Chapter One:

Charlie Weasley was sitting at the kitchen table with his father at the Burrow, he was home for a vacation, when Ron came hurtling down stairs yelling for Fred and George. "One of you floo Draco now, Pig just came back."

Fred nodded and immediately headed for the fireplace.

"What's up?" George asked.

But Ron just shook his head, "Just wait for Draco."

Less than two minutes later the blond aristocrat stepped into the room. "Well?" he demanded, but Ron just gestured for the three boys to follow him upstairs.

"What's that all about?" Charlie asked his father.

"Harry hasn't written all summer, he sent his owl to his godfathers and the boys got tired of Albus telling them everything was fine. I'm sure there's something they aren't telling us, but…" Arthur trailed off.

Charlie frowned. "Why isn't Harry with Sirius, I thought that since he was cleared there wouldn't be any reason to keep sending Harry back to the muggles?"

Arthur shook his head. "Albus told us the ministry didn't think Sirius needed Harry underfoot while he was recovering from his stay in prison; so Albus made him go back to his Aunt and Uncle." He got up from the table, "I have to go to work, bye son."

"Hmm…" was Charlie's reply. "Have a good day Dad."

~oOo~

"Well, what does it say?" Fred demanded gesturing at the letter Ron was holding.

Ron was shaking in fear by this time. "What?" George asked seeing how frightened his brother was.

"H-he wrote on the back of our letter, i-it just s-says 'Help', a-and I c-can't tell, but i-it looks like its w-written i-in b-blood." Ron had tears running down his face. His brother was hurt and he didn't know what to do.

"Let me see that," Draco grabbed the parchment and gasped when he saw that Ron was right. "Oh Merlin, what are we going to do?"

Fred and George just sat there stunned. "Dumbledore will know as soon as Harry leaves the wards, assuming that there are actually wards up that is. I have my suspicions about that." Fred said. "None of us really have a place for him to hide until school. Draco's father is too close to the ministry, they would look at him closely when they find that Harry isn't here the Burrow. Sirius and Remus are out as well. Merlin, what are we going to do?"

"What are you talking about?" a deep voice came from the door.

The boy's all jumped, "Shit we forgot to put up wards," George mumbled.

"I repeat," the Dragon Handler said, "What are you talking about, why does Harry need to hide?"

Ron, the twins, and Draco, all looked at each other questioningly before Draco finally thrust the letter into the redheads hands.

Charlie quickly read the note that Ron had written, then turned the parchment over to look at the back, he gasped in surprise when he noticed that the single word reply was written in blood. "I am going to assume that this is Harry's blood, and that this isn't some nasty prank that you boys thought up to try and get Harry out." When the boy's shook their heads Charlie continued, "Has he told Dumbledore?"

"Yeah, he told Dumbledore, and the old coot just sent him back anyway; told him that a few spankings were nothing to whine about, that he was too busy with trying to help the ministry and didn't have time to cater to the boy-who-lived!" Fred snarled. "George and I confronted him in his first year, we noticed how skinny he was, and after seeing some of the scars in the locker room we cornered him until he told us. That's why we took the car that summer, to get him away from the muggles."

"There were bars on his window Charlie, and his door, Merlin, the door to his bedroom was padlocked shut and there was just a little flap in the bottom for them to push food through; when they thought about it anyway. Fred managed to get out of the bedroom and had to pick the lock on the cupboard under the stairs where they had locked up Harry's school trunk." George continued.

"He lived in the cupboard until his Hogwarts letter came. It was actually addressed to the cupboard under the stairs." Ron finished.

"My father went to the ministry at the end of the last school term to try and get custody of Harry; but the ministry told him that the Headmaster told them that leaving him with the Dursley's was for the best. They wouldn't listen to father when he tried to tell them about the abuse. They said that Dumblefuck told them Harry was making up stories to get more attention." Draco added.

Charlie sighed. How could anyone do that to a child, to Harry, the savior of the wizarding world? Why was Albus so intent on keeping Harry with the Dursley's, it didn't make sense. "Have you told Mum and Dad?"

"Mum just believes whatever Dumbledore says, and Dad didn't say anything."

"Sirius and Remus?"

"Harry made us promise not to tell, he didn't want Sirius flying off the handle and doing something that would get him sent back to Azkaban."

"Right, how badly do you think he's hurt?" Charlie asked.

"From the scars that we've seen, and from the fact that Harry is actually asking for help, he's probably pretty bad off." Ron said tears clogging his throat.

Charlie reached out and pulled his baby brother into his arms, the kid may have been fifteen years old, but this was something that even adult would have a tough time handling, "Don't worry, I'm going to get Harry, then I'm going to get someone to help me heal him and then figure out what to do from there. I'll owl you guys when I have him." Charlie hugged the twins and briefly clasped Draco's shoulder. "Hang in there, I'll help him."

