Consequences of the Truth

A/N: I want to thank a reviewer (Cherrie-san) for the idea on the collar for Sirius. I was trying to figure out how to get him in, and that fit just perfect (and yes the secondary pairing is Sirius and Snape (eek! I know right? Does that qualify as a crack pairing? Don't know…anyway…)

Harry's name will come out of the goblet, though reaction is a bit different this time. I'll be skipping through most of the cannon events, most this story will take place around them, with the exceptions written of course. Any questions, let me know. It has been a bit since I've read this one.

And if you're wondering, my song inspiration for this whole story is Coming Undone by Korn and Bring Me To Life by Evanescence. I know. I'm old.

First run, here, I plan to add another page to it, but I wanted to show off some minor fluff. I've decided on straight DracoXHarry, but with some attempted interference from a well-meaning, but way to brash and overbearing Viktor Krum. Maybe some attempted flirting with Blaise, but he's too…forward as well. Anyway, thanks for all the reviews! I take all suggestions to heart! I might pair Blaise with someone because I really like his character. I'm going to do a little NevilleXLuna (I think they go together) but only as a background character. Might do some BlaiseXGinny (I know, right? But she's smitten with Harry, when he turns out to prefer blokes, well, she's gotta seek comfort from someone).

12-3: Minor edits

Chapter Seven

The Snake and the Mutt Agree

Harry woke up with a groan to see he was in his room. On the bed beside him sat Snape, reading a book. The potion master seemed absorbed in what he was reading. His head was pounding and he felt his magic swirling inside his head. He'd had this happen before. He reigned it in and the magic snapped back into his magical core just as easy as it had leaked out of it.

"Sir?" he asked quietly, getting his attention.

"Harry, how are you feeling?" he asked, putting the book in his lap.

He reached up and put a hand to his head. "I have a headache. And I'm done."

Snape frowned. "Done?"

Harry nodded, staring at the ceiling. "Done. I'm not leaving this room for anything again."

"Harry, that's not practical," Snape reasoned.

"Nope, every time I leave, this happens. So not going again. So far, this place is the only place I'm safe."

"Your friends?" he asked.

Harry sighed. "If they want me, they can visit when you let them."

"Classes?"

"I can do all my work right here, and you can help me with practicals. Or if you don't want to do that, I'll just stop going to school and stay right here," he said softly.

"Okay, I will do whatever you want, but Constance is here to see you. Would you like me to leave when I bring her in and close the door?" he asked, standing.

"Don't close the door!" he said, sitting up in a near panic. Closed doors meant that things could happen. He swallowed hard. He had no idea where the thought came from, but he shut it away behind the doors of his mind.

Snape frowned. This was a new one. "Okay, Harry, I'll leave it open and be in the next room. I've got an owl to send, so I'll be gone for a few moments but you'll be fine with Constance."

He showed the healer in and took his leave. He had an owl to send to a large, black mutt after he talked to the headmaster.

"Harry," she said, coming in and sitting at the foot of his bed. "I hear you've had a rough couple days?"

Harry rubbed his forehead. "You could say that."

"Want to tell me what happened?" she said softly. She had a calming draught and a dreamless sleep in her pocket.

Harry nodded. "Well, I'm sure you know."

"I want you to tell me, though," she encouraged.

He sighed. "I got attacked by these guys in Diagon Alley when I was shopping with Sev. Th-they had a picture my uncle had taken, and th-they wanted to take me off and…I'm not sure what they wanted. They said to have some fun. I just…I just was so happy when I came around and Sev was with me. I knew I was okay then but still."

"Scary I bet. But you felt safe with Professor Snape."

He nodded. "Is that weird? I should be scared of him."

She sighed. This child was really going to be the end of her. "Why would that be weird?"

"He's Severus Snape, you know. He's…well, he's supposed to be a right git. And-and he's not, he's taken care of me, and bought me clothes, and he's still a git, and arrogant, and rude, but he's not mean to me…and I don't think he's going to hit me anymore…I mean, he would have done it already, wouldn't he?" he said, picking at the covers.

"What in the world have you done that he would have hit you for?" she asked quietly.

"Well, I had a nightmare last night, but he didn't come in here so I guess I didn't wake him up," he said softly. "Uncle would have hit me for waking him up. But I don't think Sev would hit me for that."

He heard the outer door open and close and knew that Snape had returned. He watched as he sat in the sitting area in the front to read once more. Harry didn't catch his own soft smile as he watched him.

"That's good that you don't think he would. Do you think that Professor Snape cares about you?" she asked.

