A/N: Re-uploaded
They stood in silence for a few minutes. The Dursley's, were quick to shut and lock the door behind them as they stood in the garden.
"What's the plan now Headmaster?"
"Well Severus, I think it would be best if we moved Harry."
"You will taking him to Headquarters then?"
"Well you see there lies the problem, my boy. Harry has yet to be here for two weeks. He needs to consider the Dursley's his home for two weeks so the blood protection works. So if we move Harry, we need to move the Dursley's. And with the Order members, the Weasley children and Miss Grangers staying there, I'm afraid that there wouldn't be enough room. Besides, I don't think the Dursley's would be all to willing to live there once they got a look at the place. And with Kreacher, I think it might push them a bit far." His eyes twinkled, his hands clasped behind his back as he looked about the garden.
"I know you can be quite…persuasive Headmaster, but I don't think even you can get these muggles to leave their home. Perhaps take Potter to Hogwarts. You know he'll be safe there. And there is plenty of room for his family."
"Ah, yes but you see Severus, I plan on doing some traveling this summer. I won't be at the school often, so Harry would remain without further protection. I do however have another idea that I would like to run by you, Severus."
Severus raised his brow looking highly agitated, "And what would that be Headmaster?"
"Well you have some extra rooms, do you not?"
"Potter and the Dursley's will not be staying with me, Headmaster. So you can stop your inane dreams now." His face paled with that though alone. It was bad enough he had to put up with the trouble making boy whilst at the school. And now he was going to be burdened with him for the summer, and his family as well.
"But you have room-"
"I don't have that much room. Besides that lot will eat me out of house and home. And Petunia and her husband wouldn't even consider it. Especially with Petunia knowing exactly where I live. She wont be eager, to say the least of returning to that area in general. Let alone anywhere near Spinner's End."
"I'm sure we can persuade her, Severus. It might be a tight fit. But it could work."
"Headmaster, with all that I have to do this summer I cannot be bothered by playing hostess to this lot. With Order meetings, Death Eater meetings, lesson to plan, potions to brew not only for the Hospital Wing but for the Dark Lord as well; I don't have time to put up with two teenagers, and two magic loathing adults."
Dumbledore sighed, knowing he would have to play the card as much as he hated it. "I'm sure Lily would rest easier knowing that her son and relatives were in capable hands as it were Severus."
"Don't do that old man! It's not right. I'm sure Lily would be happier if Harry was living with his godfather like he should be. Tell the Weasley's to go home. Then they're will be plenty of room for Potter and the Dursley's."
"You know as well as I do that Sirius isn't exactly in the right state of mine to be taking care of Harry, and the Dursley's wouldn't stay there." Dumbledore stared intently at the Potions Master, who was shaking his head in contempt.
"Fine, but I'm doing this for Lily, and Lily only."
"Of course Severus." Dumbledore stated cheerily, clapping his hands together.
"You still need to persuade the Dursley's to come along Headmaster. And if they start interfering with my - affairs they and Potter are out." He spat, before turning on his heels towards the now locked and closed door. He wandlessly spelled it open, as Dumbledore joined him inside. Severus glanced around the house quickly, noting that Potter already had his stuff by the front door. Dudley was already looking a bit better after finishing of the rest of Potter's chocolate.
"Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, I have some things I would like to discuss with you. The attack that happened on Dudley and Harry was most unfortunate. Luckily Severus was there and was able to intervene before any serious harm could be done."
"No, serious harm? Look at him. He's gone all loopy." Vernon said, thrusting a hand at his son. "You freaks have gone and ruined him."
Severus quickly looked over at Dumbledore who had a bemused expression etched across his face. "I assure you Mr. Dursley, your son will be fine. However, I'm sure the experience will live forever in his mind. But he will be just fine." The Headmasters face grew somber, "We do however have to make a bit of an adjustment when it comes to Harry's care."
"We're leaving right? The Burrow…something?" Harry asked hopefully as he stepped closer to the Headmaster.
"Something, indeed Harry." He said as he patted Harry on the shoulder, sitting down on the sofa. The horrified look on the Dursley's face seemed to amuse the three wizards. "As I was saying… With recent events being what they were. I think it's prudent to move Harry along with yourselves. Lord Voldemort has risen again, and I can't help but think that attacks in this area will increase enormously. Which puts not only Harry at risk, but also your son and yourselves."
"We haven't done anything! He has no reason to come after us. It's the boy he wants." Petunia said, looking with distain at her nephew.
"Trust me Mrs. Dursley, Lord Voldemort doesn't care if you get in the way of his plans. In fact he'd probably have an easier time doing away with you to get his hands on Harry. And I'm sure you wouldn't want any harm to Harry or your son." Dumbledore said, as Petunia wrapped her arms around her massive son.
With the concept that her son's life was at risk Petunia looked towards her husband. "We can't let anything happen to our Dudley-kins." She said faintly, arms gripping Dudley tighter.
"Yes, and don't forget about Potter. Can't let anything happen to him either can you Tuney."
"Don't you talk to me! You don't know what kind of trouble he his. The burden he's placed on our family. What Lily and that man left us with!"
Harry took a few quick steps forward, before a tight hand on his shoulder stopped him. He glanced up at the Potions Professor who was staring hard at his Aunt.
"I know how jealous you were of Lily, but I didn't think even you would stoop so low. He is your nephew. Lily would have taken care of your son if something were to happen to you. She would of raised him like her own."
"We are not foolish enough to get ourselves wrapped up with those sort of people."
