Disclaimer: Don't own it! If I did, I would be making money. /opens wallet and moths fly out/ No money. No ownie.
Chapter 2: To Boldly Go…
Two days later, Harry was working outside in Aunt Petunia's garden when an owl's hoot brought his head up. He turned around and stared at a huge snowy owl that was perched in the tree that stood at the edge of the lawn. For a moment he wondered why an owl was out in daylight.
Then he saw the letter tied to its leg.
His heart leapt in his chest and he cast a wild look in through the living room window. Uncle Vernon was at work, Aunt Petunia was in the kitchen, and Dudley was sitting on the couch playing a video game. He was safe.
Dropping the spade he had in his hand, he motioned the owl down. The bird blinked amber eyes at him then hopped off the branch and soared down to land in his lap. Harry jumped a little then relaxed. He smiled as he reached up to ruffle the feathers on the owl's breast.
"Hello," he murmured.
"T-who?" said the owl, tilting its head to the side.
Harry chuckled and said, "I'm Harry. That's who."
"Who?"
He chuckled again then reached out to untie the letter from the owl's leg. A little jerk of one end of the string it was tied with made it come loose and he looked at the address.
Mister Harold Jamison PotterThe Front Garden
4 Privet Drive
Little Whinging
Surrey"Now that's weird," muttered Harry before he ripped the envelope open and pulled out the letter. He cast a fearful glance through the window again then began to read, one hand holding the letter and the other running through the owl's feathers.
Mister Potter,
It has come to my notice that you have not sent an owl in. Since it is likely that your aunt and uncle will not provide one, I shall be coming to retrieve you. Do not tell your relatives. Their permission does not concern me.
I will inform them at the time of my arrival as to where you are going. Which will be Hogwarts.
It is somewhat early, I know, but I would feel better having you under my supervision than some idiot Muggle's (non-magical person). The Headmaster has agreed to my request and you will be staying in a set of rooms connected to my own until the term begins.
I will arrive tomorrow at twelve o' clock sharp. Have anything you wish to take with you together.
Oh, yes, and the owl's name is Hedwig. She's yours. A birthday present, shall we say. You may allow her to remain about the Dursley residence or send her back to Hogwarts.
Dutifully yours,
Severus SnapeHarry grinned at the owl and said, "Hedwig."
"Who," said Hedwig, nipping his fingers affectionately. She rustled her wings suddenly and made a slight hissing sound. Harry frowned at her.
"What is it?" He looked around and saw the nosy neighbor Mrs. Figg looking at him from the sidewalk. At least Aunt Petunia called her nosy. Harry rather liked her and her cats. She was the one who looked after him whenever the Dursley's were out somewhere and she told him all sorts of wild stories. And fed him better than the Dursley's did. He wished they went out more.
"That's just Mrs. Figg," he whispered to Hedwig. "She's okay." He then waved at the woman, who smiled warmly at him and continued on her way.
Harry looked at the letter again then folded it and the envelope together and stuffed them into the pocket of his baggy jeans, which were hand-me-downs from Dudley. He looked at the window then at Hedwig, making a decision about his new friend.
"I want you to go to Hogwarts," he said. "If they see you, they'll go berserk."
"T-who?" said Hedwig sadly.
Harry smiled and ruffled the feathers on her breast, saying, "I'd like you to stay too but you can't. I'll see you soon anyway. Tomorrow maybe."
That seemed to lift the owl's spirits and she nipped his fingers before hopping to his shoulder and leaping off. Harry turned to watch her as she flapped her wings for height then caught a breeze and soared straight up into the blue sky. He watched her in envy as she circled once then began to veer off towards the direction of what he assumed was Hogwarts.
As he turned back to the garden, he wished he could have flown off with her.
The next morning, before the Dursley's had even woken up, found Harry scrambling about his cupboard and trying not to make too much noise. He had pulled out an old suitcase he'd been using as the bottom of a makeshift table and begun to fill it.
There were very few things that went in.
The first were the three letters and everything from the hidey-hole underneath the cot. There was the old coffee tin that held the only picture he had ever found of his parents and a few pounds that he'd snitched from Uncle Vernon's coat pocket every once in a while. He'd had a fair amount until he had asked Mrs. Figg to buy a good blanket for him. She'd given him a good blanket from her own home and had bought a rather nice coat with the money (in actuality she'd bought the coat with her own money and given him his back as a birthday present).
The coat – which was a full-length leather coat that was far too big for him as he was now – went into the suitcase next. He tossed in the best fitting of Dudley's hand-me-down's (of which there were few) and a small compass that Mrs. Figg had given him for his most recent birthday. She'd had to leave it in a hedge for him to find, as the Dursley's would have taken it the moment they'd seen it.
