Chapter Text
It was a hot July day and the sun was shining over the picture perfect Number 4 Privet Drive. The house was spotless and the lawn manicured to perfection, much to the jealousy of the neighbors. Everyone considered the Dursley’s a nice respectable family, with the hardworking Vernon, gracious Petunia, and sweet Dudley. Few knew about their nephew Harry Potter, but those who did considered him a difficult boy who always managed to find trouble, much to the dismay of his aunt and uncle.
But in reality, Number 4 Privet Drive was a hiding a dark secret. Vernon was a brutal man with an affinity for his fists and his belt, Petunia had a sharp tongue and a good aim with a frying pan, and Dudley was a spoiled boy with violent tendencies. All 3 of them had one thing in common, they wanted to make Harry Potter’s life a living hell.
Harry hated the Dursleys. He hated them with everything in him, and every summer he begged Dumbledore to let him stay somewhere else, but he always got the same answer. “It’s for your own safety my dear boy. Your mother’s love keeps you safe, but only if you reside with them.” And so he endured it.
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Harry awoke to a loud banging on his door. “Wake up boy, breakfast better be on the table in 40 minutes or you’re going to regret it” Uncle Vernon’s voice shouted from the other side. He heard the telltale click of the locks being undone and sat up with a groan, he had only slept 4 hours. Ever since the triwizard tournament Harry hadn’t been able to sleep well, plagued with nightmares of Cedric’s lifeless body in the graveyard and Voldemort’s body rising out of the cauldron. Vernon coming to punish him every time he awoke from those nightmares definitely didn’t help either.
When Harry got out of bed and made his way down the stairs he could feel his body protesting and he winced with pain. He silently moved around the kitchen, cooking a full English breakfast in a practiced manner. Harry didn’t take his eyes off the bacon, last time he burned it Vernon didn’t allow him to eat for 3 days. As he cooked Harry took stock of how he felt. My ribs are definitely cracked and my back is raw from the belt lashing I got earlier in the week, not to mention all the bruises. Vernon had a bad day at work and decided I was the reason for his misfortune. But that’s always how it was. The Dursleys managed to blame everything on him, even when he had nothing to do with it.
His thoughts were interrupted by a hard shove into the counter. He looked up to see his cousin Dudley pinning him down while reaching over to the stove and turning up the heat on the bacon. Harry watched in horror as the bacon started to smoke. “Hey freak, looks like something’s burning. Daddy’s gonna thrash you.” Dudley said with a laugh.
He rushed over in an attempt to save the meat but it was too late. “BOY WHAT’S THAT SMELL? YOU BETTER NOT HAVE MESSED UP MY FOOD” Uncle Vernon yelled as he thundered down the stairs. The faint sound of a belt buckle jingling echoed through the house.Harry was panicking, his body couldn’t handle another beating this soon. He tried to run out of the kitchen but was immediately stopped by a meaty hand on his throat that pinned him against the wall until his vision spotted.
“You can’t run from me boy” Vernon sneered at him as he crushed Harry’s windpipe.
Harry’s vision started to go black and he was trying to gasp for air with no success. Right before Harry passed out, the hand was removed and his shirt was unceremoniously stripped off his body. Vernon chuckled darkly before the belt came down on his already raw back. Harry bit his lip to keep from crying out, it would only anger Vernon more.
The belt only came down a few times before the doorbell rang. Vernon stopped mid strike and huffed in annoyance “Put your shirt back on and go in your room freak. Don’t come out until I say so” Harry pulled his shirt on and winced at the feeling of the cloth on his fresh wounds as he made his way back upstairs.
Harry was sitting on his bed catching his breath and processing what happened when he heard a familiar drawl from downstairs. His breath caught for a moment when he recognized it. No… it couldn’t be… right?
He didn’t have time to think about why that person could be here because Uncle Vernon opened his door and grabbed him by the collar.
“Boy, one of your freaky teachers is here. If you say a single word about anything that has happened in this house, I will know, and I will make you regret the day you were born.” Vernon shook him violently and released him. “Now go downstairs and talk to him”
Harry nervously padded down the stairs and came face to face with the stony gaze of his least favorite professor. “Snape? Why are you here?” Harry asked.
“That’s Professor Snape to you” he sneered back. “The Headmaster has asked me to collect you until school starts. Trust me Potter, I’m just as thrilled as you are”
That was not the answer Harry was expecting. “But sir, it’s summer, aren’t you busy making potions and doing other things?”
Apparently that was a stupid question because Snape rolled his eyes “One does not make a potion Potter, they brew them which you would know if you paid attention. And frankly I would rather be doing anything else but now I’m stuck babysitting the chosen one. Unfortunately, Professor Dumbledore has deemed it imperative I train you before the term starts.”
“Oh um ok. Are we going back to Hogwarts?” Harry asked hopefully.
“No Potter, stop asking questions. Go gather your belongings and say goodbye to your family, you will not be coming back.” Snape said with a glare. Harry blanched, he was staying with Snape? At least with the Dursleys he knew what to expect. Snape was a wild card, he had no idea how the dour potions master would act outside of class, and more importantly what punishments he preferred.
Harry trudged back to his room and packed up his meager belongings. He grabbed Hedwig’s cage and removed the items he was hiding under his floorboard. As he was finishing up packing, Aunt Petunia entered his room. She removed the padlock from his trunk and suddenly grabbed Harry. Her nails dug into the soft flesh of his arm and she hissed into his ear “remember what Vernon told you freak, not a single word.” With that she released Harry and walked away.
Harry lugged his trunk down the stairs while Snape watched with his piercing stare. “Took you long enough, ” the potions master said with annoyance. Snape took Harry’s trunk from him and shrunk it. As they walked out the front door the professor grabbed his arm right on a bruise and Harry had to hold back a wince. “Hold on Potter, the Headmaster would not be pleased if a splinched his golden boy” And with that they disappeared from Privet Drive with a loud crack.
The world whirled in a nauseating blur until the pair landed on the grass. Snape of course, landed flawlessly on his feet while Harry collapsed in the grass and wretched. The act of vomiting was aggravating his injured ribs which only caused him to throw up more. Once he was done ejecting the contents of his stomach he looked up to see dark eyes scrutinizing him with annoyance.
“If you are done vomiting onto my front lawn like a child I would like to go inside” Snape said with no small amount of disgust. As Harry got up from the grass and surveyed his surroundings he was surprised to see a bleak muggle neighborhood. He had assumed that being the Head of Slytherin meant Snape was a Pureblood but apparently not.
“Is my residence not up to the standards of prince Potter?” Snape sneered, noticing Harry staring at his house.
“No sir, I just didn’t expect you to live in a muggle neighborhood.” Harry replied as the pair walked up the driveway and up to Snape’s front door. The potions master performed a complicated unlocking charm and the door swung open.
Snape rolled his eyes and led him to his room. “Unpack your things and be downstairs in 20 minutes” And with that he swept out of the room with his dark robes trailing behind him. Harry quickly moved around the room putting his few belongings away. When he finished Harry sat on the bed for a moment and let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. Today had been a long day and it was only 11 am. Packing and unpacking had aggravated his injuries and made him feel worse. He glanced over at the clock and swore when he saw the time, he was supposed to be downstairs 2 minutes ago.
With a deep breath, he got up and headed down the stairs to see what Snape had in store for him.