Snape:

The first place he had sought out, though it was possibly beneath a Death Eater meeting on his list of places he would like to go, was Petunia Dursley's house. Arabella Fig had proven to be most useless in providing any substantial information on where the child might be. She admitted that the last time she had actually seen the boy was almost a week ago, when the child had been weeding the front garden. In fact, she had only notified Albus after seeing a poster of the boy on a lamppost the day before today.

As he approached the front door of number 4 Privet Drive, Severus braced himself for a less than enjoyable conversation. The front door was inoffensive, but he could only look on in disdain at the tacky gnomes placed perfectly perpendicular to the door on the front step. With a calming breath, Severus Snape rapped twice on the door, firmly. He could just make out hushed voice from within when the door creaked open.

"What are you doing here?" The horse faced woman hissed at him, keeping the door as closed as she could in the process. Petunia Dursley was more concerned with the neighbours, who she knew would be looking at the funnily dressed man with eager eyes. Severus was tempted to speak louder, if only to embarrass the woman, but he reminded himself, it was not what he had come here for.

"I'm here about the boy, Petunia" he drawled in response, feigning complete disinterest in his task. In actual fact, Severus Snape was quite concerned. He cared little for the Potter boy, he told himself, but that did not mean he wanted the child tortured by Death Eaters.

"Well" she spoke quietly and uncertainly, "he isn't here". As she spoke, she attempted to close the door so that she could be done with the mess. She hadn't asked for the boy, in fact given a choice she would have firmly said that she would not take the boy in. He only took away the time she was supposed to give to her Duddykins, and for what purpose? So that he could run off at 11, just like her sister had done, abandoning the family who raised him so that he could wave a silly wand around. Her thoughts, however, were interrupted as the Potions Master spoke again.

"I am aware" idiot woman, though he made sure to add the last bit in silently. "When did you last see him? And where?" he pressed on, hoping to move on with his day and find the child so that he could get back to Hogwarts, and restart his potion. Though, as the horse faced woman opened her mouth to respond, a small could he say small? Boy appeared behind her.

"They here 'bout Harry?" the podgy, almost rotundas boy asked his mother, chocolate smeared across his equally round face.

Harry

I'm not doing it anymore the young child huffed to himself as he sat on his bed, roughly brushing the tears off of his face with a scratchy sleeve. It was the middle of the night, but little Harry had not slept. It had started a few days ago, after he had accidentally made Dudley's shoes fall off while trying to run away from his podgy cousin. Aunt Petunia had been so angry that she had smacked him on his head! Then, she had made him wait in his cupboard under threat of Uncle Vernon returning home. Since then, things had been really off. His aunt and uncle were being meaner than ever, and Harry couldn't seem to do anything right.

With a small huff, the boy reached over and grabbed his (very) worn out backpack. He had picked it out at a charity shop when his school had told Aunt Petunia that he couldn't bring his stuff in using a plastic bag. Harry hadn't minded the plastic bags, because Aunt Petunia didn't get as angry when they would break. But, once he had gotten his own backpack, he had to be real careful about protecting it from the other kids, especially Dudley.

Harry had never run away before, and he didn't really know what one should bring with them. Glancing around his small cupboard, he thought there wasn't really much to bring. Of course, he would bring his tattered blanket in case he got cold. He had slept with the same blanket for as long as he could remember, and he liked to imagine that maybe his Mum or Dad had given it to him. Harry also put a tiny broken wooden horse in his bag. He remembered the first day of show and tell at school, when he had bought in his wooden horse.

"and this horse is really cool, because see here" the small boy declared, standing proudly in front of his class "that says JPSB" he continued, pointing at the tiny lettering on the bottom. His class stared back at him, unimpressed by the broken horse with its random letters.

"that's the worse toy I've ever seen" Charlie Pilkins snickered to Danny Myers, the two breaking out in fits of giggles. Harry could tell that even his teacher, Mrs Wilkinson, was unimpressed by his horse. She had given him that sad sort of smile that only adults give, like Mrs Fig had done when she saw Uncle Vernon push him in the rose bush.

