Chapter 3: In Thy Eyes

It was nearly two and a half hours later that Draco deemed the time appropriate to proceed to dinner. He wiped the tears of mirth out of his eyes. There was nothing like spending a free afternoon with his friends reminiscing about the past.

All his joy came crashing down, however, as he remembered the young body waiting for him in the closet. He regretted allowing Blaise and Vince lock the young Gryffindor in the closet because now he would have to listen to the blubbering child whimper on about how he was afraid of the dark.

He hoisted himself out of the plush chair and tchetched popping a few vertebrae in the process. "Do you want us to wait for you, Draco?" He shook his head at Blaise an annoyed look passing over his face.

"You guys go ahead; I have to get the brat ready for dinner." Draco watched as the group left without him. He cursed Potter for always being able to ruin his day no matter what age he was. Finally, after deciding he had procrastinated long enough, he walked over to the closet. He waved his wand taking off the silencing charm.

He opened the door, a glare already adorning his face. He looked down on the floor to see the small boy curled into a tight ball, his breathing obviously irregular. He had never noticed just how crammed this closet was. Absently, he pondered whether or not he should help clear it out one of these days. He was broken out of thought when the little bundle stirred.

Big, shiny green eyes looked up at him. They were glassed over. "Hurry and get up, Potter, we have to get to dinner." The little boy looked at him immediately standing up if not just a bit shakily. Draco grabbed the boys hand and began to walk at a brisk pace toward Severus's rooms.

He glared at any one who dared stop to babble inanely at how cute Harry was. The students were acting like they had never seen a seven-year old before and frankly, it disgusted him how the girls fawned over the raven-haired boy. It only made his hand tighten around the other boy's and his steps quicken making the little boy stumble behind him.

He didn't even pause when it came to providing the password to enter the Professor's rooms. It was all so natural to him, coming here to see his godfather. It was always something he enjoyed. Here was another thing Potter had managed to screw up.

"Sev, you there?"

"Right back here! I have some clothes for Potter to wear, hopefully, they will fit him." Severus came out of his bedroom only to pause as he laid eyes on the tiny Gryffindor. Every now and then a traitorous tear would leak down the pale face. "Why is he crying?"

"Is he? I didn't even notice."

"I am going to get him changed. Could you run and get me the potions off of my desk? Poppy was asking for them and the woman is remarkably persistent. Draco nodded and left the room leaving Harry alone with Severus whom was currently trying to decide the best way to get the boy to change.
"Go change and hurry, we don't have time to waste waiting for you." Harry gave him an odd look but did as he was told. He slowly began to lower the overly large robe off of his shoulders. Severus was taken aback by three things.

The first were the pale bruises that decorated the boy's flesh. The second was just how thin the boy in front of him was. His collar bone stood out painfully with no fat or muscle to soften the sharp curves. The third and final thing was that the boy was changing in front of him with out the slightest hint of embarrassment.

"Not in the middle of my living room, Potter. Have at least a little decency and take yourself to the loo!" The boy looked even more confused but did as he was told with a lost look on his face. As soon as the door to the loo shut Draco came back into the room.

"Where is he?"

"Changing. Did you notice anything about him while he was with you, Draco? Anything unusual?" Draco looked a bit leery.

"Nope, he didn't say a word while he was with me."

They both turned and Draco let out a sigh of relief as the door opened and Harry came out wearing a robe that actually fit him. It was still a bit loose due to the boy/s weight but at least it was no longer falling off of him.

Draco's face paled, however, when he saw the little boy's hands. They were bruised a deep purple and he didn't have to think hard to determine why the boys hands were suddenly bruised. Severus noticed this at about the same time.

"His hands weren't like that earlier, Draco, hat hat I am sure." Draco tried to pass off the innocent look but failed miserably.

"Well, he was bothering us in the common room."

"And you what?"

"Well, I asked him to stay put and he didn't listen to me so…"

"So what, Draco?"

"So, Blaise and Vince put him in that closet by the entrance in the common room."

"And you allowed them to do this?" Draco looked away. "I don't think I have ever been more disappointed in you, Draco! What were you thinking?" Snape walked over to Harry whom was standing, watching the two impassively.

"Harry, were did you get these bruises?" Harry looked away as Severus took the small hands in his own. "Answer me." Snape's voice was stern but soft.

"I was knocking on the door. I get scared in the cupboard, I'm sorry." Draco was taken aback when the boy apologized. If anything he was expecting the kid to rat him out but not to apologize for something even Draco could agree for once was not his fault.

"Why do you get scared in cupboards?" Snape pressed but the little boy noticed the ploy the man was using and immediately went back to being impassive. "Harry will be staying with me tonight Draco and so will you." Draco nodded not wanting to provoke his Godfather anymore. "We will be having a long conversation, of that you can be sure."

