Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Author's notes: Be warned, this story will be slash. If you don't like it, please do not read it. Sorry that this chapter is a little short. The next one should be longer. And please be aware that English is not my primary language. Thank you!

Chapter 1

It was a bright, sunny afternoon in the middle of the summer, when Severus Snape walked down the road in a muggle neighbourhood. He was naturally in a sour mood, as he had to wear trousers and a T-shirt instead of his usual comfortable robes that bellowed around him as he walked. He was still dressed in black of course, but that didn't improve his mood.

"Stupid muggles," he murmured quietly. "Creatures without imagination. How do they even find their own house, all of them being exactly the same." He was on an errand for gathering rare potions ingredients. One of his long term contacts contacted him about dragon scales he was selling, but refused to meet anywhere magical. Hence, Severus was walking to a number 10 Privet Drive in Surrey. It was the first time he's been here, so he has had some problems locating the house. Not that he would admit that to anyone.

Finally, he knocked on the door.

"Good to see you, Severus." said the man who opened the door. "It's been a long time. How have you been?"

Snape scowled and remained quiet as walked passed the man in to the house. "Do you have it, or not?" he asked, when the door closed.

"Jeez, lighten up. Would it kill you if you would be nice for once? Oh, don't answer that, I'm sure it would. Now to business… Of course I have it. The same price as the last time." answered Bryant.

"Very well," said Severus, while he checked the given scales for the quality. Seeing they were satisfactory, he turned towards his acquaintance and said: "Send me an owl when you get the blood. I will run out of it soon."

"Of course," answered the brown haired man, "I will try to get it as soon as possible. What are you making this time? Anything special?"

"That is none of your concern," Severus scowled at Bryant. He nodded at the man and swept passed him once again and left the house.

Again, regretting he was in a muggle world and could not just apparate, he turned back to the way he came from. As he was nearing the end of the street, where he could apparate safely from a backyard of an abandoned building, a figure caught his attention. Someone was lying on the grass, near the back entrance of a house. "Lazy muggles. All of them are without a shred of decency." Then he looked closer. "That can not be comfortable. Lying across the steps like that." He stopped then, and saw that the figure lay just as a body would. Not a trace of life seen in the posture and one leg bend in an odd angle, the figure was lying with the face down in the grass. With a sigh he changed his course. He knelled next to the young boy, and turned him around.

What he saw shocked him. A lightening bold on the middle of the forehead and black messy hair. However, that was not the main reason for his shock. The face was one giant bruise, the nose was showing signs of being broken repeatedly and his lips were chapped because of dehydration. "Potter!" he exclaimed. He checked for a pulse and sighed with relief when he found one. He almost jumped when Harry opened the unfocused eyes. "Uncle, please…." He said with a raspy voice and the green eyes shuttered closed again.

"Potter!" Snape gently shook the boys shoulder. Harry moaned in pain and opened his eyes again. "What…?" he asked confused. "Professor?"

"Yes. What happened?" the man in question asked, but he didn't receive an answer, as Harry lost consciousness already.

Severus cursed and gently picked Harry up. He quickly looked around, and seeing no one, apparated away, not having time to look for a better location to apparate.

He hurried up the small path leading to a massive door of a large manor house. Before he could open the door himself, they opened and a house elf squeaked, "Master Snape, sir!"

"Tell Chip to get my emergency healing kit and put it in the guest room opposite of my office. Then prepare the bed. Now!" almost shouted Snape. With the boy still in his arms he hurried up the stairs and along a corridor until he finally stepped into a room.

He gently put Harry down into a freshly made bed. His hands almost hesitated when he moved to take Potter's clothes off. He had to be certain what the damage was, before he could give his any potions, but was scared what he'll find under the clothes. He tried to prepare himself for the worse, but it was still shocking when he saw the damage.

The ribs were sticking out, the proof that Potter had not gotten much to eat since the summer holidays started a month ago. At least one rib appeared to be broken, but luckily, if you can call it that, it didn't damage the lungs. His left leg was a mess. His knee was completely shattered and it would take some time before if was healed again and strong enough to hold his weight, no matter how light he actually is.

With one last look Severus got to work. He expertly poured the potions down Harry's throat. He tightly wrapped the ribs with bandages and adjusted the knee in the right position. After checking that the potions started to work, he set a charm on the leg, so Harry would not be able to bend or move it.

Satisfied with his worked he put the covers over the boy, set a charm that would notify him if he would awoke, however, he didn't expect that for at least two days. His body definitely needed the recovery time. The professor turned around and quietly left the room.

He opted for going to his study to think. He moved to the cabinet and poured himself a large glass of whiskey. It was entirely to early to be drinking, he knew that, but he desperately needed the drink. He settled down in his armchair, faced the fire that was charmed not to give away any heat, and started sipping at his drink. "What in Merlin's name happened," he asked nobody in particular. "Where were those muggles? Weren't they supposed to look after the boy?"

Lost in his thoughts he never noticed when the sun hid behind the horizon. Only after his back started aching he noticed how late is actually was. He went to check on the boy and then after a quick shower, retired for the night. Everything else could wait until the morning.