Truth and Consequences


Small edits done...looking for feedback of course. Now, there is bound to be OOCness because we have good!snape and good!lucius.


Chapter Two

Discussions and Memories


Dumbledore stood outside the door of Number 4 Private Drive. It was early afternoon, so the other boy would be gone and her husband would be at work. He gently tapped, and watched as the woman went wide eyed at him. She glanced outside to make sure he hadn't been seen and pulled him into the room.

"Headmaster," she said with a frown. "Is there a problem?"

"My dear, Petunia, it has been a long time, hasn't it?" he said conversationally.

She looked quite uncomfortable with him standing there. "What is it, I really don't want you to be here when Dudley or Vernon get home."

"Petunia, I have some concerns about Harry's wellbeing," he began.

She motioned him to the living room and sat down beside him. "I'm not sure what you mean. He's fed, given a place to sleep, what more do you expect for a child that was dumped on my doorstep?"

"I expect him to be treated properly," he said looking around the room to notice the amount of family photos, none of which had Harry. "He is your sister's child, Petunia. And you do not even have one photo to acknowledge him as a member of your family?"

She snorted. "I never wanted him to start with. I've done all I can. Vernon abhors everything he represents, and the fact that he's related by blood to me doesn't help my own situation with my husband very much."

"So you agree with the abuse he's received?" he asked, turning a blank face toward her.

She frowned. "So he gets smacked here or there. Vernon loses his temper easily. I can't keep it from happening, if you didn't want him getting slapped around, you wouldn't send him here."

"And he's underweight," he said matter of factly.

She shrugged. "Vernon doesn't want to waste too much money on a boy that doesn't offer anything in return. He does chores to pay his way."

"You make a child work to pay for room and board?" he asked, an eyebrow rising.

Petunia snorted. "I didn't ask for him."

Dumbledore didn't know what to say. "So you don't mind what else your husband does to him?"

"What do you mean? We've already discussed what happens. Vernon knocks him around a bit, and he probably doesn't get fed enough. I'm doing well enough to get him what food I can when Vernon is away," she said, sighing. "I don't want to see the boy starve, but he is such a thorn in Vernon's side, he looks just like James."

"So you don't know, then," he said sighing. "I was hoping as much, it would sadden me if you did, since you are Lily's sister."

She turned back from staring at the vase before her to the wizard on her couch. "Don't know what?"

"You do realize that he's been sexually abused, and from what the infirmary tells me, for quite some time," he said finally.

Petunia stopped and blinked. "What?"

"He came to school this year with a bad infection from a tear that hadn't healed, and is in the infirmary until it clears up. And I've been assured that there is a great deal of scarring and tissue damage to indicate that he's been assaulted many times over the years," he informed her.

She sat and stared at her hands. "Vernon wouldn't…he's cruel and hates the boy…but he wouldn't…"

The door opened and Dudley came sauntering into the room, stopping when he saw his mother and the robed man beside her.

"What's this?" he asked.

"Dudley, did you know?" she asked, not lifting her head up.

Dudley froze, noting the fact she used no pet names. He shook his head.

"Did you know what your father did to Harry?" she said quietly.

The fat boy wasn't sure how to respond, and realized there was only one thing she could be talking about, the only thing he was forbidden by his father to talk about. "I…I just heard things through the wall," he said suddenly, as though he wasn't sure if the words were right. "When I asked him, he said it was nothing, and when I asked dad he said I wasn't to talk about it to anyone else, whatever I heard. I mean, I don't know what, just things, and I knew he went in there at night after you were in bed because I heard the door…I thought it was just to beat him with the belt, I knew about that…"

Dumbledore nodded and stood. "I'll be returning with paperwork for you to sign, Petunia. The boy is not staying here. What you do with the knowledge that your husband is a child molester and a rapist, is up to you."

With that, he disappeared with a pop, appearing outside the wards of Hogwarts. He really needed a walk to clear his head after that. He sighed deeply and headed back to his office.

-Truth and Consequences-

Harry woke to find Snape sitting beside him reading a book. He turned and glared at the potion master.

