Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to the Harry Potter series. That's all JK Rowling.

AN: To clear up any confusion, yes, this is a Snarry fic. I also would like to thank you all for reading this fic even though it had a terrible summery. Smiley face for you all! XD

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Chapter 2

Severus looked around the dirty cabin where the muggles had taken the boy. It was disgusting. The place had obviously been abandoned for quite a long time. It was questionable whether or not it was safe to stay here without the roof caving in. Better get this over with quickly, Severus thought to himself.

"Yes as Petunia has mentioned my name is Severus Snape but you all can just call me Snape, or in Potter's case Professor," he started making his way into the house. "Speaking of the boy where is he?"

"Um right here," came a quiet voice.

Severus looked over and was stunned by what he saw. His black hair messy and covered in dirt much like the rest of him. It was almost amazing how his green eyes seemed to shine through all of the filth. He seemed to be leaning against the coach as if he was hurt. Severus took a step closer and immediately noticed how thin the boy was. Had Petunia fed the boy even once since she had gotten him as a baby?

"Mom did you say wizard," another boy laughed. Severus turned to see a smaller version of the whale Petunia had apparently married. This boy was as fat as his father but otherwise seemed fine. Things were definitely as he had suspected.

"Wizards and magic aren't real," the fat boy chided his mother.

Severus sighed and took out his wand. He lazily flicked it at the hearth and within seconds there was a comfortable fire heating up the cabin. That seemed to shut the boy up. Potter looked astounded.

"I take it from your reaction you have not been told about magic," Severus asked trying to keep his voice calm. Potter shook his head.

"Petunia, how do you know this freak?"

Petunia looked to her husband.

"He used to hang out with my sister."

Potter moved to Severus' side faster than he had ever seen anyone move.

"You knew my mom," he asked. "Would you like to sit down?"

For the first time since his best friend had died Severus felt the urge to smile.

"Don't you dare invite him in boy," the whale raged.

Severus couldn't help but notice the way Potter hid behind him. He could see the fear in the child's eyes. He could feel the rage inside of him grow. There was not a doubt in his mind that he would find evidence of physical abuse.

"What are you even doing here," Petunia sniffed. She gave him a look of utter disgust. He gave her a glare and placed his hand on Potters' shoulder. The young man flinched but didn't pull away.

"I'm here to give Harry his letter of course," he explained.

"You're the one who's been sending those," Potter asked.

"Actually the school sends those. I'm just here because the letters were ignored," Severus explained searching his pockets for the letter. He couldn't find anything. Did that oaf forget to give him the blasted letter? Damn and he had left the other one with Lucius too. He let out a sigh.

"I guess I'll have to take you to the manor," he grumbled. Potter looked confused.

"You're not taking him anywhere," the whale roared holding his muggle weapon up in an attempt to intimidate him. His face was an ugly shade of purple. Severus just transfigured the thing into a long pillow.

"Why don't you just go to sleep before you get hurt," Severus suggested. "As for Potter it is his choice whether he will come with me or not but even if he doesn't he won't be staying with you much longer."

"What do you mean by that," Petunia sniffed. Severus allowed himself to smirk.

"Because either way I will be contacting the MCPS. It's clear to me that your nephew is in horrible shape thanks to your…care."

"MCPS," Potter questioned.

"Magical Child Protection Services," Severus explained. He ignored the gasp from Petunia.

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Harry wasn't sure if he had heard the man right.

"You mean I'm a magical child? That can't be right."

Mr. Snape gave him an incredulous look.

"Of course you are. Just like your mother and father were. I'm here to invite you to study at the school they went to when they were your age," he explained.

Harry thought about it. Strange things did seem to happen around him. Like when he was five and he had gotten made at his cousin for stealing his food and all the kitchen windows had shattered. Or like at the zoo when he was talking to the snake and the window had disappeared. Did all those things happen because of him? Because of magic?

Then another thought occurred to him. Mr. Snape was going to take him away. He had said that he wasn't going to be staying with his horrid uncle or aunt anymore. Sure, he was following a stranger but anywhere had to be better than this right?

"Is it true," he asked.

Mr. Snape looked at him.

"Is what true? You need to be more specific young man."

"If I go with you, I won't have to come here again," Harry said allowing himself to feel a little hope.

"I promise. I'll do everything in my power to make sure that these monsters won't come near you again," Mr. Snape vowed ignoring the enraged screeching of his relatives.

Harry felt a warm feeling well up inside him. For the first time in his life he felt like everything was going to be alright. He found himself clutching the man's sleeve.

"Okay. I'll go with you."

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Lucius was surprised when his friend had shown up at his house with a very small and dirty boy in tow. The child looked so scared and pathetic that he didn't even give his friend time to speak.

