The next day after gathering together various supplies the five of them set of north of the cave to see what they could discover about the forest. Hermione and Draco powered ahead leaving small, barely noticeable scratch marks on the trees so they could find their way back to the cave tonight. They had wanted to use vines and create a trail but Snape had warned them it might be too risky as it could lead somebody dangerous back to their shelter.

Ron powered ahead to catch up with them once more whilst tripping over various sticks and rocks "what are we looking for exactly?" he asked and they all shrugged looking around the forest, everything was beginning to look the same.

"Anything that we can use to help us get home" Snape answered honestly.

"I hope we get home soon, I'm starting to smell" Ron said almost to himself.

"You always smell" Draco replied with a smirk and Hermione laughed understanding Malfoy was joking but Ron only glared and powered ahead of them.

"Draco" Snape warned, he wasn't in the mood for another Weasley and Malfoy bickering session, it was still too early in the morning.

Harry lagged behind lazily, he didn't have the will power to keep up with his taller friends longer strides or Hermione's enthusiasm, Snape noticed the boy didn't seem fussed about rushing and he stayed beside him as the others powered forward. "You seem pretty relaxed about this entire situation, Potter" Snape said casually as they walked side by side, he noticed Harry was struggling with the bottles of water he had been asked to carry so he took the bottles from him and added them to his bag. Harry watched in confusion at the fact Professor Snape was, once again, helping him but still his cold complexion wasn't giving anything away.

"I think the others are more worried about what their parents are going through, but the only people that care about me are here so they know I'm alive and well" Harry explained "and getting wound up won't help it only makes things harder and running around the forest will only burn energy" he said and Snape raised a brow at the boys answer, he was expecting him to say something arrogant about it being an adventure but Harry seemed to be surprising him more as the days went on at how switched on he was. The professor was beginning to realise by the second the only similarity this boy has with James Potter is his looks.

"And you don't think the Weasley's will be worried about you? Or Professor Dumbledore?" Snape asked curiously.

Harry shrugged, he had never really thought about it assuming the Weasley's would be too out of their mind with worry about Ron and that Dumbledore would be too busy trying to find a way to get them home to be worrying. Finally he shook his head "I feel they probably have enough to be worrying about" he finally answered "will your parents be worried, Sir?" Harry asked curiously but instantly worried he had overstepped the mark when the professor frowned.

"They are deceased, Potter, but I'm sure if my mother was alive she would have hexed Dumbledore sideways at the fact we aren't home already" he joked and Harry nodded with a smile.

"I'm sorry, Sir" Harry said softly "about your parents" he explained when Snape looked down at him with a face filled with confusion.

"It was a long time ago" Snape said and Harry nodded.

"I wonder how my parents would react if they were alive right now" Harry said almost to himself.

"Well knowing your mother she would have been out of her mind with worry but she probably would have found you by now as nothing stopped Lily Potter" Snape replied with a warm smile. Harry looked in wonder as Snape's eyes changed from their usual emotionless stare to eyes filled with love and sadness. "Your dad probably would have been shouting the odds and demanding somebody did something" Snape said with a slightly colder tone.

"You knew my parents?" Harry asked curiously "I mean properly knew them, Sir?"

"Your mother grew up on the same street as me and we were in the same year at school" he replied "we were best friends" he said with a small smile.

"What was she like when she was my age?" Harry asked curiously.

"A lot like you" Snape replied with a small smile, he still saw some of James in the young Gryffindor if he looked closely but his nature was very similar to Lily's.

"But you always say I'm like my father?" Harry asked and Snape shook his head.

"I used to think that" he said absent minded.

"Sir, why did me being like my father make you dislike me?" Harry asked curiously and Snape felt something clench inside he hadn't experienced in a very long time and it was guilt. For the first time he realised the young boy had done nothing wrong and that Harry couldn't even remember James Potter never mind be influenced by him.

"I don't dislike you, Potter, I'll explain one day when we are home" Snape offered and Harry nodded.

"You must have known my aunt then?" Harry asked curiously and Snape scoffed.

"Petunia" he replied, his tone was laced with disgust "she was a sour, bitter child that hated magic" he explained and Harry nodded in agreement.

"She still is" Harry said and Snape could sense the fear in the boys tone.

"I wonder what fool ended up marrying her" Snape said cleverly, he decided now would be another good chance to get Harry to speak up about what had happened.

"Uncle Vernon, they share the same views and attitude so I suppose they work" Harry shrugged absent minded.

