Chapter 10

Severus got up that morning with a blistering headache. Oh how he wished he had prepared a potion for this. He had been waking up with them for a while so he really should have expected it. He showered then changed into his black robes and grabbed a suitcase to prepare for his journey.

He was left in charge of picking up those two families that would revolve around Harry Potter. How would they react when they saw him? He assumed Granger would at least prepare her parents with what was going on in the wizarding world. After the death of Harry Potter, the dark lord lost some interest in taking over. He began to care more about cleansing the world of filth. Families at a time would disappear and Severus had only been able to save a handful. He just couldn't keep this up. After the boy had died Severus had been looked at as an honorary hero. Death eaters all around had celebrated and bounced him on their shoulders until they realized he was serious about poisoning them if they didn't put him down.

Now Severus had a task that was painful. He gathered his belongings and looked around the room one last time. The dungeons had a homey feel to them and he would have to say goodbye, for now. Heading out of the school, he noticed Minerva watching him.

"Hello Minerva, something I can do for you? Perhaps make you a potion to cure your students of stupidity? Suppose I'd be legendary if I were essentially capable of doing that. Although, the great Albus Dumbledore has yet the ability to do that himself. Don't you agree?"

Severus' eyes gleamed as he almost chortled at his own words.

"Severus, please behave yourself."

Albus' words creeping behind him.

"Minerva, please forgive him, as his temper has been touchy as of late. I presume he hasn't been sleeping well, if I'm not mistaken."

Albus made a tsking sound as to feign disappointment at the glaring professor's abysmal attempt at taking care of himself.

"Headmaster, I am well, and it would do to not have prying eyes into my own care taking. I will be going now, please be sure that my classes are well taken care of. If I find so much as one vial out of place, I will have vengeance." Severus glared at Minerva who had volunteered to watch his classes when she didn't have her own.

"Now, now Severus, I wouldn't dream of any sabotage. You know me well enough than to assume I would do anything as unprofessional as that." Minerva's eyes gave Severus a dare of action against her own.

Severus ignored her words and grabbed his things. He walked out of the main doors of Hogwarts, leaving everything else behind him except his mission at hand. Now, he would gather the Grangers. Severus headed to the outskirts of the castle where it would be safe to apparate when he noticed something on a tree nearby.

A small blade was left on the ground and there was blood on it. Severus wondered whose blood and why the knife was there in the first place. Surely a wizard wouldn't have any use for a blade unless he were working with potions or cutting meat for a meal, and this area was closed off to muggles. Why would someone cut someone else with a knife? Perhaps a squib felt they were in danger. But in danger from what?

He doubted it was a serious issue but he also didn't want any dangerous people near the school. He made a note to send an owl to the headmaster once he reached the Grangers' home. He took the knife cautiously and put it into a plastic container and placed it neatly into one of his bags. He looked about briefly and then apparated to the address on the paper that Albus had given him.

Severus flew into a swirling vortex and was spit back out onto a street with a house that had the same number on it as the paper. He looked about to see if anyone had seen him land there and then when seeing the coast was clear, headed up the steps. Severus wanted to vomit when he noticed a glorious welcome sign at the top of the steps. Bright rainbow colors with a cat holding a sign of welcome made Severus sick.

"My god, their bloody blissful folks" Severus thought to himself. He knocked on the door then rang the doorbell, getting tempered by the long wait. His impatience began to run thin when he was about to ring the door once more, then it opened.

"Professor Snape? Is something wrong?"

A woman Severus knew as a know-it-all brat answered the door with a look of surprise on her face.

"Do you always answer the door with a face like that or did you prepare that one specifically for me."

Hermione's wide eyes shrank down to normal and her cheeks flushed at embarrassment.

"I-I'm sorry professor, um please come in."

Severus entered the house with disgust written all over. He had no wish to be here and being here threw guilt all over him. He thought about Potter and what must have been on his mind. Now it was nearly two years later and here was his best friend, probably his girlfriend the way she had followed him about. He would have graduated with her. Severus stopped himself from this line of thinking. It was already rather depressing to go through it all over again. He was here on a task.

"Ms. Granger, Pack your bags, you're leaving. So is your family. The dark lord wants you all dead and Albus of course does not. We need to get you out fast and quietly."

Hermione did as she was told although she looked as though she wanted to argue. Now was not the time for disagreement and she knew it as well since without a word did as she was asked. It seemed as though things were going well. Severus saw her grab a few bags and bring them down the stairs, her mother and father following suit. He gathered them to one room with all of their belongings and they apparated without a trace of where they were headed. When they arrived at the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix, Hermione's face seemed to gleam joy just for an instant only before a look of sheer disappointment.

Severus knew this place was full of memories for her but for now it would be her home, as it was the home of another family. They walked through the door and closed it and brought the house back into hiding. Severus brought the family into the kitchen and decided to explain.

