Silver Silence

Chapter One

Age Eleven

Hogwarts and Number Four Privet Drive



In the cupboard under the stairs, Harry sat. Harry had accidentally burned the bacon one morning last week, and had been taken to the basement before being locked in his cupboard. Harry knew that his uncle was going to let him out this morning because it was Dudley’s birthday. Harry also knew that the basement would come before breakfast.

After Harry had finished making breakfast, Harry always went to get the post. Today was no different.

Harry picked up the letters, and saw that the top one had his name on it. Harry blinked. No one knew Harry was even here except for the school. It wasn’t allowed.

“Get in here with that mail, boy!” Harry’s uncle roared and Harry hurried to obey, though not before shoving the letter in his pocket.





Several hours later, Harry finally gets to read the letter that has his name on it. Harry curls up in the corner of the cupboard and cracks the seal on the letter. Harry slowly reads the letter, a look of mistrust in his eyes.



Dear Mr. Potter,

We are pleased to inform you of your acceptance into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. We expect your owl confirming your admittance by August the first. We have included a list of supplies you will need.

Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress



Harry knows that this letter cannot be true. Harry knows that he is not a wizard. Harry knows that there is no such thing as magic. Harry knows that he should not believe this letter.

And yet Harry hopes.





Far away in the wilds of Scotland, there is a castle. In this castle there are many towers. In one of these towers, there is an old man. He is fairly tall with a long white beard and hair. He wears a bright periwinkle blue robe with purple stars shooting across it randomly. His blue eyes twinkle with the light of his magical gift. He sits behind a desk, a cup of tea in his hands. This man is Albus Dumbledore.

In front of this man is another man. This other man is slightly shorter than Albus Dumbledore and is far thinner. This man wears black formal teaching robes. His hair is black and stringy from the potions he loves so much. His eyes are so blue they seem to be black. This man is Severus Snape.

“I wish you to go to number four, Privet Drive, Severus. Harry Potter has not answered us yet, though we sent his letter a week ago. If Harry is agreeable, you will take him to Diagon Alley and then bring him here.” Albus Dumbledore said, the twinkle going full blast.

“I am compelled to ask why you chose me for this particular assignment, Albus. Surely Minerva or even Hagrid would serve this purpose better than I.” Severus Snape said his tone neutral.

“I’m sure that once you get there, you will find that he is not his father, dear boy.” Albus said, his eyes warm, though there was a small hint of anger buried deeply there. Severus Snape saw this anger, and knew he would have to do this. He nodded, stiffly, and left the tower office.

Once he was alone, Albus Dumbledore let his twinkle fall, and he smirked wickedly, “Another piece set. I’m getting closer, Tom.”





It had been a week since the letter arrived. The letter that was addressed to Harry. The letter that Harry had memorized. Harry knew every single word on both sheets of parchment. He knew exactly what he’d need for this school of witchcraft and wizardry. But Harry couldn’t go because Harry didn’t know how to tell them he wanted to.

Harry had just finished breakfast and had laid it out on the table. Harry heard the post flap squeak, and went to get the mail. As he leaned over to pick up the mail, the doorbell rang. Harry hurriedly picked up the mail and fled to the kitchen as his uncle came downstairs to answer the door.





Severus had risen very early that morning, and arrived at number four privet drive precisely at seven o’clock in the morning. He was dressed in slacks and a button down white long sleeved dress shirt. He rang the bell on the door, and heard a light noise, as though someone had hurried away from the door. Several moments later, a large man with a mustache opened the door.

“Hello. This is the Dursley residence. I’m Vernon Dursley. How may I help you?” The man said, speaking as though he were trying to sell something. Severus suppressed a sneer.

“My name is Professor Snape. I’m here to speak to you about one Harry Potter. It seems his mother put him on our enrollment list.” Severus purred as his magic weaved into his words to make the disgusting man bend to his wishes. Severus knew better than to mention magic to the muggle that Evan’s sister had married.

“Ah. Yes. Him.” The man sneered. “I suppose we can talk about it. Come in, breakfast has just been set on the table.” Severus nodded politely and followed the whale of a man into his house.

The man sat at a table in the dining room next to a boy that couldn’t have been anyone but his son and a woman that he knew from pictures to be Petunia Dursley nee Evans.

“Boy, a plate for our guest.” Dursley barked, and a small, waif of a boy hurried to comply. A plate and silverware as well as a napkin were soon placed in front of him.

“Thank you.” Severus murmured to the boy, whose eyes widened, and then the boy was gone, back into the kitchen to clean up, apparently.

“Don’t mind him. He won’t bother us.” Petunia said, sneering in the boy’s direction. Severus ignored her, and instead fixed his eyes on Dursley.

