"Vernon, I will not stand to have that... THING, in my house! Not with my poor Dudley-kins at stake!" Petunia screeched as soon as Harry and Dudley were off to bed. "We tried to beat the freak-ness out of him, but obviously it didn't work! I want him out."

Vernon smiled at his wife. He though on it for a moment then smiled. "He'll be gone by this time tomorrow."

"Take him far away. To London or something." Petunia added.

Vernon nodded smiling even wider still. "Yes, my love. He'll be gone, and no one can stop us."

With that said they stood and went to bed, a quick kiss before drifting off into sleep.

Vernon glared at the small, dark haired boy next to him. "So, what are you going to tell anyone who asks where you live, boy?"

Harry didn't look up as he answered. "I am a worthless orphan. I don't have a home."

Vernon nodded curtly. "Nearly there."

Harry opened his mouth as if to ask something, but quickly snapped it shut. He looked wistfully out the window, praying that someone....even Snape, would come and save him. Even as he prayed, he knew, no one would come. They didn't care. A small tear slid down Harry's pale skin.

"Get out." Vernon snapped as he pulled the car to a stop. "And don't you dare tell anyone where we live, you'll regret it boy! Oh you'll wish you were never born if you tell!"

Harry nodded as he got out. It was raining and he didn't have a jacket. He didn't care.

The trunk made a small clicking noise as it popped open. Harry reached in and pulled out a small backpack, it was worn and old, but it was officially, his. It held: clothes, some money (seventeen Galleons, twelve sickles, and five knuts), five muggle dollars (he'd found that a few years back and was saving it), his wand, a quill and a roll of parchment and a potions text book (His other school things had been thrown out and destroyed, he barely managed to get his wand out; he'd madly grabbed a book, unfortunately, it was a potions book.) He closed the trunk and the car zoomed off.

He was alone. Harry Potter, the savior of the Wizarding world, most loved boy in the world, was alone. Wet, alone and afraid. Pathetic.

Harry sighed as he walked up to the building, it was a police station. He looked out into the rain from under the protection of an overhanging roof. There was a sign in the window that caught his eye, Harry read it in the dim light from the street lamp.

'Office hours:

Monday to Friday -- 6 am to 8 pm

Saturday to Sunday -- 7 am to 7 pm'

He slumped down against the cold glass, onto the cold cement. "I guess, this is it. The lie of my life begins, at six o'clock." Harry glanced down at his watch, three hours. He leaned back, trying to fall asleep.

Silent tears ran down Harry's face as he drifted off.

Stiffness. Uncomfortable stiffness. Harry didn't open his eyes, waiting for his Aunt's harsh voice to yell at him; it never came. He opened his eyes, memories of what had happened flooding back to him. More tears filled his eyes as he leaned forward, hiding his face in his knees.

"Are you lost?" A gentle voice asked as a hand was placed on Harry's shoulder.

Harry flinched. "Hun? Are you okay?"

Harry wiped his eyes quickly and looked up. A middle aged woman with blonde hair kneeled beside him. She smiled comfortingly. "I'm an orphan." Harry choked out. "No one wants me."

"What's your name, Hun?" The woman asked.

"Harry, Harry Potter." Harry said, then he buried his face in his hands and began to cry again. As much as he hated it, he couldn't stop the tears. They'll think I'm weak, he thought, a weak freak. Hey, that rhymes....I'm a poet. And I didn't even know it...

"Well, Harry, dear. Why don't we get you inside and dry you off?" The woman smiled. "I'm Amanda, by the way. Amanda Smith."

Harry nodded as he was pulled to his feet. He grabbed his bag and held it tightly against his chest. Amanda sat him down in a large, comfy, wheelie chair; he desk, Harry guessed. Amanda quickly found a towel and handed it to Harry.

"Do you have any clothes on you, Harry, dear?" Amanda asked. Harry nodded. "Here I'll show you where the bathroom is so you can change."

Harry stood up and followed Amanda to a door with a small sign on it. 'Restroom: Men' Harry was about to walk in when Amanda stopped him. "Are you hungry? I'll get you something to eat while you're in there."

