Sorry for the late post, I had a horse show and have another one this weekend. As always be kind to yourselves. I do not own Harry Potter and am not making any money off of this.

Harry reluctantly picks at his meal, glancing up every few seconds, not trusting the men. They smile back watching the boy eat, Robert, nodded at James the fifth time Harry put his spoon down and stared at his soup not even bothering to touch his sandwich. The boy was thin. James spoke up "are you not hungry Harry, or do u not like the soup?"

"The soup is fine sir, I'm just not that hungry at the moment" Harry said apologetically taking a quick look up from his lap.

Tom frowned, he has a private practice with Robert. Tom being the emergency healer and Robert a general healer. They could see the boy was slightly underweight even with the glamour, let alone under it. However, they knew that James wouldn't let the meal sit there that easily, he is after all one of the best mind healers in Europe. Acing through his general healers schooling straight to his apprenticeship in mind healing where he found his niche.

James shook his head at his two friends, he wasn't going to push the boy just yet. "are you sure you don't want anymore?" he asked gently as his soft blue eyes taking in Harry's every facial expression.

Harry nodded.

"Okay then, so where shall it be, which one of us would you like to stay with?" he asked nonchalantly turning to call the hostess over to pay.

Harry's eyes widened in fear and shock, anxiety setting in "um, it's alright I'll just head home" he lied.

James not having to using legitimency knew that was a lie. "I don't like to be lied to Harry, if you don't want to go with one of us that's fine, we will bring you to Wizard Child Services or St. Mungo's. Your choice."

Robert now spoke up seeing the teens silence "tell you what, if you really want to go home we'll bring you there but we want to speak to your parents." Noticing Harry's posture change as he curled in on himself slightly they all knew Robert had touched a raw spot.

"No, that's fine sir" he rushed quietly

"Then where will it be?" Tom asked

"really it's fine. I'll just leave" Harry continued. At this all three men frowned, this could be a long night.

"Well Harry I think you're coming with me tonight if you can't make up your mind" James states getting up to go.

Harry squeezes his eyes shut but nods with a resounding and defeated "ok."

A stroke of brilliance hit Harry's mind, he had a plan, he was going to go to the bathroom and run. He really didn't want to trust these men, even if they were being nice.

"um, may I use the loo?" he asked looking at all three men.

James nodded. Harry took off to the bathroom at a brisk walk, the butterflies in his stomach made the little he ate feel heavy. He could do this, he just had to find the right opportunity to exit the bathroom behind someone.

"he's going to try and run" James states

Tom nods as Robert huffs in frustration "why did you let him go then?!" glaring at his friend

"because I'm hoping he'll think better of it, he can't run too far anyways I placed a stronger tracking charm on him." Tom smirked at this, leave it to James to give the kid a chance to run.

"I think we should stay here tonight. We don't know if he's too injured to apparate."

Tom "Ill go and book us some adjoining rooms" making his way over to the bartender.

"He was picking at his hands a lot… nervous tick?" Robert asked James, knowing the man was scrutinizing Harry's every movement.

"we'll see when we get up there, can you go and fetch our medical bags from the clinic?" James said, casting his eyes around waiting to see what this boy would do.

Xxx

"shit shit shit shit shit" Harry mumbles to himself "how am I going to get out of here" just as he's completing his sentence in walks a rather rotund man. Exhaling, Harry stands by the sinks washing his hands, waiting for the man to finish his business so he could leave behind him. The man flushes and goes for the sinks. Now making his way to the door Harry catches up, perfectly hidden behind this large man when a hand is placed on his shoulder.

"ah, Harry. Good timing, I was just coming to grab you. We have adjoining rooms. Come on let's go see if James is ready to go up." Guiding Harry gently by the shoulder they made their way over to where James was standing watching them approach.

"Ready to go Harry?"

Scuffing his shoe, Harry pretended that he hadn't heard the question.

Frowning a little James replies to Harry's silence "Come on, Tom you lead the way." Inclining his head to indicate he wanted to keep Harry between them just in case.

Xxx

Sweeping through his lab, Severus deposited his new ingredients to their rightful place in his personal store room. He had had a busy day. Thinking back to his loathsome encounter with Lily's sister, how very different they were and then to the Leaky Cauldron for a mid-afternoon pick me up. Then off to his favourite store, the apothecary, he had spent at least 2 hours in there inspecting the new arrivals of rare ingredients from Cambodia. The shipment had caught his eye but nothing of use to him was there, so he left with woodlice, freisian tail hair and a vial of python blood.

Now setting up his cauldron to brew salves for the hospital wing he thinks back to Petunia Evans, now Dursley. Growing up she had picked on him, thrown things at him even at her own sister, how things can change. She now protected and cherished the Potter brat, waiting on his every whim. Pathetic. The way she closed the door in my MY face, as if she thought me to be the scum of the Earth. I bet Potter had told her to chase anyone away if they took time away from him Severus thought bitterly.

Dropping the lace wing fly's in and studying the change of colour, prepping to remove the cauldron from the fire to cool, he smirks to himself. At least Draco could show that insolent boy up, how a real wizard conducts himself. This year that boy would learn to listen to instructions or be kicked out, now that Minerva was headmistress.

Finally bottling and corking all the containers of different salves he calls it a night, he'll pick up tomorrow.

Xxx

Tom unlocks the fourth door down. Walking in, he strolls over to the desk pulling out the chair. James herds Harry into the room and asks him to sit on one of the beds. Harry's eyes quickly scanning the room chooses the bed furthest away from the two strangers. Tom and James make eye contact, having a silent conversation they agree that they will ask Harry if they could scan him for injuries. James steps up to the plate.

"Harry" now sitting on the bed adjacent to the teens "could you please lower your glamour?" James said studying the boy and his vacant expression.

"I'm not wearing one"

"you don't need to hide anything from us son, we don't want to harm you, we want to help you" he smiles gently.

Harry shakes his head. Getting up slowly so the boy can watch his every movement he kneels in front of him.

"can you lie down for me at least?" trying to make eye contact.

Harry shifts nervously looking around for an escape, not knowing that Tom had already cast a silent locking charm.

James carefully raises his hands and pushes Harry back onto the bed "there's a good boy" he murmers.

Breathing rapidly Harry stares at the ceiling not sure what he's expecting these men to do. Whether they really wanted to help or if they wanted to hurt him, he wasn't sure.

"I'm just going to place my hand on your chest to scan you alright" not waiting for a response he places a firm hand on Harry's collarbone, channeling his magic to scan the boy. Instantly he signalls for Tom to come scan him.

Tom gets up and walks over briskly knowing the results can't be good if James needs his help. Placing his right hand on the boy he scans him. He has a concussion, a cracked femur, a swollen spleen among other miscellaneous injuries. Without hesitation he raises his wand, "I'm removing the glamour" he states. Harry frightens at this, knowing what they'll see underneath won't please them and might set them off. Quickly sitting up he is greeted with an arm around his torso as James moves to sit on the bed behind him, restraining him. Harry holds his breath, the glamour drops. Squeezing his eyes closed he doesn't need to look to know that it's bad.

"Harry we have to wait till Robert gets here to treat most of these but I need you to cooperate with us" Tom said as he let his eyes roll over the mess that was Harry's body. Black and blue marks around his neck were very worrying to him, he had to get the boy undressed.