As Strong as we are united.
Chapter One - What is mine
It was the longest night of the year, and the temperature was the lowest it had been recorded for twenty years. Despite this, Harry Potter, who was now nine years old, had spent the whole afternoon outside in nothing but a huge pair of trousers and a baggy shirt that had so many holes in them that they looked like Swiss cheese. After washing up the lunch that he had prepared but not had a morsel of, for his aunt, uncle and cousin, Harry had been imperiously ordered by his aunt to go outside and get out of their way so he would not ruin the day. He had spent the next four hours outside walking around briskly in a futile attempt to keep warm.
These were the circumstances in which Severus Snape found himself heading for privet drive looking for the boy whose actions that afternoon were so unlike one would have thought normal.
Snape marched up to the door of the Dursley's house and rapped sharply on the door, Uncle Vernon, frowning that the potter brat wasn't around to answer the door, waddled his way to the front door and opened it. He was greeted by the sight of a tall, dark, pale man dressed in a pair of black jeans, a dark green shirt and very little else, despite the cold.
Before Uncle Vernon could utter a single word, Snape simply said "Harry Potter, where is he? I want him in front of me in no more than five minutes with all of his bags packed." Vernon gaped, and simple stood, staring at Snape before an irritated Snape brought him out of it "NOW, man"
Vernon turned and made it just a few steps down the corridor before he turned, remembering that his nephew was not in fact anywhere on the premises. He walked back to the front door and stated, "I don't know where that brat is, and anyway, he isn't going anywhere." Under the resulting glare he quailed and found himself murmuring "sorry".
Snape counted slowly to ten, and told himself to breath, "What do you mean, you don't know where he is, and yes, he is going somewhere."
"Potter went for a walk after lunch, and we haven't seen him since" Vernon admitted unwillingly "and it is no concern of yours, I am his legal guardian."
Snape seething, spoke slowly and deliberately "Do you mean to tell me that you have not seen you nephew for more than say three hours, and that he is outside, alone, beware if the answer is yes"
"I'm here mister" came a quiet, but confident voice. Snape turned around to find a small boy with black hair that looked as if it could do with a good trim, and blindingly green eyes hidden behind glasses, dressed in clothes that looked like Swiss cheese behind him. Vernon lunged and grabbed Harry's ear, attempting to drag him into the house. Harry face was screwed up in pain, but he made no sound.
"Take you hands off him Dursley, if you wish to still have them when I have finished with you. Harry was released and he began to rub his ear, screwing up his face as if it would make it hurt less."
"Vernon, I came here to collect what is mine, and by Merlin I am going to, I suggest you do not delay me further" the threat in his words was barely concealed. Harry's eyes widened. "Harry, we are leaving and you are never coming back, I however will return at a later date to deal with your relatives as I see fit." Harry just nodded, awestruck that someone had actually defied his Uncle.
Snape took a step back and looked over the boy standing in front of him. In Snape's opinion, outwardly all the boy needed was some new clothes, a hair cut, and some good food. On closer inspection of the boy's face, Snape could read very little into it except the fact that the boy was giving away nothing to this stranger who seemed to be concerned about his whereabouts. Well time enough for that sort of thing later he supposed.
With that, Snape sent a feral grin at Vernon Dursley, his eyes flashed one last time, and he whirled on his heel, taking Harry's hand as he did so. The pair walked down the street, or rather one walked and one jogged to keep up. A few seconds later, they had apparated away.
Chapter One - What is mine
It was the longest night of the year, and the temperature was the lowest it had been recorded for twenty years. Despite this, Harry Potter, who was now nine years old, had spent the whole afternoon outside in nothing but a huge pair of trousers and a baggy shirt that had so many holes in them that they looked like Swiss cheese. After washing up the lunch that he had prepared but not had a morsel of, for his aunt, uncle and cousin, Harry had been imperiously ordered by his aunt to go outside and get out of their way so he would not ruin the day. He had spent the next four hours outside walking around briskly in a futile attempt to keep warm.
These were the circumstances in which Severus Snape found himself heading for privet drive looking for the boy whose actions that afternoon were so unlike one would have thought normal.
Snape marched up to the door of the Dursley's house and rapped sharply on the door, Uncle Vernon, frowning that the potter brat wasn't around to answer the door, waddled his way to the front door and opened it. He was greeted by the sight of a tall, dark, pale man dressed in a pair of black jeans, a dark green shirt and very little else, despite the cold.
Before Uncle Vernon could utter a single word, Snape simply said "Harry Potter, where is he? I want him in front of me in no more than five minutes with all of his bags packed." Vernon gaped, and simple stood, staring at Snape before an irritated Snape brought him out of it "NOW, man"
Vernon turned and made it just a few steps down the corridor before he turned, remembering that his nephew was not in fact anywhere on the premises. He walked back to the front door and stated, "I don't know where that brat is, and anyway, he isn't going anywhere." Under the resulting glare he quailed and found himself murmuring "sorry".
Snape counted slowly to ten, and told himself to breath, "What do you mean, you don't know where he is, and yes, he is going somewhere."
"Potter went for a walk after lunch, and we haven't seen him since" Vernon admitted unwillingly "and it is no concern of yours, I am his legal guardian."
Snape seething, spoke slowly and deliberately "Do you mean to tell me that you have not seen you nephew for more than say three hours, and that he is outside, alone, beware if the answer is yes"
"I'm here mister" came a quiet, but confident voice. Snape turned around to find a small boy with black hair that looked as if it could do with a good trim, and blindingly green eyes hidden behind glasses, dressed in clothes that looked like Swiss cheese behind him. Vernon lunged and grabbed Harry's ear, attempting to drag him into the house. Harry face was screwed up in pain, but he made no sound.
"Take you hands off him Dursley, if you wish to still have them when I have finished with you. Harry was released and he began to rub his ear, screwing up his face as if it would make it hurt less."
"Vernon, I came here to collect what is mine, and by Merlin I am going to, I suggest you do not delay me further" the threat in his words was barely concealed. Harry's eyes widened. "Harry, we are leaving and you are never coming back, I however will return at a later date to deal with your relatives as I see fit." Harry just nodded, awestruck that someone had actually defied his Uncle.
Snape took a step back and looked over the boy standing in front of him. In Snape's opinion, outwardly all the boy needed was some new clothes, a hair cut, and some good food. On closer inspection of the boy's face, Snape could read very little into it except the fact that the boy was giving away nothing to this stranger who seemed to be concerned about his whereabouts. Well time enough for that sort of thing later he supposed.
With that, Snape sent a feral grin at Vernon Dursley, his eyes flashed one last time, and he whirled on his heel, taking Harry's hand as he did so. The pair walked down the street, or rather one walked and one jogged to keep up. A few seconds later, they had apparated away.