"What on earth happened to him? He looks like a third world orphan," he cried running up to the child to inspect him closer. The boy looked at him with wide eyes. Lucius couldn't help but notice how pure and innocent they looked. He put both of his hands on the boys shoulders and leaned down so he was eye level with the boy. "You must take your clothes off so that I may wash you."

Without any warning Lucius felt someone smack him on the side of the head. He put a hand to where he had felt the sting he looked up at his friend. Severus looked livid.

"This child has been through enough without you scarring him more with your idiotic pervertedness Malfoy," he hissed.

"I don't think pervertedness is a word and I'm hurt that you would suggest that I would do anything to dirty a child's purity. I merely meant that he should use one of my bathrooms get clean," Lucius defended before Severus hexed him. He had always been so sensitive when it came to children.

"That would be wonderful," the boy exclaimed. "But you don't have to trouble yourself, I can wash myself."

"Good and after your done we'll discuss your letter," Severus said once again composing himself. "Unless you'd rather go to bed. It is late."

"I don't think I could sleep after all this but if you're tired Mr. Snape we could wait until tomorrow," the boy said looking uncomfortable.

"Either way is fine. Doby," Severus called. Doby appeared with a crack startling the boy. Lucius could tell by his face that he had never seen a house elf before.

"What can Doby do for Master Snape," the little elf asked.

"I need you to take young mister Potter to a bathroom and help him run a bath. He probably won't know how to work it and afterwards please escort him back to us," Severus requested.

"Oh and give one of Draco's outfits to wear afterwards please," Lucius added. At the moment he was too confused with the boys' presence to be angry at Severus for ordering around one of his own house elves. He decided to wait until the boy was gone and they were in the sitting room to ask about it.

"You said the boys' name was Potter right," he started.

"Yes. He is Harry Potter and you can tell be his appearance that our suspicions were correct."

"Severus, you can't just go to a students' house and kidnap them. You should have just contacted MCPS," Lucius reasoned. Severus glared at him.

"I didn't just go there. I was on official Hogwarts business."

Severus explained the conversation he had with the groundskeeper Hagrid and then about his meeting with the Dursleys. Lucius was appalled when Severus told him how Potters relatives had talked about him.

"So why did you bring him here? Why not your house," he asked still a little confused.

"I need to give him the letter I gave to you. He'll need the list of supplies he needs to buy. I also need to talk to you about getting him out of that house," Severus explained.

"I think it's in my desk," Lucius mused standing up to look. He searched until he finally found it under all the papers documents he had received from the ministry that day. He couldn't help but sigh. He had been so busy today he hadn't had the chance to even speak to his son. He would have to make it up to him by taking him school shopping.

"Here it is," he said handing the letter to his friend. "But I must say I'm glad you brought him here. He can borrow some of Draco's clothes till he gets some of his own."

Severus nodded in agreement.

"How fast do you think you can get Potters custody transferred? I know Lily loved her sister but I honestly don't think she would have left her child with her. She knew how Petunia felt about magic."

"You think Dumbledore put Harry there despite what Lily's will said," Lucius asked incredulously. "Why would he do that?"

"I don't know but I think we'll find out after we see it. Has anyone bothered to look at it," Severus asked. After the Potter's died it was known that Dumbledore seized control in order to take care of things quietly. Since the ministry was a mess capturing stray death eaters and cleaning up the mess You Know How left behind no one had questioned it or even looked into it.

"No but I'm sure I can find a copy. I'll also get ahold of MCPS and show them any evidence we have against the muggles. I'll need Harry's memories," Lucius explained. He was already forming a plan in his head.

"I'll talk to him. In the mean time you can show them my memories of when I picked him up," Severus stated calmly searching his robes for a vial to put the memories in. He finally pulled one out and used his wand to pull out a silvery strand of memories. Harry walked in and immediately noticed the vial full of memories.

"What's that," he asked shyly.

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Harry followed the small creature named Doby down a long extravagant hallway. Everything was scary and exciting at the same time. The pictures on the wall were actually moving! The people would watch him walk by and some would actually smile at him. One picture showed a man that looked vaguely like the houses owner. He was smiling and waving as if to get Harry's attention. Harry remembered how startled he had been when the man named Malfoy had asked him to strip but he supposed that was just his way of showing concern. Harry smiled at the thought. He wasn't used to people showing concern for him. Everyone seemed to ignore him. Even the teachers had never asked about the bruises Harry would have when he went to school.

Mr. Snape was the first person to show real concern. Harry hadn't recognized the foreign look the man had given him the first time he laid his eyes on him. But after the incident with Mr. Malfoy he finally understood. The man seemed to care about him. Harry secretly hoped he would be seeing more of the man in the future.

The small creature finally stopped at a door and opened it. Harry was confused when he saw a small pool with a large fountain in the center of it. Wasn't he supposed to go to a bathroom to wash up?

