Dreams and Vows

Summary: Severus Snape dreams of a boy in a cupboard for weeks before realizing it is Harry Potter. Afraid the boy has been kidnapped, he investigates. What he finds will change his life forever. Snape's point of view. Hopefully, a new spin on the rescue story.

Notes: It is AU but uses JKR's characters and settings, which obviously belong to her. The story is for fun and not for profit.

Thank you to my beta theothersideofthings!

Warning: child neglect/ cruelty

Chapter 1: The Dream

Almost every night it was the same. There was a boy in a small, dark space. The child was likely seven or eight and his clothes hung like rags on his thin frame. The effect was increased by the fact that the clothes were at least three or four sizes too big and covered in stains and tears.

In the dream, the child never moved. He appeared to be alive only because he took shallow, ragged breaths. He lay on a thin, lumpy mattress with a meager, coarse blanket as his only protection from the cold. Although it was almost winter, the child was not wearing warm pajamas. Instead, he was wearing a thin shirt and trousers with the legs rolled up several times, along with trainers that let his toes peak through the tips.

There was never much light, but it was often possible to make out the other inhabitants of the space. Several pacing spiders' lacy webs made up the only decorations. There was also a bucket in one corner, a mop, and what looked like several containers of cleaning supplies. These made poor company for a small boy.

Despite its consistency of the dream's appearance, the details of the dream were not always the same. After what seemed like weeks of the experience, little by little was becoming clearer, as if a sketch was being meticulously drawn with each night.

This time was no different, but for the first time, details of the boy's face were clearer. There was a drawn expression, either of pain or fear. The boy was not getting a restful sleep either. His body jerked with a startle —definitely alive—and his fingers brushed at the fringe of his hair in his subconscious tremor.

This action revealed a scar on the boy's forehead, it was shaped like a lightning bolt.

Severus Snape shot bolt upright in a cold sweat. He wanted to believe that this had only been a nightmare, perhaps brought on by the vestiges of guilt. He knew better though. He always strengthened his occlumency shields before falling asleep at night. It was second nature to him; he never forgot. Even with the Dark Lord gone for years, old habits die hard. He still needed a defense against the nightmares that plagued him.

No, these dreams came to him for a reason. They always left him with a strange uneasiness. He was starting to wonder if it had been a premonition. Severus Snape was no seer, but he knew that something like this should not be ignored. Now that he knew who the dreams were about, he had to act.

Hurrying across the room to the fireplace in his bedroom, he reached up to the mantle and tossed a handful of powder into the fire from the jar of Floo powder. The flames burned from a lazy red to a fluorescent green. He took barely a moment to compose himself.

"Headmaster Dumbledore's Office!" Severus commanded firmly, before disappearing into the flames.

As he stepped out the large fireplace on the other end, Severus was not at all surprised to find the venerable old wizard already waiting for him, sitting behind his desk stroking his spectacular phoenix while wearing luxurious purple robes.

"Good evening, Severus. To what do I owe this pleasurable surprise?" Albus's tone was mild, but his curiosity shone in his eyes.

"It's Potter, Albus. I think he's been kidnapped!"