Chapter Text
There was absolutely no way Vernon Dursley had Severus Snape at his doorway. So this is who Dumbledore and Mr. Weasley had decided to send after him? Harry seriously considered sneaking out the back door to take his chances with the dementors.
Snapes eyes flickered between Vernon and Harry, who was still lying propped up on the kitchen floor. He was barely in Snapes line of sight. Of course, he thought, he couldn't have landed half a meter to the left, he had to be exactly where Snape, of all people, could see him. Great, he hadn't even spoken yet and Snape already had reason to mock him. Harry could hear it now, Do you have an affinity for tripping over your own feet Mr. Potter? Perhaps an internal imbalance then? Harry felt heat rise up in his face. He jumped off the floor and made his way through the short hall to the entry way. Standing upright he darted his eyes up to Snapes face. The mans expression unreadable, only a slight squint at the sight in front of him gave a hint at his confusion.
With a slight clear of his throat Snape said in a low tone, "I am here to collect Mr. Potter."
Vernons opened his mouth, closed it, opened it once more, shut it, then, apparently struggling to remember how to talk, opened it for a third time and croaked, "You… who are you?"
Snape, keeping a stone face, simply repeated himself.
"I am here to collect Mr. Harry Potter. I am Severus Snape, a professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the school your nephew attends."
Vernons face was turning a striking shade of violet. He turned to face Harry.
"Did you call him here?!" Vernon roared, "Did you invite more FREAKS to my home?"
"No! Uncle Vernon, they must have sent him to take me to my hearing- my criminal hearing?" Harry added, on the hopeful note that it would improve Vernons mood.
Apparently it worked. The corner of Vernons mouth quirked up into a sinister smile, "Well boy, you best be off then."
"Um, I still need to grab my things from my room if thats ok?" He glanced at Vernon, then at Snape. Only with a small nod from both of the men did Harry break off from the tense conversation.
Harry shot upstairs and hastily packed his things away in his trunk. His clothes were left unfolded and his History of Magic essay was bunched up an odd corner, but it would have to do. Over all of the events of the night Harry sighed happily at the thought that he could leave the Dursleys early this summer. Of course he would not have anywhere to go once term started, now that he had been expelled, and he was to be tried in magical court! Not to mention his horrible escort. It was easier to despise his professor than imagine a world without Hogwarts.
He took Hedwigs empty cage. She was out hunting. As much as Harry hated leaving her he knew she would find her way to where ever he was being taken. At that thought Harry's fingers nearly let the cage drop to the floor. A hefty weight settled over his chest. He had absolutely no idea where Snape was planning to take him. Would Dumbledore really send Snape without any explanation to Harry? It had been several years since he considered the possibility of Snapes allegiance to Voldemort, but this situation seemed almost too perfect for Harry not to consider a trap. He scanned his bedroom, as if seeking for a clue in the curtains, or for a solid defense in the floor boards. If this was a trap, he admitted, he stood no chance. As irksome as Snape could be, he was skilled. There was no shot Harry could take on a fully grown, Deatheater-trained wizard. In defeat he took his trunk and Hedwigs cage and headed for his bedroom door. His wand readily available in his pocket. He hoped that would be all he needed. It had worked on Voldemort after all.
With that hopeful thought, Harry descended the stairs, trunk and cage in hand. Emerging on the bottom half of the stairs he observed the scene.
Snape was now standing inside but at what had to be the world record in the closest to a door one could be before being outside. Vernons face had not lessened a single shade of purple. The entry way was silent except for the loud thunk, thunk, thunk of Harry's trunk against the steps.
Vernons top lip began to twitch, "You better not have scratched my floor" he rumbled.
"Sorry, it's a bit hard to move on my own." Harry apologized, knowing that Vernon would not be any more annoyed if he hadn't spoke.
Snape, in a brisk movement, took out his wand and pointed it at Harry. Harry's hand shot to his own wand in his pocket. He braced expecting a stunning spell or worse. To his surprise, no spell was cast at him. His trunk simply shrunk to the size of a matchbox. Harry stopped in his tracks- his eyebrows raised, since when did Snape try to make his life easier? He stared, his mouth open slightly, dumbfounded at his professor.
His uncle took a sharp hiss in, causing Harry to cringe at the use of magic. Uncle Vernons bulging eyes were a millimeter away from escaping his face. The thunderous man marched over to Snape, each step emitting a loud crunch from the floor.
