I finally updated. Apologies for the wait. Warning ahead that the next few updates will be slow as in the next couple of weeks I am busy studying for exams. :(

Leave a review if you need anything explained.

Thanks to CaseLC and SilentAttendance for the reviews. They gave a few good ideas for the plot later on. XD

Enjoy~

- Tayla Jane

Harry jolted awake, quickly forgetting the faint whispers of forest and darkness from his dream. He quickly sat up from his awkwardly curled position on the small bed. He blinked blearily at the back wall of his cupboard for a few long moments before gaining his bearings.

His eyes widened and he quickly glanced around himself. Spotting Nagini curled up on his pillow he relaxed before frowning. His racing heart gradually slowed down.

Damn, I must have fallen asleep.

He fixed his skewed glasses back onto his face before holding his battered watch up to his face. He squinted at it, straining to see in the darkness. It was almost 12, meaning he had slept through dinner and most of the night.

A loud banging coming from outside the front door startled Harry. Enough that he jumped and woke Nagini. She was not pleased as she hissed at him, her forked tongue flicking in and out. He glanced at her intending to apologize but another series of loud bangs from the door distracted him.

"WHO THE HELL IS MAKING THAT BLOODY RACKET!?" A loud shout came from upstairs. Harry winced. Whoever was at their door at this ungodly hour, was in for one hell of a surprise. Vernon was irritable for the most part. Being woken in the middle of the night was something even Harry would not dare to do. Harry has found that the Dursley's, even Dudley were not morning people and definitely not middle of the night people. As Harry has discovered once when sneaking out.

The loud banging continued, with a few second break after each round.

Harry wished them luck.

Heavy footsteps came thumping down the stairs not moments later. They were followed by a second lighter pair who was Dudley and then finally timid footsteps that belonged to Petunia. The two second sets of footsteps stopped at the foot of the stairs while Vernon's stomped directly to the front door. Harry could hear the walls of the house rattle with the force of the door being thrown open.

"Who the hell are you and what do you fucking want?!" Vernon growled out at the apparent stranger. There was a pause in which Harry guessed the stranger was starting to regret their choice of timing.

Instead the voice that replied was cool and seemed to be filled with malice. Harry pressed his ear against the grill to hear the conversation better. This was one argument he did not want to miss.

"I am here to speak with a… Harry Potter," He said stiffly. The stranger seemed to spit out his name as if it were something disgusting.

"WHAT?" Vernon spat out venomously. There was a pause.

"A…Harry…..…Potter," the stranger said again this time sounding as if he was talking to a rather stupid child. Vernon spluttered for a moment before he recovered.

"There is no Harry Potter here you freak!" He forced out at the stranger. There was another long pause in which Petunia shrieked. The bird-like noise was followed by a loud thump and a curse.

"HEY WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?" Vernon all but screamed at the unknown man who had seemingly shoved past him.

"Where is he?" The stranger demanded. Vernon didn't answer except to splutter obscenities about having the man arrested.

Harry paused considering the options. One, he could stay quiet and face the wrath of his uncle the following day or two, he could reveal himself and face the fury of his uncle then and there. He was quick to choose.

"I'm in the cupboard." He said sounding confident despite his unsettled nerves. There was a sudden silence.

"WHY YOU LITTL-," Vernon started but was cut off.

"Silencio," the stranger stated. His odd statement was followed by absolute silence from Vernon and a muffled shriek from Petunia. A gasp was heard from Dudley.

Footsteps sounded just outside his cupboard door startling Harry. He sat back quickly and composed himself, ready to meet the stranger who had somehow shut Vernon up.

"Alohomora," the man said.

All of a sudden there were five loud clicks. There was another pause before Harry's cupboard door swung open. The now open door revealed a tall man dressed in what looked like old-fashioned black robes. He had a hooked nose and greasy looking black hair that fell to his shoulders. A sneer covered his face as he spied Harry calmly sitting on his bed but it soon faltered into a tight frown when he viewed his surroundings. He turned back to Harry's relatives.

