Broken

A/N: Yes it's another Harry's abused Sev's the savior fic, but not writing or posting it is interfering with writing my other fic that I have on here so after the first chapter being written I fail to see why I shouldn't post it. Even though it's much shorter than what I can normally bring out.

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A small house tucked in the middle of a muggle neighborhood was all one dark haired wizard needed to call home on his holidays. During the summers Severus was left blissfully alone to live his own peaceful life. Of course, whoever was knocking at his door had no notion of leaving him alone. ‘Probably some school girl selling cookies again’ he thought disdainfully as he opened the door.

The person standing on his doorstep though was no school girl but the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and his boss, Albus Dumbledore. Wrapped in a dark blue cloak over a light blue wizarding robes the man stuck out in the muggle neighborhood, especially with his long white beard that shone as clean as ever. If his appearance alone though wasn’t enough to put Severus in a foul mood, Dumbledore’s companion was sure enough to upset the peace he found in his small vacation home. Emerald eyes behind wire rimmed glasses looked at him, but the sight of those deadened eyes made Severus step back and come to reality that something must have happened. Those eyes once so full of life and defiance at school were hollow of emotion or any sense of life. Severus wouldn’t have been surprised if a Dementor’s kiss hadn’t been performed by some freak accident.

“Severus, my apologies to the intrusion on your holidays. However, I have a very delicate task for you,” Dumbledore told him ignoring the shocked response Severus had given Harry. “May we come in?”

“Yes, of course,” Severus replied stepping out of their way cautiously. He had an idea of what the man wanted right away upon sight of Potter, but before he refused he wanted to know what made Potter as he was now. Motioning towards the living room his entrance way opened up to on the right he was stepping towards the doorway of the kitchen on his left. “Have a seat Headmaster, Potter. I’ll make us some tea, I have a feeling this will turn into a long visit.” His eyes settled on the boy that had to be gently prodded by Dumbledore to move into the living room to sit with a frown. He turned swiftly away and set about the makings of tea and sandwiches.

Severus returned to the living room with a tray laden with teacup, cups and sandwiches floating behind him and to land on the table in front of his guests. The teacup lifted and poured tea in each of the three cups and settled back down on the tray. Sitting down Severus picked up his own as Dumbledore leant forward for a small sandwich, Potter though ignored the tray all together and remained staring at his knees beneath a faded gray wizarding robe. Dumbledore refused to get to the point of his visit right away and Severus had to sit through his drivel that was supposed to be small talk, all during which Potter remained silent and staring at his knees. Severus wanted to interrupt the man demand Potter say something but he held his tongue, he knew Potter would be brought up at some point and he was forcibly polite this evening.

“I’m sad to say I’m not here only to catch up Severus,” Dumbledore told him something he already knew. The old coot never called on him for merely small talk but the man had his habits of trying to warm up to the conversation that he’d deemed important enough to call on him for. “As you might have already guessed, it has to do with Harry here.” Dumbledore looked over at the boy sadly when he didn’t even react to his name Severus frowned further. What had happened to the boy to make him so? Dumbledore was already beginning to explain though, “As you know he’s been staying with his muggle relatives, we’ve already known he’s been treated poorly in the household at least by lack of food. I would never have imagined just how bad he’d been treated, and perhaps I didn’t want to know. I don’t even know the full story, I’ve not yet managed to get him to say a word to me and I could hardly make him eat..” Dumbledore was straying off topic, never a good sign for Severus. The man seemed to realize it as well because he gave a small shake of the head.

“I’d received concerned letters from Mr Weaseley and Ms Granger when they haven’t had contact with him in a while. They said it was normal to happen at times during the summers but that his last letters had been distant and wasn’t like him. I’d decided to go check on him to make certain it was just the worries of friends but they were correct that something was wrong.” Dumbledore continued straying but returned to the point quickly once more with another sigh. “His uncle has been beating him horribly, that I know for certain as well as the fact the man had been selling Harry to his friends and other men for use of a sexual nature. Poppy’s done what she could for the outer wounds, but Harry has withdrawn into his mind and there’s nothing either of us can do to heal his mental state.”

Severus stared at Potter when he’d learned what had happened, his eyes only widened some to show his horrified state but his mask stayed in place. He might despise the boy as much as he had his father but no one deserved that treatment no matter how despicable the person might be. Severus kept himself from fidgeting already knowing what the man’s request would be.

“Severus, I would like to place him under your care,” Dumbledore said those expected words and ‘No!’ was the word he was yelling in his head as the man continued when he remained silent for too long. “I feel it might be good for him to have a structured lifestyle at the moment and someone who wouldn’t pity him might do him some good as well.”

