Chapter three: Meeting Freak

A/N I do not own harry potter nor do I get paid to write this also I adopting this story from Severus Addicted with their permission so the first 12 chapters are from Severus Addicted.

As Severus stepped out his door he noticed the same boy he had earlier that day walking down the street.

'Isn't it getting too dark for a child to be walking alone?' Severus thought as he began to follow the child. It looked as if he was going to the grocery store too.

Severus wanted to meet the boy, so he started to walk faster. Soon he was walking right beside the little boy.

"Hello, what's your name?" Severus asked the boy who now had a look of fear etched on his face. "I'm not going to hurt you, I promise."

The boy visibly relaxed at that statement.

Freak liked this guy. He was very nice, he didn't seem mean or scary like his uncle. Freak began to feel very safe around him.

Freak took a small gulp and said quietly, "I'm not allowed to speak to strangers." He immediately began looking around in search of his relatives in case they saw him say those few words. Seeing no one around he said, "But if you promise not to tell I can talk."

Severus was taken back by those words. What was that supposed to mean. "Uh, all right. I promise I won't tell anyone you spoke to me. So what is your name, child?"

Freak gave him a small smile. (was it just Snape's imagination or did it look pained?) He said, "My name is Freak, what's yours?"

Severus abruptly stopped in shock. "Did you just say your name was Freak?"

Freak nodded his head vigorously, "Yeah, isn't it nice?"

Severus gulped down his words to that and forced a smile on his face as he said, "Yes child it is. My name is Severus, Severus Snape."

Freak looked up at him and said, "So where are you from?"

Severus began slowly walking again as he said, "Well I am living at Number Five Private Drive now, I do believe we are neighbors."

Freak looked at his face for a second and said happily, "Hey you're that man who was walking with another child earlier today, aren't you?"

Severus smiled and nodded his head, "Yes child that was me. So how old are you?"

Freak took a minute to remember his age, "I am eight. Was that your child you were with earlier today...? Not that it is any of my business!" Freak said as fast as he could.

'EIGHT! He can't be eight years old, he looks like a five year old!' Severus thought shocked, he was so shocked he almost missed Freak's question, "Yes, he is my son and his name is Eli. You and Eli are the same age so maybe you could get together and hang out."

Freak sighed and said, "If I can, I mean I have a lot to do at my relatives' house so I might be able to, maybe if I am good I'll be able to."

Severus smiled down at him and said, "Well you should always be good. Are you a naughty child?"

Freak sighed as he nodded his head, "Yeah, I don't know what I am doing wrong though. But everything is my fault- Uh I got to go!" Freak's eyes went wide as he saw car lights coming down the road, how he knew it was his relatives' car Severus would never know.

The car slammed on its breaks as it passed them. The driver's door flung open and out stepped the biggest man Severus had ever seen.

"Freak! What are you doing?!" The large man bellowed as he grabbed the small child's arm and threw him to the van making him smack his head off the side.

"Please uncle." Freak whispered so low Severus had a hard time catching it, Vernon didn't even notice his nephew said anything.

Severus stepped up before Vernon could disappear in the van, "Please, I was only asking him how to get to the grocery store."

All he got for a reply was a hard glare then the car was off down the road.

Severus sighed. 'I need to figure out what is going on in that house.'

Severus turned and headed to get his grocery shopping done before his turned to ashes.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Freak sighed as he looked out the back window at the nice man named Severus. He was a nice man and he wished he could meet Eli but after this incident he just wished he would live to see tomorrow.

Going to the park today was definitely not going to happen anymore. Freak sighed again as they pulled into the drive way.

Once they were in the house Vernon rounded on him like the last piece of ham at the store on Christmas.

"You! What have I told you about speaking to strangers? Huh, boy?" Vernon didn't even give Freak enough time to answer the question. He punched him in the mouth making blood splatter everywhere and a tiny stream of blood flowed down Harry's mouth and onto his clothes.

Freak felt himself being lifted up into the air and thrown into his cupboard under the stairs.

Freak sighed a sad sigh and rolled over on his side pleading for his mommy and daddy to come and get him. But that wasn't going to happen. They were gone. Just like his Aunt Petunia said, his parents hated him so they dropped him off on their front porch.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Sun light fluttered through the cracks in the wood making Freak sit up. He did not sleep well last night, but when does he ever sleep well at night.

His cupboard door opened, "Come out Freak and do it quickly!" Petunia snapped

Freak quickly crawled out of his cupboard and waiting for the lecture he was sure to get, "What should I do today Aunt Petunia?"

Petunia gave him a disgusted look and said, "Well you can start with not calling me 'aunt' you ungratefully idiot!"

Freak lowered his head and said, "I'm sorry ma'am."

