Disclaimer: I don't own the Harry Potter series it all belongs to J.K. Rowling however, I do own the OC's in this story.

*~ A Second Chance ~*

Chapter Four

"If there is no struggle, there is no progress." - Frederick Douglass

During Potter's departure Severus took it in his stride to look through the boy's belongings. He need to figure out the reasoning's behind the boy's hidden façade.

What he found was astounding Potter had little attire and what he had was too big and worn he begun to ponder if other factors contributed to this like the lesions and abrasions that covered his body along with his issue of being immensely underweight.

Did the aspect of abuse occur at the Dursleys?

He needed to investigate this further it was well known that Potter didn't get along with his relatives, but what really happened to him during his years at the Dursleys that was what he needed to know.

"Potter, there is something that I urgently need to discuss with you."

"What is it, sir?" Harry asked inquisitively.

"It has come to my attention that I need an insight into what really occurred during your stay at the Dursleys."

"Why do you ask?" Harry replied.

"Your lack of proper necessities is astounding, and from the aspect of your fall. I highly doubt that the multiple abrasions and lacerations that you sustained were all due to that cause." Severus said calmly.

Harry sighed; he had sincerely hoped that matter would have slipped his mind so he could escape such demanding questions.

"I…. I can't…." He muttered unable to meet the potion masters piercing gaze.

"Potter." Severus said, giving him an intrusive look.

"I can't… trust you." Harry stated.

"Well, you need to trust somebody Potter whether you like it or not." Severus said.

"That's easy for you to say." Harry retorted.

"Yes, it is you had better understand that right now I'm the only person you can physically trust."

"Well, I don't think I can, what makes you think that I would tell you, a person who has given me so much grievance for just existing so why would I tell you my whole life story!" Harry exclaimed.

The boy did have a fair point; Severus had to give him that.

"Potter, and one last thing I've spoken to the Headmaster and he has told me that after your encounter with the Dark Lord and the dreams that you have been having you need to be further developed in the art of Occlumency." Severus said.

"I don't need to learn Occlumency; I'm doing fine on my own." Harry retorted.

"You are deliberately letting the Dark Lord into your mind Potter I hardly believe you are doing fine you could have died falling off your broom." Severus said.

"Don't you understand, the Dark Lord has found your weakest point and seeks to exploit it." Severus continued.

"Maybe, he has, why I would care." Harry countered.

"Potter, do you really want to end up dead?" Severus asked sincerely.

"It would be better being dead than being here." Harry exclaimed. "I just want to be left alone; I've dealt with more than my fair share!" Harry said as he took off to his temporary room with angry tears welling in his eyes.

Severus rubbed his temple, he felt a headache coming on; he really didn't know how much he could take of this teenager's arrogance, stubbornness and stupidity.

Suddenly the spare bedroom door slammed loudly and Severus gritted his teeth in annoyance he really needed a drink, preferably something a lot stronger than his usual herbal infused tea. He sighed as he reached for a bottle of fire whiskey all - knowing that inevitably he would have to deal with the short-tempered adolescent later on.

Harry kicked his trunk, letting out his frustration, but, all he received was a sore toe, which caused him to hiss in pain, he was so angry, he couldn't take it anymore, Harry needed his godfather, he needed Sirius not his so called newly acclaimed godfather Severus bloody Snape!

"Potter, I would like an apology for your brash unnecessary behaviour I don't take kindly to people slamming doors in my house."

"I'm sorry." Harry muttered whilst not displaying a single ounce of remorse.

"Now, for the time being we shall forget about what happened last night and start afresh." Severus said as calmly as possible, to let something like this slip was not in his nature, but it had to be done if was to have a functional relationship with the youth.

"Today, I would like you to dress in Muggle attire as we shall be going to Muggle London to buy you the necessary necessities that your Aunt and Uncle didn't happen to provide."

"Um… sir… Would we be able to stop at the Gringotts bank so I can withdraw some money?" Harry asked.