"Harry, I'm sorry about putting you to sleep like that," he said without looking up from his book. "But you were going into a panic attack, and it was quite obvious you were feverish. Madam Pomfrey needed to see what was wrong with you."

Harry had nothing to say, he just sighed. "I thought so," he said softly. "What was it this time?"

Snape looked over at him at the resigned tone. "You knew something was wrong?"

He saw no reason to cover anymore; it wasn't like Snape didn't know. "The pain didn't go away this time," he said, biting the side of his cheek. "And I kept waking up sweaty. I guess it was inevitable. I don't know if I could have even lasted another week since I wasn't shaking it off. It would have been obvious if I passed out or something in class."

"Are you going to tell me about what's happening? Or would you rather me see for myself?" he asked, the book still held up, but his focus on the boy.

Harry swallowed. "I…don't know. I never thought anyone would even listen to me or believe me," he said softly, turning away. "I don't want anyone to know anyway. And now everyone knows."

"Harry, not everyone knows. The class has been threatened on pain of eternal detention with me if they utter a word of what they heard."

"Why?" he said, turning toward Snape. "Why are you being so nice all of a sudden? You hate me."

Snape blinked and sat the book down beside him. "Harry, I know it seems that way, but I have my reasons. But this has shown me that there are perhaps things I am not aware of going on in your world that need to be addressed."

Harry nodded, and realized the pain in his abdomen was gone. "What did you see anyway?"

Snape sighed. "Madam Pomfrey and I just recorded the state you were in, scars and bruises you still have and such, then she used a thorough diagnostic spell to find out what was going on. She found the infection, and you're being treated for it, and have been given a pain potion until it is healed up. There was some rather serious damage, Harry. She wasn't sure how you were able to function normally."

"I'm used to it," he said softly, and Snape felt a pang in his previously thought of dead heart. No kid his age should be used to pain like that.

"Do you want to have your guardianship signed over to someone else?" Snape asked with a sigh, assuming that the answer would be yes.

Harry turned to him. "I can do that?"

"Well, of course, with the approval of the Ministry, but I have contacts that might be able to help," Snape said, considering that Lucius might be willing to help him with this. He knew that he was also on the side of the Light in this war, if deeply undercover.

Just then, Dumbledore entered the room and smiled at the scowl he received from Snape and the wide eyed glance from Harry.

"I've returned from Privet," he said, looking at Snape. "I am of the opinion that your aunt was unaware of what was happening?" he asked Harry.

Harry had paled, but he shook his head. Dumbledore nodded and gestured for Snape to come with him. Harry curled up on his side and fell back asleep, exhausted already for some reason. Snape followed Dumbledore to his office and they sat down. Snape crossed his legs and stared at the headmaster.

"Severus, believe it or not, I'm doing what I can. I already contacted the Ministry, but they are insistent that he not be removed from the blood wards, claiming there isn't enough evidence to force the removal. They are hiding something from us, Severus, and I don't know what to think or who to trust in the Ministry," he said with a deep sigh. "I don't want him going back there, either."

"The ministry refuses to acknowledge that you know who is not really dead, why do they care where Harry is kept?" Snape asked, eyes narrowing in suspicion.

Dumbledore sighed. "They claim that it is just the best option, in case someone comes for him and tries to turn him into the next Voldemort. They don't want the Death Eaters that still remain getting their hands on him."

Snape sighed, wondering what his next recourse would be. "I'll contact Lucius; he'll have some insight, and may be able to help me with the next step."

"Does Lucius know what has happened?" the headmaster asked.

"Draco does, he was in class, but he hasn't informed his father of what happened. I'll floo this evening to the manor and talk with him in person," he said, standing, robes billowing around him.

-Truth and Consequences-

When Harry next awoke, he felt another presence and turned over to find that Draco Malfoy, of all people was sitting beside the bed reading his potion text book. He looked up as Harry turned over.

"What are you doing here, Malfoy?" he asked, reaching for his glasses. "Come to gloat?"

To his surprise, Draco sighed and shook his head. "No, Potter, I didn't come to gloat. I came to see how you were, okay?"

