Harry laid on the floor of what was supposed to be his bedroom, facing the wall as he laid on his side to keep pressure off of his chest and back. He didn't remember being dragged up the stairs and flung into the closet sized room, he didn't know how long he had been kicked or hit with fists or the belt, and he had no idea how long he had actually been gone. Would they come looking for him? Would they notice? Or would Elizabeth and his father just think he changed his mind and went back home without him with them?
He closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around his middle as he shivered from the cold that was seeping into his body from the floor and the cool winter air that came in through the crack in the window. The cold made his fingers go numb and the tears in his clothes more apparent as the chill stung his skin. Harry wanted nothing more than to be warm, warmer than he was, but there was nothing to cover up with, what had been his bed was stripped bare of bedding and the clothes he had been dressed in did nothing for him.
The gryffindor took in a shuddered breath as he screwed his eyes up tighter, his numb fingers gripping the fabric of his shirt as he felt his eyes burn, praying that the sensation would go away before the tears began to slide down his cheeks. His warm tears cooled on his face as they met the air and his throat burned as he suppressed a sob.
He thought that he had escaped this hell, he had a new place to go, where people loved him and that wanted him, and yet that seemed so far away now. He scolded himself for being so stupid for thinking he had finally escaped, for thinking he had a family.
Severus had wasted little time once he apparated from just beyond the school gates. His boots hit the ground with a soft thud as he appeared in the shadows near the street sign in the darkness. He stayed out of the glow of the street lamps as he made his way towards number 4 privet drive, wand in hand.
Snow crunched under his feet as he walked up the drive, occasionally glancing over his shoulder, looking for anything that may show he had been followed by an order member.
Severus knew he was in the clear as he walked up the path that lead to the Dursley's door, if he had been followed, he was certain they would never have allowed him to get so close to the house. He didn't think they would wait for him to actually enter the house before stepping in.
The house still looked as quaint as ever and nearly christmas card ready with the snow powdered roof and lawn, if only the house was placed in the middle of the forest with a few lights on and the car gone, it would have fit perfectly, and was what made him uneasy.
The Potions' Master made his way around the house, noting the curtains were pulled shut, more likely to keep people from looking in than for the occupants to look out.
The gate to the back opened with ease, though the hinges creaked as it was pushed open, causing Severus to grimace. He threw a quick look over his shoulder to ensure no one had noticed the noise and looked out their window before slipping into the back.
The sliding glass door did not have curtains like the rest of the windows, nor did it have a set of vertical blinds, allowing him a chance to look into the house before he entered. It wasn't the first time he had broken into a house, sneaking in while the occupants slept, oblivious to the fact he was in their domain, however that was for a different reason back then.
Severus tapped his wand against the door handle, the lock tumbling open with a soft sound that just seemed to echo in the silent house. He paused for a moment as he waited to see if anyone had noticed the sound. Quietly he slid open the door, making the gap between the doorframe and the glass door wide enough that he could just slide in.
The wet soles of his boots squeaked slightly on the tiled floor of the dining room as he ventured deeper into the house, frowning at the pink stripped wallpaper that had more or less gone out of style a decade before he was born. His frown deepened as he glanced at the pictures that adorned the walls: they were all of the family; Petunia, her husband, and their son, who quite frankly had to be bigger than Crabbe or Goyle or Bulstrode. However, there was no picture of his son, there was no sign of him at all.
Why Albus thought that these people were the right people to raise Harry was beyond him, but as he trekked up the stairs, he vowed that the boy would never return, they would have to kill him to get the chance.
The stairs creaked under his weight as he went, and he paused more than once to make sure no one was wakened by the noise, and Severus was quite thankful no one was waiting for him at the landing.
"Lumos" Severus muttered under his breath as soon as he stepped up on the landing, he thought it would be difficult to find his son's room amongst the row of closed doors, however, the first door to his right caught his attention almost immediately. The door was lined with more locks than a hardware store would have, and the cat flap at the bottom of the door only made his skin prickle and the uneasy feeling from earlier to become stronger.
Severus wasted no time opening the door, the locks clicking open and the chain rattled slightly, breaking the silence that blanketed the house.
Harry's body tensed as he heard the locks tumble open at his door. He pulled his knees to his chest to the best of his ability in an attempt to make his body smaller and less noticeable to whomever was on the other side of the door. He hoped it wasn't his uncle, he hadn't made any noise, or maybe his uncle couldn't sleep and decided to pay him a visit to see if it would tire him out.
He closed his eyes as the door creaked open and he waited for the thick heavy footsteps to approach him and begin his assault. But that never came, instead, there were lighter, softer footsteps that treaded carefully on the floor.
He refused to look up as the footsteps stopped incase it was a trick. Instead Harry dug his fingers into the fabric of his shirt as a soft sob escaped his lips. He waited for the heavy hand to grasp the back of his shirt and haul him to his feet, but the only hand that came cupped the side of his face. The unexpected touch made him flinch and a soft sound escaped his lips again as he moved back slightly. His eyes flew open to search the darkness around him.
It took a few seconds for his eyes to find the outline of the man crouched a few inches from him. The tension eased from his body as Severus reached out again and laid a hand on his cheek, the man's warm hand heating up his cool skin.
Severus fought to force his anger down the moment he laid eyes on Harry laying in the middle of the bedroom floor, his clothes tattered and his body shivering from the low temperature in the room.
His first instinct was to go and search for the other occupants in the house and deal with them himself, though there were more pressing matters at hand. He moved into the room quietly, kneeling next to his son.
The Potions' Master fought back his anger once more the moment Harry flinched from his touch, silently vowing to come back for the boy's uncle at a more appropriate time.
"It's alright." Severus assured him as he withdrew his hand from the boys cool face, quickly pulling off his cloak to drape over the gryffindors cold body.
Harry gasped in pain as Severus slipped his arms under his body, lifting him up as he stood. The small body in his arms curled in towards his chest, the bruised face hiding in the crook of his neck.
Severus tucked his cloak tighter around the boys body before apparating on the spot, disappearing with a loud crack