~oOo~

Charlie headed for Hogwarts. Not to see Dumbledore, or even Madame Pomfrey, but to see Severus Snape. Despite appearances the cold snarky potions master had a kind and gentle heart, and he also happened to be a medi-wizard. The training had been mandatory when he was going through his Potion's Apprenticeship. When Charlie arrived at Hogwarts he was greeted by none other than the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, himself.

"Hello Mr. Weasley, to what do we owe the pleasure?" Albus asked eyes twinkling.

"Headmaster," Charlie bowed his head in greeting. "I actually just came to visit with Severus as I am on a short vacation."

"He will be pleased to see you; unfortunately my potion's professor doesn't have many friends."

Charlie nodded and continued around the headmaster. "It was nice seeing you Headmaster." When Charlie reached the portrait of Salazar Slytherin guarding Severus' chambers, he politely asked the founder to let Severus know that he was there.

A few minutes later the portrait swung open and the potions professor glared out him. "To what do I owe the pleasure of being disturbed by a redheaded hooligan?" He sneered.

Charlie grinned. "It's so nice to see you too you snarky bastard."

Severus' lips twitched into his version of a smile. "Well I suppose since you came all the way down here, I can offer you a drink."

Charlie stepped through the entrance, "A drink would be nice."

After a few pleasantries where exchanged Severus got right to the point, "So why are you really here?" He asked, his onyx eyes narrowing.

"I need some help actually." Charlie replied as nonchalantly as he could.

Severus raised an eyebrow and slowly appraised the strong Dragon Handler. "And what, pray tell, would you need my help with? Surely you don't need a potion; you look as large and healthy as ever."

Charlie sighed and pursed his lips before replying. "I need to go get someone, someone who has been badly hurt, and I need some help healing him. I also need somewhere to hide him until I figure out what to do; people will look for this person, and I need to make arrangements."

Severus narrowed his eyes. "Who is this person?"

But Charlie just shook his head. "It isn't necessary for you to know right now, the less you know the less you can accidentally reveal. I would just appreciate it if you could get a bag of as many potions as you can think of together and meet me at Grimmauld Place."

"And why on earth would I want to go to the mutt's home?" Severus snarled in agitation.

"Because you know I wouldn't ask if I didn't really need the help, and Sirius' place has wards we can lock down immediately to prevent anyone from following us." Charlie replied, his bright blue eyes honest. "Please Sev, I pretty sure that I'm going to need help in healing him."

Severus snorted, but nodded in acquiescence. "I can get a bag together and meet you there in a half an hour, will that be ok?"

"I hope that I will be able to extract him easily, but I'm not sure if he will be safe to apparate. Ask Sirius to open the wards for portkey's just in case please." Charlie said, relieved that he would have help.

The men parted ways five minutes later; Severus flooing Grimmauld to talk to Sirius and Remus, and Charlie to apparate to Surrey.

~oOo~

"I don't know who he's bringing Mutt, I won't say it again," Severus was severely agitated. Sirius kept asking him questions he was unable to answer and it was mangling his already sour disposition.

"Its fine Sev, just ignore Siri," Remus said trying to head off a fight. "Siri did you open the wards like Charlie asked?"

Sirius nodded. "I wonder who he's bringing," he said for seven thousandth time. Severus just rolled his eyes. "Don't you roll your eyes at me Sniv, this is my home."

"Sirius, that's enough!" Remus shouted. "Sit down, shut up, and wait quietly."

Sirius immediately did what he was told. When Remus called him Sirius instead of Siri, it was a good idea to just do as asked. They didn't have to wait long, less than five minutes later Charlie portkeyed into the room holding a bruised and bloodied teenager.

"Oh Merlin, Bambi!" Sirius shouted.

~oOo

Charlie apparated right into the backyard of Number 4 Privet Drive; it was late in the afternoon on a Saturday, and it looked like the muggles had left for the evening. Charlie quietly let himself into the house and began searching for the elusive boy-who-lived.

He was unprepared however, despite hearing about it, when he came across a heavily looked door. Charlie clenched his jaw in anger and immediately set about unlocking the many locks. When he was finally able to open the door, he nose was instantly assaulted with the scent of blood. His eyes widened in shock as he took in the sight of the room. The bed was unmade, a single threadbare blanket crumpled and stained with dried blood lying mussed at the foot. The carpet was also heavily stained with the sticky red substance, and as his eyes swept the room, he saw a wall streaked with blood and right below that was a small teenage boy barely breathing. "Oh Merlin," he said out loud. Charlie had expected it to be bad, but this, this was worse than his worst expectations.

Charlie strode across the room and knelt down in front of the battered body. "Harry," he shook the teens arm carefully, "can you hear me?" When he didn't get a response, Charlie started to panic. He checked to make sure that the raven haired boy was still breathing, and while it was labored he was relieved to hear it. Charlie quickly took stock of the boy's injuries and decided that he couldn't risk apparition, so he went and located the cupboard and retrieved Harry's trunk and shrunk it and Hedwig's cage storing them in his pocket. He then grabbed a book from the low table in front of the couch and turned it into a portkey. Charlie rushed back up the stairs and after carefully gathering the too small body into his arms, he activated the portkey.

