Chapter Four

A swirling feeling enveloped Harry as he was transported away. The warmth around him warmed his body and relieved the pain in his hand a moment. He strained his neck to his right and saw Severus but Dumbledore was nowhere to be found. "Close your eyes, Potter. It's not a pleasant end to this ride," Severus warned.

Abruptly, Harry closed his eyes. Almost immediately, he felt the hot flames touch his eyelids, burning his eyes if they were open. He was sitting on the floor of Grimmauld 12 now. "Get up," Severus said beside him, "Albus told me to take care of you, but I will not baby you. Let's find this godfather of yours."

Harry stood up and followed Severus around Sirius' home. What about Hermione and Ron? Will I see them again? He decided to leave the many questions later. He had to settle in first. "Snape, what am I going to do?"

Severus scowled at him for he can, now, call him by his surname, "I don't know, Potter. Refrain from calling me by just my last name. I may not be your teacher anymore, but I do rank higher than you."

"Yes… sir."

Severus smirked in content, "Black, I've got your godson as hostage. Obey or I feed him to the Dark Lord!" Harry shot a stunned look at his former Potions professor as he felt a strong grip on his neck. "What—Wha—Why?" Harry stammered.

He tightened his grip on his neck and materialized his wand so that it pointed to his cheek.

There was fumbling near the stairways and two figures appeared. Remus Lupin had his wand in his hand and Sirius Black pointed his straight at Severus. "Let go of him!"

Severus smirked and placed his arm around Harry's neck so that he was close to choking him, his wand still poised at his cheek. Sirius hesitated, "What do you want, Snape?" Lupin looked calm but his voice indicated otherwise, "Let go of Harry, Severus."

"I don't think so. The Dark Lord has given me much gratitude to capture Harry and you, Black. Now, come quietly, or I hurt the boy," Severus roughly tugged at Harry, who was sweating as his predator spoke.

Sirius' countenance was twisted with anger and fear. If the situation hadn't been this serious, Harry would have laughed at his expression. Lupin, no longer calm, was shaking.

All of a sudden, Severus laughed. What the f—He's laughing! What's going on? He slackened his grip on Harry and patted his head. "If only I had Creevey's camera," Severus continued laughing. Harry leapt out of his grip and whirled around to see Snape laughing. Is he insane? You stupid idiot, of course he's insane! "Explain yourself, Severus," Lupin said, his face breaking into a smile, "Why did you come here? Shouldn't you be teaching?" Sirius and Harry were still bewildered. He knows what's going on?

"Dumbledore and I are expelled from Hogwarts. We're sacked. Dumbledore told me to bring Harry with me, but left no other instructions as to what to do with him. I didn't know how to get your attention from your constant idiocy, so I thought I'd do this," he gestured around the room, "I had no intention of hurting your grandson, Black." Harry was relieved.

"So who is the Headmaster in place of Albus?" Lupin asked.

"Umbridge, Dolores Umbridge. She happened to cast some sort of magic on Potter and cut his wrist," he explained, while lifting Harry's right hand.

"That bitch," Sirius swore. A silence prolonged between them.

"So where's Albus now?" Lupin asked.

"I don't know, he was supposed to arrive with us but apparently, he's nowhere to be found."

Harry motioned to a chair and sat down. He was tired. Stupid Voldemort… He whined inwardly. "We should bring him back to his summer home," Severus suggested.

"NO!" Harry yelled in protest, "Let me stay here. Dumbledore said that you were supposed to stay with me. I go where you go and the Dursleys won't let you in! I'm not going back there!" Severus cocked an eyebrow at Harry, "Honestly, celebrity Harry Potter should be proud to go home before everyone else. I'm sure they can treat you better than I can, Potter."

"I-Well, I can stay with Sirius!"

"Dumbledore already stated that Sirius cannot take care of you as freely as I can!" Sirius winced.

"Then YOU can take care of me!" The things I say without thinking!

"I already said that your family members can take care of you better than I can! Do I need to draw it out for you, brat!" Snape snapped.

Harry knew it was hopeless. He remembered the good times he had back there;

"Father, the damn freak is reading again!" Dudley shouted when he peeked into Harry's bedroom. A roar and rapid footsteps were pounding closer to Harry. He quickly fumbled with his books and hid them under his pillow.

"Have you learned NOTHING, boy! You CANNOT study your freak card tricks here!" his uncle raised his beating stick and started thrashing Harry with it. "Freak!" Clout. "Imbecile!" Punch. "Useless!" Whip. It happens all the time, don't cry, Harry. Harry bit his lips to not scream out in pain. His body was breaking under the hits. He heard a sickening crack in his shoulder. His elbows gave away and he lies on his stomach, unable to fend for himself, taking blows from his uncle. "Why were you even on this world! You worthless freak!" Another blow and Harry fell unconscious. Whatever happened after that, whatever made him throw up afterwards was not known to Harry.

"You can't send me back there…" he whispered.

"I very much can, Potter," Severus answered. Sirius finally spoke, "Harry, you cannot stay here. It's too big a risk. I want you here but for the sake of the Order, you cannot stay… I'm sorry. You'll be safer at Petunia's. I promise to visit." His voice was cracking as he embraced his godson, "I just want you to be safe. Snape is right, he cannot take care of you and I cannot take care of you, not here anyways and I cannot leave this place. Remus is dangerous as well, I'm sorry, Harry."

"I know you don't like that place but don't worry, it's only temporary," Remus said, "When we find another way, we will be sure to get you out of that place right away."

What about my friends? "What about the Mr. and Mrs. Weasley?"

"They are, currently, on a mission for the Order. They are busy." Harry sighed but nodded.

"We will leave tomorrow. I need to go to the trial and you need to get home," Severus said.

Let tomorrow never come then.