"Harry only plays with broke toys" another child laughed, causing the small child to turn bright red.

It had been a terrible day, but it had not reduced the love he had for his small toy horse. He still didn't know what the letters meant Juice, peas, sugar, and beans? Harry knew though, that whatever it meant didn't really matter. He had something that nobody else in the world had! There was no horse like it, and no 5-year-old could convince him that his toy was rubbish.

Harry reached for the toy horse, placing it inside the backpack along with his blanket.

Snape

Severus sighed as he set off along the road that was Privet Drive. Petunia had proven herself as useful as Mrs Fig, stating the child had just up and left in the middle of the night. The man's cheek pulsed steadily as he thought just how much trouble the child would be when he reached his Hogwarts years. If he was already running away in the middle of the night at 5, what would he be doing by 11?

Severus had placed a spell on himself as he walked through the pouring rain. He was a wizard after all and would not be punished with soaking wet clothes because the little terror couldn't learn to stay in his house. The spell would allow it to look as though he was affected by the rain as much as the next muggle, but really he was dry as a slice of toast. His first thought was to check the playground. As much as he loathed reminiscing on his own childhood, he was in touch with those times enough to remember that every child loved the playground.

As he approached the small playground of Little Whingeing park, Severus spied a small child on a swing set, facing the opposite direction to himself. Briefly glancing around for any sign of an adult, who may have accompanied the child that looked to be no older than four or five, he began his approach.

"Where are your parents?" he demanded, slightly satisfied as the child immediately jumped off the swing and turned around to face him. At the blank, almost petrified look, Severus raised his eyebrow expectantly. "Well, are you mute? I asked you a question" he asserted more sternly.

"I'm not s'pposed to talk to strangers" the boy whispered back unsure of himself. Usually this line worked when he wanted to get out of speaking to an adult, though he had yet to meet Severus Snape.

"You've just spoken to me" the older man snapped back in satisfaction "now, where are your parents?" he enquired again, though he was now certain that the child before him was Harry Potter. When the child had looked up at him with wide eyes, her eyes, he had almost been lost for words. Thus, he knew the answer to his question, and he wasn't sure why he was pushing the child to answer.

"Not here" the child answered hesitantly. He didn't know why this strange man was so concerned about his parents. Everyone round here knew he lived with the Dursley's. The Dursley's would complain about it to whomever was willing to listen. Harry felt his heart beating fast in his chest. What if this was one of those strange men that snatched little boys from parks? His face would end up on this side of a milk carton to scare all the other young boys that thought about running away!

"Of course not, idiot child" the man responded, all patience now lost for the boy before him. The child was clearly trying to be obtuse.

"Hey! I'm no idiot!" the child suddenly shouted, somewhat shocking the older man. Where had this sudden bout of courage come from then? The older man thought, typical Gryffindor.

"You're a conniving little menace, Potter" he retorted "how dare you run away from your Aunts protection?" he continued as he watched many emotions flitter across the young face. Fear, indignation, shock, sadness?

My aunt's protection? The young boy thought, what did that mean? Maybe he had a different Aunt, that wasn't Petunia? Using the child's reverie to his advantage, Severus Snape reached down prepared to grab the child. He would return him to his Aunts, get back to the castle, inform Dumbledore, and return to his potion. However, he was not prepared for the reflexes of the child. As he reached an arm out to grab the boy, he felt a sharp pain in his shin. Had the boy really just kicked him?! I do not get paid enough for this he thought, as he watched the small form running across the park and out of one of the parks exits.

Harry

Harry was panting loudly as he ran across the park. He didn't dare look back in case the man was right behind him. He had never kicked anyone before and wasn't quite sure what had come over him. As the man had leant down to grab him, horrible thoughts of dungeons and torture had flashed through his mind. He had done the only thing he could think of and kicked the man, buying himself enough time to flee. Right then, the child thought, the park is definitely not an option anymore. He had thought it would be safe, as hardly any adults liked playing in the playground. The child slowed to a walk as he got out of the park, hiking his backpack up which had almost slipped off during his sprint. Harry knew that once it was dark again, he would be okay. Eventually, he would make his way to London like Oliver did. Harry knew that in London he could blend in, the adults had said there were so many people there that you could get lost like a shadow! That sounded like a dream to Harry.

