Chapter 2

Harry had been sitting on the low wall in Magnolia Crescent when he saw something in the darkness. What happened next happened so fast he couldn't make sense of it until after it did, one moment he was trying to see whatever it was, the next moment he slipped on his trunk, he heard a muffled crack and felt someone grab him. There hadn't really been anyone around and he didn't have enough time to panic before Magnolia Crescent vanished in front of his eyes with a crack and he felt his insides being pulled in all directions before he promptly fell over in an alley.

He was up on his feet in an instant, wand outstretched, fuelled by adrenaline. Panic fully setting in, he didn't even notice that his trunk and Hedwig's cage were also here. He was about to send a blasting curse in every direction when someone appeared in front of him seemingly out of nowhere.

"Pro- Professor Snape?" He whispered alarmed, looking at the man who let out a long breath. He really was in trouble now, wasn't he?It won't be long before he was expelled and his wand snapped in half.

Could he contact Dumbledore some way and explain what had happened? Would the Ministry believe what Harry had to say? But why was it Snape and not McGonagall that was here for him? He slowly lowered his wand.

"Potter," said Snape looking at him a little strangely, "Are -" but before he could complete his sentence, Harry interrupted him and started rambling in a panicked voice.

"Am I getting expelled Professor? Is that why you're here? I didn't do it on purpose, sir. Where are we? It wasn't my fault, I really didn't mean for it to happen. Can I talk to Dumbledore? I was just so angry. Is this Hogsmeade? I'll explain everything. Where's Profes-"

"Calm down Mr. Potter, you are not getting expelled," said Snape, looking at him like he was trying to figure out a hard math problem.

"I'm not?"

"No," Snape said, a little impatiently.

"Where are we then Professor? Why are we here?" He sounded almost frantic now.

"Breathe, Potter." Snape instructed, waiting until he took a few deep breaths, slightly calming his frenzied heart.

"Cease with the questions until we're inside, Potter," Snape said, "Now come along before someone spots either of us." Thrusting Hedwig's cage in Harry's hands he started walking, carrying the trunk himself.

Harry just gaped at him without moving until Snape stopped walking and turned around, rolled his eyes with an exasperated sigh and grabbed Harry by the arm before walking briskly out of the alley.

"Wait," Harry snatched his arm out of Snape's grip and pulled out his wand pointing it at the man. He didn't know what had gotten over him. Snape just rolled his eyes again. "How do I believe you are Professor Snape?" he asked.

Now it was Snape's turn to gape. He quickly recovered himself though and was about to say something when Harry spoke again.

"What was the first question you asked me in my first ever Potions class?" Harry asked, he didn't think if the man would even remember something that happened two years ago. Still that was the only thing that came to his mind.

Snape was taken aback by the question. " 'What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?'" he said, looking a little bemused.

The Draught of Living Death. The answer came to Harry mindlessly. He had never forgotten any of his first classes at Hogwarts.

This was the real Snape. Harry let out a breath. At least he wasn't being kidnapped by someone in Polyjuice. He didn't know how long he would last defending himself considering how out of breath he was.

"Now, shall we?"

Harry nodded mutely and started to trek behind his professor. Walking alone was taking up a lot of his energy. He had black spots dancing in his eyes by the time Snape stopped walking, he'd have almost walked into the man without realizing it if he hadn't been caught and stabilized.

They stopped at a brick house at the end of a street named Spinner's End. Snape opened the door with a touch of his hand, pushed a hesitating Harry inside unceremoniously before dragging his trunk in and locking the door with a series of spells. They had entered what looked like a sitting room.

Once inside Snape conjured a glass of water and handed it to Harry, motioning him to sit on the sofa. He then took a seat on the armchair with a glass of amber liquid for himself which he downed in a single gulp.

"Drink," he said looking at Harry. Harry mumbled a weak 'Thanks' and started sipping the glass of water. The man did say that Harry wasn't about to be expelled for blowing up Aunt Marge, but he wasn't entirely sure about not being in trouble. This was Snape after all. Why was he brought here anyway? And where was here?

But before he could ask anything a beautiful mist-like silver phoenix appeared in front of Snape and nodded at him. Fawkes, he thought. It circled Harry, and perched itself on his shoulder before vanishing.

Harry was still looking at his shoulder stunned, when Snape stood, muttering about something that sounded like 'old fool knowing everything' and addressed Harry.

"I will be back within the hour, Potter."

"But, sir I -"

Snape just shook his head at him, exhaling rather loudly left through the hallway, downstairs - most probably to the basement - and Harry heard a whoosh of the floo.

Harry was confused by the happenings. He had so many questions that it felt like his head was spinning out of control.

He looked around the room trying to distract himself. The walls were completely covered in books. The sofa, an armchair and a low table were all the furniture in the room. A low fire was crackling in the grate, there weren't any pictures - or anything, really - on the mantle.

Where was this place?

He looked out the window to his right; a low fence lining a clean lawn looked out onto the street. There weren't any people about in the dark.

Now that he had time to think, his idea of flying to London seemed stupid. What would he have done once he'd gotten there? Granted, living as an outcast surely seemed rather appealing after his life with the Dursleys. Even if he did manage that, the ministry would surely have ways of finding people, wouldn't it? What would be the point of it all if in the end he was just as easily found?

It wasn't like he was any normal person, as much as he wanted to be. The whole Wizarding World would be in an uproar if 'The Harry Potter' went missing. That was as normal as his life got. He gave a dry chuckle at that thought.

He started wondering about what would happen now that he'd run away from the Dursleys'. Snape had told him that he wasn't going to be expelled from Hogwarts, surely he wouldn't lie to Harry would he? Would he be in trouble for running away? What would the Dursleys do now? Where would he go? Where was he, anyway? Should he write to Dumbledore explaining everything? He'd sent Hedwig off with Errol, when would she be back? Would she be able to reach him? She was a very clever bird, surely she would know where to find Harry.

As much as he wanted to write to Dumbledore, he couldn't find enough energy to actually get up and get the parchment and quill from his trunk. He kept thinking about how to properly explain that he didn't mean for any of it to happen, when he suddenly remembered the Hogsmeade permission slip. He felt ten times worse now that he hadn't kept up his end of the bargain for Uncle Vernon to sign the form for him.

He would have to ask Dumbledore or McGonagall about that too, though not now when he didn't know what kind of consequences he would face about Aunt Marge. What had happened to her after he left? Had the Ministry found her? Were they able to fix her yet? Would they be able to find him immediately, wherever he was now?

He looked at the glass of water he was still holding and drained the rest of it in two gulps and put it on the coffee table before his thoughts went back to Snape. Where was Snape? Why was he the one who came looking for Harry? And more importantly where had he brought Harry?

Harry leaned back on the sofa with heavy eyes, a million thoughts running through his head. He was waiting for Snape to be back, so he could ask the man about what was going on.

He kept fighting his exhaustion until he finally gave way and fell into an uncomfortable sleep, thinking about large creatures lurking in the dark.