The Rise of a Snape

Caring

            Harry trudged behind Snape along the narrow pavement path- it was a muggy, grey day and the fog drifted down upon the streets of London, and he found himself shivering slightly in Dudley's hand-me-downs.

Both were silent for a change- Snape walked briskly, midnight cloak swishing behind him. Harry struggled to keep up with Snape's fast strides.

Snape's small house that Harry had moved into a week ago was disappearing from view.

Harry couldn't help but remember when he had first come to the house on Spinner's End- he hadn't thought about living with Snape- he had always imagined Snape as the 'dweller of the dungeons'. He didn't think about him having an actual house.

It was damp, small, and cramped- the outside made of faded grey bricks and books stacked in the front room. 

He remembered being surprised to find a room waiting for him- in the back of the hall, and small, but much better-taken care of than the one that the Dursleys had given him.

It had faded dark blue bed sheets and a heather grey comforter, and its small window looked out upon the other dilapidated brick houses. There was a dusty dresser and bookshelf with old creaky wooden floors, but it was oddly comforting.

It was more comforting than the rest of the house, though; the window let in more light- it was less bland and tasteless than his old room.

"Here." Snape stated shortly, jerking him out of his thoughts- he was holding out his arm and looking at him pointedly.

They were standing at the end of the abandoned road, not a person in sight. Snape cleared his throat slightly, a pinched look on his face.

"Huh?" Harry said blankly.

Snape looked away in annoyance and let out a breathe through his teeth.

"Have you ever done side-along apparition?" Snape asked finally, but not in a condemning way."

"Uh- no?" Harry replied, mind-boggled.

"Take my arm." Snape said, leaving no room for argument.

"Why-" Harry started, still confused.

"Just take it," Snape snapped, now slightly irritated, "It'll take too long to explain."

Sensing his annoyance, Harry hesitantly took his arm and they disappeared into thin air leaving nothing but the morning light.

It was an utterly strange sensation, and with no warning- he found himself fighting an invisible captor, still forced to grasp onto Snape's arm- everything had gone black and there was a strange pressure on his eardrums-

Then, quite suddenly, they were standing in the middle of Diagon Alley.