The potions master looked ahead to make sure the others were out of ear shot and he nodded thankful that they were engaged in conversation fifty yards in front "Harry" Snape said getting the boys full attention "your aunt was very cruel to your mother" he said carefully taking the time to word exactly what he wanted to say "she hated your mother and magic and I can't help but fear that the hatred she felt for your mother was passed on to you" he said and he waited for the boy to reply.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Sir" Harry mumbled and looked away and Snape's unspoken question had been answered, they had been hurting the child.

"The marks on your body are belt marks and I know you didn't do them to yourself" he continued and Harry shrugged, every part of his body was urging him to speak up but he couldn't bring himself to do it. "Harry, if you speak up and tell me what happened I can make sure you never need to see those disgusting muggles every again" Snape pleaded but the boy shook his head.

"There's nothing to say, Sir" he choked.

"Harry, when your parents died I vowed I would protect you from a distance as I never thought I would get the opportunity to protect you any closer, I don't want to break that promise to your mum" he said stopping the boy and turning him to face him "nobody is going to be mad or disappointed and I'll make sure they never get to hurt you again but you have to help me here" he said and Harry nodded "did your aunt and uncle abuse you?" he asked looking down at the small boy.

Harry's mind was spinning as he took a breath to tell the potions master everything that had happened over the years but he couldn't bring himself to form the words.

There was a scream from ahead and the professor watched as Harry broke into a run to reach the three other students, he sighed defeated. He quickly followed to see Hermione and Draco looking less than amused. "What happened?" Snape asked warily.

"Snake!" Ron shouted pointing at the small grass snake "go away!" he shouted at it.

"Leave it alone, Weasley" Snape said rolling his eyes now completely bemused, he was actually getting somewhere with Harry and it had been sabotaged over a small snake.

"It's a snake!" he shouted.

"You're the one bothering it now move" Snape said sternly pointing away from the snake, Harry could tell the man was beyond irritated now but then his eyes lit up.

"No wait!" Harry shouted and they all turned and looked at him "it's a snake" he said grinning.

"Well done, Harry!" Ron shouted rolling his eyes.

"A snake!" Hermione repeated happily.

"Yes it's a snake! Am I missing something?" Ron asked seriously.

"I can ask it if it knows anything" Harry reminded him and he nodded finally understanding the excitement.

"Be careful, Potter" Snape warned knowing some snakes weren't friendly but he didn't seem fazed.

Harry knelt down beside the snake "Hi" he hissed in a friendly tone.

"What do you want?" the snake hissed, it was obvious she was already irritated by their presence.

"I'm sorry if my friends annoyed you, they're a little bit full on" Harry apologised offering the snake a small smile.

"It's okay" she replied.

"I was wondering if you would be able to help us?" he asked hopefully and the snake nodded "what country is this?" he asked.

"Germany" the snake confirmed "how could you not know that?" She asked.

"We ended up here accidentally through magic, we're from the UK and we are trying to get home but the forest won't let us use magic" he explained.

"Magic..." she hissed thinking out the word in her head.

"We are wizards and we need to get home, are there any other people here?" he asked.

"Not until recently" she hissed "a group of people with sticks made a house and they come and go but other than them you're the only ones" she answered and Harry nodded.

"Sticks?" He asked.

"Magical sticks" she said with amazement.

"Like this?" he asked holding out his wand and she nodded, Harry gasped, there were other wizards in the forest. "Do you know where this house is?" He asked.

"It's two days walking time going that way" she answered pointing her tail in the direction they were walking "will you go look for this house?" She asked and Harry nodded.

"The people living there might be able to help us get home" he explained.

"Well you will have to go over the mountain, over the river and through the jackal woods" she explained "the forest is magical and it won't be easy so I suggest you turn back" she warned and Harry shook his head.

"We can't" he told her sadly "we really need to get home"

"There are markings on the stones to guide you there, they were left by German travellers long ago but it helped the other men reach where they were going" she explained.

"Do you know anything about these men?" He asked but she shook her head.

"I know nothing and I must go now, good luck child" she hissed before slithering away.

"Thank you" Harry hissed before turning his attention back to the others.

"What did it say?" Ron asked.

"She said there are other men in the forest" he began "they followed a trail and built a house nearby, apparently they come and go" he said and they all nodded.

"So they can help us?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know, they're definitely wizards but she didn't know who" Harry shrugged "she says it will be dangerous to get there but there are guidelines on the stones to help us, it will take two days to walk there" he finished and they all looked at the professor to take charge.

