Disclaimer: I do not now, nor have I ever owned the Harry Potter series, JK Rowling does.
A/N: I felt it was wrong for Dumbledore to leave Harry at the Dusley's for 10 years, and every summer there after. This is how I think it may have gone. This will not be a slash fic, if that is what you were interested in, please move on.
It is rated M for abuse, language, and possible adult scenes later on. None of these will be to graphic in any nature. Thank you. Now, Happy Reading. B.
The dark cloaked man stood outside number 4 Privet Drive, watching as the fat, slob of a man waddled his way inside from his muggle car. He seem to be grumbling under his breath. Severus couldn't hear what was being said, but the man appeared to be unhappy.
As Vernon Dursley had entered the house and closed the door, the snarky Potions professor neared the house. He could hear the over-weight man bellow.
"Potter, get your arse down here this instant!"
Severus raised an eyebrow at this. What? Potter doesn't have a spoiled life? The man was intrigued. Cast a charm on the house to make the inside goings-on more audible.
"Sorry, Uncle. I was cleaning the bathroom like Aunt Petunia asked." Harry told Vernon.
Severus had approached the window just in time to see the tub-of-lard clip Harry upside the back of his head, and heard him exclaim, "I don't want your excuses boy! You had to have heard the car! You had to have heard me enter! Now, Where Is MY DRINK!?"
Harry, rubbing the back of his head, mumbled an apology as he poured his uncle a Scotch from the sideboard decanter.
All the while, Vernon ranted, as he sat is large marge down on the sofa, "Sorry excuse for a freak! Cannot even follow simple instructions! Knows he's supposed to have things ready, but no! In all his laziness he does as he pleases!"
He gruffly took the glass from Harry and when some spilt down the side from his less than ginger snatching of it, he yelled again. "Potter, what the bloody hell is wrong with you? Have you lost all leave of your senses! Clean it up!"
Harry started to exit the room, in order to get a towel.
"Where do you think you're going?! I said to clean it up!" Vernon hollered.
"But Uncle, I was going to get a towel." Harry replied.
Vernon began to rise from his spot on the couch, Harry knew he was in for it. Rules of the house for him were clear.
1. Never talk back.
2. Never ask for anything.
3. Always have the house clean.
4. Take over cooking the minute you wake, or get home from school.
5. Never leave Uncle Vernon waiting for anything.
Punishment was inevitable. Regardless of what the poor malnourished, abused child did, it was never right, never good enough, always wrong. Because he was, a FREAK. He'd been told this as long as he could remember.
After he'd been left here on his Aunt's door step, because his parents didn't want him. Abandoned him because he is a freak. Atleast that is what Vernon and Petunia Dursley had told him. Harry Potter thought his parents didn't want him. He did not know the truth, that his parents were dead, had loved him so much they had died protecting him, and trying to help defeat the most horrible dark wizard to ever grace the English world.
Severus watched as the 10 year old Harry was hit, again upside the head. Then punched in the stomach. The blow made the boy double over. Severus had seen enough. He enter the house, quiet as a mouse.
As he entered the parlor where Vernon was beating Harry, he raised his wand and spoke. "That will be enough I believe."
He said in such a low tone, but the malice behind it spoke volumes to the fat-arse Vernon who froze on the spot.
Petunia had decided to come looking for Harry at that time, not knowing where he'd gone, the loo was not quite finished yet. She was grumbling as she entered, "- upid boy! Always leaving his chores half finished. Ought to have Vernon give him another good wallop. That will teach him."
She froze at the end of that sentence. There in her living room stood a man she'd hope to never see again. "What are you doing?! Why are you here?"
Severus snarled at her, "Why Petunia, how have you been? Obviously, you have been terrorizing Lily's poor child. What would she think of your husband's treatment of her beloved son?"
Harry, from his crumpled state on the floor exclaimed, "Beloved? She left me here with these two! It's my punishment for being born a freak!"
Severus was astonished. What had these people been telling this poor child, who now that he got a good look at him was in a terrible state. Bruises on his neck and arms, clothes about 6 sizes too large, broken glasses adorned his face, shoes with holes in the sides. Good grief, even he, Severus, as a poor, abused child never looked this bad!
The surprise was written on his face. Recovering quickly from the shocking exclaimation he turned toward Petunia yet again, "What in Merlin's name have you-"
He was cut off mid sentence. Vernon yelled, "You will leave! We told that crack-pot old fool we would not be having anything to do with you bloody people! He will be going to St. Brutus' this fall. He will recieve the proper beatings! He will not continue his Foolish FREAKISHNESS!" His voice got louder each word spoken.
Severus rounded, raising his wand yet again, "SIr, you will do well do not scream at me. You will stop bellowing such outlandish things. And you will step away from the boy." With each word, Severus' tone got more deadly.
