A Dream Becomes Reality

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, however I own this plot so mwahahahaha!

Author's Note: I love it when I get reviews!!... Well back again with another chapter... thank you to all those that supported me! The reason I took so long in getting this chapter done was because I got some rather rude and harsh e-mails from people.... They don't like my stories to stay the least ;_; ....

So I decided to at least write another chapter to see if people really do like this story or hate it.

Chapter Three

Thank you for rescuing me.

Harry Potter groaned and rolled over on his back, letting out a howl off agony as the pain shot up his body. He sucked in his breath and rolled back onto his stomach, the pain still there but dimmed. He couldn't find the strength in his legs so he lashed his hand out, trying to find his glasses. One coming in contact with them he hurriedly shoved them on his face, consciousness slowly starting to come back to him. He very slowly and very carefully started to sit up, trying not to touch his back as much as possibly. He crossed his leg and sighed inwardly, looking around in the darkness. He knew where he was, he spent eleven years under these stairs and by god just the smell of it he knew where he was. He felt around for the cord to the light, pulling the light on. He shut his eyes against the light, blinking a few times against the brightness. Once used to it he sniffled and began looking the damage over on his body. Nothing seemed broken, which was good, he could feel the welts and dried blood cracked with every movement he made. His face felt bruised, he already knew that his back would scar, his stomach growled and his mouth tasted like blood. He reached out and tried to open the door, only to find a resulting click then nothing. He tried again but the door didn't move. His hand trembled as he tried to open the eyehole on the door, but that too wouldn't move.

"No.... please no!" Harry whimpered to himself, moving closer to the door so he was kneeling in front of it. "No!!!" for a moment he forgot about his back and started to pound on the door, but it wouldn't budge. Whimpering like a lost child he started to scratch and the door, tears running down his cheeks. "Please don't hate me..." he screamed into the bitter darkness. "I just want a family..." he took a deep breath and sobbed it out, resting against the door. ".... I just want someone to love me..."

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Dudley groaned and thumped down the stairs towards the door, after his mother and father called to him to see who was ringing the door bell. He sighed softly, pausing and listening, his eyes searching the doorway under the stairs for any kind of noise. Clearing his throat he went to the door swinging it open.

"May I help y-" Dudley stopped in surprise as his eyes slowly traveled up the body of the man before him. He swallowed hard, giving a nervous smile. Severus Snape raised an eyebrow as he looked down at the rather chubby boy, tilting his head to the side and looking his own outfit over to see if there was anything wrong with it. It was too hot out to wear his robes so instead he settled for an old white Victorian styled shirt that laced at the top and large sleeves with closed cuffs around his wrists. His pants were black and loose fitting with nice black leather shoes.

"Is there something wrong?" Severus almost snapped, rather amused at the boy, who he assumed was Dudley, Harry's cousin.

"N-no sir..." Dudley blushed, his senses finally snapping back. "May I help you?"

"Yes... I'm looking for one Harry J. Potter, is he in?" Severus asked, crossing his arms over his chest. The cream tart before him seemed to go pale, taking a small step back.

"S-stay right there..." Dudley whispered. Severus raised an eyebrow as the door slammed in his face. Bloody Muggles... he thought impatiently. If it wasn't for Potter I could be home out of this godforsaken heat.... His mind traveled back to the letter and sighed softly, not knowing how to feel. If this is one of your damn pranks Potter I'll hand you over to the dark lord myself! Severus didn't have to wait long as a thin woman with the neck of a giraffe opened the door. Severus looked the woman over in distaste, tapping his foot lightly.

"And you are?" Aunt Petunia said while smiling sweetly, fluttering her eyelashes and flicking her hair.

"I'm Severus Snape, I'm he-"

"Oh, nice to meet you... I'm Petunia... but you can call me Pet if you want." She murmured out, loosing the smile as a man came thumping down the stairs, coming to stand beside his wife at the door.

"Who the blazes are you?" asked Vernon, looking Severus over without a second thought.

"This is Severus Snape sweetheart..." Petunia said with a small smile to Severus, biting her bottom lip seductively, making Severus want to gag.

"All right Mr. Snape... whatever you're trying to sell we already have three of!" Vernon said, grasping the door, about to close it. Severus simply stuck his foot out and pushed the door open again.