"The dark lord is after you, if you do not understand this then I will put it into terms you will understand. You need to live here or die. Does that help you?"

"Please professor, I think this is hard on all of us. But I did explain to them who the dark lord was. Why have you brought us here?"

Severus looked at her then after thinking for a moment of the best way to put it he opened his mouth and gave them the best answer he could muster.

"The dark lord wants you dead because he wants to laugh at the memory of Harry Potter. He wants to ruin the purpose of the boy dying. Potter died to protect those he loved and now the dark lord will kill those he loved. Starting with you and the Dursley's. "

After seeing Hermione about to open her mouth he continued.

"He's doing it now after waiting all these years because he is trying to cleanse the earth of filth as his primary mission. In the end, he is going to destroy Potter's memory whatever it's cost. He's starting with you because of your close relationship to the boy".

Hermione looked at Severus and nodded her head in acknowledgement. She brought her parents to the other rooms of the house to show them around and explain all of the magical happenings so as not to frighten her muggle parents later. Severus brought his belongings to a room he had picked out earlier and locked the door behind him as he left. One task down and one very large one to take care of, bringing in the Dursley's. Severus gathered his cloak and left the house. For this task, it would be best to travel during the night.

It wouldn't do for the Dursley's to complain loudly in broad daylight and Severus was sure they wouldn't wish to leave their precious home. He walked along the shadows, dusk was approaching quickly. He moved stealthily along the walls as not to attract attention. He apparated to an area he knew to be close to the Dursley's home.

Severus walked up to the door of their home and knocked only to hear the bellows of a monstrosity. Is this who he would be staying with for the next few weeks? Severus had no patience for an ill-tempered muggle. He was sure he had heard of a story where Potter had blown one of them up. Surely Severus might do the same, it's no wonder the boy wasn't charged.

Vernon Dursley soon broke Severus' thoughts as he appeared before him.

"Who are you?" Vernon grumbled out from his obese body.

"My name is Severus Snape, and it is urgent that I speak to you inside without prying ears."

Vernon looked around and decided to let Severus enter regardless of the clothes Severus had adorned. They sat at the couch while Petunia entered with some cakes and tea.

"MY GOD IT'S YOU!" Petunia let out a shriek recognizing Severus immediately. "You followed Lily around; you….you're a freak. YOU WERE BOTH FREAKS!"

Severus' temper ran hot as a flame while Petunia cursed his very name. He could no longer keep quiet. "Listen Daffodil, your sister and I were close friends. It wouldn't do to agitate the man trying to save your life. Now I need all closely related relatives to gather their belongings and come with me. Understand?" Petunia's face turned red at Severus getting her name wrong. What more, the family had gone quiet and began to gather their things but only Dudley stopped what he was doing to ask

"What about Simon?"

The Dursley's looked at Dudley with shock and dismay and hoped Severus wouldn't think about bringing "Simon" along with them.

"Who's Simon" Severus finally asked.

"He's my brother. Would he have to come, he lives alone but we're pretty close". Dudley spoke evenly but the looks his mother and father gave him were angered.

"If he once lived here then he must come along, although I don't recall the headmaster ever mentioning that Harry Potter had two cousins." Severus thought hard to see if he was mistaken somehow but just couldn't recall it.

"We adopted him, when we lost Harry, Dad was very lonely and Simon had no family at all." Dudley's reply was so quick and cool; his own father had stared in astonishment.

Severus became angered. They just "replaced" Potter all together? Did they even make a monument or a funeral for the boy? He himself did not care much for the boy but his own family had just missed acknowledgement altogether. Severus had a deep pang in his chest. Guilt. He had thought of all of those times where he had pestered Potter about having it all. And Potter had nothing to his name. Not even a real family. He shook himself off; he had to stop feeling guilty about something that happened 2 years ago.

"Yes, call him up and have him meet us here in an hour with his belongings."

Severus got up and handed Dudley the phone. After Dudley made a very strange phone call, Harry…or rather Simon arrived in just less than an hour later and knocked on the door.

"Hello…guys I'm here. What's going on?"

Harry entered the room from the front entrance with his own key. He looked around a bit until the two sets of eyes met and the owners stood in complete clarity.

"You're Simon!"

Severus exclaimed but realizing the amount of shock coming from his lips he threw his mask back on. This was no time to lose edge. He stood straight and cleared his throat and gave a menacing look to Simon only to go back to examining the Dursley's luggage. Simon looked astonished as well and without waiting asked

"excuse me but what are you doing in this house?"

Severus looked through the corner of his eye at Simon but ignored the question. He had opened up to Simon and Simon had in return run away from his home. When the Dursley's were ready they all went outside in the backyard. It was a dark night with no moon and a cool breeze. Trees began rustling in the wind making an eerie sound. "Hold hands" Severus spoke in a whisper but they caught every word. Holding one another's hands left Simon at the end to hold Severus'. Severus gave him a dirty look of disgust and saw Simon holding it out grudgingly as well. Severus took the smaller man's hands and found they were surprisingly smooth. He gathered his mind to focus. It wouldn't do to be so emotional as one of his own dunderheads. He thought of the headquarters and in a moment they were gone.