Harry nodded and closed the door. A soft click signified that it was locked. He leaned against the door and sighed, something he did and would do all too often. He found some reasonably nice clothes in his bag (all were hand-me-downs, so most were in bad shape as it was). He quickly changed. He was about to leave when he stopped. His wand. Harry opened his bag again and pulled out the wooden 'stick'. He felt the smooth wood against his finger tips, it was comforting in an odd way. He smiled slightly and stuffed the wand into his jean pocket on the side of his leg. The wand was just a small bump in the pocket, easily mistaken for a fold or a pencil. He checked himself over quickly, no bruises (it was only the third day of summer, after all), and nothing out of the ordinary.

He unlocked the door with a click. There was a tall man standing across from the door. He smiled at Harry. "Hi, I'm Garth. Amanda sent me to check on you and direct you to where the food is." Harry nodded silently.

In the few minutes that Harry had been changing the place had filled up with Police men and women. There were even a few people lining up to deal with random 'important' issues and some people who were handcuffed. Harry looked curiously at everything and everyone. It was so weird, it seemed like not so long ago, he was in a totally different world.

"Hey, you hungry kid?" Amanda called as she saw Garth and Harry. She had a large layout of sandwiches, cookies, and sodas laid out beside her on a desk. "I sent someone out to the store across the way, to pick up something for you to eat."

Harry's eyes widened. "You shouldn't ha... I'm not worth wasting your money." Amanda's smiled faded a little.

"It's okay, we wanted too." She smiled brightly again. "Help yourself."

"I," Harry looked at Amanda suspiciously. "can have whatever I want?" Amanda nodded. "You're sure?"

She picked up a ham and cheese sandwich, placing it in Harry's hand. Harry jumbled his backpack around in his arms, holding t in the crick of his left arm, before taking a bite of the sandwich. Amanda smiled as Harry wolfed down the food, trying to eat it before Amanda changed her mind and took it away. "Slow down there, you'll get a tummy ache if you eat too fast."

Harry slowed down considerably. "Thanks."

"You're welcome, Harry." Amanda smiled. "You want a coke or something?"

"Sure." Harry said once he'd swallowed the food in his mouth.

Amanda opened a can placed it next to Harry. Harry put down his sandwich on a napkin (provided by Amanda), then grabbing the coke and gulped some down.

"You can put the backpack down, Harry, no one's gonna steal it. We're in a police station, I don't think anyone's that crazy." Harry looked at his bag sheepishly. He could put it down, there was nothing important in it....except his potions textbook, which he suddenly felt VERY attached too. Harry gently laid the bag at his feet, hesitating slightly as he let go.

"GET YOUR FILTHY MUGGLE HANDS OFF ME!" A man yelled as he was dragged into the building. Harry's head whipped around, nearly giving himself whiplash, at the word 'Muggle'. A man was dragged through the door and into a side room. Harry watched as the man, who was wearing robes (Oh yay! A wizard!) was handcuffed to the chair in the room, all the while screaming insults at the officers. "STUPID MUGGLES! YOU THINK THESE METAL THINGS WILL HOLD ME?!?!? I'VE GOT A- BLOODY HELL!" The guards had just handcuffed BOTH of his hands to the chair. Harry laughed slightly at his predicament. "I can't even get at MY WAND!"

Amanda turned to him, rolling her eyes. "Every once in a while we get a crazy drunk, ranting about something or other. But this, this is new. I've never heard one rant about wands before." She smiled. "Total loon."

"Yeah, most are smart enough to not yell about their wands, idiot has probably broken a thousand plus laws, and plans to break a bunch more! Really, magic in front of MUGGLES?? What is he thi-" Harry clamped his free hand over his mouth. Amanda looked at him funny, as if asking 'Are you off your rocker?'. Harry smiled lopsidedly. "Just kidding." He forced a laugh as though it was one big joke. Amanda laughed, but hers wasn't forced.

"Well," Amanda glanced at the clock. "You sit tight for a bit and eat, I'll be back in about half an hour. I have to do a few things. Okay?" Harry nodded. "Don't wander too far."

With that, Amanda walked off, leaving Harry alone and unwatched. Harry smiled, finished his sandwich and gulped down some soda to wash it down, now to investigate the wizard. He slowly walked over to the room, no guard stood outside the door. Harry slipped into the room quietly.

"Hello, there." Harry smiled.

The man eyed him suspiciously. "Stupid muggle."

"I'm not a muggle." Harry stated simply. The man looked shocked.

