Fatal Innocence

One five year old Harry Potter sat in the back of the Dursleys' car squished between Dudley and a suitcase. His relatives had been forced to drag him along on their camping vacation. No one else had been available to take him, and well, they couldn't possibly leave him alone by himself. Just think he could set the house on fire!

Honestly. The poor boy couldn't hurt a fly. Or at least, anyone who looked at the underfed, pale, fragile creature that was Harry Potter would have said that. Truthfully, on this cold, rainy night, Harry potter was capable of anything. Five years old or not.

But for now he just sat, glaring out the window, and wishing his parents hadn't died in that car crash and left him here with these awful people. He had spent a week in the cold basement of the Dursleys' rental cabin out in the woods. He had been locked in the small, cramped closet down there, unless they had chores for him to do. They had frolicked about the woods, ate to their hearts content, and languished in all nature had to offer. Not really. Truthfully, the family had spent most of their time inside or on the porch. Movement was foreign to the family, and they didn't want to go hiking or fishing out with the animals and the bugs. That would have been savage.

Harry hated them. He was a child, and he deserved to play didn't he? What had he ever done wrong? Absolutely nothing. He had done nothing, and they punished him. He curled his little fists in fury. Tears welled up in his bright green eyes, and he had to hold back a sob. It wasn't the least bit fair.

He wished that the Dursleys' would get in a car wreck. Then he would be free to do as he wished. He could live in the forest with all the animals. He could build a tree fort. He could swing from tree to tree! He could befriend all the forest animals, and he could eat berries that stained his fingers and tongue red.

That thought made him feel better, and as he pictured himself sitting under a tree and eating berries with a bear, he began to giggle. The action caused the other occupants of the car to eye him suspiciously. Vernon turned away from the wheel for a moment to look back at Harry.

"Boy I don't know what you're up to back ther-" And that's when, out of nowhere, another car came around the bend and hit the Dursleys' car. They were slammed into a tree, and the next thing Harry saw were bright flashing lights.

"He's the only one still alive. What are we going to do with him?"

"Social Services I suppose. What else can we do with him?"

Two men in uniforms, Harry assumed they were police men, stood near the shambles of what was once the Dursleys' car. Harry had never seen police men before, and he stared at them a moment before they realized he was awake.

"Hey there kid. How're you feeling?" the taller of the two men asked.

"Fine, thank you. My name's Harry." Harry stood up and smiled at the man.

Hands from behind him forced him to sit down again. "Now, now Harry. You have a pretty bad gash on your head. You need to lay still for awhile okay?" A woman smiled at him. He obeyed her. She looked nice.

The shorted police man came over and kneeled in front of Harry. "Now young man, your family…well you won't be seeing them again. But we'll find another nice family for you to stay with. Is that okay kiddo?"

This man was funny. Harry laughed and his eyes sparkled. Of course he knew the Dursleys' were gone. They died. Just like his parents. And now he was going to live in the woods.

The man seemed to want an answer though, so Harry nodded. Any minute now, when they weren't looking, he'd make a dash for the woods. But his plans were foiled when he was picked up by strong arms and put into a squad car.

A seven year old Harry potter stared once again out a window. He sighed wearily, and moved back to his bed. The orphanage was far too warm inside, and beside the window Harry could feel the cold air seeping in. It was a small comfort in what seemed like a mirthless place.

He'd been there two years. Ever since the untimely death of his aunt, uncle, and cousin. The accidental, out-of-nowhere, death of his foster family. And he'd spent those two long, lonely years in this orphanage. Most days he was just plain bored. Others he was so lonely he cried himself into a nightmarish sleep. And days like today were the worst. A new guardian was coming for an interview. He had another chance to be adopted. But it didn't do for him to get his hopes up. He'd had several of these meetings, and none of them had been successful. He was un-adoptable.

So when the warden came to collect him from his room, Harry couldn't bring himself to put a smile on his face. The warden led him to the small meeting room where a tall, sick looking man waited for him. The man turned when the door opened, and black eyes bored into Harry's green ones. Harry shuddered. He really hoped that this man didn't adopt him. That gaze did not bode well.

"Here you are Mr. Snape. One Harry Potter." The warden smiled and pushed Harry forward. "Harry say hello to Mr. Snape."

Harry gave the warden an incredulous look. She really didn't expect him to speak to the man did she? "Miss Adams, I want to go. I promise to be good if you just let me leave." Harry pleaded with the warden.

"Now Harry!" she admonished. She looked up at Snape and gave him a smile. "I apologize Mr. Snape. He is not usually likes this. I don't know what's gotten into him today."

"Please, don not let it worry you Miss Adams. This behavior is quite common." Harry took a step back at the voice. It reminded him of dark chocolate. Very bitter.

Harry yanked his hand out of Miss Adams' and made for the door.

"Mr. Potter." the voice stopped him dead in his tracks. He turned, and he was snared in the gaze of his would be adopter. "Do you not wish to be adopted?" The question hung in the air. Harry's eyes teared up. He was very afraid.

"Oh dear." Miss Adams cried. "Really Mr. Snape, I don't know what's wrong with him!"

"No matter. Do you have the papers I need to sign?" Mr. Snape queried.

Miss Adams gave him a look. "You still want to adopt him even after all this?" Snape gave a sharp nod, and Harry let out a choked scream.

"Harry! You must stop this immediately. Really, I have not seen such ungrateful behavior from you before." Miss Adams glared at him. He quieted. He didn't want to make her angry, but he didn't want to go with Snape either.

