Chapter 5

A/N: PLEASE READ ALL OF THIS! I'm so sorry! I had to put the story on hold because a) my mum stole my Windows computer and I didn't know how to change the setting to one that could be uploaded on Fanfiction on an Apple, b) I had just started Sixth Form so I had the appropriate amount of work to do, c) I kind of ran out of ideas on what to write next and struggled to come up with a plan for the near future of the story, and d) my mum decided to go psycho on me. Again, I'm really sorry. But I'm back now, so no worries. Oh, and a warning. Some of the things in this chapter are a little (oh all right, VERY) unlikely, but hey, we are in the wonderful realm of fan fiction where anything is possible. Enjoy!

"You know, I'd say I told you so, but I doubt it would give me much satisfaction at this point."

Severus and Claire were sitting in the latter's kitchen, steaming mugs of tea standing in front of them. Following what he had witnessed, Severus had gone straight to Claire to describe what he had seen and develop a plan to rescue the seven-year-old boy who behaved like someone ten years older.

"Somehow, that reply does not surprise me," Severus said, rolling his eyes. "The question, however, remains: What are we going to do?"

"I don't know," Claire replied, eyes closed and eyebrows furrowed, "I'm trying to think."

"You're making thinking look painful," stated a new voice from the direction of the door. Claire and Severus both jumped and looked at the door. There, leaning casually against the doorframe, was Claire's pale, red-haired, grey-eyed younger counterpart.

"Helen? I didn't know you were coming back form Uni today!" Claire exclaimed, looking surprised at her sister's sudden appearance.

"Um, yeah you did," Helen replied, picking up a brown book with multicoloured polka dots from the counter close to the door and waving it at her sister. "I told you, what, a week ago? It's in your diary."

"Oh." Claire looked put out and slightly guilty. "Sorry. I completely forgot. My mind was occupied by teaching and things. And people," she added, looking at Severus pointedly, who was beginning to look a little guilty himself.

"It's fine. It's not like I've forgotten where we live. Nor am I particularly adverse to walking," Helen added thought fully, staring into space for a few seconds before snapping back to reality. "Anyway, it sounds to me like you two have a problem on your hands. Anything I can help with?" She sat down at the table, obviously not prepared to take 'no' for an answer. At a loss of what else to do, the other two quickly filled her in on what had happened; Harry, the suspected abuse, confirmation of abuse, and the problem of removing Harry form the Dursleys covertly.

Helen looked lost in thought for ten or so minutes, during which she opened her mouth several times, vaguely resembling a ginger fish, then closed it again. Then, quite unexpectedly, she smiled. Catching Claire and Severus's blank looks, her smile widened.

"You find yourselves in an odd situation. In fact, some might go so far as to say it's a Strange Situation." While Severus was still more confused by this, Claire gasped in comprehension.

"You mean–?"

"Yes."

"But doesn't that involve–?"

"–only in the original. If I could–"

"–then maybe you could–"

"–precisely. Then you'd have the chance to–"

"–yes! And they wouldn't even–"

"–no, not until they–"

"–brilliant! We'd even have enough time to–"

"Could you two share with the rest of the class, please?" Severus interrupted irritably. Granted, he was used to them neglecting to finish their sentences once the other understood and prone to thinking the same thing at the same time, but that did not make less annoying or confusing.

"We may or may not have the beginnings of a plan," Helen explained, grinning.

"Could you be any less specific?" Came the sarcastic retort.

"What Helen means is that we can get Harry out of Privet Drive by means of a psychological investigation," Claire explained, looking as though Christmas had come early. When Severus continued to look puzzled, Helen rolled her eyes.

"Really Severus, I seem to remember you intelligent. There is a psychological study called the Strange Situation, conducted by Mary Ainsworth in 1970 and basically involves a mother and her child going into a room accompanied by a stranger and the mother leaving the room for a few minutes at a time. The reaction of the child can then be observed and categorised to measure the quality of the attachment to the mother. The children in the original study were about a year old, which is not very useful to us, but if I can redesign the study so that older children can be used, or even alter it completely to assess to effect age has on personality types–"

"–Helen would not only get her summer assignment done, but also give us the chance to get Harry away from the Dursleys by involving them in the study and thereby getting them to leave Harry alone in the house," Claire finished.