"As I was saying before... My Name's Severus Snape, I'm the Potions Professor at Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry." Severus was delighted as he spoke, watching the faces of the muggles become more and more pale. "I'm here for Harry Potter." Well that certainly got their attention... Severus thought, watching at Vernon and his wife stared at him in disbelief.

"He's not here." Vernon finally said between clenched teeth.

"He ran away in the middle of the night... took that stick of his too" Petunia said, her once flirtatious tone towards Severus turning cold. "We haven't seen or heard from him..."

"We figured he was with one of his freaky friends." Vernon said with a disgusted look. "You have your information now leave us be!" Severus was about to give out when movement caught his eye. He looked past Vernon and Petunia to see Dudley leaning against the doorframe to the kitchen. At first Severus didn't think much of it, but when Dudley's eyes left his own and stared at the cupboard door under the stairs then back at Severus, he knew something was wrong. Dudley nodded towards the stairs and quickly turned, heading into the kitchen. Severus stepped into the house, pushing past the couple to stand before the cupboard door.

"Why's this door so heavily locked?..." Not waiting for an answer he unlocked each quickly, swinging the door open and almost gagging at the scent of blood and urine. Covering his mouth and nose he stepped into the dark room, body shaking with despair as his dark eyes traveled the room. His eyes stopped on Harry, laying on his stomach with his face buried into the little mattress. "...Harry?" The form groaned, picking its head up and looking around with unfocused eyes. He blinked a few times and traveled up the tall form, swallowing hard when he recognized the face.

"...Hello Professor..." Harry's stomach turned, his head starting to spin again. Darkness clouded his vision; he struggled to stay away but collapsed once again upon the mattress in exhaustion. Severus stared at him for a few moments, taking into detail the bruises and blood. He was suddenly filled with three emotions, compassion, heartache and anger. For once in his life, compassion won as he leaned over and took Harry into his arms, lifting him up so his legs were wrapped around him and his head was resting on his shoulder. Severus shifted him in his arms, being careful as not to hurt him, he looked around the cupboard one more time before disappearing completely, taking Harry to his manor.

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Harry groaned as he gently bounced for some reason, shifting against the body that was holding him... Wait a second!!! Harry thought quickly. Why's someone holding me?!?!?!?!?! Harry opened his eyes and looked around, not recognizing where he was put when turned his head he certainly recognized who was carrying him. His head starting to spin again, instinctively resting his head back down on Severus' shoulder, looking the different hallways over at they past them.

"Where are we professor?" Harry asked in a small quiet voice, afraid that saying the wrong thing might light the fuse to his Professor's anger. He shifted within the arms of his rescuer, wincing as his cuts opened again.

"We're in my Manor... This is where you'll be staying until school starts... I'm not sure after that." Severus said, keeping his eyes on the passage before him, turning the corner and moving towards a door. Severus tried desperately to keep his voice calm and smooth without any concern. "Is anything broken?" Harry suddenly blushed from embarrassment, the last thing he wanted Severus to see was him bruised and bleeding.

"No Professor..." Harry said, breathing in his scent.

"You're in my house and not in school Potter, you may call me Severus." As he spoke he stepped into an already opened door where a bath was already drawn. Harry looked around the room and swallowed hard, just the bathroom was bigger then his room. Setting Harry very gently onto the chair, Severus moved to the tub, dipping his fingers in the water to check the temperature.

"Umm... What's the bath for Prof-... Severus?" Harry said, looking the bathroom over in awe, causing Severus to chuckle softly.

"Well obviously it's for a bath Potter... it's a shame your common sense left you completely..." Severus reached into one of the side cupboards and pulled out a feel towels. "You'll feel better once you're clean... The waters mixed with a healing potion to help your wounds."

"Thank you..." Harry said in a quiet voice, not looking up at his professor.

"I'll bring you a nightshirt to wear until I can return to that hell hold to get your own things... the house elves will hand it on the doorknob outside..." Severus said, clearing his throat. "Everything all right so far?" Harry nodded with a small smile, feeling sheepish and giddy. "I have work to do; will you be all right on your own?"

"Oh yes Professor... I can undress on my own." Harry's eyes widened, not believing he said that out loud. What the hell's wrong with me!! Harry thought with a groan, watching as Severus simply smirked and stepped out of the bathroom, shutting the door quietly behind himself. Harry slowly stood, clutching the back of the chair to stay up right as he slowly undressed. His body ached and bled as he crawled into the bath, but his mind wasn't concentrated on his wounds more on the man whom rescued him.

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