a/n: revised 08/29/07 to include some spoilers from DH, mainly the fact that Severus knew both Petunia and Lily as a child. I am using this fact because it will help develop the character Petunia. The changes are minor and do not affect the plotline. I have created a forum for people to discuss the story and bug me for updates. I believe you can access it from my author's page.

a/n: I would like to thank all who reviewed. I would also like to remind readers that I said this story would contain corporal punishment of minors.

Chapter 4

Meanwhile, Harry's terrible day had turned into a horrendous week. Harry had awoken in his cupboard, not quite sure how he had gotten there. He tried to come to breakfast only to be told that he was grounded, and that he would not be leaving his 'room' for the next five days. When he had asked why, he had been jerked out long enough for his uncle to cuff him about the head and launch in to a long tirade about how he had embarrassed the family. According to the man, Harry had been found atop the school chimney the previous day. Harry tried to argue that he hadn't done anything, but his uncle merely cuffed him again before stuffing him back into the cramped cupboard.

In the long hours that followed, Harry tried to remember what had happened. But it seemed the only thing that stuck in his mind was a man's face, and a very scary man at that. Without any proof to the contrary, Harry supposed the Dursley's must have been right. He spent the next five days hungry and alone, only getting to eat when he could sneak into the kitchen after the rest of the family went to sleep. Finally, on Wednesday morning, he was free. After a stern lecture, he was sent to school. As often happened, Harry was now behind in his lessons. So while the other children were allowed to run and play during lunch and recess, Harry was left to sit in the classroom completing his missed work. And to make it worse, his first day back the whole school was called to an assembly. Harry was publicly reprimanded, and the headmistress grimly informed the students that anyone caught climbing school buildings would be suspended as he had been. Harry had blushed furiously through the entire scene, wishing the ground would open and swallow him up.

Severus apparated to the outskirts of Little Whinging. Knowing he had to blend in well in order to complete his mission, Snape had reluctantly donned muggle clothing. Unlike many of his wizarding peers, Snape made it a point to know how to dress appropriately when he had to foray into the non-magical world, even going so far as to make a point of continuing to keep up with the current trends in muggle clothing. He detested muggles generally, but Severus was much too proud of a man to allow himself to be seen dressed in unsuitable clothing.

He strode down the street, passing a school, and a neat row of houses. His attention was drawn to an altercation between some boys that appeared to be about Potter's age. He was going to continue on his way until he noticed the child who appeared to be in the midst of the foray was none other than the boy he was looking for.

For reasons unknown to him, four very large boys seemed to be intent on pummeling the child. Wanting to get Potter alone, Severus sent stinging hexes to the posteriors of each of his attackers. As the boys howled and danced around trying to rub out the fire Snape had ignited in their bottoms, Potter took the opportunity to disappear under a nearby bush.

The other boys looked around, bewildered as to what had stung each of them. One of them suggested that perhaps it had been a bee. The boys searched for a beehive for a few minutes, before losing interest and taking off to play somewhere else. Knowing that Potter had nowhere else to go, Snape walked over to the bush and said, "You may come out boy, they are gone."

There was no way Harry was going to come out of the safety of the hole he had found. He had no idea who the man now standing in front of him was. He remembered well the lessons he had learned at school about 'strangers' and there was no way Harry was going to come out and let some stranger take him and do the things the police constable had warned his class might happen if they were abducted. Harry curled into a ball, hoping the strange man would go away soon.

Severus glared at the bush. He knew the boy was in there, most likely hurt. Why the child would not come out he did not know. He said in a low, clipped voice, "Potter, you may not remember me, so I shall introduce myself again. I am Severus Snape, and I have come to see to your safety. You will come out at once, or suffer the consequences."

Harry recognized the voice, although he did not know from where. He slowly crawled out, and stood, looking up to the stern face above him. It was the scary man from his dream! Harry was regretting his decision to leave the safety of his hiding place. Thinking quickly, he stomped hard on the man's foot, and then attempted to flee.