Harry closed the suitcase with a sigh and sat on it so he could latch it. When it tried to pop open, he grabbed an old belt of Uncle Vernon's and lashed it about the suitcase. That done, he slid it underneath his cot and laid down on it, pulling Mrs. Figg's blanket from underneath his pillow. He didn't unfold it, just hugged it close and wished that twelve o' clock would hurry up.
As it was Saturday, the Dursley's got up at around eleven, so Harry was fixing breakfast when twelve o' clock came around. Just as he was getting the finished plates on the table, the doorbell rang. His heart leapt in his chest at the sound and he tried not to show his hurry as he dumped the cooking dishes in the sink.
"Who could that be?" asked Aunt Petunia as she went to get the door.
"Tell them to go away!" yelled Uncle Vernon. He then muttered, "Probably some door-to-door salesman."
"Yeah," mumbled Dudley around a mouthful of eggs and bacon. Harry nibbled on a piece of bacon and tried not to look at his cousin in disgust.
A shriek from Aunt Petunia brought Uncle Vernon to his feet. She ran into the kitchen, eyes wide.
"What is it, Petunia?"
"Its…its…"
"Good day," purred a silky voice from the doorway. Every eye in the kitchen snapped to the dark figure that stood there smirking at them. Harry's jaw dropped at their attire. He'd been expecting robes at least and what he got was a full length leather coat similar to the one Mrs. Figg had given him that covered dark jeans, black combat boots, and a dark green shirt. Fingerless black gloves finished the ensemble and Harry saw what he could only assume was a wand in the dark man's right hand.
Uncle Vernon's face purpled at the sight of the wand and he yelled, "Your one of those freaks! Get out!"
The man tutted and said, "Such bad hospitality, Dursley. I thought you were refined."
Uncle Vernon's face splotched. Harry winced and began to inch towards the back door. Black eyes locked onto him and the stranger said, "Harry. I believe we had an appointment?"
His relative's eyes fell angrily upon him but Harry ignored them, staring straight at the man. He felt a vague prickle of recognition but shook it off.
"Yes…"
"I'm glad you remembered. Get your things. We are leaving."
As Harry started to move forward, Uncle Vernon bellowed, "Now see here you…!" and took a step forward.
The dark man whipped his wand forward and snarled, "I have no feelings for a man who would lock their own nephew up in a cupboard, Dursley, and even less for a pig such as you. Do not tempt me to turn you and your family into the animals you resemble." With that he turn in a swirl of dark leather and laid a hand on Harry's shoulder.
"Get your things," he said in a more gentle tone than that he'd used with the Dursley's. "There are things we must do before we go to Hogwarts."
Harry nodded and ran for his cupboard, jerking the door open so hard that he nearly pulled it off its hinges. He grabbed Mrs. Figg's blanket from where he'd folded it at the end of the cot and jerked the suitcase out from underneath it. Backing out, he shut the door with his foot and looked at the dark man.
"Ready."
The man arched an eyebrow as though to say 'That's all?' then nodded and turned to the Dursley's, who were watching him with fear and loathing.
"Good day. I doubt that Harry will be returning to your…care…anytime soon but if he should, be warned that I will be watching and if you do anything to harm the boy in any fashion, I will wreak grievous hurt upon you all. Do we have an understanding?"
The Dursley's just stared and the man smiled.
"Good. Come, Harry."
The man swept out the front door and Harry followed without a second glance at his relatives. As they walked out into the yard, he looked up at the man and said, "How do I know you're not someone trying to kill me?"
The man smirked down at him and said, "I wondered when you would ask something like that. Though I did not expect that interesting of phrasing. How may I prove myself to you?"
"Did you send my owl?"
"Yes."
"What's her name?"
"Hedwig."
"What's my whole name?"
"Harold Jamison Potter, generally shortened to Harry James Potter due to the fact that most people are lazy or don't know it all."
"When's my birthday?"
"July 31st."
Harry smiled as he thought of the question that only the man who had sent him the letters would know.
"What is Voldemort's real name?"
The man looked down at him and whispered, "Tom Marvolo Riddle. Convinced?"
"Yeah. So, um…what should I call you?"
"Severus, if you will," replied the man. "It is my first name after all. And I'd rather you not call me Snape. Brings back too many memories of your father."
"You knew him too?" asked Harry excitedly. He'd never before met anyone who had known his parents – well, besides his aunt but she barely claimed his mother as a blood relation. And didn't even acknowledge the fact that his father had existed.
