Harry woke with a start. He had a nightmare. He was habituated to it by now and headed straight for the bathroom. He noticed that he woke up early today. He decided to make something for himself. Snape was still asleep as no one was there in the house. He could either sneak out or make breakfast. He was dying to go out. He hadn't stepped outside since he came there. Harry wanted to know where exactly he was and he couldn't guess just by looking outside the window. The street was always empty with a few houses scattered around the area. There was trash lying down on the corners of the houses. He could guess as much that this was not a posh street. Harry decided to go out. Snape wouldn't know. Harry would make sure to just check and come back before Snape woke up. He moved towards the door and slowly turned the door knob. The door opened with a click. 'Finally', Harry thought and walked outside. He was going to cross the threshold when he felt a hand on his shoulders.

"And where do you think are you going Potter?"

Harry froze. No... this didn't have to go this way. He had to face this though. Harry turned back with an unapologetic look. Snape arched his eyebrows at that.

"Already decided to escape, have you Potter? Do you ever think of the consequences or are you are above everyone else? Putting everyone's life in danger like that."

"Professor, please. I...I just wanted to go outside and...

Before Harry could reply Snape caught Harry by his shoulder and dragged him alongside. Harry jerked his shoulder back and tried to explain. Snape sneered and caught him by his hands. Harry tried to pulled his hands back but Snape tightened his hold.

"Sir please listen… I just wanted to go out for a bit. I haven't been outside for a while and...ouch."

Snape was holding Harry's hand tightly and it hurt now. Harry stopped trying to pull back but Snape did not soften his hold.

Snape pushed him inside the house and closed the door. He bolted it with locks and sealed it with some spell.

Harry looked at him in fear. He did not expect to be locked like that. But again it was Snape. His hand was still burning with pain. Snape moved close to him and held Harry's jaw.

"You better not try to escape again. You might not care for others but people have sacrificed their life for you. But why would the great Harry Potter care. He is too busy enjoying his fame..."

"Can you just shut up?", Harry shouted. Harry felt angry. Snape would be the last person to tell him about who sacrificed for him and if Harry cares. Harry just turned away and ran upstairs. He couldn't think clearly now. He knew he was wrong to go outside but the way Snape reacted was too much. He locked the door behind and sat there with his hands on the head. His hands were bruised.

Snape was fuming. How dare the brat dare to escape and then tell him to shut up? He had had enough. He was not going to treat the boy like a celebrity. Severus had to do something. Something that would make the boy more grounded and fearful of him.

Harry wanted to go somewhere anywhere but here. Why did Snape behave so harshly? He didn't even go anywhere. Why did he even expect Snape to behave differently? Of course, Snape was going to bully him now that he had free reign over Harry. Yes, this was it. If Harry had to survive, he would have to stay away as much as possible. He got up and searched for his glasses. He was wearing it before going down. But they were not there now. Harry opened the window. He could see the frontyard but everything was blurry. He bent over the window more to see if his glasses were lying there. Unable to see anything clearly, Harry gave up.

"Trying to escape by the window are we?"

No. This was not happening to him. Why Merlin, why? Harry couldn't see Snape clearly but Snape was holding something shiny and was shaking with anger. Snape moved towards him. Harry gulped.

"Sir, I was not escaping. I was just fin..."

But before Harry could complete Snape was towering over him. He shook Harry.

"Have you no shame at all Potter? No wonder Potter is your father."

"Can you just shut up and listen for once?" Harry was frustrated beyond words.

" I was trying to find my glasses an.."

" And then escape.", Snape completed.

"What? No...No, I was just finding my glasses"

"That is enough of you for today. Do you not get tired of making excuses, Potter? Like father like son."

Harry had had enough now. He was shaking with anger. He wanted to say something very bad to Snape but decided against it and tried to walk past him.

Snape caught Harry's elbow and pulled him back where he was standing.

"Don't you dare walk away, Potter. You will face the consequences of your actions. I will not allow your irresponsible insolent behaviour here. You will stay in your room ad any contact with the outside world is prohibited."

Harry wanted to kick Snape badly. The man was mad.

"No!"

"No?", Snape raised an eyebrow.

"Keep your hands off me." Harry pushed away Snape's hands off his shoulders.

" I told you I did not try to escape. Are you a nutcase? Can't you understand simpl.."

Snape tightened his hold on Harry's jaw.

" I have already told you to not talk with me such insolence. I will not tolerate it. Stop trying to lie. I am not Dumbledore or any of your worshippers. You will get what you deserve."

Snape released his hold and held Harry's glasses in front and broke it into two pieces.

" Try to escape now, Potter."

Harry looked Snape in the eye with anger and hatred, but Snape wasn't looking at him and moved past the door.

Harry stood there looking at the closed door. How was he supposed to live here? What was Dumbledore thinking? Was he better off at the Dursleys?

Sirius knew what he had to do. He had to find Remus. Remus hadn't replied to any of his letters. Sirius knew where he would find his best friend, but he couldn't leave Mexico now. He would have to find some other way of contacting Remus. Aurors were still searching for him. He would have to be careful. He headed outside. Some fresh air wouldn't hurt. He was walking on the beach when he caught a boy staring at him. When Sirius stared back the boy averted his eyes. But began staring back when Sirius looked away. Sirius walked towards the boy to ask what was wrong. On seeing Sirius coming towards him, the boy started running.

"Wait." Sirius ran after the boy.

The boy ran fast and Sirius was right behind him. The boy ran away from the beach and into an empty alleyway.

"Wait. Why are you running away? Boy, listen."

The boy stopped running. It was a dead end. Sirius caught the boy.

"Who are you? Why were you running and what is his place?"

The boy did not speak anything. Instead, he led him into an empty house.

Sirius was confused now. Why was he following this boy in the first place?

" Where are..."

Thump. Something hard hit Sirius on the head and he lost consciousness.