Snape cursed, and stifled the urge to throttle the boy then and there. He raised his wand, petrifying the child before he could get more than five steps away. He followed that with several stinging hexes to the boy's bottom before muttering another spell so that any muggles passing by would not notice them. He stalked over to the boy, who was lying face down on the ground. He knelt down turning the child over. Potter was a mess. The taped glasses had broken completely, and were hanging off one ear. The boy was sporting a black-eye, and his his nose was bleeding profusely. Tears leaked from the child's eyes as he looked at Snape in fear.

Severus pulled out a handkerchief to stopper the bleeding, before conjuring a bowl of water and a clean cloth. He removed Potter's glasses, healing first his nose and then his eye. After cleaning the boy's face, and making sure he had no other major injuries, he repaired Potter's glasses, and returned them to their rightful place.

He saw recognition in the boy's eyes. "I see you now remember me," he said, looking intensely at the child.

He continued, "Whether or not you believe it, Potter, I am attempting to protect you. You will not attack me or attempt to run again. Unless, of course," he said with a smirk, "you wish that backside of yours to sting quite a bit more than it does now."

The man stood and Harry saw a flash of red light, then noticed he could move again. However, before he had time to get up on his own, he was jerked to his feet. His chin was grabbed in a tight hold and Harry was forced to look up into the dark eyes of the man he now remembered as the professor. "You will behave."

"Y-yessir," said Harry softly.

Severus took the child's hand. He remembered seeing a cafe when he first apparated. Believing that to be a better place to talk to the boy, he headed off in that general direction. Potter now walked meekly alongside of him. He heard quiet sniffles from the boy and noticed him reaching around quite often to try and rub the sting out of his obviously quite sore bottom. Snape had developed the particular stinging hex he used on the boys himself. He had been told by several of the youngsters in his house that it felt rather like a switch had been used on their bare bums. However, unlike a switch, it did not mar the skin, and Snape felt safe to use it on any miscreant who defied him.

By the time they had reached the cafe, the boy's tears had subsided. Snape chose an out of the way booth. Potter looked at him pitifully when ordered to sit, but Snape merely pointed at the seat and glared at the boy. The child sat gingerly, clearly still feeling the effects of Snape's earlier displeasure.

"Have you eaten today?" Snape inquired gruffly.

"Y-yessir."

At Snape's raised eyebrow, the boy said, "R-really, I did." He added softly, "Just not very much."

"Why is that?" Snape asked, knowing he probably didn't want to hear the reply.

Harry shrugged and said, "Dudley took most of it."

The waitress appeared, and Severus ordered a light meal for both of them. While they were waiting, Severus was determined to get some answers. He said, "Explain to me why those boys were attacking you."

"They were Harry-hunting"

"Harry-hunting?"

"Yeah, it's a game my cousin likes to play."

"And what is the object of this particular 'game'?"

"To catch me and beat me up," said Potter matter-of-factly.

"Have you told your guardians about this 'game' your cousin plays?" asked Severus.

"Yeah, once." said Harry. "But then I got in trouble for telling lies about Dudley."

Severus wanted nothing more than to march to Petunia's home and turn Potter's relatives into something worse than toads. Slugs maybe. But to do such a thing would tip Dumbledore off. Severus needed to know more about what was going on, so that he could develop a plan. However, from the few facts Potter had revealed, along with the flashes of memories he had seen in the boy's mind, he was quite sure this cousin of his was nothing more than a bully. Over the years, Snape had become quite adept in dealing with such children. He had taken more than one boy down a peg or two, and relished the thought of making sure this muggle never attacked a wizard again.

Deciding to change the subject, Snape said, "Exactly what do you remember of our last meeting?"

"I remember I was running from Dudley, and then you found me on the street." Harry blushed and said, "You sp-spanked me because I tried to get away. And you took my voice away. But then you gave it back. And you believed me when I told you what happened, and you can tell when people lie to you...and...that's all, I guess."

