It was eerily quiet in the Dursley residence at 8 am the next morning. The only sounds being produced in the house was the slight splash of water as Petunia quietly washed the dishes while staring out the back yard window. Dudley had stayed the night over at his friend's house and wouldn't be coming back until late that evening so there was no snoring coming from his room. Vernon was already at work, having to go in for an important meeting with a client and Petunia was the only one left in the house. Besides the boy, that is.

After the incident the previous night, Vernon had thrown Harry back into his cupboard. Streaks of blood had lined the floor from where Harry had been dragged. Vernon, of course, had been gruff with Petunia as he had ordered her to clean it all up, but she had quietly got a bucket, filled it with water and cleaner, then shakily lowered herself to the floor to begin cleaning the mess up. Petunia had been on her knees hunched over with the rag wiping back and forth when the irony seemed to hit her.

Only days ago, Harry had been in this same position. Only, he had been cleaning up spilled food and a small pool of blood from that time that Vernon had struck him. This time, the rag only seemed to spread the mess around, so she had to continually dunk the cloth back into the water bucket to rinse it. The clear water quickly turned a strong pink hue.

After everything had been cleaned up, Vernon had begun his nightly routine before bed just like normal. Everything was just like it had never happened.

The water from the sink had just finished draining and Petunia was drying the last dish by hand, when a strong knock thumped against the front door three times in a typical pattern. Her fingers unwillingly clenched the plate in her hands while she took a deep breath. She could only hope it was a local salesman instead of the potential disaster it might be. Each step she took toward the door made silent thuds, beating in time with her pounding heart. Petunia slowly grasped the handle of the door and pulled it open. She stood ramrod straight with a towel still in her hand. Unknowingly, she had only put the dish back and had held onto the towel. It hung down from her clenched fist.

All at once though, as the door swung open and Petunia's eyes first glimpsed the tall dark-haired man known as Severus Snape for the first time in over a decade, everything came to a slow but clear understanding. Petunia Dursley needed to make them believe that Harry was no longer here. It was the only way to escape punishment for what her husband had done to the boy. With that in mind, she cocked her and with a smirk said, "Severus Snape. Whatever are you doing here?"

It would be interesting to note that, had Petunia ever had magic and gone to Hogwarts, she would have sorted into Slytherin.

"Petunia, you know why I'm here." Severus replied. "I'm here for the boy."

Cocking her hip and crossing her arms she spat, "What boy Snape? Have your delusions finally caught up to you? I always knew you were trouble and a waste of space. Lily was an idiot to ever trust you."

"What boy!? Don't play coy with me Toony, hand over the boy for his school shopping and you'll have him back later. But you know that he's going to school." The glare that Severus aimed at her was like molten lava dripping down her spine.

"I have no boy but my son Dudley and he's not a freak like you so I'd appreciate it if you could leave." Mrs. Dursley said.

"What are you hiding, Toony?" Severus cocked his head while narrowing his eyes towards her.

"Don't call me that blasted name and get off my porch before I call the police!" Petunia replied.

All of a sudden, an aching moan echoed through the living room. Both of the conversationalists froze, their minds processing what that sound meant. Instantly, Severus shoved a squawking Petunia out the way and barged his way into the house. His robes billowed out behind him as he swept into the living room. His head turned in all directions listening for where the noise had come from.

Petunia's loud complaints and demands fell on deaf ears as Severus' eyes fell on a cupboard under the stairs. Where the door and floor met, a small amount of red liquid had flowed from underneath the door. Instantly and without looking, Severus whipped his wand out while silently stupefying her. Her body thudded to the ground frozen in current position.

With an apprehensive look, Severus flicked his wand to open the small door. Inside the cupboard a small boy shifted and moaned. His face was beaten bloody with obvious and severe damage done to his eyes, cheeks, jaw and nose. Severus took this scene within a few seconds, blinked and then rushed forward to analyze the boy and his trauma. He casted a few medical diagnosing spells and several stasis spells on some continual bleeding.

His spells found not only internal bleeding but steady bleeding in the brain. And while Severus prided himself on his medical skills attained through his potions mastery and real life experience, all of this was way beyond any of his skills. Harrison needed medi-wizards and healers immediately. The only thing was, with his condition a portkey or apparition would more than likely kill him. Which left one option. The Knight Bus.

Severus cast a feather light charm and quickly gathered Harry in arms. He briskly strode outside. There he floated Harry beside him and raised his wand arm. In a screeching halt the knight bus arrived just feet away from them. The door slid open and a greeting trailed out the door. "Greetings travelers!"

Severus stepped to the door and said, "Stan, I need you to take us to St. Mungo's. Like yesterday. And you'll not say a word to anyone about this. Do you understand?" The look on Severus' face was so pensive and hostile that Stan could only shake his head in agreement.