Harry relaxed minutely as he watched Severus' face soften and heard his gentle tone, but then tensed back up the next moment when he heard, "Boy! Who's at the door?" and heard his uncle lumber into the foyer. "What do you want?" Vernon snarled. Harry glanced at Severus out of the corner of his eye and was amazed to see him unaffected. If had been him, he would have been running in the opposite direction as quickly as he could!
"Mr. Dursley, I presume," Severus stated coolly. At Vernon's nod, he continued, "Perhaps we should continue this inside so that your neighbors will not have the opportunity to assuage their curiosity."
'That was definitely more of an order. It seems that Uncle Severus could take on Uncle Vernon any day!'Harry thought to himself.
Vernon began to bluster. "I don't even know who you are! I'm not letting some stranger into my house!"
"Oh, how rude of me, please do forgive me," Severus replied in a completely unapologetic tone as he fingered his wand, "my name is Severus Snape. I am here regarding Mr. Potter's welfare. Now, let us go inside before your neighbors gather more fodder for their gossip." Severus hoped that the use of formality would encourage the Dursleys to be more forthcoming in admitting to how they treated Harry.
At the sight of the wand, Vernon's eyes widened and he quickly made room for Severus to step inside. Harry frowned. Clearly, the Dursleys knew about magic, yet they had failed to inform him of his abilities.
After they had settled in the living room, Severus continued. "Now, as I have already stated, I am here regarding Harry's welfare. It has come to my attention that caring for him has been a bit too much for you."
Because Vernon had very little experience with wizards and witches, he eagerly grasped the opportunity to list his grievances against Harry and was so wrapped up in what he was saying that he failed to notice Severus' face darkening. He added, "We did just as that Dumbledore fella told us to do with him. It's all written in the letter he gave us when he left Harry on our doorstep. We kept it in case someone asked questions."
"May I see it?" Severus requested. After Vernon left to get the letter, Severus then turned to Harry with a critical eye. "Did he leave those bruises on you, Harry?" he asked softly.
"Yes, sir," Harry replied, "but it's okay, I've had worse before." Severus only had time to allow a horrified look to settle on his face for a few moments before they heard the unmistakable sound of Vernon returning. He schooled his face into an impassive mask before Vernon stepped into the room.
"Here you are," Vernon said, passing the letter over to him.
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Dursley,
I regret to inform you that Lily and James Potter are dead. Perhaps you recall that there was a dark wizard after them. They were betrayed and killed, but little Harry survived. The dark wizard seems to have disappeared, but I do not believe that he is gone forever.
My request of you is that you take care of Harry. You are the only family he has left, but you will also be compensated handsomely. You shall receive the first payment in the next few days once everything is sorted out.
Also, I need him to defeat the dark wizard that killed his parents, once the dark wizard returns. To do that, I need someone who is strong, who has not been coddled or spoiled. I need him to depend on me once he returns to the wizarding world. Be hard on him, be firm with him. Do what you need to in order that I might have a warrior, ready to fight.
Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore
Severus very carefully occluded his anger away before addressing Vernon. "I see. Well, as it seems that this has been hard on you, I am willing to take over his guardianship. All you need to do is sign these papers here," he said as he removed the guardianship papers from his pocket. Petunia and Dudley had joined them as Severus finished reading the letter, but they stayed quiet out of curiosity.
Vernon looked stunned and also almost eager to be rid of Harry. But he stopped short at the thought of the money they had been receiving. "What about the compensation?"
"Naturally, Mr. Dursley, as you will no longer be Harry's guardian, you will no longer receive the monthly payments. I have seen the amounts," Severus added when it looked as if Vernon was about to object, "surely that was enough compensation. You will receive no more than what you have already been given."
"Compensation? You mean, you were getting money to keep me?" Harry asked incredulously.
'My theory is proven correct,' Severus thought to himself grimly.
"Keep quiet, boy," Petunia hissed. "Why aren't you doing your chores? Go on, get to it!"
"Actually, Harry, if you could go pack up your things, I don't believe that we will be here much longer," Severus said gently.
"He's not going anywhere with you!" Vernon roared.
"Go get your things Harry," Severus repeated firmly as he pulled out his wand. Nodding, Harry scrambled to his cupboard, which Severus noticed and realized, as Harry placed a bag outside the door, that the cupboard had been Harry's room. His face darkened considerably.
Petunia was not blind to this and hurriedly grabbed a pen, signed the papers, and then thrust them at Vernon. "I'm not signing those papers! That boy is not going anywhere!" he shouted.
"Vernon, please, just sign the papers," Petunia whispered urgently.
