Another first chapter, but never fear I actually have the second chapter halfway done and the final chapter planned. Just like always though no guarantees.
Escape
Severus Snape at in the compartment of the Hogwarts express, sneering to himself wrapped in his least favorite student's Invisibility Cloak. He couldn't believe that he had managed to get himself into this mess. How was he supposed to know that the lousy brat that was Harry Potter would have such a delicate mind that it would fracture under the strain of his teaching style just before Easter? All he had done was show the ignorant waste of space how badly his shield would hold up before the dark lord, it certainly wasn't his fault that the boy had slipped into catatonia mere hours before the Ministry decided clear the school for the Easter Holiday.
They called it a necessary inspection of Hogwarts facilities, but it was clear that they just wanted to exercise what little true control they had over the school. Since the school was closing Ministry and Hogwarts policy said that all children need to go back to the homes of their legal guardians, in the now catatonic Potter's case that was the Dursley and Harry Potter was a high enough profile case that it would be noticed if a magic user did not return to #4 Privet drive, Severus was volunteered to play the boy by Minerva McGonagall; likely in retaliation for hurting her precious golden boy. No one knew he was playing the part of Harry Potter so he was stuck in this compartment in the guise of that blasted Potter under the boy's prize invisibility cloak stifling the urge to curse something.
Just as he thought he wouldn't have to deal with any dunderheaded students this trip the sound of loud arguing reached his ears. The voices of Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley came clearly through the thin walls of the compartment, and he groaned inwardly as the still bickering duo slammed through the sliding door. They continued to scream at each other in a predictable fashion; even down in the dungeons it was a common joke that you could set a watch to the course of their fights. Severus felt a moment of confusion as Weasley pulled his wand out as soon as the door slid shut, throwing what looked like layered illusion and silencing charms at the walls, floor, and ceiling. Then he threw up a temporary ward to block magical output; one that nearly all pureblood parents use to keep the ministry from knowing that their children are practicing magic.
Granger, meanwhile merely looked silently around the small space, resting with far too much frequency on the spot where Severus sat. When Weasley finally finished all he said was, "All eight layers, Hermione" with a tone of finality and all Granger did was smile.
She held out her hands out and simply said, "Cloak". To Severus's surprise the cloak he was wearing simply reappeared in the girl's hands, she placed it carefully to the side. To his chagrin the pair of teens had his highly trained Death Eater self quickly bound and helpless. Granger caulked her head at Weasley, "Do you want to explain Ron, or do you want to get started?"
"Probably best if I start on the body and mind, Hermione. You need to hold you strength for the magic, plus you can make the greasy git understand." Weasley said absently, and then he started applying some very specific, very advanced strengthening charms to Severus.
"Let's get started then. Professor, I have to say you did decently trying to look like Harry; you could almost pull it off." She smiled, it wasn't a nice smile. "We'll just be making our own adjustments, of course, you really should be thanking Harry. If it were up to us we'd simply bind your mind and leave you as is and come what may, but he really thinks you deserve a fighting chance."
"How he could give anyone from that damned order a chance is a mystery to me" Weasley muttered.
"Quite, but we have a great deal of work to do. Professor you'll be happy to know the spells Ron is applying will make you strong enough to bear Harry's workload. He's weaving it with some mild healing charms and some more illusion charms designed to show the wounds you are supposed to have without you actually having to feel them, personally I would have left them off but Harry insisted. All these will of course wear off when you come into contact with another magical. Ron is also going to be working on your mind charms, while I will be working on your magic. Ron is going to make sure you have the knowledge and attitude necessary to survive in the Dursley household; also we will be binding your memories of what will happen in that house." She glared fiercely, " I know you already know what's going on, you are in the Order of the Phoenix after all, but you will not going to the papers or your Slytherins with tales about poor Harry's home life."
Ron finished his last body based spell with a grunt, "I'm surprised the bastard hasn't already."
Hermione nodded thoughtfully, "True but if he had then we would have heard about it." She turned back to her task, "I will be binding you magic for the duration," some of the outrage must of the shown on his frozen face because she laughed a harsh cruel laugh, "Did you really think we would let you into a situation where you could cause Harry problems then let you keep your magic? Really, professor, be reasonable."
Weasley interrupted her, "I'm almost ready to start the mind spells, 'Mione."
