Summary: The past will come back, the present will change them, now what will the future hold?
Disclaimer: I do not own them, sad but true
A/N: Yes this is an AU fic. Reviews are welcome, flames are shared with friends for amusement.
Chapter 9
The street in the muggle neighbourhood was silent as people prepared for bed. No one noticed the man oddly dressed in black robes storming down the street. Severus Snape was on a mission. He would defend the honour of his son, and he really wanted the worthless muggle to get his. He had protested years ago about placing Lily's wizard child with a muggle, but everyone had proclaimed he would be safe there.
Storming up the driveway, Severus came to the door and pounded on it. His rage getting the better of him, he was about to pull his wand when the door flew open. A very large man stood there.
"Who are you, and what do you want at this hour?" the obese man said, glaring at Severus.
Severus looked the man up and down and then flung open the door with a bang. "I have come to gather Harry's things. He will not be returning here."
"What are you saying? Has he gone and gotten himself thrown in jail or something?"
"Silence! Your best bet is to lead me to his belongings."
Vernon snorted, "The little freak has no belongings. He is lucky we didn't send him off to the orphanage when you bunch of freaks dropped him on our doorstep. Now I say to you again get out of my house!"
Severus drew his wand and pointed it at Vernon Dursley. "Muggles, you all think you know everything, and yet your malformed minds cannot comprehend the simplest of things."
"Exactly what is it I need to comprehend? The boy has been nothing but a burden on us since day one, eating our food. He should be put somewhere in a cage to be stared at."
Severus Snape, evil Potions' master, let out an eerie laugh. "It is you who belongs in a cage, and I think that should be your reward. I shall bestow upon you the same courtesy you showed my son." Holding the muggle by the throat, Severus conjured a large cage. Then looking at the very frightened Petunia Dursley, he sneered, "You should have known better. Lily always spoke nothing but good things about you. Never would she have treated your son this way, and yet you cast hers aside as if he were an old shoe. Now you shall have time to think about your actions, but it will be without this one. With a flick of his wand, Vernon Dursley was no more, and where he had stood was now an ape.
Severus shoved the stunned man-turned-ape into the cage, shrunk it and put it in his pocket. Severus had exacted his revenge and now left the muggle house, with a shrieking Petunia standing in the doorway.
As Severus walked back into Hogwarts, he was empty-handed. He had dropped off his little guest at the nearest zoo and headed straight to the Gryfindor common room. He did not want to admit it, but he was worried about Harry.
When he got to the portrait of the Fat Lady, he spoke the password, and entered. Severus was not used to being surrounded by gold and maroon objects, and it made him wince. He had not been here since he snuck Lily back after curfew their sixth year. Seeing no sign of either boy, he began the walk up to the dormitories. Passing the first-year dorms, he heard the two of them talking and stopped to listen in. He knew he shouldn't, but Harry seemed so independent, so afraid to speak of anything around him.
"Harry, we are best friends, you know. I will not let anyone hurt you. I am still a wizard, and Fred and George have taught me a few new spells," Ron said, trying to provoke something out of the boy.
"I've never had a best friend. What do friends do?"
"Well, for one, they play and sleep over and get into all kinds of trouble, mum says.
Harry almost laughed at that. "It seems we do get into a little trouble," and then Harry's face turned solemn.
Ron could see the change even at his young age and wrapped his arm around Harry. "That git should be locked away forever, mate, for hurting you."
Both boys jumped as Severus walked in. "How right you are, Mr. Weasley. I do believe I have solved the problem of your uncle, Harry. He will trouble you no more."
Harry stared at him. "He will be angry. What have you done? Now I have to go back to him," he said, his eyes tearing up at the thought of it.
"You, Harry, will be staying here with me from now on, if that suits you." At the look Ron gave him, Severus snatched the boys' hands out. "This is for you," he said, placing thirty galleons in the boys' hands. "How about we go to Diagon Alley tomorrow, that is if you want to be seen with the greasy Potions' master."
Harry and Ron merely nodded their heads yes, both too stunned to say anything else.
Severus got up to leave the room, but turned once more at the door. "If you are wondering where your uncle is, don't. He is safe and can no longer bother you, Harry. Mr. Weasley, your mother will be here shortly to check on you. It is your choice to tell her of the money." Severus then closed the door and headed off to the headmaster to explain his actions.
After twenty minutes of introductions and stares, Mrs. Weasley had covered both boys in layers of kisses. Ron had forgone telling his mother about the money, and when Harry almost mentioned it he had elbowed him for silence. With a promise to be good, and not get into any more trouble, Ron was allowed to stay the weekend. This brought a genuine smile to Harry's face as he discovered that he might indeed have a friend for the first time ever.
