Harry fidgeted as he stood in the headmasters office, his pulse was racing and his anxiety was going through the roof, but there was no way he could now escape the man's watchful gaze. He cursed himself silently, he should have brought Elizabeth with him, she would've watched out for him, she could have eased the tightness in his chest and the dread he felt in his bones. However he had came alone, and that was the stupidest thing he could have ever done. Taking a deep breath he slowly approached the headmaster's desk and took a seat in one of the chairs that stood before it. His hands rested on his lap as he looked up into the blue bespectacled eyes.

"Thank you for coming Harry, I know things have been difficult for you for the last few weeks, but that will soon becoming to an end." Dumbledore stated as he looked at the young man. "Everything has been taken care of"

There was something inside Harry's chest at his words, had he decided that the proper place for him to be was with his father and his sister? Had Dumbledore really taken care of Everything so he didn't have to go back to the Dursleys ever again?

"Really Sir?" He asked a she sat up a little straighter, happiness slowly blooming with in him.

"Yes Harry" he smiled as he pulled out a file from a desk drawer and set it in front of him, sliding it to Harry. Quickly he grabbed the folder and opened it quickly, but the happiness he had felt died in an instant as he read over the papers. He couldn't believe it. These papers did not transfer guardianship over to Snape but instead it affirmed that his Aunt and Uncle as his only living family.

"I didn't think you wanted to go live with someone with such a questionable background as Professor Snape. Heaven knows he would have lost custody of Elizabeth if he had not paid off the court system" Harry shook his head. As he continued to stare at the papers, he would chose Snape over his Aunt and Uncle anyway. At least he would be safe with him. At least he wouldn't be beaten, at least he could be happy and loved.

"And your Aunt and Uncle have agreed to take you for the holiday" The papers slipped from his hands as he looked up in disbelief. This had to be a bad dream, something terrible. "They are waiting for you as we speak, they have agreed to have a floo connected to get you there safely. Harry continued to shake his head as the Headmaster stood and walked around the desk.

Harry fought as Dumbledore helped him to stand, but the old man was stronger than one would think. He was shoved towards the fireplace, a mantra of 'Nonononononono' leaving his mouth and echoed in his head. But there was no one to help him as the flames turned green as she was shoved in, before he knew it, the fire and consumed him.

SS

Something was off, Severus knew it the moment he stepped back onto the grounds, something felt off and he didn't like it, not one bit. Frowning he made his way quickly back to the castle, his cloak billowing behind him, making him blend into the darkness as the snow crunched under his feet. The castle was dead quiet as he slipped through the entrance doors, it was late but that never stopped students from running rampant just before they were to be sent home for the holiday, but this was different. It was an eerie silence, one that bothered him more than he would actually let on as he made his way down to his chambers. He entered to find Elizabeth curled up on his chair, staring into the fire, quietly his onyx eyes scanned the room, and found that she was the only occupant.

"Where is Harry?" Severus asked as he shrugged out of his cloak, throwing it over the back of the sofa as he moved to stand by the chair his little girl had perched on.

"He didn't show up" She said as she continued to stare into the fireplace, the orange light illuminating her face and eyes, the concern etched in her features. "Didn't show up for dinner either"

The Potion's master felt his pulse began to race as he ran a cold hand through his hair. "Did you go looking for him?" He asked as he tried to keep the panic out of his voice as Elizabeth finally turned to look up at him.

"Of Course I did, I asked around, No one saw him, no one has seen him" Elizabeth sighed "I don't like this, He wouldn't have just vanished off the face of the earth, Dad, you know that. I have a feeling he had a bit of help."

Severus' eyes narrowed at the implications, but he didn't doubt it, he never doubted that the old fool would have done something to the boy, the question was what? And Severus was going to find out.

"Stay here, I have some business to attend to" The head of Slytherin stated as he turned on his heal and headed towards the door that lead to his office.

HP

Harry landed in the living room of Number four Privet Drive with a thud, He didn't dare look up from his place on the floor as he saw the familiar shoes that belonged to his Uncle. The teen was overcome by fear as he felt a meaty hand grab him by the collar of his shirt and haul him to his feet, he gulped as he saw the plum color of his uncles face as he moved his eyes from the floor.

Seconds later he went flying to the floor as his Uncle tossed him to the side, his bulk towering over the small Gryffindor boy. Please let them find me... please come and save me Dad... Harry thought as the blows started to rain down on his body as his Uncle yelled at him, but what was said was lost as he tried to block out the pain, as he tried to imagine if he didn't go to Dumbledore, then he would be sitting with Elizabeth, far away from this hell hole. He would be safe with people that loved him, with the man who was his father, and the girl who had saved his life. Closing his eyes, he hoped they would come and look for him, he hoped they would save him.