Chapter 2 - A new guest

When the sun rises the following morning, the bedroom is quiet and undisturbed. The Potions Master wakes up and mumbles about sleeping in an armchair. He stands up to work out the kinks in his back and looks towards the bed where his lover and their young guest are still asleep. Severus decides for a long and hot shower before cooking breakfast. The appetising smell wakes up the blond who first checks his dark-haired bedmate - the boy is still breathing. Lucius gets out of bed discretely and takes a pleasant shower as warm water eases his aching body. He gets dressed with black slacks and a grey turtleneck.

It's lucky that Severus has taken some of their clothes. Lucius checks once more on the sleeping boy before going down to the kitchen. He takes his seat at the table, pour himself a large cup of tea and levitates a plate of scrambled eggs right up to him. The blond is eating heartily, while the unobtrusive Potions Master glances at him.

"Lucius ?"

"Yes ?" The blond says between two mouthfuls.

"I'd like you to contact Remus Lupin today. We can't wait any longer. Tomorrow or the day after, we'll be tracked already both by the Aurors and the Death Eaters."

"I'm going right now. I hope Lupin'll let me speak before cursing me six ways to Sunday."

"Show him this ring, he'll listen. This is the coat of arms of the Potter family and it belongs to Harry so he'll identify it easily. Lupin lives in Hogsmeade where he has bought a small house, previously owned by the Pilgrim family."

"Yes, I know exactly where it is."

Lucius grabs the ring and gets out of the house to apparate to Lupin's cottage. The house is luckily on the outskirts of the town, because it's risky for a famous figure like Lucius Malfoy to stroll about in Hogsmeade. He is still hunted by Aurors. The blond man knocks politely on the door and waits. He knows Lupin is careful and cautious. After the door opens and he steps forwards, Lucius feels the werewolf's wand pushing in his back. Oops, it's a bad situation !

"Malfoy, what a surprise !" Lupin's voice is very sarcastic. "I didn't know you courted suicide by coming to your enemies' homes in daylight."

The ex-Death Eater moves slowly and glares at the person talking to him.

"Talk, Malfoy ! Are you here to kill me on behalf of your Master ?"

"I have no Master, Lupin. Severus sends me."

"Oh, Severus sends you. Why didn't he come himself ?"

"He can't, obviously. He's taking care of one of your loved ones."

"Harry ? Is it Harry ? Where is he ? How can I trust you when you say it's not a trap of your Master ?"

"Severus told me to show you this."

Lucius holds out the ring his hand. Remus grabs it.

"That's Harry's ring, I can smell him on it. Where is he ? What have you done to him ?"

"If you want to see me, you'll have to follow me. Severus will explain everything, but you must not inform anyone. His life is in danger already, that's all I can say."

Remus is nearly sure that Lucius and Severus aren't Death Eaters nor members of the Order of the Phoenix. Otherwise, the blond man would never have crossed the borders of his garden. The werewolf decides to follow. He takes his cloak and his wand. He closes the door behind him and from the garden, his hand on the arm of Lucius, the two men apparate to a field, close to the stone manor.

The alarm is resounding inside the house and Severus opens the door to Lucius and his guest.

"Now, explain." The lycanthrope growls. "Severus, where is he ?"

"Shut up, Lupin ! I will make you regret it if you wake him up ! It was hard to get him to sleep in the first place... Come, follow me. And quiet !"

The wolf falls in behind him and gets upstairs in a spacious bedroom decorated in beige and dark red. His eyes fall on the huddled up form under the covers. As he steps slowly towards the bed, he lets tears roll down his cheeks.

"By Merlin ! What happened ? Who did this ?"

Remus stares at Harry's face. He can see his eyes are swollen by purple bruises. Bruises that can be seen on every inch of skin uncovered.

Harry begins to toss and turn in the bad, freaked out. Lucius rushes at his side as the dark-haired youth looks for his familiar form and clings to his robe. The blond lies down and holds the young man close, because he's moaning louder and louder until he wails with his head hidden in his protector's neck. Lucius strokes his hair, whispers reassurances and comforts him by his embrace.

Remus is befuddled as he takes in the incredible scene. He stays in the background, wiping his tears, and watches as Harry calms down but refuses to surrender his hold on Malfoy despite the pain in his fingers.

"Sit down, Lupin. I'm taking care of Harry first then we'll talk."

The Potions Master walks to the bedside table and takes a Pain-free potion which he gives to the wounded boy by pressing it delicately to his mouth while his blond friend lifts the boy's head. The worst is yet to come, he thought. He then takes a jar of thick cream for welts and says to Harry.

"I will help you lie on your stomach. The cream will help with the wounds on your back. I will not lie to you : it will hurt even with the potion. Harry, we have to heal your back. Do you understand ?"

The young man buries his head in Lucius' neck, terrified.

"I'm staying with you. I'll be with you the whole time." The ex-Death Eater whispers.

Severus prepares to begin his work, he helps Harry in position and lift the covers and the bed sheets. He takes them down to his bum. Remus doesn't scream but runs to the bathroom and throws up his breakfast. The bastard who did this is dead, I will tear him in shreds, he thinks.

