AN: Alright, there will be some Out-of-Characterness for some people…or at least the start of some of that OOC…also this will not be Dumbledore bash-fest…I can't write a manipulative Dumbles…He will just be sad, bystander. Hope y'all enjoy!

Tested Hearts

Chapter Two

Poppy Pomfrey didn't normally get odd feelings during the days of summer holidays or even during the semester but in the past six years she had them more often and it usually happened right before a certain boy with black hair and green eyes appears within her domain. She glanced around her office double checking everything.

"Poppy, I believe you have a patient!"

She shook her head at the sound of Albus' voice coming from the main area.

"Who is it this time, Albus? Severus, Remus…dear Merlin! Put him on the bed quickly!" she exclaimed as she spotted the limp form in Severus' arms. She would know that mess of black hair anywhere, the second he was on the bed a soft groan escaped his busted lips. Her wand was going everywhere as lights appeared over his legs, ankles, wrists, hands, and his entire abdomen, collarbones, mouth and the black eye that encompassed the left side of his face.

"What happened here? It looks as if he's been some prisoner!" Poppy exclaimed as she went about vanishing the bloody shirt to reveal the bruised ribcage and infected gashes that looked as if a whip had been taken to him, she removed the pair of jeans that were far too big for him to see the same infected lashes and bruises that resembled boot prints all down his legs where the bone of his right leg was sticking out through the skin slightly.

"Merlin…" Severus muttered his eyes wide at the boy that reminded him far to much of his own self at that age.

"Bastard, this is all your fault! If you hadn't kept sending him back to those monsters this wouldn't have happened! You knew this was going on the whole time!" Remus exploded as he rounded onto the Headmaster, his fierce gold eyes glowing as the wolf surged to the front.

"Now, Remus, I had no idea it was this bad and you know he had to go there because of the wards around his home," Albus attempted to placate, his hands out in front of him.

"That place was never his home; he's said that ever since I met him again in his third year. It's something I have told you repeatedly since then. He could have been in Grimmauld getting to know Sirius for two more years! Don't ever bring up those damn wards of yours again, Dumbledore because he won't ever be going back there!" Remus growled his hands fisted at his sides.

"Remus, stop!" Tonks' yell pierced the hall as the doors were flung open. The werewolf continued to growl at the Supreme Mugwump until Tonks' hand touched his arm. He looked back to see her own temper ignited as her hair flashed all different colors with red making repeated performances.

"He won't be going back there, Remus. We brought all of his stuff with us," she stated softly watching the wolf slowly recede back to show off his natural brown eyes.

"Now, Nymphadora, I'm sure I could talk with them about all this…" Everyone stared at him as if his head had sprouted another one.

"Headmaster, he can't go back there. The wards are gone; they fell with a few words from his aunt. If it's a matter of somewhere for him to stay I'm sure Mum would love to have him there," Bill stated causing Albus to gape at him.

"Oh dear, we must bring them here. I'm sure Tom will attack them to lure Harry out. They must be protected," Dumbledore murmured as he started to turn and make his way towards the doors only to come up short at the weak and rough voice from the bed.

"Let him, if he wants me there then I'll be there just so I can help him kill them," Everyone froze to slowly turn to see clouded green flickering under the heavy eyelids.

"Harry, they are your family surely you don't want them dead," Albus stated to hear a coughing fit that had a vague sound to laughter.

"As a doorknob…keep them away from me if you want to protect them so much. I sure as hell don't," Harry managed as he stared into the Headmaster's blue gaze.

"I'm sure this is just some misunderstanding…" the elder wizard started his mind already going over how to get in contact with a few people to guard them on their way to them.

"Get out…you're no better than them. Get out!" Harry exclaimed as he sat up in the bed as his magic crackled around him.

"You heard him, Headmaster; get out of my Medical Wing!" Pompfrey bellowed as she pointed towards the door. Albus knew that there was no point in staying longer so with all the dignity he could muster he nodded then left. Everyone watched the old wizard until they heard a soft groan come from the bed.

Remus turned to see Harry clutching his side as he lay back on the bed. He could smell the infection and still caked blood on him; the werewolf was instantly next to the bed.

"Harry, how are you even awake? The spells Poppy put on you should have had you out for several days," he asked to hear a weak chuckle come from the last Potter.

"Moony, if there's one thing I've learned over the years is that whenever there is yelling it's always a good thing to be awake and ready to duck. As much as I am enjoying your company I think I'm going to pass out now,"

"Alright, Harry," the old werewolf muttered as he watched the teenager go limp on the bed as the spells kicked back in. Remus shook his head then looked over to see Tonks, Bill, and Severus still standing there.

"Alright, if you four are going to stay I'd suggest you keep it down. He needs his rest, you can ask your questions once he wakes up," Poppy stated as she went about spelling potions into his system and resetting his many broken bones.

"I have more important things to do then watch the boy sleep," Severus drawled before leaving with a billow of his robes.

"How does he do that?" Bill asked after the doors shut, his face frozen in his puzzled admiration.

"I haven't the foggiest," Tonks answered as Remus grinned.

"It's the cut of his robes, there's just enough of a flair to the end that when he turns or walks it catches the air," he answered.

"Huh…that's a little anticlimactic," Bill added earning a snort from Tonks.

"Do you think we should tell Ron and Hermione?" the metamorphagus asked quietly as a particularly loud crack and a groan came from the bed. Remus looked over to see he was still unconscious.

"Not any particulars just that Harry is finally away from the Dursleys for good and that he's safe. It's his place to tell them more than that," he stated seeing the others nod their heads out of the corner of his eye.

