HP

Lease of new Life - Chapter 4 - Harry's not here

.·ˆ¯)...(¯ˆ·.
¸.·ˆˆˆ(ºvº)ˆˆˆ·.¸
m m

·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·

Severus Snape entered Dumbledore's office for the second time that day and was greeted by the Headmaster himself.

"Ah Severus it's good to see you, I should think you have some useful information to report back?"

"Yes Headmaster."

"Good good but it can wait until Minerva returns, there is no point telling me now only to have to repeat yourself when she arrives."

"Yes Headmaster," said Severus seating himself in the chair he had sat in earlier were he waited patiently. Five minutes later Minerva herself emerged from the floo network.

"Ah Severus you are already here, I take it you have information as well?"

"Yes Minerva, then I understand you have information too?"

"Yes Severus."

"Well then Minerva you better begin, you go first and then Severus can tell us how he got on at the police station."

"Well the Social Services identity really worked. Got in with no trouble and saw the Headmaster Mr Ashwood. He told me that Harry has apparently been withdrawn from the school and will not be returning, something to do with private tutoring"

Another odd thing thought Severus, was this boy impossible to find? It seemed like no one had seen him at all, it was like he didn't even exist anymore.

"Go on Minerva."

"Well I spoke with the boy's teacher after that Mr Lyons and well... It wasn't good news let's just say that. Apparently Mr Lyons has been complaining to Social Services for months, he told me he had seen the boy marked with bruises when changing for P.E whatever that is."

"Physical Education Minerva," added Severus.

"Ah well that makes sense, the point is his teacher saw him with bruises, that's not all though, apparently Harry is absent from school way too much due to supposed illness and sometimes falls asleep in class due to exhaustion. Mr Lyon's also noted a difference in the quality and cleanliness of Harry's clothing and appearance compared to his cousins. He also thought it unusual how bad Harry's marks are considering he believes Harry is quite bright. Lastly he expressed the opinion that it was strange that Harry would be withdrawn for private tutoring, when it appears his aunt and uncle care more for his cousin who has not been withdrawn also."

"Hmm and Severus what have you found?"

"Well I think what Minerva has said explains what I have learned, you see the Police did visit the Dursley residence as Arabella stated. However when they arrived the supposed domestic had already ended. They questioned all three Dursleys but Harry was not seen. In fact they didn't find any existence of the boy in the house at all. They checked all the rooms and PC Constantine who I spoke with said they only found one room that could be occupied by a boy and that was Dudley's room. There were three other rooms' one being a spare room which was unoccupied, the master bedroom and a room full of toys which was otherwise unoccupied as well."

"I see Severus and is there any chance that this toy room was not indeed Harry's room."

"No Albus the officer was quite clear about that, he stated that the room looked unlived in and had been like that for some time. That is not all though Albus, when I asked about any other signs that Harry lived there we discussed photographs and such. He said there were lots but none of Harry at all."

"Hmm well this is very distressing indeed. I was concerned but this looks quite serious." They both sat there looking at his thoughtful expression.

"Albus?"

"Sorry yes Minerva."

"What would you have us do?"

"I would like you both to go to 4 Private Drive and investigate the matter further, I think we can all agree that these recent revelations are very distressing, I want you to go there and find Harry, and if he is hurt then we may need to remove him."

Please be okay Harry, he thought to himself, well he knew he wouldn't be though, not after what Severus and Minerva had said, he was being naive to think that Harry would be anything but okay, be alive then Harry at least... Hmm he sighed, he had made a terrible mistake, and now he only had to wait and find out how bad it was going to be. He knew he was a very clever man, he rarely made mistakes, but when he did they were often far reaching and very terrible indeed.

"Of course Albus."

"Very well Headmaster."

"Oh before you depart please use the floo network, while you were away I took the liberty of having Mrs Frigg's fireplace added to the network, Arthur was quite helpful actually and, it was his contact that did it."

"That should save us some time," stated Minerva nodding.

"Indeed."

They both departed at once and headed for the Floo. "You first Minerva," she nodded to him.

"Arabella Figg Wisteria Walk!" she shouted, he watched as she departed in a flash of green flames. Once the flames had settled he followed her "Arabella Figg Wisteria Walk!"

·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·

He emerged inside Mrs Frigg's residence to see Minerva talking to Mrs Figg. He caught the last bit of their conversation.

"No not seen him since."

"I take it you have not seen Harry then Arabella?" Inquired Severus.

"That is correct professor Snape I was just telling professor McGonagall."

"Very well then we will be on our way we need to check on the boy."

"Of course." Mrs Figg gestured towards the front door. They both departed quickly and walked down the street.

"What do you think we will find when we get there Severus?" asked Minerva as they walked along the pavement.

