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A Master's Servant	By : Sayan Category: Harry Potter > General > General Views: 3077 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
Chapter 8: In which Vernon Dursley fears for his life.
Harry thought hard for some minutes. Where should he begin and what would be interesting for his master? Well, the basics would have to be first and considering the unusually good mood of the potions master he maybe hasn't have to fear the sharp tongue of the older man.
"My birthday is the 31st July and for my place of birth, well, I don't know. Just that it has to be somewhere north. My parents moved soon after my first birthday and I only know that the farm in Surrey wasn't our first home because my father mentioned it once. My father was Mr. Dursley and my mother-"
"Mrs. Dursley, that much I have guessed, go on."
"I don't remember my mother well, she died in the winter after my fifth birthday but I think I loved her more than my father. He was more like Vernon."
Once again Severus interrupted his servant's story. "Do you know why you are so much younger than your brother, why there is so much time between his birth and yours?"
Harry grinned up at him mischievously. "Master, my parents are dead, I cannot ask them."
Severus black eyes were very cold and his soft voice barely veiled the steel within. "Boy, you don't know what I am able to do to an insolent servant and you don't want to find out."
The younger nodded meekly and a little stuttering he continued with his tale. "Were was I? Ah, yes. My father had a farm and he was grumpy because he was very proud of it and there was no one who would want to run it after he would leave this world. My older brother was never interested in farming and had left the household after school. Father always said that I am a weakling and far too soft for the job. There were pigs, cattle and horses, Oh, a lots of animals and I found the pigs and cattle disgusting, they were so dirty, that angered my father. So I had to care for the chickens, that was far more to my liking and two of them were mine. After father's death Vernon sold them without my consent. That's Vernon for you."
The black head sank down a little and the bangs hid the emerald eyes from view. Severus gave him time to compose himself again before softly pressing for more. "Go on."
"One of the prize bulls, its name was Theodore kicked out and crushed father's skull. I- I was the one who found him."
A fine linen handkerchief with embroidered white snakes tangled in front of his face and he took it gratefully.
"Vernon really didn't want to keep the farm. He thought that he was born for higher purposes." A snort. " I don't think so. He sold the farm and forced me to come with him and his new wife to London, he wanted to buy the canteen of Grunnings, a drill factory. I would have preferred to stay with my tutor. I was only eleven and had to do what I was told. Vernon said that I was his duty and well.... Is it a sin that I hate my own brother? And Petunia- she hated me at first sight and vice versa. I once tried to get her out of my hair just for one day and gave her sleeping pills. She was not amused. If there ever was a cruel person, it is Petunia Dursley."
"I can be cruel too but I highly advice you not to try something like that with me."
Harry only chuckled.
The boy leaned against the chair, not knowing how many rules he broke but Severus let it go. His tea was cold by now but he slowly emptied his cup, concentrating on the face of his servant and the story.
It was a weird mixture of naïveté and wisdom. The boy had forgotten whom he told the story of his young life, he spoke freely and his hands animatedly illustrated his speech. Vernon and his wife had obviously seen the younger brother as a unpaid servant. The hardship of this years in the slums of London surfaced more in what was unsaid than in clear tales of punishments and sadistic treatment.
With a startled tremble Harry locked his eyes with Severus'. "And then you came and rescued me and I will be eternally grateful." He softly placed a kiss on his master's hand but it was removed from his grasp quickly. Severus avoided to look at him directly and laughed hollowly.
"I am by no means a hero. I have my own reasons for purchasing you and they are by no means altruistic."
Harry only smiled but it was wiped from his face quickly with his master's next question.
"Where is this canteen."
The smaller man looked like a deer caught in the headlights and began to shake like a leaf. "You, you wouldn't want to? No! You cannot...!" He clutched the sleeve of Severus robes desperately and looked pleadingly up, green orbs swimming in tears.
Emotional teenagers were really a nuisance! "What is it now?!? I want the name and location of your brother's canteen, what's so alarming about that?"
"I will not tell you! You don't need it, I swear! I will never sleep again, I promise, I promise."
The handkerchief was lying forgotten on the floor and the thought about his robe sleeve acting as a substitute really worried Severus. He tried to pull fingers and face from it, scowling at the kneeling boy. "Never sleeping again? What has that to do with anything. What are you murmuring?"
Something nearly inaudible was sobbed into the fine black cloth. He only could make out 'nightmare'. "For Merlin's sake, everyone has nightmares. I will not give you back just because you disturbed my night's rest!"
"No?"
Severus Snape rolled his eyes. "No. Quit acting like a fool. Now: the address, if you please. I just want a word with Vernon Dursley."
The chin raised defiantly Harry shook his head. "He will try to get me back. It- it could rue him to have lost me and..."
"You are mine now and I keep what is mine. Stop the antics and answer me."
"You promise that I can stay with you?"
"If it makes you feel better: I promise on the honour of a Potions Master. Are you satisfied now?"
Harry still looked shaken but he sighed and did as he was told. "Templeton Street 26. The canteen is called The Golden Drill. It is a not a very fine establishment, rather shabby in fact."
"Very well. It seems as if I cannot escape disaster today so I will take my chance and go on a little venture. Really Harry that's the second time in 12 hours that you soaked me with your tears."
He stood up and from his height took a final look at his servant who was still on the floor and looking worse for wear. "Red rims and a swollen face does not become you. Please make yourself presentable, yes? I don't want Lucius to think that I am cruel to puppies. On the other hand it would give my old reputation a boost. Choices, choices...."