Harry swallowed hard and frowned. "I…think he might. He…he doesn't seem to want anything from me like Uncle did. Uncle wanted me to pay my way," he said the last quietly.

"Pay your way?" she asked, brows furrowing.

"T-today, the boys in the bathroom, they had a b-bad picture, not like the first ones in Diagon Alley," he said, looking up at the ceiling.

"There are bad ones and not bad ones?" she asked.

Harry nodded. "The ones where I'm not doing things aren't the bad ones," he said softly. "The boys in the bathroom…they had one where I was doing something to Uncle, something I hated so much that it made me want to throw up every time."

"Was that what you meant by paying your way?" she asked.

Harry nodded, looking away. "I was scared when Sev t-took me for clothes. B-but he didn't ask for that, so maybe he won't?"

Constance swallowed hard, glad that the professor wasn't in the room. "Harry, he would never expect you to do something like that."

Harry nodded. "I mean, I know that. I do," he shook his head. "In my head, I know that he isn't Uncle. But…but…it still…you know…I…I don't know how to act sometimes. And if I act wrong he might punish me and I'm scared of that. Part of me wants to p-push him, to act wrong, to see wh-what it takes."

She moved to sit in the chair beside him. "What do you mean, what it takes?"

"T-to make him hit me," he said softly.

"Why would you want him to do that?"

"So I'd know, then. So I'd know what to do to avoid being hit, or having to do things, you know."

"Harry, nothing you do will push him to do something like what your uncle did to you, any of it. He's not going to withhold food, he's not going to beat you, and he's certainly not going to force you into sex acts," she said watching him carefully. At each word he flinched, and a tremble crossed him.

"I know. I mean, I don't know, and it scares me, I don't know if…if he could go that far if I did the wrong thing, enough to push him, t-to make him angry enough," he whispered.

"I heard you don't want to leave this room," she said after a long pause.

He nodded. "They all talk about me, I can hear it, and when I walk in the room they stop talking, so I know, and then those boys and the pictures. He-he told me…he told me that he'd make me regret telling anyone."

She sighed deeply. "You cannot avoid everyone, Harry."

"But I just need some time," he said softly. "Do…do you think I could stay here until his trial is over? Two weeks, th-they said."

"I think that would be fine, I'll talk with Professor Snape. I'll let you rest for now, Harry, but if you need me, I'll floo back in a few minutes, no matter what time it is," she said and stood.

She almost closed the door behind her but caught Snape's head shake. She headed back into the front and she sighed at him.

"He wants to stay in his room until the trial is over. That might be for the best. And Professor, you should be aware he might push your boundaries," she said, seeing he was already laying back in the chair as she took a seat across from him.

"What do you mean?" he asked frowning.

"He's afraid that he doesn't know your limits and what it would take for you to react the way his uncle did," she said with a sigh. "He doesn't know what it would take to make you hit him, and it bothers him."

Snape frowned. "I'd never hit him, I'd never hit a child, period," he said softly.

"That may be, but in his world view, that's unknown. Think about it, he knew if he did certain things what would happen. Burning food would mean a beating. Breaking something would also. He knew the boundaries, and he could prepare himself. So please, if he does something, keep that in mind, and don't be too hard on him for whatever it is. He may do it just to find out where your breaking point is," she said with a soft smile.

He nodded. "I…have a sharp tongue, so I will try to keep it in check. And I do have a short temper, so I will try not to do any damage, but I have my own demons to deal with."

She put a hand on his shoulder. "I understand that; just keep these things in mind. He may yell at you, scream, and curse, anything to get a rise out of you, just to see where that line is because he has no idea. He trusts you, though, more than anyone but he's worried about that line. He still worries that he'll have to 'pay' for your kindness."

"Pay?" he said with a frown.

"It seems he paid for kindness with favors," she said in almost a whisper.

Snape's eyes widened. "So when I took him for clothes and things, he thought I'd make him…?"

She nodded. "Don't blame him, he can't help it. Just continue proving him wrong on how he expects someone taking care of him to act."

She left and Snape swallowed hard. Even after everything, he still was scared of him? He was disturbed by that. There was a pop and a house elf presented him with a parchment. He frowned and unrolled it.

Agreed. Hogsmeade at the Shack tomorrow night. Need something to hide my presence. Hope you can come up with a solution.

He nodded. He was still unsure about what he was doing, but the headmaster had agreed. He sighed and leaned back. Having Potter's spawn in his rooms was bad enough, but the mutt as well?

-Consequences-

"One step forward, and three steps back, huh?" Ron said solemnly at breakfast.

"So it would seem," Hermione answered with a sigh. "He can't catch a break, it seems."

