The Journey

7. No 4 Privet Drive

Snape and Harry had apparated just outside of Little Whinging, and decided to walk the rest of the way to the Dursleys.  They had discussed after breakfast what was going to happen, and who would be the first to speak, and so on.  Snape had insisted that it should be him, but Harry was adamant.  Extremely grateful that his potions master was with him, yet he didn't want him to witness everything.  Yes he could be there for him, but in no way did he want the man to know every sordid detail, if he didn't already.

The walk was casual, with Harry feeling more apprehensive as they got closer to Privet Drive.  He suggested that they stop for lunch, because facing the muggles on an empty stomach was paramount to suicide.  Snape agreed, and Harry being grateful for the break, said he would pay for lunch.  They stopped at a bistro and ordered juice and hamburgers.  A meal fit for a king, Harry thought.  He remembered the first time he had tasted a hamburger.  It was when he was six years old.  He had been let out of his cupboard that day, but had received no breakfast.  He went for a walk and their neighbor was eating one in his yard.  When he saw Harry staring, he asked if he would like a taste.

Harry said yes please and it was absolute heaven.  Food was a luxury to him, and he thanked the neighbor and said he had to get back home.  He never did tell his aunt about that day, just as well, he probably would have received a beating because she would have made it sound like he was begging, when he wasn't.

Harry was a big bloke.  And food kept him going.  His energy levels went up and the sustenance he needed was quite huge.  He finished his hamburger and juice, and watched as Snape battled to finish his food.  "Anything funny Potter?", he asked.

Harry smiled and said nothing.  "You eat slowly Professor", he said.  "|When I was younger, I never had the luxury of eating slowly, it just seems strange to me.  Even Ron wolfs his food down, and he has an endless supply of it", he said.

Snape looked at him.  He knew of all the horrors Potter had been through, but he wasn't sure if Harry was aware of the fact.  "I like to savor the taste, I am not a barbarian Potter", he replied.  Harry laughed out loud at his answer.  "No Sir, you are not", he said.  "A Sophisticated Slytherin.  Reminds me of Draco", came the reply.

Since when did Potter refer to him as Draco.  Oh he was definitely going to show him this memory, Draco would revel in it.  "Let's go, shall we?  Half the day is gone already", said Snape.  Harry nodded his agreement, and after paying for their food, carried on with their walk.  It was tedious at times, for which both men were thankful.  They knew that their fair share of an emotional roller coaster was going to happen soon.  Best enjoy the peace and quiet while they can.

Before too long, they were at the entrance to Privet Drive.  Harry had stopped walking and took in his surroundings.  Everything was still the same.  All residents had the same cars, the same house, the same gardens.  Except for one.  There were still bars on the windows at No 4, and Harry had to blink back the tears as everything from second year came rushing back to him.  Snape felt the change in Harry, and lightly put his hand on Harry's elbow.  "Let's get this over with", he stated.

"Just give me a sec", he begged.  "Please".  Snape nodded and stood to wait for the emotions to pass.  After a while, they walked a little further, and went to sit down on the short brick wall across the Drive.  Harry was shaking, and he wasn't sure if it was from fear or anxiety, or both, but he hated it. He hated this feeling of having to come here and collect something that should have been given to him ages ago.  He hated that he had to face them again.  He hated showing his weakness.

"Breathe Potter", said Snape sternly.

Taking heavy breaths, he nodded his head, not trusting his voice.  Snape placed a hand on his back, and kept repeating the words 'Just breathe' to him.  Snape showing Harry comfort at a time like this was something that he was never going to forget.  When his breathing became even, dusk had settled in.  They had been sitting on the wall for over two hours.  Knowing that he couldn't put it off any longer, he took a deep breath and said in a hoarse voice, "Thank you Professor".

Snape nodded and asked if he should come inside with him, to which Harry replied, "Only if you want to Professor".  Snape was in two minds.  He really wanted to so that he could see first hand what Potter had gone through, but on the other hand, did he really want that ingrained into his mind, knowing that he could have helped him if he had known about it.  He was unsure of what to do, when Harry simply stated, "You came all this way so I think you have a right to know".

And so it was that when Harry approached the door of No 4 Privet Drive, that Professor Snape was by his side, still with his hand at his elbow in a show of support.  Ringing the doorbell with a shaky hand, Harry waited for it to open.  It seemed like hours had passed since he had rang the doorbell, as his head was hit with memories that he had suppressed for so long, like how he would hide away in the garden from Dudley who wanted to give him another beating.  Or how he would mow the lawn on a hot day and not receive a glass of water or even a thank you.  Or how he had sat on a bench and had seen big eyes coming from the hedge which turned out to be Dobby.  Dobby who had come to warn him about danger at Hogwarts.  Or how the Weasleys had saved him that very same year.  Everything came rushing back to him, and he was so shaken and overwhelmed, he stumbled and let out a sob.

"Potter, hold it together dammit", sneered Snape, not yet wanting to grasp the enormity of what he had endured.  But it wasn't hours, it wasn't even minutes.  Before they knew what was happening, the front door opened, and there stood a thin woman with a long neck, a face that both Snape and Harry knew all too well.  It was the face of Petunia Dursley.

Snape just looked at the woman, who when she was young had called him a freak.  She had called her own sister a freak and it seemed Harry too.  His face was passive, waiting for her to invite them in.  Her look was one of part shame perhaps, and one of defiance.  If she thought that she was going to win this round, she certainly had another thing coming.