"Yes, I'm sure that was Lily's plan. To die protecting her son, out of spite so you would be forced to take care of him. You will never be half of the woman she was." Severus didn't need to look at Harry's confused face as he stared up at him. Severus knew that he already had said far to much. Revealed to much information about himself.
But before either could say another word Dumbledore was on his feet, looking between the two. "As I was saying," his attention turning back to the Dursley's. "To keep you all safe we most relocate you. Professor Snape has offered you to stay at his home." Snape let out a snort at that statement. "Right now that seems like the only rightful place for you. We can recast the blood wards once you're there. Professor Snape is a powerful wizard, he will be able to keep you safe. He already has several protection charms in place to assure you and your family's safety."
"Absolutely not! Spinner's End is not a place for my Diddy-kins to be. We're staying here!"
"If you chose to stay here then you're accepting that the life of your son is less important then materialistic means. Certainly you want to know that your son is safe. Even if you feel it's not idly where you would like to be."
Petunia's face paled, "of course I want Dudley to be safe. I just don't see why it needs to be with him, at that place."
"As I said," Dumbledore continued. "Severus is a very capable wizard and he has agreed to take you all in. The safety of your family depends on staying with him. I'm not sure how safe your home is anymore. But I would not want to risk the lives of your family over something so trivial."
Harry's mind was reeling. He needed to spend the rest of the summer with Snape. At Snape's house? Harry had never thought about what the teachers did over summer holiday, but he couldn't imagine Snape living anywhere other then a dungeon. His days of spending time with the Weasley's, playing Quidditch or eating dinners with them around the beaten up table, with it's mismatching tableware, while the twins told jokes were now dead. Instead he'd be spending his summer around the people that hated him the most: Snape and the Dursley's.
Harry looked up to find his Aunt and Uncle whispering urgently to one another. Snape was quiet, and Harry realized that Snape's hand had slipped of his shoulder. And Professor Dumbledore was looking calm as Vernon and Petunia conversed. After what seemed like hours, though had only been a few minutes they came to a decision.
"Fine, we'll go. But only because we want to keep our Dudley safe."
"Excellent!" Dumbledore proclaimed, his hands clapped together. "Now, I suggest you leave tonight. It is a bit late. But I would prefer if we weren't here much longer than necessary. I suggest you leave most of it behind. Family photos and such can be shrunk down and Severus can store them away for you. But your main concern should be the essentials." He turned to Harry, as Vernon, Dudley and Petunia left the living room. Shaking their heads and muttering to themselves. "You're all packed, Harry. Everything you need? All your school books, clothes, and other personal items."
"We wont be coming back at all Sir?" Harry asked, as he eyed Snape.
"No, Harry. I think it's best we get all of your things now. Professor Snape can help you shrink the rest of your belongs. I myself will go help the Dursley's."
With that Dumbledore left the two alone in the living room. There was a momentary silence before Snape started speaking. "Let's get this over with Potter. Do you have anything else in your room that you want?"
"I um have my old school books that I couldn't fit in my trunk. But really that's about it. Oh and my Firebolt couldn't fit."
"Yes, well go get it. We don't have all night."
Snape watched as Potter grimaced and took to the stairs. Only to return a few minutes later with his books and broom. He shrank them, and Potter opened his poorly packed trunk to tuck the rest of his belongings away. Once it was all closed up Snape flicked his wand at the trunk and it vanished.
"What did you do with my stuff?" Harry asked, accusingly as he looked back at Snape.
"Don't take that tone with me Potter. Or you'll spend tomorrow cleaning out cauldrons. Your belongings are safely at my house. Take your owl and send it to Mr. Weasley. I'm sure he will be more than willing to keep an eye on her for you."
"I can't take her with me?"
"Your owl isn't one that is native to this region Potter. She stands out too much and -"
"How am I suppose to tell Ron and Hermione what's happened?"
"Do not interrupt me Potter. I'll see too it that you see your friends in a week or two if your behavior is acceptable. And I'm sure Dumbledore will inform the Weasley's of this new turn of events."
Harry nodded bitterly, as he opened the cage door and Hedwig flew to his arm. "Find Ron, you need to stay there for a little while. At least you'll be able to fly there." He muttered to the owl, before it flew out the back door. Harry sighed, as he lost site of her, and sat down in the unoccupied chair. "Professor, you knew my mum?" He asked, though he knew he was probably pushing his Professor to far.
"You know very well that I went to school with her and your father." Snape answered impassively, hoping that the answer would be sufficient enough for the boy.
"Yeah, but you know Aunt Petunia… How do you know her Sir?"
"Potter, we're not having this discussion. Keep quiet, until the Headmaster returns."
"But-"
"Potter, your chances of seeing your friends this summer are diminishing quickly. Control yourself and keep quiet." Snape's face was etched with irritation, and Harry knew that it was time to drop it. For now at least.
Quiet fell around them, except for the jumbled voices emanating from the second floor, and the foot steps of the Dursley's and the Headmaster as they went from room to room packing their things.
A half hour of silence later, the group came thudding down the stairs. "All, the stuff should be waiting in your living room Severus."
"Lovely," Snape replied sardonically as he pursed his lips into a thin line.
"Yes, well perhaps you should take Harry first, and I'll be along shortly with the Dursley's."
"Of course. Come along Potter." He picked up Hedwig's cage on the way out the front door and shrunk it to the size of a matchbox and slipped it into his pocket. He stopped on the edge of the path as Potter stopped beside him. "Take my arm." He said, rising his right forearm.