Next chapter!

Thank you to everyone who has reviewed!

Jen3572005

AchillesMonkey

Bunnies- lol sorry for kind of killing you in the last chapter :P I'm curious about how long a person could live on food and blood?

goldentree

BrightFeather- I did research! And found out some interesting stuff on wild children but that's all in my AN down the bottom (and I used a little poetic license on some parts of it :P)

Devan.Snape

IloveFlitwick

Almightyswot- he wasn't only eating rabbits, that's just what I used as his first "meal" btw read my AN down the bottom because I found out some interesting things about the way humans adapt to diet changes

I would like to apologise right now for any major spelling or grammatical errors you may find. I wrote this chapter over several days between the hours of 11 at night and 2 in the morning!

Ok so I've rambled on enough!

Here's the next chapter!

"talking"

"parseltongue"

thoughtsor letters...i'm sure you will be able to tell which:D

Chapter 3- Rescue

Severus Snape was sitting at his desk working on his new class schedules when a golden feather appeared in a flash of fire. He quickly grabbed it out of the air and unrolled the note attached.

Severus, if it isn't too much of an inconvenience, could you please come up to my office. I need you to go on a small errand for me.

Albus

Severus knew he had no choice in the matter and Albus was just being polite. Putting his quill away and cleaning up the few loose papers on his desk, Severus threw a handful of floo powder into the fireplace and was instantly transported to the headmaster's office.

Brushing himself off as he arrived, Severus greeted Albus with a polite nod of the head. Quickly scanning the office, he noticed that Minerva McGonagall was also present.

"Ah Severus, I'm glad you could come so quickly. Please be seated."

"As I'm rather busy Headmaster I would prefer to just hear what it is you want me to do and get it over with."

Albus looked at Severus over his half-moon spectacles. Oh no. That never boded well for anyone.

"As I'm sure you are both aware, Harry Potter is supposed to be coming to Hogwarts this year. Minerva has informed me, Severus, that she has sent out several letters to the boy, yet has received no reply. I need the two of you to go to his home and speak to his family." Albus held up his hand, forestalling any complaints Severus might have had.

"Now Severus I know you are very busy but I need two people I trust. The only other person I could ask is Hagrid but he's already doing something else for me at the moment. Now as I'm sure you have plenty of other things to do today, you best be going. He lives at four Privet Drive, Surrey."

Severus was once again about to speak up, but Albus cut him off again.

"Severus it's not like I am asking you to bring him back here and have him live in your quarters. I only want you to go with Minerva and speak to his family. Should any complications present themselves I have full faith in both yours and Minerva's abilities to be able to handle them."

Damn Dumbledore and his manipulative ways. Severus had no choice but to go, despite how much he detested the idea.

"Fine, but I don't see what problems there could be. The little brat is probably as spoilt as his father was and will be all too thrilled to be able to learn magic, just so he can feel even greater. Well Minerva, as I am rather busy I think we best be going."

With that, the two professors stood and left the office. They walked in silence all the way to the gate. After passing through the wards they both disapperated with a loud 'CRACK' appearing seconds later outside the Dursley household.

Severus started walking towards the door, wanting to get the job done quickly, but he was held back by Minerva.

"Severus please, I know you disliked Harry's father, but don't treat his son badly because of it. I don't know why, but I have a strange feeling about this house. Just be a little open-minded and don't judge the boy straight away."

Severus gave her one of his famous death glares and pulled his arm out of her grip.

"Honestly Minerva, you haven't even met the boy and he's already got you wrapped around his little finger. I highly doubt anything will go wrong, but if it makes you feel any better I will try and keep an open mind about the boy. Now if you don't mind I have a lot of work to do today and would like to get back to it."

Without a backwards glance, Severus walked across the road and rang the doorbell. Just as Minerva caught up with him, the door opened and standing in the doorway was the largest child either of the two professors had ever seen.

"Who are you?" Demanded the boy. Severus was ready to curse the brat right there. Minerva obviously realised this because she stepped in front of Severus, blocking his target.

"Hello, my name is Minerva McGonagall and this is my colleague Severus Snape. I assume you are Dudley Dursley? We are here to talk to your parents about your cousin, Harry."

"Harry? What would you want with him? He's not here anyway. He ran away a few years ago."

Minerva was shocked. Ran away? How on earth were they meant to find him now?

But then she realised that he couldn't have run away. The letters she sent clearly said he lived with his relatives.

In the time it took for Minerva to register what the boy had said, Severus had his wand out and had it pressed into the boys flabby neck.

