Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of it's characters I merely borrow them and the plot line for just a short time. I promise though that I will return them to their respective place just as they were when they left…

Description: Severitus Challenge…

Author's Notes: I've read so many stories that were in response to the challenge and I decided that I could write one too, whether it's good or not well you'll have to decide on that one.

Is it such a wonder that my greatest fear is darkness? Not night mind you but darkness, the unnatural absence of light. The fear that crowds my heart and keeps my eyes open, as I lie awake here in the darkness. I have no sense of time anymore; the days drag on in the darkness. I can hear muffled voices outside, where it is light. The voices of my family, if indeed that is what they could be called. The say that blood never lies. The Dursleys, however, that had to be a lie. How could they be my family, my real family? But they are my only family now.

The lock on the cupboard beneath the stairs rattled, undoubtedly Uncle Vernon was checking to make sure it was still holding wouldn't want the 'freak', as they so graciously called him, to escape again. Through the summer break it seemed that in their own twisted way the Dursleys had shown that they had cared for the boy. Locking him away in a cupboard so that his 'freakish' friends could not taint him. Some way to show they cared, to keep him away from all things magical so he wouldn't end up like his parents. Harry had come to terms with the fact that he, Harry Potter, the-boy-who-lived, would most likely not be returning to Hogwarts for the fall term, or ever again for that fact. The door to the cupboard creaked open a couple inches. Harry blinked his eyes at the light that flooded into the darkness. Vernon Dursley peered through the space at him. Harry stared back at his uncle.

"Harry come out of there." He said in an almost kind voice.

Harry complied unfolding his gangly too long legs. Standing up he immediately tripped over his own feet, barely catching himself. Vernon's glare was tainted by something akin to amusement at Harry's plight. He pointed up the stairs. Harry stared at him and narrowed his eyes in confusion. Vernon sighed dejectedly at his nephew's stupidity.

"Go take a shower now, and hurry up." He barked at Harry.

Harry supposed that he was a bit rancid after weeks in that tiny space. Dutifully he trudged up the stairs and into the bathroom.

He wiped the fog from the bathroom mirror and gasped at his reflection. He had known that his hair had grown longer and now settled just above his shoulders. He had also assumed that he would be pale from the almost non-existent amount of sunlight he had encountered this summer. But his face, had changed completely, gone was the boyish look he had had at the end of the last school year and in replacement was a face that was totally foreign to him. He lifted a hand to his face, searching for any resemblance to what he had looked like before break. He felt his face to make sure it was real and brushed a lock of wavy hair behind his ear. His cheekbones now shown prominently on his gaunt face and his eyes seemed sunken especially with the dark circles under his eyes due to his lack of sleep. He pushed his glasses up his nose and chuckled.

I look like Snape. He shook his head and laughed again at his absurd thought.

He quickly pulled on a pair of Dudley's jeans. Predictably they were baggy and too short for him. The shirt he wore as well was much too big but the sleeves barely reached the middle of his forearms. He shook his head as he assessed his clothing.

"I look like an idiot. Thankfully no one is going to see me like this." He muttered.

He walked out of the bathroom and immediately tripped yet again. He pushed himself off the floor and made his way downstairs muttering something about "damn growth spurts."

"Come on Harry, dear, we're waiting for you." His Aunt Petunia called from the kitchen. Harry sighed it was probably his turn to make breakfast. Come to think of it, it was always his turn. He walked into the kitchen and went towards the stove, only to be pushed in the direction of the table by his aunt.

"Go sit down Harry," she said in the sickeningly sweet voice she used when talking to Dudley.

Harry blinked in surprise but went and sat down. His uncle was already sitting at the table about to open the morning paper. Dudley came into the kitchen still rubbing his eyes dressed in rubber ducky print pajamas. He sat down and sneered at Harry.

"I'm hungry." He complained, "Harry why aren't you making breakfast."

There was a loud thwack and Dudley grabbed the back of his head.

"Dad why'd you do that?" Dudley whined.

"Stop harassing Harry." He said gruffly as he shook the paper open, which ended the protesting Dudley's arguments.