Harry put on his glasses and sat up; grimacing as he realized the pain potion had worn off. Damn, it hurt after you got used to not hurting for a while. He looked up to see Pomfrey coming in and handing him a potion.

"Here, dear, I didn't want to wake you up for it," she said gently.

Harry looked at it and then back. "I really don't need it, I'm okay…"

"You do need it, take it before I spell it into you," she said, lowering her eyes on it. Harry started to argue then drank it, making a face. She handed him another, he frowned and looked up at her.

"Harry, you are underweight and malnourished by a lot, it is a nutrient potion, drink it too," she instructed. He made a worse face at that one, and she handed him a glass of water. "I know it isn't tasty, but you need to gain almost ten pounds, hon."

Harry frowned, realizing that he'd lost a lot over the summer. It was usually something no one noticed because he hid it and after a month or two of eating in the great hall, he would gain a healthy weight. He noticed that Draco was still sitting there.

"Why are you still here, Malfoy?" he asked, sliding back down into the bed with a sigh.

"Just thought you might want company, Potter," he said. "I brought you some of your assignments from potions and the others we share. Granger and Weasley have the rest."

He looked at the blond and nodded. "Thanks, Madam Pomfrey won't let me leave for a couple more days, she said."

"What was wrong, anyway?" Draco asked, hoping that the raven wouldn't clam up on him.

Harry shook his head. "Infection in wound, it's going away now. Shoulda known when it didn't seem to get better over the time I was with the Weasleys I should have said something but then everyone would have figured out everything I didn't want anyone to know," he said, looking away from Draco.

"Why didn't you want anyone to know?" Draco pressed.

Harry quirked an annoyed eyebrow. "Would you want someone else to know something like that? I mean, I've got enough to deal with here with Voldemort after me, and trying to deal with classes, and I just like to forget the summers while I'm here. I don't get much peace here, with all the stupid boy who lived crap, and people randomly talking to me for no other reason than I'm Harry Potter. I could do without that."

Draco now took a turn to look amused at him. "So you don't like all the fame, huh?"

"Of course not!" he said. "I just want people to leave me alone at let me be me, not some stupid destiny."

Draco was honestly surprised. He thought that for sure he would revel in the fame that was laved onto him every day. "So, want to talk to me about what happened, anyway?" He had no idea why, but he suddenly wanted to know.

Harry, was taken about by Draco's interest. And he was too tired right now to really argue or entertain suspicion. A part of him screamed to shut up, that this was Draco Malfoy, and he should talk to his friends, not him. But then another part of him was breaking apart, and needed to release the blockade before the whole dam burst leaving him stripped and bereft, and truly unable to heal.

"They hate magic," he said, surprising Draco by actually saying something. "As long as I can remember, it was how freakish I was when I made something happen and didn't know why. And…all I wanted was to be treated normal, you know? I wanted to be normal, like Dudley, so that I could sit at the table and eat with them, because if I wasn't such a freak, then I could have at least eaten the food I made for them."

"They didn't let you eat with them?" Draco asked, honestly surprised, but then remembered that he was severely underweight right now. "And you cooked for them?"

Harry was starting to get sleepy again, and he wondered what that medi-witch had put into that potion. "I had to pay my way, he said. I had to pay for them taking me in when no one else would deal with such a freak. I think I was three when I started doing chores, dishes, cleaning the floors, weeding the garden. By the time I was seven I was doing most the cooking and cleaning in the house unless I was locked in my cupboard…"

"Cupboard?" Draco asked, leaning forward now.

"My room, I guess, I didn't have a room until I started Hogwarts, even my letter came addressed to the cupboard under the stairs," he said, snorting. "So obviously, someone knew I was sleeping in a cupboard."

Draco didn't know what to say. Seriously, how could someone do something like that? It made his heart ache, and he was very surprised by that fact. And he just talked about it like it was nothing. His rival, his pampered and pompous rival, was more downtrodden and treated worse than a house elf.

"But I don't see how," he said softly. "How did they not do something, I mean, you're a celebrity in the wizarding world, the one that took out you know who as a freaking baby? I mean, I, we, always thought you'd be raised to know that, and be a pompous ass."