"Now I find that incredibly hard to believe. I know for a fact that Harry Potter lives here and we are not leaving until we have spoken to both your parents and him. So if you would be so kind as to go retrieve your parents I would be most appreciative."

Dudley could only nod dumbly. He didn't know what the man was holding, but he had watched enough spy movies to know that it could be any number of dangerous things.

Stumbling backwards, not wiling to take his eyes off the strange man, Dudley called out to his dad.

"Dad! There are some people at the door. They want to talk to you about Harry."

It took no more then five seconds for a man who could only be Vernon Dursley to come thundering down the stairs.

"GET OUT OF MY HOUSE! HARRY POTTER RAN AWAY WHEN HE WAS SIX AND I WAS GLAD TO BE RID OF HIM! I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE AND I WON'T BE HAVING YOU FREAKS IN MY HOME! NOW GET OUT!"

If Vernon Dursley was an intelligent man, he would've realised that calling two adults, who were both capable of doing magic, 'freaks' was a very bad idea. However, since he was never the sharpest tool in the shed he didn't see the look the two visitors gave each other before he found himself bound with ropes and unable to utter a single sound.

Severus stalked over to Vernon and whispered dangerously in his ear, so only the two of them would know what he was saying.

"Now Dursley, if you ever want to move again, I suggest you tell me where your nephew is. I will remove the spell that is stopping you from making a complete ass out of yourself, even though I am loath to do so, and you will tell me the whereabouts of Harry Potter."

Severus waved his wand and muttered a few words under his breath and suddenly Vernon realised he could talk again.

He was about to go off on another rant, when Severus' next words stopped him.

"If you do not tell me where the boy is by the time I count to five, I will make it very public knowledge that you are not only cheating on your wife with your secretary , but said secretary happens to be your bosses twenty-three year old daughter.

"One." Nothing

"Two" Dursley was starting to panic

"Three" His breathing was getting faster and faster.

"Four" If he wasn't careful he would have a heart attack.

"Fi-"

"The attic! He's in the attic! Or at least he was the last time I saw him. Please, don't tell anyone. It would ruin me!"

"Well I'm not sure Dursley. It all depends on the condition Potter is in when I go get him. And what do you mean he was in the attic last time you saw him? WHEN was the last time you saw him?"

Vernon mumbled something but Severus was unable to make out what it was. Minerva on the other hand, thanks to her cat-like hearing, heard it perfectly.

"Five years!? You've left that child in the attic for five years? What about food and going to the toilet? Has he even seen sunlight since then?"

"He hasn't been in there for five years! The little freak has a way of getting out! I don't know how, but the last time I went in there, there were animal skins lying all over the floor! The little freak had been getting in and out the whole time. After seeing that, I wasn't about to keep feeding him! He could clearly do that himself."

Vernon realised what he said just after he said it. His face paled but he knew the damage was done.

"Uh, I mean…"

"Save it Dursley, you better start praying that the boy is somehow still alive, because if he isn't, nothing can save you. You will have nearly every single magical person after you should something happen to their saviour. Not only that, but muggles everywhere will be killed. Witches and wizards will use this as an excuse to kill innocent people, all because you are an inhumane monster."

With that said, Severus and Minerva ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time. They quickly reached the upstairs landing and looked around for the cord that would open the attic door.

"You can't get in there."

Both the professors jumped and turned around, having forgotten abut the Dursley boy.

"He- he had a plasterer come in a few months after Harry left and got him to put a new layer of plaster over the old, including over the trapdoor that lead to the attic. I know I was only six at the time but still! I should have realised something was strange. I heard mum and dad talking about something that had been in the attic, just after the roof was re-done. I just thought it was some kind of bird or mouse that had made a home in there and mum didn't want it dying or anything like that. Dad told mum that he had gotten rid of it already and she believed him but she was really mad at him 'cause whatever it was, was meant to stay here. I never really thought much about it until now. Do you think… do you think they were talking about Harry?"

Dudley ran into a nearby room and the two adults could hear him emptying his stomach of all the food he had eaten that day.

"Dear Merlin what are we meant to do now Severus?" Minerva had never sounded so defeated to Severus.

"We need to know if he's alive, but the only way can get into the attic is by finding that door." Severus went to the room where Dudley was still dry heaving. "I know this is hard for you, but we need to know where the trapdoor was or we can't get to your cousin."

Dudley nodded and stood up. He walked back out to where Minerva was standing and began looking around.

