Chapter One
Harry shuddered, he'd been flying for hours. He was completely lost. It occurred to him for the first time that his actions may have been just a little rash. Here he was miles from anywhere, no money and dressed in an old t-shirt and trousers three sizes too big. He had no where to go, no one knew where he was. There was o to turn to. He was cold, tired and hungry. Suddenly through his tears he spotted below him, the cutest little cottage. It looked like something out of a fairy tale. Coming into land, he hid his broom, cloak and album in a near by tree. Hesitantly he walked to the door and knocked softly.
A cheerfully elderly women with round framed glasses and grey hair held back in a bun opened the door. She wore an apron and a wide smile. Seeing Harry standing there shivering she spoke
"My, my you poor boy. You look so cold, you must come in and have some ginger bread and hot coca. It'll warm you right up. Then we must try and find your parents."
Harry eagerly stepped in the warm welcoming home.
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Snape was infuriated when in the middle of brewing the complex vaspereto potion Dumbledore's head popped into his fireplace and the old meddler asked, no ordered him to come up to the headmasters office. When he arrived all his irritation drained away when he saw how worried Dumbledore really was. Something was really wrong. Instead of the usual twinkling eyes, Dumbledore was frowning, and his eyes were dead, dull, all the light had gone. Snape, was instantly concerned,
"Albus, whatever is it? Has Lucius escaped from Azakban?"
Albus turned slowly toward him, shaking his head,
"No my boy, it is much worse, their has been a fire at the Dursley's,"
"Who on earth are the Dursley's?"
"Forgive me my boy. I forget, I'm getting old. The Dursley's are Harry's family. Their house has burned down, all the occupants are believed to be dead. I fear the Death Eaters have found a way past the wards and killed Harry. I want you to go and investigate for me."
Snape, realising the urgency of the situation set out at once. He may not like the boy, but he was his only chance to finally be free of his chains. To gain redemption from the foolish mistake that had bound him to Voldemort. Leaving the gates of Hogwarts he quickly aparerated to the park near Pivet drive. Glancing round to ensure no muggles had seen his entrance he transfigured his robes into a severe black suit. He made his way on foot to what remained of number four. A quick scan of the area, revealed a large number of muggles dressed in strange bulky yellow outfits raking through the ashes. Snape watched as dusk fell and the muggles left. Then as carefully as possible he conducted his own investigation. It revealed that the fire was of magical origin, but there were only three bodies. None of which could have been Potter. There was a boy, but he was much too large to be Potter. Continuing his investigation, Snape discovered that the fire had been magical. A ministry owl came swooping down. Snape intercepted it. It was a summons. One Harry James Potter was called to present himself to the Wizengomt on charges of the use of underage magic outside school without authorisation. A chill ran down Snape's spine. Potter, had burnt down his relatives house with them trapped inside. Potter had killed his family.