Harry couldn't believe it! He was actually in the Dursley's car in summer going somewhere!

When he was little, he would have dream of such trip with his family like any normal child.

And yet he knew something was wrong. They didn't have a change of heart towards him. They still treated him the same way as usual. With hate, shame like he was making them unhappy. Seriously, they were the one to talk!

Something happened, but what? Harry was thinking very fast. All his school stuff were in the car trunk along with his family's and Hedwig was in her cage, a blanket on her, on Harry's kneel. She seemed asleep. His uncle hated her but never dared to harm her probably because Harry told them it was Hagrid's gift and his memories were still very much alive in the Dursley's mind.

Petunia and Vernon behavior's changed radically after receiving a strange letter. They didn't reveal its content but Harry knew it had something to do with him because of the looks they gave him. He tried to ask them but they told to mind his own business, in a harsh way. What on earth could that be? A letter from Hogwarts? It had to be from the wizard world. But what could upset more his family he wondered.

Harry sighed, he guessed he would find it soon enough. And yet he was worried... When the Dursley went in holidays, they left him with Mrs. Figg the old lady across the street with her cats. She wasn't mean but gosh was she boring! Harry swore that if he had to see pictures of her pets one more time, he'll go mad.

Did the Dursley find a more boring woman just to waste his life a little more? It will be their style. They weren't going to get rid of him, would they? No way, wizards will be so mad if he wouldn't show up in Hogwarts next September and everyone would know who to blame. His aunt was a lot of things but not that stupid.

Only two weeks had passed and yet it seemed an eternity. Harry wanted the summer to be done so he could begin his third year in Hogwarts. He missed all of his friends, even his classes... except for potions.

Of all his teacher, Snape was the one he feared and hated the most and not because Harry had done something, no. It was because his father, James Potter and Snape were in Hogwarts at the same time and they hated each other. Though Harry didn't know the details, professor Dumbledore told him in his first year it was something like between him and Draco Malefoy. So Harry assumed it was Snape who started the first by insulting his father and his mother too probably.

His thoughts were interrupted by a sound of cookies being eaten very loudly. Petunia had just given Dudley a bag of it and didn't offer to his nephew of course. He was eating them very slowly while watching him. Harry knew better than to say something. When he was little and asked for cake, his aunt slapped him telling him he didn't deserve it and Dudley must eat because he was a frail boy.

What a joke! Harry was skinny and he knew it wasn't natural. Years of food privation didn't do him a favor. When people asked why, Petunia would argue that in her family's side, people were like that. And since she looked like a skeleton people wouldn't say otherwise. So Harry was forced with this explanation and an awful punishment awaited for him if he said something else.

"Are we here yet?" asked Dudley." I want to see my shows".

Harry rolled his eyes. His shows were so stupid! He knew there were things far more interesting on television like movies. But Dudley like those kind of show where people were laughed about. Considering how he was acting towards Harry, it was not surprising. It was like watching himself.

"I am so sorry pumpkin, but you'll have to wait. To compensate, we'll buy whatever you want!"

More things? Dudley could open a store with all his belongings! While Harry had nothing, except for his school stuff but he bought it with his parents money. He remembered how shocked Petunia was when he came back with all of these. Harry had say it was the school who had paid it. She seemed relieved and happy probably at the thoughts that Harry had no money which was not true. But he wasn't going to tell them the truth.

Well, wherever they were going, he hoped he could do his homework. Snape would love it to give him detentions the first day.

He looked through the window, they have arrived in a town. It was raining very hard, the town didn't look pretty. Houses seemed dilapidated and light street were broken. Did the Dursley wanted to spend their vacation here? No way.

"Are we here?" asked Vernon. He seemed anxious.

"I can't recognize well, just pull over, I'll check" answered Petunia.

They stopped in front of a house, while his tutors were talking, Harry continue to look through the window. It was hot in the car, so he opened it a little. Fresh air was coming in. He closed his eyes and opened them when he heard someone coming.

A man walked near him with an umbrella which was so low, the man's face couldn't be seen. He was wearing black and hurried to the house. The owner no doubt who wanted to be dried from this rain which was understandable. Harry heard his tutors still talking but decided to be concentrate on the man. He seemed familiar. The man arrived in front of his door. He shut the umbrella showing his face and Harry was so surprised that he couldn't help but say out loud:

"Professor Snape?"

