Chapter 1- The-Boy-Who-Would-Not-Be-Broken

Harry Potter sat in his cupboard, after his first year at Hogwarts bloody, broken, and thoroughly beaten. It seemed that his Uncle Vernon didn't like the fact that he could not get Harry's trunk to open so he could burn all of his new-found possessions. When he discovered he, in fact couldn't open the trunk he took it out on Harry. 'Welcome home', Harry thought to himself. He tried to sit up, so he could attempt to clean himself when he felt a sharp pain on his side. Lifting up his shirt , or should I say Dudley's, he looked down, and assessed that he had at least two broken ribs. 'Well whats new' he thought.

Suddenly a screeching voice came through the grate on his cupboard.

"Harry how bad is the damage this time?" Aunt Petunia asked.

"No worse than usual, Aunt Petunia. Why do ask?" 'She had never cared about my injuries before' he thought.

"There's one of your teachers from that school here to see you", she said in her high-and-mighty voice," so do something to cover the bruises,"she instructed.

"Yes Aunt Petunia," he replied obediently. While in the library that year Harry had found a spell called the Glamour charm that would conceal whatever he desired on his person. Even though he knew he wasn't allowed to use magic outside of school he decided that he had to use it or else the consequences would be overwhelming, not to mention painful; and he didn't think he could his handle his third beating of the week. So he applied the charm and climbed very carefully, and delicately out of his cupboard.

Severus Snape was not happy. Even less so than usual. He had been enjoying his morning cup of tea, when the Headmaster had requested him to check upon The-Boy-Who-Was-Overly-Hyphenated. The man claimed that he was worried by Potter's request to stay behind at Hogwarts over the summer.

"Severus it is not natural for a boy to wantto stay at school. I think something may be wrong with Harry's home life," Dumbledore said in a serious voice that was rarely heard by others, and free of any twinkle in his eye's.

Personally he thought the only reason Potter wanted to stay behind is because he thought that he would have a better chance at being spoiled more here than he already was at home. That was so like the arrogant, pampered boy that Severus thought was the bane of his existence. when he voiced this reasoning, all he got was a stern look from his mentor.'Yes god forbid someone insult the damn Boy-Who-Would-Not-Die' Severus mused.

So per request he was standing outside the door of number 4 Pivet Drive, looking upon the house with disgust that was very apparent. He rang the bell and waited impatiently for someone to answer. "Coming," he heard someone say in a high sing-song voice. The door opened to reveal a tall woman with a horse-like face.

"Hello," she said as pleasantly she could in that annoying voice,"I'm Petunia Dursley. How may I help you,"she asked. Severus wanted nothing more than to reply with a terse and sarcastic comment along the lines of 'I doubt you could ever help me,' but he refrained from doing so.

"I am Professor Snape, the Potions Master at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and your nephew's teacher," he replied saying the word nephew with undisguised loathing. He was about to continue speaking, to tell the muggle why he was there when he was shushed and ushered into the house quickly. The muggle woman looked about outside as if checking to see if anyone had heard his mini monologue.

" You better hope that none of the neigbors heard you, or Vernon will sort you out," she said in what Snape realized she thought was an intimidating voice. Anger coursed through him as the implication of her words sunk in. She honestly thought that a muggle, a mere muggle, could cause bodily harm to him Severus Snape.

" Madam," he began in a low but harsh tone, " if you honestly think that whoever Vernon is, could ever lay an unwanted hand on me than you are clearly suffering from a head injury that is apparently impairing your brain, or what little you have of one," he said scathingly. "Now, I wish to speak to Potter immediately, so why don't you go make yourself useful, and fetch the little prince from his slumber." He swept into the living room, leaving a spluttering, and insulted Petunia Dursley standing near the stairs. He expected to hear footsteps going upstairs, and was surprised when he heard none. He ignored it though and set about looking around the living room and kitchen. He looked upon smiling family pictures with confusion, since Potter did not seem to be in any. Instead there was a obese, pig like boy reminding him of Draco's minions Crabbe and Goyle. He also noticed that the house was spotless, and it did not seem to harvest any dirt anywhere. ' There maid must be exceptional,' he thought, 'but of course nothing less for the Boy-Who-Was-Too-Conceited.'

He heard shuffling behind him, and turned around prepared to see a haughty, grumbling boy. But what he saw almost stopped his heart. There before him was Potter, in an over-sized, ratty worn out shirt, and what looked to be patchwork pants. It was then he noticed something else. He noticed the fact that Potter kept his head down, gazing at the floor, and standing as still as a statue. The stance reminded him of someone, he realized, and that someone was himself, back when his father was still alive, and abusive.'Its impossible' he tried to convince himself. It was then that he decided to speak.

"Potter, are your manners so deplorable you can't greet your professor, let alone look at me?" he drawled. The insult got the desired response and Severus watched as Potter snapped his head up, and glared defiantly at his Potions professor. It was then that Severus's heart actually did stop for a moment. Something was wrong. Very wrong indeed. Reluctantly he began to agree with the Headmasters assessment of Potter's home-life. Something had to be wrong. Otherwise why else would Potter be wearing a Glamour. Yes, something was wrong, and this did not make Severus Snape happy at all.

AN: hello everyone. if your reading this story please let it be know that its my very first story, so i know that is probably sucks. if you think it does than reveiw and tell me what you think could make it less suck-ish. and if you dont think it suck than i love you and want to have your babies( just kidding, unless your johnny depp, or alan rickman). THIS WILL PROBABLY BE A ONE-SHOT, UNLESS EVEN ONE PERSON ASKS FOR MORE!

thank you for reading,

Sanaya