Chapter Text
Snape left him to reshelf ingredients while he went out to different lab to bring more. He didn't mind the small space. He got over his discomfort when he was moved to Dudley's second bedroom. Especially when he went to Hogwarts. And now he was focused on the tasks, thinking about anything and everything. So when he picked up the third box and turned around and heard the sound of closing doors he wasn't panicking.
Harry realised that it's not ingredients but an ordinary box holding the door open. He sighed, putting the box down examining the now closed door. No doorknobs. It's locked . Suddenly the light went out. His wand is on Snape's desk. He was starting to panic.
Harry began taking deep breaths, trying to calm himself down. He’s older now, away from his relatives, at school, safe. He can’t let Snape see him like this, Slytherins are already bothering him enough they don’t need this in their ammunition also.
But his mind was still racing, his heart beating hard in his chest, his breaths coming shorter and shorter, it was getting hard to take them in and soon ringing in his ears started to get louder and louder.
Snape returns thinking maybe Potter left but sees the closed storage door. He warded it, so unless you know the password it will stay closed (safety proof for thieves) but he didn't raise the alarms so he didn't know when the wards activated and how long ago Potter slipped from there. He didn’t think the boy was stupid enough to just leave regardless if his task was finished. Looking at his desk he saw boy's wand, but before Snape could start to wonder anything else the banging started. After a few hits there was a muffled “let me out please let me out”. Snape smirked realising what must have happened.
“Thut Thut Potter I said two boxes. After all these years of school I thought at least you'll know how to count. Up to 10 at best.”
Silence. Snape steps closer.
“Can you hear me Potter? What are you doing in there?”
Whimpering. Long whine. “Please”.
Snape is step away from the door. He listens closely.
Sobs. He's confused. Potter was easy to read. Emotional. But never this.
“Potter what's wrong?” Whimper. “Can you hear me? Are you alright boy?” He almost called him Harry.
Harry after a moment realises there's someone outside. In his already almost panicked state he hears that boy and is immediately back in Privet drive forgetting everything else.
“I'm in my cupboard because I did freakish stuff. But I didn't, Uncle, I swear. I'm a good boy. I'm good, I'm not a freak. I was good. I didn't do anything Uncle please let me out. OUT PLEASE. I'M NOT A FREAK. NOT A FREAK. NOT-”
Snape's eyes widened, his face frozen in shock. He never thought some like Potter would ever say something like this, his mind flashing back to his own youth. Freak. Nasty boy. Freak…
I was another frightened yell followed by a loud bang that startled Snape and had him jumping back and snapping him out making him draw his want in reflex.
He's not a freak, he's a wizard. He has magic. But he can't do magic outside of school. Oh no they locked him up so he can't go but someone will notice right? Dumbledore at least won't let anything happen, right?
“Let me out NOW! Uncle Vernon you can't forbid me to go to Hogwarts, someone will notice, they'll come for me, let me out. Now!I have to go to school.” He was hyperventilating again. His breathing was erratic. Harry crumpled to the ground, legs giving out.
After the last bang on the door. Snape heard a thud and finally muttered the password opening the door.
Harry was curled in fetal position hugging himself but when Snape touched his shoulder he raised his hand over his head and with a whimper curling even more. Trying to calm his still racing mind professor tried to think… He needs to calm the boy down.
Accio calming draught. Luckily there's one in this storage that came flying to his hand.
Tries softly talking and slowly touching Potter to get him up. Tries to make him drink it. Can't. Spells it to his stomach. After a short debate he fully cradles Harry in arms, pulling the child's head under his and holding him there. Irony of his lasy moments with Lilly didn’t escape him. He gives up all pretense and starts to hum softly, melody his mother sang to him to calm him down.