"You remember nothing more about that day?"

Harry thought hard. "Y-you were wearing a black dress, and you have a really weird stick." He paused and then added, "And you're a professor, and I'm supposed to call you Sir."

Severus pursed his lips. He would not yell at the boy. However, it was taking every bit of control he had to not to berate Potter and tell him in no uncertain terms that Severus Snape did not wear a dress! Apparently his countenance betrayed him, as the child's eyes suddenly widened and the boy looked down and said, "S-sorry, S-sir."

Severus sighed. Losing his temper would not do. He forced his face into a neutral pose. In a quiet, but firm voice he ordered, "Look at me."

The child raised tearful eyes to him. Satisfied that he had the boy's attention, he said, "I am not angry at you, Potter. It is your dreadful lack of knowledge that infuriates me."

"Oh," said Harry not understanding at all.

"Tell me boy," said Severus, "How is it that I, as you said, took your voice away?"

Potter seemed to ponder that for a moment, before replying in an excited voice, "You're magic!"

Severus looked around the cafe surreptitiously. To his surprise, none of the muggles seemed to be bothered by the boy's outburst. Still, he did not want any attention drawn to them. "Lower your voice!" he admonished harshly.

The boy deflated visibly in front of him. Severus said in a calmer voice, "You are not mistaken, Potter." However, the child only seemed to withdraw farther. Snape silently cursed, deciding that Petunia and her family would indeed pay for their obvious mistreatment of a wizardling. Before Severus could attempt to bring the boy out of his reverie, their meals arrived.

Severus began to eat his filled baguette, but stopped when he noticed the boy had not moved. Using the gentlest voice he could muster, he said, "Eat, child."

When the boy still did not move, Severus sharpened his tone. "Potter!"

The child jumped and looked up at him. Snape pointed at the boy's plate and said, "Eat. Now."

Harry really had not meant to make the professor mad. How could he have been so stupid to say that the professor was magic? Everyone knew magic wasn't real. But how else could he explain what happened to him when he was around the surly man? When ordered to eat, Harry looked at the plate woefully. He was feeling sick to his stomach, and was sure he couldn't eat a bite. But knowing that disobedience was not an option, He picked up the sandwich in front of him.

Certain that Potter would acquiesce, Severus tucked into his own meal, although he continued to watch the child closely. At first the boy only nibbled at the baguette in his hands, but soon he began to eat with gusto. After a moment, Severus began to fear that the boy would choke and reached over and grabbed his hand. When the child looked up fearfully, Severus said calmly, "No one will take your food away. However I do expect you to behave in a civilized manner when eating. Is that clear?"

Potter swallowed and nodded. Once Snape released the boy's hand he noticed that the child made a concerted effort to eat more sedately and used the napkin that had been provided.

The meal was proceeding in relative peace until a family entered the restaurant, talking boisterously. He recognized Petunia straight off, the sour look on her face reminding him the the many times he had seen that same look as a child. She was accompanied by a large walrus shaped man, and a boy who seemed to be a miniature (if a child that large could be called miniature) version of him. Snape's eyes narrowed at the boy. It was one of the children he had caught attacking Potter.

Snape noticed that Potter had paled. The fact that the child was so obviously frightened just from seeing his family told Snape a great deal about his homelife. He motioned for the boy to be silent. The family chose to sit in a booth directly in front of them, but luckily the booth seats were tall enough that they had not seen the boy.

Potter's cousin wailed, "But mummy it hurts!" when asked to sit down.

"Duddykins," she said, "I looked sweety. There isn't a mark on you." Potter covered his mouth and started giggling. Obviously he had seen the other boys jumping around rubbing the seat of their pants earlier.

Severus' attention was drawn back to the family in front of him when the man growled, "When I get hold of that boy, I'm going to box his ears. I'm sure this is more of his freakish nonsense!"

