Summary:
Harry Potter was looking forward to spend some carefree weeks with the Weasleys. Severus Snape thought he would just run another quick errand for the Headmaster before the start of the term. But suddenly they find themselves on the run, and far away from Hogwarts the Boy-Who-Lived and the Death-Eater-Turned-Spy discover that behind the façades they are both only human. Guest Appearances by Mrs. Figg, the Dursleys, everyone's favorite dog-animagus (later) and many more.
NO SLASH!

Disclaimer
Mrs. Rowling owns the world of Harry Potter. I don't. I only borrowed some of her characters to play around with them.


Thanks to Kristin, who did a great job beta-ing this.

Unfamiliar Roads
By Clio

Chapter 2 - Fireworks and Curses

When they were almost finished preparing the meal, Snape emerged from the bathroom and came over to the kitchen looking a little less anxious. He had discarded the heavy cloak and Harry noted that his robes were clean and dry now, although still ripped in a few places.

"Ah, Severus. How nice that you come to help us set the table." Mrs. Figg pushed some plates and a dish with mashed potatoes into his direction. With a scowl Snape scooped up the plates and left the heavier piece for Harry to carry into the living room. How typical of him, Harry thought, as he followed him to the table. He noted that although now warm and dry, Snape still moved rather stiffly.

They began their meal in silence, but Mrs. Figg decided to make some conversation. "So tell me, Severus, where have you been, if you didn't come here directly from Hogwarts?"

"I happened to be in the neighborhood when the Headmaster asked me to fetch Potter." Snape answered, his voice muffled trough a mouthful of carrots.

Harry hid his amusement when Mrs. Figg shot Snape a clear look of disgust at such lack of table manners, but looked up in alarm when she asked, "then I suppose you have been participating in that little skirmish three days ago." This time Snape confined himself to a nod.

"Er, there was a fight ? A Death Eater attack?" Harry asked.

"Oh yes, just down a couple of streets from here," Mrs. Figg answered casually. " They tried to get past the safety perimeter. But don't worry, you are safe here."

Harry did worry. "What, that was an attack? Um, I think I saw some flashes from the curses then, but I thought, well, that they were fireworks." He blushed a little, embarrassed that a wizard like him could mistake curses for fireworks. Snape merely grunted and rolled his eyes, not caring to interrupt himself from wolfing down his second helping of pork roast. For a split second Harry wondered why Snape was behaving as if starving.

"No, Harry, that was an attack. They were trying to invade that little safety zone Albus has set up around the Dursley's house," said Mrs. Figg. "They couldn't reach Privet Drive, though. There was a fight that held them until the Aurors rushed in. It was all over the Daily Prophet for two days. Even some Muggles noticed and had to be Oblivated by the Ministry."

"I don't read the Daily Prophet during the holidays."

Snape, who finally had emptied his dish, said, "Certainly not, Potter. Why would you care what happens in the wizarding world, when it is not you who is making the headlines?"

"Severus, you seem to forget that the boy is living with the Dursleys. They would never allow him to subscribe to a magical newspaper," Mrs. Figg smiled sympathetically at Harry.
"Anyway, Harry, they could arrest most of the Death Eaters, but the Prophet was remarkably vague on who or what held the attackers in the first place. It seems that the mysterious person had vanished from the site as soon as the Aurors came in. Maybe some people would know more than me, the silly old woman that I am." She looked pointedly at Snape.

Annoyed he put it down his glass of water. "Alright silly old woman, I will tell you before you pester me about it all evening. I was with among a group of Death Eaters whi were assigned to kidnap Potter on his birthday. The Aurors were alerted when the alarm-spells on the perimeter were set off. Yet Macnair was able to take down the whole safety ward faster then we all had expected. So I had to make sure that the whole campaign was not over before those incompetent Ministry wizards could arrive. I created a little havoc, transfiguring some bushes into Auror look-alikes, and shooting random spells at my fellow Death Eaters. Unfortunately, they were not distracted by these bushes long enough before they tackled me. I was able to take down two of them, but I decided it was better to leave the scene as soon as the Aurors arrived."

"Thought so. No wonder they were not fooled by your transfigured bushes, if your abilities in that field have not much improved since I last saw a display of it." Mrs. Figg winked at Harry.

"As I can see from your interruption you are not longer interested in my account of that incident." Snape helped himself awkwardly to a piece of lemon cake that was sitting at the edge of the table.

