Chapter 1
The house on Privet Drive was quieter than it had ever been. Too quiet.
Harry Potter sat on his small, creaky bed, staring at the wall. It had been two weeks since the Dursleys vanished. He had no idea where they went, nor did he care much at first. They had been there for three days after he returned from Hogwarts, just long enough to remind him that nothing had changed. Then, the next morning, they were simply gone.
He'd woken up to the absence of Uncle Vernon's grumbles, Aunt Petunia's sharp orders, and Dudleys loud footsteps. The house felt strange without their noise. He checked the rooms, peering into their tidy spaces. Empty beds. Their suitcases were gone. Maybe a vacation? They hadn't said a word to him before leaving.
At first, he enjoyed the silence. But soon, reality crept in. There wasn't much food left. Harry knew better than to eat it all. Aunt Petunia would be furious if she returned to find the cupboards bare. So he rationed. A slice of bread here, an apple there. Sometimes just water. Hunger had become a familiar ache, but it was manageable.
He finished his summer homework early, desperate for something to do. Every chore in the house had been completed twice over. With nothing left to occupy his mind, boredom became his newest tormentor. Cleaning, scrubbing, organizing, it was all done. He stared at the walls again.
Its been a dull afternoon of boredom, with his stomach grumbling and his heart heavy, that he decided to leave the house.
The sun was warm against his pale skin as he wandered aimlessly through the neighborhood. He passed perfectly manicured lawns, avoiding the suspicious eyes of nosy neighbors. He kept walking, further than he intended, until he stumbled upon a small park tucked away behind a row of houses. It was quiet, almost forgotten.
Harry's heart lifted. It had been so long since he'd seen a park. He approached the swing set, brushing his fingers against the cool metal chains before sitting down. He swayed gently, feeling the breeze against his face. Then he slid down a small hill, rolling in the grass like he had when he was little. He... he felt like a child.
Eventually, he laid on his back in the grass, eyes closed, breathing in the faint scent of summer.
"Potter!"
The voice was sharp and unmistakable.
Harry's eyes snapped open. He jerked upright, heart racing. Professor Severus Snape stood before him, black robes billowing slightly despite the calm air. His dark eyes blazed with fury.
Harry scrambled backward, his pulse hammering in his ears.
"What do you think you are doing?" Snape's voice was low but dripping with anger. "Rolling aroun like a child? Playing in the dirt? Pathetic."
Harry flushed crimson. Embarrassment burned through him like fire. "S-sir, I was just.."
"Silence!" Snape snapped. "Do you have any idea what you have done? You have left the protective bounds, Potter!"
Harry blinked in confusion. "Protective bounds, sir?"
Snape's eyes narrowed. "Do not play the fool with me POTTER!"
Harry's stomach twisted. He had heard something about the protection before, but he never truly understood how far it extended. He lowered his head, feeling foolish. "I-I didn't know, sir. I-I'm sorry."
Snape sneered. "Typical. Reckless, irresponsible, and arrogant. You think the rules do not apply to you, do you?"
Harry shook his head quickly. "No, sir. I didn't mean to."
Snape stared at him for a long moment, his lips curled in disdain. Finally, he spoke. "Dumbledore ordered me to return you to the house. Immediately."
Harry nodded meekly, unable to meet Snape's gaze. "Yes, sir."
Without another word, Snape turned on his heel, his robes sweeping across the grass. Harry followed, his cheeks burning with shame. He felt small, stupid, and childish. The brief joy he had felt in the park was now replaced by the familiar weight of humiliation.
Together, they walked back to Privet Drive in complete silence.
When they reached the house, Snape stopped at the front door and gestured impatiently. "Unlock it, Potter. I need to speak with your relatives about your behavior."
Harry simply nodded and turned the key in the lock, pushing the door open. He stepped aside, holding the door open for Snape.
Snape frowned. "What are you doing? Go inside. Now."
Harry flinched at the sharpness of Snape's tone and quickly stepped in, feeling the heat of embarrassment still clinging to his cheeks. He closed the door behind Snape, locking it quietly.
Snape's eyes swept the room with disdain before he turned to Harry. "Where are your aunt and uncle?"
Harry shifted uncomfortably. "I-I don't know sir. Maybe on a vacation?"
Snape's scowl deepened. "You don’t know? How can you not know? Did they not tell you?"
Harry fidgeted under Snape's glare. "I must've forgotten, sir."
Snape pinched the bridge of his nose, his patience visibly wearing thin. "When did they leave?"
Harry hesitated. "A few days ago, sir." He lied, his voice small.
Snape let out a long, frustrated sigh. "No thirteen-year-old should be left alone even for two days. This is unacceptable."
Harry lowered his gaze, feeling a strange confusion in him.
Snape straightened, his expression unreadable. "I will inform Dumbledore. He will decide what is to be done."
Harry nodded again, his heart still racing. The weight of Snape’s disapproval hung over him.