"Now Vernon," said Petunia reasonably, "let's not worry about him. We'll have a nice dinner, and then we're going to see a movie. What was that one you wanted to see again, Duddykins?"

Then the large child began talking loudly about getting to see something called "Who Framed Roger Rabbit." Severus returned his attention to Potter. The boy had his head down and seemed to be intent on playing with the hem of his overly large shirt. Snape said quietly, "Do they always speak of you in this fashion?"

Potter nodded. Just then the boy's cousin got up, ostensibly to use the loo. As he passed the booth he turned, and seeing Potter, he said loudly, "The freak's here, Daddy!"

The man lumbered over, grabbed Potter's shirt and yanked him out of his seat. The boy was hanging inches from the man's purple face.

"Why you little..."

Severus interrupted the man, saying in a deadly calm voice, "Unhand the boy. Now."

Still holding Potter, the man turned and said "What business is it of yours if I punish my own nephew?"

Severus said quietly, "I am an acquaintance of the boy's parents. Unless you wish to anger me further, I would suggest you put...the...boy...down."

The muggle dropped Potter and advanced toward Severus, saying, "You're another one of those freaks! I'll not have you filling the boy's head with nonsense!"

"I would not try it if I were you, Dursley," said Severus, pulling out his wand so only the man could see it. He continued, "If I had not seen your brat attacking Potter, I may not have taken an interest in him. However, now that I have, let me assure you that I will be checking on the boy regularly. If I feel that he is receiving less than adequate care, you will see just how 'freakish' I can get."

The man's face grew even more purple, but he seemed to at least have enough sense to know to not try to attack a full fledged wizard. He turned and sat back down with Petunia, apparently believing if he ignored them they would go away. Severus turned to check on the boy. He looked shaken, but otherwise alright. Severus placed enough muggle money on the table to pay for their meals and then held his hand out to the boy. Potter took it wordlessly. As he passed the muggles' table he turned to them and said, "It appears you will be occupied for the evening. What time should the boy return home?"

Petunia whispered harshly, "You! Lily told me about you! You're a follower of that man who killed them!" She reached over and tried to pry Harry from Snape's grasp. But Harry turned and grabbed Snape's waist and held on for dear life.

Snape placed a protective hand on Harry's back and smirked at her. Then his face became very serious and he said, "Yes, at one time I was a follower of the Dark Lord. But the day I found out he wanted to harm Lily's child, my allegience to him ended. I became a spy for Dumbledore, but unfortunately I was unable to discover who the traitor was, and could not prevent Lily's death. The day she died I made a vow to protect the boy."

Then she looked at him and spat out, "We were promised that your kind would leave us alone!"

Before she could say more, Severus said, "If you had been treating the boy appropriately, I would not need to be involved!"

"What have you been telling him?" the woman demanded of Potter.

Before the boy could say anything, Severus said, "As of yet, very little. But I'm sure by the end of the evening I will have a full picture of his life with you."

"Maybe you should just take him. We never wanted him," she said nastily.

Severus leaned into the table so his nose was just inches from Petunia. He whispered, "While the Dark Lord may be vanquished, I assure you his followers have not been. However, if you want me to take the boy, I shall. And as I am a former follower of the Dark Lord, I know just who to contact when the wards fall. They will know exactly where you are, and I assure you that they would like nothing more than to erase away any existence of Harry Potter's family. Are you really willing to endanger your life so?"

The woman seemed to deflate. She said in a monotone voice, "Nine. We will be returning by 9 p.m. If you are finished with the boy before then, take him to Mrs. Figg's. The boy knows the way."

Severus ordered Potter to let go of him, grabbed his hand, and then turned and left the restaurant. This day was not going as planned. But perhaps having the child for the evening would allow him to get the answers he sought. He ordered the boy to show him the way to his home. It was time to see just what kind of existence Potter had.