"To my misfortune," said Severus gloomily. "I was your atypical outcast in school. Your father and his friends took every opportunity they could to play pranks on me."
Harry winced. He knew what that felt like. Dudley and his gang's favorite game was Harry Chasing. Severus noticed his wince and nodded.
"I see you have the same difficulty. And doubt you have a defender as able as your mother."
"My mum?" asked Harry.
"Yes," said Severus. "We were…acquaintances."
"Not friends?"
Severus shook his head as he stopped and held out his wand.
"No," was all he said before a huge purple bus appeared, skidding to a stop in front of them. Harry leapt back with a yelp and Severus cast an amused look down at him.
"This is the Knight Bus. It'll take us to where we can find what you need for Hogwarts."
"Er, okay," said Harry. He looked nervously at the bus then stepped up into it, lugging his suitcase behind him. The driver, a golden haired man with a ragged beard, grinned at him then at Severus.
"Severus Snape! What are you doing way out here in Surrey?"
"Picking up a charge, Ebram," replied Severus. "What happened to that boy?"
"Shunpike? Oh, he and Ern have been put on night duty. Boss thought it was much safer."
"Tell your boss that he is a very wise man. That's two Galleon's for myself and the boy, correct?"
"Four," corrected Ebram.
"Four?"
"Two's the night price, Sev."
"Well, bugger me. Here."
Harry watched as Severus fished four gold coins from his pocket and dropped them into the driver's hand. He blinked then asked, "Where are we going?"
"Diagon Alley," replied Severus. "Grab that seat over there."
"Diagon Alley, eh?" said Ebram, all too obviously eavesdropping. "Alright then. Have a sit."
Severus sat down in the chair opposite Harry and leaned across the center of the bus to say, "Hold on. This thing makes a rather…"
He was cut off as there was a muffled explosion from the bus' tail end and it shot forward with enough force to send Harry careening out of his chair. Strong arms caught him and kept him on his feet, holding him steady until he got his balance back.
Green eyes looked up into black and Severus said, "I feel that warning was a little too late."
Harry nodded feebly in agreement and Severus chuckled. He picked up Harry's suitcase from the floor and slid it underneath his chair, placing his foot on it to secure it. Then he pulled a chair close and motioned Harry towards it.
"Perhaps it'd be better if you sit beside me."
Ebram glanced back at them in a small mirror above his head and said, "Sorry about that, Sev. You alright there, kid?"
"Fine," mumbled Harry as he settled into the chair beside Severus. He then looked at the man beside him and asked, "What were they like? My parents?"
Severus looked down at him with a frown at the question then replied, "They were good people. Both of them. Your father was perhaps a little too…rambunctious…in our school years but he was a good man." He smiled slightly as he continued, "I have never had a bad thing to say of your mother. She was a wonderful woman."
Harry had wanted more than that but he could sense that he wasn't going to get it out of Severus. So he switched the subject of conversation.
"What's Diagonally?"
"Diagon Alley," corrected Severus. "And I suppose you could say it's sort of the Wizarding equivalent of a Muggle shopping mall."
"Oh," said Harry. "Why are we going there?"
"Your school supplies. You do still have the letter, don't you?"
The dark-haired boy nodded and pointed down at his suitcase. Severus bent to pull it out from under his chair, unbuckling the belt with a smooth motion and flipping the case open. He frowned at the lack of clothing in the case and turned his head to look curiously at Harry, who didn't meet his gaze. The boy instead leaned forward and reached underneath the leather coat to pull out three letters – the Hogwarts one and the two Severus had sent him.
Severus gently took the two black envelopes and placed them back in the suitcase, closing it with the same smooth motions he'd used to open it. Harry looked curiously at him for a moment until the man straightened and said, "It is best to keep the content of those letters away from prying eyes." He then flicked his wand at the suitcase, which shrank to the size of a tennis ball. Silently, he picked it up and handed it to Harry, who tucked it into the pocket of his oversized jeans.
Severus gave him a scathing look and remarked, "We are going to need to get you some new clothes as well."
Harry felt a rush of delight at the prospect. He'd never had clothes that actually fit him and the very idea was one he'd never thought to experience.
"Thank you," he murmured softly, looking up at Severus' face but not meeting his eyes.
Severus noticed that the young boy was avoiding looking straight at him but paid no heed to it. With his relatives, he'd been expecting it. He himself knew that sort of fear.
With a small smile, he pushed the thought aside and said, "You're welcome."
"Whoa!" exclaimed Harry as the wall in the alley behind the Leaky Cauldron opened, revealing a long street full of people dressed in robes and pointed hats. Severus just cast an amused glance down at the boy and laid a firm hand on the thin shoulder, gently steering him forward.
