At the ripe age of nine, Severus Snape took pride in the fact that he knew how to get himself out of most complicates situations. His present predicament, however, was more complex than what he was used to deal with.

He had been woken up by the screams.

The voices were faint, probably coming from far away. He didn't understand the words, but they sounded familiar. Latin, perhaps…?

Something cold was pressed upon his face. He reached for it and took it off.

It was a mask. Between the overall resemblance to a skull, the narrow opening for the mouth and the empty eyes sockets, it looked like a monster out of a horror novel.

Severus dropped it, shivering.

"It would be wise of you to surrender."

With a jolt, the boy noticed he wasn't alone. In the narrow alley, standing between him and the main street, there was a tall figure.

It was an old man, dressed in sparkling robes. His silver hair and his beard were so long that it reached his belt. His face, though partially in the shadows, seemed marked by many wrinkles.

Severus couldn't see his expression very well, but the tone of his voice was threatening. And he was holding a wand. A wand pointed at him.

"What do you want?" bursted Severus, while slowly moving backward. "Are you a kidnapper? If it's a ransom you're after, my parents got no money, so, it's no use!"

He tried to speak with assurance but couldn't help his voice from wavering. The stranger must have noticed because he didn't look very impressed. He started walking toward him, in slow, steady strides.

"I'm afraid I do not understand what you are referring to, mister…" — the old man waved his wand, conjuring a flash of light which dazzled Severus — "mister Snape? That spell of yours seems to have disconcerting effects."

"What the bloody fuck are you talking about?" cursed the boy.

Immediately, he regretted. Swearing rarely improved the situation. Fortunately, the stranger didn't seem to mind.

"Like I was saying: I highly advice you to surrender. There are protections against apparation in place, and I already got your wand."

"I don't have a wand yet! I'm not of age!"

Which was a shame, really. If he had a wand, he would have had a chance to escape from this mad geezer. His mum had shown him a few tricks when his dad wasn't home.

"Of age? What age are you, mister Snape?"

"Nine..."

"Nine, really? I highly doubt that. Unless…"

The man was lost in thought for a moment. Then, he crouched down, to Severus's level, making eye contact with him.

"Tell me, Severus, what is the last thing you remember?"

The boy didn't want to answer, but it hardly appeared like he had a choice. The man was now close enough to grab him and the wand was still pointed at him.

"I went to bed, like normal, then I woke up here," he muttered, begrudgingly.

The man had very unsettling blue eyes. It felt like he could read Severus's thoughts, like there was nothing that could be hidden from him. The boy really wanted to look away, but it was surprisingly hard to do.

Finally, after a long silence, the wizard sighted. When he spoke again, his voice was warmer, and his expression more affable.

"I believe we might have started on the wrong foot. It is nice to meet you, Severus. My name is Albus Dumbledore. I am —"

"The headmaster at Hogwarts! My mum told me all about it!"

Amongst the many things his mum told him about Albus Dumbledore, there was the facts that he was a very powerful wizard, a muggle-lover, and a crazy man. She had assured him that his folly was harmless, but Severus wasn't so sure about it anymore.

"Would you like to come to Hogwarts with me?" asked the headmaster.

And now that he was thinking of it, he had no way to know if the old man was telling the truth. He didn't even know what Albus Dumbledore looked like. Any wizard could impersonate him, and he would be none the wiser.

"No, thank you," he answered, trying his best to keep his voice firm. "I'll go home."

"I'm afraid you will find no one at your home. Your parents had… an urgent matter to settle. They went on a trip. And you are too young to be left on your own."

That explanation was terribly unconvincing. How could he know whether Severus' parents were at home or not? And a trip? They didn't have the money for it! Perhaps he was underestimating Severus' intelligence because he was a child. Most adults did. Too bad for him.

"Then, I'll go at a friend's house," lied Severus. "They live close from here, so I'll be fine! You don't have to worry about me anymore, sir. I'll just walk."

