"We can do that." Lucius nodded. " Minerva you will continue your duties as Deputy and Head of Gryffindor. We will send Woodlock to you for interview. "

Severus nodded and absently rubbed Harry's back. It was clear to the board that he really cared for the boy.

"If I may ask..." Augustus wondered ,"How did you come to gain Guardianship of the boy?"

"I was a friend of his mother."

With that Severus left the room and went to his quarters to try and calm the shaking boy in his arms.

Harry and his kitty, Hellborn, walked into the Headmaster's quarters a week later and sat silently on the couch. He began doing his homework knowing that Severus was in his new office. Severus had said he could come here whenever he wanted to whether he,Severus was there or not. This was the first time he was taking him up on the offer because Ron and Hermione had been picking on him in the library. He liked it better here anyway because it had better books to read and Severus was always nice to him.

The floo flared and Lucius came out. He blinked in shock at the boy sitting there.

"Hello, Mr. Potter."

Harry looked up and began shaking.

"It's okay I wont hurt you." Lucius said gently. " Do you know where Severus is?"

Harry nodded and pointed toward the office.

"Thank you, honey."

Harry cocked his head to the side confused and nodded.

Lucius smirked to himself as he headed for the office.

"Severus, do you know there is a small snake in your quarters?"

"He has permission to be there." Severus replied, ignoring the teachers in front of him. "What is he doing?"

"It looked as if he was doing a Transfiguration's essay."

"Good." Severus nodded, "Why are you here, Lucius?"

"I need to speak to you."

"Well, you'll have to wait I'm in a meeting."

"I'll just go wait in your quarters then."

"Do not scare the child like your son did. Or I will not be happy."

Lucius chuckled and went back into the quarters. He sat on a chair watching Harry.

"Sassy!" the elf appeared to Harry's call. " Tea for two please."

The beamed and quickly got it along with a snack for her still to thin Master.

"Master, is eating his snack." Sassy said, " Sassy is bringing snack for kitty Hellborn too."

"I will, Sassy." Harry picked up a carrot. "Thank you, Sassy."

Harry ate his carrots dipped in ranch while he continued to do his homework.

"Where did you used to live before you came here."

"Little Whinging, Surry." Harry answered distantly, " With my aunt, uncle and cousin. "

Lucius hummed a second while drinking his tea. He didn't understand why he was feeling like this for the child in front of him. The door slammed open and Draco came huffing in . Lucius watched his sons eyes flash at the sight of Harry sitting there working.

"Where is uncle Sev?" he demanded. "Don't ignore me! Stop ignoring me!"

Lucius grabbed his son's arm before he could hit Harry and drug him into the hall. To give him a stern talking to and another sound spanking.

Severus happily went into his quarters to see Harry. He sat next to Harry and gave him a one armed hug. For that he got a shy smile. He looked at the mostly eaten snack and smiled himself. He hadn't needed to tell the Potter elves to help him get Harry to eat more and they even made sure it was healthy he was glad for that. He looked up when Lucius re entered the room with Draco who looked like he'd been crying Severus could only guess what had happened and really didn't care the boy deserved to be spanked for the way he treated his son.

Severus jolted a bit.

'When did I start thinking of Harry as my son?' Severus wondered. 'Well, if I ever had a son I'm glad it's him. '

He gave Harry another one armed hug and watched Draco's eyes flash.

'So that's it.'he sighed to himself..'The spoiled little brat his mad at Harry for taking my attention away from him. He needs to learn that he is not and can not be the only child in my life. I have Harry now and because of his relatives he demands a lot more of my attention right now. I'll have to sit down and explain that to him. '

"Draco, have you done your homework yet?"

"No, uncle Sev." Draco said repulsed by the very idea of doing homework the day he got it. " Why would I? It's not do ..."

"Well, maybe you should take a leaf out of Harry's book and do it when it is given." Lucius snapped at his son. "That way you have more free time to do what you like."

"All he ever does is read and grab the attention of the older kids by acting so cute and innocent. "

"Done." Harry said, and handed Severus all of the homework he'd done both in the library and the one he just finished. " Sorry, I came up here, but Weasley and Granger were picking on me in the library. Professor McGonaggal said that Granger, Weasley, and Longbottom got another detention on top of the one they got for driving the flying car here. They have to serve this new one with Filch but the first they have to serve with Hagrid. Also Lockheart keeps following me around. " he looked uneasy. " It's making me real scared because he looks at me like uncle Vernon used to look at me... " He glanced at Draco then back at Severus." I saw Goyle go off with him..."

"and when he showed back up a few hours later..." Draco cut in nodding. "He was crying real bad and he had burn like marks around his wrists. He wouldn't tell us what happened Crabbe, Evans and I asked and I saw Potter trying to talk to him as well he just shut us all out. "

Harry nodded rapidly.

Severus began shaking.

" I see." Severus growled, Harry's eyes got big and he looked scared again. "Well, I'll just have to talk to Lockheart but first Draco go and get Goyle."

"Right."

Draco ran off.

Severus pulled Harry into his lap and rubbed his back he had Hellborn in his arms. Severus didn't want to do this but he needed the truth and if Lucius heard it then they could get charges pulled up on Vernon Dursley.

"Harry, honey, did your uncle ever touch you where he wasn't supposed to?"

Harry looked up at him.

"Yes, sir." Harry mumbled. Lucius sat forward eyes blazing. " He did it a lot. He ... would touch me and ... put his... " Harry looked away. "Inside me... and beat me and strangle me... while ... he was... inside me... it hurt a lot but he wouldn't stop and said if I told anyone he would kill me..." Harry was crying. "But I know you'll protect me." He latched on to Severus. "You'll protect me right, daddy?"