When he enters the bedroom again, Severus asks if everything is okay with a look. Remus waves the questioning glance away. The dark-haired man coats his finger with cream and spreads it gently on the damaged flesh. The skin has nearly been carved in flesh straps. The fluid cream burns and Harry shivers in pain. He holds Lucius as his breath is ragged.

"I'm here, Harry. I'm here. I'm not leaving you." The blond whispers, his face close to the young man's face.

On the wall, new words are appearing. Let me die, I'm not worth it. Lucius murmurs in his ear.

"We'll never let you die, Harry. Severus and I are tied to you. We're linked."

Harry subsides finally and lets the Potions Master heal him.

"It's done, Harry. It's over. The pain will dampen in the next five minutes."

Harry falls asleep and Lucius doesn't move, better not jostle him or wake him up. The Potions Master goes down in the kitchen with a gesture to Remus to follow. In the kitchen, Severus washes his hand and waits for the interrogation to begin.

"Who did this ?" As soon as the kitchen's door is closed, the werewolf asks. "Who was it ? Was it Voldemort ?"

"No. The Dark Lord didn't do this. It was his uncle." Severus' voice is brimming with leashed anger.

"What ? The big fat walrus ? What did that bastard do ? Why did he do this, Severus ?"

"Apparently, his relatives consider Harry a freak. A monster. His uncle tried to beat his magic out of his body. He tortured him. The wanker tied him in the back garden, with a chain around his neck, like a dog. He was naked in the cold, but for shabby rags to cover himself. Considering his gauntness, the man didn't feed him much, if not at all. His inherent magic kept him alive, but the damage is important. This lasted for a long time, Lupin. Long before this winter holiday."

"But... but," Remus tries to speak, mystified. "No one noticed anything. He was withdrawn and uncommunicative after Sirius' death but I never saw any sign of physical abuse on him."

"I never saw anything either. But I think the Headmaster knows. I believe he cast glamour charms on Harry. We will only know when Harry tells us. If he wants to tell us." Severus confesses his musings. "His health is our priority, but we'll exact our revenge on the Muggles later." His smirk was frightening. "Well... give me your arm, my wand will leave a magical mark on it so that you can come and go as you please. Don't tell anyone else."

Severus applies the tip of his wand on Remus' arm and with a muttered incantation, the werewolf's skin brightens like a white light illuminates it.

"There you go, Lupin." After a moment, Severus adds. "If you want to stay here, you can choose a bedroom upstairs. The house is big enough, simply explore. Not the potions lab, that is off limits." He smirks. "I think you'll feel better if you stay close to Harry and you'll be safe in the house."

"Thank you, Severus. The offer is tempting and I believe I'll accept. But why are you doing this for Harry."

"I owe a tremendous debt to Lily."

"And what about Lucius' involvement ?"

"This is really not your business." The dark-haired man scowls and relents. "Lucius is my lover."

Remus gapes in surprise.

"What ? You - your - your lover ?" The werewolf stammers.

"Yes." Severus' answer is monosyllabic. "Lover."

Remus feels a wave of sadness overwhelming him when he thinks about Sirius. Sirius, his own lover, who passed away.

"No, wolf ! I don't want to think about the mutt and I don't want you to talk about him ! That twat was cruel and made me live hell !"

"Yes, I know." Remus' voice cracks, when he remembers the past years' events. "I know he hurt you badly. He could be malicious. But do you truly believe he didn't pay enough for that ? Twelve years in Askaban, two years on the run, falling behind the Veil... Was it not enough ? I dream every night, Severus," his voice hitches, "every night, I see him falling. I loved him so much, I still miss him so much. I think about him all the time." The confession time seems over. "Sorry, it's my problem, not yours."

Remus stands up, his heart heavy.

"Can you please show me where I can settle ?"

"You can move in any bedroom, but not the green one. This one is mine and Lucius'."

"Once a Slytherin, always a Slytherin..." The joke is feeble, but the werewolf temper seems to be mollified.

Severus answers as quick as flash. "Bloody Gryffindor !"

The Potions Master leaves the werewolf and goes back to Harry's bedroom. The young man is awake, sweating and shivering, as the pain flares in his body. Severus looks for another potion on the bedside table and the clink of the glass vials wakes up his blond lover. Opening his eyes, Lucius looks into the green eyes of Harry and thinks that despite the obvious suffering, the boy is beautiful.

Harry turns his head towards Severus as he tries to turn back to lie on his back. Severus nods and extends his hand to help him. He then gives him another healing potion and a pain-free potion before examining the wounds on the boy's neck.

"Very good," he says out loud, "the infection is receding."

The ex-Death Eater sits on the bed and takes Harry's hand in his. Meanwhile, Lucius tries to get out of bed but the dark-haired boy doesn't loosen his grip on the blond's robe.

"Harry," Severus draws the youth's attention to him. "Let Lucius go, I'm staying with you. I'm not leaving you. You're not alone."

The young man obeys and lets go, but he bites his lips and weeps silently. Severus quickly goes around the bed and lies down beside the small body. Harry stares and after a short hesitation he buries his nose in the Potions Master's neck. His hand grabs the robe. Severus has time to summon a warm blanket to cover them before the two men fall asleep. Remus opens the door partway and takes a quick look. The sight of the two bodies curled in bed make him smile slightly.