"Silly boy! That money is your inheritance; it is not to be wasted on such petty possessions. I shall be supplying you with the necessary provisions that are needed is that understood?" Severus articulated.

"Yes, sir." Harry replied before he went to his temporary bedroom to change into his most orthodox looking Muggle attire.

Once the two were ready they headed to the nearest working bus stop in Spinners End, waiting in silence for the touring bus to arrive.

The suburbs around Spinners End began to change as they moved further and further into the heart of London. The view of shabby houses, to unattended parks and gardens of such ghost towns, changed to that of civilized streets and immaculate brick houses. Harry watched on feeling butterflies in his stomach as they itched closer towards the main streets of London.

The bus driver swiftly turned into a bus lane pulling the bus into a sudden halt as they arrived to their set destination.

Harry and Severus got off at the bus stop and walked over to the entrance of the Leaky Cauldron.

"Ah, if it isn't the one and only Harry Potter!" Tom exclaimed with a beaming smile.

"Tom we shall be on our way, if you would please." Severus said, ushering the man to the brick entrance of Diagon Alley.

"Ah, yes Severus."

"Goodbye, Harry Potter."

Harry followed Snape and gave the man a curt nod before heading through the barrier.

It sent a chill down his spine "What happened here?" Harry asked as he saw debris covering the sidewalk, stores were closed, and others were damaged beyond repair, with the buildings having been burnt to a crisp, the foundation having crumbled into pieces.

"Don't you read the news?" Severus questioned.

"Only on occasion." Harry muttered.

"Well, if you must know Death Eaters attacked." Said Severus coldly.

"What?" Harry exclaimed, unable to believe what he just heard, it made his blood boil.

"They attacked Ollivanders and Fortescue, although I don't know why." Severus added just in case the boy thought he had been a part of it.

Harry felt bad he'd gotten along well with Fortescue, so much so that during his stay at the Leaky Cauldron; Fortescue had given him free sundaes while he had done his holiday homework.

"Ollivanders!" Harry expressed. "Where would students get their wands now?" He asked somberly.

"Ollivander isn't the only wand maker; he's just the most rampant." Severus stated.

"Oh, okay." Harry said. This was outrageous, how could this happen in a place like Diagon Alley Harry thought to himself.

"Let's get moving we don't want to draw attention to ourselves just standing here." Severus muttered.

"Why didn't we use polyjuice potion, then?" Harry asked curiously.

"I have the situation under control." Severus replied, he'd spoken to Dumbledore earlier about the movement of the one and only 'Harry Potter.'

"Okay." Harry said as he followed Snape, trying to keep close.

"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed as she ran up to her friend, giving him a wholehearted hug.

"Hello, Hermione." Harry said with a small smile.

"Dumbledore told us everything, how have you been?" Hermione asked.

"It's been tough, but I'll be okay."

"That's good, Sirius would be proud of you."

"Thanks Hermione." Harry said. "Have you seen Ron?"

"He's at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes."

"Huh, what's that?" Harry asked.

"It's a joke shop, Fred and George created it, their business is booming, I guess people have been needing a little bit of a laugh." Hermione said.

"Yeah, I guess." Harry admitted somberly.

"Hello, Professor." Hermione said, acknowledging him with a warm smile.

"Miss Granger." Severus said giving her a curt nod.

"Sir, can I go to Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes?" Harry asked nervously.

"Alright, I'll be at the Apothecary." Severus said coldly.

Harry smiled; he hadn't thought that Snape would let him go. His heart skipped a beat in excitement; he'd get to see his friends.

Harry's mouth hung open in shock the place looked astounding, Harry suddenly felt as though he needed a hundred eyes to be able to take everything in. Children were everywhere testing out the twins products, one child had even thrown a fanged Frisbee which had started to cause havoc, as it flew around the room.

"Ah, Harry, glad you could join us."