No! His mind screamed at him again. Why would he want to help the son of the man who had tormented him? The boy who had done everything he could to get on his nerves at Hogwarts. He was the reason Severus enjoyed this retreat all the more, Potter wasn’t supposed to be here to fill up his holidays as well as the days he spent teaching. Yet here the boy was sitting on his couch looking nothing but a shell of what he once was, it would be so simple to take advantage of the boy but Dumbledore trusted that he wouldn’t continue to use the boy in the same ways as his own family had done. The thought repelled him anyhow.

“If that is what you feel is best Headmaster,” his traitorous mouth replied, his dark eyes falling back towards the shell like body. What was he to do with the boy that Dumbledore could not? Did the man really think leaving him in his care would be the best for all of them. “I do not know if I’d be able to better him than he is now however. He’s feared me before now, I could only imagine he’d feel worse when left alone in my care.”

“He doesn’t seem to recognize anyone Severus, or even his name,” Dumbledore told him sadly as his blue eyes turned back to the boy being talked about. “The man only referred to him as ‘boy’ and it’s all he responds to.” As if to prove his point Potter’s head raised some to look at the one who’d said his new name. “Past feelings aren’t going to be an issue. I think you’d be what’s best for him Severus, you’ll think of something to help him.”

“Very well,” Severus said holding back a sigh. Why wasn’t he fighting this? Telling Dumbledore to send him to the Weaseley’s who actually cared for the boy like another son. Seeing Potter as such a shell though made him rethink those arguments though. The Weaseley’s might manage to do something with him, setting him in a house with a lot of people consisting of males aside from two wouldn’t be best for someone who’s been abused the way he has been.

A smile crossed Dumbledore’s lips as he nodded and stood up ready to leave. He paused for a moment though as he turned his attention back to Severus. “It’s a struggle to get him to eat anything Severus and that uncle of his burned everything and snapped his wand. The robe he has on is all he has, I’m certain you’ll manage to outfit him I hadn’t gotten around to pick anything up.”

For the first time Potter shown some life as he looked up when Dumbledore turned to leave. Severus noted this and perhaps the boy was expecting Dumbledore to coax him to follow, but he left him there on the couch and Severus locked up behind the headmaster with a sigh. What was he going to do now? He turned at the flicker of movement in the living room and stared at Potter startled. Potter had stood up and the robe he’d been wearing was unbuttoned and slid off his thin shoulders to pool on the floor.

Potter was standing before him nude as Severus stared. The boy’s body was covered with scars and aged bruises, probably due to the bruise ointment he made as one of Pomfrey’s potions that adorned her potion cabinet. Realization began to dawn on Severus as to why Potter thought to undress, Dumbledore had left and the door was locked he must think the man was selling the use of him. Pursing his lips he ignored the insult of such an assumption, “Put your clothes back on Potter.”

The boy didn’t move but only stared at him, expecting him to do something. Severus stalked over ignoring the visible flinch and bent down lifting the robes from the floor and draped them around Potter making a face of distaste of the thought of needing to dress the boy as well. “I better not need to do this all the time Potter.”

Potter just stared at him blankly, and Severus realized the boy really didn’t know his own name anymore. Severus just sighed as he buttoned the robe shut most of the way, enough so that he wasn’t hanging open to flash him anymore. He looked into those blank eyes and realized he would need to call Potter by his first name, if the boy didn’t want to use his last as a first. “Come along .. Harry, I’ll show you where you’ll be sleeping.”

Severus set his hand at the small of the boy’s back to underline what he wanted Harry to do for the boy just didn’t seem to recognize any order - like a puppet without the needed strings. After a flinch Harry did finally move as he guided him towards the stairs and he removed his hand but the boy continued to follow, his arms still uselessly inside the robes. Severus shook his head and lead him up the stairs and to his spare bedroom that had sparse but a bed and wardrobe.

“You’ll be sleeping here Harry, I’ll pick you up some new clothes in the morning.” Severus told him though he hadn’t a clue as to whether the boy was listening. He was quickly getting irritated by that blank stare and his patience had already been tried thin by the old man’s prattling. “Boy, this is your room. Now go to sleep.”

Harry looked at him blankly for a moment but walked to the bed but Severus noted the problem immediately and sighed. He stepped in the room and unbuttoned the robes feeling the stiffness of the boy’s body once more. He stepped away when he was finished leaving Harry to slip it off himself as he left the room and closed the door. He heard the soft creak of the bed through the door and sighed. How was he ever going to get Harry to heal if he lost his patience so easily he was uncertain.

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A/N2: Reviews can lead to quicker chapters, because I enjoy knowing people like the story!