While Harry was still letting the information sink in, Mrs. Figg regarded Snape deep in thought. "I have heard it was a rather short but violent fight there in Magnolia Crescent. It surprises me that you escaped it unharmed. "

"Well, I did."

"That little trick of yours blew your cover as a spy among the Death Eaters, didn't it?"

Snape grimaced. "Unfortunately those bumbling Aurors where not able to get hold of all attackers. Three got away, and they surely told the Dark Lord that their little raid failed, because of a traitor in their midst."

"So I guess you were hiding since." Mrs. Figg resumed her interrogation.

"Yes, the Headmaster and I decided that it would be best if I kept an eye on the neighborhood, now that the safety wards were down."

Mrs. Figg took a deep breath. "So you are telling me that you were hiding out there between the hedges, and maybe even in my own backyard for four days?" Snape, just about to finish his cake, didn't answer. "And it never occurred to you that you might have come by my place for a bed or a shower? And what did you eat? Not enough, so much I can tell from your display here at my table. You didn't nick milk-bottles and apples from the neighbors and those pastries from my cats like a vagrant, did you?"
Harry laughed at the thought of Snape stealing cat food, but Mrs. Figg silenced him an angry glare.

"I'm perfectly able to conjure all things needed. It was not necessary to draw unwanted attention to you." Snape said finally. At this Mrs Figg bristled in disapproval.

"Not necessary? Who do you think you are? You might be Albus spy, but certainly you are not 007, Severus. You will not save the world single-handedly. And certainly not tonight." Harry sniggered. The remark was lost on Snape. If he had ever heard about James Bond, he was not showing it.

Mrs. Figg sighed. And then she said slowly, as if explaining to a very small child "It will be best if you stayed here overnight. It is early enough for you and Harry to go to Hogwarts in the morning."

Snape leaned back stiffly in the high backed chair. "No, we will go as soon as possible."

Mrs. Figg didn't argue. She looked pensively at Snape's ripped cloak which lay neatly folded over the back of the couch. "I'm not sure if I already asked, but did you get hurt during that attack?"

"Thanks for your repeated inquiries, but I can assure you I'm fine," Snape said coolly.

Mrs. Figg narrowed her eyes and watched him closely. "Well, Severus, " she said all of a sudden, "could you please get up and fetch us that cookie jar at the shelf over there?"

Harry looked up in surprise. What did she want with those old cookies when there was lemon cake on the table? Snape pulled out his wand and pointed it at the glass jar on the top shelf, clearly planning to summon it.

"No, Severus. That I could have done myself. It's just a very fragile Muggle–made jar, and I don't want to break it with magic. You are so much taller then I am, could you not reach up and get it down for me?"

Harry was confused. He was pretty sure that the jar in the shelf was no other than the one Mrs. Figg had retrieved the cookies for their tea from. Snape shot her an annoyed look, slammed his wand onto the table and got up.
He reached up with his left hand and pulled at the cookie jar which was sitting on a board well above the height of his head. Obviously surprised by its weight he instinctively reached up with his other hand as to steady the jar. The next moment it crashed to the ground, and with a yell of pain Snape clutched his right shoulder.

Mrs. Figg coolly regarded Snape, who was now standing in a mess of cookies and shards, panting heavily. "So you are fine, eh? Then what's wrong with your arm?" Snape didn't grace her with an answer. His lips were drawn into a firm line. "Did you think you could hide than from me? I have watched you rest that arm of yours all evening. Why can't you simply admit that you did get injured during that little stunt you pulled with your former Death Eater colleagues?"

Snape finally muttered something which sounded suspiciously like 'dirty trick' to Harry.

Mrs. Figg smiled brightly. "Harry, could you go up to the room next to the guestroom and retrieve for me a earthen jar labeled 'Meditonicum'? And you," she pointed at Snape, "sit down over there and strip."

"Pardon?"

The old lady chuckled. "You heard me. Don't worry, I'm not going to seduce you. I merely want to have a look at your shoulder."



When Harry came down the stairs again he found Mrs. Figg already bowed over Snape, busily murmuring incantations. The Potions Master, who straddled an old chair, had obeyed her earlier command and bared his upper body. He glared at Harry, daring him to comment. When Harry handed the jar to Mrs. Figg he could see that Snape's right shoulder was swollen and bruised purple. Actually, his torso was adorned with several minor cuts and bruises, but Mrs. Figg was concentrating on his shoulder. "Did someone hit you with a curse here?"

