Title: In the world of strangers

Author: So Yun

Chapters: 2/3

Rating: M

Warnings: Language

Summary: Sequel to "In the arms of a stranger" Can Harry's new family adapt to his strange world?

Note1: I suggest you read the first story before reading this, you won't understand whom the characters are if you don't.

Note2: Alex, Ben and Josh Goodwell are mine, steal them and you die.

Chapter Two: Gateway to Hell

Harry frowned as Snape kept a tight hold of his upper arm, so tightly it nearly hurt. He let himself be led along by his teacher but he would have liked to do nothing better then punch the man.

He knew that he really shouldn't have run away from the Goodwells. But the moment he heard "Freak" project from Ben's mouth he found his fears ascertained.

But the thing he hadn't anticipated was running into Snape of all people. He was doomed. The man had tackled him for God's sake!

He found himself giggling a little at that, he never pictured his teacher to actually tackle him. Snape heard him and turned sharply around, "What on earth could you be laughing at this in this predicament?"

Harry stopped and sobered up, rolling his eyes at the man, he would never understand the bastard. But Harry felt a hollow feeling reside in his stomach, he would bet anything to know the Goodwells wanted nothing at all to do with him.

They continued striding along at a fast past and Harry felt him self childishly dragging his feet on purpose. Suddenly Snape stopped him and whipped around, "For heavens sake Potter! What is wrong with you?! Why aren't you with those muggle friends of yours that Dumbledore was so adamant about or something?" The man spat at him.

Harry looked forlornly at his feet and started, "Well you see, Snape, it didn't really work out that well, not that you'd understand because you're such a greasy git!" Harry spat angrily, the man had not right to probe into his business. But suddenly regretted it as Snape towered over him, his obsidian eyes glinting with, and fury.

Harry found himself backing away, mumbling, "I'm sorry sir, I didn't-"He was however, interrupted by a familiar voice and his professor backed away.

"Hey! What the hell are you doing to my boy?!" Alex Goodwell's voice projected over the street and they both turned to each other. Beside him stood Ben and Josh, Harry didn't realize he was holding his breath.

My boy. The words echoed in Harry's lonely heart and he breathed out. He watched as Snape stepped forth and said with as much politeness as he could manage, "Mr Goodwell I presume?"

Alex narrowed his eyes and nodded and took glances at his two sons as well as Harry, "I ask again, what were you doing with Harry? Who are you?"

Snape sneered and said, nearly pleasantly, "Severus Snape, I'm a teacher at Mr Potter's school"

Alex just smiled coldly; he obviously liked Snape as much as Harry did.

They shook hands frigidly and Josh and Ben also did.

"I found him half heartedly running away, it is my duty to take him back to school if that was the case" Snape just answered under the moonlight lazily, looking away.

"You were following Harry?" Ben said incredulously liking nothing at all about this menacing looking man, not that he scared him.

"Did I not say it was my duty?" Snape spat back in a tone he reserved for idiotic students like Potter.

"Don't speak to my son like that" Alex said through a clenched jaw, eyeing Snape with disgust. Snape merely stepped closer; he towered over the average heightened man. Alex did not flinch he just stepped closer.

Meanwhile Ben and Josh walked around to stand by Harry. "He's your teacher mate? Poor you" Josh whispered and watched the two elder man eye off.

"Well saying he hates me is an understatement; he loathed my dad before me. It must be hereditary, Snape repellent" Harry joked and watched grins form on the other boy's faces.

"What subject does he teach? I see him as a menacing Potion teacher" Ben said, smiling as he watched his father not even think to step down.

Harry was shocked at what Ben had said, because it was the truth. Harry felt his face aflame; this encounter had made him completely forget what had happened to make him run away.

"I'll get my trunk one these two are finished, I don't mind spending another Christmas at Hogwarts. I mean…you don't want my freaky magic around and all…." He mumbled but was stopped when Ben and Josh put their hands gently on his shoulder.

"Harry what happened before….was extraordinary. I-we've never seen anything like it, and it makes you even more special. That's what we love about you"

Josh nodded behind Ben and Harry felt himself blush, "I thought...-"

"You thought nothing Har; we still can't believe you're a wizard thought. Effing awesome I'd say"

"We do indeed believe you though" They said together and smiled at him before bodily hugging him in a group hug.

"Gah! Guys! Do you mind…?" He mumbled between them until they parted. It was nice to be hugged but not in front of the most hated potion's master.