Harry stared at the exchange in open-mouthed shock. Petunia hummed as she approached the table carrying breakfast. She set a plate with a meager amount of food in front of Dudley. Apparently he was on another diet. Harry would have smirked at the pitiful look on Dudley's face but was shocked when his aunt set a large plate of scrambled eggs in front of him with four pieces of toast stacked on the side. Harry stared at the plate suspiciously wondering if it was poisoned.

"Eat up Harry I'm sure you're hungry." Aunt Petunia said sweetly.

Harry turned his gaze away from his plate to her face, "What's going on?"

"Well after breakfast, Vernon is going to take you up to London you have to get your supplies for school this year. The list arrived yesterday along with a note from your friend Hermione asking you to meet her and Ron there." His aunt explained calmly.

Harry blinked twice trying to process the information he had just been given, "Okay, but why are you being so nice to me?"

"We can't very well let you go to that school looking as if you've been starved." Vernon said from behind the newspaper.

Harry held back the retort that was threatening to roll off his tongue, "All right." He said simply.

"Harry hurry up and eat we have to get going." Vernon said sharply as he lowered the paper to glare at Harry, "I don't want to be anywhere near that God forsaken place you get your supplies any longer than I have to, I have other things to do today as well."

"Yes, sir" Harry replied and began to eat his breakfast.

As soon as Harry had finished the food on his plate it was whisked away and he was ushered out the door and into the car. The ride for the most part was uneventful and quiet. Harry spent the time staring at the scenery as it quickly passed by. To Harry the scenery eventually blurred and his mind blanked, allowing the visions of last year to invade his mind. The memories marched through his brain until he reached the one of Cedric's death, which decided that it needed to be repeated over and over again. Harry internally wrestled with his mind trying to expel the awful memory, but did not succeed. The memory finally broke and reality invaded his senses as Vernon shook Harry relentlessly and yelled at him.

"Wake up you worthless git and get out of the car." Vernon yelled.

"What?" Harry said intelligently still lost in a semi-dream state.

"We're here, now get out." Vernon said, "I'll be back in two hours if you aren't here I'm leaving. Do you understand that?"

Harry nodded soberly, although that wouldn't be such a bad thing for me. He thought vainly as he left the car. The car sped away quickly and Harry turned and walked into the Leaky Cauldron. He casually waved at the owner who waved back confused at who the boy was. Harry shook his head and walked through to the alleyway behind the pub and faced the brick wall. Now if he could only remember which stones Hagrid had tapped four years ago. He stared for fifteen minutes trying to remember but eventually gave up and walked back towards the pub.

"Do you need to get into Diagon Alley?" A kind voice asked from behind him.

Harry turned around to face the voice and sighed at the sight of the man in robes, "Yeah I really need to get my school supplies." He said with a quirky smile.

"I suppose that you do," the man smiled and tapped on six different bricks before the wall opened up into a wide archway leading into Diagon Alley, "There you go."

"Thank you so much." Harry said in delight.

"You're welcome." The man said and went into the Leaky Cauldron.

Harry walked through the archway and realized that he didn't have his letter from Hogwarts and didn't know what books he needed. He groaned at his stupidity but continued walking; he headed in the direction of Gringotts Bank. First, he would tackle his money issue and then he would find Ron and Hermione who surely had their lists with them. Thirty minutes later Harry walked out of the bank his money pouch bulging with Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts. Part one of his plan was now complete, he now had an hour and fifteen minutes to find Ron and Hermione get his supplies and new robes which he desperately needed now, and get back in time to meet his uncle. This was shaping up to be a nearly impossible task. Harry sighed and jogged down the steps of the bank. He walked through the crowds of wizard-folk thoroughly enjoying his feelings of finally belonging somewhere again. He wandered around for a while and sighed when he realized that he was just wasting his valuable time. Harry made his way towards Madam Malkin's. He opened the door to the small shop a bell on the wall began to ring as he stepped inside. The bell was obviously charmed to ring when someone entered and Harry absently wondered what spell had been used.