"Right." Severus said in a strained voice he couldn't tell if he was choked up with emotion over the child calling him daddy or because his Muggle Studies teacher was molesting children and he was pissed off by it. " I'll protect you always."

Lucius was seething he'd allowed Goyle to break down on him until his father got there. When the man had arrived and Goyle had broken over all over again. Crabbe had been molested too and his dad was there. Lucius was glad that Draco had been smart enough to take Harry's warning two weeks ago to heart and had stayed away from the man. Harry had noticed the behavior and had taken to finding and using secret passages and hidden stairways to avoid him as often as they could.

Lockheart was denying everything but the boys stories lined up and charges were going to drawn.

Lucius was watching four emotional teens while the trial was going on. Two were going to testify while the other three were along because they were along for support and because they were under Severus' and , in the case of Draco, his care. It was the week before the Christmas holiday. Crabbe and Goyle Sr were in the court room at the moment and Lucius was trying to keep the boys calm. Draco was trying to get Harry to stop shaking. Lucius couldn't figure out why the boy was so scared he didn't have to go in the room. It was hurting him to see the young boy like this it was almost enough to make him go inside and get Severus or Black.

"Sassy." the elf popped up blinking. "Will you please go get Hellborn for your master?"

"Sassy is getting kitty Hellborn for her master." The elf agreed and vanished. When she popped up she looked annoyed and had the cat on her head she ran to her master as the Wizengamont came out. "Master, Sassy is getting Kitty Hellborn for you."

"Thank you, Sassy." Harry took his cat and patted his elves head. Sassy beamed at him and vanished again. He snuggled his small kitten then ran and slammed into Sirius who grunted. " Padfoot..."

"Scared again, kiddo?" Harry nodded, and he picked him up. " It'll only be a few more minuets then I'll take you and your friends out for some ice cream."

"K..." Harry's voice was soft and almost not heard as Sirius set him back on the bench. "..."

" We'll be back soon, Harry." Sirius soothed, " It wont take long. Severus will be out in a few too."

Harry nodded and began rocking while petting Hellborn. He had never told anyone his secret and was wondering if he should tell his new dad or godfather about it. He knew that all they wanted to do was protect him. His head was pounding now it was always pounding in crowded places like school and here at the Ministry. It was why Harry had taken to staying with Severus so he could be away from everyone.

True to his word Severus and Sirius came out less then twenty minuets later. Harry was instantly clinging to Severus who rubbed his back absently as Harry clung to his robes.

"Good news." Sirius said to the boys who were clinging to their dads as well. " Lockheart was sent of to Azkaban. " they both nodded. "Now I believe I promised to buy you all ice cream."

"I'm not allowed Ice cream." Harry spoke up when they got to an ice cream parlor "It's not on the diet the Healer put me on."

"You can have some." Severus said softly, "It's okay to splurge once in awhile, Harry and you do need to gain more weight remember you'll have to start taking potions again. "

"Oh, right." Harry huffed, he didn't want that start again. " I'll just have a little please."

They all had little cones though Sirius had offered to buy whatever they wanted. Harry had been surprised by that. Draco always seemed to want everything and it really got annoying. Crabbe and Goyle Sr. thanked Sirius, Lucius and Severus for helping their boys and Apperated them home. They'd all start break early except for Harry because he was living with Severus. Severus had given him the option to stay out of class but Harry wasn't sure if he wanted to or not.

Draco and Lucius left a little later. Harry, Sirius and Severus walked down the street. Harry was holding Severus' hand. They were going to a toy store a few blocks away but Harry didn't know that. His eyes got huge when he saw the two story floor store. They went in and Harry looked this way and that. Sirius had grabbed a cart while Hellborn hid in Harry's hair vanishing from sight instantly. Sirius and Severus were loading things into the cart. Sirius handed Harry a box that held a game boy in it. They wanted him to choose the color he wanted while they were a little ways away picking out games.

"Hey, Freak." Harry turned to see Dudley waddling over to him. "What are you doing? Give me that!"

"No!" Harry pulled the box back towards them and just like that they were playing tug a war over it. "My daddy and Godfather are going to buy it for me!"

"Freaks don't get toys!" Vernon growled stomping up. He raised his hand to hit Harry whose eyes went wide but suddenly his arm was stopped. " Give over that game, Freak."

"Daddy!" Harry cried clinging to Severus. He and Sirius had rushed to Harry when they saw the boy and man. "Uncle is being mean to me again."

"Severus!" Petunia gasped as she joined them. "Sirius!" she began shaking, Sirius was holding Vernon's wrist and was close to snapping it. "Vernon, stop." her husband glared at her but lowered his arm. Sirius let go. " Dudley, give Harry the game. "

"What?!" Dudley cried, "Why?"

" Because if you don't you'll have to answer to my daddy and dogfather!" Harry snapped snatching the game. Severus smirked and rubbed Harry's back, Sirius let out a barking laugh and patted the boys head. " They can curse you. You thought you were scared just having a tail, Dud, well they will turn you into a whole pig!"

"There's an idea." Sirius smirked, " or we could sick Hellborn on him. Kneazals are known to protect their masters..."

"No need for that, Sirius." Petunia cried, she grabbed another box. "Look, Dudders, this one is blue. You like blue. "

"Okay, fine." Dudley huffed taking it. "But I want five games including the new Mega man and Pokemon games."

"Oh, sorry, kiddo." Severus replied, "I just bought out the last games in those for my son."

Harry was so happy his new daddy and his dogfather hadn't hurt the Dursley's but had bought him a ton of toy and more clothes. He had tried to tell them that Christmas was coming and they should wait but they hadn't cared. He was so happy and comfortable he decided to tell them about his secret when they'd gotten back to the school