"Um…I think it was about there." He pointed to a spot just near the bathroom door.

Severus and Minerva both pointed there wands at the spot he was pointing and shouted 'reducto!"

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"It smells awful in here!"

"Well what do you expect it to smell like after five years Severus? My goodness it is dark in here. Lumos"

Severus followed Minerva's lead and lit his wand. Looking down he quickly wished he hadn't when he realised he was standing on a dead animal.

"Well at least Dursley wasn't lying about the animals. This one is still wet so it couldn't have been dead for long."

Suddenly they both heard a noise in the far corner.

"Potter? Potter is that you? My name is Severus Snape, I'm here to get you out. I'm not going to hurt you."

Just as he said that, a large adder slithered into the light.

"Oh my!" Minerva had her wand pointed at the snake as well.

The snake started hissing as it came closer to Severus. Severus backed up until he felt his back hit the wall. Just as he lifted his wand to curse the snake, he heard a loud shout the attic was lit up with a dull light.

It took him a moment for his eyes to adjust to the change of light.

"What on earth-?"

"Severus! Look."

Severus looked up to where Minerva was pointing. He felt the blood drain out of his face as he caught sight of a small boy crouched over the top of the snake, speaking rapidly in what could only be parseltongue.

(I was going to stop there but I thought you might kill me seeing as I said he was rescued this chapter :P)

The boy was dressed in a top that reached just above his knees and had clearly seen better days. It was covered in blood and had holes all over it. From what they could see it appeared to be the only thing the boy was wearing. His black hair was incredibly filthy and had several large knots in it, yet it was surprisingly short considering the amount of time the boy had spent alone, reaching just past his shoulders. His hands were covered in blood and dirt and his nails were short yet pointed. They could barely see his face around the curtain of black hair, yet what they could see tore at both their hearts. Harry's mouth was smeared with blood and his canine teeth had grown longer.(1) He had numerous scratches, including a nasty scar over his left eye.(2) Both his pupils were large, allowing as much light in as possible in the dimly-lit room and from the small bits of skin they could see, it was clear the boy was as white as snow, proving that he hadn't seen sunlight in months if not years.

Minerva was the first to speak.

"Harry?" At the sound of his name, Harry stopped hissing and just looked at Minerva in confusion. "Harry we're here to help. My name is Minerva and that man over there is Severus. We want to help you Harry." She reached a hand out to the boy and was startled at the reaction she got. Harry dropped to the floor and curled in on himself. He started rocking back and forth, muttering the same phrase over and over again.

Both the professors gave a shout when the snake wrapped its way up and around Harry. They were both amazed when it started hissing at the distraught boy. Harry lifted his tear-streaked face and looked at the snake. He started hissing back and the two professors were sure he was having a conversation with the snake. After a few incredibly tense minutes, Harry looked up.

He locked eyes with Minerva and slowly stood up. Not looking away from the first person Harry had, had contact with for nearly five years, he slowly took hold of her hand and shuffled forwards. The snake was still wrapped around his neck, but after the earlier display Minerva wasn't about to try and separate the two of them

"Come on Harry. Let's get you out of here."

Minerva gave Harry's hand a small tug and the two of them slowly made their way down the staircase, Harry covering his eyes at the sudden increase of light.

Quickly realising what the problem was, Severus transfigured a broken quill in his pocket into a pair of sunglasses, very strong sunglasses. He was rather amazed that the boy trusted them so easily, yet when he tried to give the boy the glasses he quickly learnt that the trust only went to Minerva.

The boy lashed out and knocked the glasses to the floor. He ripped his arm out of Minerva's grasp and bolted back up the stairs to the attic.

"Well at least he has some fight in him." Severus received a slap over the head for that comment.

"Oh wonderful. He sees his first human being in nearly five years and you go and scare him back into the attic. Well done Severus." Minerva turned on her heels and quickly walked back up the stairs, muttering about thoughtless potions masters as she went. It was completely dark again, the only source of light coming from the doorway she was standing in. She quickly lit her wand and looked around for the child.

"Harry? Harry please come out. Severus didn't mean to scare you, he was just trying to make it easier for you to see. Please Harry?"

She couldn't see him, but she was sure she had heard some hissing coming from the far corner.

She walked over to the noise and felt her heart break. Harry was cowering in the corner hissing the same phrase from before, which Minerva was quickly beginning to suspect was either "I'm sorry" or "no, don't"

She went down on her knees so she was eye-level with the frightened child.