"HOW DARE YOU USE… THAT IN MY HOME!" Vernon screeched. "I WON'T HAVE YOUR KIND CAUSING ALL KINDS OF HAVOC IN MY HOUSE! LEAVE! OUT! NOW!"
Vernon reached out to push Snape, but his hands froze as if repulsed by magic. Harry wondered if they actually had been, but his uncles face displayed the mix of fear and disgust at Snape. Uncle Vernon would get no closer to intentionally touching a wizard than he would to hugging Harry, which, Harry considered, were actually the same thing. Vernon puffed up his chest and put on his best frightening glare.
Snape remained unintimidated by Harry's seething uncle. In fact Snapes face bared the same condescending expression it did when he handed out detentions to obnoxious second years.
"Mr. Dursley. I mean no harm to you in my appearance here, nor in my simple shrinking charm. It seems you have quite the aversion to me, however I cannot leave here without Mr. Potter in my company. " Snape said evenly, but in a way that made him seem to grow bigger. It was as if his voice dominated each airwave in the room.
Vernon grabbed hold of Harry's right arm and shoved towards the door at Snape. Harry used every ounce of control he had to suppress the yelp he wanted to let out, a small pathetic noise escaped his lips instead.
"OUT! I WANT YOU BOTH GONE! FIRST YOU HURT MY SON, NOW YOU BRING YOUR FREAKISH FRIENDS TO MY HOUSE? GET OUT!" Vernons purple face expelled these words fiercely, with a significant amount of spit.
"Uncle Vernon…" Harry started but Snape raised a hand to silence him.
"Come, Mr. Potter. It seems we are taking our leave." Snape opened the door with a deadly glare at Vernon Dursley, then he turned and walked into the night. Harry hurriedly ushered himself out the door. He had been at the receiving end of that glare far too many times to know Snape was about to explode with anger.
With Hedwigs cage in his hand and his trunk in his pocket Harry exited the house with a stern shutting of the door. Snape hadn't stopped walking. It took Harry a few big steps to catch up to Snapes brisk pace.
Privet Drive was covered with the darkness of nightfall. A faint electrical humming buzzed throughout the hot summer air.
Harry's mind raced with questions, with no idea where to start.
"Dumbledore sent you?" Harry started, "Does he know why the dementors were here? Are they really going to destroy my wand? Is there-"
"Enough with the questions you incessant boy!" Snape cut him off. "Follow me."
"Where are we going?" Harry questioned as he noted they were off the property line. A horrible thought crossed his mind, he had been specifically told to stay in his house and then had willingly walked out with Snape of all people who had given him no proof that Dumbledore had actually sent him. Merlin, if Harry could be dragged off into the night by a deatheater in disguise asking nicely than he stood no chance of even living though this war.
"Wait." Harry stopped walking, letting distance grow between him and his professor. "What potion did I spill during my winter term final last year?"
Snape paused his stride, "Surely you would have thought to check my identity before you willingly walked outside of your safe house?" He raised his eyebrows mockingly, but upon Harry's continued silence he responded, "You spilled an Anti-Paralysis Antidote, and you knocked a jar of dragon liver off the counter might I add." he said with disdain lingering in his voice.
Satisfied, Harry resumed his walk. The pair continued down the streets of Little Whinging for a several minutes before Snape abruptly halted and diverged to go pick up an old can that had been discarded on the side of the road. Harry took a moment to appreciate the professors odd determination to pick up litter before Snape waved at Harry to follow him.
Snape held out the can, "Portkey.'' he stated.
With a simple nod Harry held onto the can. Snape muttered something under his breath and Harry felt the familiar tug at his navel before being swept away by the portkey.
The ground swirled underneath him, Harry barely had time to question how the pavement was rising up to him before he found himself toppled over on the ground with Snape landing smoothly next to him. The older wizards face contorted into a sneer which Harry had come across many times in the dark potions dungeon. Harry winced at the stabbing pain in his right arm as he pushed himself up. Wiping the grime off his palms he chanced a glance up at the potions professor. The man was eyeing Harry over, for a split second Snapes face revealed a slight scrunch in his eyebrows. Not wanting to be scrutinized any further Harry opened his mouth to speak, that was before he got a sight of his surroundings.
