Summary: Can one person and fate make the difference in Severus' life?
Disclaimer: I own nothng but the plot, sue me and become poor.
A/N: This fic is AU, not canon. Any reviews will be welcomed, flames or references to that is not possible in the book will be thrown into the fire to keep me warm.
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AccioSeverus: Yes Harry is only eight, a whole lot of things to get into
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Chapter 2
Harry was not feeling really well, and his stomach was churning. He thought perhaps it might be that he was hungry again, and walked back into the kitchen to make himself another sandwich. The room was so dark, and he wished he had a light, even if it were only a small one, so that he could see. Feeling around he found the bread, and then opened the refrigerator, getting out the mayonnaise and the last slice of cheese. Forgetting to pull off the moldy corners, he made the sandwich and took a huge bite.
This did not seem to calm his stomach; it only seemed to make it worse. Dropping the sandwich on the floor Harry doubled over in pain. The pain only lasted a moment though, as he emptied the contents his stomach onto the kitchen floor.
Harry could not seem to catch his breath. Every time he sucked in a precious lungful of air, he was assaulted by a new wave of vomit. Harry knew he had not eaten anything in days except for the sandwich, and this soon proved to be the case when his body convulsed with dry heaves.
As they finally settled down Harry collapsed onto the floor. The smell of the contents of his stomach nearby made him crawl away even in his weakened state and he finally fell face first next to the kitchen door.
Albus strode down the stairs taking them two at a time. He had to get to Severus, to warn him that Voldemort may try to attack the boy, but when he swung the door to the dungeon open, he saw that he was too late.
Severus Snape had grumbled at being called this late at night, but apparated to meet the Dark Lord. When he arrived an almost gleeful Lucius Malfoy met him, and this troubled him from the start.
"Is there some reason you are grinning like a schoolboy Lucius?" he sneered with distaste.
"We have a special mission tonight, Severus. It seems the stupid Muggles have left Harry Potter alone. Without his aunt's blood protection, the wards will fall, and we can move in and take him. The Dark Lord wishes to make him one of the strongest wizards of our time, and I get to break his spirit."
Severus' heart froze in his chest. He could not let them take Harry Potter. He detested the father, but even James Potter's child did not deserve the wrath of Lucius Malfoy, or the cruelness of Lord Voldemort. He immediately began to consider ways to extract the boy from the house, but his thoughts were interrupted.
Severusss, my little snake, I have a special job for you tonight. As I am sure Lucius has told you, the Muggles have given us the boy without even knowing it. You do know where he is being held, do you not?"
"Yes, my lord" Severus said bowing to kiss the hem of the Dark Lord's robes.
"Good, You will take Lucius, and the others and collect the boy. I have plans for him. " Turning to Lucius he glared at the man, and Lucius fell to his knees in submission. "You, Lucius, may play all you want with the boy, but heshall be brought to me alive or you shall join him in death."
Lucius bowed deeply, and thanked his lord.
Severus' throat grew dry at the thought of Lucius playing with the boy. He had seen him torture people to within an inch of death's brink. His methods were cruel, his mind diabolical. Without giving it another thought, he grabbed Lucius' robes and hauled him to his feet.
"Come, let's get this over with. I, for one would like to return to bed before sunrise."
Apparating at the corner of Privet Drive, five sinister Death Eaters marched down the street. Arabella Figg saw them, and at once her heart fell. They were coming to kill the boy, just as they had done to his parents seven years ago. Arabella was at a loss, for what she could do, but she bravely ran out to meet them head on.
"What is your business here sirs?" she asked, trying to calm her wavering voice.
"Our business is none of your concern, you filthy Muggle. Now go back inside." Crabbe sneered.
"I am not some Muggle who does not know of your Lord Voldemort, or his henchmen. Leave the Potter boy alone, he has suffered enough at the hands of your kind."
That was all the incentive that Lucius Malfoy needed. A green light shot from his wand, and Arabella Figg was no more. Crabbe stepped over the woman who lay in the street, eyes held open in a frozen gaze of fear, and they proceeded on to Number 4, Privet Drive.
Harry lay by the door for over an hour, his mind whirling. He could not get his legs to cooperate, and he slowly crawled into the living room. He could see figures outside the door, and thought his uncle and aunt had returned. He cowered at this thought, as he had left a mess in the kitchen and was sure to be punished for it. He was ill prepared when the door flung open, and in stalked five men dressed in black.
Lucius Malfoy's voice echoed off the walls of the sitting room. "Come out Potter, we have come to take you away to your new home."
Harry did not know if he should trust this man, and his screamed against it. He crawled over to his cupboard and got inside it.
"Lucius, I do not care what the Dark Lord told you. We will have to hurry before the Aurors show up." Severus was already trying to concoct a plan to get Harry safely out of there. "Lucius, I will check upstairs, you check downstairs. Call for me if you find him."