"Show me your wand." He said simply.

Harry looked around the room, there was a table and two other chairs across from the man, Harry walked over and seated himself in the one across form the man. He then leaned down and extracted his wand from its hiding place. He placed it on the table in front of himself.

"Bloody hell."

"Who are you?" Harry asked.

"I'm Giles Nixon. You?" The man asked, relaxing a little in the chair.

"I'm Harry." Harry smiled. "Harry Potter."

"Bit quiet, isn't it?" George asked as he looked around the room.

"Yeah, but it's always quiet here." Amanda smiled sarcastically.

"Yeah, but there was that drunk who was ranting and stuff, now, suddenly, it's quiet." George frowned, he looked over at the room, looking through the glass window. "Hey, where's that kid you found?"

"He's over the-" Amanda began as she looked up. Harry was gone. "Where is he?"

"In the room with that drunk." George answered as he stalked over to the room, Amanda hot on his heels.

"THE Harry Potter?" Giles asked.

Harry nodded, reluctantly lifting up his fringe of dark hair to reveal his lightning scar. Giles gasped. "I-it really is you!"

Harry nodded. "Yeah."

"C-could I...have an autograph....Mr. Potter?" Giles asked.

The door burst open, Amanda and George stood at the door, looking non too pleased. "Harry! What are you doing?"

Giles narrowed his eyes at the woman. "Giving me an autograph, muggle, now go mind your own business."

Harry shook his head. "I a quill and parchment, though. Hold on let me get it from my....bag..." Harry jolted to his feet, nearly hyperventilating as he tried to remember where his bag was. He remembered and raced out the door, nearly knocking over Amanda and George on the way.

"Hmmm....What's this?" Smith blinked, looking at the beaten up bag leaning against his desk. "Wonder who's this is....best look inside, as there is no name on it." He smiled as he unzipped the bag, dumping the contents out onto his desk. "Hmmm, must be a kid's... A very FAT kid." He examined the clothes for a minute when a small bound pouch caught his eye. He opened it and gasped. Gold, PURE GOLD! At least it looked that way, he'd have to get it looked at. Weird looking paper, and a feather....The book. It was rather large and awkward looking. Magical drafts and potions by Arsenius Gigger. Weird name for an author. Weird name for a book.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?!" A voice screamed.

Smith looked up just as he opened the book. "I'm checking the contents, to see if it was a bomb!" He protested.

The owner of the voice, a young, thin, short, dark haired boy, (obviously the owner of the bag, too) snapped the book shut, grabbing it and clutching it to his chest. "Leave it alone!" He then began to re-stuff everything back into his bag as Amanda and George walked up. "Harry are you okay?"

"He was looking at MY stuff; TOUCHING IT!" Harry gasped out. He closed the pouch of gold shut.

"Is that real gold, Kid?" Smith asked.

Harry looked at him, he quickly stuffed the pouch into his bag. "Where'd you get that stuff?" No answer. "Did you steal it?"

"No, I did NOT steal the money, it's mine." Harry growled, he was beginning to like this place less and less, even IF Amanda was nice. "It's from m parents."

"What about that book? Magical drafts and Potions?" Smith asked suspiciously. "What's that?"

Amanda cut in before Harry could answer. "Smith, stop. He's just lost, okay?"

"I'm not lost." Harry sneered. "I'm not wanted, I told you that already."

Amanda turned to Harry, but Harry had already started back towards Giles, who he still owed his autograph. He made it to the door when a guard stopped him. "Sorry, kid. You can't go in there."

Harry looked reproachfully at the man standing in his way. "Well. Could YOU give him something, for me? Please?"

The man seemed to consider his options, finally, he nodded. "Sure, I guess."

Harry nodded and pulled his quill (it was an Ever-Lasting-Ink Quill) and parchment. He quickly scrawled out his name and short message.

'Dear Giles,

Thanks for the conversation, even though it was short lived. It was nice to talk to a wizard, finally. I hope you have a nice life.

Harry Potter.'

He ripped off the excess parchment, handing the short note to the guard. "Here."

The man looked down at the note, then back at Harry. He turned on his heel and walked into the room. Harry watched as he handed the note to Giles who read it and began to talk to the guard. Harry sighed deeply and wandered back towards Amanda.

"Harry, you okay?" Amanda asked cautiously.

