Chapter 2

Far away in Scotland, an alarm went off in Hogwarts, interrupting a meeting between Severus Snape and the Headmaster. At the sound, Severus heard something he never had before, had never ever expected to hear: the headmaster curse.

"Fuck! Severus, I need you to go to No. 4 privet drive; the wards are failing. Bring Harry Potter back with you."

He knew not to argue. For the Headmaster to have cursed meant it must be extremely important, because he was unusually well collected and calm. He was very worried about something at this moment. Severus was handed a sock and a tin, port keys to get him there and back again. Severus nodded his head at the man he thought of as a mentor.

He activated one and landed in Privet Drive and his eyes went wide. He was very good at keeping his mask on, his emotions in check: he always new his what's, how's and whys, but this was shocking. He shook his head and headed for number four and sneered. 'Perfect Harry bloody Potter. Interupting my summer. I'll probably be staying to look after the brat. After all, I'm the only one here.'

Severus Snape entered the house and looked around. Glass was everywhere and so were the obliviators, Mr. Weasley included. They were working at repairing all the glass and obliviating everyone, apart from the inhabitants of number four. Petunia and Dudley were sitting on the floor beside a big bulky man who appears to have passed out due to blood loss.

He watched as the woman went into the cupboard and started to slap someone, hard. He winced every time she did. She was saying things like "stupid, useless, freak. Should have died with your parents, boy. Stupid, abnormal..." And "you're out of here this time…" but she never got to say anything else. Snape had heard enough for him to know it was Harry in there, And from that moment on, he knew he wouldn't be able to hate the child of his enemy.

"Stupefy!" Said Severus. As the woman fell over, the bulky boy started wailing for his mummy.

"Mummy, Mummy! Wake up what have you done you freak!" wailed the boy, not thinking twice about being rude.

"Stupefy" sounded again, to shut the kid up- he was getting annoyed. No one spoke to him like that; no one.

Mumbling about spoiled brats, he crawled into the cupboard and what he found melted the ice around his heart. Harry was huddled in a corner of his cupboard, scrunched up in a ball. How he did it Snape would never know. Tears fell out from his closed eyes. He didn't have his glasses, not needing them that much, only for reading.

"Harry?" He got no answer.

"Harry its ok. Come here," said Snape in his silky voice. It wasn't often that he would speak like that. Harry opened his eyes slighty, which were shiny with fear, pain and longing. Severus lifted his hand and slowly ran it through the boy's hair, where he was not hurt. Harry didn't flinch; just let him pet, which Snape took as a good sign.

"Harry I'm Severus Snape, from a school called Hogwarts. I've been sent to come and get you, and you never have to come back here! Is there anything you want to take with you? I'm not going to hurt you, I promise," he said. Harry said nothing, but he didn't flinch away when Severus moved closer.

Crawling into the cupboard, Severus gently wrapped his arms around the boy, and slid out to begin looking at the damage. As gently as possible he began to examine Harry, checking his arms and legs, lifting his shirt to look at his chest and back. He couldn't stop his heart from clenching every time he heard Harry's quiet whimpering; he didn't scream or cry out loud. The only way you could see he was in pain was by the tears on his face.

Severus began speaking in Latin, his hand above Harry's head. Harry began feeling sleepy, as the man continued to chant. He felt himself fall limp, and relaxing unwillingly. Harry fell asleep, just as he heard the black man saying "It's for the best."

Severus Snape crawled into the cramped cupboard, getting all of Harry's things, which didn't come to much. Some ragged clothes, a bag of books, and money. Mad-Eye Moody, Arthur and a few other aurors were there, and had seen everything. A few put healing charms on Harry, and a numbing charm. Severus was cursing himself, for not bringing any potions with him. He usually always, and he did mean always, carry his potions with him. They come in handy during times of need. 'Better get this kid to Hogwarts.' thought Severus.

"Take them in for child abuse!" growled Severus. "I'm getting back to Hogwarts."

With a "pop" he was gone. The wards were failing after all. They landed not far from Hogwarts. Harry was shivering, so Severus took off his cloak and rapped it around him also putting a heating charm on him. Soon he stopped shivering and by that time they had reached Hogwarts. He ran all the way to the hospital wing, throwing open the doors and shouting for the mediwitch as he set Harry on a bed.

"POPPY! POPPY!"

"Alright Severus no need to shout…" She got into nurse mode as she saw the poor boy, not bothering to finish the sentence. She took all Harry's clothes off ordering Severus to get warm water with healing solution in it.

He came back about a minute later, and they carefully washed him of all the dirt and blood. Severus couldn't stand it! It was worse than he had first thought. His ribs were sticking out at all angles, bruises all over his chest, back and face. So he made an excuse before he got lost in his own memories, making his way to the headmasters office.