And he swept out of the room.

The new ministry rules for Muggle restriction and the declaration of the superiority of the wizarding race made it easier to hush up any discovery by the lower class Muggles. A witness? Don't bother with memory charms, just eliminate the problem, that was the credo of the Ministry. But most wizards and witches just tried to blend in or at least appear as a Muggle when they entered the Muggle areas. That was one of the reasons why many magical households had an enchanted but by appearance normal car as a means of transportation.
Gaston didn't show his astonishment about the their aim, he was used to the potions master's whims and drove the car securely through the streets of London.
The dark windows obscured the occupant from every curious stare but Severus had lots of time to take in his surroundings because the car had to slow down as soon as they entered this district of London. The houses were in a desolate condition as were the clothes of the children who played in the streets. The stopped their play to follow the huge black car on its way through the litter filled streets. One or two teenagers with dead eyes dared to throw some trash at the shining vehicle.
The car stopped in front of a small building with neon green writing over the front door. Foamy wash water had been dumped into the street and Severus had to go around the puddle, his face devoid of emotion only the twitching nerve over his high cheekbones betrayed his feelings. Gaston fled into the car as fast as it was polite after he opened the door for his master.
The barroom was damp and gloomy, the smell of stale beer and overcooked beef heavily scented the air. A woman was busy at the hearth, cutting and adding vegetables to a stew. Vernon Dursley stood behind the bar and was cleaning a dirty glass with an even dirtier rug but immediately after the newcomers entrance he hurried to greet this wealthy looking customer. Obviously he didn't recognize the black clad man. He bowed deeply.
"What can I do for ye? Do ye want a fine glass of the best beer or-?"
"I think you know me."
The man looked thunderstruck and his pig eyes grew and grew until they nearly popped out of the round face. Cheeks and the fat chin began to wobble under his heavy gulps.
"H- h- Harry."
"Indeed. I think we should take this conversation somewhere private."
"If the lil' freak has said somethin' against-" The screeching voice of the woman made both man jump a little.
Severus guessed that now had the honour of meeting Petunia Dursley, the woman his servant had tried to drug with sleeping pills just to shut her up. She was a tall and skinny woman and the total opposite of her husband. She had a long neck where he had none but the same stench of unwashed flesh and alcohol around her.
Severus preferred her to stay with her pots and not bother him with her presence and he clearly said so.
Vernon whispered something into her ear and she complied after a venomous look at the visitor. Her husband led the wizard into a private room and shut the door behind them.
It was a tiny room and not much cleaner than the main one but the air was cleaner and after he dusted one of the chairs with the hem of his robe Severus was able to sit down.
Vernon was wringing his hands in the meantime and sweatdrops were appearing on his forehead.
"To avoid misunderstandings: I am Severus Snape, Potions Master and member of the wizarding society. Ah, I see you know what I am speaking about. I want to speak with you about my servant."
"Wha'- wha' do ye want with me? If the boy ever said somethin' bad 'bout us, we never treated him badly, young brats need discipline...an'...Wha' do ye want with a mere boy like Harry anyways?"
Severus removed his leather gloves and slapped them against the near desktop, his eyes sparkling like icicles.
"Don't try to fool me, Dursley. There never was a Harry the Muggle, Harry the wizard is more plausible and for this I want an explanation."
Vernon was trembling and looked near a coronary now. "I really don't know what ye are talkin' 'bout."
"You never wondered about weird things happening around the boy, whenever he was really angry or afraid? Never?" Severus bent forward and fixed the other like prey rip for the kill, observing every motion.
"Weird things?" Another gulp. "Hi- his hair grew back overnight whenever I cut it and he once ended on top of the roof when he was chased by the gang but a wizard? There never was a wizard in our family. Never."
Severus' lips curled. "Has it never come to your mind that Harry is not your parent's child? Where was he born, do you know? Tell me about your family and if you are going to lie or bend the truth, think again. My wrath can be horrible." His hand hold out a golden coin.
"No' me parent's child, I. I...." The mustache quivered. "I was born on the border to Scotland in a town called Godric's Hollow and so was Harry. My mother always wanted lots of brats even if we had no money, the me dad got some and they moved to Surrey. I left the family when I turned eighteen and saw the brat for the first time at me mother's funeral. He always was a midget and one of the people in the town insisted on teaching him weird stuff, not good for his head, go him ideas!"
"Godric's Hollow you said?" Another coin joined its cousin and Dursley licked his lips greedily.
"Yep. Awful little city. Nosy people and freaks the lot. Father was only to keen on moving as soon as he got some money."
"And where had he gotten the money from?"
"Don't know, he ne'r told. Then me ol' sir bought this big piece of land in Surrey."
"Ah well. To ask simple minds difficult questions..." Severus handed the coins to the nearly drooling Muggle.
"The name of the tutor, if you will?"
"A strange man who followed my family from Godric's Hollow to Surrey. He was rarely seen and lived in a hut near the forest. Lupin, yep that was his name."
"Very well. I think this is the last time you will ever see me. If I find out that you held back information you will never know what hit you. Forget that you ever had a brother with the name Harry because you never had and if you ever remember a Harry you will pay dearly for the treatment you gave him. Good day to you."
Severus Snape swept out of the room and left a very startled and sweating Vernon Dursley behind.
TBC
- 7
- 8
- 9
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A Master's Servant