"I'll tell my family, I'm supposed to have lunch with them today anyway," Bill added with a shrug.

"Then I think you might want to head that way because it's now closer to supper," Tonks stated with a smirk. Bill jumped as he looked down at his watch.

"Well hell, Mum's going to kill me," he exclaimed earning a glare from Poppy.

"Bye, Bill…tell…hi, Harry's vacant sleepy voice spurned the eldest Weasley son into action.

"Bye Harry," he stated before bolting out of the ward. Remus shook his head as Tonks laughed.

"Just what all are you doing, Poppy?" Remus asked as he stepped closer to watched the Healer work.

"Since I finally have Mr. Potter here longer than two days and no classes to worry about; I'm healing everything I can find and putting it in my report. Not to mention adding some nutrient potions to his system. By the time I'm done with him, he'll be where he should have been this whole time," she stated, a soft growl of her own rumbling from under her breath.

"How bad?"Tonks asked.

"It's a wonder he didn't walk around with a permanent limp with the old brake in his left leg that was never healed properly. Old cracked ribs, bruised spleen, stomach and a lung that had been punctured before but miraculously healed on its own. A few slipped disks in his spine, a head that has had way to many cracks in it. That's not even counting the damage done to his immune system, muscles and stomach lining from the lack of food. There's so much more that has been done to this poor boy. It's truly a wonder that he's even alive today," Poppy listed with fresh tears in her eyes, "I've only seen one other young man in this bad and he's a very grouchy wizard."

SSSSSS

Severus listened to the Healer list everything and his insides twisted. The little bubble that he had fallen into was completely gone. For so long he had made himself believe that he was just a spoiled little brat that had a family that gave him anything he wanted, but he should have opened his eyes when just a few memories popped up from those lessons last year. How could he have been so stupid? All the signs were right there in front of him. Was it too late to help him it was for himself by this point, even with his father and mother dead in his fourth year? For a carbon copy of his father there were a few too many likenesses to him for his own comfort, but for all of that there were some traits of his mother's that were becoming apparent the more he looked at the boy. His attitude for one, and when he applied himself he could surpass Granger. The easy acceptance of others that were different from him, Lupin was a prime example. For the sake of what was left of his soul it would be best to think of him as Lily's son rather than Potter's.

MWBWAW

Molly was very anxious now, oh sure the clock didn't have her oldest at mortal peril but it didn't mean that she couldn't worry about him. He was supposed to have been here at lunch and the clock then had him at traveling. She looked back to watch his hand slowly move from Traveling to Home.

"Oh thank Merlin, he's back," she sighed before he walked through the door out of breath. Bill flashed his mother a broad grin just second before she erupted.

"William Arthur Weasley, where have you been! You were supposed to be here six hours ago! No note, no floo-call, not even a post! I've been worried sick about you! All these reports about attacks then you leave this morning for a mission and still no word from anyone! Oh Bill!" Molly ran towards her son wrapping him in a bone-crushing hug as tears ran down her face.

"Bill!" a chorus of Weasleys exclaimed as a stampede came down the stairs.

"Mum, I'm fine. I'm sorry about not calling but the, uh, mission ran a little longer than expected. Maybe you should sit down, Mum, there are some things that I need to tell you," he stated guiding her to the well used table.

"Alright you lot, out you get," Molly commanded with a stern look at the rest of her offspring.

"I think they need to hear this to, it's about Harry," Bill interceded with a sad look to his eyes that brought his mother up short.

"What?" Molly and Ginny exclaimed as the Twins and Ron asked if he was alright.

"He's fine now and he well…how do I put this? There is some good news,"

"Well let's have it!" the Twins yelled to the nodding of the others.

"Well, he won't ever be going back to those people that were putting in as his relatives ever again," he stated with a half hearted grin.

"What happened? Were they attacked oh the poor dear," the rotund matriarch worried, tears forming at the corner of her eyes once more.

"No, Mum, they weren't attacked," he said slowly.

"What did they do to him? Are you sure he's alright? Can he come stay with us? Mum, can he?" Ron shot out the rapid questions.

"Of course he can stay here. Where is he?" Molly asked beginning to look around for the dark haired boy she called one of her own.

"I didn't bring him with me, Mum. He's going to be in the Medical Wing for awhile,"

"What! What happened?" Molly exclaimed as she turned her gaze to her eldest. She watched him squirm slightly like when he was younger and he didn't want to tattle on something that Charlie or Percy had done.

"I can't say anymore than that because it's not my place to say," Bill finally stated.

"Does Hermione know yet?" Ron asked.

"I don't know, I'd say either Tonks or one of the other members will tell her. I highly doubt Lupin leaves his side for awhile," he answered seeing her brother nod his head.

"Can we go see him, Mum, Bill?" Ginny asked quietly as she fought back her tears. She couldn't believe it; why would anyone want to hurt him? He was so nice and considerate of others, she knew she wasn't the one for him but that didn't mean she couldn't claim him as a brother. To be truthful she claimed him more often than her real brothers, all six of them.

"Madam Pompfrey had to put quite a few sleep spells on him so she could try to heal him. I don't think all of you at once would be a good idea," he grimaced thinking of when Harry had actually woke up and argued with the Headmaster while still under the influence then promptly passing back out when it was over.

"He's that bad? Oh, that poor boy," Molly sobbed. The mass of redheads jumped at the sound of their father from behind them.

"Molly, why don't you finish supper? We'll eat and then you and I will go see him. Would you stay here with the rest of the brood, Bill? Charlie should be expected in a few hours,"

"Yeah, Dad, I'll stay," Bill stated with a nod.