Authors notes: Basically this is an alternative universe where Voldemort was defeated when Harry was a baby, no Horcruxes. Albus and Minerva are married and have three adopted sons, you'll find out who in the first few chapters. It's the year 1896 and Harry is six, currently living with the Dursley's who abuse him, until the day he met a tabby cat.
Warning: There is mild abuse at first.
Chapter one:
6-year-old Harry is working in the garden picking weeds, his little arms and legs are aching as he stands up and stretches. He sighs as he hears the laughter of a child inside the house, he crouches down again as the blazing hot sun shines into his back. Thirsty, he turns and looks inside just in time to see his aunt, a thin long-necked, skinny blonde lady giving an ice cream Sunday to his cousin, a large boy, the same age as Harry's sitting on the couch watching tv. When he turns back, he notices the strange tabby cat that was always here. It was different from his neighbor, Ms. Figgs cats, it never did anything, it just sat there, staring at him. The cat came over and started purring and rubbing his legs. He smiled at it, bent down and started stroke it.
"BOY!" A large beast of a man screamed, the cat jumped in surprise, Harry cringed and turned around "Yes, Uncle Vernon?"
"Are you done with the flower bed yet?" His uncle bellowed.
"N-n-no uncle Vernon, ju-ust a little bi—" He didn't get to finish his sentence as his uncle slapped him across the face, and he went flying back, crashing into the fence.
"This better be done in 30 minutes freak, or you won't get any food." His uncle sneered as he walked back into the house.
After his hands automatically went to his face as tears rolled down his cheeks, unknown to him, a pair of emerald eyes were staring at him through the bush. At night, while he was lying in his cupboard under the stairs, he thought about what it would be like having a loving family, a family that actually cared about him, he smiled as he drifted off to sleep.
—
Professor Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts, defeater of Gellert Grindelwald, the evilest wizard of all time, sat behind his desk, calmly looking at the stack of ministry papers, and arranging his collection of sherbet lemon. Most think that he wasn't afraid of anything, which was probably true, he wasn't.
"Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore!" A strict looking professor charged into the room, and he cringed, well, maybe one person.
"Yes, Minnie dear?" Albus replied calmly.
"Don't you "Minnie" me Albus Dumbledore!" She slapped his arm "Do you know what goes on in that house? Do you know how they treat the poor boy?" She slapped his arm again.
"Minerva, what are you talking about?" He replied while rubbing his arm.
"Harry of course!" She replied. "His relatives abuse him!"
Albus paled slightly, "Minerva, I'm sure its just a simple misunderstanding, that will never happen"
"What are you talking about! His so-called uncle slapped him!" Minerva screeched. "The poor boy flew across the yard, they don't feet him, not to mention the fact that his clothes look like a house-elves rags" she fumed.
"I hoped that would change, I hoped Petunia would look pass the quarrels and hatred of her sister" he sighed, "I guess I was wrong."
The dejected look on the headmasters face made her heartbreak, she almost stopped screaming, almost.
"We are going down there right now to collect him from those, people" she spat.
"Minnie, I am a bit busy right now, with the ministry documents, and I'm sure with the school term soon, you would have some papers to grade and sorting out the schedules?" He said.
"Fine, I'll send our son." She said while turning away.
—
"Severus?!" Minerva called while turning the corner of the dungeons. "Severus!" She called again.
"Really, women, is there a reason your screaming like you're being chased by a troll?" A man with greasy jet black hair and a hooked nose said.
She glared at him, "Just because your a professor now, doesn't mean I can't punish you"
He rolled his eyes, "yes, mother, what did you want?"
"I need you to go to Little Whinging, number four privet drive to collect harry pot—"
"No! Absolutely not! I will not go and pick up the potter whelp!" He shouted "Why don't you go pick up your precious golden b—" he continued " Ow, Mother!" he glared at Minerva as she shot a stinging hex at him.
"Severus Tobias Snape! Listen to me! You will go and collect Harry and bring him here tomorrow morning! You are not too old to write lines and I will make you if you don't listen to me!" She said
"Fine." he snapped and glared but it ended up looking like a pout. She allowed a small smirk as she watched him walk away, he looked so young like that. With everything that happened in his life, he never got a decent childhood because of his abusive father and neglected mother, which is why Albus and herself adopted him during his first year at Hogwarts.
—
Severus Snape, the most strict professor at Hogwarts, the most feared dungeon bat strode his way through the neighborhood of Little Whinging, instead of his usually black robes, he was wearing a pair of casual black jeans. "Disgusting", he thought as he looked at all the exact same houses. He sneered as he thought "Potter, Perfect Prince Potter, probably sitting on the sofa, watching tv like a spoiled little brat". Why his mother wanted him to pick the little brat up, he didn't know. He turned and looked inside, just in time just to see a young boy with black hair on the ground wearing legs two sizes too big, while a blond boy about twice his size punching him repeatedly on the face. "That's weird," he thought "I didn't think Potter had blonde hair, just like his father". He froze the blonde hair brat and watched as the black haired child began to stir.