Tuesday had dawned with the realization that the trio was once more limited to a duo. Neville sat down opposite them, looking around.

"Seems that setback was an understatement when he found himself face to face with the photos," Ron explained. "I guess a couple sixth year Ravenclaws cornered him with one and he flipped afterward and won't come out of his room anymore."

Neville sighed. "I don't blame him. They were pretty horrible."

Snape came in looking tired, followed by a retinue of snakes who looked frustrated, with Draco at the head, looking almost irate.

"What's the deal with Malfoy, anyway?" Neville asked, watching with interest. "I mean, him and his bunch haven't been torturing us lately, and he's almost…tolerable."

Hermione had her ideas, but she didn't voice them. Ron, however, had no clue. "Dunno, maybe he feels bad? Though I can't imagine that prat feeling bad for anything."

After breakfast, they set about their day, and by the end were waiting outside the door to Snape's quarters wondering if they should knock or not.

"If you are going to just stand there, move so I can knock, at least," came the familiar drawl of Draco behind them.

"Ah, Malfoy," Hermione said, stepping back as the blond knocked on the door.

Snape answered it with no comment and moved away to return to sit by his fire and resume reading. Draco went in, and Ron and Hermione shrugged and followed. Neville waited a moment then scurried after them. They found Harry seated in his bedroom working on his charms work. He smiled when they came in and flopped on the bed. Draco had dropped into a larger chair beside the desk.

"Hey, how are you guys doing?" Harry said, glancing around.

"Missed ya today, mate," Ron said with a smile.

Harry nodded. "Yeah, I think until this trial is over, I'd rather stay off people's radar, you know?"

Hermione nodded. "When is it?"

"Not this next Monday, but the Monday after that. So two weeks from yesterday. Then I don't know how long it will take," Harry said. "But anyway, tell me what else has been happening."

They chatted until it was almost curfew, and the Gryffindors headed out first. Draco remained, and watched as Harry wrapped up his scrolls and turned to him.

"I'm surprised you stayed with that bunch around," he said with a smile.

Draco realized how much he appreciated his smile at a time like this. "Yeah, I know. But I wanted to make sure you were okay, you know, after yesterday. I swear, I thought Uncle Sev was going to blow a vein when he came back to the dorm last night. Not sure if he was angrier at the boys or at himself though."

Harry glanced down. "Yeah, I felt bad…"

"What the hell, Harry? Why would you feel bad for what those bastards did?" Draco asked, his own anger bristling.

"I just…I mean, if it weren't for me, they wouldn't have done it, and then they wouldn't be suspended, and they're going to be furious with me when they come back, and…" he stared at his hands as though nothing more interesting had ever existed.

Draco snorted. "Bullocks, Harry. They knew better. Wrong is wrong, and that is wrong."

Harry looked up and smirked at the blond. "Funny to hear that from a snake," he said softly.

"Even we have standards, Harry," he said with a roll of his eyes.

"I just…I can't get past how to act right now," Harry said with a heavy sigh, leaning back against the tall backed chair.

Draco frowned. "What does that mean?"

"I…I mean…getting past the fact that Severus isn't going to ask those things of me that Uncle did…" he said, his face flushing at the thought. "That he doesn't expect me to pay for things."

"Good Merlin, of course not, Harry," Draco said, slightly sick at the thought of what he was saying.

Harry shuddered at a memory surfacing, pushing it away. "Yeah, but I never was given anything without a price. I wanted to be held and hugged, and I wanted to feel someone touch me in good ways, and just when I thought that was going to happen, things got twisted into something truly horrible and I…I feel like if I let my guard down…the same thing will happen again."

Draco put a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Harry, that's over. You don't have to worry."

"But what if I mess up too bad?" he said softly. "And…and he realizes he made a mistake…and wants to send me somewhere else…"

"Harry, he won't," Draco assured.

"I just…I've never had someone care unconditionally. There were always conditions to get anything I wanted. To get food, I had to do the chores and cook the food, if I was lucky. And then…when I thought I would get something like…affection…he…" Harry paused and closed his eyes. "I don't know how to handle good things."

Draco sighed. "Yeah, well, well just don't you worry, Harry, we'll get you sorted out."

"Why are you doing this? I mean, is there a reason?" he asked nervously, refusing to look at the blonde. "I'm sorry I shouldn't say that. I just…I look for reasons people do things that are nice…and well, your company…is nice…"

Draco was a little put off by the question until he understood the rest of the sentence. "You think my company is nice?" he asked, looking out the door to see Snape just outside. He looked to have been about to say something but stopped at hearing Harry's statement.