Arriving at their destination, the Dursley's were in a state of panic. So much so that Severus had to use a silencing charm before they awoke the nearby neighbors. He opened the door and let them enter. Cautiously, Vernon Dursley entered first followed by Petunia and Dudley. Simon refused to move.

Severus was frustrated by this then remembered that he was so sullen about seeing Simon at the house that he never explained anything about being magical. He assumed the man was in shock. "You needn't be afraid, it won't eat you…its here for your own protection…if you stay out here any longer, a giant….a giant goblin is going to eat you!" He hoped it would hurry Simon up. Little did he know that this was the first time Harry had been in this house since Sirius died.

Harry couldn't believe it. Not only did Severus apparate the Dursley's without them calling him a freak. He had taken Harry to the one place that he had tried desperately to avoid. He faked his own death for this. And here, Severus Snape expected him to waltz in like nothing would faze him. A giant goblin indeed! Harry looked at him with a blank stare.

Fear holding him in place, Harry glance at the door with nothing less than a pure remorse and pain. Swallowing did little more than make him feel like daggers went down his throat. His lips were dry and even when he tried to lick them, they stayed as such.

Finally moving after another burst of annoyance from the solemn potions master, Harry moved inside the house and into the kitchen nearby. He wanted to throw up. Remus was there, hair graying more than ever. Mrs. Weasley sat at the table with Mrs. Granger.

"Hermione!" Mrs. Weasley bellowed "please take the Dursley's to their rooms. Sorry dears, you'll have to share your rooms. We've divided it up into 3's. The Grangers are in one with their daughter Hermione. Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, you will have to share one with your son. Simon, I'm sorry to separate you from your family but we've placed you in a room with Remus Lupin and Mad eye Moody. I hope you don't mind."

Harry's eyes became wide in the horror. He would be stuck in a room with the two people that could catch a lie from a rat 5 miles away. How in merlin's name was he supposed to continue on as Simon in their presence? Remus got up from his chair and gave Harry a pleasant smile though exhaustion consumed him.

"Come along Simon, I will show you to our room. Don't worry, we wont bother you and Mad Eye is rather quiet when he skulks."

Remus smirked at his own comment and gathered his coat. Harry grabbed his luggage and followed Remus out the door and up the stairs to the second floor. They found the room and went inside. Harry looked around only to find it nearly empty. Three twin-sized beds dressed nicely sat at each wall of the room. Mad eye was there on one of them. He was reading a book called "War Strategies of the Bold and Gory" by a man named Ulrich Blooddorn.

His eye swiveled but stopped quickly on Harry who stared at it as his heart stopped. Would Mad eye be able to tell it was him. He had covered himself in multiple concealment charms and had changed his personality by quite a bit but he hoped his inner Harry wouldn't jump out at them. Mad eye seemed okay with him since after a bit of a stare he grunted and went back to his book.

"Well Simon, that's Mad eye Moody. A man of few words. He has fought many evils in our world but I suppose you don't know about it much being a muggle and all. It's alright though. I don't mind telling you a few stories if you've got an ear to lend. I'm sure you'd enjoy them some. It's been a while since we've had a male to talk to. The Grangers keep to themselves and Arthur tends to babble. There's really just Molly and Hermione here."

Remus smiled at Harry and a pang ran through his heart.

"I don't remember Harry having two cousins".

Mad eye spoke from across the room randomly making them both jump. A curious reaction planted on Remus' face. Harry looked at Mad eye and kept a plain face.

"I was adopted after Harry's death as my own parents died in a car accident. I don't know much about Harry's death though".

Harry responded after some time. Thinking a bit now Mad eye spoke again

"from what I remember, his family didn't care much for him to be replaced…" Harry looked at him challengingly

"Well I wouldn't really know about that sir, I only visited my family on occasion. Mum and dad and I lived out in the country." Harry rebutted.

Realizing the way he spoke Harry looked guiltily at Remus who now looked as though he'd be sick.

"Sorry Remus, got ahead of myself. Promise it wont happen again." Mad eye said quickly after giving Harry a dirty look.

Remus nodded, his face almost distorted as if he were holding back tears. Harry realized what he had done. Harry had faked his death right after Tonks died. And Harry didn't think twice about how Remus would handle it. Clearly he wasn't handling it well.

Harry got up and gave Remus a pat on the back and said

"I'm glad to be your roommate, you seem like a well enough man and I hope I make an acceptable house guest. You have a lovely home. "

Harry gave an award winning smile and got up to leave. After a last look at mad eye (who gave an utmost evil glare), Harry left to venture the rest of the house. And whom else should he stumble into than one very sour looking potions master.