"Still have that list?" he asked as he glared at a witch who was giving his attire an askance look.
The boy nodded and pulled the Hogwarts letter from his pocket. Severus took it and pulled out a list that Harry hadn't looked at when he'd opened it.
"Robes, hat, cauldron, scales…the usual." He handed list and letter back and said, almost to himself, "Haven't changed their list in fourteen years. How lovely."
Harry just stuffed the objects back into his pocket and followed Severus into a store that had a sign that read 'Madam Malkin's Robes For All Occasions.' Once inside, a young woman with long blond hair came up to them and said, "Hogwarts?"
"Indeed," replied Severus. He pulled Harry forward and continued, "Three black work robes for the boy. A summer and a winter cloak as well."
"Alright. You're rather early you know. Most don't come in until a week after the list comes," said the blonde. She then smiled at Harry and said, "Come on then. Let's get you measured."
Harry looked up at Severus then gingerly stepped forward, following the woman over to a stool. She motioned for him to stand on it and he did. A tape measure suddenly sprang to life and began to measure his arms…without anyone touching it. He watched it in amazement as it did its work.
The woman chuckled and smiled at Severus.
"Muggle-born?"
"Something of the sort," replied the dark man. As the measuring continued, he turned and wandered off into the various piles of clothing.
A little over a half-hour later, Severus and Harry emerged from the shop carrying one bag that held the boy's robes, cloaks, and a hat. Severus steered him to the next shop…and then to the next…and the next…
"Ah. Just one last stop and we are done."
"Hmm?" said Harry in a slightly sleepy mumble.
Severus shook the boy gently and said, "Your wand, Harry. We must get your wand."
The green eyes shot open and Harry was fully awake once more. Just the thought of having a wand like Severus' made him giddy.
Severus smiled slightly and steered the young boy towards another store. Harry barely caught the name of it before he was pushed inside.
"Ollivander's," he whispered, looking around at the shop in wonderment. Slim boxes that had to hold wands lined the walls and were stacked on top of a small table. His fingers just itched to pick up one.
"Ah. Mister Potter. And the Lord Snape. What a…surprise."
"Mister Ollivander," purred Severus, "a simple 'Mister Snape' would do."
"Ah but you are the Lord of the Manor now, are you not?" said a silver-eyed man who emerged from the back of the shop. "Now, Mister Potter…try this."
A slim piece of light colored wood was flicked at Harry and the eleven-year-old gingerly took it. He looked curiously up at Severus for what to do and the older wizard made a flicking motion with his hand. Harry flicked it and there was a sudden explosion that caused several wand boxes to fly across the room.
Mr. Ollivander peered after the boxes for a moment then snatched the wand from Harry's limp fingers.
"Not that one, I think. Try this. Maple, dragon heartstring, twelve inches. Rather…"
Another explosion.
"…not good for you. Here, oak and unicorn hair. No! Ebony and dragon heartstring."
A vase sitting on a shelf exploded.
"Oh dear, that was a family heirloom. Ah well…here, Mister Potter. Willow and phoenix feather."
Severus was forced to duck as several wand boxes flew across the room and very nearly decapitated him.
"I think not," said Mr. Ollivander. "You are a tricky one, Mister Potter. Ah…Scotch pine and unicorn hair…no, ah…larch and dragon heartstring."
One of the legs of the table earned a scorch mark – and it didn't seem to be the first one.
"Elm and phoenix feather. Gently now…"
Mr. Ollivander ducked a flying wand box.
And thirty or so wands later…
"Hmm. These wands don't seem to be able to focus your magic, Mister Potter. Perhaps we should try something in the back…" He started to walk off then turned and looked at Severus and Harry, who hadn't moved. "Come, come, now."
Harry looked at Severus nervously then shuffled after the odd silver-eyed man. Severus strolled along behind him and slouched casually against the doorframe that led to the backroom.
Mr. Ollivander smiled at Harry as he picked up a wand of exceptionally dark wood and waggled it.
"Now, this is a very rare wood. I've only ever made one wand from it. Wood from the Flame Tree of Madagascar and a phoenix feather core from a very remarkable phoenix." He extended the wand towards the boy and added, "Give it a try."
Harry took the wand gingerly and looked at it for a moment, wondering why there was a warm feeling in his hand. He glanced at Severus then gave the wand an experimental (and gentle) flick. A series of what looked like ghostly flying balls erupted from the wand and Mr. Ollivander clapped his hands together in delight.
Even Severus looked impressed.
