Chapter 1

Ten Years later

Dumbledore was going through the list of students for the new school year. Draco Malfoy, his father was Voldemort's right hand man though he escaped going to Azkaban. Then further down the list was Cadmon Potter, the boy who lived, then… he looked twice to make sure he read it correctly… Harry Potter was on his list. Dumbledore smiled hugely in relief. He was so relieved that the boy had not turned out to be squib. He had never been more furious than when he found out that the Potters had abandoned their child. Family was everything to Dumbledore and he had told them that Harry's core could have been exhausted or possibly a late bloomer. Sirius had offered to take Harry but James refused to tell them exactly where they had left him, only that they left him with Lily's muggle sister. Dumbledore knew that Petunia hated magic and so was very concerned. He decided to send Severus to go get the boy and ask Sirius to go with him.

After James had abandoned Harry, their friendship had broken. Sirius was furious with James, even his dark family would never do that. Children were too precious given that most pureblood families couldn't have more than one. The wizarding considered children to be off limits. Even Voldemort had never gone after children until the prophecy. This was true especially given that it was very unlikely he was a squib. The decision had also broken the recently healed friendship between Severus and Lily. Remus hadn't completely broken away but more because Cadmon was his godson. The only good thing that came out of the whole affair was the friendship that had popped up between Severus and Sirius. They had finally healed their relationship from school and had become lovers in the last several years. With everything that had happened he was beginning to reconsider the war. He was no longer sure who was good and who was bad. He called Severus and asked him to bring Sirius. Dumbledore sat tiredly behind his desk. He felt so old and tired. He was not long for this world. His soul mate had died when he rejected and then defeated him, but he missed him so much and really didn't want to live without Gellert anymore. He knew he had to hold on a bit longer. Severus and Sirius walked in.

He looked at them, "I have Harry's address." Sirius stared at him and even Severus was in shock. "He is on the list to come to Hogwarts. I was hoping that both of you would go take him his letter and take him to Diagon Alley."

Sirius smiled blindingly at Dumbledore. They immediately agreed and he handed them the letter. Before they could leave he spoke up, "I want you to take very good care with the boy and pay close attention to his living conditions. I fear he was raised poorly." They nodded and left.

Harry Potter woke up not knowing that his whole life would change. He was in so much pain. Uncle Vernon had been horrible last night, like he always was on the eve of Harry's birthday. He was also usually pretty bad on Halloween but he really seemed to hate that Harry had survived another year. Harry's back had been shredded and he was pretty sure his ribs were broken. At the very least bruised. He dragged himself up and out of the cupboard. He was about to start on breakfast when the doorbell rang. "Boy," yelled Uncle Vernon, "Answer the door."

Harry opened the door. On the doorstep were two men. One was dressed in all black. The black dress shirt clung to his muscular frame. He was tall with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. He had soft black hair that was straight and just brushed his shoulders. He had black eyes that were blank as was his face. The other man was wearing a gray dress shirt that clung to him. He was leaner the other man but very muscled. His eyes were a purplish grey and he had long black hair that was held back in a low pony tail. Harry stared at the men in shock. They smiled at him and he shyly smiled back. Uncle Vernon waddled up. He grabbed Harry roughly and threw him against the wall. He then turned to the two men.

"We aren't interested." He then went to close the door but found himself stopped by the man in all black.

"We are from Hogwarts and we aren't leaving without the boy," Severus snarled.

Vernon paled, "You are mistaken there are none of your freak here."

Sirius growled and pulled out his wand, "Get out of our way. Harry is coming with us and is not coming back."

Vernon paled even more then turned and waddled away. Sirius smiled and turned to Harry, "Grab your things, we are leaving." Harry looked nervous but nodded. He went to the cupboard under the stairs and came out holding a necklace. That was it. The men growled, both because of the cupboard and because of the lack of belongings. They each grabbed a hand and lead him outside.

"Let's go," Sirius said, "I want to take him to Poppy before anything else."

"Wait," Harry said, "I have to say good-bye to Meredith. She made me promise to come see her before I left."

"Pup," Sirius asked, "how does she know?"

"She always knows when something is going to happen. I don't want to leave her. Her family is worse than mine." Severus and Sirius looked at each other, both thinking the same thing. Looks like we are bringing two children back. "Lead on Pup." Harry nodded and led them down the street. He stopped outside a house and his face took on a faraway look. Before they could ask a tiny girl slipped out of the house. She had a patchwork skirt on and a baggy shirt that slipped off one shoulder. She was stunning though. She was pale with long, dark brown hair, and startling sapphire blue eyes. She was even smaller than Harry who was already pretty small. They honestly looked like they could be twins except for their eyes. Sirius cleared his throat and two pairs of eyes looked up at him.

