Whelp II The Wrath of Snape

realizes with a jolt. His hands go to the chain collar and tug at it.

'Leave it!' Uncle bellows and slaps his hands away. Then he holds up the last item in his hands, a large screw topped with a loop. Taking the other end of the leash, Uncle Vernon leads the boy to a far corner of the yard. With a heavy mallet, he hammers the screw into the side of the shed and hooks the other end of the leash to it. He sneers at the boy as he heads back to the house. 'If you're a good dog, you'll get some dinner tonight. Otherwise . . .'

On his knees, the boy's hands went to his throat. It's not there. No leash. No collar, it was not there anymore. 'No dog,' he moaned softly. 'No collar. Not there.' He hunched lower over his legs, leaving his back exposed, but that was better than his belly, always. Terror whined in his throat and clutched at him like sticky spider webs that he could not break free of. His mind rolled through the memory of days of no food and little water, and the shed and his broken fingers and the whisper of the little snake who asked if he was dead yet, and the light flickering touch of its tongue along the shell of his ear.

But the snake was soft, and whiskers quivered against his cheek as wet sandpaper lapped at his jaw. No hissing. Not a snake. A furry head, purring, butted against his chin, and he released his hold on his belly so he could pet it, and his fingers carded through its fur. His breath evened out, and he relaxed a little more. The memory of those horrible days receded once more.

Then a voice called his name, 'Harry . . .'

Yes. His name was Harry, and he was not the boy in that backyard anymore. Someone . . . someone had rescued him, and taken him away.

'Daddy?' Close by was the sound of a sobbed breath, and he opened his eyes.

'Harry . . . I'm sorry.' Father held open his arms, but didn't try to hold him, so Harry threw himself into his embrace, needing his protection, needing to know Father was okay, and let him know he was okay. Father's strong arms wrapped around him and he burrowed into the embrace.

A white furry face peered into his, looking over Father's arm. Harry's throat felt thick, like he couldn't swallow. He wanted to keep the kitten so much, but Father had said no. Still, he reached toward her, and she rubbed her head along his fingers, letting him scratch her under the chin. 'Treacle,' he choked out her name, and his eyes burned. He buried his head back in Father's arm, not wanting to even look at her anymore.

Father's hand cupped the back of his head, and he pressed a kiss to Harry's forehead. His voice was very soft when he said, 'She seems to be taken with you.' When Harry lifted his gaze, Father continued, 'Treacle Tart is an . . . original name. I imagine she could not hope for a better one.'

'Ha-Hagrid c'n ch-change it, if he wants' Harry stuttered and blinked rapidly to keep his tears from falling. 'He's good wif an'mals. Tree . . . Tree'll like him fine.'

'No, I think you should keep her.' Father's arms tightened around him. His voice was oddly hoarse, like he was trying to keep from crying, too. 'She's very protective . . . I believe she will look out for you. And you can look out for her, too.'

Harry's breath caught. 'Really, you mean it? I can keep her?'

'Yes. You can keep her.' Father shook his head with a small sigh, but he didn't sound mad anymore. 'Merlin help us all.'

--

A/N: Thanks for all the enthusiastic reviews and encouragement for this story! I should have a new chapter out in a couple of days. Harry Hugs for everyone!

*Chapter 4*: Chapter 4

Whelp II -- The Wrath of Snape

By jharad17

Chapter Four

Disclaimer: None of this is mine. Honest. She's rich, blond and British. I'm not.

A/N: If you haven't read 'Whelp' before reading this story . . . well, why not? Really, you should, 'cause otherwise, you're gonna be plenty lost.

---

Previously:

'Yes. You can keep her.' Father shook his head with a small sigh, but he didn't sound mad anymore. 'Merlin help us all.'

The next morning, Harry woke to a set of ice blue eyes staring him in the face. 'Tree,' he whispered, and held out his fingers for her to rub her head against, which she did, purring. Harry grinned, and scratched at Treacle Tart's ears. She was so soft, and she was his.

'You have the best name,' he told her, and she agreed, purring more loudly and butting against his chin, ''cause you're the best treat.'

'Master Harry,' a voice said, nearby, and he jumped so fast Treacle jumped with him with a little hiss and a swipe of claws at the intruder.

''S'okay, Tree,' Harry told the kneazle kit. 'It's just Nelli. She's nice.'

Treacle cocked her white head to the side and regarded the House-elf. Harry grasped one of her paws, gently, and lifted it to wave at Nelli. 'See, she's sayin' 'hi!''

Nelli smiled hesitantly and said, 'Master Harry, Master Snape is saying youse is to get up now and be ready for breakfast.'

'Is he still here?' Harry asked, sliding out of bed quickly and reaching for the robe he was supposed to wear if he left his room while still wearing pajamas. Treacle jumped off the bed and rubbed her face along his ankle.