A/N: I think this chapter is longer than any of the chapters I have done for Memory... Maybe that means my stories will be longer! We get to see mean, kniving Dumbledore in this chapter...

There wasn't much left of Godrics Hollow when Severus and the Headmaster arrived.

"It's too late." Severus bowed his head and closed his eyes. He had failed them.

"Perhaps we should look around. We will need to find their bodies."

The black haired man nodded. Following Dumbledore, Snape walked to the edge of the ruin. "I'm so sorry Albus."

"It is not your fault. You did what you had to do. No one could expect more from you." Severus just nodded.

The two men split up searching different areas of the wreck.

"I've found James." Dumbledore called. Snape walked over to the Headmaster and helped pull the man from under a piece of furniture. The body was then levitated to the pavement. It wasn't too much longer before they found Lily's body being held by a smaller and very still Harry.

Severus bent down and picked up the small boy and carried him away from the devastation. Albus levitated Lily next to her husband. Snape looked down at the boy in his arms and kissed the top of his head next to a lightning bolt cut. "I'm so sorry I couldn't help you." The tips of Snape's hair moved. Severus looked up trying to feel a breeze. "Albus! Albus I think he's alive!" Severus rushed to lay Harry down on the ground and felt for a pulse. He nearly fainted with relief when he felt a faint but steady beat.

"Apparate to the Hogwarts gates. Take him to see Madam Pomfrey. We can only hope that she will take good care of him until we can find him some place to stay."

"Albus, I think it would be obvious that I should take the boy."

"Go Severus we will discuss this later."

Severus picked up the young boy and with a loud crack disappeared.

Madam Pomfrey had just walked out of the room teary eyed when Harry opened his eyes. "Severus?"

Severus jerked his head up at the small voice. "I'm here Harry."

"Where are mum and dad?"

Severus moved to the edge of the bed. "Harry… Do you know what Avada Kedavra is?" The small boy nodded his head. "Well mummy and daddy were hit with that by some very bad wizards that were trying to hurt you."

"So… so they're dead?" Harry's lip started trembling.

Severus nodded. The little boy burst into tears at the news. "Ssh. It's okay Harry. It will be okay." Severus wrapped his arms around the trembling figure. "The Headmaster will take care of you. He'll make sure you are put somewhere safe."

"I'm taking the boy Albus. What would be the point in sending him to those Muggles? Lily wouldn't shut up about them hating magic. They think it's freakish. I will not put him in that environment."

"Severus, Harry must go there for reasons I cannot explain. He will be fine. I promise."

"Fine. But I demand that I be allowed to see the boy."

Dumbledore nodded. "Very well – but only once a month."

"Albus!"

"That is the end of this conversation Severus. He will stay at his aunt's house and you may visit once a month. You will see him when he comes to Hogwarts. Now, would you mind dropping him off?"

"Who are you?" Vernon Dursley asked.

"I am Severus Snape. Is Petunia Dursley in?"

Dursley fidgeted. "One moment." He stepped back inside and a minute later Petunia stepped out.

"Hello, how can I help you?" She asked sweetly.

"Your sister and her husband were killed late last night. Their son, Harry, has no where to stay and since you are the boys last remaining relatives-" Harry peeked around Severus' tall form.

"I don't want that freak!" She said shrilly.

Severus sighed and pulled out his wand and an envelope Albus told him to give to the woman. "Perhaps you should invite me in."

The thin woman moved aside wide eyed and allowed Severus to pass. "We don't want the boy." She hissed.

"Read the note woman," Severus growled.

Petunia opened the letter and read it going slightly pale. "Fine. We'll take him. But he'll be leaving in a couple years for that… school right?"

Severus nodded. "He will have to come back over the summer of course."

"Fine. You can leave now."

"Just so you know I will be visiting once a month. If I see any indication of him being unhappy I will make you wish it was you that died. Understood?"

The pale woman nodded.

"Good," he turned around and kneeled to face the frightened boy. "Harry, I will be back in a couple weeks. Promise me you'll be good?"

"I promise," Harry said in a small voice. He looked over at his frowning aunt. "I don't want to stay here Uncle Severus," he whispered.

Severus hugged the boy and stood up. "You'll be fine. Dumbledore wouldn't let anything bad happened to you." Severus walked to the door with Harry trailing behind. He looked and smiled at Harry before walking to the edge of the estate and Apparating away.

