a bump already forming at the back. I did not have time to ascertain any other injuries.”

Poppy thanked him quickly before shooing him out of the way. Severus did so without fuss as he knew that Poppy would do her best to help Harry.

“I do not recognize the boy Severus, I assume this is your young charge we all know about but have never seen?”

Severus gave her a scathing glare and a look that said ‘who else could it be you dimwit?’

After some more prodding and wand waving, Poppy gave him specific instructions not to let the boy go to school for two days and to monitor his behavior. Should any strange behavior occur that the boy never displayed before, Severus should bring the boy to her at once.

As Severus carried Harry down to his chambers, the events of the night caught up with him and he stopped dead in his tracks as the scene with the troll replayed in his mind.

The boy had talked! Harry spoke to him!

Tightening his hold for a moment in what anyone else would deem a hug, Severus looked down to ascertain if the boy was still asleep and then proceeded down to his chambers.


*------------------------------------------------------------------------------*


Severus scowled at the boy cowering in front of him. Somewhere in the back of his brain he knew he was being too harsh, but damnit! The whole situation was infuriating him.

“You spoke Harry! I heard you, soft though it was, you did speak! What in the world is wrong with you that once again, you can not speak?”

Harry cringed away from him even further but Severus paid it no mind.

“What were you doing out there in the first place? Did I not tell you to come straight to our quarters after school? Did I not warn you that the headmaster needs only one reason to throw you out of this school? What were you thinking?!?”

The boy in front of him made a choking sound but that was the only audible evidence that the boy was crying. Tears ran down his face silently but he made no move to wipe them off or to run away.

Severus gave the boy a long look before turning around and leaving the boy in his room.

Everything that had happened the day before was raging havoc with Severus’s mind and emotions. He did not know exactly what it was he felt but knew that if Harry put himself in danger again, he would not be able to stop himself from reacting first and asking questions later. Throwing the boy over his lap for a good spanking sounded like a marvelous idea but Severus restrained himself from doing so.

A small hand touched his shoulder and Severus grabbed the offending digit before he even realized what he was doing.

Severus could feel that Harry was shaking slightly and released his harsh grip on the boy as he looked up.

Harry passed him a piece of parchment and Severus read over it quickly.

Shame for his actions rose in him but Severus could put no words to the feeling.

Nodding his head at Harry to show he understood and that he forgave him, Severus sat down heavily on his bed.

“I will arrange something with your teachers; I won’t let you miss out on something you clearly deserve.” Severus called after Harry as the boy left his room.

He was really not cut out for this. The boy, fragile to begin with – though he would scowl at anyone who voiced the thought – had to be handled with care. Having Damen Nott for a Master would break even the strongest person and Severus knew now that Harry had been with the man for more than six years.

Looking over the parchment again, Severus sighed as he realized that he would have to apologize to Harry for his harsh behavior, one way or another.

I’m sorry Master. Mrs Kingston kept me after class to arrange some advanced classes I may attend. ‘Charms’ is my best subject and she arranged with one of the teachers of the upper years to train me in advanced Charms. I’m sorry I was late Master. I promise I won’t stay late again.

I don’t remember speaking, I’m sorry!! I don’t know why I can’t speak but I’ll work on it, I promise.

I’m sorry Master, please don’t send me away.


*-------------------------------------------------------------------*


Severus could see that there was something on Harry’s mind but he did not ask questions. Ever since the incident at Halloween, the relationship between them had tensed and Severus was loath to do anything that would push the boy further away. Severus worried over the boy as he had withdrawn even more the past few months, and though something was clearly troubling the boy, Harry had yet to come to him for advice. Not that Severus blamed him.

“Summer is almost upon us; a few more weeks and we will be free to do as we wish. Is there anything you would like to do?”

Harry looked up at him with pain-filled eyes and Severus’s hands itched to reach out and comfort the boy.

Severus waited a moment and was not at all surprised when Harry slowly shook his head. He would just take the initiative then…

“Very well. I will arrange for us to go into London and we can spend a week exploring the country. Should you think of anything you would like to do, don’t hesitate to ask.” Severus doubted very much that the boy would ask for anything and promised himself that he would work with the boy to get him to open up a bit more.

One thing was clear however, in order to get the boy to open up; Severus himself would have to be open and honest with the boy. Something he had sworn never to do again.

Severus looked up as he felt eyes on him and sighed softly to himself when Harry immediately looked down.

“You may ask anything you want to Harry. I promise not to yell at you. What happened over Halloween will never happen again. You may not believe me but I ask you to trust my word, I will never lie to you. I will get angry, I will loose my temper but I promise you that I will never be so harsh with you again.”

Harry looked up slowly and Severus could resist the urge to comfort no longer. Walking up to the boy, Severus laid a hand briefly on the boy’s shoulder and gave a quick squeeze. It was the best he could do and it would have to be enough.

Harry closed his eyes and Severus silently thanked the boy for not pulling away. He did not know if he would be able to do this again had the boy pulled away.


*------------------------------------------------------------------*


Severus could do nothing but stare as the scene unfolded in front of him. He could see Albus on the other side of the room, hiding in the shadows as Severus did. When Quirrel unraveled his turban, Severus somehow knew what to expect. He had followed Quirrel as Albus received the urgent call from the ministry, knowing somehow that this was what Quirrel had been waiting for. The man went through the carefully planned out traps with an ease that truly surprised Severus.

Voldemort’s head at the back of Quirrel’s explained a lot and Severus reinforced his Occlumency shields so that Voldemort would not feel his presence.

The Longbottom boy stood in front of the mirror with a petrified look on his face. Severus knew from the small movement of the boy’s hand that he had the stone in his pocket.

Severus weighed his options: He could rush to the boy’s aid and save him, he had no doubt that he would be able to best Quirrel, but with Voldemort there, there were more consequences to consider.

Should Severus give his position away and help the boy, Voldemort would know that he was a ‘spy’ and when returned to full strength; Severus would feel the brunt of his wrath.

Why Albus just stood there, watching, Severus had no idea but the thought that Albus would let the boy die before stepping in made bile rise in his throat.

Quirrel had his hands around the boy’s throat before Albus moved from the shadows. The resulting duel was short and Severus stayed in the shadows as Albus looked down at the Longbottom boy with a disappointed look before flicking his wand and levitating the boy out of the room.


That evening, Albus awarded the three Gryffindors for their ‘brave actions’ - foolishness more like Severus thought to himself – and he had to suppress the urge to growl as he realized that Albus had let the Longbottom boy believe that he, Neville had vanquished Voldemort before he could get to the stone.

Having the world place their hopes and dreams on one boy, was bad enough. To let that boy believe he had a power he did not, was something else, Albus was grooming the boy to be the perfect tool while Longbottom dug his own grave.

It made Severus sick.

Thanking those small voices that had warned Severus not to confide in Albus about Harry’s true identity, he thanked the deities that Harry, at least, would be safe from Albus’s manipulations.

End Chapter 4


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