"Severus, I would very much appreciate it if you did this."
"But why do I have to do it. Why don't you just get Remus or somebody who actually likes the boy?"
"Severus, you know that tomorrow is a full moon. It wouldn't be safe. Now I want you to go and check on him. That is
an order."
"Fine. You're always so worried about your precious little prince!" Severus Snape walked out the of the room and
slammed the door shut.
"Oh, I guess you never will change, Severus." Said Dumbledore, with a twinkle in his eye.
"Why are they always so worried about him? I don't want to do this. I'm sure the kid is fine. I'm sure his aunt and uncle
are taking good care of him. It's not like they're starving him or anything. What, do they think the Dark Lord is going to
suddenly show up at his house and try to kill him or something? Now I have to waste all of my precious time looking for this
little brat. It's ridiculous." Snape was talking to himself as he walked down the streets, looking for Number 4, Privet Drive.
Dumbledore had sent him to check up on Harry Potter, who was currently spending the summer at his Uncle Vernon and
Aunt Petunia's house, just like he did during every summer break. Now, you are probably thinking, why in the world did
Dumbledore send Snape, of all people, to check up on Harry? Well, the answer is simple. Everybody else who worked
for the Order were already accupied with their own ordeals. If there was anything Snape didn't want to do, it was this.
He kept on grumbling to himself as he approached Number 4, Privet Drive. He stepped up onto the porch and rang
the doorbell. Snape heard footsteps inside the house. After about a minute or so, the door opened, and there stood
Vernon Dursley.
"And who are you?" Vernon asked suspiciously.
" I am someone not to be trifled with." Said Snape, looking as though he would rather be anywhere but there
"I have come to check up on Potter." He said impatiently. "Where is he?"
"I am sorry, but he is not here right now." Said Vernon, in a slightly irritated, but uneasy tone.
"Where is he?" Snape asked impatiently.
"He went for a walk." Replied Vernon, looking nervous.
"Well, I just wanted to know if he is doing alright." Said Snape shortly.
"Uh, he is doing just fine." Said Vernon shakily. Vernon wasn't used to people dressed in long black robes coming up
and asking him about his nephew.
"Really?" Said Snape, looking as though he did not believe a word the man was saying. He stood for a moment, then
turned around and walked away. Vernon closed the door behind him, and turned on the television to resume watching the
news. Snape left the porch and started walking down the sidewalk. "See, everything was just fine. Nothing to worry about
at all. I knew it."
Don't just stand there, boy! Clean that up, and finish your chores. Oh, and don't expect to have any meals tomorrow!"
Snape looked up with a start. He looked inside the window of Number 4, Privet Drive, and saw a skinny boy with black
hair take a broom out off a closet, and begin sweeping.
"So, he was there after all, eh? You won't get away with this one, Dursley.