"Move along muggles" the man sneered at them. Vernon turned purple but didn't say anything despite his mouth flapping open like a fish out of water. Petunia was pale-faced with her lips pressed tightly together. Dudley just looked confused, although the back of his neck was starting to turn pink.

Nobody moved. The strangers scowl turned into a glare and he roughly pulled what looked like a wooden stick out of his robes. He pointed it at the Dursley's and repeated himself.

"Did you not hear me clearly enough you filth," he said. "Leave."

Petunia was the first to act. She reached out and grabbed Dudley by the arm. She then stiffly walked through the door to the kitchen walking past the stranger and Harry in the process while dragging Dudley behind her. Dudley didn't resist, he had no idea what was going on. Vernon wasn't far behind although he hesitated in the kitchen doorway, turning to glare daggers at the stranger before closing the door behind him.

The stranger turned back to Harry and eyed him. Neither of them said a word, waiting for the other to speak first. Harry won.

"Harry Potter I presume?" He said.

"Yes." Harry replied shortly. "Who are you?"

The stranger was silent for a long moment before replying. "I am Professor Snape, the Potions Master at Hogwarts." Harry waited for him to elaborate but he didn't say anything more.

"What is Hogwarts and why are you here?" Harry asked impatiently.

The Professor stared at him, somewhat surprised at his abrupt tone. His reply was spoken stiffly.

"Hogwarts is a school for witches and wizards to learn from the age of 11."

"But why are you here?" Harry repeated again.

The Professor scowled at him. "You did not reply to the Hogwarts acceptance letter, I am here to find out why."

Harry just stared at him. "Are you lot stupid?" He said in a slightly raised voice. "How the hell was I supposed to reply? I don't own an owl and I don't know how to reply, let along know if it was a joke or something!" He finished.

Professor Snape stared flabbergasted at the 10 year old child who was lecturing the grown man. His features twisted into a deep frown. He appraised Harry, looking as he was trying to decide between two unpleasant options.

"It was not…. well thought out." He started slowly biting off the words as if they were something bitter.

"Yeah…..no kidding," Harry snorted rolling his eyes at the Professor. "Would you be so kind as to explain the letter?"

The Professor sighed exasperated as if he was talking to a small child, which he was despite the seriousness of the conversation. He started again.

"Didn't your…...relatives," he sneered the word. "Tell you anything about Magical Britain?"

"Of course not," he said. "I don't even believe magic exists."

Professor Snape eyed him before pulling out the same wooden stick from before. He waved it in the air with a circular flourish.

"Orchideous."

Following the incantation, a small bunch of flowers burst from the tip. Pure white lilies that glowed faintly. Harry was struck speechless.

Magic.

When the Professor noticed what he had produced a pained look came over his face. He quickly ended the spell and vaporized the flowers in an instant. Harry felt disappointed but his features settled back into a blank page. He couldn't help the excitement that was building up inside him.

"Tell me everything." Harry demanded quickly, not wanting the Professor to fall back into silence.

Professor seemed to compose himself before directing his attention back to Harry. There was hate in his eyes as he looked upon the boy but Harry had no idea what he had done wrong. Similarly to most of his arguments with Vernon.

"Go to the Leaky Cauldron on Charing Cross Road, London. There ask the barkeep, Tom, to show you how to get to Diagon Alley. That is where you can buy all your equipment for the year using money from Gringotts, the wizarding bank." Snape said stiffly. "I suggest that you collect your equipment the previous day to avoid you being…...late... for the train."

"Train?" Harry asked confused. When the hell did the letter mention a train?

Professor Snape seemed to minutely roll his eyes although Harry couldn't be sure in the low light. He glanced around Harry's small cupboard and the hate diminished somewhat. He started as he spotted Nagini who was curled around Harry's left arm and eyeing the Professor intently.

The Professor quickly focused back on Harry. "The train to Hogwarts leaves Kings Cross Station Platform 9 ¾ at 11 O'clock sharp on September 1st. Kings Cross Station is in-"

"Yes I know that," Harry said impatiently waiting for the professor to tell him how the hell to get to Platform 9 ¾ as there was no such thing.