“Mr. Dursley, as I said before, Mrs. Potter enrolled Harry Potter into our school some eleven years ago, with instructions to retrieve him from Mrs. Dursley at the appointed time. She also paid for all seven years of schooling at our institute as well as paying for space for the summer. I have come to pick up the child and leave as soon as possible to get his supplies. There is no cost to you, but it is likely he will not come back.” Severus stated all of this very calmly, and he saw the happiness on the Dursleys’ faces.

“Sounds like a very good deal to me. I’ll go and get his things.” Petunia Dursley said, rushing off. Severus turned his attention to Vernon Dursley, who was looking as though Christmas had come early.

“We’re so glad that he’ll get a chance at good schooling. We were going to have to send him to a local school, since we don’t have the money for proper schooling for him AND Dudley.” Vernon Dursley said, gesturing towards his son, who was busy stuffing his face. Severus nodded politely.

“I was wondering if I could speak to the boy before we go. Just to make sure he wants to go.” Severus said wit h a polite smile on his face. Vernon Dursley’s face fell.

“Well, the thing is, he doesn’t speak. He’s never made a sound. We took him to all sorts of doctors, but none of them could tell us anything!” Dursley said with a tragic look on his face. Severus frowned, and then quickly put his polite façade back up.

“May I see him, anyways? We don’t need verbal confirmation, just any kind of confirmation. It’s strictly in the guidelines of the school.” Severus explained, using his magic to twist Vernon Dursley into doing what he wanted.

“Alright. I’ll call him. Boy, get in here!” Vernon shouted.





Harry hurriedly scurried back into the kitchen, obeying his uncle and leaving his aunt to finish packing his meager belongings. As Harry entered the dining room, he saw the guest, and immediately had a conflict. Harry knew that Uncle Vernon would hurt him if a guest saw him, but Harry also knew that Uncle Vernon wanted him in the room. The order overrode the guest.

Harry approached the table, keeping his head low.

“Boy, this is Professor Snape. He has a question for you.” Vernon said, his voice sickly sweet. Harry turned emerald eyes to the dark man with the glow. Harry blinked. The man still glowed a soft navy blue. Harry met eyes with the man.





Severus knew that this was James Potter’s son, but he found that he could not connect the two together in his mind. This boy was too much like his mother. He looked down into the emerald orbs of the fey like boy who didn’t look older than eight.

A jolt ran through him, and he felt a burning rage at the man across the table from him. Severus knew the look in those eyes. He recognized it all to well. He would not allow this house to be here tonight. Nor any of it’s inhabitants.

“Harry Potter.” Severus said; his voice soft, the magic still flowing through his words, “I once knew your mother. I expect that you got a letter, yes?” The boy nodded, his emerald eyes locked on his own blue onyx, “Do you want to come with me?” Severus held out his hand as he said this. The boy nodded again, and took his hand, his emerald orbs locking onto his own onyx.





Harry grasped the man’s hand and met the his eyes. Suddenly, pictures, memories of the man’s life began whirring through his mind. Harry closed his eyes, letting the past run through him. This was not the first time, and Harry knew it wouldn’t be the last.

So many memories. So much pain. So much sorrow. So little happiness. So little joy. Harry ached for the man who promised to take him away. Harry ached at the kinship he had with this man. Harry smiled as the knowledge of this man ran through him.





Severus suppressed a gasp as he felt the boy go through all of his memories. He knew the boy wasn’t doing it on purpose. He also knew that his occlumency shields were useless. He closed his eyes as the pain of the past eased, just a little, as the boy willed it to.

This boy was powerful, and Severus knew that Albus Dumbledore could not get his hands on this child. Albus would manipulate this boy to be his puppet, and Severus refused to let that happen.





As the memories slowed, Harry spoke to the man, making the first noise of his young life.

“I will…go with you…But not to…that man.” Harry had trouble stringing the words together, as his lungs weren’t used to the effort of speaking, but Harry didn’t care.

The man looked surprised, but nodded, smiling gently. Harry knew this was the first true smile that had graced that face in a very long time.





Severus smiled at the boy, ignoring the dumbstruck looks on his relatives’ faces.

“I wouldn’t dream of taking you to him.” Severus said keeping his voice even. Harry smiled up at him, and it made his betrayal of the headmaster worth it.

Severus picked the boy up, carrying him past his aunt, who was frozen in the doorway, picking up the bag that had been set by the door, and left that wretched house, promising himself that he and Lucius would come back to destroy this place. The blood wards wouldn’t keep them out. Not a chance.

Severus walked to the end of the street and down an alley, then stopped, and looked down at the child.

“Hold on tight.” He told the boy. Harry immediately obeyed, knowing what Severus was doing. Seconds later, both disappeared with a loud ‘pop’.