Severus stared. The plan was well thought out and so unusual that it might just work. What had shocked him, however, was their resemblance to an irritating pair of twins in Ravenclaw he had the misfortune to teach.

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The doorbell of Number Four, Privet Drive rang through the lazy afternoon air. Petunia, who had been in the kitchen, washing up after lunch, hurried to open the door to a pale, red-haired stranger with a black clipboard and a broad smile fixed on her face.

"Hello. My name is Helen Chadwicke and I'm a student of Psychology at Regents' College University, London. I was wondering if you would like to take part in a study to investigate the effect of age on personality types?"

Petunia Dursley looked at the stranger – Helen Chadwicke, apparently – slightly suspiciously. She was sure that the name sounded familiar, and Chadwicke's face looked vaguely familiar, too. What was more, she had just been invited to partake in a psychological study. That phrase sparked the connotations of weird and abnormal. However, she did not wish to be rude, so she said, "What would that study involve, precisely?"

Helen's smile, if at all possible, widened. "Well, you and your child, if you have one, would allow me to accompany you to a location of your choosing. This could be a restaurant or a playground. I would merely sit or stand in a corner observing, and making notes on, your behavior. I doubt you would even notice my presence. If you do agree to take part, you have every right to withdraw from the investigation. You also have the right to ask me not to use the data I collected and your results will, of course, remain completely private and confidential unless you tell me otherwise. If you feel uncomfortable at any time during the investigation, you may tell me to stop."

Petunia was overwhelmed by the information that had just been rattled off at top speed. So her son, if she agreed, would be part of this too? But then, she reminded herself, she could always ask for the observations not to be used… But what would the neightbours think if they found out that her family was involved in a psychological study?

Helen seemed to notice her continued suspicion, and talked on. "James Logan, MP for this constituency, backs this project. He came into one of my lectures where I was giving a small presentation, and was apparently so impressed that he put me in touch with the British Psychological Society and told me that he would back any research I conducted. I even have a letter," she added, pausing to take a folded piece of paper out of the bag she was carrying, "signed by James Logan himself."

Petunia took the letter. Sure enough, there was James Logan's signature at the bottom. If the MP was in favour of this research, it seemed socially acceptable enough. Mrs. Next Door with the daughter she kept bragging about would be suitably jealous…

"I see no problem," Petunia said at last, though stiffly. "Just let me tell my son to get ready."

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Once the car had disappeared form sight (with Petunia behind the steering wheel), Severus and Claire walked to the front door, which the former then magically unlocked. Once inside, he made both himself and Claire visible once more. They had agreed that Helen would do the luring-the-Dursleys-out-of-the-house part, since neither one of the others knew as much about psychology as she did. It was also important (according to Helen) that Harry was familiar with at least one of them. That way, Harry knew he could trust them.

"Where did you say Harry went after Vernon hit him?" Claire whispered, looking around as though something might jump out at them; she felt a bit like a burglar.

"This cupboard here," Severus whispered back, pointing to the one beneath the stairs. They crept over to it and, with a wave of the wand, unlocked it. The door swung open to reveal the small, skinny form of Harry Potter. He had obviously been trying to sleep, but slowly turned around once the sound of the door to his cupboard unlocking registered with his brain.

"Miss – Miss Chadwicke?" he croaked in disbelief. His eyes flickered between her and Severus, who was closer, before turning his full attention to Severus. "Who are you?"

"This, Harry," Claire answered, smiling tentatively, "is Severus Snape. You'll be living with him from now on."

A/N: Ok, that was Chapter 5. Just so you know, I only have a rough idea of where I want this to go and no ideas for Chapter 6. Any suggestions would be welcome.