Ever After Ch. 2
Chapter Two

Snape rang the doorbell a second time and tapped his foot impatiently as he waited. Just as he was going to ring it a third time, the door flies open to reveal a kid that resembled a baby hippononemus.

Looking down at the overstuffed cow in front of him disdainfully, he asked for Mr. Potter.

The kid's eyes widened in fright. Taking a deep breath, he yelled, "Dad, its one of them and he's looking for the freak!"

"Well close the door on him. He has no right to be here!" he yelled back.

The kid started to obey when Snape used his hand to stop the process. "Now you listen here cow, you go tell your father that I am not leaving til I see Potter," he said forcing his way effortlessly into the house.

"DAD!" the kid screamed.

Vernon came running around the corner as fast as his big bulk would allow him screaming, "NOW SEE HERE, YOU FREAK! GET OUT! I DON'T WANT YOUR KIND HERE! FREAKS! GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!" The man actually had the audacity to get up into his face.

With a muttered spell, Snape gagged him and tied the rest of the family together with a magical rope.

Smirking, he started up the steps. His parting words were, "You had better hope that Potter is alright."

He didn't see the fear rise up in their eyes as they watched him ascend the stairs at a leisurely pace.

Without using his wand, he was aboe to detect Harry's life energy thus finding him. But something wasn't right. The energy was extremely weak and barely able to detect.

Using the whole of his concentration, he was able to follow the weak link down to the far end of the hall.

When he got to the door, he found that it was locked shut. With a whispered Alohamora, the door opened with a tiny squeak.

What he found in that small room will forever haunt his nightmares. "Oh God!" he exclaimed with a strangled whisper.

There in the middle of the room laid Harry Potter in all his naked glory, unconscios and on the floor. He was bruised and battered all over.

Snape couldn't get there fast enough as he rushed to his side. He knelt down beside him and as gently as he could, wrapped his cloak around the naked boy and pulled him into his arms.

"Oh Harry" he still whispered.

As if hearing him, he began to stir. Moaning, he opened his beautiful, green eyes. Squinting, he tried to see who held him... although in his heart, he already knew who it was. And admist all the bruises on his face, he was able to reach down deep into his heart and conjured a smile for his savior.

"You came for me, Snape" he whispered. "Thank you" he said raising his hand to touch him but stopped as his energy was spent in the effort to speak. He slept this time.

For Snape, the moment Harry opened his eyes and found a smile for him, was like sthe sun just breaking over the horixon. But what shocked him the most was that it seemed that he was smiling just for him. It made it even more precious and the anger that had been steadily rising in his chest dissipated like a cloud of smoke as he continued to gaze upon the boy.

He made his way down the stairs. Using the emergency commicator, he contacted Arthor Weasley.

In a matter of minutes, the doorbell rang.

"Enter!" Snape barked.

Arthor entered and wasn't sure if he was surprised to see Harry in Snape's arms and that the whole of Harry's relatives were bound together.

"Is he alright?" he asked quietly. "The car is here."

"He'll live. Take care of the muggles and thank you," Snape said as he walked by the relatives with Harry in his arms.

Arthur arched an eyebrow. Since when did Snape say thank you's. "You're welcome."

Just as Snape made it to the door he turned back to the family. He released them with a thought. "Don't even think that I will forget this. Mark my words, you three will pay."