At this, Harry was shocked. No one stood up to Vernon. No one told him what the man would and would not do, especially in his own house.
Vernon apparently had the same thought, raising his finger to point at Severus, "Now you listen here! I will not be-" He was cut off as Severus cast a 'selencio' on the man. Then he whispered, "petrificus totalus." Vernon Dursley fell stiff as a board to the floor.
Petunia gasp. "Severus Snape! This is uncalled for."
He rounded on the woman again. "You listen to me well Petunia Dursley, I want you to gather anything of Mr. Potter's belongings. Place them in a bag, and have them ready momentarily. Your obvious neglect and abuse of this boy has gone on quite to long. I will not stand by and knowingly let it to continue. Dumbledore should have been checking on this child. His neglect will be brought to his attention and be dealt with later. As for now, do as I request."
She stood as though she wasn't going to move.
Severus just raised a brow in question, and started to raise his wand. She moved quickly.
He watched as she got a paper grocery bag, and moved toward the cubbard under the stairs. He gasp in shock as he realized this was where the boy had been kept. She placed a few over-sized articles of clothing in the bag, and a broken horse. That was all.
He turned to Harry, "Harry, you will be coming with me."
Harry just stood in awe. No one had ever spoken to his aunt and uncle in that manner. No one. and gotten away with it. At being addressed, he stood there in shock.
"Can you hear me, boy? Or has being clipped upside the head to often affected your hearing?" Severus asked.
Harry replied softly, "Where are you taking me?"
Severus approached slowly, "You will accompany me to my home, Spinner's End. From there we will decide what to do. I will not in good conscience leave you here to be further abused. Or would you rather stay here, with these miscreatins?"
Harry shook his head no. He would not like to stay here. Noticing that the tall man dressed all in black was waiting for something, he spoke up, "No sir. I don't want to stay here."
Severus nodded his head once in affirmation, and turned to Petunia. "Is that all the boy has?"
Petunia stood glaring and raised her chin defiantly. "Yes, we couldn't be bothered with spending money on him."
Severus growled, and took the bag from her. "You are a sorry excuse for a human being madam. I hope that Lily will forgive you for your ill treatment of her son because I never will."
With that he held out his hand and gestured for Harry to follow. Harry causiously walked past his Aunt. Never turning his back to her, for he knew a blow would be met if let down his guard.
Severus pulled the boy behind him, and told him to go outside, putting himself between Harry and Petunia. He had noticed the boy's apparent fear in his movements. "Dursley, may you rot in muggle Hell for what you have done to him. You and your pathetic excuse for a fat husband!"
He joined Harry on the front lawn. Grabbed Harry's arm, and said, "Hold tight to me, young man. This is going to feel a bit odd."
Harry gripped the strange dark looking man tightly. Next he felt a tightness, as though he were being squeezed. He closed his eyes. This was all too strange!
When the pinching feeling disappeared, he heard Severus say, "Open your eyes."
Harry did, and found they now stood in front of a large dark home. It looked ominous.
"Come."
The boy did as he was told and followed the man inside.
It was dark but well kept. Sparce, but the furninshings looked in good order. Harry just stood in the foyer gazing around at everything.
"Follow me." Severus had always been a man of few words, and now that he had this child with him, he was at a loss for words. What did one do with a child of 10 years of age? Especially one deemed The-Boy-Who=Lived!
Severus shook his head, and went into his study. Harry took in the wall-to-wall bookshelves, the large desk, the couch in the corner.
The man spoke, "Well, sit down boy."
Harry started to sit indian style on the floor. "What are you doing? Sit on the sofa."
The young boy looked at him questioningly, "But I'm not allowed on the furniture. Aunt Petunia says so."
Severus was appalled. Had this boy had no kind treatment? To be made to sit on the floor like some kind of animal. His level of anger was rising.
"Well, Harry, there are some differences between my home and hers. First off, you will not abused in any way. You do something wrong, I will find a punishment befitting the crime. You however will not be struck in anger. Secondly, you are allowed on the furniture, so long as you do not jump on it, or treat it as though it is a jungle gym. Thirdly, -" He stopped.
He had no idea when the boy had last eaten. He looked extremely skinny, and almost gaunt.
"When was the last meal you had?"
Harry replied, "Yesterday, noon."
"And what was it you ate?" Hiding his surprise. It was now 7pm. The boy had been without a meal for well over a day!
"A left over biscuit from Sunday's breakfast." Harry was used to only being fed every other day and it was always something small from a few days prior. Petunia always made sure to save him something, but never let him eat it til days later.
"Was that all?" Severus was ill at the thought the boy was being this mistreated.
