Maltratar Camp

Chapter 4-An Alley

Severus paced back and forth in his quarters. He had seen his son. His son, not Potters. But no one knew about it, except him, Minerva, Lily, James and Mr. and Mrs. Granger. It was their secret. All these years ago they decided it was best if the twins grow up away from each other, away from their parents. The reason for that was that the circumstances they were conceived hadn't been the best. If everything would have gone after plan the children would never know about their real parents. But then James and Lily died and things started to go wrong. When Albus put Harry to Privet Drive, Minerva had protested. Severus hadn't tried it. He knew what the headmaster planned would go. But he also knew that Harry wouldn't get the happy childhood he was meant to get. When he noticed how badly the boy was treated by his 'family', he and Minerva decided that they would have to get him away from there. The only option was Maltratar Camp. And obviously the camp had done its job. Harry didn't want to go away. But in the end he gave in. Soon the boy would be here at Hogwarts. If Harry and Hermione are sorted into Gryffindor, Severus thought, then I have to make live hell for them. If they are in my house, then no one will care if I care more about them or not. Suddenly the Potion Professor looked at his watch. Time to get his son.

The leaving feast for the three 18 year olds who would start University was sadder this year than normal. The reason for that was that Harry would go off to a boarding school. Away from his friends. Away form the people he loved. But everyone knew he had to. Harry was a bright boy, so why not take chance and go to an expensive boarding school if you are offered a free place?

"And you're coming back in the holidays?"

"Of course, Stephen," Harry said, hugging his friend. "I'll miss you all."

"We'll miss you too," James whispered, fighting back tears. Harry was like a little brother to him. And now his brother would go his own ways. Away from his big brother who was able to defend him.

"We need to go."

"P-Professor Snape!" harry exclaimed as he turned around to face the man.

"Yes, Mr. Potter, it is me," Severus said. "Can we go?"

"Good bye," Harry said, hugging Bruce. "Yes, Professor, we can go."

As he followed the man he was sure he heard him mutter something like, "These soft muggles. Can't even go away from each other for a few months."

"Where are we going to buy my school things?" Harry asked.

"Diagon Alley," Severus replied, entering the Leaky Cauldron.

"Ah, Professor Snape," the bartender greeted.

"Hello Tom," the Potions Professor replied. "I don't have time right now. I need to get Mr. Potter's school books."

"Harry Potter?" a witch asked, looking up from a glass of butterbeer.

"Yes!" a wizard exclaimed. "It's him! Harry Potter!"

"Ignore them," Severus told the boy. "I explain later."

---

"Why were the people so shocked?" Harry asked as he looked around in awe.

"Because of an information that has been held from you," Severus said. "You know your...parents died?"

"Of course. And after they did I had to go and live with Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia."

"Well, they died sacrificing their lives for you. All these years ago there was a bad wizard. And there was a prophecy laid on him and a boy. And this boy are you, Mr. Potter. The prophecy said that this boy will kill this wizard or be killed."

Harry swallowed. He hadn't thought he was so famous. And also he hadn't known the real reason his parents died. They sacrificed themselves for me, he thought.

Harry stood at King's Cross, wondering how he should come to the Platform the train to Hogwarts would set off. Platform 9 3/4, he thought. What for a normal platform is called so? Well, I have to ask someone, otherwise I won't be coming anywhere.

"Excuse me?" he said, approaching a man. "Do you know how to get to platform 9 3/4?"

"9 3/4?" the man laughed. "Are you joking? There isn't such a platform!"

"But my ticket-"

"Go away and stop wasting my time," the man barked.

Sighing Harry went.

"Come on, hurry up!" a woman said. "And be careful that the muggles won't see you!"

Muggles? Harry thought. Didn't the Professor use that word? Maybe she knows where platform 9 3/4 is?

"Er, excuse me?" he said, walking towards the woman. "Do you know where platform 9 3/4 is?"

"Of course I do," she replied. "Just watch Percy."

Harry watched as the boy called Percy ran towards the wall between platform 9 and 10. What is he doing? he wondered. He must be mad to do something like that. Shouldn't he know that he would crush - no, this can't be real! Where's he gone?

"Your turn," the woman said, pushing him to the front. "You saw what Percy did? Good, just do the same. Run if you're nervous!"

Taking a deep breath Harry began to run. This is crazy, he told himself. Why am I doing this? Any moment I will crush against this wall. But he never did. All he felt was a breeze.