Severus hoped he found the boy before Lucius. Opening a door, he peered inside and saw it was the bedroom of the adult Dursley's. Closing it swiftly, he went to the next door and peered in. Strewn about the room were toys in various stages of disrepair. "This must be the boy's roomhe thought." but upon closer examination he realised it belonged to the Dursley's son, an obese little boy. Sighing, he closed the door and opened another. This was the door to the privy, and he checked inside the shower before shutting the door again. There was only one door left, and he opened it hoping to have found the boy.
What he found inside was nothing more than a room full of broken toys. Thinking this one had to belong to the boy, he sneered at Potter being lavished with gifts. Stepping over the broken toys, he observed that there was indeed no bed in here, and that it could not be a child's room. If there is no bedroom then where does Potter sleep? Severus thought, his thoughts rudely were interrupted when he heard the screams from downstairs. Running down the stairs, his eyes fell upon the grisly scene of Lucius having fun.
Lucius Malfoy had looked into the kitchen and seen the puddle of vomit, and knew the boy was in the house. He had acted with gentle concern, and coerced Harry into leaving the sanctuary of his cupboard, and was now kicking him, his face contorted with glee, at the child's high pitched screams.
"Lucius. We have no time for your petty entertainment. Just pick him up and we shall go."
"Severus, you heard the Dark Lord. I am allowed my fun, as long as does not die. However he may wish that he could, when I am done with him." Lucius lifted up Harry and threw him to the floor in the middle of the room.
Harry curled in on himself and bit back another scream. The pain in his stomach intensified, however, when the man in black drew his stick and pointed it at him. All he heard was the word crucio, and his world faded into nothing more than pain.
Severus watched with bated breath, and when he could take it no more he shouted to Lucius. "Enough.We should leave already, can we now go?"
Lucius sneered, "I have only just begun, and Goyle, McNair,and Crabbe wish their turn as well."
Severus' heart fell to his stomach, as Crabbe and the others took turns sending painful curses at the boy. His screams had been deafening, but the eerie silence was worse. He seemed to have resolved himself to his fate, and now lay there, eyes not really seeing his tormentors.
Severus' had seen this same look before. It was the same one he had given his father, while suffering at his cruel hands. Not wanting to cry out, not wanting to provoke him further, and just waiting for the pain to stop. Here, now, was the golden boy of the wizarding world, receiving pain as though he were used to it. The truth hit Severus with the weight of a sledgehammer. Potter was not the pampered child Severus had always thought, the lack of a bedroom, and being left alone, should have made that clear instantly.
McNair tired of watching Crabbe and Goyle have all the fun, and ruthlessly pushed them aside. With one flick of his wand, Harry was lifted to the couch, and was set down. With an evil look on his face, McNair took off his robe, and laid it down. "Come Severus, take from the boy, what you took from his mother."
Severus' eyes narrowed, not even he could hide his contempt. He had not harmed Lily in any way that night, instead preferring to gain her trust, and only afterwards did they share their night of magic. "I will not McNair, and again I stress the need to hurry along."
McNair paid him no mind, and turned back to the cowering child. With spittle hanging from his mouth, he removed Harry's shirt. Brandishing his wand he yelled "Lumos," and then his companions could see the word FREAK burned into the boy's back.
Harry slowly rolled over and with pleading eyes spoke, "Please, leave me alone. I can't take anymore." He then curled up in a ball shrinking back from the blow he was certain he was about to get.
McNair was furious. "How dare you speak to me at all!" he roared. "Our Dark Lord should have killed you, when he killed your parents. I think I will save him time, and trouble and rid him of you myself." McNair raised his arm and brought it down on Harry's back, all the while Lucius smiling in the corner. Again and again he struck the boy, until the child began to twitch. This seemed to only egg the three men on. Crabbe struck Harry with his pudgy arm, and all of them heard the sickening crack of something breaking. Harry no longer was curled up against their blows, now his body lay limp, and unprotesting on the couch.
Severus could not waste another moment. Snatching Harry, he leaped behind the couch. Lucius was temporarily shocked, but soon gained his bearings and turned on his fellow death eater, wand poised.
"Severus, release the boy now! The Dark Lord will be most displeased with you."
"I will not let you kill him Lucius, he is more valuable than that." Severus had time for no more words, as McNair would stood across from him drew his wand, and now levelled it at Severus.
"If this is your choice Severus, you may join him in his fate." and with this the bright green light shot from the end of his wand.
Severus ducked just in time, and the light bounced off the wall behind him burning a bright hole in it. Severus wasted no time, and returned the same curse back at Mcnair. His hit it's mark, and McNair's reign of terror ended there in the Dursley's sitting room, as he fell to the floor. Now nothing more than a man whose life had been wasted in hatred. Stunning the other three men,and dodging severals curses, Severus apparated away with Harry tucked securely in his arms.
When they disapparated, Severus was standing in front of a cottage set in the middle of a meadow. Walking inside, he placed Harry on the couch, and sat down beside him. Welcome to my home Harry, you will be safe here.