"I'm not sure" he said honestly as the eager students watched him "there is no guarantee the wizards won't cause us harm" he explained.

"But if they built the house using magic they must have put the spell up after, we have to find them to break the spell" Harry said and the three other students nodded.

"I don't want you all in any more danger" he said completely torn for what to do "remember the killing curse isn't inactive so I don't think they'll be friendly"

"We're in more danger if we do nothing" Hermione reminded him.

"They might have a floo?" Draco added.

"They will definitely have some way to come and go and maybe we can use it?" Harry suggested as the professor sighed and dropped his head into his hands.

"If we do this you have to all listen to every instruction I give you" he warned and they all nodded "and nobody is to do anything stupid or make any decisions without consulting me" he continued and they all nodded.

"Are we going to just keep walking, professor?" Hermione suggested "until we get there?" she asked knowing they were already a few hours away from the cave and eventually the professor nodded, there was no point in turning back.

"We will find shelter before the sun sets" he answered.

"The river goes towards the mountain so we could follow the river to avoid getting lost? And it means we always know where the water is" Draco suggested and they all nodded, except for Ron who still wasn't liking the new, improved Malfoy.

"Let's keep walking" Hermione said and they turned and continued to follow the river towards the mountain. Harry watched as Draco quickly powered ahead to walk by her side and he raised a brow. Snape noticed the boys curiosity and gave a small smile. It was obvious the blonde boy had grown fond of Hermione and she didn't seem to mind his company, he was very switched on when it came to survival and it was something she appreciated.

. . .

A few hours later they all stopped under a large tree to eat some of the fruit they had been picking up along the way, Ron quickly lay down in the shade and closed his eyes to go to sleep with Hermione already cuddled into him fast asleep, the sun had been hot and tiring and a well-deserved rest was needed before they continued.

Harry lay on his stomach drawing in the dry dirt, he didn't feel tired enough to go to sleep but he also didn't feel awake enough to do anything productive, he watched as Draco made his way down to the river to go for a swim and he considered joining him but couldn't bring himself to get off the cool ground. He watched as the blonde vanished into the trees while he waited behind with the potions master.

He watched as the professor concentrated to try and channel wandless magic but nothing he did worked, he was still unable to break the spell. Harry had been surprised by how relaxed and in control the professor had been about the entire situation, he had looked after them and been more than fair and knowing this man was friends with his mum made him want to trust the potions master with his secret, he knew his mum wouldn't befriend somebody harmful and if Snape had wanted to hurt him by now he would have.

"Harry?" Snape asked when he noticed the boy was staring at him lost in thought "are you okay?" he asked.

"I'm okay, Sir" he lied, his back had healed thanks to the potions but mentally he still ached, he was also beginning to miss Sirius "you would have known Sirius as well then?" Harry blurted out. The professor rolled his eyes and nodded lightly. "What was he like?" Harry asked curiously.

"He was noisy, definitely the class clown and a lot of girls liked him" he answered trying to remember what Sirius was like during school "he was your dad's right hand man" he said trying to leave all negative tones from his voice.

"What about Remus?" Harry asked and the professor raised a brow "sorry…Professor Lupin" he corrected himself.

"Does he let you call him by his first name?" Snape asked curiously.

"Yeah, he's more of a family friend now because I see him with Sirius outside school sometimes" Harry explained.

"Well if he's said that it's okay you shouldn't be apologising" Snape said and Harry nodded "Lupin was quieter than the others, slightly kinder and very intelligent" he answered. "Why don't you live with Black?" Snape asked but he already knew the answer, he just wanted to know how much Harry knew.

"Because I'm the-boy-who-lived and he doesn't have the power to protect me, plus he's still sorting his life out" he shrugged looking down and Snape could tell he had hit a nerve "but when I've graduated and I'm old enough to get away from the Dursley's I'm going to stay with him anyway" he said smiling lightly to himself.

"Tell me about Uncle Vernon" Snape prodded.

"There isn't much to say" Harry shrugged.

"You say he's a lot like your aunt"

"Sir, please stop" Harry said shaking his head "I know what you are doing, you're trying to get information out of me, I'm not stupid"

"Neither am I" Snape said calmly "I can help you" he reminded the boy.

Suddenly Harry couldn't take it anymore, after years of being alone and tormented he found himself lost in a forest with one of the men he feared the most but suddenly he wasn't scared, he just felt vulnerable and he knew Snape wouldn't stop until he admitted it. Tears slowly ran down his face and he desperately wiped them away looking over at his friends, they were both fast asleep.