"Can he come with me today?" Snape asked, taking on a very brisk, business-like manner.

"Well..." Miss Adams hesitated. "It is not usual; however, under the circumstances...I'm sure that will be fine. Go pack up your things Harry. I expect you back here in ten minutes." Her gaze held a warning.

Harry rushed off to do as she asked. He didn't want to go, but did he really want to stay? He was conflicted. Snape scared him. It wasn't like he could run away now was it? He'd lost those childish delusions when he'd been brought to the orphanage. He put his belongings into his suitcase and sighed. He wondered if Snape had a wife. A mother wouldn't be so bad. He walked back into the meeting room where both Miss Adams and Snape were waiting for him. Snape held out his hand, and Harry reluctantly took it. The large hand was cool and dry, but the grip was far too tight. Instead of complaining, Harry squeezed the hand back as hard as he could. Which wasn't very hard. Snape sent a smirk down his way. Harry glared.

"I hope you have a wonderful life in your new home Harry." Miss Adams said as she ruffled his hair. "Take good care of him." The last was directed at Snape who nodded stiffly.

Together he and Harry walked out of the orphanage and got into a large, black car. Snape, it seemed, wasn't driving.

The doors to the car closed, and the driver turned around to face the car's two other occupants. The man was old, and had a long, white beard. He looked friendly, and when he smiled, Harry smiled back. Blue eyes twinkled.

"All went well then Severus?" The old man asked.

"Of course it did Albus. He's sitting in front of you now isn't he?" Severus snapped.

"And you are sure it's him?"

Snape pushed Harry's bangs from his forehead, exposing a lightning bolt scar.

"Well then. Shall we take him home then?"

Snape let out an annoyed sigh. "You are driving Albus."

"Of course I am! You don't have a license Severus!" Albus' eyes held a twinkle, and he winked at Harry before he turned back to the steering wheel.

Harry had watched the exchange with confusion. Were they both his parents now? What exactly was going on? Harry closed his eyes. At least the twinkly man was nice. He stifled a yawn, and looked curiously out the window. The car was going very fast. Much faster than Harry remembered cars going.

"Are we racing someone?" Harry asked. That was the only explanation he could think of for the car's speed.

Snape arched an eyebrow at him. "Mr. Potter, why on earth would we be racing anyone?"

"Well, sir, we're going very fast. I just wondered." Harry hung his head. Asking questions was never a good thing. It only made people angry with him. Harry looked out the window again. But he was forced to look back at Snape when cool fingers forced his head to turn.

"Mr. Potter, you are incredibly naive." And then his head was released. Harry got the since that Snape was making fun of him.

Harry glared at Snape. Why was he so mean? Maybe the Twinkly man would answer his questions. He was certainly a lot nicer. Harry leaned forward in his seat.

"Mister Twinkly Man?" Harry's voice was small. Albus looked in the rearview mirror. Harry could only be talking to him after all.

"Yes Harry?"

"Why are we going so fast?"

"We have a schedule Harry." Was all the answer he received. That and a snort from Snape.

Harry crossed his arms in front of his chest, and resisted the urge to pout. This earned a chuckle from Albus.

"You know Severus, he reminds me a good deal of you." Snape looked up at Albus.

"Of course he does Albus. Because I was a spoiled, sulky brat just like Mr. Potter here." Severus spat.

"In fact, you were exactly like Harry." Albus smiled widely as the car came to a stop. Snape frowned.

"I don't want to be anything like him!" Harry said. "He's scary!"

Albus chucked again. Severus leveled Harry with a glare.

"Now, now Severus, he's just a child. Don't glare at him so."

Severus muttered under his breath as he got out of the car, taking Harry's suitcase with him. Harry jumped out of the car and raced to Albus' side. "Where are we?"

Albus smiled down at him, and took his hand. "Let's go inside and get settled." He led Harry up the walk, and when they entered the rather drab looking house, someone immediately started shrieking.

"Severus if you would go and quiet Mrs. Black down?" Severus walked away with a look of a man going to his death. Harry had covered his ears when they had come in, but he removed them when Severus came back.

"Is this where you two live?" Harry asked.

"No Harry, it's where you live." Albus said. Harry looked up at him questioningly.

"Where I live?" Harry asked.

"Yes."

"I'm too young to live alone." Harry said suddenly, holding onto Albus' hand tightly. "You won't leave me alone will you?"

Harry had been lonely for too long. Even if Snape was mean, he'd rather have him for company then be all by himself.

"Don't worry Harry. Severus is here to keep you company." Harry sighed audibly, and the tension seeped out of his body. He loosened his hold on Albus' hand. Severus held out his as a substitute. Harry grabbed it loosely and tried to smile up at the man. When he received only a blank look in return, he gave up.

"Now Severus, take good care of him. He doesn't know who or what he is. Remember that. Do not let your old grudges prevent you from taking proper care of this child." Albus instructed.

"Yes Albus." Severus was resigned to his fate as "father".

Harry watched Albus walk out the door and then looked up at Severus. "I'm hungry." Severus groaned. Harry tugged on the hand that held his. "I am allowed to eat aren't I?" he asked meekly.

Severus tried to look friendly. "Yes of course. Come on." And he led the way to the kitchen.

A/N: I have two other stories I should be working on, and here I am starting another. This plot just wouldn't leave me alone. sigh Please review.