Snape turned and watched where the sound came from. He saw Harry and seemed as surprise to see him here. He was about to say something but Petunia heard him too:

"There it is! GET DOWN YOU!"

She was yelling at Harry of course but since he didn't expected that, he jumped making Hedwig fall. The owl screamed in indignation towards her master.

"What? said Harry.

"You heard your aunt! GET DOWN!"

Harry froze. He didn't understand what was going on. Panic began to invade him.

Since he wasn't moving, Vernon got out, went to Harry side, opened the door very violently, took him by the hair very hard.

"Stop it! You're hurting me!" cried Harry.

Vernon didn't listen to him and threw him out. Harry fell very painfully on his head and body with Hedwig rolling over. He heard footsteps, someone screaming and Dudley laughing but before he could say anything else, something very heavy fell upon him hurting him more : his trunk and broomstick.

"What are you doing?" yelled Snape who was near Harry.

"We received the letter! shrieked Petunia. How dare you do that to our family! He's putting us in danger! I don't care what Dumbledore says! We're not taking him anymore ever! We shouldn't have him, he's a burden, a freak! No one loves him, no one needs him! HE SHOULD HAVE DIED WITH MY SISTER!"

Harry was trying to get up but froze again at his aunt's words. He knew she didn't love him, he knew that, so why was it... He turned his heads towards her. Water was falling, rain or tears? She looked at him with more hate and disdain than ever. The car started and soon they couldn't be seen anymore.

Harry wasn't moving at all. Time seems to had stopped. Her words echoing in his mind. He always knew, he did... Someone took his arm, he heard words and his stuff and Hedwig were following him. A door shut.

"Potter, look at me."

Harry did as Snape asked, he still wasn't sure of what happened. Was it a dream? Or a nightmare?

"Sit Potter, I'm going to check on you."

Harry sat. He vaguely saw the room where he was, a kitchen. Snape looked closely at his head. Aside for a bump, nothing serious. But the brat was still in shocked which was no surprising at all.

Snape knew what the letter was about but he didn't foresee that kind of reaction. Come to think of it he knew nothing of Harry's life with the muggles. The only thing he needed to know was that Harry was alive and well. Seemed like only the first part was true. Did Dumbledore know? He frown while thinking.

A sneeze was heard. Harry was shaking, he was cold. Snape bit his tongue, it was raining outside and both of them were wet. Considering the situation, Harry was of course more affected. He needed to take care of the boy before he became ill.

"Potter, I need you to listen very carefully."

Harry rose his head towards him."

His bright green eyes filled with a great sadness made Snape very uncomfortable but he didn't show it.

"Here's the plan. You are going to take shower, put your pajamas on, eat and then go to bed. Once you're asleep, I'll contact Professor Dumbledore to explain him the situation so he can figure where you are going to spend the rest of the summer. Do you understand?

-Yes..." said Harry in low and break voice.

Still keeping a clear face, Snape showed him the bathroom. While Harry was in there, he prepared a strong soup and dried himself. Harry arrived, he waited, Snape assumed he was still in shock.

"Come here Potter. The soup will help you feel better."

Harry sat, drank the soup without saying anything (let him tried to criticize his cooking!) and looked at him.

"Do you want more?"

-No, thank you...

-Follow me then."

Snape drove him to bedroom he had prepared. Hedwig was off of her cage and was waiting for her master. Harry put himself into bed. It was nice and warm. Snape took a goblet from the table and gave it to him.

"Drink this, it is a potion that will help you sleep."

Harry obeyed and put his head on the pillow. His eyes were tickling and his eyes lid heavy. And a few minutes later, his eyes were shut. Hedwig sat on the bed like she wanted to watch over him. She hooted happily at Snape. He didn't react.

He looked at the brat for a moment. Harry had been so distract he forgot to take away his glasses. Snape removed them and put them aside. He looked at him more. Did Potter always looked so... frail? Tiny?

Snape shook his head. This scene with the Dursley remind him of bad memories with his parents. He hated that.

After making sure the brat was sleeping, he went down to the chimney.