Continuing along a little side road, still very much out of breath, Harry took a sharp left onto another road. Pausing at the street sign, he read aloud "Love Lane", a smile on his face as he did. Aunt Petunia had said he was rubbish at reading, just like his Mum had been, but Harry was sure it was just because the letters were too small. He had no trouble reading the street sign, with its big clear letters, and he knew he could read a whole book if all the words were that big. Smiling to himself, the scary park-man now forgotten, he continued on the Lane until he spied a little yellow shop with some chairs outside. I'll just sit down and rest for a minute the child thought to himself, oblivious to the rain pouring down on him and soaking him to the core.

Severus

He had watched as the child ran through the park, glowering to himself at the sheer audacity of it all. Blast Albus for sending me here, blast Minerva for evading this task, and blast the potter brat for interrupting an otherwise perfect Saturday the man muttered to himself as he followed the child's path. He refused to chase after the boy. If Potter wanted to get himself blown up by Death Eaters then so be it.

Stalking through the park, Severus did contemplate apparating back to Hogwarts. However, knowing that Dumbledore would send him straight back out looking, he knew he could not return until the child was back with his Aunt. Casting a 'point me' spell, Severus leisurely tracked the route of one Harry Potter, knowing the child would not have gotten far on his pathetically short legs. Turning a corner, Severus sneered at the sickly name of the road, Love Lane. No doubt that it was a muggle lane. No self-respecting wizard would ever title a road such a ridiculous name. Ah he thought, as the spell pointed him to a bright yellow café the child is close.

Peering through the glass of the yellow café, Isabella's Eatery, he could not help but sneer is disdain as the small child sipped a mug of hot chocolate, legs swinging merrily beneath his chair. Pushing the door to the café open he smiled smugly at the immediate look of fear when he called "Mr Potter". His attention was so focussed on the small child, he barely noticed a young woman speaking to him.

"Who are you?" She repeated herself, unsure of the man who had just entered her café.

"I am Severus Snape" he replied curtly, barely moving his eyes away from the child to answer the woman before him. He did not have time for any heroic muggles, hoping to save the small boy from the wrath of the Dungeon Master. The little blighter had kicked him! "I am here to return the boy to his family" the man continued, if only to appease the woman long enough to escort the child out.

"well, I've never seen you around here before" she returned, with suspicion towards the strange man. Granted, she had never seen the child with any adults before, save possibly one slightly dour looking woman. However, she most certainly had not seen this gentleman before, and felt a surge of protectiveness for the small boy she had met. Surely, she couldn't allow the man to just take the child, she had to do something!

"Regardless" the man elongated the word, somewhat annoyed by the muggle lady's questioning. Part of him, however, was pleased that the woman was clearly unsettled by him. It made him somewhat proud that he could still muster that effect on adults, and not just his students. "I have been tasked this responsibility" he continued, before turning to the child and addressing him directly "Potter, follow me".

The child stared back in disbelief, before glancing towards the young woman again.

Harry

Eyes scanned the small café as he looked for an escape route. Unfortunately, there was only one door in and out of the café, and that tall scary-looking park man was blocking it. He glanced back at Isabella again, hoping she might be able to help him escape the scary man.

"Now wait there" the young woman bravely interjected, addressing the man directly. "He still has a hot chocolate to finish up" she continued politely, smiling down at the young boy who had quickly abandoned his drink. "Why don't you take a seat with us?" she asked the man before taking a seat at the table with young Harry.

"Very well" the man replied through gritted teeth, hoping that his small acquiesces would encourage the woman to trust that he was not here to murder the child. She smiled back at him as he took a seat at their small table, glancing around at the brightly decorated café with undisguised disdain. "How quaint" he commented, uncomfortable by the small child who was staring at him with those eyes.

