Harry was mowing the yard so he did not hear the pop of someone apperating, it was hot today, his shirt and hair clung to him as he continued to mindlessly mow the lawn, he still had to trim the hedges, wash the car, weed the garden, clean the kitchen, dust and vacuum the lounge, clean the bathroom, make dinner; none of which he'd get tonight, good thing he still had some leftovers of biscuits and tea cakes from Mrs. Weasley, ones that his cousin wouldn't touch because they were made by a witch. Or find because Harry hid them under his bed.
Speaking of his cousin, he was currently sitting in the kitchen stuffing his face with ice cream because sweated a little. Whereas Harry was currently drenched in sweat and would have to sneak a drink of water from the hose when he went to wash the car...
A hand on his shoulder had startled him that he let go of the throttle cable of the mower, he only liked a small strip of barely high grass left, why would...oh.
Behind Harry was his potions teacher, Severus Snape, it took Harry a moment to register that it was Snape because the man was wearing black jeans, boots, a long sleeved black button up shirt, all muggle clothes.
" Professor? Why are you here? "
" That is to be discussed inside with your relatives Potter. "
" Oh, uh, right, this way. " Harry slowly led the man to the front of the house, he opened the door and called out,
" Aunt Petunia? You have a visitor. "
" Who is it? " She called out annoyed, her attitude didn't change when she saw Snape, Harry watched as her eyes widened, but it was in recognition, he knew Snape!
" What are you doing here Snape? " She demanded.
" He's one of my teachers from school. " Harry answered her, how did his aunt know Snape? He hadn't the chance to introduce him.
" Funny, never thought he'd be a teacher. I always thought he'd end up being a drunk like his father. "
" As lovely as it is to see you again, Tuney, I'm here on behalf of Professor Dumbledore. "
" Don't call me that! And what does that old fool want now? "
" It's come to his attention that Potter isn't getting pampered and the attention he wants so I'm here to make sure he is and be gone. " Snape replied, clearly not wanting to be here any longer then he needed to.
Harry wasn't sure what was more surprising, that his aunt and teacher knew each other, or that his aunt had insulted his teacher, or that she was still standing there and not transfigured into...something that wasn't human.
Petunia's face paled at Snape's words, but she quickly recovered, " Well I assure you he's getting all that he deserves here, isn't that right Harry? "
But Dudley decided to call out, " Hey Freak! Bring me another pint of ice cream! I'm still burning up! "
" Freak? Tuney really? Seems you haven't changed in your view of the wizarding world or those that come from it. "
" Freak! "
" Coming Dudley! " Harry replied only to be stopped by Snape's hand on his shoulder.
" He can get his own ice cream Potter. Show me to your room so that I can see that everything is in order. "
" Uh, " Harry looked to his aunt and subtly shook her head, Snape caught it though.
" It's a bit messy at the moment sir. "
" I don't care. Show me. Now. "
" Uh, yes sir. This way. " Harry finally decided on listening to his teacher over his aunt.
Petunia watched them go up the stairs, dreading what the man would find, the locks weren't removed and then there was the cat flap...She went to the phone and called her husband.
Snape paused at the top step, surely that wasn't Potter's room. There were 12 locks and, was that a cat flap? Why was there a cat flap? Petunia and Lily had an allergy to cats, nothing serious, only caused them to have sneezing fits and watery eyes much like how pollen would do, but that was with the dander not the fur, it caused them to break out in a rash if a cat touched them, he made an allergy potion for Lily once in their Third Year so she wouldn't suffer from it. Once it worked, they brewed it together at her house during the summers afterwards. Though he often wondered if she kept brewing it after their Fifth Year.
Harry went to the door and opened it, inside it showed that it very much was his room, but there was hardly anything in it, there was a pile of broken toys, but he highly doubted those belonged to the boy, who was dressed in clothes far bigger than his small frame and Snape was reminded of himself when he used to wear clothes bigger than his skinny frame. Of course he's not skinny anymore, he was fit and stronger and faster than he was when he was a scared little boy who would get beat up by his drunken father or bullied by others who believed they were better or stronger than him.
Potter's owl was missing, but her cage was by the, barred window?
" Where's your trunk Potter? "
" In my cupboard sir, my relatives put it there when I come home from school. "
" Your owl? "
" She's with Hermione this summer sir, she disturbs my relatives. "
" I'm sure she does. Gather up your belongings Potter, we're leaving. "
Harry for once did not argue with his teacher and began to almost zoom around the room to gather what he valued the most, Snape watched as he went under his broken-down bed to retrieve what looked a red photo album, owl treats, and a small tin that rattled with biscuits or cakes.
" Everything else is in my cupboard downstairs. "
When they got downstairs the front door opened and in came Vernon, he did not look happy, Harry froze at the landing and when Vernon's beady eyes locked onto his nephew, he made to grab him, Harry backed up in fright and stumbled, he crossed his arms over his face and turned himself into a ball, waiting for his uncle to grab him and beat him again.
But nothing happened, confused, he dared to look and saw Snape standing in front of him and was facing his uncle, wand out and pointed at the whale of a man, who froze at the sight of the wand, attacking his nephew was one thing, but a full grown man was another, especially as one as intimidating, tall, and strong looking as Snape.
