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I thought about it, I really did but I just couldn't let Dudley live. I never had planned for him to survive and I was surprised by how many people asked for it. I know I don't really like him, I have no idea where Dudley being nice came from in the last chapter... But sorry to you all who wanted him to survive.

A Different Life

Chapter 21 - Grief

Harry couldn't stop the agonized yell from exiting his mouth. Not that anyone heard it. People all around were screaming and crying over what they were seeing. The cars were all completely wreaked. People were already running over to them, trying to find any survivors.

For Harry, time seemed to slow down, everything went in slow motion. Sound seemed to have been muted. It had slowly been getting quieter until suddenly it was silent. He couldn't tear his eyes away from the wreckage.

Harry started finding it hard to breathe. He was taking sharp gasps in but was unable to exhale. Panic started to override him, he couldn't breathe, and he then started seeing black dots in front of his eyes. And just when he thought he was going to black out the sound came back to his ears as loud as anything, by now sirens were ringing from all directions.

Next everything came back into focus, he saw Severus knelling in front of him trying to get his attention. Severus had his hand on Harry's face, wiping away the tears that were running down from his eyes, saying soothing words to him, but Harry didn't even feel his touch. He could feel nothing. His words were just jumbled up to Harry, almost like being spoken in another language.

Harry felt very detached as he looked over to the playground, which was empty now. He looked over to the spot where Dudley and he were standing only moments before. He briefly wondered how he had gotten so far away from it. He was sure they hadn't moved since the accident.

Harry thought back to the way Dudley was acting... He was acting nice, kind and he seemed shy. Harry couldn't help but think that that wasn't the Dudley he knew, maybe Harry had made him up? Maybe he wasn't there at all, perhaps he had imagined the whole thing... The Dudley Harry knew would have just pushed him over, teased him and then continued to turn every kid in the playground against him.

Harry tried to convince himself that it had not been Dudley Dursley that he had just been talking too, it had not been Dudley Dursley that had been in that car, and it had not been Dudley Dursley that had just been in a horrific accident.

But the hope that Harry was feeling for that to be true was quickly dying. In an effort to convince himself that Dudley was fine, and just watching TV at home Harry ran, he ran into the crowds of people that now had gathered to watch the rescue people at work.

Weaving in and out of people he eventually made it out to the end of the pack. With adrenaline pumping through his veins Harry ran in the direction of the Dursleys house.

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Severus watched as they drove off. He was almost mesmerized by the cars as they slowly made contact with each other. By the time he was able to draw his eyes away and shield Harry from it, it was too late. Harry had already seen the worst of it.

He ran after Harry as he tried to get to the car that had his cousin and aunt were in. After only a few steps Severus was able to get both of his hands around Harry's chest and was able to hold him back. He slowly dragged Harry in closer to him, his heart breaking as he heard the grief-stricken moan coming from Harry's mouth.

Finally Harry stopped struggling against Severus. Severus turned him around to face him. Harry looked a mess, his eyes were wide, tears were falling down his face at rapid speeds and he seemed to be in shock.

Severus brought his hand up to Harry's face, shocked at how cold it was. He kept wiping the tears away, all the while asking him questions, and telling him things were going to be okay.

He could see Harry looking back at where they had been, where Harry had been standing with Dudley and he saw the pain that crossed over Harry's face.

Family was very important to Harry, just as it was to Severus. And the fact that Harry had so little family just made it worse for him.

Then without any notice Harry just fled. Before Severus had barely enough time to register it, Harry was gone.

He searched for him but the crowds that he hadn't even noticed before were too hard to see through.

Severus started to feel panicky; he was running through the crowds calling out Harry's name, searching desperately for him.

But Harry was gone.

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Harry finally reached the front of the Dursleys house. He didn't even know how he had gotten there, he hadn't known the way, yet it was like he was being drawn down the streets he went.

He stood out the front of the house, taking in the detail of what he had hoped never to see again.

He slowly walked up the few steps to the front door.

Once at the door he slowly brought his hand up to knock. After a moments hesitation he began furiously knocking. Hoping, praying that his cousin or aunt would open the door...

It never happened, the door never opened and Dudley or his aunt never came out. He ran over to the window and looked through the gap of the curtains, but only saw that the house was dark and empty with nobody insight.

He turned around to go look through the other window that they had on the other side of the house when he noticed the driveway. There was no car there.