Harry smiled. "I didn't even know what a wizard was until Hagrid found me, Malfoy. I was an annoying freak that wasn't supposed to talk, and had to hide when anyone came over to visit. My cousin loved to play 'Harry Hunting' where I'd get to run from school while they chased me and then if I was lucky, I didn't get beat up."

Draco nodded, then sighed. "I've gotta go to class, I'm sure Granger and Weasel will be by sometime, okay? I'll see you later," he said, waving.

Harry looked after him, extremely confused, but felt that there maybe was a little bit of a sleeping potion in that she'd given him because he fell into a sleep again.

-Truth and Consequences-

"Severus, what are you doing here?" Lucius Malfoy said as the potion master stepped from the fireplace.

"I need some help with the Ministry," Snape said with a sigh.

Lucius handed his oldest friend a drink. "What in the world for?"

Snape sighed and drank the entire thing at once, gaining a confused look from the blonde. "I need to get guardianship for a student, and they aren't going to want to give it to me."

"Why in the world would you need that?" he said, leading the dark haired man into the sitting room and sat down on the large divan beside Snape.

"Well, I've taken an interest in Harry Potter's well-being," he said, sighing.

"What?" Lucius said, blinking. "The boy who lived? Isn't he being cared for by Lily's sister?"

Snape nodded. "Yes, but it seems that his uncle…" he paused. "His uncle has been taking advantage of the boy."

The blond ran a hand through his hair. "What does that even mean? You mean, in an inappropriate way?"

"What other way is there to take advantage of a child his age? He's only just turned fourteen, same as Draco. And he's been severely abused for many years," Snape said, rubbing his temples. "I want to remove him, and so does Dumbledore, but the Ministry is blocking us at every turn, claiming that only the blood wards can protect him from the remaining death eaters," he said, sighing.

Lucius nodded. "I'll see what I can do, and what I can find out, but it may take some time. At least he's safe at Hogwarts," he said, shrugging at him. Snape thanked him and flooed back to his rooms and sat thoughtfully until there was a knock at his door.

"What?" he called, more than a little irritation in his voice.

Draco entered the room slowly, wanting to gauge his godfather's mood before he spoke. Snape rolled his eyes. "Come in, what is it, Draco?"

"Um, I just was wondering if there was anything yet from father," he said, looking around.

Snape nodded. "I just visited with your father, he's looking into the Ministry for me, and hopefully we'll at least have some temporary papers by the end of the week. But Harry will have to go with us to get them signed."

Draco frowned. "Why? Why does he have to ever go back there?"

"The papers have to be signed by Harry, his guardians, and the new guardian at the same time, and in presence of each other, otherwise the magical binding won't dissolve linking him to the Dursleys. It can't be helped."

"He's not going to like that," Draco said. "He actually was talking to me, though, and just what he told me, I can't imagine. Why did we all believe him to be some sort of spoiled brat?"

Snape sighed. "Blame the ministry," he muttered. In fact, he was inclined to blame the ministry for everything at this moment. "He seems to be nothing like we were told."

-Truth and Consequences-

"Harry!" Ron said, coming into the infirmary. "How are ya, mate?"

Harry smiled, looking up as he and Hermione came and sat down beside him. "I'll be happier when she lets me leave…"

Hermione smiled, and Harry could see the unspoken questions in both of their eyes. "Why didn't you tell us at least?" she asked. Leave it to Hermione to get to the point.

Harry sighed and stared at his hands. "I didn't want any more attention than I already have. And I didn't want anyone to know. I…I was sure you wouldn't want to hang around me anymore if you knew."

Ron and Hermione exchanged glances. "Why in the world not, Harry?" Ron asked.

Harry looked up with tears collecting as he fought them desperately. "Who would want to be around me after what I did?"

"What you did? You didn't do anything, Harry," Hermione said, squeezing his hands. "That monstrous uncle did."

"Mr. Potter, may I speak with you?" Snape's voice came from the doorway. He swallowed and nodded.

"I'll talk to you later, guys," he said with a nod. Both went ahead and left, watching him until they were out the door.