"No, not directly." Snape indicated a bruise below his ribcage, "That's where the actual curse hit, but it sent me crashing into a bloody garden wall 10 feet away. Quite a spectacular sight it must have been."

As if the his last remark had finally drained all energy, he closed his eyes and relaxed visibly under Mrs. Figg's hands, who was now applying a salve to his abused shoulder. Harry stole a glance at his teacher. Without his ever-billowing robes, he looked a lot less impressive and frightening. His chest and shoulders were not as broad as Harry would have imagined them to be, he was built rather lean. On a leather strap around his neck he wore a strange brass pendent. It was shaped like wheel with twelve spokes and small runes were engraved into it. Harry also noticed an ugly scar winding its way downwards from the base of Snape's throat until it disappeared in the black hair of his chest. Harry found himself looking for the Dark Mark on Snape's arm, but all he could see was pale skin where it was supposed to be. Certainly Snape had put a concealment charm over it.

Mrs. Figg had already finished rubbing the ointment in and had also bandaged Snape's shoulder firmly. With a whisk of her wand, his robes covered his body again, and a second movement made a loose sling appear around his neck. Carefully she coerced his arm into it.

"What is that supposed to be about?" He demanded harshly.

"You will have to rest your arm for some days."

"Are you crazy, Arabella? I don't have time for this."

Unabashed by his rude words, Mrs. Figg continued. "You were lucky neither your arm nor your clavicle is broken. I have mended those ruptured ligaments and strained tendons, and the salve should take care of the bruises, but it had to be treated earlier. You know, that in a Muggle hospital they would put your whole arm in plaster. How could you, who prides himself on being one of the most knowledgeable Potions Masters in England, believe an injury of that severity could stay unattended?"

"It was not the highest priority. I was going to let Poppy have a look at it once returned to Hogwarts," Snape answered through clenched teeth.

"Priority? Speaking of Hogwarts..."

Snape lifted his good arm in defeat. "Stop nagging, woman. We will go tomorrow. But I would like to contact Albus tonight."

Mrs. Figg nodded happily at her final victory. "Do what you must. Use the fireplace in the other room to talk to Albus. The Floo powder is on the shelf to the right." Snape stood up stiffly. "I think you can sleep in the guestroom upstairs. Harry will have to sleep on the couch down here then. I hope you don't mind if his luggage stays in the guestroom." Snape mumbled something sounding like 'no', already on his way to the fireplace.

Mrs. Figg smiled at Harry. "Stubborn man, your teacher. Don't worry, the couch is as comfortable as the guest-bed upstairs."

Harry eyed the sagging piece of furniture skeptically, but as long as he didn't have to share a room with Snape, he was fine with everything. After giving the sleeping arrangement a second thought he went upstairs to retrieve Hedwig from the room Snape was to stay in. Better safe than sorry.


"So what did Albus say?" Mrs. Figg asked when Snape came back from the fireplace.

"He wasn't available. I left a message with Minerva. I will try to reach him tomorrow morning. If you will excuse me now, I'm rather tired. "

Snape started to climb the stairs to the guestroom, but Mrs Figg called him back once more. "Severus, wait! Take these." She pushed a plate with cookies and a glass of milk into his direction. They were the same cookies that had been strewn all over the living room when earlier when Mrs Figg had tricked him into pulling down the jar. Snape obviously recognized them.

"I'm not hungry."

"Then take it as gesture of my hospitality."

Snape looked at the glass and the plate as if they contained a deadly poison.

"Please, try to relax a little, Severus. This house is well protected. No need to sleep with your wand ready as I'm sure you usually do. "

"No wand under the pillow tonight," Snape nodded, and gestured at his injured arm," but, since I'm a little incapacitated, you will excuse me ..."
He pulled his wand and used it to levitated the plate and the glass in front of him.

Slowly he directed them up the stairs in front of him. Halfway up he stopped and turned to face Mrs. Figg again. His face held an expression that Harry had never thought him capable of. A genuine and grateful smile.

"Thank you."

"You are welcome, Severus."