"Good Morning sir, how may I help you?" the voice of a woman floated towards him from the back of the store.

"I need to be measured for new robes, I kind of had a growth spurt and grew out of my old ones." Harry replied sheepishly.

"Well come in then. I assume you attend Hogwarts." The woman said as more of a statement than a question, "I'll have to account for that, which house are you in?"

"I'm in Gryffindor." Harry frowned slightly, that didn't sound right to him for some reason or another but he brushed off the feeling.

"I see well then, step up on the stool and I'll measure you." She said. Harry obliged her and stood on the stool that was indicated. He tried not to move hoping that the measurements would be done quicker that way. Harry kept silent during the entire time.

"There, all done." The woman said, "Your robes should be finished later today."

"Do you mind if I pay you right now?" Harry asked, "My friend might have to pick up the robes later on, if either Hermione Granger or Ron Weasley come in here asking for them could you please give them to them."

"Of course, that will be eight galleons and ten sickles." The woman spoke.

Harry paid her and left the shop to search for Hermione and Ron. He absently noted that he had only twenty minutes left until he had to leave. He quickened his pace and hoped that he would find them at Flourish and Blotts. Harry slowed to a stop outside the wizarding bookstore. He went inside the store and looked around quickly spotting a mop of red hair in the far corner of the bookstore. He walked over to the person and realized that it was Fred Weasley or was it George? The Weasley twin looked up and saw Harry.

"Ah Good Morning Harry." He spoke and gave him a quirky grin, "I suppose you're looking for my brother." Harry nodded his assent; "Well the last time I saw him he was with Fred dragging Hermione off to the Quidditch shop that just opened up down the street."

"Thanks, George." Harry said as he turned to leave.

"Yeah, no problem Harry."

Harry walked towards the Quidditch shop hoping to catch Ron before Hermione made him leave the store. He sighed in relief as he saw that Hermione was just dragging Ron back out the door as he came upon the shop. He ran towards them smiling.

"Hey, Hermione." Harry called out.

"Harry!" She cried jubilantly and ran to give him a hug.

"Harry did you see this shop it's got everything; brooms, cleaning kits, quaffles, snitches, and they even have bludgers in there too!" Ron exclaimed.

"Yeah, Ron I'm sure that it's great. Listen can you guys do me a really huge favor?" Harry asked in a pleading voice.

"Sure Harry, what is it?" Ron replied.

"Can you pick up my robes from Madam Malkin's later today when they're finished and buy the stuff I need for this year? I'm really sorry to have to ask this but my Uncle didn't give me my list and if I don't meet him in seven minutes he's going to leave me here." Harry said while trying to smile but failing.

"Would that be such a bad thing? You could stay at the Burrow with my family." Ron said.

"Sorry, Ron, I can't all my stuff is back at the Dursleys including my wand."

"Sure we can get your stuff." Ron said dejectedly at his friend's answer.

"Thanks you two, here," he said handing his money over to them, "My robes are already paid for, I have to go, sorry about this. Bye." Harry called over his shoulder as he ran towards the exit of Diagon Alley.

Harry sprinted through the Leaky Cauldron apologizing as he knocked someone over and hurried through the door never noticing that the person he had knocked over was none other than his favorite potions teacher Professor Severus Snape.

Snape growled in the back of his throat and brushed the dirt off his robes. He followed the boy who had knocked him over out the door. He saw the boy sprinting down the street yelling for a car to stop. The boy who he noticed had clothes that didn't quite fit him in any aspect slowed down as he gave up on chasing the car. The boy ran a hand through his long black hair and turned back towards the Leaky Cauldron in defeat. Snape snorted at who the boy had turned out to be. Potter. Of course it would have to be him that knocked him over. The boy had no respect for anyone.

"Potter I would appreciate it if you did not knock me over." Severus said as Harry neared him.

Harry looked up and sighed, it was just his luck that he had run over the professor that hated him the most. "Sorry Professor," Harry mumbled as he passed by Severus, "If it makes you feel any better you can take points away from me on the first day of term." Harry added and walked back into the Leaky Cauldron.