Snape sat down beside him and sighed. "If you aren't willing to testify before the Ministry, I need to take them first hand memories. Then, we can sign you away from them to another guardian."

Harry shook his head. "I don't want to talk in front of the Ministry."

Snape had assumed as much. "Then will you allow me to retrieve a few and take them in? It won't hurt, but you will see what I am seeing."

Harry bit his lip and nodded. "If I do this, then I don't have to go back? Ever?"

Snape smiled, actually smiled, at Harry. "It does. They want undeniable proof, and this is one of the best ways. Honestly, if you were to go to the Ministry, they would likely do this in front of the courtroom anyway. This way I can stand in your stead, if you want me to."

Harry nodded. "I'd rather have you rooting around in my memories than someone else," he said softly.

Snape nodded. "We can wait," he said.

"No, let's get this over with. I want this done," he said, shaking his head.

"Okay, here's a calming draught, take this first. I'm going to retrieve several memories, so if there is something you think I should see, push the memory to the front of your mind. Things that will make sure they understand how mistreated you were," he said, and Harry nodded, closing his eyes. Snape was amazed the boy was trusting him this much.

The memories stung, he realized as he reached for one that was shoved his direction, obviously something that Harry wanted him to take.

"Freak, get out here!" a voice screamed that sent a shiver of terror through the small body.

He was perhaps six, and thin as a rail, as he crawled from the now unlocked cupboard. He stared up at the massive man above him. "Yes, uncle?" he said quietly.

"Did you break a plate when you did the dishes?" he snarled.

Harry nodded. "Yes, uncle, but I cleaned it…"

His words were interrupted by a slap to the face. "And what happens when you break dishes?"

Harry swallowed. "I get punished to pay for it because plates aren't free," he said softly.

An hour later, he lay in his cupboard, nursing sore ribs and a split lip that was still bleeding. Outside he heard his aunt.

"Don't you think you were a little hard on the boy, Vernon?"

"Gotta teach 'im early to obey and pay his way, nothing can let slide. Don't let him out until Sunday, he doesn't get to eat before then."

Harry cried from the hunger until late that night the door opened and he turned his bleary eyes up to see his Aunt. "Here, Harry," she said, handing him some crackers and a cup of water. "Don't tell him I gave it to you, okay?" Harry nodded and ate quickly handing the cup back to his aunt.

"Thank you," he whispered. She nodded and the door was latched again.

Snape spun out of the memory and looked for another one. He needed proof of the assaults, so he had to keep going.

"Be safe," Vernon said as the door closed. Then he opened the cupboard. "Get out, now, boy," he said.

A seven year old Harry scrambled out, and was grabbed by the collar. He was drug, tripping to the sitting room where Vernon pulled him onto his lap. Harry had no idea what to think, he'd never sat on someone's lap before that he remembered. He sat there a moment but began to squirm, feeling something poke at him.

"Uncle Vernon…what is that?" he said, squirming away from the hardness he was sitting on.

"I'll show you, boy," he said, and Harry was amazed at the strange thing let from his pants, red and leaking liquid. It most certainly didn't look like his own boy parts.

"Touch," he commanded, and Harry didn't know what to do but what he was told. He jumped when he felt his uncle slide a hand down the back of his own pants.

"Be still, boy, or I'll leave you in the cupboard until they get back next week, and forget to feed and water ya," he growled.

Harry nodded, extremely uncomfortable as he was touched and fondled by the large hand. Tears fell from his sparkling green eyes because he knew how wrong it was. But what could he do? He didn't want to spend a week in the cupboard without food and water. He squeaked as a finger forced itself where it definitely was not supposed to be, but he bit his lip and continued to do what he was shown to do by his uncle's other hand that covered his as he stroked the large thing in front of him until liquid shot out of it and shocked Harry into leaning backward painfully into the hand that was playing with him.

"Get to your cupboard. And if you tell anyone, I'll make sure you can't talk anymore," he said, shoving Harry from his lap.