It was nothing out of the ordinary, and thats what bothered Harry. He was stood upon a narrowing sidewalk with little green spurts of weeds emerging from the cracks. A medium sized modest- if not slightly run down- dark house stood in front of him. Apart from this house the place seemed like a quiet off shoot of a lower class muggle town. This appearance was intended, Harry assumed, a magical building like the Burrow would draw far too much attention.
"Mr. Potter, " Snape barked several paces in front of him, "Do not just stand there! Get going!"
This seemed to jostle Harry's mind into working once more. Was this a safe house of sorts? He reflected as he caught up to Snape, who was turning the doorknob of the dark looking house.
Harry had been semi expecting- well hoping- for some kind of magical transformation. He had learned not to expect magical buildings appearance to match their interiors. To his disappointment the entry way to the house seemed just as bleak as the outside. Peeling dark gray wallpaper with murky faded illustrations of vines clung to the walls. The flooring was a dusty brown hard wood. Snape made no comment until Harry was fully inside the door. With a quick flick of Snape's wand the door shut and a small click told Harry he had no way of escape.
"Can you tell me what's going on now?" Harry questioned, "I've only had some word from Mr. Weasley. Did Dumbledore send you? Why didn't the Weasleys come and get me?"
Of course that wasn't the real question Harry wanted to ask, his brain had come up with 20 suitable guides to safe houses that were kinder and far more useful than Snape, so why him? Dumbledore knew about Harry and Snapes rivalry, Harry was sure of it. So why send the one man who is most eager to hurt Harry? Of course to avoid actual harm from Snape he kept these thoughts to himself.
Snape scoffed at the mention of the Weasleys. "The Weasleys have their hands on far too many adolescents on their own and yes, Professor Dumbledore sent me. Do keep your manners Potter, I have no desire to hear you disrespect my colleagues."
"Of course sir," Harry said pointedly, " So what happens now? Is someone else coming to take me to my hearing?" Harry hoped his eagerness didn't show.
"What happens now is you will stop this endless questioning and let me explain a few things to you." Snape turned to fully face Harry. " I have been assigned the Sisyphean task of keeping you safe, Potter. The Headmaster has seen that I am the only person with the availability to keep track of you until your hearing. Seeing as you have a habit of throwing yourself at danger, you will be staying here under my supervision until that time."
A gag surged in Harry's throat. A whole week? With Snape? This couldn't be happening.
"Come, perhaps if I show you around you will be less likely to wreak the place." He sneered.
The grand tour of the house consisted of a kitchen, living room, bathroom, and several rooms Harry was not to enter unless actively bleeding out. All located on the first floor. The second story consisted of Snapes quarters, which shared the bleeding-out entry requirement, another bathroom, and finally…
"This will be your room for the foreseeable future. It may not be up to your typical standards but you will find it will do just fine." Snape stated stiffly.
Harry nodded, "Thank you."
"Thank you sir. Just because it is summer does not mean you can treat me with any lesser level of respect Mr. Potter. Now, it is quite late. Breakfast is at 8 am sharp and I expect you to be there on time. The bathroom is down the hall. Lights out in half an hour. Understood?"
"Yes sir." Harry sighed as Snape unshrunk his trunk and walked back down the stairs.
With a deep breath Harry opened his bedroom door. Soft moonlight floated in from the window, he always appreciated having a window in his bedroom ever since moving out of his cupboard. Flicking on the lights he found a twin sized mattress set upon a sturdy wooden frame. Clean orangy-red quilted bedding adorned the mattress. It was surprisingly neat compared to the rest of the house. A wooden desk and chair sat on the other side of the room, along with a claw footed dresser. The wooden furniture was covered in delicate carvings full of symbols that were completely foreign to Harry. The room appeared to have everything he needed in a slightly dustier-than-ideal form. Not that Harry was complaining of course, the room was still one thousand times nicer than his bedroom at the Dursleys. Harry set his trunk in a corner by his bed, not bothering to move any of his clothes to the dresser. Harry slipped into a set of Dudley's oversized pajamas and flopped onto his bed.
Met with silence for the first time in the evening his world seemed to crash around him. He had gotten attacked by dementors, expelled from Hogwarts, and saved by Snape, all in one night. A familiar lump developed in his throat as he felt wetness behind his eyes. He ensured once more that his door was fully shut before allowing himself a few silent tears. Soon Harry drifted off into an almost dreamless sleep.