Before he could knock... "Come in Severus! Lemon drop? Tea?"

"No headmaster. Harry Potter is down in the hospital wing almost dead," said Snape through clenched teeth.

Dumbledore lost his 'I know' twinkle in his eye, and got up so fast that if someone who didn't know Dumbledore had been watching, they would have fainted. After all it wasn't very often a one hundred and fifty year-old could move like that. They left for the hospital wing together in silence, and made it there in record time.

When they arrived at the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey was on the floor. Dumbledore rushed over and "Enervate!" Poppy stirred and woke up.

"Oh dear, he woke up. I tried to get him to calm down. He wouldn't drink anything. He was scared. I took out my wand and he went ballistic, started looking for someone… that's the last thing I remember. The poor dear must have done magic."

Harry was in the corner, so Severus Snape went slowly over and kneeled down next to him.

"Harry it's Severus. Do you remember me? I told you I'd take you to Hogwarts. This is it, and that over there is the Headmaster. That lady there is the school nurse. She wont hurt you, I promise. C'mon lets get you to bed so we can get you feeling better. I will stay if you want me too, or go ok?"

He hadn't needed to say anything, Harry had been clutching onto his arm and robe as soon as he got close enough. It seemed as if they had already made a deep connection. Dumbledore was standing in the background, eyes twinkling brighter than ever. That usually meant trouble, but not today.

He picked Harry up and put him on the bed. The boy would shy away every time Madam Pomfrey brought out her wand so she did everything she could for him while he was looking away, or hid his face against Severus' shoulder. He was still under the numbing spell Severus cast on him.

Harry fell into a dreamless sleep when Severus gave him the potion. It was better that way. For one, he could get rest, and two, Madam Pomfrey could do what she needed to do without scaring him.

While Harry was asleep, Severus went through his bag. He read Harry's report cards and was amazed. Harry was brilliant at school, reading and writing amongst other things. He was a fast learner. There was not much else there. The clothes were going straight in the bin. Then Severus stopped in his tracks.

'What am I saying?' thought Severus 'I'm acting like he's mine…He might as well be, Lily would want me too, no one deserves to be treated like that. I hope I can get him out of thinking he's a freak. If he is with me he will be raised as a proper wizard. I've got the money to support both of us. God Lily I wish you were here! Your kid needs you! I will look after him, always.' Severus promised to himself, before nodding as he left the hospital wing.

Harry took a good couple of days to get better. A lot of people were in and out of the hospital wing during that time, students, teachers and very important looking people. They had tried to ask him questions but he refused to answer them. He just wanted to feel safe.

Harry looked at the man who had saved him from hell. He was nice, but there was a hardness in his face. Harry streched out his arms, trembling. He felt so safe with him, but terrified too. The man noticed and picked Harry up gently, cupping his hand against Harry's head as it rested on his shoulder. Harry put his hands around the man's neck as he rubbed Harry's back, till he was relaxed and no longer shaking.

"I'm taking him down to the dungeons with me. He can stay with me as long as he likes." He was already protective of Lily's child. He realized that and so did Poppy.

With a sharp turn that cuaused his cloak to billow out, Severus and Harry went to his his rooms. Some time between the hospital wing and the dungeons, Harry fell asleep and dreamed about the man with billowing black robes that saved him. He trusted him. He didn't know how, but he knew when people were telling the truth or lying. Harry didn't know it yet, but he was a natural at legilimency.

Once Severus reached the dungeons, he walked quickly to his spare room. He gently put Harry into bed, and tucked him in. Harry snuggled into the warmth that had wrapped around him, thinking to himself with a sad smile, 'This is what it's like to get tucked in.'

He woke up to a smell he knew very well, but he was used to cooking, it not just smelling it. He sat up and looked around the room in awe. He was not used to seeing such luxurious places. Severus walked in and watched Harry inspect his new room with wide eyes. Severus couldn't look away. Harry's eyes had been flat and dull, lifeless, when he had first arrived. Now, though, they were sparkling with life.

'Looks like he is healing nicely. So much like Lily.' thought Severus.

"Are you hungry?" asked Severus.

Harry jumped and spun around, nodding in response. He slid off the soft bed and followed Severus to the living room where there was a table with lots of food, more than Harry had ever seen. Harry sat down but didn't touch anything. There were pancakes, toast, eggs boiled and scrambled, fried bacon and sausages. He didn't know what this man was going to be like, but his fears were swept away when Severus looked up from filling his plate.