Severus frowned at Potter's odd behavior. Usually he wasn't nearly as placid when given a chance to snap at the Potion's Master. Or at least that was Severus's take on it. Come to think of it the boy had looked a little pale and thin as if he had been ill lately. Severus walked back into the Leaky Cauldron heading into the back where the entrance to Diagon Alley was. He frowned when he saw Potter sitting on the ground leaning against the wall as if waiting for something.

"Potter, what are you doing?" Severus asked sharply.

"I would think that it would be obvious to one of your intelligence." Harry replied sarcastically. Harry frowned it was too easy to fall back into this routine of sarcasm. But it helped to ease the pain of his life somehow, and he felt that this was why Snape probably resorted to sarcasm as well.

"It appears to me that the great Harry Potter can not accomplish the simple feat of entering Diagon Alley." Severus said his voice dripping in sarcasm.

Harry smirked, "Give the man a prize, he got it right on the first attempt." He replied rolling his eyes as he stood up, "So would you kindly assist me?"

"I will assist you Potter, but I assure it is not kindly." Severus replied grouchily.

After the ordeal with Snape, Harry hurriedly walked to Flourish and Blotts to catch Ron and Hermione. As he reached the store he calmly straitened his clothing and brushed a hand through his hair to straighten it. He opened the door and walked in. Walking around the isles he looked for Ron and Hermione eventually spotting them near the potions books. Harry smiled and walked over to them.

"So which book does Snape have us using this year?"

"Harry! What are you still doing here?" Hermione asked in surprise.

"Ron jinxed me," Harry said slowly.

"No I didn't!" Ron protested hastily.

Harry shook his head, "It's just a figure of speech Ron, I missed my uncle by a few seconds and ran half-way down the block before realizing he wouldn't stop anyway."

"I'm sorry Harry." Ron said quietly.

"It's okay I just have to find a way to get my stuff from the Dursleys." Harry said down trodden.

"Don't worry Harry you'll figure out a way, in the meantime take your books they're getting heavy." Hermione said to him.

Harry laughed and did so, "Well, Ron, what do you think your mum would say about my staying with you for a while?" Harry asked.

"I would say that you are always welcome at the Burrow, and Harry dear you really need to start eating more you're too thin." A voice from behind him replied to his question.

"Oh Good Morning Mrs. Weasley."

"Good Morning Harry. Now what happened to you hasn't your family been feeding you? No don't answer that come along we have to get going soon." She said.

"Mrs. Weasley I have to pick up my new robes before we leave."

"Oh of course Harry, go ahead then I'm sure that Ron can carry your books for you. Now hurry along dear." Mrs. Weasley said.

"I'll be right back." Harry said as he trotted out of the shop.

Harry opened the door to Madam Malkin's and again the bell started to ring. He smiled at it and wondered again which spell had been used. He supposed that he could always ask but decided not to, more interesting for him if he had something to look up this year. Harry blinked at the thought. I'm starting to sound like Hermione now; well I guess that's not bad. Maybe I'll pick up more of her study habits, I could sure use them. He thought with a smile.

"Oh your back, I just finished your robes they're over there on the counter." She said pointing to the box on the counter.

"Thank you." Harry said as he picked up the box and left the shop.

Harry leisurely walked back to Flourish and Blotts taking in the scenery of the wizarding world. Children running through the streets with exasperated parents following after them. Professor Snape turning down Knockturn Alley, wait why was Snape going there. Harry mentally chided himself of course Snape would be there that was one of the few places that sold rare potion ingredients if Harry remembered correctly. He decided to ignore it and continued his walk. When Harry arrived the entire Weasley family was there, waiting for him along with Hermione. The last to arrive of course. He grimaced when he saw what Mr. Weasley was holding in his hand. A small brown leather pouch. Floo Powder.

End of Part One

Sorry, that's all for now…I'll update as soon as I possibly can, Winter break has given me a lot of free time so it should be quite soon unless I get writer's block…let's hope that doesn't happen. All right well until next time then. Review!