"Very wise, Tuney," Severus sneered as he considered which hexes would be most effective in getting Vernon to cooperate. "I would do as she said, Mr. Dursley, if I were you," he added, his voice taking on a dangerous edge. Vernon had finally caught sight of the wand and heard the edge in Severus' voice. He hastily signed the papers and then thrust them back at Severus.
"Here, now get out of my house!" he shouted, trying to feel in control again.
Severus looked down at Harry, who had come to stand beside him. "Are you ready to go?" he asked, frowning at how little Harry owned, and the state those things were in. He cast a dark look at the Dursleys who shrank back in fear.
"Yes, sir," Harry answered respectfully. 'Uncle Severus seems to be rather angry at them.'He frowned thoughtfully. 'I wonder how long it will last. Maybe once he finds out how much of a burden I truly am, he will regret coming to get me. Then he'll want to bring me back. Or he'll do worse things to me because he has magic! I should take advantage of his current kindness and risk asking him if I can say goodbye to Miss Julie. Then she will at least know and maybe come and check on me every now and then.'
Harry and Severus walked to the door and Severus opened it, ushering Harry outside. Before he closed the door, however, he turned back to the Dursleys and informed them darkly, "This will not be the last you will see of me. Next time I come, I will not be so nice. Do not try to run, either, for I will find you, and if you run, it will be worse for you than if you had stayed here." He flicked his wand in their direction and cast a silent hex at them to make them erupt with boils—once they fell asleep for the night. Then he turned, closed the door, and took Harry's hand as they walked back towards the alley he had apparated to.
As they walked, Harry realized they were heading in the direction of the library and tried to gather his courage to ask to say goodbye to Julie. He saw the library up ahead and just as they were coming to it, Julie rushed out. "Harry!" she cried on seeing him. Harry ran forward and threw his arms around her. "Rachel just informed me that Mary had seen someone walking past the library in the direction of your house and I wanted to investigate." Pulling away slightly, she added, "But what are all these bruises from?"
"Yes," Harry replied eagerly, "this is Uncle Severus. He's come to take me from the Dursleys! I won't have to live with them anymore! The-the bruises are from the Dursleys," he added hesitantly. "But it's all right, really! I'm used to worse," he tried to reassure her, but noticed her frown became more pronounced.
Julie sighed, but decided they could address the issue of him not telling her that the Dursleys hit him later on. She had a Death Eater to deal with first. "Harry," she said gently, "please go inside and find a book to read while I speak with your uncle." Harry looked a little nervous, so she smiled at him reassuringly. He relaxed and scrambled into the library, settling into a comfortable chair in the back with one of his favorite books.
She gestured for Severus to follow her and told Rachel, the librarian at the front desk, that they would be using one of the conference rooms. The woman nodded as Julie and Severus walked to the closest one. Once the door was shut, Julie proceeded to lock it with a combination of spells that was very familiar to Severus. It was the same combination he used to ward his room, although she had added a notice-me-not spell to keep the muggles away and several strong silencing and privacy spells.
Julie was rather surprised that Severus had not taken the opportunity to throw some curses at her, but she supposed he was biding his time. Turning to him, she raised an eyebrow.
"Severus Snape, Death Eater. Yes, I know you, although you appear not to remember me. What are you planning on doing with Harry? I know he killed your precious Lord," she began snidely as she circled him threateningly, "and you most likely have plans to have a little fun with him, along with your Death Eater friends. Don't you?" she asked with open hostility. "If you think that I am going to allow you to leave with Harry, you are mistaken. You will have to get past me first."
Severus watched her carefully, wondering if this was the friend Lucius had been referring to. She was living in a muggle area and worked in a muggle library. That set of spells, however, had told him who she was. Julie Purcell, granddaughter of Albus Dumbledore, his childhood friend who had moved away when they were nine, shortly after she had introduced him to Lily. 'I should have known. I would recognize those eyes anywhere. They stand out even more than the Headmaster's,' he thought to himself. That set of spells was one that he and Lily had come up with, but she had told him that Julie had given her some suggestions and was the only other person who knew the combination. He had heard from Albus that Julie was no longer speaking to him, and he recalled what she had told him about how her grandfather had treated her whenever she had visited him.
'Perhaps Lucius was right. It would appear that Albus refusing to tell her where he'd placed Harry was the final straw for her. After all, abandoning her when her parents died when she was three and then hexing and cursing her, whenever she visited, from the time they died in an effort to make her strong is something I don't think even the most saintly person would be able to forgive.' Shaking his head, he returned to endeavoring to convince her that he was no longer a Death Eater. He recalled that she was nowhere near as trusting as her grandfather.