"so, is this your first time in Little Whingeing?" the young waitress asked, a vein attempt to make small talk and fill the awkward silence. "Most faces become familiar round here" she added, at the blank look she received from the man. He was rather unsettling, his dark cloak and ominous presence making her feel like a nervous school child.

"First and last" he replied, with a pointed look at the young boy who tried to hide himself behind his mug of hot chocolate.

"Harry here was just going to tell me where he was heading" the young woman responded, deciding to direct her attention back to the child, who was much less intimidating than the man.

"was he now?" the man asked, though his eyes remained on the child rather than on the woman with whom he was speaking.

Harry, who had sat there quietly watching the exchange between the adults, now realised both adults were expecting him to respond. However, he didn't really know where he was going. Besides, even if he did know, he wouldn't tell the strange man. Isabella seemed nice, but then so did Mrs Wilkinson and she had always made him go back to his Aunt too.

"I'm going to London" the boy said quietly, more to himself than to the adults. He cowered when the scary man snorted at his response, glancing up at him through thick eyelashes in an attempt to read the man. Harry had gotten very good at reading his Aunt and Uncle. He could tell when they were beginning to get angry at him, or when they spoke about him in front of him without mentioning his name. However, this other man seemed to be in a constant state of anger.

"You are going back to Privet Drive" the man responded decidedly, ignoring the look of indignation that flittered across the child's face. "Your Aunt has been worried sick, and you will be returned to her immediately" he continued as stubborn green eyes met his own. He noted the Gryffindor bravado returning to the boy's face and made a mental note to inform Dumbledore that his golden child was already in the Lions house.

"His Aunt?" the waitress interjected, a confused tone to her voice. "I thought you said you didn't have any family, Harry" she added, turning to the boy with a questioning look in her eyes.

"I don't" he returned, though he first glanced back at the scary man. How did the man know his Aunt? Maybe she had hired him like a secret detective he had seen in that one movie Dudley liked to watch. Maybe the man had been tracking him using hidden cameras or thought-detecting technology!

"You most certainly do" the man said sternly, before turning his attention back to the young waitress. "While your concern is most" Severus paused here, thinking of the right word to use "touching" he supplied, "Potter here has been most troublesome". Severus then watched as the young boy noticeably gulped, now knowing that the scary man must have been sent to take him back.

"Oh Harry" the woman said sympathetically, her eyes conveying warmth and sadness as she looked at the young child.

"I don't want no trouble" the boy implored, glancing between the two adults as he began to stand. He hadn't finished his Hot chocolate yet, but he knew he had to make a move. The adults were starting to cotton on to him, and the scary man had clearly cottoned on quite a while ago. Harry made to reach for his backpack, though his attempts were futile as the older man grabbed it first.

"Let us depart then, Potter" Severus spoke, as he too stood. "You are clearly finished with your beverage now" he added towards the waitress, hoping she would drop this newly found interest in the boy and return to her café duties.

"Well Harry" the woman began uneasily "you're always welcome to come by for a hot chocolate". Here, she spoke directly to the child, kneeling down to let him know that she truly meant her words.

"Thank you, ma'am," the child muttered before moving to stand closer to the older man, though he remained just out of the mans grasp.

As the pair turned to leave, Isabella Riley couldn't help her discomfort in letting the child go. Just as they approached the exit, she spoke once more "I will see you around soon Harry", she spoke more to offer herself the reassurance. If she didn't see him within the next two days, she would take action herself, even if it meant fighting that strange man with her bare hands. The small boy turned and offered her a small smile, and a barely noticeable wave, before disappearing out of the café.

Severus

"Keep up Potter" the man demanded briskly as he realised the child was lagging behind. He looked as though he was walking to his death sentence, dragging his feet along the pavement. At Severus' words however, the child began speeding up to catch up with the older man.

"What's your name?" the child asked as he reached the older man, who had paused his long strides to allow the child the opportunity to catch up. When he did not immediately get a response, the child dropped his head to study the pavement as they walked.

"Professor Snape" the man supplied curtly, glancing down at the top of the scruffy head of hair.