"No."

"Where do you live, Harry?"

"I can't tell you."

"Why not?"

"He said he'd hurt me."

"Who?"

"My uncle."

"Do you have any other relatives? What about your parents?"

"No, my parents are dead. They were murdered."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay, I never knew them." Harry sighed and slung his bag over his shoulder.

A hand tapped Harry's shoulder. "Excuse me, but the drunk guy asked me to give you this note." Harry looked at the note held out to him by the guard. Harry took it.

'Dear Harry,

Thank you for the autograph. Here's a little gift from me to you.

Giles.

Ps. Sorry if Potions aren't your favorite thing, but it's all I could find, and I am a Potions lover, so I love to share my hobby with others. Anyway, you can have four of your choice on me. Just fill it out and get the muggle to get it back to me, I'll have them owled to you.'

The rest of the note was an order form, a book order form. He was getting four free books, Potion books, mind you, but books none the less, from a complete stranger. He smiled and got out his quill. He looked down the long list, everything from Poisons and their Antidotes to Magical Maladies Cures.

Harry chose four that ranged in skill level and topics, but seemed interesting:

Magical Maladies Cures

Advanced Potions: Going to the next Level in Techniques and Skill

Potion Reference

Every Potion under the sun, and a few that aren't

He looked up, the guard was still standing there, waiting. He handed the form back to the man, who took it and walked off.

"What about that guy, you seem to know him?" Amanda asked hopefully.

"I'm famous, everybody wants to know me." Harry murmered.

Amanda sighed in a defeated way. "Well, don't wander off, please. I'm going to check the missing children's report to see if any new ones have been reported."

Harry sneered darkly. "What makes you think I ran away? Hmm?

Amanda looked at him, bewildered, but said nothing.

I don't want to be here. I want out. Harry's eyes flicked around, the door. No one was watching him closely now. He smiled, slipping quietly past everyone. The door was now just a Five feet away. Four. Three. Two. One. Harry didn't look back as he pushed open the door, breathing deeply the scent of city air. A large sign he hadn't noticed before stated that he was at the Police Station in London. He could go to the Leaky Cauldron. Yeah, and probably be sent to Dumbledore, who would, in turn, send him back to the Dursleys.....No can't go there.

He shrugged and began to walk deeper into the city. No one took any notice of the small dark haired boy walking, alone down the street.

Someone did notice Harry, though. Whether this was a good, or a bad thing, was really undetermined. One thing was certain, this man would change Harry's life, completely.

"Hey, kid, you lost?"

Harry looked up. "No, I'm not lost."

"Well, you running away?" The man smiled at Harry. "I've noticed you've been sitting there for...oh, I don't know, better part of an hour. And you're what? Nine?"

"Eleven, almost twelve." Harry commented.

The man sat down beside him. "Yeah.... Well, you're parents know where you are?"

"No, they're dead. I'm an orphan." Harry said glumly.

"I'm sorry."

Harry shrugged indifferently. "I'm on my own."

"You're an attractive, young lad." The man stated out of no where.

Harry blushed. "No, not really...."

"Yeah, you are." He smiled sweetly. "Hey, you need a job? I have a job you could do, pays nicely too."

Harry brightened up at the mention of a paying job. "What is it?"

"You ever slept with anyone before?"

Harry blushed even redder then before. "No, I'm only Eleven."

"Well, that's what you'd do." The man smiled again, and stood. "If not....I'll just leave you here then."

Harry looked frantic. A job, not a job he liked but, a JOB, one that paid....Or, live on the streets, and try to find someone who would give him food and shelter in exchange for work....hmmm....

"I'll do it."

The man smiled, holding out his hand. "Good, I'm Greg, your new boss." Harry took his hand, and was pulled to his feet. "What's your name, kid?"

Harry Potter. It was on the tip of his tongue... but Harry Potter, he had a bad life, this was a NEW life. He needed a new name. He blurted out the first one that came to mind. "Severus Snape." God, where did that come from? I'm now stuck as my Potions teacher, for the rest of my life.

"Severus...Snape...Hmm... Interesting choice." Greg looked down at Harry. "Well, Severus, let's get you into some new clothes. Those old ones don't do anything for you."

Harry stomach grumbled loudly. "And some food, you need to put on a little wait kid."

Harry smiled. A new life. His own life.