"I'm afraid that would not work, Severus," said the headmaster with a long sight. "And now that I think of it, Hogwarts would not be suitable either."

He knew it! Something was fishy!

As quickly as he could, Severus launched himself on Dumbledore, trying to take his wand from him. Unfortunately, Dumbledore easily avoided his attack and grabbed Severus wrist with his other hand.

"Let me go!"

"I'm sorry, Severus, but I can't do that."

And on these words, he started dragging Severus toward the main street.

The boy tried everything to get free of his grip, but nothing seemed to work. It didn't help that he kept tripping on the hem of his robes, too large for him. Why he had woken up dressed in them, he had no ideas.

The old man kept walking, impassible, and finally, they reached the main street.

It was… devastated. Some of the buildings were on fire. Some portions of the street were missing. A few healers in white robes could be seen here and there, talking with people who seemed extenuated.

And there was something… disturbing. People… Bodies… Lying on the street.

Were they dead?

"Who's that?"

Severus jumped, surprised.

The man who just asked that, with the gruffest tone Severus had ever heard, had a grumpy face full of cicatrices and, more importantly, a wand that was pointed at Severus.

Bloody great! That's only the second time today.

"I'll explain it to you later, Alastor."

Alastor raised an interrogative brown at Severus, but reluctantly accepted the headmaster's answer.

"Terrible night, isn't it?" asked Dumbledore, with sadness.

"We lost good people today. Again."

"I'll escort young Severus here to the headquarter. I'll come back as soon as I can."

"There's no need. There's not a single death eater left, and the fire will be put off soon. I'll see you at the headquarter as soon as I'm finished with the ministry report."

Dumbledore nodded gravely.

Then, he looked at Severus.

"Have you already apparated, Severus? No? That's what I though. You will probably feel a little sick but… Well, let's go."

The world started to turn, sickeningly so, and the street seemed to fade away as the light and the shadows were dancing incoherently. Finally, the scenery stabilized. Severus though he was going to fall on his knees, but the old man was still holding him firmly.

A quick look around him and Severus realized that they were in another street, in front of an old, dusty, bar, which was currently closed for renovation if he was to believe the sign.

And yet, without any hesitation, Dumbledore walked through the bar's door, forcing Severus to follow. A bell rang softly, echoing into the empty lounge. They passed right next to a few dusty tables and broken chairs, finally reaching a door in the back, behind the counter. With a flick of his wand, the old wizard moved a few card boxes away from the door. Another spell, and the door opened. The dim, flickering light of an old bulb, hanging down from the ceiling, revealed a narrow staircase, going down as far as the eyes could see.

Severus took in the sight in front of him with wide eyes, and a shiver ran down his spine as he realized that the old man wanted him to walk down these stairs. His wrist was free, but the wizard's wand was once again pointed at him. And thought the wizard's expression was affable, the threat was clear.

Feeling like he might throw up, Severus slowly began his descent. He tried to focus on not tripping, to focus on the uneven steps, to forget the pure terror that seized him.

Finally, they reached a second door, in the bottom of the stairs. Another spell, and that door opened as well, revealing a small, tidy kitchen. A massive table had been cramped into the tiny room, leaving barely enough space for the dozen of chairs around it. The kitchen's counter was ragged, but clean and had clearly been used recently. This room was nowhere as abandoned as the bar upstairs.

There were of course no windows. The room was underground after all.

As Severus was warily analyzing his new environment, trying to find an exit, a way to escape his captor, Dumbledore used another spell.

With terror, Severus heard the sound of the door locking behind him.

He really got bloody kidnapped.

If you like stories with a young de-aged Severus, may I recommend this fanfiction to you ?

[ House Potter for Children in Need ] by Ailec_12

Eight-year-old Severus Snape wakes up alone at home only to be later dumped in another house.

There, he must put up with an annoying toddler, a creepy cat and two adults that cannot be trusted. The place is Godric's Hollow and the year, 1981 —except for the fact that Severus thinks it is 1968.