Harry Potter & the Philosopher's Stone: Take Two

by MysticSong1978

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot switch and any original characters I may add in as I deem necessary. Everything else belongs to J.K. Rowling. Should any other literary references be used, they will be so noted at that point.

Dialogue is in double quotes (" ") and Thoughts are in single quotes (' ').

"Get up this instant!" Petunia's shrill voice drilled through Harry's sub-consciousness, waking him abruptly. Startled, he sat-up too fast, pulling the muscles in his sorely abused and beaten back and arms. He got dressed, rather gingerly, in his oversized clothes – hand me downs from Dudley – and slunk into the kitchen to start breakfast.

As he was serving his relatives, a loud knock sounded at the front door. Harry was sent, pan and all, to answer the door. He found a tall, severe looking man on the other side of the door. Black robes billowed around him. His still, pale face was surrounded by long, black hair. Glittering obsidian eyes took in Harry's disheveled appearance, the stiff way in which he moved, and, just for a moment, Harry glimpsed a shred of compassion in those dark eyes.

"Harry Potter."

It was a statement, nothing more, but Harry inclined his head at the stranger nonetheless. "It is my understanding that the letter you received yesterday was intercepted. I have brought another for you."

"Thank you, sir . . . ?"

"I am Professor Severus Snape, Master of Potions at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Harry looked blankly at him, but before he could reply, found his Uncle standing behind him, Vernon's firm, meaty grip digging into his raw shoulder.

"And just who might you be?" growled Vernon, his face once more purple with rage. "If you're selling, we're not buying, and if you're his kind," his hand tightened further on Harry, "you can just get out."

Harry didn't know what Vernon meant by his kind, but something about the professor gave Harry strange courage. "This is Professor Snape, Uncle Vernon, from Hogwarts Sch . . ."

Vernon's hand gripped impossibly tighter, making Harry wince and nearly stumble, a move that did not go unnoticed by Snape. "You'll not be taking the boy! We swore when we took him in that we'd beat all that rubbish out of him!"

"Is that so?" said Snape smoothly. "I'm sure the Muggle officials here in Little Whinging would love to know about your treatment of this child." Vernon sputtered angrily, but could come up with no real response to the cloaked man.

Harry looked at the two men, feeling quite confused. His . . . family, such as they were, had been trying to beat something out of him? Timidly he tapped Snape's arm to get his attention. "Excuse me sir, but what exactly is Hogwarts?"

Snape's eyebrows rose in alarm. "I should have known. Just like your Father. Don't you know anything?"

Harry was offended. "My marks in school are quite good," sputtered Harry. "And . . . I don't remember anything at all about my Dad. I only know what my aunt and uncle have told me."

Snape's lips quirked. "No, Mr. Potter, I meant about the Wizarding world, your world. Don't you know anything about that?" Harry looked blank again. "You're a wizard. A most excellent one, according to our esteemed Headmaster."

"Me?" squealed Harry. "I can't be a . . . a wizard! You must be mistaken. I'm Harry . . . just Harry!"

Snape grumbled. He never expected to have to give Potter the little chat the other Heads gave to Muggle-born students when they hand-delivered their letters. Muggle-borns just didn't end up in his House. Or if they did, they learned fast to keep it quiet.

"Well, 'just Harry,' have you ever made things happen when you were angry or afraid? Things you couldn't control nor explain?" A light started to shine in Harry's dull eyes, making their green shade quite vibrant. He looked at Snape in wonder. Snape nodded at him. "We need to go purchase your school supplies today. Here, take a look at your school letter so you can see what we'll be getting for you." Snape stared at the Dursleys, all three of whom were now clustered behind Harry. "You lot will need to take him to his train on Monday so that he may ride in with his classmates. Is that clear?"

"I will not pay for him to go to a wizard school to be taught by a bunch of crackpots!" yelled Vernon, mustering his wits and courage around him once again.

"Don't you dare call our staff crackpots!" snarled Snape. He was seething. True, he didn't like several of his co-workers, but he wasn't about to put up with this Muggle criticizing them. "We have the finest witches and wizards in all the area to train our students. You will not prevent Harry from going. He's had his name down since he was born!"

Petunia sniffed, which caught Snape's attention. "Ah, yes. If it isn't Tuney. You of all people should have known better. How could you have treated Lily's child so poorly? Your own sister."

"My sister was a freak! And it was her freakishness that got her killed!" she hissed, mindful that they were on the stoop and anyone could hear them. "We never wanted the boy. If anyone should know that, it would be you. Yes, I remember you, Snape."

Snape glowered at Petunia. "Well that makes two of you. Lily never wanted her child to be in your custody either, despite that she never gave up loving you, never gave up hope that the two of you would one day reconcile. But she knew better. How Potter ended up in your home is beyond me. Were it the other way around, though, Petunia, do you think Lily would have abused your child?"

Petunia seemed to shrink in on herself with each of Snape's barbs, and wisely didn't respond to his question.

He glared at the three, truly noticing Dudley as a separate entity for the first time, as the piggy boy started eating the bacon out of the pan that Harry still held. Snape pointed his want at him and muttered something foreign-sounding under his breath. Dudley squealed as the bacon suddenly turned back into a piglet, tumbled to the ground, and ran away. The Dursleys stared. Harry suppressed a laugh. Snape smirked.

Snape's eyes held a dangerous glint. "Now, Dursley, you prune, I am going to take him shopping and you will take him to the train station on Monday. If he doesn't arrive with the other students, I will hold you entirely responsible."

Vernon gulped. Harry grinned. No one had ever stood up for him before. "Come, Potter," said Snape. "We have quite a bit to do today." Harry wrenched himself free of Vernon's grip, quickly shucked the apron and pan, and trotted quickly after the professor. Snape may have not been the friendliest of people, but Harry wasn't about to be left behind.

Updated 4 January 2017

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