Harry put his hand on the front door, using what he had left of his strength to open it. He didn't realize how much Dudley had weighed; until Snape went off muttering something about the wards. He heaved Dudley into the closest armchair, straightening up to catch his breath. Relieved to only be responsible for carrying himself.
He was about to sit down before his Aunt came bounding in the room. She took one look at Dudley and her face fell. She rushed to side. Running her hands over his flabby, pale cheeks. "Oh my Diddy-kins! Vernon! Vernon come quick! Phone the police!" She shrieked, as Vernon waddled into the den.
"Who did it son? Give us names. We'll get them, don't worry!"
Dudley, finding he could still function properly turned his glassy eyes on Harry. "Him." He said, pointing a shaky finger at Harry.
Harry cringed, his wand still tight in his hand as his Uncle proceed upon him. His sausage fingers grabbing the front of his shirt. "What have you done to my son?" He growled maliciously.
"I haven't done anything." He knew his Uncle wouldn't believe him. But it was the truth. He had done nothing to harm Dudley.
"What did he do Dudley-kins?" Her voice was overly sweet, as if she were talking to a mere toddler. "What was it? Did he use his - freakishness on you?"
Slowly, Dudley nodded. His eyes now fixated on the floor.
"I did not!" Harry said shrilly, looking past his behemoth Uncle's shoulder at his aunt. "I didn't do anything to him! It wasn't me, it was -" But before he could finish Vernon started shaking him rancorously.
"Take it off him! What ever you did, put him back!" His short stubby fingers were entwined in the front of Harry's shirt, and his beady black eyes pieced down at him.
But before Harry could say another word, Snape silently came through the front door. His wand pointed into the chubby flesh of his Uncles neck.
"Unhand him at once." His voice was soft but menacing, and left no room for even Uncle Vernon to snap something back. Vernon's sausage like fingers lessened their hold and he took a step sideways away from Harry.
Petunia on the other hands was quick to rise to her feet. "You… You're that awful boy from across the river. Get out of my house! Get out! You freaks don't belong in normal society with the rest of us!"
"Oh Tuney… Your hospitality is overwhelming. Do you treat all of your guest with such regard?"
Harry looked between his Aunt and Professor. Confusion clearly plastered over his face. The two obviously knew each other, but how he wasn't sure. What river were they talking about? And how did they meet to begin with… He had so many questions, that he knew he'd probably never get the answers too even if he asked. For right now he was thankful that Snape came in when he had. Even though he was humiliated at being manhandled in front of his Professor.
"You are not welcomed in my home! Nor is that boy." She said pointing a finger at Harry, as she went back to the couch and wrapped a comforting arm around her Dudley-kins. "You can take your freaky wand waving elsewhere!" She was about to say something more, but only to find that when she opened her mouth her tongue was affixed to the roof of her mouth.
"There, that's better now isn't it Tuney? It will do you well to keep your mouth sh-"
But before he could finish, Uncle Vernon seemed to found his ground. "Now, just a minute you! You can't come into our home and use your unnatural behavior against us. They'll take you to that wizarding prison. Lock you right up!"Harry went to look at Professor Snape who arched a brow. "I assure you I wont. Unlike Potter here, I'm well above the legal age. The Ministry of Magic cannot trace my magic. So, as of right now you are at my mercy." He held up his wand again pointing it between Vernon's beady eyes. "I suggest you take a seat before I have to use my freakishness against you." Harry was having a hard time hiding his amusement as he watched Vernon relentlessly go stand next to his wife. Snape kept and eye on the family, "Potter." He said though he never turned to look at him. "Do you have any chocolate?"Harry looked perplexed as his brow furrowed. "Chocolate, Sir?" He asked, hastily adding 'Sir' as to not to be scolded. He thought it was an odd time for Snape to get a chocolate fix. Did the greasy old bat of the dungeons actually eat chocolate?
"Are you hard of hearing now? Yes, chocolate. What is it you do at school Mr. Potter? From what I've seen today you haven't learned a thing in the last four years." The ominous onyx eyes fixated on him. "Chocolate has claming properties Potter. And it seems as if you and your-" his eyes fixed the pale lump of flesh in the chair. "Cousin could use a pick-me-up as it were."