"This place…. This place, it's incredible." Harry said, unable to contain his excitement.

"Thank you." The twins said.

"Harry, you help yourself to anything you want, all right? No charge." George said.

"I can't do that!"

"You don't pay here… you gave us our start-up loan, we haven't forgotten. Take whatever you like, and just remember to tell people where you got it, if they ask."

Harry wandered off near the Muggle section when he heard Ron and his brother's arguing.

"That's three Galleons, nine Sickles and a Knut. Cough up."

"I'm your brother!" Ron exclaimed.

"And that's our stuff you're nicking."

Harry couldn't help but laugh slightly as Fred and George turned down their brother, he'd have to buy him something, with the money he'd keep from Snape.

"Hey Ron." Harry said.

"Hey mate, how have you been? Mum told us you were staying with Snape, it must be hell?"

"I've been okay, Snape is a little difficult to deal with, but I'll live." Harry said.

Harry joined up with Ron and Hermione as they looked around the store at the products and contraptions, it was really a sight to behold amongst the hassle and bustle of excited children and their parents.

"Ow!" Hermione cried, as one of Fred and George's contraptions had hit her in the eye.

"You, okay Hermione? I'll take you to Mum maybe she can fix it." Ron said reassuringly.

"Here, have some of this." Fred said starling the trio as he popped out of nowhere.

"What is it?" Hermione asked as she touched her already bruising eye.

"Bruise removal cream we needed a remedy for our products, it works wonders." Fred said.

"Is it safe?" Hermione asked, not truly convinced about these so called magical properties, as it could have easily been a ruse.

"Of course." Fred exclaimed handing her the pot.

Hermione nervously dabbed the thick, yellow paste around her eye, and to her amazement the blackish, purple bruise was gone.

"This is truly amazing; maybe I should give some to Madam Pomfery." She said.

"Mum, we're just going to get some air." Ron said to his mother.

"Alright, stay safe; promise me you'll stay together."

"Yeah, alright Mum." Ron said with a groan.

"What's his problem?" Harry whispered to Hermione.

"Mrs Weasley's been giving Ron and Ginny lectures on a daily basis, she didn't even what them to go to Hogwarts this year, she's extremely worried about their welfare, and of course she has every right to be as Death Eaters are attacking frequently.

"Fair enough, did your parents want you to go to Hogwarts?" Harry asked.

"No, actually they didn't, they know what's going on I've been keeping them up to date, but they didn't think I'd be safe staying with them as there Muggles and all, so eventually they decided to let me go to Hogwarts." Hermione said.

Harry nodded these attacks were tough on everyone, wizards, witches and Muggles alike.

"Look, its Draco." Said Harry as he pointed to the high-strung teen.

"Do you think we should follow him?"

"Sometimes I hate you two." Hermione stated with a loud groan as she followed them down the road.

"Draco, he's a Death Eater." Harry said.

"He's a what?" Ron asked, unable to believe it.

"Are you sure Harry?" Hermione asked.

Severus coughed loudly behind the trio "Potter, Weasley, Granger, what are you doing here?" He asked in annoyance after having spent a long while looking for the boy.

Harry panicked and slipped from the ledge, he heard Snape mutter something in those few seconds, but he was more focused on grabbing a hold of something, as his worn out shoes didn't have enough grip to be able to help break his fall.

Harry's face was one of sheer panic as he landed rather painfully on the cobblestone right in front of Snape.

"Why didn't you help him Professor?" Hermione questioned as she watched Ron help Harry up onto his feet.

"He had it perfectly under control, and needed to be taught a lesson." Severus said. "Didn't you Potter?"

Harry mouthed back a reply, but no sound came out, his face instantly turned a bright shade of red as he realised what Snape had done to him.

Severus muttered the counter curse. "Weasley, Granger, what do you think you're doing here?"

"Just looking around sir." Hermione replied guiltily.

"What are you doing here?" Harry responded back a little tense, as he dusted himself off.