"I don't know Minerva, but I don't think it will be anything good." She nodded at him in understanding.

Minerva looked at her watch and found that the time was 14:03. Since it was the holidays it was likely that the son was in the house but perhaps Mr Dursley would still be at work, if he worked that is she thought to herself.

"This is it Minerva 4 Private drive." They both walked down the drive and stopped at the door.

"Allow me Minerva."

"Of course Severus."

He knocked on the door quite hard and loudly. A woman appeared from the opened door a few moments later looking quite concerned, no doubt by the knock.

"Err yes can I help you?" She didn't like the look of these two, they looked rather official and then there was the knock as well, only the police and other important people knocked like that.

"We are from social services."

"Social...ser...Services?"

"Yes that is correct now can we come in," growled Severus, he was getting rather irritated now.

"Yes of course," and with that she ushered them in quickly. No it would not be good to cause a scene where all the neighbours could see, especially with social services, the Dursleys were ordinary respectful people after all.

"You best come through to the living room then, would you like anything to drink?"

"We are fine thanks," snarled Severus.

They all sat down. Severus noted the photographs over the fire place and understood what PC Constantine had been saying. The mantel piece as well as everywhere else in the living room was covered in photographs of the Dursleys but not one sign of Harry anywhere.

"Could you perhaps please tell me what this is about?" asked Petunia.

"Yes Mrs Dursley you see we are here to inquire about your nephew, Harry Potter," stated Minerva.

Minerva may not have seen it but Severus was not a spy to the Dark Lord for nothing, he spotted her mask slip for a second and she looked worried, she was hiding something all right.

"Oh I see, well what about him?"

"Could we perhaps speak to the boy?"

"I am sorry but he is out at the moment he went to a friend's house, they have a private tutor you see."

"And what would the tutors name be then Mrs Dursley," inquired Severus.

"Errr...Mr...Mr Smith, Mr James Smith."

"Really," said Severus obviously not believing a word of it.

"Yes, are you sure you would not like something to drink, I mean really you must of had to travel it's no trouble at all you kn."

"We are fine thank you," He interrupted. "Well then what is the address of this friend's house then?"

"I really don't know to be honest."

"You don't know where your nephew is staying?"

"No I mean Vernon is the one who deals with all the money, he arranged it all so I really don't know the address off the top of my head. You could ask my husband of course when he gets back from work, but that won't be until later tonight, you could come back later if need be."

He could see it, she was avoiding the questions and she wanted them out of the house as soon as possible, she was being evasive which meant she was hiding something.

"Well don't you think it is a bit strange for your nephew and friend to be taking lessons during the summer holidays Mrs Dursley?" Severus inquired.

"A little bit I suppose but we want him to do well of course."

"Hmm really? What time is it Minerva?"

"14:12."

"I assume that your nephew finishes his lessons around the normal time, correct?"

"Yes around 3:30 like Dudders."

"Well then we can wait for him to return then can't we?"

"Really it's quite a long time to wait you know, I am sure you two must be very busy."

"It's no trouble at all, now while we are waiting we might perhaps have a little look around. There is no one else in the house is there Mrs Dursley?"

"No it's just me, the boys are out of course and Vernon will be back later."

"Excellent." He stood up and pulled out his wand, Minerva did the same.

"What!...You...You are... those... those people!" stated Petunia furiously whilst standing up.

"Yes?" replied Severus baiting her.

"I won't have it you know, wait until Vernon gets home, he will sort you FREAKS out! NOW GET OUT!" bellowed Petunia.

"Be quiet woman!" barked Severus. "Stupefy!" The red bolt shot out of his wand and hit her squarely in the chest. She fell back into her seat unconscious. "She is lying of course you know."

"Yes Severus I thought so too, I don't think for one minute that Harry is really having these private lessons."

"Well a simple Homenum Revelio will let us know if he is here or not."

"Homenum Revelio!" "Well someone is here at least so she was obviously lying about that."

"Do you know where Harry is Severus?"

"No Minerva."

"Well we can rectify that quite easily Severus," she said before casting "Point me Harry Potter." Minerva moved to the living room door and Severus followed behind closely. Once they were in the hall Minerva cast the spell again. "I don't understand Severus it's pointing towards under the stairs," at that Severus stepped forward.

"There is a padlock Minerva, the boy must obviously be in here." He tapped his wand against the padlock three times and cast "Alohomora," with a satisfying click the padlock unlocked and fell to the floor with a thud. They both moved towards the door and exchanged looks of understanding.

Severus unlocked the door and opened it and was confronted with a dark cupboard and the unmistakeable stench of blood, infection, urine and faecal matter. It was quite disgusting he thought to himself

"Lumos!" he stated.

"Severus!"

"What in the name of Merlin!" he exclaimed in shock.

·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·