"Perfessor Snape" the child repeated, testing the name out for himself. "That's a funny a name" he added, looking up at the man with a grin. In response, Severus raised an eyebrow.

"What, exactly, is amusing about it, Potter?" he asked as he watched the smile fade from the boy's face. The child ignored his question, choosing instead to ask his own.

"My name's Harry" the boy said simply, as if Severus was not aware. The child continued as the older man rolled his eyes skyward "why do you call me Porter?"

"I call you Potter, Potter" the man snapped impatiently, "because that is your name" he continued. They had now reached the middle of the park, and Harry glanced guiltily at the sport where he had kicked the man.

"No" the boy elongated the word, as if explaining something to a two-year-old "my name is Harry" he added decisively. By this time, Severus had grown impatient with the child's stupidity and decided to walk in silence. "Mr Snape?" the child pressed, willing the man to take notice of his assertion that his name was in fact Harry.

Harry

Harry had decided it might be better to walk in silence too. The man was calling him weird names and getting angry over small things. When his Aunt and Uncle started behaving like that, he knew it was best to get out of their way. Still, he thought, at least the man was calling him Porter and not Freak. It was an okay name, even if it wasn't his name.

"Keep up, Potter" the man repeated himself, noticing that the boy had fallen behind once again. The older man paused in his strides, allowing the child an opportunity to catch up. He was pleasantly surprised when the boy broke into a jog to catch up to him. Harry, on the other hand, was simply trying to minimise the man's potential ire. He could tell the man wasn't happy, though he wasn't sure if his anger was directed at him or something else.

"Mr Snape?" the child asked as he began walking alongside the man again.

"Yes, Potter?" he sighed, abandoning his hopes for a silent walk back to the child's relatives house.

"if you're not from round here, where did you come from?" the child asked. It was an innocent question, and Severus knew there was little harm in him knowing.

"As I have told you, I am a Professor" he responded, looking at the child. Before he had the opportunity to state where he had come from, the child interrupted with another question.

"A Professor of what?" the child interjected, though he looked sheepish at the stern look the man had given him. He decided this would be his last question, as the man clearly did not like being asked things.

"Potions" he responded curtly, before turning his direction ahead of them, hoping the child would then walk in silence. Luckily for Severus, the one-word response had left Harry in silent contemplation.

Potions? the young child thought to himself. That wasn't a subject that he did at school. Maybe he would do it when he went to big school, like the one that Charlie Pilkins brother went to? It did not take long then, for him to pose a further question to the man, forgetting his previous commitment to asking no further questions.

"Do you teach Charlie Pilkins brother?" the child asked as he once again jogged to walk alongside the man.

"I know not of a Charlie Pilkins nor his brother" the man stated, before turning a corner which lead them on to Privet Drive. He watched as the child's face dropped once more. Was he upset that he didn't teach this Pilkins brother? Severus did not understand, nor did he care to try to. Children were strange creatures with precarious emotions that he did not want to waste time trying to understand.

As the older man walked towards number 4, Harry slowed his pace, feet dragging more and more as they approached the door. The older man was glancing back at him, as if to ensure he had not run off or disappeared from sight. The man turned up the path, seemingly unaware of the child's trepidation.

Oh boy Aunt Petunia's gonna be mad the child thought, as he looked at the weeds which had begun to sprout through the cracks in the driveway paving stones. He didn't think he had been gone long enough for them to regrow and had hoped he would be gone long enough that Aunt Petunia would move house, or buy some weed killer.

"Come on, Potter!" the man snapped impatiently at the child who stood, staring at some weeds like a simpleton, a look of horror on his face. "The sooner we get you in, the sooner I can get back" he added more to himself, before turning towards the front door.

"Please don't make me go back" the child whispered as he looked up at the man. Something about the child's face caused Severus to pause in wonder. He had seen that look before, on a young boy in Spinners End almost 20 years ago. It wasn't the kind of fear a child had when they had broken a vase and attempted to cover it up, only to be caught later. No, he thought, this was true fear. But why?