"No, sir. I had a half glass of apple juice Dudley didn't want." Was Harry'd reply.
Severus pinched the bridge of his nose. It was horrid to think this child who had 'saved' the wizarding world was being treated with such wrong treatment. Harry watched as the man seemed to be collecting his thoughts.
After several long moments of silence, Severus spoke again. "Harry, you will have regular meals. Full meals. They will start out small, and slowly get larger, as your stomach will need to grow in size to that of a normal boy of ten."
Harry just nodded. Not yet believing he had been taken from his horrible aunt, uncle and their terribly spoiled son.
Severus had said a strange word, "Slippy" and Harry heard a pop.
There in the room between Severus and himself stood a strange creature. It was slightly grayish in color, had large ears, a tuft of hair, it was wearing what appeared to be a ballarina's costume.
"Yes, Master. You calleded Slippy?"
Severus addressed the house-elf, "Yes, Slippy, could you arrange a dinner meal. Small portions, but a balanced meal. Make sure there is a glass of milk, and a small dessert. I would like some tea. Thank you."
Slippy nodded, bowed, and disappeared with a pop.
"What was that?" Harry asked in amazement.
Severus almost chuckled. "That, Harry, is a house-elf. They have been serving witches and wizards for centuries. I have two. Slippy and Snorts. Slippy attends to the cooking and apparel cleansing. Snorts attends to all other house matters. You will be kind, and not mistreat them."
Harry had stopped listening when the man had said the words witch and wizard.
Noticing the boy seemed confused, Severus asked, " Is there something wrong?"
Harry sat for a moment trying to gather his thoughts.
"Excuse me, sir. But I thought you said witches and wizards. You are funning me right?"
At this Severus did chuckle.
"No, Harry. I am not 'funning' you, as you put it. There is magic in the world. You, yourself, are a wizard. Your parents held great magical talent. I am a wizard, Master of Potions at one Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You will learn a great man things."
Harry just sat stunned. He was joking right.
Severus shook his head, as if to clear it, and knelt in front of the young boy.
"Listen to me. I know you are greatly confused. You are in a strange place, with a man you met just over an hour ago. I have taken you from the only home you've ever known. Although it was obviously not much of a loving one." Harry nodded at that, but Severus continued, "That is beside the point. You will stay here with me until I figure out what is to be best. I have several people to contact. First and foremost you need food, a good washing, fresh clothes that fit, and a good nights rest." After taking yet another look at the boy, he raised his wand. Harry flinched.
"Do not be afraid. I am going to use my wand to heal your wounds. I am not going to harm you in any way. Do you understand?"
Harry nodded.
Severus was waving his stick around, and saying odd words. Harry thought the sounded like foreign. Then he felt it. The odd cooling sensation started at his toes and worked its way toward his head. The cooling got stronger and it was oddly soothing. Then it dissipated and Harry felt all the tension and soreness from his wounds and abuse ebb away. Like a tide.
"Is that better?"
Harry nodded, "Yes, sir. Thank you." He was in shock. The man did in fact have a magic stick!
Right as Harry was going to ask a question, the odd little creature, no house-elf Harry corrected himself, popped back in with a large platter of food. It held what looked to be chicken, potatoes, green beans, peaches, a roll, large glass of milk, and what Harry was sure was a bowl of pudding. On a seperate platter, in its other hand, was a pot of tea, with two cups, saucers, and biscuits.
Harry's eyes were as big around as the small teacup saucers. All that food!
The elf placed the tea-tray on the low table in front of Severus. Then proceeded to snap its fingers. A table and chairs appeared in the corner. It placed the tray of food upon it and with a pop it was gone again.
Severus rose and came toward Harry. Leaning down on one knee so he was face to face he spoke.
"Harry, for now you will eat. You are not expected to eat it all, but do try to eat some of everything. Please drink all the milk. You need to nutrients. I will see about getting a nourishment potion from Poppy in the morning. But for now, eat. Then you will bathe, and get some rest. Tomorrow, we will figure more of this out."
Harry nodded. Severus rose, moved to a spot near the tea. Harry moved to the table and sat gingerly on the chair as if afraid at any moment it would disappear as quickly as it had popped into existance. When it in fact didn't. Harry began to eat. He started with the pudding.
A/N: I have always wondered why Dumbledore would leave Harry in a place with such abusing and neglectful relatives. I have decided to make a story, where he was taken away. What do you think so far? Should I continue, or should I delete this story?
Please review if you could. Any in-put is greatly appreciated. I would however like to ask that if you have nasty things to say, keep them to yourself. I know I am not a grand writer, but I try. And this is un-beta'd so mistakes will occur. If you catch them please feel free to alert me as such. Thank you for taking the time to go on this literary journey with me.
B.