Packing the few things he needed, Severus left his home that very night--or, rather, morning--, just as the sun cast long shadows of the houses in a dim yellow light. It was humid, making his stringy hair hang in thick locks about his shoulders. Securing the house carefully, closing every window, and leaving the house in an even worse state of disarray, Snape picked up the two battered suitcases and turned, sharply, in place.

An instant later, a block from the leaky cauldron, Snape re-appeared. Diagon Alley was just starting to come to life, and he quickly made himself one of the crowd by walking briskly down the alleyway. He threw one or two glances over his shoulder, out of habit, his cold eyes darting about. He stepped into the Leaky Cauldron and, without hesitation, approached the counter. The man behind the counter regognized the harsh-faced man and quickly grabbed a key off of one of the many hooks on the wall behind him. He even took the courtesy of walking him to his room and unlocking the door.

When asked how long he would require the room, Snape replied with "A week or so," and then was left alone. Not even bothering to unpack his bags, he sat on the dusty bed in silence, staring down at the floorboards. His stupid brother... He knew it would do no good to refuse to accept responibility--as usual, responsibility was thrust upon him, and it would do no good to run from it. His promises and loyalty to Dumbledore ensured he couldn't flee, and even if he could, he would be found. He was surprised that, even now, he wasn't being interrupted. It bothered him. Being left alone with his thoughts was, honestly, uncomfortable. He had a week at best to form a plan. If he had any idea how to find his brother--that is, any way that didn't ensure he would be killed when found--he would.

Standing in front of the one window, he looked down into the Alley, watching the people come and go, conducting normal business, leading normal lives, and encountering normal pitfalls. He envied, yet dispised them.

And so Severus spent his week locked away in that room, fervently trying to think, but the only sure plan he could come up with was the one he was trying to avoid. But he had no choice. So Snape paid for the room and left the Leaky Cauldron, heading for Hogwarts, where he knew that, with only a few weeks until start-of-term, Dumbledore would be.