"You have magic?" He asked. She nodded shyly. "Does your family abuse you?" She nodded again.

Severus sighed, "Alright, we are taking you both to Hogwarts."

The children smiled blindingly and hugged him. They each picked up a child and placed them on a hip. Both children were too light by half. They turned and apparated away. Severus led the way up to Hogwarts and up to Hospital Wing as quickly as possible. They laid the children on separate beds. Poppy and stopped abruptly. Harry jumped up and moved in front of Meredith protectively. She smiled at him and put her hand on his shoulder. The adults were shocked at how close the children were. They seemed to be speaking though nothing could be heard. Harry relaxed, but climbed on the bed and curled around her protectively. Poppy was in shock, she looked at the men and raised her eyebrows.

"Who are these children, Severus?"

"This is Harry Potter and his friend Meredith."

"Sirius," Poppy said quickly, "go get Professor Dumbledore, please." Sirius nodded and left swiftly. Severus raised an eyebrow. Poppy smiled, "I want to do the diagnostics without him as I am going to guess that it isn't going to be pretty." Severus nodded in agreement.

Poppy turned to the children and smiled reassuringly, "Harry, would mind laying on the other bed so I can check you both and heal you."

Harry hesitated but at a touch from Meredith, nodded. He uncurled himself and got on the second bed. Poppy walked over to him first and the diagnostic spells. Parchment formed with writing on it. It was so long. Severus raised his eyebrows in shock. No child should have it that long. Poppy sighed then turned to Meredith. Her parchment was even longer. The minute Poppy was done, Harry crawled back on Meredith's bed and curled around her. Severus brushed his hand over both of their heads.

Dumbledore walked in with Sirius right behind him. He looked at Poppy. "How are they?" She sighed, "They are both extremely malnourished. Both have broken a majority of their bones at least once. They both need skelegrow for the night. I closed any cuts. Harry's back was shredded but should be ok now. They will also need nutrient potions for a long time. However, there is good news. They both have extremely strong cores. They are the strongest cores I have ever seen. Also, it appears as if their magic created a bond. They can talk telepathically and Harry, especially is very protective."

Dumbledore sighed, "He can't go back. Sirius will you take him?"

"Of course!"

"Do either of you know who her parents were?" The men shook their heads. Dumbledore turned to Meredith, "Would you tell me your name, little one?" She smiled at him, "Meredith Amia Ambrosius," she said in a lilting voice. Severus's eyebrows shot up. Dumbledore looked at him in question.

"She is Lucius's goddaughter. He has been searching for her for ten years. Her parents were murdered at the end of the war and she disappeared."

Dumbledore looked confused, "Weren't they neutral?"

"Yes," Severus answered, "Her mother was a druid and followed a life of nonviolence except in self-defense." Dumbledore nodded, "We should inform him."

Severus agreed, "I will go get him." Severus left for a few minutes before returning with all three Malfoys. Lucius and Narcissa nodded at the other three. Lucius looked at Dumbledore, "What are we going to do?"

"I want Harry to live with me," Sirius said and Severus nodded in agreement.

"Well I want Meredith to live with me. She is my goddaughter," Lucius said. They looked to be at the point of agreeing when Poppy interrupted.

"They need to stay together. They are going to need to be able to share a bed. I have never seen a sibling bond this strong except for twins. Lucius, just so you know, they can communicate telepathically and Harry is very protective of Meredith. I would guess that when she starts getting more comfortable she will become protective of Harry. They are also going to need potions on a regular basis for a while and they may need to see a mind healer though that can wait."

"What would you recommend then?" Dumbledore asked.

"They should live with Sirius because Severus is there. Plus they have no other children to worry about." Severus and Sirius nodded in agreement.

"Absolutely not! I haven't been there for her in ten years. No more, I will take care of her from now on." They started arguing, neither Sirius nor Lucius wanted to give in. Dumbledore sighed, then cleared his throat. They stopped and looked at him.

"Sirius and Severus will take both children," he raised his hand to prevent argument, "Lucius is to have complete access to Meredith and there will be a playdate once a week for her to meet Draco. Harry is encouraged to go as well." The three men looked at each other and nodded. Lucius looked at them, "We should take them to Diagon Alley to get his school supplies as well as have an inheritance test done."

"You should get supplies and tests for both." Lucius looked confused. Dumbledore smiled, "I know she won't be eleven till the end of October but I think they should go and after glancing at her school records quickly. I think she can handle it." They all nodded and smiled in relief. Lucius nodded at his wife who had been keeping the children calm, "Let's go. We will be back in the morning." They left after nodding to the adults and grabbing Draco who had been sitting down playing with his stuffed dragon. The men left to talk in Dumbledore's office and Poppy went into the office. Harry hugged Meredith close as they fell asleep.