Snape was disgusted, but this is the kind of memory that would keep Harry away from the monster. He hated to go further, but he needed another memory. One that would pin his uncle for good. He dismissed several that Harry pushed his way, until he found one that he was trying to keep Snape from. He hated to retrieve one he was wanting so much to hide, but he knew that it was what was going to keep him safe. Finally, Harry pulled away and let Snape into the memory.

Harry was ten years old, and his aunt and cousin were gone for the day shopping. Harry was curled into the corner of the cupboard. School was out for summer, so he knew what would be coming. Uncle Vernon loved to make Harry suffer in the summer when no one could question the bruises. He was shivering because last night he'd accidently exploded a vase without being anywhere near it and he knew that his uncle was angry at him. He hoped he forgot.

The door banged open and Harry stared up at the furious, red face. "You think I forgot what you did last night, freak? If you think the beating I gave you then was all, you are sorely mistaken," he said, grabbing him by the arm and hauling him out.

"Please, Uncle Vernon, I didn't mean to do it! It just happened when Dudley was teasing me, I got mad and it…" his please were cut off when he was cuffed in the mouth as he was drug upstairs.

Harry started to panic. Where were they going? They never went upstairs. His uncle beat him with the belt in the kitchen usually, and he'd never actually been upstairs to the rooms there. There was a snort and the door opened and Harry found himself tossed onto a large bed. He looked around, and back up to his uncle who was grinning at him. Harry swallowed and heard a click, and realized his uncle was recording this.

"Uncle, what is that?" he said, glancing at the camera.

"Just something to remember this by after you're long gone, boy," he said and started to strip Harry of his clothes.

Harry gasped, and tried to crawl away, but his hands were grabbed and wrapped with a thick rope and tied to the head of the bed. He gasped as his uncle flipped him to his belly.

"What are you doing?" he cried, feeling the rough fingers push into him. "Stop! That hurts!" he said, trying to pull away.

"Oh I'll stop, when I'm done," he said low, and pulled his fingers away. For a moment Harry thought that surely this was over. He was wrong though, as felt something larger and harder.

He screamed as burning, hot pain ripped through him, and his arms quivered, his face dropping into the bed. He felt something tear inside him, and felt blood rush to fill him, and ease the pain of his uncle's thing inside him. What was he doing this for? Why? He cried into the bed until his uncle released that white fluid inside him and it burned and stung so much he yelped again. He pulled away and Harry fell over, blood and other stuff coating the bed and his legs. He hiccupped and swallowed hard as his wrists were free, but he didn't move, he hurt so much.

"Get up, get out and go to your cupboard," his uncle said as Harry stood, falling to his knees several times, and nearly falling down the steps, until he collapsed into his cupboard, sobbing.

Snape pulled away and held the three collected vials. Harry was crying by now, and Snape sat beside him, pulling him against him.

"That was very brave, Harry. Very brave. I know it was hard, but you did well. I'll be back by tomorrow with the papers we need from the Ministry, then we won't have to worry anymore about those awful people. And we may be able to get the Muggle authorities on him. Do you know where he kept that tape you saw him make, Harry?" Snape said, rubbing a hand up and down the boy's arm.

"Tapes," he said thickly, making Snape shiver. "He…he made one every time…" he whispered. "He kept them in a locked box on the shelf in the closet…"

Snape grabbed a sleeping draught and handed it to the shivering boy. "Do you want to go to sleep, it has gotten late," he said softly. Harry nodded and drank it. Before long, he'd fallen asleep against the potion master. He sighed and laid him down. He headed to his rooms to change clothes and left to find Draco standing at the doorway.

"I want to go with you," he said. "When you take Harry to sign those papers, I want to go with you."

Snape frowned, confused by his request and seemingly out of character act of caring but nodded. "If Mr. Potter will allow you to come, you may. Your father is already going to go with me to ensure they cooperate and as a Ministry witness. Assuming that these memories are enough evidence."

He turned and went into the other room to floo to Malfoy manor once more. He saw that Lucius was waiting for him patiently.

"Here, ensure they are returned once they are viewed. No one more than necessary needs to see this," Snape said, handing the three memories to him.

"I will get back to you as soon as I hear," he assured, and put them away in a locked box on his desk.