Hermione nodded, "You'll have to be out for this piece, professor, when you come to we'll be long gone" She leaned in close and smirked at his panic and confusion, "The teachers shouldn't have ignored Harry's pain. It forced us to protect him instead, and there nothing we wouldn't do to protect him." Like the switch of a light Severus's world went dark.
He came around to the sound of the shrill train whistle and the gradual slowing that indicated that Platform 9¾ approached. The train stopped and without his consent his body stood and made his way out onto the platform and through the exit into the Muggle world. 'What did those dunderheads do to me?' some part of him asked as he moved through the milling crowd. Apparently his body knew where they were going. Knowledge swept into his brain, 'Temporary behavior modification' even the Dark lord and his Legilimency would be unable to tell the real Harry Potter from the fake with one glaring exception. His magic was still bound. He could feel it pushing and twisting, he could practically hear the 'you'll get used to it' in his head.
He stopped in front of a large Muggle with a red face, and waited with his head bowed in subservience. The man acknowledged him with a grunt, "Well hurry up, boy" the man snarled as he strode away.
"Yes, uncle Vernon" Severus heard himself say in a small voice, trailing the large man to a seemingly random car. Without being told he opened the back door and clambered onto the seat, touching the interior of the car a little as possible. He silently endured the tirade with the air of defeat while underneath the last part of his mind under his control rolled with frustration which grew deeper as he couldn't express it. The berating lasted the entire ride and Severus couldn't help but notice that several points were identical to the ones he often brought up in regards to the arrogant brat.
They arrived back into Surrey within forty five minutes and after another fifteen Dursley was parking the car in a driveway Severus recognized from his guarding of the Potter brat over the summer. As soon as they entered the house Dursley lashed out striking the boy with enough force to send him careening into the wall with a dull thud. "How dare you invade my family's time together for the Holiday with your freakishness" Dursley spat at him, punching him in the stomach and then kick him in the side several times when Severus went down. Panting like a wounded rhino the fat man left the room to turn on the television and finish watching some sports game leaving the skinny boy to clamor to his feet. Some part of Severus's mind resonated with shock over Dursley's treatment of his nephew, while he made his way unsteadily into the kitchen where an impassive Petunia Dursley waited silently. Severus felt himself reach into his own pocket to pull out a folded piece of paper and hand it to Petunia.
She tucked the note into her apron when Dursley called for Petunia to pour him a brandy. A single glance from her sent Severus trudging up the stairs to a room that shouldn't be familiar to him. Still not in control he systematically checked the room like he had done it a thousand times before to make sure the pain relief potions were still in place and that the non perishable food items hidden under the floorboards were right where they were supposed to be. Then he sat on the bed waiting.
Not more than a half hour later the door opened and Petunia stood in the doorway, her face pinched in a disapproving frown. "You can at least comfort yourself with the fact that you will only be here for about 12 more hours" she said. "I can't imagine the kids being able to wait any longer than that."
For the first time since he woke up he was able to control his own voice, "You know?"
"That you are a professor at Hogwarts, a member of the Order of the Phoenix, and a former Death Eater, yes I do. You don't realize it but you are also the reason that our escape will be possible, while Vernon is busy with you tonight I will be able to get away, I imagine they'll come and get you once they realize their precious weapon is gone."
"How will Vernon be busy with me?"
"Beating you" Petunia said simply, at his gaping shock she snorted, "You are in the guise of my nephew, who he has beaten nearly every night for the last decade or so. As an order member you know that."
"Madam, I assure you…"
"It's not like it matters what you can assure me of, after I leave this room you will very patiently wait for my husband to come and visit you." She interrupted, before turning and leaving without a word. To his surprise Petunia was correct; he could not move a muscle from the bed he was sitting on for the next half an hour until there was the sound of heavy footsteps on the stairs and his door creaked open to reveal a widely smiling Vernon Dursley and some small part of Severus cringed in fear.
Two rooms away Petunia Dursley listened for the first sounds of flesh hitting flesh, knowing that she had to pack her bag before the crack of the belt filled the air. She made her way down the stairs and out the door knowing that this time if she was brought back to this place she would simply commit suicide rather than be forced to remain with this man. Hurrying out into the fading light she pulled the large tote bag carrying her only possessions in the world over her shoulder and walked briskly down Private drive and away from her hellish existence. At a nearby park she saw the silhouettes of three figures in the dusk and Petunia smiled. She made her way over to her nephew and his two best friends.
"Well, Aunty, are you ready to start a new life?" Harry Potter asked with a smile. The four of them then left the park and even England in one hell of a daring escape.