Disclaimer: I own nothing. Everything in the world of Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling. Who is obviously brilliant.
Once Severus was certain that the charms around Harry's bed would alert him when the child awoke, he headed downstairs and sent his owl to Hogwarts with a letter for the headmaster. Then he went down to his lab, he would have a fair amount of brewing to do tonight. Sitting at his primary workstation Severus unrolled the parchment from Harry's Diagnostic scan:
Undernourished
Dehydrated
Concussion (likely multiple)
Internal abdominal bleeding
Sprained wrist
3 broken ribs
Blood loss
Kidney infection
There was also evidence that Harry had suffered from several previous bone breaks that had somehow healed on their own. Severus was sure the boy would be dead or at least disfigured had his magic not kept healing him. That was probably why Harry had such a hard time believing he was a wizard. There couldn't have been much left in him to produce accidental magic with how much was going into keeping him alive. Severus wished he had cursed the Dursley's while he had the chance.
Severus made a list of all the necessary potions for the boy and then a list of all the ingredients he needed. He then set off to work brewing the items on the list. When he next bothered to look up, the clock on the wall read 6 AM. Deciding he had enough potions to get through the next week, Severus cleaned up before heading to the kitchen to make coffee.
With his coffee in hand, Severus began to write out a plan for Harry. They would definitely have to go shopping as they hadn't brought anything with them when they had come from the Dursley's. He would also need a good amount of supplies for school and the intensive tutoring he was going to need over the next two months to try and prepare him for Hogwarts. Thankfully most of the students who came were not really used to writing essays and such yet anyways so hopefully with a little luck and hard work Severus could get him ready. When the chime went off on the floo Severus knew it would be the Headmaster before he even said anything.
"Severus, may I come through?" Albus Dumbledore inquired. Severus had long ago blocked off his floo so that people could only come in if he let them. Snape was not a fan of surprise visitors or any visitors for that matter.
"Of course, Headmaster." He answered as he removed the ward from the floo. The Headmaster entered wearing a ridiculous set of midnight blue robes with moons and stars on them and settled into one of the vacant chairs in the room with his customary twinkling eyes.
"So Harry got his letter?" He asked looking completely unconcerned.
"Yes. I delivered it and ensured that it was read." Severus answered. He wasn't sure how much Albus Dumbledore knew of Harry's living conditions and the thought wasn't sitting well with him. Albus had assured them all many times that Harry was being well looked after at his relatives and that he was happy there. Severus knew Minerva was going to hit the roof when he told her of Harry's condition when he was found.
"Ah. And how was our young Harry? Excited about the coming year I expect." Albus said with a small smile as he conjured up a tea set for himself. Severus wasn't really known for his hospitality.
"Actually, he was quiet, terrified, hurting, and locked in the cupboard under the stairs." Severus watched the Headmaster closely while he said this. He wasn't sure the man had actually heard him as he seemed to have no reaction whatsoever.
"Pardon?" Albus asked sipping his tea.
"I said I found Harry Potter locked in a cupboard under the stairs with so many injuries it was a miracle the child was even conscious. It also took me about 20 minutes to even get him to read his letter. Then another 20 minutes to convince him it was not in fact a joke, then a further 20 minutes to get him to come out of the blasted cupboard," Severus knew he was exaggerating a little but didn't really care, " I thought you said he was safe and happy in that house Albus? You told us you were checking on him frequently. Where the hell have you been? That boy has been starved, beaten, and locked up. Furthermore, there was not a single ward in place around that house! The boy who lived was a sitting duck and very close to being the boy who lived to be killed by Muggles!" Severus was yelling by the end of his speech unable to hold in his temper.
"I was checking... Or rather, had someone else keeping an eye on them. I was told he was fine." Albus responded. At least the damn twinkle was gone. Severus was concerned that Dumbledore didn't look nearly as surprised or outraged as this situation called for. Severus himself was having a hard time looking at Albus just remembering the condition he had found Harry in.
"Well, a fine job they were doing. Do you know that Harry has never attended school?" Severus asked.
"What? All Muggle children attend school." Albus sputtered out. Now he looked a little taken aback.
"Yes, but the Dursley's know that Harry is not a Muggle child. In Harry's own words 'freaks aren't allowed to go to school.' So he never attended. It's a miracle he taught himself to read and write!" Severus said inwardly seething. The longer this conversation went on the more he believed the Headmaster was hiding something and it was making it even harder for Severus to keep his temper.