Snape's voice was cold and deadly, it held warning as well as a promise, " Touch him and it will be the last thing you ever do Dursley. "
Harry slowly came out of his ball and watched as his uncle backed off, too afraid of Snape and what his threat entailed. Harry watched in awe, never had anyone stood up to his uncle like that, Harry did last year, but his uncle had continued to taunt him, this time he did nothing but remain quiet and did as Snape said,
" Now, go get Potter's trunk and bring it to him, we are leaving, and he will not be coming back here. "
" Good! We never wanted him to begin with! He's been nothing but trouble, causing us grief. "
" Then why keep him? I know Petunia also hates him and I know she didn't take him out of the kindness of her heart. "
" The money, why else? "
" Vernon! " Petunia scolded.
" We don't need him anymore I got a promotion and now we can finally be rid of him! "
" What money? " Snape and Harry asked with identical confused looks.
" Never mind that! You're taking him away, take this and get out of my house and don't ever come back here again, either one of you! " Vernon ordered, slamming Harry's trunk down at Snape's feet, narrowly missing them.
" Did Harry do something again? Is he gone for good this time? AHHH! A Vampire!!! " Dudley made an appearance after being denied his ice cream and came looking for Harry, only to hear his dad yelling and seeing a 'vampire' guarding his cousin from his parents, he turned tail and ran and hid in front of the sofa in the lounge.
If Harry wasn't so filled with anxiety and fear, he would've laughed, but this was no laughing matter.
Snape kept his eyes and wand on Vernon as he reached down to Potter's trunk, the moment he touched it, it shrunk down to the size of a doll house decoration, he tossed it to Harry, who caught it with the ease of a Seeker.
" How dare you do that-that thing in my house! Get out! Both of you or I'll- "
" You'll what? Beat us? Punch us? Kick us? You want to hit someone so badly Dursley, then hit me. " Snape said hiding his wand up his sleeve and stood in front of Vernon who took a step back.
" Go on. Do it. " Snape continued when Vernon still didn't act, Snape said, " You can't do it can you? You know why? Because you are a coward. And you know that if you had struck me, I would strike back because I am not a child who can't defend himself. This is not over Dursley you can rest assure of that. Potter, "
" Yes sir? "
" We're leaving. "
" Yes sir! " Harry grabbed up Hedwig's cage and shot out the door to wait for him.
Snape didn't do anything other than give the two Dursley's a final glare, his eyes flashing a turmeric orange before he turned and left them shaking so badly their knees knocked together.
Harry was on the stoop, waiting for him, " Let's go. " He ordered walking on without missing a beat. Harry followed quickly after him, having to jog to keep up with the man's longer legs. They went to Mrs. Figg's house, Harry was confused why they were going to her house.
Snape knocked twice and Mrs. Figg opened the door for them, " Severus, Harry, so good to see that you're alright. " She greeted them, looking relieved at Harry.
" How do you know each other? " Harry asked.
" I'm the one who called in how you were being treated. Albus sent Severus to check on you, but seeing as he brought you with him, it was worse than I suspected. You alright though yes? "
Harry looked from her to Snape before answering her, " Y-Yes Ma-Ma'am, (achoo!) Sorry. "
Mrs. Figg brushed it off, " It's nothing dear, I forgot you have allergy to cats. "
" I have something that he could take before we leave. " Snape reached into the pocket of his shirt, deeper than what the shirt showed and pulled out a vile of turquoise blue liquid.
" Here, it'll help. " He said, handing it to Harry, " Half a swallow. " He instructed.
Harry did as he instructed and the effect was immediate, " How did... "
" Your mother and Aunt have a cat allergy. They got it from your grandmother. Now let's be on our way, I'll speak the address, you will hold onto me. " Snape replied, going to the fireplace.
Harry did as he was told and held onto the man's arm tightly as he knew that Floo travel was rough and not at all fun.
" Severus Snape's house, Spinner's End, Cokeworth. " Snape spoke clearly and threw the powder down in a flash of green flames they were gone and passed by several fire places before they stopped at a short fireplace, it was so short they had to bend down to exit it, it looked like they were in a study, well, a study/lounge as Harry saw a yellow and dated kitchen off to the right, a window along the same wall shown an overgrown backyard with a wooden fence around it.
It was dark and didn't feel like a home, was this really where Snape lived?
" This way. " He said going over to a short hallway that had a set of stairs leading up to a second floor, where there were four doors, two of which were bedrooms, one master, one guest, the other was to the bathroom, and the last was a closet.
Snape led him to the guest room, it used to be his room, but he now slept in the master which he remodeled to be more to his tastes.
" You will stay here until further notice. Here is your trunk, the bathroom is across the hall, the door next to it is the closet, the door at the end of the hall is my room which you will not enter while you are here, the same goes for the cellar, that is my potions lab. You may go outside to the yard out back during your free time. The rest of your time will be divided between your homework, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For now, go shower, change and take a nap before you fall down. "
" Yes sir. " Harry replied taking his shrunken trunk, the moment Harry set it down, it enlarged to full size again. By the time Harry found a decent shirt and pants, he looked back up to find Snape gone.
Knowing it was best to leave him alone as he was angry, Harry did as he instructed, going to the small bathroom to shower and change.
He found that once he had the warm shower, he was very tired and barely made it to the bed before passing out.