Chapter Two
Humming happily to himself, he pulled out another weed- he had replied back, stating he needed help getting to Diagon Alley, as neither his Aunt nor Uncle would take him.
Besides, he’d like to keep it all a….. surprise.
He secretly smiled. His Aunt and Uncle were going to get the shocks of their lives.
It was the day after he had replied to Hogwarts. He simply Summoned some paper and a Muggle pen, and wrote down what was needed to be written, and that was that. Quite simple, really.
Later, as he pulled out the last weed, a shadow appeared above him. The shadow seemed big, so when he looked up and saw his Uncle, he wasn’t surprised.
Snarling, the fat sorry excuse for a human spat out, “Somebody’s here for you, boy.” Then he turned around and stomped towards the back door.
Momentarily forgetting about Hogwarts, Harry curiously followed his Uncle, leaving the bucket of weeds where it was.
As soon as he stepped inside, he saw one Severus Tobias Snape.
The Potions Master scoffed at him, as though he was merely a small speck of dust on his -admittedly- silky, splendid-looking robes.
However, that didn’t deter him as he ran towards him and flung his small, twig-like arms around his legs. Looking up, a frightened look on his face, he asked while trembling, tears glistening in his eyes, “Are you here to help me, Sir?”
Yes, that was with a capital ‘S’.
The Professor looked as though he had been Stupefied.
“Get off me, boy!” Snape shook him off.
Harry stumbled backwards. “I-I’m sorry. I didn’t think. It isn’t as though you’d like a Freak like me.” He mumbled.
Looking as though he’d been slapped, he turned towards Petunia. “What is he on about?!”
Nervously wringing her hands together, the Master of Death’s Aunt replied, “W-We only taught the boy a few lessons! He got what he deserved for being such a Freak!”
Snape took one glance at the Boy Who Lived and and said, “He will be coming with me.”
“Good grief! We never wanted the Freak, anyway!” Vernon Dursley boomed. Petunia looked torn. Between what, he didn’t know. “The undeserving wretch got more than what was bargained for when we took him in! We fed him, sheltered him-”
“And that has been greatly appreciated, Mr Dursley.” Sarcasm dripped off his voice, “But for the time being, Mr Potter will be staying with me.”
“B-But-“ Petunia tried to get out.
“I have known you since we were children.” Snarled the Professor, “And although I have only just thought of taking Mr Potter here out of this residence, permanently, I assure you when I say that wherever he eventually ends up, it will certainly be better than this sorry excuse for a home.”
“Mum, dad, who’s this man?” Dudley asked as he came in through the doorway without anyone noticing. Honestly, that was a wonder within itself.
“That is nobody, Duddykins.” Harry’s Aunt fretted about him. “Now, why don’t you go up to your room?”
“But I don’t want to go!” The child wailed.
As this was happening, Snape took Harry by the arm and led him out of the kitchen and into the back garden. Then he turned around and told him, “We will be Apparating to the Leaky Cauldron. Please try and refrain from spewing your internals all over me.”
Harry meekly nodded, and without another word, they disappeared with a crack.
TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
After the feeling of sickness left him, Harry only just then noticed a head of bushy brown hair in front of him.
“Oh! I’m sorry.” Riley said as he bumped into him. “Who are you, exactly?”
Instead of looking completely like how Hermione had, he didn’t have rabbit teeth, and instead of long, bushy hair, he had much shorter hair. Shyly smiling, Harry told him, “My name is Harry Potter.”
A flash of recognition appeared in his eyes. “Hello, Harry! My name is Riley Granger.”
“Pleasure to meet you.” The MoD replied in turn.
“I would like to remind you, Potter,” Snape drawled, “that we are here on a tight schedule.”
Blushing slightly, Harry said respectfully, “Of course, Sir.”
“Wait!” Riley cried. “You’re going to Diagon Alley, aren’t you?”
Beaming, his ex-father said,”Yes. Are you?”
“Yep!” Riley looked delighted at the fact.
“If you wouldn’t mind,” Snape intervened, “we need to get going.”
“See you later! My mum and dad want to get something to eat before we set off.”
“Bye.” Harry said as his farewell while the Professor walked him towards the brick wall, which was the entrance of Diagon Alley.
Taking out his wand and muttering something under his breath, Snape tapped the bricks in the order that was needed to enter the Magical shopping centre, and Harry Potter saw Diagon Alley for what was the third first time in his lives.
Looking respectably awed, Harry was scowled at and dragged along towards Gringotts.
“Where are we going?” The Master of Death asked, even though he knew the answer- which was quite obvious, considering the previous paragraph..
“To Gringotts.” Was all that came from the dour Professor.
Weaving in and out of the crowd, Harry was sure that he would have gotten lost if not for Snape guiding him.
Finally, after a lot of stumbling, they made it to the Bank for the Magical community.
Nodding respectfully to the Guards as they passed them, Harry received a slightly shocked bow in return. The Potions Master didn’t even glance their way.
Skipping across the marble floor, Harry hummed to himself as they went towards the front desk.
“Name.” The Head Goblin asked.
“Harry Potter.” Snape snapped back.
“Key,” the Goblin demanded.
Pulling out the familiar Key to one of the Master of Death’s vaults from his swishy black robes, the Goblin took it from his outstretched hand. After inspecting it, they nodded to the pair and got up from their chair. “Follow me.”
After a heart-stopping cart ride, they stood in front of the Potter vault. After the Goblin- who’s name Harry still didn’t know- inserted the Key, a series of clicks ensured. As the door opened, Harry Potter grinned and entered the vault.