Charlie appeared in the kitchen where the occupants of Grimmauld place where all waiting. He had barely landed when the other three men rushed forward.

Sirius reached him first and after taking a quick look at the body cradled in the massive arms said, "Oh Merlin, Bambi!"

"Close the wards quickly, don't let anyone through, I don't know how much time we have before Albus notices he's missing." Charlie said urgently. He carefully laid his burden out on the large kitchen table. "His breathing is labored, and I'm not sure how much worse it would have gotten with the portkey travel."

Severus nodded and drew his wand and began casting diagnostics. "He has a punctured lung, it's a good thing you didn't try apparition."

Sirius paled at the words. "Oh Merlin," he moaned in fear. "What do you need Remy and I to do Severus?"

Severus glanced at the pale man and nodded. "I need hot water and more bandages please." Sirius instantly left to comply.

"And me," Remus asked.

"Just talk to your cub, keep him calm if he wakes up while Charlie and I are working on him." Sev looked at his friend.

In the end it took them several hours to get Harry stabilized and a couple of more to heal and/or bandage the many cuts and bruises. Harry had woken up once, but Sirius and Remus quickly reassured him that they were there and he was safe. "Please don't let him send me back again, please." Harry begged before he succumbed to the dreamless sleep potion Severus had him drink.

After Harry was as comfortable as they could make him, and warning charms had been applied to let Severus know when he woke up, the four men retired to the library for a stiff drink. Sirius handed out snifters of fire whiskey and sunk into the couch leaning into Remus' side. "Didn't Albus ever check on him?" Sirius asked tears welling up again.

"According to the twins, Ron, and Draco, the headmaster knew about the abuse." Charlie sighed. "They told me that Harry had asked Dumbledore not to send him back and explained about the beatings, the starvation, and the cupboard."

"What cupboard?" Remus's wolf was getting really close to the surface, he wasn't happy that someone had hurt his cub.

"Harry's first Hogwarts letter was addressed to the cupboard under the stairs, and Ron say's he and the twins have been sending him food every summer because they never feed him enough." Charlie told the amber eyed man.

"Oh Merlin," Sirius breathed. "Why didn't he tell me?"

"You would have gone after the muggles." Severus said. "What good would you have done him back in Azkaban?"

"He should have told someone!" Sirius exploded.

"He did," Charlie said quietly, "He told Albus."

"Yeah, Albus, the man who after having at least two teenagers come to him after being tortured into taking the dark mark, sent us right back out to be his spies. Lucius and I…" Severus trailed off.

"I'm sorry Sev." Sirius told the stoic man. Severus nodded in acknowledgment of the long awaited apology. Nothing more needed to be said between the two prideful men.

"The question is, what do we do know? We can't keep Harry here, Lucius would be too obvious as would the Burrow, and even Granger's place," Severus said. "Plus there's still the next two summers to think about."

Remus had been quiet for most of the conversation. "Well," he hesitated, "about a hundred years ago there was such a thing as a Bond of Dominance. It has to be entered willingly by both parties. It was created specifically for wealthy underage orphans, the orphans would find someone suitable that met the requirements, and the Bond would be forged. It was created because in some cases the orphan's guardians were unfit, but there was nothing anyone underage or otherwise could do, thus the Bond's creation. Here let me get the book," Remus stood and walked over the shelves that were filled to bursting with books. Eventually he found the one he was looking for and then found the appropriate passage, but before he could read it, the men heard a terrible screeching from downstairs.

"Mum's portrait," Sirius said, "there must be someone in the floo." Sirius tromped down the stairs and went directly to the fireplace, the other three men trailing along behind him.

"Sirius Orion Black," Molly Weasley's head floated in the fire bellowing at him, "would you like to tell me why Albus was here looking for Harry? And where is my son, if you talked Charlie into helping you kidnap Harry I will have you up in front of the Wizengamot so fast!"

"Kindly lower you voice Mrs. Weasley," Severus spoke up.

"You stay out of this Severus Snape." Molly turned to look at the potions master and spotted her son. "Charlie you get home right this instant!" She yelled. "And you," she said turning to Remus, "I can't believe you would allow Sirius to do something like this, and to let him drag my son and Severus into it!"

"Molly, kindly shut up." The werewolf growled.

"Why I never," Molly spluttered in indignation, "did Harry send you a letter about being spanked? Honestly, the boy is just trying to get more attention. So he get's paddled and he has a small bedroom. Albus says-"

But she was cut off by Sirius, "You have no idea what you're talking about, so I advise you to shut your mouth before you completely alienate all of your children. As for Harry, he is no concern of yours since you do not seem to care about his welfare in the least." Then Sirius reached over and disengaged the blocked floo completely so that no one else would be able to call. "As soon as he can be moved, we need to get him out of here; we won't be able to block Albus or the Ministry for long. Remus, look up everything you can about this Bond, we need to find someone to protect him."