"I've been looking for you as a matter of fact." Severus said. "We still have a lot of shops to get to in Muggle London."

"I'll see you two on the first day of school, and I'd suggest leaving this expanse, it isn't safe for children."

"Yes, Snape." Ron said.

Hermione nudged him in the arm, "I mean, yes sir." Ron muttered in annoyance.

Severus gave them a curt nod and took his leave as he grabbed Harry by his forearm and dragged him away quickly.

"Bye." Harry muttered.

They had eaten out at a Chinese restaurant in which Harry had been grateful as passing numerous restaurants had begun to make his stomach grumble.

They'd brought clothes, underwear, Muggle style books and other items that might have been of interest to Harry.

"Sir, can I get this?" Harry asked, feeling a little awkward as he presented him with a diary.

"Why would you want a diary?" Severus questioned, finding the idea slightly comical.

"It just feels like the right thing to do." Harry exclaimed, feeling a little anxious about getting it since the last time he'd written in one and whether Snape would allow him to because he felt like a liability for having to use Snape money to buy such a petty item.

"Very well." Severus said, picturing the boy writing his feelings down in a leather bound book was beyond him, but he knew that this could help him internally as a coping mechanism because he'd done the same as a child.

When Harry and Severus arrived home, the pair was exhausted. Severus began to put on dinner while Harry went upstairs to his bedroom. He'd gotten all his schooling supplies with the exception of potions, and had then gone to Muggle London in which Snape had brought him proper sized underwear, socks that didn't contain holes, shirts that didn't withhold blood stains, pants and chino's that weren't worn and comfortable shoes that wouldn't make him trip when he walked.

Harry put his new items on his bed and pulled out his leather bound diary and a quill and a pot of ink and wrote.

First entry:

I found a little comfort today, Snape is trying, he brought me proper clothes, and normal necessities, and it's more than what I've ever had. Also, I must admit that he is significantly better than the Dursleys, but I still don't feel totally safe. I cannot trust him yet, he is a Death Eater after all, and the last time I trusted a Death Eater he tried to kill me.

Snape wants me to tell him what happened with the Dursleys, but I cannot. I am ready yet, and I haven't even told my best friends, and to be honest I'm not even sure that I could tell them what happened. It hurts, but my pride is on the line, along with my courage.

Harry James Potter.

Harry then closed the diary and when down for dinner, Severus had made a stew which suited the summer rain that had begun to fall outside. Harry had eaten as much as he possibly could before he went up to his room and changed into his brand new flannelette pyjamas before hopping into bed.

When Harry woke up, he was shrouded in darkness as the moonlight was partially blanketed by the long black silk drapes. He reluctantly got up, his mind still preoccupied as he remembered the dream he'd been having about his mother who had been baking chocolate chip cookies, his father was sitting at the kitchen table stuffing his face with lemon and sugar coated pancakes when they'd noticed their teenage son they'd smiled and his father had called him a sleepy head. Harry had shrugged it off has he rubbed the sleep from his eyes, his stomach had grumbled loudly and his mother had told him to sit down and eat his pancakes.

Harry smiled as he remembered the vivid dream it wasn't that interesting, but to him it meant a lot, it held sentiment.

Harry jolted himself awake with a long piercing scream, breathless and soaked in a rivulet of his own sweat; the pain from his scar was becoming unbearable, he felt as though his mind was being turned into mush.

"Potter, what's going on?"

"I… I need… Occumency… The pain is unbearable… It's…. It's torture…." Harry blubbered.

This had escalated too far Voldemort was getting the upper hand and he knew it.

Severus signed, as he watched the boy suffer internally, this was going to be a long and tiresome battle and to be honest from what he had been witnessed to he wasn't sure if the boy was capable of surviving this.

He really needed those Occumeny lessons.

Thank you for all the reviews, favourites, follows and to anybody who bothered to read my story I really appreciate it.

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TBC…

A.L107