Chapter Three
You're telling me that you're going to stay here until these 'Dursleys' return? Slyther demanded. You are a fool of a human, Harry. Aren't you the least bit hungry?
"Yes," Harry said, ignoring the rumble of his stomach. "I'm starving and I've eaten almost everything in the fridge, and I am getting a bit sick of canned food. But I can't leave the Dursley's. They'll be mad if they found out."
Who will tell them? Slyther asked. They're in Mexico.
"Someone might find out," Harry pointed out. "And where would I go? I don't have any other place to stay, Slyther."
First off, you should find something to eat before you start hallucinating about food.
"Hallucinating?" Harry repeated. "What do you mean?"
Do you ever watch the television? Slyther demanded. Well, I was watching a show earlier today. Somebody didn't eat a single thing for days, and they started to hallucinate about a ball being a cheeseburger.
"What exactly are you saying?"
You might start hallucinating that I'm a French fry. You could eat me.
"I'm not going to eat you," Harry said with a frown. "That'd be gross."
Well, then we should go out before it gets too dark.
"And go where? Say what?"
That you're a lost little boy that's starving for food, and if they could pretty please give you some food to eat.
"I don't think so, Slyther—"
Fine then, Slyther interrupted. Starve to death. It's not as if I care.
"Oh, fine!" Harry exclaimed, getting up from the chair and grabbing his shoes. "Where're we going?"
-
"No means no, Albus," Snape argued impatiently. "We've already went over this. Stop being so persistent."
"Severus, I'm asking you if you can please check on Harry. That's all, it's not as if I am asking you to adopt him." Snape scowled.
"That would never happen, Albus. Why can't you check on the boy?"
"I would in a split second," Albus said calmly, "But, I am far too busy."
"And if, hypothetically, I do check on Potter, and he is alone at number Four, Privet Drive, what would you want me to do with him?"
"Bring him back to Hogwarts, of course," Albus replied.
"What about the Dursleys? What would they think when they come back to an empty house?"
"We'd simply question them. Ask them why did they not bring Harry along with them on their vacation?"
Snape was quiet for several minutes before letting out an exasperated sigh, and his lip curled in distaste. "I really would rather not to—"
"Severus," Albus said, looking Snape in the eye. "Please. I'm not asking you to like the boy or anything of that sort. I just don't want Harry to be alone in a house while the Dursley's are away in Mexico."
Disgust crossed Snape's face. "Fine."
A smile settled on the Headmaster's thin lips. "Thank you, Severus."
-
"It's cold for a summer's night," Harry said. He let Slyther wrap around his arm as they walked away from the Dursley's home.
If you want, Slyther suggested, we can go back. I just don't want you to starve.
"Is that a hint of concern I hear, Slyther?" Harry asked with a grin.
Of course not, Slyther said quickly. But you don't want to starve, do you?
"No," Harry said. "But where are we gonna go?"
Somewhere that looks decent.
"And somewhere close, too," Harry added.
-
"My feet hurt," Harry complained. "Do you see somewhere, anywhere, Sir Hiss?"
Pardon me? Slyther said, sounding shocked. Did you just call me 'Sir Hiss'?
"Sorry," Harry said. "I just wanted to see what it sounded like. That's better than Cornflakes, isn't it?"
I'd rather William Snakespeare.
"But you like Slyther, don't you?" Harry asked tentatively.
I'm getting used to it, Slyther said. It's really actually growing on me. Harry—do you see that place in the distance?
Harry squinted, and he could, in fact, see a little place on the right. "There? Why there?"
I can hear faint music, said Slyther. Can't you hear it? Harry stayed quiet and listened until the only bit of sound that could be faintly heard was his low breathing.
"A bit. It's not clear, though."
Well, at least we know it's inhabited. Why don't we try it?
"What've we got to lose?" Harry asked, taking a breath and resumed his walking. Whatever was going on in there with the loud music, couldn't be that bad.
-
"He's not here," Snape said out loud to himself. The Dursley's house was absolutely deserted. "They must've taken Potter along with them. Figures, spoiled brat," Snape muttered.
… … …
"Ah, Severus," Albus said as Severus appeared in his office. He frowned when he didn't see Harry with him. "Where's Harry?"
Snape's lip curled in disgust. "He wasn't there, Headmaster."
"He wasn't at number Four Privet Drive?" Albus kept his frown, in no hurry to get rid of it. "Then how did Arabella Figg see him out on the front lawn?"
"I don't know," Snape said. "And so far, I don't care."
"Come now, Severus," Dumbledore started, "will you stay just in case Harry might've went out for a particular reason?"
"Headmaster—" Snape started, scowling.
"I'm asking you, Severus. Please. Put aside the differences you've had with Harry's father; go wait at number Four, Privet Drive," Albus said. He never took his eyes off of the Potions Master until an exasperated look crossed his face.
"Fine," Severus hissed.
-
A/N: Anybody know any good stories that involve the snape-adopts-harry storyline? Perhaps even a Severitus? I've been looking around, but the ones I've found haven't been updated in quite a while. Any good suggestions? Ooh, and by the way—who else bought Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on the 21st?
Oh, and before I forget... IMPORTANT: I will be probably updating Bond frequently. More frequently when I first posted these chapters, that's for sure. Already 3 chapters in one day. It's just that, there is going to be a few changes to the story, which just MIGHT result in a few changes to one of the Commencement storylines, but just by a little. Sooo, I'm going to have to finish uploading the rewritten chapters to Bond first in order to continue on with the sequels' chapters. Just to let you all know. You'll see what the changes are in chapters to come. Thanks!