"I had no idea. I knew they weren't as caring as we might have hoped but I didn't think they would mistreat him." Albus said looking bewildered.
"Well then you should have actually checked on him as you told us you were doing these last 10 years!" Severus yelled. He was glad he had thought to put a silencing charm on the room before they started this conversation or Harry would have probably been awake by now.
"Where is Harry now?" Albus asked his face pale.
"He is upstairs sleeping and recovering with the aid of several potions." Severus seethed, did the man not having anything to say about the condition Severus found the boy in?
"Severus. Harry needs to go back to the Dursley's the pro-"
"HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND? HAVE YOU NOT HEARD A WORD I SAID TO YOU?" Severus thundered. He couldn't believe Dumbledore just said that.
"Severus please listen, the power of Lily's sacrifice requires that Harry have a home with his blood relatives. The wards in place will only hold if Harry considers it a home. He needs to return to his Aunt's house immediately." Albus explained slowly but forcefully.
"Albus Dumbledore, have you not heard anything I have said to you? There were no wards around that house when I approached it. I would hazard a guess that Harry hasn't considered that place a home in a very long time, more like a prison. He will not be going back there Albus. Besides what do blood wards and sacrifice protections matter if the boys muggle relatives kill him first. How did he even end up there? Im positive Lily would never have let that happen, she must have had a will" Severus said. He was sure Lily would have had a will with instructions on who would care for her son. Everyone did in those days as they never knew if they would be the next casualties of the War.
"Lily and James left no wills. I suppose they didn't have time to draw them up before they went into hiding. Harry was sent to his closest living relatives as his Godfather could not take him for obvious reasons and the protection Lily gave him would be stronger there. Perhaps we can come up with an alternate arrangement for the time being." Albus gave up in the face of Severus's rage. He had a feeling if he pushed the issue right now he would lose Severus. He could always send Harry back next summer. Once he was a student at Hogwarts with no other magical relatives Albus would become Harry's magical guardian, then he would control where the child went. It was imperative that Harry lived in circumstances that would make it easier for him to be pushed in the right direction when the time came.
"I will speak to Molly Weasley and see if she will take him for the summer. Then we can discuss other arrangements at a later date." Albus said thinking quickly. Yes, the Weasley's would work well. Such a large, loud family would be the perfect place for the Potter boy.
"No, Headmaster. Harry will not do well at the Weasley's. He is going to need more care then Molly will possibly be able to give him with all the children she has in the house. Harry needs stability and structure right now. We only have a short time to prepare the boy for Hogwarts, Headmaster. He will not get the attention he needs from Molly." Severus was beginning to suspect the Headmaster didn't want Harry to be completely taken care of. Severus wasn't sure what was really going on here but he would find out.
"Severus, Molly knows how to take care of a child. I mean really she has enough of them. Harry will be fine there. I must insist I'm afraid. He cannot stay here. You are supposed to be a loyal Death Eater. When Voldemort returns we need to ensure you can return to his side." Albus said. He needed his spy, he couldn't give him up so that he could take care of the boy. Harry would be fine, he had survived Voldemort after all. Severus was probably exaggerating the situation.
"Albus, you have more than just one Death Eater spy in the Order. Furthermore, he is not back yet so that is not a problem. Please just let the boy stay for the rest of the summer so that I can get him ready for Hogwarts. No one would know he was here and really it's the last place anyone would think to look for him. I am asking you to please let me help Lily's son." Severus said laying it on a little thick. He didn't intend for this to be just a summer arrangement now that the Headmaster had shown that he could not be trusted to operate in Harry's best interest, but he had to start somewhere.
"Alright, Severus he may stay until the start of term." Albus answered with a weary look. He didn't want to lose Severus and he knew he would if he kept pressing the issue. He would just ensure that Harry's living arrangements changed for the next holiday. The boy had a job to do after all and Albus intended to make sure that he did it. With that Albus stepped into the floo and went back to Hogwarts.
Severus sat down heavily, now he needed a plan to deal with Dumbledore and a plan to help Harry get ready for Hogwarts. It was going to be a very long summer.
A/N: Hope everyone is enjoying the story. I have changed the timeline slightly so that Harry receives his letter at the beginning of July instead of the end so that he has more time to get ready for Hogwarts. Thank you for your favorites, follows and reviews. They are very much appreciated.