"You can eat as much as you like, whenever you like. If you ask me, you're too skinny, but you wont stay like that for long," smirked Severus. Then Harry released a breath that he didn't know he'd been holding.

"We are going to get you some new clothes and money out of your vault." At Harry's confused look he elaborated.

"Your parents saved money up for you before they died."

"Aunt Petunia said mum and dad died in a car crash, and they were good for nothing drunks."

If looks could kill, and the Dursleys had been there, they would have died a very painful death.

"Harry, that's not true. Your aunt lied to you. You're not a freak, you're a wizard," Severus said as he lead him to the couch and took the chair for himself.

"I'm a what?"

"A wizard, and a powerful one I think. You are also famous." said Severus.

"I can't be. I mean, I'm Harry. Just Harry."

"Remember all the glass the other day?"

"Yes," Harry nodded and bit his lip, and then he smiled.

"A very long time a go there was a boy named Tom Riddle. He was very powerful, and was brought up in an orphanage. When he left school, he killed his only family, the ones who didn't take him in. After that, the man delved deep into the dark arts. They are very bad for you. Then he started gathering followers. I was one of them, forced to do it by my father. I know that's not an excuse. Anyway, he started killing people; moslty muggles, muggleborns, witches and wizards who went against him. A muggle is a person without magic and a muggleborn is someone with magic in a muggle, non magic family. Then there was a prophecy made about you and the Dark Lord so he went into your house. He killed your dad, mum and then turned his wand on you, but..."

"Avada kedavra, then lots of green light!" Harry blurted, surprising them both. Severus was too shocked to speak. He just nodded. About five minutes later he got over his shock and continued.

"But obviously, it didn't work. The curse backfired and hit him and he's been gone ever since. People think he's dead but I do not believe so. Nor does the Headmaster. He will be back someday, and then I will have to spy once more. You are famous here and you are known as…"

"The Boy Who Lived," said Harry

"Yes," whispered Severus.

Harry shook his head. "That's why strangers look at me like I was a god. People dressed weird my aunt always pointed out. They gave me gold coins, but never said anything. They were gone before I could say much, or if they stayed my aunt would grab me by the ear and drag me back home. My uncle always found out and would hit me and told me to stay away from all the freaky people.

Severus lifted Harry's chin up and got Harry to look into his eyes.

"You are not a freak. If anyone is, it iss them for their actions against you. It was wrong what they were doing. They lied about your parents and lied about what you are. Your parents were a good witch and wizard and they loved you very much. You are special. You stopped a very bad man and gave everyone peace. What happened that night stopped a very bad man. Most people were too scared of him to do anything. People still do not say his name: they call him You Know Who or He Who Must Not Be Named."

Harry knew Severus was being truthful, so he nodded and smiled. He was a wizard; that explained so much! He was happier than he could ever remember being.

Severus took a picture of him and Lily out of his old album and gave it to Harry.

"That there is your mum."

Harry looked at it and truly smiled for the first time since he had been brought to the school. The smile was just like his mothers. Not very many people had known they had been in a relationship, one that had lasted till sixth year. They had ended it, knowing they were not be able to get married or she would be killed for being muggleborn, and he a Death Eater. They always wrote to each other. Lily swore when the war was over, they were going to give it another go. As much as she loved James, she didn't love him as much as Severus.

The letters stopped suddenly after she got pregnant. (Not that Severus knew the reason). He had gone to see Lily, who had be getting ready to go into hiding and they spent the night together. They went into hiding, that was what he thought, but it wasn't true. She had been obliviated, and Harry had charms placed on him to look like James who had adopted him, and no one knew.

"Well then, you may keep that Harry, but we must get ready for your first visit to Diagon Alley. First we will eat lunch."

Harry nodded heading to his room and put the clothes on that Severus had left him. They were charmed short for him to wear with him being so small. He also left the photo beside his bed and went back to the living room. Severus came out, black robes billowing.

With a pop a house elf showed up with lunch. Harry watched it, then said "Thank you," and the house elf smiled and disappeared.

"That, Harry was a house elf."

Harry nodded and dug in. That made Severus smile; he was getting better already, quite quickly . They ate in a comfortable silence, chicken with chips and Harry took his first drink of pumpkin juice, instantly loving it. He drank two cups of it, and then he had a bit of chocolate cake, feeling sick. Severus gave him a anti-nausia potion.

"That will help, You're just not used to eating a lot yet. You will need to take that until you are, ok?"

At Harry's nod, Severus dug into his dessert. After their lunch, they flooed to the Leaky Cauldron and, shaking off the soot, opened the wall between the Muggle and magical world. Harry was glad no one had recognized him yet. Severus had told him he was famous after all.