Petunia lowered her eyes at him and said, "All you need to do today is get out of this house and disappear for the day. I am having guests over and you can't be here. Understand?"

Freak quickly nodded. "Thank you ma'am."

Petunia glared again at him and snapped, "Get out!"

Freak quickly limped his way out the front door and made his way to his favorite place in the whole entire world; the playground.

As he walked he took in sight all the families smiling and laughing on their front yards. Some families were having picnics and others were swimming and playing games. Freak never got to do any of those things, idiots like him weren't allowed.

Soon enough he was standing in front of the playground entrance and with a smile and walked in and headed for the swings.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

"Dad, can we go to the playground? Please?" Eli said as he walked into the Living Room where his father sat reading the Potions Weekly.

Severus sighed and folded the paper back up, "I thought you and I both agreed that place was run down and looked like a horrible place to play at."

Eli sighed, "Yeah, but there is nothing else to do around here, I might meet someone at the playground." Eli said as he sat down beside his father hoping for a 'yes'.

Severus stood up and headed for the door, "Alright let's go. Grab your coat!"

After Eli had his coat on and Severus had his they were on their way to the playground.

As soon as the two Snapes entered the playground they both noticed the small boy on the swings. The child had his head down and his one foot was playing in the dirt as he slowly swung back and forth.

Eli smiled cheekily at him, "And you said there wouldn't be anyone here. See, fathers can be wrong at times!"

Severus glared at him, "Yes and I am your father so if I were you I would watch what you say unless you prefer to go home and do chores."

Eli shook his head and said "No, no. I'll be good, I promise!"

Severus smirked and sat down on one of the wooden benches. "Go introduce yourself, Eli."

Eli looked from the child to him and back again, "All alone?"

Severus sighed, "Eli you're eight years old now, you can do it by yourself. Go on now."

It was Eli's turn to sigh as he turned to make his way over to the boy swinging on the swings. "Hello, my name is Eli what's yours?"

Freak quickly looked up at the name 'Eli' then he looked around to see if that nice man was here when he saw him sitting on the wooden benches he smiled. "Nice to meet you, Eli. My name is Freak."

Eli at first looked like he was going to laugh then when he saw Freak's serious face he noticed he wasn't joking. "Oh. Well that's a uh, nice name. But I don't want to call you that, can I give you a nickname?"

Freak scrunched up his face and said, "Why don't you like my name?"

Eli sighed and glance at his father, "Well you see the word 'freak' isn't a very nice word, I'm not even allowed to say it, if I do and my daddy hears me I get my mouth washed out."

Freak still looked a bit confused but said, "Yeah, you can give me a nickname. What's it gonna be?"

Eli began thinking over what to call him, then he thought of one, it was perfect for him! "I'm gonna call you James, you look like a James."

Freak smiled, "I like it! Thanks, Eli."

Eli smiled triumphantly and said, "Anytime James."

Freak motioned to the swing next to his. "Wanna swing with me?"

That was the beginning of a great friendship. All day they played together, they chased each other around and played hide-n-go-seek with Severus and then they pretended they were astronauts on the swings, but then it was getting dark and Freak had to start home

"I need to go Eli. I'll see you later alright?" Freak said as he started his journey back to his relative's house hoping the person that was supposed to come today left already.

As Freak came closer to the house he noticed the lights were still on and an unfamiliar car was parked in the drive way beside his aunts and uncle's car.

Aunt Petunia quickly stepped out the door and came over to him. "You can't come in tonight, they're staying the night."

Freak looked around himself and asked, "Where am I supposed to stay?"

Petunia glared at him and snapped, "Does it look like I care where you go? Just go somewhere! For all I care you could go sleep in the neighbor's pool, then I won't have to deal with you anymore."

Petunia turned to make her way back to the house before anyone noticed she was gone.

Freak held in the tears that threatened to fall as he turned his back on the house and walked back to the playground to sleep in the play house.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

As Severus was about to turn his son's light off for him to go to bed Eli spoke up, "Daddy did you notice all those cuts and bruises on James?"

Severus took one look at his son's worried gaze and went to sit on the side of his bed, "Yes son I did."

"Where do you think he got them?" Eli asked innocently

"Well you know how he lives with his relatives?" When he got a nod from his son he continued, "Well I think his relatives gave them to him. But it is just a guess, I'm not positive."

A few tears slid down Eli's face as he said, "But how could they do that to him? They don't love him do they?"

Severus sighed and said, "I don't know son, I don't know."

Eli got a serious look on his face and he said, "Well then I will love him, he will be my James. My James-" And with that Eli was fast asleep once again.

Severus shook his head and turned off the light. "Good night son, I love you."