A month later Severus was standing at number 4 Privet Drive knocking impatiently on the door.

Harry hurried to open the door before his Uncle could yell at him. "Hello," he said opening the door. "Uncle Severus!" He jumped up into the arms of the older man. "I missed you!"

The Potions master smiled at the younger boys excitement. "Hello Harry. How are you?"

"M'fine."

"Boy! What the bloody hell is-" Vernon Dursley paused mid-rant when he saw the dark man standing in his door way. "Oh, its you."

Severus raised an eyebrow at the man's tone of voice. "I don't very much like your tone Mr. Dursley." He set Harry back down and reached for his wand. The fat mans eyes widened in fear.

"No!" Harry cried out. "He didn't mean it Uncle Severus." Put it away, please put it away, he thought, trying to somehow convey to Severus how much trouble he could get into.

Severus withdrew his hand wandless at Harry's frightened tone. "Go away, Muggle," he spit at the man.

The purple-faced man hurried from the room. Severus walked in and took a seat on the garishly flowered couch. He patted the spot next to him and waited for Harry to sit down. "Why are you so scared of him Harry?"

The boy looked down at his lap. "I haven't been good. Uncle Vernon is scary when I haven't been good. You told me to be good and I haven't."

"Why is he scary?"

"He gets mean," the young boy whispered.

"You need to be more specific then that young man."

Harry looked over at the door to the kitchen before settling his gaze back in his lap. "He spanks me." Well, Severus didn't see anything bad in that. There was nothing wrong with a good swat to the behind. "He tells me that I'm just 'boy' that no one loves me. No one would love a freak and that my mum and dad died because they were freaks too. Sometimes he does other stuff. Last time he – he made me get undressed and he put me in the tub and filled it with stuff that burned my eyes. After a while my skin started to hurt. I was okay when I woke up the next day though. It wasn't that bad, really."

Severus was fuming by the time Harry finished especially at the boy's matter of fact tone. He grabbed the boy's hand and led him out the door and to the wards boundaries. "We are going to see the Headmaster."

"No! We can't leave! He'll get mad if I leave and – He'll be really mad. Please Uncle Severus don't make me leave!"

"Don't worry Harry," he said picking the boy up. "We won't be coming back." With a loud crack they were gone.

"Albus he will not be going back there!" Harry was sitting in a chair in what he assumed to be the Headmaster's office. His Uncle Severus was angry. He looked over at the old man. Dumbledore looked innocent almost… almost.

"Severus he needs to be there."

"They abuse him Albus! That fat oaf beats the boy. They put him in a tub of chemicals! He is not safe there! You are supposed to protect the boy not harm him."

The old mans eyes flashed. "He will go back Severus and when he does you will not see him. Understood?"

"I will not stand for this Albus!"

They were going to send him back! He stood frantically. "No, Please don't! If Uncle Vernon knows I left I will be in trouble and it wasn't my fault this time! Please, I'll be good I promise!"

"Sit down Harry and do not interrupt again," Dumbledore said sternly. Harry sat. "Severus, you will not tell anyone. Who would believe you my boy? An ex-Death Eater against me? You will say nothing. In fact, give me your hand." Albus' wrinkled hand reached out for the potion stained one.

Severus – reluctantly – took the older mans hand in his own. The old man was going to make him make an Unbreakable Vow.

Dumbledore had his wand in his left hand and held it to their conjoined hands. "Will you, Severus Snape, keep all of what you have seen and heard this past day to yourself and tell no one?" Severus stayed quiet. Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. "Say it Severus. Say it or you will regret it."

Harry sat staring horrified as his Uncle was threatened. The old guy had started moving his wand up and his Uncle spoke, "I will." A light shot out of the tip of the wand swirling around their hands.

"And do you swear that you will not go near the boys house or visit him at any time until he has arrived at Hogwarts?"

"I will." Another light.

"Will you also not have any contact with the boy while he is at his relatives house?"

No, no, no, no. Harry pleaded to the Fates.

"I will." A red light shot from Dumbledore's wand and joined the other two before disappearing into their skin.

All Harry could do was cry as the last of his family was taken from him.

A/N: So, good? Yes, no? I am only going to be having 8-year-old Harry for a bit longer then I'm going to fast-forward to 11 year old Harry... Can anyone guess what house I'm going to put him in??? (Probably, predictable me ::rolls eyes::)