Harry's eyes narrowed in on the black ones. He was doing everything in his power not to retort to the Professors condescending tone. "Yes, Sir." With his lips pursed together, he made his way up to his room and crawled under his bed jimmying up the loose floorboard where he stashed his things. Wrapped in several layers of cloth, he found his small stash of sweets. One was half eaten from his trip home on the train. One was still complete and in it's wrapper. Not knowing how much he would need he took it all. Not even sure if Dudley would eat anything Harry gave him after last summers debacle with the twins. That gave his cousin toffee that made his tongue grow several feet. And he wasn't sure if Snape would want some, but gathered the half eaten chocolate bar along with the full one and a couple Chocolate Frogs; making his way back to the living room where everyone was silent.
Snape looked bored. As he gazed about the living room. With it's vertical stripped wallpaper. The mantelpiece, covered in pictures of his bulbous cousin. The living room furnishings clad in a pink floral pattern.
The floor creaked slightly with his weight as he held out the chocolate bar for Dudley to take. "Here, eat it. You'll feel better." He himself took a bite of his partial candy bar, to show him that it was harmless.
But as Dudley peeled back the wrapping, his mother and father both reached out to take it away. "No, Son. You will not be eating it! Who knows what these freaks have done to it." He whispered, the last to his son.
Snape who was growing increasingly frustrated gave and maddened sigh. "Let him eat it. It will make him feel better. Surely you don't want your son to suffer." He said with a raised brow. He looked directly at Dudley, "If you eat it, that sickening cold feeling will vanish. You'll feel warmer and calmer."
If Harry didn't know better he would have said that Snape's voice sounding soothing. Harry tossed Dudley a Chocolate Frog as it seemed his Uncle wouldn't be returning the chocolate bar. "Careful opening it. It might hop away." Dudley seemed eager to get inside the blue box. He had it open and in his mouth before his father could snatch it way. He immediately relaxed. Glad to see that his tongue was it's normal size, and he didn't have a pigs tail.
"Eat the rest of yours Potter. Dumbledore should be arriving shortly.""How does Dumbledore know what happened? Surely you couldn't have sent him an owl already…" Snape rolled his eyes, "I sent a Patronus, Potter." He said simply before turning his back on the group and staring out into the garden.
"What? That doesn't make any sense." Harry said, as he came around the table looking over at his Professor. "Patronus' are for Dementors…"
"Of course Potter. How could I possibly be mistaken. You would know more than me about magic. You know everything, don't you?""I don't know everything! But I do know what Patronus is. I've had it mastered since 3rd year." His patients was now gone. And the belittling tone his Professor was giving him wasn't helping matters.
"Obviously you don't have the Patronus mastered. If you did, you would know that it can be used to send messages. Or did the Werewolf forget to mention that bit to you?"
"Professor Lupin was a great teacher! At least we learnt something from him." With those last words Harry knew that he had gone to far; as Snape descended upon him. But a large crack from the gardens stopped him.
Coming up the walk in shiny blue robes was the Headmaster, whose face was sober. "Severus, Harry." He said as he let himself into the dinning area. "I hear there was a little incident tonight." But before either could respond, the Headmaster made way to the Dursley's. He looked at the empty box of chocolate frogs, "I see Professor Snape patched you up. Chocolate does wonderful things, doesn't it?" His now twinkling blue eyes winked at Dudley. "Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, so sad we have to meet on such circumstances."Either Snape had banished the curse from Petunia or it had worn off. Because she was on her feet again. "I want you all out of my house and you can take that boy with you!"
Harry again could feel his face turn red as he looked at his Aunt, "Trust me, I'd rather be anywhere than in your house."
Harry had wanted to say more, but Dumbledore interjected. "I know tensions are high right now, but lets all calm down. Professor Snape and I have something's we must talk about. Harry," He said, his sparkling blue eyes finding the green orbs. "I would like you to pack your things." With a note of Harry's confusion, "Just a precaution… In case something should happen." His voice was light, but he could tell that the Headmaster was worried about something. Perhaps it was just the fact that Dementors swarmed a muggle suburb.
Harry nodded earnestly with the prospect of leaving the Dursley's so early. "Severus, my boy. If you would join me outside." Was the last thing he heard as he bounded up the staircase.