Summary: Severus has never done anything for anyone, but what will he do for one small boy named Harry.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the plot
A/N: Of course it is AU.
Chapter 2
Harry awoke and almost screamed before he remembered what had transpired the night before. Being eight he didn't have a clue where to go for food, or water even, and his mouth was so dry. Folding the blanket carefully, Harry laid it in the corner of the tree and then peered out to make sure no one was around.
Harry could hear the sounds of the town nearby but he was scared to get too close. Dudley used to tease him that the police would come and take Harry away because he was an orphan. Harry also knew another important fact, he had no money, and food cost money as his Uncle had always been quick to remind him.
In another part of town Severus Snape was cursing his fortune. Of course Albus had to have the potion today. Of course the one ingredient for it was missing, and of course the only place to find it was in the small store owned by a squib no less. Severus Snape was not in a good mood, and in an even worse one when the child bumped into him.
Contempt was the first emotion that ran through his mind at the sight of the child, and second was a sense of disdain. The child was no more than five or six from the looks of him, and dirty too. This was obviously a spoiled child who had strolled away from his parents while out shopping, and gotten filthy in the process. Severus smiled thinking of the scolding the child was sure to get, and went on about his business. Never would he assume that the child was Harry Potter, never in a million years.
While Severus was inside Harry wandered over to the bakery, staring in the window as the scent of fresh baked cinnamon rolls wafted out the door each time it was opened. He was starving, remembering the meager meal of half an orange and a piece of toast three days ago.
It wasn't as if Harry wasn't used to not being fed large amounts of food, but the aromas from the bakery were almost too much. Harry wanted one of those rolls, but again he thought about his funds which were zilch. Sighing Harry sat down on the bench by the door. He had to figure out a way to get something to eat, or he knew he wouldn't last much longer.
Two hours Harry sat there, tears forming in his eyes once or twice as he saw small children walk out with their parents, sweets in their hands. He was about to move on, the scents driving him bonkers, when the same man he had bumped into came walking out of the bakery, tossing the half eaten roll wrapped in paper in the trash.
The temptation was too much for Harry and he quickly pulled the roll from the trash, taking a bite, and savoring the taste. He didn't see the man staring, and he didn't really care as the roll was the best thing he could ever remember tasting. It was still warm, the glaze on it making Harry's fingers sticky.
Severus kept staring at the boy. Where were his parents, and why didn't they teach him not to eat from the trash? He had never seen someone with such atrocious manners, such a lack of decorum. It was beyond his comprehension, and Severus was going to speak to the child. "You there!" he said to Harry. "Where are your parents?"
Harry immediately stopped eating, the roll falling from his hands to land on the curb. He didn't wait for the man to say anything else, he ran as fast as his legs would carry him. Down one street and back towards the woods he ran, stopping to duck into an alleyway. Harry had wanted to run straight back to his tree, back to safety, but he feared the man would follow him. Harry sat behind a dumpster, the rats and smell filling his nostrils and making his stomach churn. He was thirsty, and wished he had something to drink, and as if someone heard his silent plea he noticed the empty cup laying on top of the pile of rubbish.
Harry had no qualms about taking the cup for thirst is a powerful motivator. It was empty but Harry knew there was a water fountain right by the restrooms on the corner. After looking both ways Harry took off running again, not stopping till he reached the restroom. He went inside and washed the cup out with soap and dried it with the paper towels.
Sure, the cup may taste a bit like soap, but it was his. After filling it to the rim from the fountain, Harry returned back to his tree and sat down. He stared at the leaves that were slowly turning to hues of red and oranges. The smell of fresh air, the sound of the birds, and knowing that he was free still did not help his fears. Though he had been taking care of himself for a long time, Harry was scared. Knowing that it would be dark soon Harry crawled inside the tree, and placed his cup in the corner with his blanket. Tomorrow he would find something to lay on beside the dirt, tomorrow he would find more food, but for now he would try to sleep.
As Severus sat down in the restaurant to eat his mind wandered back to the child from earlier in the day. Why had the child been eating out of the trash? It wasn't as if it were common practice for children to do so, and the only other people Severus had seen do such things were the beggars that often lined the alleyways at night. The child couldn't be homeless, he was too small. Severus would have spanked the child if it had been his own for disgracing the family name. Severus finished off the brandy and turned out the lights in the room. He didn't have time for children, but he did not know that his sleep was about to be plagued by visions of his own childhood.
A/N: See you next Thursday!