Professor Snape curled his lip at the interruption, the hate returned. He waited until Harry had finished then continued.

"Then that's all." He finished sharply with flames in his eyes.

With a sweep of his robes he turned and made his way out of the front door. Not even glancing back at the even more confused Harry.

Harry continued to watch the doorway expecting the Professor to come back so it was a few long moments before he realized that the Potions teacher really had left. It was silent outside so Harry guessed that the Professor had walked off but Harry didn't want to take the chance of running after him.

Not when all hell was about to break loose.

Not a moment later Dudley Dursley stuck his head around the door. He glanced down the hallway and then at Harry who had moved to stand stock still just outside his cupboard.

He turned back and whispered to his parents. "It's all clear." He cautiously pushed the door open and took one step forward. He did not take another as he was suddenly grabbed from behind and yanked back by his furious mother. Petunia was livid. She started forward and raised a threatening finger at Harry who unconsciously took a step backwards into his cupboard.

"YOU ARE A FREAK AND DO NOT BELONG HERE!" Petunia screamed at him. Harry had never seen her this angry. Vernon was usually the one who burst out but instead he was gaping like a fish and not a sound was coming from his open mouth.

Harry recalled the spell that the Professor had used on him.

Silencio. That will be useful.

"GET IN THERE AND YOU WILL NOT BE COMING OUT!" Petunia continued screaming at him while motioning to his cupboard.

Harry did as he was told. Even a pissed off snake would not help him then. Petunia slammed the door in his face as soon as he was inside. He could hear her quickly closing all the locks and hiding away the lane-yard in some part of her clothing.

He listened to the hushed one-sided conversation outside of his cupboard.

"Vernon dear," said Petunia. "Let's head upstairs so we can sort this out." She then spoke stiffly to Dudley. "Dudley, go to bed NOW."

"But…!" Petunia cut him off.

"I SAID NOW!" She said raising her voice.

Dudley grumbled but complied, trundling upstairs slowly. Mr. and Mrs. Dursley followed soon after. Harry waited before relaxing. Looks like he was out of danger for now.

Neither Harry nor Nagini noticed the muffled crack that echoed in the quiet night. He barely heard the quiet footsteps coming back downstairs so when Dudley knocked softly on the front of the grill he only just managed to stop himself from swearing at him.

"Dudley!" he said. "Don't do that!"

Dudley looked abashed. "Sorry," he muttered. He hesitated, deliberation in his eyes. "Look Harry, I just heard Mother talking about putting you in the boot of the car and driving somewhere. I…though- that maybe you should have some warning…"

Harry started. In the boot of the car….oh hell no.

He pressed his lips together tightly and scowled at the floor. "Thanks…Duds."

Dudley grinned despite the seriousness of the conversation. His smile faltered however when Harry did not answer.

"Harry what are you going to do?" He asked.

Harry glanced up at the worried expression on Dudley's face.

"Probably something really stupid," he admitted. "But then….I'm going to do it anyway."

He sighed and gazed at the floor. Sure his idea was pretty stupid, but it would work. Not to mention it would free him of the Dursley's at least for a time.

He turned and readied his gear, not that he had much to organize. Just the clothes on his back and the occasionally belonging. And Nagini of course. He tucked her into his collar and she wrapped herself loosely around his neck. He then pulled on his only hoodie, hiding her from prying eyes. He reached his arm up to the rafters and snatched the tool he had hidden there over two years before for emergencies.

It was just a rusty screwdriver. But even the most simple of tool could become a weapon if used right. He put the end of the screwdriver between the bracket and the door that it was holding up. He hesitated for a moment and spoke to Dudley.

"You might want to move out of the way, just in case."