"How sweet, Potter and his surrogate family. The reason I had Potter with me was because his headmaster requested to speak to him-"

Harry looked up and blushed but sharpened at the man's words, -"At Grimmauld Place"

Harry felt his stomach drop off and dissolve into the ground, a thick casing like a cocoon surrounding him. An angry sort of buzz resonated in his ears, his knees felt like rubber and he closed his eyes.

He felt every last drop of blood drain from his face and pool at his heart; drowning it. He clutched at it awkwardly as he remembered Sirius then tried to shove his Godfather's face out of his mind.

"No…" He remembered mumbling incoherently over and over. His mind and self ignored everything except himself. He felt a cold dread flooding him, poking in his veins. He shivered and goose bumps covered his skin.

He could hear his own breathing; it was laboured and he felt like a ton of bricks were lying on his chest. The world parallel and he felt like he was tipping upside, nothing was reminiscent except for that night in the Department of Mysteries.

He was drawn back into reality with a sharp jolt then crash and he felt human contact. Someone with strong arms was holding him upright gently, speaking into his ear. Another was rubbing his arms to warm up.

"What happened? He sort of zoned out and had physical effects, what's this 'Grimmauld Place'?" Alex said as he stared intently at a glaze eyed Harry as his sons tended to him.

"Is it something bad?"

Snape had not been a least bit shocked by Harry's reaction; he knew that his Godfather death had shattered him completely. This was the after effects of keeping it pented up or forgotten.

Snape sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose, "I guess you could it bad for Mr Potter-"

He sighed again, the boy was coming round. He then said as quietly as he could but loud enough for the other two boys to hear, "His deceased Godfather's house, he was killed only a few months ago. Mr Potter here saw it all"

When the world came back to Harry he heard his teacher's voice say the dreaded words, "-he was killed only a few months ago. Mr Potter here saw it all"

He immediately closed his eyes again, wishing nothing better to sink into the world. He missed his godfather like hell and back, he wished and hoped that Sirius had not died all the time. But then the thought of the Goodwells changed that.

He heard Ben and Josh whispered above him but he couldn't decipher the words. So he did just as he wanted, he sunk into the earth and pretended to be asleep or unconscious.

It worked because then he was actually asleep and woke up refreshed the next morning to shouting. He opened his eyes briefly but then closed them again to listen to the conversation.

"We shouldn't have brought him here! You saw his bloody reaction! Dad, why did you listen to this…this greasy man?" He recognised Ben's voice and nearly burst out laughing at what he had called Snape.

Then with cold dread he recalled what had just been said. He opened his eyes and felt a burn in his chest as he realized where he was.

Grimmauld Place.

He finally took a deep breath in then scrambled up, full and ready to bolt from the place that so heavily reminded him of Sirius. He was by the door but Dumbledore's hand stopped him, "Harry, I'm sorry"

Harry nodded and held his breath in and looked up. All the Goodwells, Professor Snape and Dumbledore stood in the room.

Harry just nodded and put a very weak smile on his face, he was fine.

"Now Harry, I have met the Goodwells now-" Dumbledore turned to smile at the three other men in the room, "-and I'd like to say that I am very pleased, are you happy with them now they know about your magical ability?"

Harry found himself like a deer in the headlights, of course he did! So he voiced it.

Dumbledore and everyone in the room smiled generously, all except Snape of cause who just sneered.

Harry looked up to see Dumbledore looking around the living room of Grimmauld Place then to Harry, "I'm sorry my boy, but sometime or later you must stay here. Because Sirius loved you so much he warded it especially for you"

Harry nodded dimly then sat down beside Ben on the couch he had been sleeping on.

"You are wondering why you and the Goodwells have been brought here, yes?" Dumbledore said brightly and looked Harry in the eye. Harry nodded again, still looking away.

"I am afraid that Voldemort has found out about your new muggle surrogate family, he is currently hunting them down. That is the reason Severus was near your residence" He also added looking at the Goodwells.

The Goodwells looked blatantly confused and Harry sighed, motioning for Dumbledore to explain. He did so, finally finishing an hour later after explaining Harry's life story, much to Harry and Snape's dismay.

Afterwards Alex and his sons did not look nor scared or frightened, they looked angry and defiant, "An adult wizard is shallow enough to try and kill a sixteen year old teenager!" Alex burst out and stood up, Josh and Ben and identical angry looks on their faces too.

"That's my life for you" Harry mumbled and wanted to sink into himself deeper.

Please review, no flames.

Also a question, should I extend the number of chapters? As you can see the plot is a bit larger then expected.

Yun