With that, Severus swept off probably rummaging for some ointment for Harry's hands. Draco stared at the bruised little hands. He felt a little queasy knowing he had been the cause of the bruises.

Giving the older version of Potter a black eye was something to take pride in. The bruises on the little child, however, seemed to upset him. Harry was shifting uncomfortably under his gaze.

"I'll do what you tell me from now on, Draco." The blond was surprised Harry had even addressed him. "I won't do it again, I promise. You never have to put me back in the cupboard. I promise I will be good."

Green eyes stared up into his silver ones with nothing but sincerity being poured out. The connection was broken and Harry went back to staring at his feet. Snape gently rubbed the ointment onto the boy's hands and slowly the bruises began to fade. Harry watched them go keeping the detached expression on his face.

"Now, if we could proceed to the Great Hall, I am rather hungry." With that, the three left the dungeons and headed for the Great Hall.

Ron Weasley was standing outside of the Great Hall waiting to see if Harry would be brought to dinner. He hadn't been seen at lunch but that made sense as he was probably still with Dumbledore. Hermione stood next to him also looking anxiously down the hall.
They both began to walk away from the entrance when they spotted Professor Snape walking toward them with a tiny Harry and an always arrogant Draco following in his wake. They hurried after the trio.
"Harry?!?" The little boy turned to look at the red-haired boy. Ron was happy to see the bruise that had previously been on the boys face was gone. He kneeled down in front of the little boy.

"Hey, mate, how you doin? Fairing well with these two gits?"

"I would appreciate it, Mr. Weasley if you would keep your foul language to yourself." Snape sneered at the Gryffindor and turned to look at Granger who was watching the situation with mildly suppressed fascination.

"Professor, Harry is going to be staying with you in Slytherin isn't he?" Hermione had always prided herself in picking up on things quicker than most. She didn't once believe the headmaster would allow Harry to stay with them in the Gryffindor dormitories. It was too dangerous for the little boy in the Lion House.

"That is ridiculous, Hermione, Dumbledore wouldn't do that to Harry."

"Well, he has, Weasel, so you can stop your whining." Ron glared at Draco and was about to retort when Hermione placed a hand on his shoulder. A meaningful look passed between the two.

Snape had to hand it to them. The two had grown quite a bit over the years. Of course, with the Boy-Who-Lived as their best friend they couldn't help but grow up a bit faster than most. Weasley turned to him, a resigned look on his face.

"Will we be able to visit him at all?"

"I believe that can arranged." Ron nodded at the man and bent back down to Harry's level. The raven haired boy had yet to say a thing.

"Hey, buddy, we will come visit you soon, ok." Ron drew his wand out of his pocket along with a pack of exploding snap cards. He muttered an incantation and the deck of cards became a small plush dog. Hermione took the toy from him and cast her own charm making the dog look a little less patched and frayed.

The two smiled at each other and Ron handed the toy to Harry. The little boy looked shocked that someone had given him a toy. "This should keep you company while you are with them ok, Harry?" The little boy nodded.

"Thank you," he said timidly. He hugged the toy close, "Padfoot," he mumbled clutching the toy to him like it was a life line. Draco watched as Weasley and Granger looked surprised at the name the boy had given his dog but let it slide. The two left nodding to Severus.

Harry clutched his puppy close to him. Draco sneered at the childishness of the entire situation. Snape merely continued on into the Great Hall. All eyes turned to watch the three enter. Draco sneered. This was going to be a long meal.

Draco watched Severus shut the door quietly so as not to wake the boy whom was asleep inside the room. He rolled his eyes at the entire display. It was so annoying how it seemed that even his Godfather, who had openly detested Potter since the beginning, seemed to have a soft spot for the boy.

After dinner Severus had made it clear that Draco would not be getting out of speaking with him. It was only under the fear of dealing with an enraged Godfather that Draco had come down to the Potion's Masters private suites.

"What were you thinking, Draco, shoving a child into a closet!?!"

"I am not a child, Severus, you need not lecture me like one."
"I will stop lecturing you like a child when you can stop acting like one." Draco glared at the man feeling exasperated.

"It's not my fault he freaked out. I wouldn't have done that at his age!" There he had a point. Draco congratulated himself.

"Are you honestly that blind, Draco?" The way Severus had asked that made Draco stop for a moment. What was the man talking about?

"Evidently, I am, Severus, so why don't you enlighten me." Snape opened his mouth to deliver the blow but stopped suddenly seeing the look in Draco's eyes. He loved the blond boy in front of him as much of he could love any son of his own. It could not be denied, however, that the boy was blinded by his hate and it was something that would get him killed.

The elder wizard got up from his seat and went to his own room leaving Draco alone on the couch. The boy would need to learn to look beyond what could be seen for Harry's sake as well as his own.

"Enlighten yourself, Draco." and with that Snape was gone