Dudley hurriedly moved slightly to the side, still having no idea what his cousin was doing. Harry put all of his weight into his arms and yanked with all his might. There was a responding loud CRACK as the door came free of its hinges. He repeated the process with the hinges down lower making the door come completely free and in the process nearly hitting Dudley in the face who hadn't moved to the side enough. Harry had weakened the hinges in preparation for this. It wouldn't do for him to get him hopes up about getting out and then the door wouldn't budge. The technique he was using then, literally taking the door away, was a last resort. After all the Dursley's would notice if the door was suddenly off its hinges come morning.

The door hit the floor with a rather loud thump that made Harry cringe.

…

So much for a silent getaway.

He lightly jumped over the flat door ignoring the dumbstruck look on Dudley's face. He walked to the front door with an even pace. Although it was faster that his usual as he didn't want to be caught by the Dursley's, who would have no doubt heard the loud thump.

Dudley followed behind him and nearly ran into the back of him when Harry suddenly stopped in the doorway. Harry skewed grin made shivers go down Dudley's spine.

"See you round Duds." Harry said. He turned and walked out the doorway and down the Dursley's front lawn onto the road. Dudley called out behind him.

"Are you coming back Harry?" He asked timidly.

Harry shrugged. "Probably," he said. He turned not saying another word and walked off down the street.

The chillness of the air was refreshing as was the thought that he was free of the Dursley's. However possibly temporarily. His grin widened until it hurt his face. Nagini's only reaction to the whole escape was to tighten her coils around Harry's neck in response to the cold night air.

Harry spent some time walking, although he could not tell how long it was or tell the time as his watch didn't have the function of glowing in the dark. He eventually reached a train station, very cold and with his stomach rumbling. Nagini was also half strangling him in an attempt to leech as much warmth off of him as possible. He eyed the brightly coloured fast food restaurant that had made a stand in the modern looking station. But disregarded it for the moment, he didn't have any money and they weren't going to feed anyone for free, even a homeless looking child.

There was also the problem of how he was going to acquire money for the train. He was exhausted and needed to rest but he could not afford to. He glanced at the clock that was situated in the middle of the station. The time read 4:07. That meant he had 23 minutes until the next train. Plenty of time to get into trouble.

His attention was drawn to a bunch of very drunk adults who were making their way down some stairs. Harry watched them stumble and half fall down the stairs. He made an effort not to steal but in this situation, it's not like he had much of a choice. It was either steal or have nothing. In the end he didn't have to make the decision. The middle aged man who was lagging at the back and walking with a slightly limp in his step stumbled again and something fell out his pocket. Harry's eyes were drawn to it and he leaned forward when he realized that it was the man's wallet.

Harry took the opportunity. He walked forward slowly hunching his shoulders to seem smaller. He passed the drunk people with no incident and managed to grab the wallet with his hands only fumbling for a moment. He quickly increased his pace and ducked around the corner wanting to get out of sight before someone noticed that he had done anything. He stumbled slightly in his too large clothing and cursed the Dursley's for the horrible hand-me-downs. He finally stopped at one of the benches out of sight and sat down.

He opened up the wallet and had a look at the contents. There were a few different assorted cards that had no meaning at all to Harry as well as a drivers ID card that identified the drunk man as a 'John Walker.'

Much appreciated Johnny, thought Harry.

The wallet also contained a total of 60 pounds. More than enough for Harry to buy an early breakfast and a train ticket.

He headed over to the fast food restaurant. He managed to buy a burger and fries without any incidents apart from the register user glaring at him from behind the counter. Harry ignored him, he was used to the looks of disgust.

He settled down and ate quietly avoiding the drunken singing of the other group. Not that they noticed him anyway. They were too busy trying to find the drunken guy who was lagging behind. He had somehow managed to wander off.

The train arrived at exactly 4:30. Harry paid for his ticket and got on, the drunk fools following after him with their, now found drunk friend. He sat the furthest point from everyone else in the carriage and huddled into himself on the cracked plastic seat. He avoided the gazes of the dodgy looking adults who had previously been on the train and whose eyes were glazing over him like he was something to eat. He had a fair few stops ahead of him before he would be anywhere Kings Cross Station and he couldn't afford to attract any unwanted attention.