Well here it is, chapter 7. Thank you all for the favorites, follows, and especially the reviews. I love hearing what things you like or don't like (as long as your nice about it) about my story. Thanks for all the support. Please enjoy and leave some feedback!

It had been a very long week for Harry. The house was hot and stuffy, and the back garden wasn't any better. He also learned that Tobias operated under the "Trust but Verify" motto, he'd ask Harry when he came home if he'd watched the telly, Harry would reply with an honest no (not like there was anything good on anyway), and then Tobias would put his hand on the box to make sure it was cool anyway. On Wednesday it wasn't, but Severus was quick to jump in and let his father know he had recently watched a show.

Harry would on occasion hang out back with Danny playing football in the small yard or a board game, Tobias gave him a few easy chores to do and aside from his almost nightly nightmares his week was quite dull. Harry was perfectly happy with this.

/

Severus's week, in contrast, was anything but dull. Harry had at least stayed out of his way for the most part during the week, but perhaps the child had seen that Severus was in a foul mood. Mr. Jenkins at the store had been impossible to please.

"Boy, set up the porridge display here and the soup in that corner." And of course once it was done he'd frown and say he wanted it the other way around, and no he hadn't changed his mind, obviously Severus hadn't really listened.

Lily had come in once on an errand for her mother. Severus had tried to say hello, but she huffed and headed in the other direction, then of course he got scolded again for dawdling as he was trying to compose himself to not look completely crushed.

The grumpy old lady that lived across the street had asked that he carry her groceries home like she normally did, Severus wouldn't normally have minded doing this for someone, except that Mrs Hawkins usually used the walk to let him know how much of a loser he was. She'd never cared for him after he had accidentally turned her cat into a skunk that sprayed her and her house when he was 6 while she was babysitting him. His mother had fixed it and obliviated her, but somehow the feeling of hatred and resentment sayed put and Mrs. Hawkins used every opportunity to let Severus know.

And today had been the worst day yet, a few of Severus's former primary school classmates had stopped in to "see how he was doing." In other words, to wait till his shift ended to try to beat him up. It was a fairly common game for them to try and get Severus alone and outnumber him then show him how much of a freak he was, usually by several punches to the gut and an occasional bloody nose. He almost got home this time too except for one of the gits had hidden in a side alley and jumped out at him just as he had finally put some distance between the others and himself. Severus wished he was allowed his wand he could hex them all.

"Severus! What happened?" Tobias said as he saw his son walk in the door late after his shift had ended. His face was scratched up, nose bleeding, and a large bruise was beginning to show on his bicep.

The teen shrugged.

"Do you want me to go talk to their fathers again?" Tobias asked but Severus shook his head. Two years ago Tobias had done just that and the bullying only got worse after because the boys were mad that they had gotten in trouble. Except the ringleader who's father knew Tobias from the factory and called Tobias a liar to his face saying that it wasn't his son that had anything to do with it.

Harry, who had been curled up on the sofa with a book, peeked over the top when Severus had come home, he was shocked to see his former potions master who had been so formidable in such a state. He knew exactly how it felt, but of course couldn't let on that he knew exactly what it was like to be chased around the neighborhood. Of course Aunt Petunia wouldn't have cared if he had walked in bloodied and banged up so long as he didn't make a mess anywhere in the house. He watched as Tobias helped Severus up the stairs to get cleaned up. Severus gave him a nasty glare so Harry quickly ducked back behind his book.

/

Severus turned the prefect badge over in his hand, the moon was almost full and shined brightly in the bedroom, he had wanted to be a prefect and had been quite disappointed when his fifth year letter came without the badge. It had been even more disappointing to learn Lily was given the honor but he hadn't. At least Potter and Black weren't either, that would have been unbearable. Harry's steady breathing in the bed next to him assured him that he was asleep. Severus kept going back and forth in his head if he wanted to go to the party tonight. On one hand he never got to see his school friends over the summer, he'd only ever been invited to the all Slytherin parties at school, this was his very first party invite, if you didn't count Lily's 10th birthday party. He was no fool though, if his father ever found out, and there was a very good chance he would, he would be dead. He weighed the risks and if it would be worth it.

Sighing he reluctantly put the badge down on the nightstand next to him and went to the bathroom to tend to his nose which had started to bleed again.

Severus watched the pink tainted water swirl down the drain, he still had on his jeans from the day and a shirt that now was slightly ripped and had some blood on it, he combed his hand through his hair and decided to go change. When he walked into his room there stood Harry holding the prefect badge.

"I didn't know you were a prefect." Harry said, Severus lept towards the boy to take the badge out of his hands and as he clasped his hand around Harry's hand and the badge he felt that pull at his navel he had just enough time to grab is wand off the nightstand as he and Harry were sucked into the portkey.

/

The boys landed in a pile on a gravel driveway.

"Getof me." Severus grunted as Harry had landed on top of his already bruised ribs.

"Sorry" muttered Harry as he quickly struggled to his feet and looked around. "Where are we?" he asked as he looked up at the tall wrought-iron gates in front of him and tall hedges on two sides.

"Malfoy Manor."

"Malfoy? I don't want to be here, Severus, take me home." Harry cried in a panicked voice.