Harry then realized that he couldn't ignore it any longer. There was no lying to himself anymore.

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Severus couldn't find Harry anywhere. He couldn't think straight. Absurd thoughts started to flow through his head as is normal when one is in a panicked state. Severus started thinking that what if the whole thing had been set up in the hopes to kidnap Harry? But then he shot that down, how could they have known that Harry and Severus would have been at the park that day, or even this park, or how could they have known that Harry would have run away and left him. No, Severus needed to keep a clear head. He needed to find Harry.

He couldn't cast any spells or use any magic because one, he was out in public in the muggle community, and two, Harry had charms on him to make him untraceable from anyone. Otherwise it would be too easy for anyone to find him.

Severus didn't know why, but something kept nagging at his mind. Like something in the back of his mind was trying to say something. He visually tried to calm himself and just stood taking deep calm breaths.

Then the nagging went away and Severus felt words ringing in his ears, words that he had heard Harry speak earlier that day.

~ "It was only a few streets away from the Dursleys, so I guess if we look around there then we will be able to find it." ~

Severus didn't know where that voice had just come from, or why it had came to him then, but he truly didn't care. All that mattered was finding Harry.

He took off in the direction of the Dursleys, not sure if he was anywhere close to being right, but it was the only lead he had.

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Severus would have apparated to the Dursleys but first he would have needed to find someplace where there was nobody around, which at the moment with the accident was very hard to do, and the Dursleys wasn't too far anyway. He wondered why Harry's aunt had actually driven to the park when it would have not only been easier, but cheaper to walk.

As he finally made his way down Privet Drive, his legs protesting against the sudden workout that they were getting, he saw Harry.

He was looking at the empty driveway, just standing there.

As soon as Severus was only a few meters away from Harry he called his name out.

Harry slowly turned around to see Severus running towards him. And as soon as Severus was standing in front of him Harry's legs gave way and only Severus reflexes saved Harry from hitting the cold ground from underneath him. He grabbed hold of Harry and just hugged him.

Severus let him cry, for any child to see such a terrifying accident was traumatizing enough, but to actually know people who were in it, and have them be family, that was just too much for Harry or anyone to take.

They stayed like that until it started to get dark. Then without a word Severus picked Harry up.

Harry moved so that his face was hidden from view and continued to cry.

Severus walked to the same alleyway that he had used before a few years ago, and apparated to Hogsmeade, and then from Hogsmeade they flooed home. He wasn't in the mood for too much walking.

***

Once they were back safely in Snape Manor, Severus took Harry up to his room and changed him into his pajamas. Harry just stayed motionless. Severus felt his forehead and noted that it felt very cold. Moving his hand to his checks he noted the same thing.

He went over to Harry's bed and pulled back the covers and then went back over to Harry, picking him up and bringing him over to his bed. He tucked him in and muttered a spell to keep his sheets warm.

He summoned a dreamless sleep potion, not wanting to leave Harry alone and waited as it made its way up to Harry's room.

He handed it to Harry, who took it knowing what it was as he had had it so many times that he had lost count.

Harry drank it and then gave it back to Severus, who took it and stood to leave, but Harry reached out and grasped his arm.

He looked back at Harry who whispered "Please don't leave me alone"

Severus quickly nodded his head and went to sit down on the chair that was situated next to Harry's bed, but Harry wouldn't let go of his arm.

Severus sighed and sat down next to Harry's lying form on his bed.

Severus leaned his back against the wall that the bed was up against and brought his legs up onto the bed. He watched as Harry in turn used his leg as a pillow. Severus put his hand on Harry's back and moved along in a circular motion, trying to calm him as he fell asleep.

After about half an hour Harry was in a deep sleep, Severus was just about asleep too, and he knew that if he stayed where he was any longer he was going to be very sore in the morning, but looking down at Harry's sleeping form, still using his leg as a pillow, he couldn't bring himself to move. He wanted to be there when Harry awoke.

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Okay reviewers, a question: Do you want Harry to start calling Severus Dad, or for him to just continue with calling him Severus?? It will be hard to change it now because in the last chapter I changed it and made the Dad comment a one time thing, but if that is what you all want then I should start putting it in the story sooner rather then later... So please review and tell me your opinion! But I will need more then just a couple saying it okay! But I'll make no promises! If it just doesn't fit because of what I have done last chapter then I won't be able to do it okay!

Thanks!