This isn't the first
time
I've wandered away from home before
You'd have every
reason
To slam and dead-bolt the door
But I remember now how
strong your love can be
And I wonder how you might welcome me
Burn your fire on the
altar
Leave a candle on the porch
I'm still too far away to
see it
But I'm aching for its warmth
And I'm so tired and
cold and dark and lonesome
But still I hear your song inside
So
sing it louder if you want me home tonight
Sing it loud now,
'cause I'm comin' home tonight
- Chris Rice "Home Tonight"
Snape's POV
I looked down my nose at the young boy in front of me: shaggy black hair, age about seven, disgustingly dirty exterior, and an obvious lack of intelligence—almost a perfect match. I fingered the money in my pockets, tempted to be done with it. Unfortunately, there were many muggles with these traits and I had to be sure.
"Boy." Weary green eyes tilted up to watch me, and between those eyes was a lighting bolt birth mark. Yep, this was the brat I was here to pick up. "What is your name?"
There was no answer.
A growl escaped me. If this boy took after his father I would not be held responsible for my actions. "I asked what your name was, boy." Glaring down at the brat, I waited once more for an answer.
He shuffled a bit, twisted his hands in his overly large pants, and glanced at the floor. Still no answer.
I opened my mouth, preparing to chastise the hooligan, when one of the traders quickly crossed to me.
"Excuse me sir?" I glanced at her briefly. With tightly bound dirty blond hair and clean well fitting garments, she was an upstanding example of everything this ruffian was not.
"What is it?" I snapped.
"This boy does not speak from what we can tell."
"He's mute?"
"Yes sir."
Well, it seemed like the world was looking up. "I'll take him."
"Sir?"
"Did you not hear me? I said--"
"Of course sir, let me just go get the papers." I watched the trader exit the room before turning back to the child. Sighing, I bent down and released the chains that were binding him; a flinch was his only response.
After a long thirty minute trial of paperwork, I was finally able to return to my home, with the brat of course. He walked five steps behind me at all times, politely held the door for myself and others, responded to every order perfectly, and even prepared dinner for me without being asked. Needless to say I was getting very annoyed.
Finally I had had enough, placing my silverware down, I directed my gaze towards the corner that the boy stood in.
"Do you know why you are here?"
No response, not that I expected one from this ungrateful brat.
"I have bought you from the slave traders. I assume that you realize your home town was attacked and enslaved?"
No response.
"I am a member of the order sent to retrieve you. I need to know, did your relatives survive?"
A smile graced the child's features before fading back into the original bland expression. Well, that was slightly disturbing.
"Is that a yes?"
The smile returned.
"Mr. Potter, you will respond with an affirmative or a negative. Did your relatives survive?"
The child shook his head from side to side, signaling the negative.
"Mr. Potter—Harry, I understand these times are difficult for you," Even if that disturbing smile said otherwise, "but I need your cooperation."
The boy nodded in understanding.
"With your relatives deceased, we must find a new home for you."
A look of confusion crossed the child's face, his hand tracing the collar around his neck.
"You are not a slave, or at least, not once you are adopted into a family."
No response.
"There is a large family known as the Weasley family. They already have many children and should be able to handle one more."
A look of defiance crossed the child's face and he shook his head in refusal. I quickly had to school my features in order to hide my surprise.
"Then perhaps the Longbottoms?"
Again, a negative response from the boy.
"I am afraid we do not have many options, unless there is one you are aware of that I am not?"
The child shuffled his feet before looking around himself, never meeting my eyes. My eyebrows furrowed in annoyance when I realized what the child was requesting.
"No."
There was that blasted shuffling of the feet again.
"Absolutely not."
Pleading eyes looked up at me through scruffy black fringe; I dare say they were puppy dog eyes, which I did not fall for. Sighing, I rubbed the bridge of my nose before glaring at the child once more, puppy dog eyes were still in use. Growling, I stood from my chair.
"I said, no."
The puppy dog eyes ceased only to be replaced with a downtrodden shuffling of the feet.
Groaning, I collapsed back into my chair. "Alright, but you are never to shuffle your feet or give me puppy dog eyes again. Is that understood?"
A brilliant smile, so unlike the previous one that I had seen, was his only response.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.--.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Authors Note:
So I hoped you liked the opening chapter of this story.
I know I said I wouldn't be posting any stories aside from Of Teddy Bears and Kingdoms, but this plot has been in my head for about a year and I figured it was time to get it written down. Hopefully, I will be able to keep up with two stories, if not please be patient with my updates.
Thanks!