"Snitches," said the dark man after a moment. "How…odd."
"Odd indeed," agreed Mr. Ollivander. "Just for that, young Potter, you may have that wand for free. No, no, Lord Snape, you will not pay for it. Free I say it is and free it shall stay." He then looked at Harry and added, "But be careful, Mister Potter. The phoenix who supplied the feather for you wand also supplied another. A feather that belonged to the very same wand that created that scar on your forehead."
Harry's free hand flew to his scar and his eyes went to Severus, who was looking suddenly perturbed.
"Come, Harry. We need to be at Hogwarts before nightfall. Thank you, Mister Ollivander."
Mr. Ollivander just nodded and Harry followed Severus from the shop, his new wand clenched in his hand. As they walked back towards the Leaky Cauldron, he stared down at the dark piece of wood that still made his palm warm.
The wand's brother had created his scar. Therefore, that wand had to have been Voldemort's.
Harry shuddered at the thought and stepped closer to Severus, nearly treading on the end of the man's leather coat. The dark eyes flicked worriedly down at him and a heavy hand fell on the thin shoulder.
"Are you alright?"
"No, sir," mumbled Harry.
"You are thinking about your wand."
Harry nodded feebly and Severus sighed.
"I admit," he said, "it is an odd occurrence. Had I known before I would not have allowed you to try it. But then again…perhaps it is the only wand that will work for you. You are an extraordinary child, Harry. Now, come. We're going to Hogwarts."
At the name of the school, the eleven-year-old perked up. His emerald eyes twinkled and he grabbed Severus' hand, jumping up and down with the mindless abandon that younger children often have. The dark-eyed man smiled down at him and marveled that such a battered child could still feel such joy. He hadn't been able to at that age…
Snarling mentally at his dark thoughts, Severus stalked into the Leaky Cauldron, Harry's parcels floating behind him. He stormed over to the large fireplace and grabbed a pinch of powder from a pot on the mantle. As he threw it into the raging flames, he roared, "Hogwarts, Great Hall! Entry: Professor Snape!"
The fire burned green and Harry goggled at it, his eyes reflecting the flames. Severus sent the packages through then he pulled the young boy close and stepped into the fireplace.
Harry shrieked in fright and clung to Severus as they whooshed by fireplace after fireplace. He somehow managed to crawl up into the man's arms during the trip and curled up there, sobbing as his very being felt as though it was being ripped apart. Strong arms folded about him and he entwined his fingers in the rich leather coat.
A moment later they were out of the fireplace. Severus staggered as his feet hit the floor and swooned from the weight of the boy.
When he regained his balance, he found himself under the stern gaze of Minerva McGonagall.
"Good evening, Minerva," he said amiably, gently patting Harry's back as the child hiccoughed.
"I didn't realize you had a son, Severus," said the older witch, eying Harry.
Severus smiled slightly and said, "I'm not his father, Minerva. More of a - what do the Muggle's call it? - ah! a guardian angel."
McGonagall snorted in disbelief and scoffed, "You! A guardian angel! Don't make me laugh."
Harry shoved himself back from Severus' chest and turned to fix the witch with a small scowl. His childish features made it cute but it was a scowl nonetheless. Severus felt a swoop of pride in the boy flash through him.
"Severus is nice!" snapped the scrawny eleven-year-old. He used his soot-covered sleeve to wipe the tears from his face and only succeeded in smudging them across his cheeks. "He rescued me!"
McGonagall arched her eyebrows at Severus then she gasped as the locks of shaggy, dark hair fell aside and the vicious lightning bolt scar on the child's forehead became visible.
"Harry Potter! Severus, what…what gives you the right to take that child from his guardians!"
"The word of the child's mother," said a soft voice from their right.
Minerva jumped and exclaimed, "Albus!"
Severus simply nodded, his own attention upon Harry. He wiped the soot from the boy's face with a handkerchief as he said, "Hello, Headmaster."
Albus Dumbledore nodded and said, "I see you found your charge, Severus. Harry, I'm Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster here at Hogwarts."
"Hewo," mumbled Harry around the handkerchief that Severus was cleaning his soot-covered face with. He then fell back against the man's chest, curling up into a little ball, his head tucked under Severus' chin. The dark man juggled the child (who was far too small for his age) for a moment before he got a firm grasp on him.
"I'll take him downstairs," he said after a moment. "His room is ready, isn't it?"
"Of course, dear boy," said Dumbledore amiably. He flicked his wand at the scattered packages then took Severus' leather-clad arm, steering him towards the doors. The packages bobbed after them as they left McGonagall to frown furiously in their wake.