"Just nod or shake your head, did they abuse you?" Snape asked again and the boy nodded clearly as the tears rolled down his cheeks.

"I'm sorry, Sir" Harry mumbled to himself.

"Come here" Snape said and before Harry had time to react the potions master pulled him into a hug and Harry tensed instantly at the unfamiliar touch "I'm sorry I didn't work it out sooner" Snape said and the boy nodded into the potions masters shoulder.

"It's not your fault, Sir" Harry whispered barely audible but the professor still heard.

"You will never have to see those terrible muggles again"

"Promise?" Harry asked and the professor nodded.

"I promise"

Ron woke up slowly to the sound of crying and he quickly pushed Hermione off him and got to his feet when he realised his friend was sobbing heavily, what had Snape done? "Hey!" Ron shouted as he noticed his friends obvious distress, suddenly the redhead was charging at them full pace "put him down!" he called.

"Ron!" Hermione shouted getting to her feet sleepily and chasing after him "what is it, Harry?" she asked cautiously as he continued to cry into his much hated professor ignoring them.

"He's just scared about what's to come, he's fine" Snape reassured them trying not to bite Ron's head off.

"Harry doesn't cry" Ron argued.

"Everybody cries, Weasley" he snapped but regretted his tone when Harry flinched, Ron however wasn't fazed.

"Harry?" Ron asked.

"Just stop it, Ron" he whispered and Ron nodded.

"Let's leave them to it" Hermione said and Ron's eyes widened with disgust.

"No, he might hurt him" Ron glared.

"Oh stop being an idiot, Ron" Hermione said grabbing him by the arm "let's go find Draco" she said pulling him away from Harry and Snape nodded in appreciation.

"Don't go far" he said.

"We won't" Ron threatened and Snape rolled his eyes, the redhead really didn't like him.

. . .

Later that night they found themselves in a small cave filled with unique markings and words, Ron and Draco instantly sat on the cool rock desperate to get off their feet after walking for hours. The markings on the wall told stories of travellers, warriors and villains, Harry and Hermione read the pictures carefully piecing together their own denunciations.

"They're crossing the river" Harry said pointing at a drawing of two men.

"They're holding hands" Hermione pointed out "what do you think that means?" she asked curiously.

"I'm not sure" he replied.

"Sir, what does it mean?" she asked and the potions master stood and made his way over to them.

"That might explain" he said pointing at some German written underneath.

"Harry?" Hermione asked.

"It says love for love, hate for hate but I don't understand what it means" he answered shaking his head.

"We will work it out" Snape reassured them as he sat back down leaving them to continue with their studies.

A small white snake slithered into the cave through a gap in the rocks and instantly stopped at the sight of the five humans.

"Harry" Hermione said pointing towards the snake.

"Hi" Harry hissed instantly.

"I understand you" the snake hissed with confusion.

"I speak your language" Harry said "I'm sorry if we have trespassed on your home" he said apologetically but the snake didn't seem to mind.

"What's your name, child?" the snake asked eying him curiously.

"Harry" he replied.

"Hello, Harry, I'm Anya" she replied

"It's nice to meet you" he hissed politely "do you understand these markings?" he asked her curiously.

"Yes, but the markings have to be understood not explained" she answered before slithering towards the cave entrance "I can tell you will understand in time" she hissed making her way towards the save entrance.

"You don't have to go" he said.

"I am just passing" she hissed, it was obvious she had somewhere to be.

"It was nice speaking to you, thank you" he said smiling.

"Do lots of people speak my language?" she asked turning back around curiously.

"No" he replied

"So you are both special" she said and slithered away. Harry's heart sunk as he fell back into the cave wall, he could feel his heart beating and the sick rising in his throat.

"Harry?" Snape asked moving closer to him and grabbing him by the shoulders "Harry what happened?" he asked but Harry couldn't reply, he just shook his head knowing the true danger they were facing.

Another chapter is completed! YAY! Sorry this took me ages to do, I've been working a lot and it's been hard to find the time or energy to come up with anything half interesting. I am so excited about this story and it's only just beginning, I have it all mapped out and I can't wait to write more!

"An Unlikely Family" chapter will be up on Friday, I'm having some issues that no matter what I write I'm not happy with it and I can't bring myself to post it, so I've been focusing on this story to try and let my mind recharge, sorry for the people that are waiting patiently!

As always, review if you can!