Snape left, and Lucius watched with interest. Could it be that there was some compassion left in the bitter potion master? Could this whole thing with the Potter boy help him?

-Truth and Consequences-

Harry was eating dinner when Snape came in the next evening bracketed by the elder and younger Malfoys. He looked up with curiosity.

"Harry, we've got the papers we needed from the Ministry. Now we are left with your guardianship," he said nodding at him.

Harry nodded; finishing his food quickly and downing the awful nutritional potion that made him want to gag. "I guess Sirius is out of the question even though he's already my guardian…"

Snape fought the urge to groan. "Technically, he's on the run, Harry, and he's not able to do this. Otherwise, you'd already be there. However, I would be willing to take over for now until you've had time to think over it more. You'll be at Hogwarts for the year anyway, so it won't matter. If you prefer some other guardian once summer gets here, you'll be allowed to change it."

Harry frowned. "You'd be willing to do that, Professor?" he asked, wide eyed.

"I would, Harry, but we have to go have them sign off on the papers, and you have to go there as well," Snape said.

All three saw the terror cross his face for a moment and he swallowed and nodded. Draco smiled at him. "If you want, father and Uncle Severus said I could come with you."

Harry nodded. "That would be good," he said, staring at his hands.

Snape glanced at the Malfoys. "Well, get yourself dressed, and we'll apparate there shortly and get this completed."

Harry did as he was asked, and followed the group silently outside the school wards. Snape held onto him as Lucius took his son in a similar fashion. Harry never did well with side by side apparition and always ended up nearly falling. He stared across at the house that had dwelled in his nightmares since he could remember, and he found himself desperately grasping at Snape's hand. It was dark evening already as the group moved together across the street. To Harry's surprise, he felt his other hand taken by Draco, and he looked to see the other boy looking at him with concern, not disdain. Snape let go of his hand to knock on the door.

Petunia opened the door and her eyes went wide to see Snape and another man who was obviously a wizard with her nephew and another boy his age.

"You were told to expect someone with paperwork," Snape said sternly.

"I didn't expect it to be you," she said.

"Who's at the door?" a gruff voice came from inside. Petunia stepped aside and allowed the four to enter. Harry's hand tightened even more on Draco's.

The fat whale of a man glared at them. "What are you doing here? Don't expect me to take the freak during his school year. Was he expelled from your freak school?" he sneered.

Now Draco squeezed Harry's hand as a shiver passed through the raven haired boy. "Harry is not a freak, you fat fuck," Draco snarled.

For once, Draco wasn't reprimanded by his father for his language. The fat man glared at the blond boy. "You another freak like him? What, you a queer now, freak?" Vernon asked, staring at Harry who stared wide eyed. "No surprise, freak, since you liked every moment of our time together."

Petunia, who had left the room to get tea entered again and glanced between them. Harry was shaking visibly now. She set the tray down and offered tea and showed them to the sitting room. Harry stood back behind the couches, still clutching Draco for some much needed support as the two men sat and glared back at Vernon.

Snape laid the papers on the coffee table. "Sign here, each of you, and then you don't have to worry about Harry again."

Petunia grabbed the pen and signed her name at the bottom and handed the pen to Vernon. "I'm not signing this. What is it?"

"You are giving up guardianship for Harry. Professor Snape is taking over from here out. This home has been deemed unsafe by the Ministry of Magic, and I am here to execute this under their order," Lucius said calmly.

"Like hell. I'm not signing," he said. "This home isn't unsafe."

"Vernon, please," Petunia whispered.

Snape nodded, and stood. He disappeared with a pop, then reappeared a moment later, holding an unlocked lockbox. He held up one tape in a gloved hand. "It seems that you need to sign those papers, Mr. Dursley."

The fat man paled and he quickly signed, followed by Snape. Harry moved over to sign them as quickly as he could. Snape held up the box and then it disappeared. He grabbed Harry and disappeared. Lucius stood up slowly, pulling his son to him.

"Mr. Dursley, I suggest you put your affairs in order. That box has been delivered to the local police."

With that, he too disappeared.