"Julie, of course I remember you. Because you have not been in the wizarding world, you are unaware that I turned from the Dark Lord. It was because…because of Lily's death," he replied quietly, then added, "Lucius told me that you would probably want to legilimize me. Of course, he did not know that I would meet you when I came to rescue Harry from the Dursleys, but he mentioned that you might be able to help us work around Albus and his plans for Harry, whatever they are."
Julie's eyes narrowed as he continued. "I am willing to allow you to legilimize me, with all my barriers down, if you wish to do so."
Julie eyed him carefully, trying to detect any insincerity. Finding none, she nodded. "Very well," she replied. "Please lower your barriers." Once Severus nodded that his barriers were down, she whispered the spell, pulling out a few moments later, satisfied that Severus was, indeed, no longer a Death Eater.
She then indicated for him to sit and informed him that Harry had trust issues because of the Dursleys' treatment of him. "Considering that everyone else in his life has treated him poorly, he most likely considers my treatment of him as unique. Be careful with him and be patient. I will stop by, if you don't mind, every day for Harry's sake, for at least the first week or two, and then maybe once or twice a week after that, depending on whether or not Harry has adjusted well." She gave him a pointed look as she added, "Remember how you reacted and felt because of Tobias' treatment of you. And yes, Lily had informed me of whom your father really was once she found out."
Severus nodded and asked, "Will you help us with Albus?"
A dark look crossed her face and she snarled, "I've no idea what his plans for Harry are, but I know I won't agree with them." Grinning maliciously, she added, "I would be most pleased to help you get around my grandfather. It could be a lot of fun." She shot him a look that clearly stated that she would take great pleasure in thwarting her grandfather's plans.
"Thanks," he muttered. "Remind me to never get on your bad side."
Julie laughed and replied, "You know how hard it is to get on my bad side. Now, let us go get Harry." Severus helped her undo the spells and then they walked out of the conference room over to where Harry was, curled up in a chair and absorbed in a book.
Severus whispered to her before they reached where Harry was, "Will you come with us to help get him settled? It would no doubt bring him comfort to have a familiar face around."
"If he wants me to come, then I will," Julie whispered back quickly just before they came into Harry's hearing range. She was quite pleased that he was looking to find things that would help ease Harry into his new situation. Perhaps Severus would do well, after all. And maybe, just maybe, having Harry around would do Severus a world of good.
Julie nodded for Severus to speak to Harry. "Are you ready to go, Harry?" Severus asked him.
Harry looked hesitantly at Julie, who smiled at him warmly in reassurance. "Are you coming with us?" he inquired.
"If you would like me to," Julie replied gently.
Harry nodded enthusiastically, picked up his bag, and returned the book to its spot on the shelf. "I'm ready to go, now," he said, grabbing Julie's hand. This was a new situation and he was nervous. She squeezed his hand reassuringly as they walked out of the library after informing Rachel that she would likely be gone the rest of the day.
Upon arriving at the alley Severus had apparated to earlier, Julie quickly removed the glamours she had placed on his clothes. "There, that's much better!" she exclaimed while Harry sighed with relief. It was so nice to not have to hide his nice clothes anymore. Severus looked confused, however, so she briefly explained. "I was horrified by the state of his clothes, so I bought him some and placed glamours on them so the Dursleys wouldn't realize they were new and take them from him. Have you not wondered why he never tripped on them or seemed to mind the holes?"
Severus looked rather impressed, but merely replied, "Indeed. Let's go so we can get you settled in," he added to Harry.
Julie bit her lip contemplatively. "It's his first time traveling by apparition," she informed Severus, allowing him to take the lead—for Harry's benefit.
"Right, then," he replied uncertainly. He was used to taking charge of situations, but Harry being his nephew and Lily being his sister was still hard for him to grasp. Add to that an unexpected reunion with a childhood friend made it hard to think straight. Reminding himself sternly to focus on the task at hand, he determined to work on becoming more comfortable with the idea of Lily being his sister and Harry being his nephew. 'I don't doubt it's a bit unnerving for Harry, too,' he thought to himself. "Harry, I will need to hold you. Traveling by apparition can be rather unpleasant. Julie, if you would hold his bag," Severus responded quickly. Harry allowed Severus to pick him up while Julie took his bag. She then placed a comforting hand on Harry's arm and gingerly took Severus' so they could apparate to Prince Manor.
Harry felt as if he were being squeezed through a tube and just when he felt he couldn't handle it anymore, it stopped. He looked up to see…a meadow.