Harry Potter lay on the floor of his bedroom in number four Privit Drive. It was to be another sleepless night for him but it didn’t matter. Sleep meant very little to him now. He glanced over at the window and noticed that the sun was beginning to set, the Dursleys would be heading off to bed soon, and then he could sneak downstairs and grab something more substantial then what his Aunt Petunia gave him to eat. He knew what stair creaked, and what floor board would groan under his feet if he would step on it so he was sure to tread lightly. Every night for the last couple weeks he had been sneaking downstairs to get a peace of toast and a glass of water, and his relatives didn’t seem to notice. He couldn’t take more food for fear of being caught. Sighing he reached over and plucked his fifth year Transfiguration book off of the pile of books he had lying on the floor and began thumbing through it. He began reading a chapter about turning animals into inanimate objects when he heard a noise downstairs. Harry quickly sat down his book and pulled his wand out of his pocket. Quietly he tiptoed towards the door and opened it to see if he could hear anything. He was grateful that today Uncle Vernon was being especially kind by leaving his door unlocked. With his breath held, Harry stood in his doorway and listened.

“I’m here to collect Mr. Potter,” said a smooth silky voice. Harry froze, their could only be one person with that voice. Harry listened harder.

“Get off my property,” uncle Vernon said.” I don’t want anymore freaks on my property.

“I suggest Mr. Dursley, that if you don’t want me to do something that will attract attention to you and your family that you let me into your home so that I may collect the boy.” Harry could hear by the tone in Snapes voice that he was getting angry.

“Boy,” uncle Vernon bellowed, get down here, and bring all of your things with you.” Harry didn’t waste any time throwing the belongings that he had out into his trunk, he knew the longer he stayed up here now the more enraged his uncle would be. Within minutes he was walking down the stairs, dragging his trunk with the owl cage on top of it.

Severus looked at the boy as he reached the bottom stair, he was far to thin for a boy his age, and his eyes had shadows under them from lack of sleep. He also kept his eyes cast downward as he walked the last few steps and to his uncle’s side.

“You are leaving with this, this,” Vernon was interrupted by a sharp glare from Harry, his head was now high and his expression was cold.

“His name is Professor Snape uncle Vernon; he is the potions master at Hogwarts.”

“I don’t care what he is boy just get out of my house.”

Severus stared at Vernon with a smear plastered on his face.

“Say good-bye to your nephew,” he said in a dangerous tone of voice. Vernon looked at Snape as if he were mad.

“Good-bye uncle Vernon, see you next summer,” Harry said, knowing that he could say anything he wanted now because his uncle wouldn’t dare touch him in front of his teacher.

“Potter,” uncle Vernon said, and stocked into the living room.

Harry looked around, he didn’t really want to go anywhere with his most hated potions master, but he didn’t want to stay here.

“Let’s go Potter,” Snape said, breaking Harry away from his thoughts. Harry was about to lift his trunk when Snape waved his wand and shrunk it.

“Thanks,” he said. Snape just nodded and walked out the door. Once they had reached the outskirts of Privit Drive Snape, without saying a word, silently grabbed Harry’s arm and apperated them away.