About an hour later after Harry had helped Mrs Figg doing the dishes and feeding the cats, he decided that he would go to bed as well. The old lady helped him to arrange some blankets on the couch. Then she transfigured a cat treat 'Extra Beefy' into a toothbrush for him, because the one he brought was still in his trunk in the room Snape was already sleeping in. Harry did not want to risk his life waking Snape while retrieving the brush. When he sniffed at the new brush which smelled strangely of dried meat, he wondered for a brief moment if he had not better taken the risk of rousing Snape.

When Harry returned from the bathroom he heard Mrs. Figg talking in the next room. Curiously he sneaked closer to the door which was slightly ajar. The old witch was standing in front of her fireplace, in which the head of Albus Dumbledore was floating amidst a whirl of green flames. Slowly he retreated, but he stayed close to the door, around the corner so that he could listen.

"Then could you please go and fetch him?"

"Sorry, Albus, I'm not going to disturb him anymore. If you had seen how weary he was, you wouldn't request me to wake him up."

"Arabella, this might be important. Severus has tried to reach me earlier."

"He is already sleeping. He was very exhausted. Whatever you have to talk about with him will have to wait until tomorrow or you will have to tell me."

Dumbledore sighed." Alright then. Are you familiar with the events in Magnolia Crescent four days ago?"

"Yes."

"Then you know that we don't have any longer a man in Voldemort's circle, and thus no insider information on his next moves. I want you to be extra careful in the coming days. Maybe you can check on the Dursleys' house once in a while."

Harry didn't hear Mrs. Figg's answer properly, but he noticed that Dumbledore's voice was tired when he spoke next.
"Yes, that was Severus responsibility during the last days. You know, I'm actually glad that I don't have to send him to Voldemort any longer. He was taking a high risk."

"If you are so worried about him, couldn't you have sent someone else to watch Privet Drive?"

"Why would I? Severus insisted on staying in Little Whinging."

"The boy is injured, did you know that?"

"Harry? How?" Dumbledore sounded alarmed.

"No, Harry is fine. I'm talking about Severus. "

"Well, he did not tell me about it when he contacted me after the attack. Whatever his injuries were, they couldn't be too serious. Don't look at me with such reproach, Arabella. Severus is a grown man, and a very powerful wizard. He can look after himself, and he is able to handle his tasks without you trying mother him. "

"Is that so? I'm not sure about that. Hell, Albus, he was more than once on the verge of collapsing onto my carpet tonight."

The Headmaster sighed. "Indeed? I assume you took good care of him."

"Yes, I did. But I tell you, that Potions Master of yours is proud like a Spaniard and as stubborn as an ox."

Harry could hear Dumbledore chuckle. "Yes, he is. Now, Arabella, listen. We have reason to believe that there will be an attack on Hogsmeade during the next days. As much as I would like to have Severus here at the castle to support our forces, I need him to keep an eye on the boy."

Harry held in his breath. Voldemort was already powerful enough to attack Hogsmeade?

"Tell Severus he should take Harry to the flat in London and stay there with him until I contact him again."

"What flat?"

"There is one that is sometimes used by members of the Order when they have to pose as Muggles for a while. Severus knows it and has the keys to it. "

"So you think you can answer for letting James's son and Severus stay under the same roof for more than 24 hours?"

The Headmaster chuckled again. "Desperate times call for desperate measures, my dear Arabella."

"How true. Now, I don't want to interrupt your business any longer. Good Night, Albus."

"Good Night, Arabella."

Harry quickly scurried over to the couch and jumped between the blankets. Only a second later Mrs. Figg came into the room. She smiled at him as if she knew he head been eavesdropping on her conversation with Dumbledore, but she didn't say anything but "Goodnight, Harry," before she switched off the lights.

********~~~~~********

A/N: Yes, there will be a plot. But ... the next chapters will come out a little slow, because I'm a slow and lazy writer g> and I have a full time job as a scientist. At the moment I am Teaching Assistant in college-level Molecular Biology lab-course. I constantly have to refrain myself from yelling 'Can't you pay attention? 5 points from Gryffindor'. Scary, I tell you.

Next chapter: We'll meet Mrs. Figg again and we'll witness a robbery.

Special thanks to everyone who reviewed the first chapter, you guys make me go on:

Nemesis, The Slayer, LunarBard, Zebee, Katani-chan, bluemeanies, iejasu, sev's-gurl and AngeDog.
I was especially flattered by your praise, FrogHopper. Thank you. It's nice to be remembered.