Severus rolled his eyes "Well if you had kept your paws off my stuff you wouldn't be here. And how the bloody hell am I supposed to get you home now?" he hissed at the small boy standing barefoot and in his pajamas in front of him.

"I didn't know it was a portkey! Can't you apparate us home?"

"I'm not 17 yet, I don't know how." Severus snapped harshly, "Come on, maybe someone at the party will be willing to bring you back." He placed his hand on the gate and it opened for him. Severus straightened his back and with a purposeful stride headed towards the massive manor home in front of them. Harry jogged along next to him, he tried to grasp Severus's hand but the older boy shook him off.

The boys stopped and stared at the magnificence of the manor when they arrived, neither had seen a home this grand, "I bet it's bigger than Buckingham Palace" Harry said in awe. Severus grunted in agreement. He'd heard about the Malfoys weath, but this was obscene. As he stepped up to the door a house elf opened and bid them to enter. Harry saw that it wasn't Dobby, he wasn't sure if Dobby was alive yet or not. How old did house elves get, he wondered.

The two walked in awed silence through the front foyer.

"Severus! You came!" a boy about the same age said. Severus and Harry turned to see a boy standing in the doorway, he was dressed smartly and had in his hand a glass that looked like it had firewhiskey in it, he swayed slightly as he strode over to Severus and greeted his friend.

"Evan." Snape acknowledged.

"Snape! You made it. And what'd you bring with you? Something for target practice." A burly boy said with a cruel smile. Severus followed Mulciber's gaze and realized he meant Harry, but before he could even say anything the boy flicked his wand.

Harry had been trying to hide behind Severus and not be seen; it worked fine with the first boy who seemed to be a little drunk already, but the second had an evil look in his eyes that frightened him. He realized the boy was talking about him and wished he he was back home in bed. He saw the boy, flick his wand and suddenly his wrists snapped together as if binded by some invisible rope, the boy flicked his wand again and suddenly Harry was dangling by his wrists about a foot off the ground. He kicked his feet trying to reach the boy, but he was out of reach.

"Lemme go!" Harry screeched as he continued to kick and squirm with no affect. Severus just looked stunned.

"Mulciber, come on, let him down, I didn't bring him for you to toy with." Severus explained.

"Then why did you bring him?" Avery asked joining the group.

"He grabbed the portkey at the wrong time." Severus explained, he gripped his wand a little tighter.

"Let me go you bloody git!" Harry yelled.

Mulciber tisked, "No manners whatsoever." He flicked his wand again and Harry screamed .

To Harry it was as if a whip or belt had struck him cross the back.

Mulciber was about to do it again when Severus yelled "Expelliamous!" and grabbed the larger boys wand as if flew into his hand, he grabbed Harry with one arm and the little boy quickly wrapped his legs around the teen while Severus performed the counter spell to release the boys wrists. As soon as he was free Harry wrapped his arms around Severus neck and cried. Severus gave Mulciber a glare before turning to Avery "Where's Lucius?"

As if summoned by his name the wide doors at the end of the hall opened and Lucius strood through them followed by Narcissa.

"What is going on?" he demanded with a frown as he looked between Mulciber, Avery, Rosier, and Severus. Before anyone could say anything Narcissa saw Severus holding Harry.

"Oh! The poor thing!" She gasped, "Severus, bring him in here." She gestured towards a door that led into a small sitting room, "put him on the couch." Severus was grateful for the private place to put Harry down, Narcissa quickly summoned a house elf to bring a medical kit while Lucius dealt with the other three boys in another room.

"Damn that Mulciber." the young woman hissed as she gently lifted Harry's top to see the red lash mark on his back. "Why did you bring the boy?" she asked Severus, but not in an accusatory tone.

"It was not intended I assure you. He grabbed the portkey, didn't know what it was." Severus explained as Narcissa carefully tended to Harry.

Harry meanwhile tried very hard to be brave, but he was in a lot of pain and couldn't help but cry even after Narcissa gave him a vile of pain potion. "You let him hurt me, Sev." Harry said accusingly.

Severus didn't deny it, he should have acted sooner. "I'm so sorry, Harry."

Lucius had slipped in and watched quietly as Narcissa finished up and helped Harry put his pajama top back on. "Severus, who is the child?"

Harry just gave Severus a nervous look, unsure how the older boy would answer.

"My brother." He answered without a hint of wavering.

Lucius was taken aback, "I thought you were an only child."

"I was… till he came along."

Narcissa smiled and stroked Harry's hair. "He's tired, we should send them home, Lucius."

"I apologize for my other guests, their behavior tonight was unacceptable." Lucius said before snapping his fingers and a house elf appeared at his side.

"Nobby, take Severus and, Harry was it, home."

Nobby, the house elf, waited while Severus picked up Harry, the little boy wrapped his arms and legs around his big brother and rested his head on his shoulder, he gave a little smile and wave to Narcissa and then Nobby took Severus's hand and they popped out of the manor and to the front steps of their home in Spinner's End.

"Good night, sirs." Nobby said before popping away again.

The front door opened and the angriest looking Tobias that Severus had ever seen stood there, "WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?" He roared.