"Excuse me, Doby, this is a nice pool but I thought you were taking me to the bathroom."

"Oh yes sir. This is it," Doby aid pointing to the pool. He grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him inside. The door shut behind them. Before Harry knew it he was stripped and in the water. It was surprisingly warm and Doby had added a soap to the water that made it smell really good.

"Is everything how you like sir," Doby asked expectantly.

"Oh yes it's perfect. Thank you," Harry said smiling. He was startled when he looked over and the creature looked near tears. "I'm so sorry if I offended you," Harry apologized not knowing what it was he said.

"Doby's just so happy to be thanked by a wizard. Doby has never been thanked by someone he serves," Doby cried.

"Why not," Harry asked. Wasn't that polite?

"Doby's a house elf sir. No one ever thinks to thank the house elf," Doby explained. Then he looked down. "That was an awful thing to say."

"It's ok. I hope you don't mind me thanking you. I just think it's good manners when someone does something nice for you," Harry explained.

"Of course sir! And if you don't mind, Doby will leave Mr. Potter to his bath while Doby gets clothes for him," Doby announced. He waited until Harry nodded before he took off.

Harry sighed happily as his muscles relaxed in the warm water. He could stay here forever. But he thought of how Mr. Snape and Mr. Malfoy were waiting for him and hurried to wash his hair. He winced as he washed his arms and chest. They were covered with bruises. Harry hoped the two men wouldn't notice. Since he was little he had learned that it was bad if an adult noticed his bruises. Often his aunt would lie about how he got them and then his uncle would beat him later saying he was being ungrateful and trying to get them in trouble.

Harry grimaced at how dirty the water had become. He hadn't realized how much dirt had clung to him. No wonder Mr. Malfoy had wanted to wash him. He probably looked disgusting. Harry got out of the tub and grabbed a towel Doby had set out for him. Doby appeared and handed Harry some clothes. There was no underwear but Harry didn't want to complain. He put on the jeans and plain black t-shirt and followed Doby down a few hallways and they finally stopped at a door. Doby motioned for Harry to go inside. Harry walked in and saw Mr. Snape handing Mr. Malfor a small bottle with something silver floating inside. It looked beautiful.

"What is that," he asked shyly.

"These are just Severus' memories of when he picked you up from your dreadful relatives. This way others can see what he saw and it'll make it easier for a custody transfer," Mr. Malfoy explained.

"So where will I live," Harry asked. He had never been with anyone but his relatives before. He wondered what other homes were like. Would he be treated with the same coldness his aunt and uncle gave him? Or would he be smothered and given everything he wanted like his dreadful cousin? Harry couldn't hope there was something in between the two.

"We'll get into that later," Mr. Snape interrupted. "For now it's time to give you this."

Harry took the letter from the mans' hand. He would finally be able to read the forbidden letter. He opened it and neither man made a move to stop him. He read the words carefully. He couldn't believe it. He was being sent to a school full of kids like him. After he was done he looked up at the men. He wasn't sure what to say.

"So know you understand. You will be attending Hogwarts this year so you won't have to worry about where you'll be living until the end of term. By then we'll have everything sorted out," Mr. Snape explained coolly.

"Yup and I'm sure Severus will be keeping an eye on you throughout the year so if you have anything happens he will inform you," Mr. Malfoy added.

"Why will you be with me," Harry asked Mr. Snape. "It says it's a boarding school."

"As I'm sure I mentioned I am a Professor. I'll be teaching you potions," he explained.

"Oh, ok," Harry said feeling a little happy.

Mr. Malfoy startled everyone by suddenly clapping his hands together.

"Oh I know! Let's all go school shopping tomorrow. We can't go tonight because it's way past Harrys bedtime. You guys can sleep here tonight," he offered.

"Are you sure," Professor Snape asked.

"Of course, I have more than enough room. I'll get you guys to guest rooms right next to each other's so if little Harry has a nightmare he can go ask his big strong Professor to protect him," Lucius gushed. Harry felt his face grow hot and Professor Snape looked irritated.

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Harry sat in the middle of the giant bed. This room was huge and made him feel tiny. Professor Snape was quietly tucking him in for the night. He started to leave and before he could stop himself Harry grabbed the mans' sleeve.

"Yes," he asked. Harry suddenly felt very embarrassed and quickly let go.

"I'm sorry. Nevermind," he quickly excused.

"It's okay. What do you need," Professor Snape insisted.

"If you don't mind, could you stay with me until I fall asleep," Harry heard himself asked.

Professor Snape sat on the bed and nodded. Harry smiled and curled up. He could feel the Professor begin to softly rub his back. It was the first time Harry fell asleep feeling perfectly safe and warm.

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AN: And that's the second chapter! I'd like to thank all of you who reviewed but because I'm greedy I'll be asking for others to review too. They are really appreciated. Heehee Until next time!