The boy winced and opened his eyes, his beautiful green, emerald eyes, "Lily" he gasped. The boy seemed confused at first, then the look of horror on his face as he realized what happened.
"What did you do to my Dudley freak!" a woman screamed, Petunia. Dudley? he thought, how could the blonde boy be called Dudley?
"Aunt Petunia, I-I- I didn't do anything, I swear! I'm sorry" The young boy replied weakly.
No, that's not possible, this wasn't possible, how could spoiled prince potter be like this? Severus thought. His thoughts were interrupted by a bang. He watched in horror as the young black haired boy was slapped across his already bruised face and dragged into the cupboard under the stairs. Enough was enough, he thought as he burst through the door.
"You!" Petunia screeched.
"Yes Tunney, I see you still remember me, I suggest you unhand your nephew." he said "Now" pointing his wand at her.
She glared at him and let go of the boy's hair. The boy looked at the two adults in awe, he has never see anyone who dared call Aunt Petunia that name, let alone talk to her like that.
"Are you okay?" Severus asked as he walked over, still pointing his wand at Petunia.
"Yes sir" He replied weakly. Severus pulled the boy out of the cupboard and held him close. Seeing the boy being helpless and beaten up like that, helpless reminded him how the Marauders treated him before they become brothers. He turned and unfroze the blond hair boy, the boy screamed and ran behind his mum.
"Come, Potter let me take you to Hogwarts, " he said calmly, then he turned back to petunia and said, "This isn't over Petunia, you'll pay for this" he sneered as they apparated away.
They landed at the gate of Hogwarts, Severus kneeled down, surveyed the little boys face.
"What was that? How did we get here? Where is this? How did you do that?" Harry was bubbling with excitement, he was bouncing with excitement, someone could finally do what he did.
Confusion swept over Severus's face, then anger. How dare they! How could they not tell the boy about being a wizard? Then he thought again, this is probably a trick, it was the potter brat for goodness sake, of course, the boy was mocking him.
"Are you mocking me?" He glared
"N-n-o sir, I'm sorry sir" Harry took a step back, he shouldn't have asked questions, it was the Dursley's number one rule.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry" he continued not noticing Severus's expression soften.
"Potter, don't you know you're a wizard?" he asked
"A wizard? No sir, my relatives told me magic isn't real" Harry replied, "I'm just a freak" he whispered the last part.
Severus sighed and waved his hand, running a quick diagnostic spell. He frowned, it stated that he had a broken nose, a bruised lip, several broken collarbones, and a broken wrist that were all poorly healed. He started growing mad as he continued reading the list.
Harry mistaken his direction of madness, backed up a fewstep and whimpered. Severus's head snapped back up and looked at the boy with concern.
"Please, please sir don't send me back, I'm sorry for talking back, I'm sorry" Harry whispered. Severus took a step forward to stroke the boys hair, but the boy covered his face with his arms. Severus cursed under his breath, what did those muggles do to this boy.
"Pot-Harry, I'm not going to send you back, I'm going to first heal your face and then we can go inside and explain everything to you, is that okay?" he said softly
Harry peaked over his arms and smiled softly, the man was nice, he whispered a tiny "Okay" and lowered his arms.
Severus pulled out his wand and cast a charm and Harry's nose cracked and Harry started whimpering, a few drops of tears rolled down his face. Severus took out a small container of bruise balm and rubbed it on the boy's lips.
"The bruise would be gone in half an hour," Severus said.
"Do I get to learn that sir?" Harry asked still sniffling a bit.
"You can call me Severus while we are here, and I'll explain everything to you inside okay?" Severus said, at the boy's nod they started walking inside.
They walked inside together, as soon as they walked in and turned a corner, they saw a tabby cat with emerald eyes.
Harry's eyes lit up, he recognized this cat, this was the same cat that always visited him! He could recognize it anywhere because it was the only thing that he felt care about him. He knelt down and started stroking it.
"Potter y-" Severus began, needless to say, whether or not in her animagus form, Minerva McGonagall was not a witch you could easily stroke. He started in surprise as the cat purred back.
As Harry begins to stand up, the cat transfigured into a woman, and Harry jumped in surprise and backed up into Severus.
"Really mother, the first thing you had to do was scare the hell out of the little boy," Severus said while trying to reassure Harry. Minerva stared at them in surprise and begin to smile, then noticed the boys red puffy eyes, she pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes at her son.
"Severus Snape! What did you do to this boy!" She glared.
"Mother what do you mean?" Severus replied
"Look at his eyes, they're all puffy and red! Not to mention that he's sniffling and rubbing his runny nose!" She said angrily.
Severus rolled his eyes and sighed, honestly did that woman really believe that he would torture the boy so soon? But before he said anything a high squeaky voice replied first.
"No ma'am he helped me! He fixed my nose and my lips, and he ruffled my hair!" Harry chirped happily.
Minerva stared at him with concern, how could this simple gesture make a boy so happy. She would be having a long talk with Albus after this.
"Okay Harry, I was just concerned, let's go find the headmasters and talk to him about your future arrangements," She said " I will make sure you never return to those monsters" She replied.