"Harry, I'm sorry. Please believe me when I say Severus didn't mean to frighten you. We just want to help you."

The boy looked up again and hissed something to Minerva.

"I'm sorry Harry but I don't understand what you're saying. Can- can you speak English? If you understand what I'm saying nod your head for me."

Minerva waited with baited breath, but Harry only continued to stare at her.

Sweet Merlin we're in trouble now.

Severus had just entered the attic and had heard the question Minerva asked the boy but he didn't know the result. He made his way over to the light coming from her wand.

When he got there, he also knelt, not wanting frighten the child more than he already had.

"Does he-?"

"No. He doesn't understand a word I'm saying."

Severus let out a long sigh.

"Well then the only thing we can do is get him to Hogwarts and go from there. I know Albus can speak a little parseltongue, and it seems that is the only thing Potter understands."

Minerva held out her hand again and, albeit reluctantly, Harry grabbed it and allowed the strange woman to help him up.

The three of them walked slowly towards the exist. Just before going down the staircase, Severus held out the sunglasses again. Harry looked between Minerva and Severus several times indecisively. Making up his mind, he quickly grabbed the glasses out of Severus' hand and shoved them on his nose.

If that boy doesn't become a seeker I'll give up teaching., thought Minerva.

After making sure the glasses were on properly, the three of them walked the rest of the way down the attic stairs, Harry properly seeing the outside of his attic for the first time in five years.

He let go of Minerva's hand and started looking around. Severus and Minerva could see the pain in his eyes every time he looked their way.

"Harry." Harry quickly looked up at hearing Minerva speak his name. "Harry let's get you out of here." She took his hand again and the three of them made their way down to the bottom floor, having completely forgotten that Vernon was still there.

As soon as Harry saw his uncle, he started to shake and tried to pull away, but Minerva wouldn't let go of his hand.

"Harry! No Harry he can't get you! He can't! Come on!" She tried to pull him past his uncle, but Harry wouldn't budge.

Severus brushed past them and cast a spell on Vernon that lifted him up into the air and (quite roughly) dumped him in the next room. Harry giggled at seeing his uncle being so forcefully removed from his sight.

Minerva sent Severus a grateful smile and continued on her path to the front door, but Harry turned away and pulled her down the passageway. Minerva didn't want to upset him again so she let herself be led. She was surprised when Harry stopped outside the cupboards under the stairs.

She could see that he was having trouble turning the knob, not having used a handle in so many years. She helped him open it and stepped back as Harry pulled the door open.

Neither adult had any idea what Harry wanted in there, but it was clearly important seeing as how he still remembered it after all this time.

He went in and felt around on the floor for a minute or so before finding what it was he was looking for. He grabbed hold of a floorboard and pulled it up. Underneath was a small box which Harry took out. He then shuffled back out and took hold of Minerva's hand with his free one and started for the front door, which Severus had already opened.

As soon as they left the house, the ropes around Vernon fell off. He got up, fully intending to go after them but found his way to be blocked by his son.

"You monster." Was all Dudley said before running upstairs to his room. The look Dudley gave his father stopped Vernon from going after the three freaks. Instead he went upstairs to assess the damage done when they blasted away half his roof.

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If anyone had been looking at the Dursley home at that very moment, they would've seen a man in his early thirties leaving the house, shortly followed by an elderly old lady holding hands with a boy who closely resembled that strange Potter kid from years ago. Thankfully though, no one was watching, which means no one saw the old lady speak quietly to the boy before wrapping her arms around him and the three of them vanishing, as if by magic.

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YAY I'm done!

I'm actually really annoyed with how this chapter turned out but I just want to get it posted! I might go back a bit later and fix it up, but seeing as I'm incredibly lazy that isn't very likely :P

(1)- in my research on wild children (yes I actually looked them up and did some research) I found out that children who were raised by animals (carnivores) and ate mostly meat had longer canine teeth then usual. Also! The human body adapts to its diet, so Harry could live on only eating meat and not get diseases from lack of nutrients (and seeing as how he was hardly getting fed before this all happened it didn't really take much to change the way his body absorbed nutrients)

neat huh? Well I think it is…(grumble grumble)

(2) think Scar from the Lion King. He can still see from it but he just has a wicked cool scar down his face! (that was given to him when Uncle Vernon beat him up after seeing the rabbit skins)

Ok! So next chapter Harry is taken to Hogwarts and they discover his unusual ability for wandless magic (yes it was Harry who lit up the attic but that will all be explained in another chapter)

Reviews appreciated!