Harry nodded, looking up with a sheepish smile. "Yeah, it is. I like when you're around. You keep me…grounded."

Draco's face lit up with a smile. A real one. "Well, that's a first, a snake keeping a lion on the ground?"

The raven stifled a giggle. "Yeah, I know, but you're…safe. I don't know why. I mean, Blaise and Theo, Neville, Seamus, Dean, all of them, they're good guys, but I can't imagine letting them touch me…" He reached out and took one of Draco's pale hands in his own. "I…I can't even think if doing something like that to one of them. It just doesn't feel…right."

Draco's eyes flitted between his clasped hand and to Snape's face who was watching with open astonishment. "Well, then I'm glad to be the safe one for you," he said carefully. Choosing his words right now was important. He couldn't seem too eager or act like what Harry was telling him was insignificant. Indeed, he understood how extremely monumental those words were.

"M-maybe it's stupid, because you were there at first and I just was shocked that you would be there for me, of all people. I mean, I know you've hated me for being the stupid boy-who-lived and all that crap. All that crap I could do without and m-maybe that's why you seem more…sincere. You could care less about the stupid scar on my forehead, or the dumb thing with the stupid dark lord, and well…" Harry trailed off not sure what to say.

Draco squeezed Harry's slender hand. "Well, let's worry about that later, okay. I most certainly could care less about your fame and fortune; I have enough of my own, thanks."

Harry smiled again, this time, it lit his eyes just a hair. "Yeah, I mean, I've had girls and guys ask me to go out and they don't care about me. They just care about Harry bloody Potter. Not me, just Harry, you know. And now…how am I ever going to find someone that doesn't see me and think about this stupid trial and those pictures that everyone is going to see because my Uncle was such a prick…"

"Not just your uncle, Harry," Snape's voice said from the door. Harry turned to him.

"What do you mean?" he asked softly.

Snape nodded. "Lucius was by and we talked about the situation. Someone in the Ministry had to get those photos Harry. He had contacts in the wizarding world, someone who was paying him off, and someone he had given those photos to long before he was picked up by the muggle police."

Harry paled slightly. "So…someone is wanting to do what exactly?"

"Put you right where you are right now, Harry," he said with a tired sigh. "Scared, in the spotlight, and hiding. They don't, however, know how determined of a bunch we are. Now, I've got a meeting to attend to shortly. Now, Draco? Would you like to stay here, it is far too late for you to head back. Just transfigure the couch, I'll be back soon."

Draco nodded and set about setting himself up. Before he left, Snape glared at his godson. "I'm counting on you, Draco. I'll be back soon." It didn't take a legilimens to figure out what his godfather meant. Harry had already slipped into bed and into a restless sleep as Draco fell into a similar one on the couch-bed.

-Collaring the Mutt-

Snape headed down the corridor and made his way into the Shrieking Shack. He wondered if anyone would ever realize the place wasn't haunted. He leaned against the wall until he heard a growl. He turned to look at Sirius Black's animagus form. He transformed into the familiar tall, dark haired man. His eyes were still wild, perhaps the after effects of his stay in Azkaban.

"Snape," he greeted, crossing arms over his chest.

"Black, do you ever bathe? You smell like a wet dog," Snape responded with a crinkled nose.

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Well, I have been a dog for a while, now what is it that you have planned?"

Snape removed something from his robes and handed it to the dark haired man. "What's…this is a collar, Snape. What the hell?"

Snape rolled his eyes. "Look, do you want to go undetected inside Hogwarts or not? It's protective, keeps anyone from exploring deeper than cursory looks that you're a great big black dog. It changes with your form too, so as long as you have it on, as far as detection goes, you're the big black dog. Completely masks your presence. Location spells won't work either."

Sirius grumbled but snapped the magical collar onto his neck, relieved to find it was unnoticeable once he put it on.

"How is Harry dealing with all this?" he asked, looking at Snape with a curious brow.

Snape sighed and detailed what had happened with the other students and that the pictures had begun to circulate at the school.

"I read the Prophet and I was disgusted. I intend to pay that fat muggle a visit before he disappears into the prison system. And by visit I mean with my teeth," Sirius said. "How bad?"

Snape sighed. "Poppy can show you the medical files, technically I suppose we share rights because the only reason you don't have him is because of your escaped convict status. I trust Poppy with this; she and Dumbledore are the only ones who know who you are. I want to keep it that way. But he was in sad shape. He had a bad infection where he'd been torn viciously during the latest…assault."

Sirius let out a low growl that definitely reminded one exactly what the man was when he was an animal. His eyes flashed. "I wish I could kill the bastard."

"Harry wouldn't forgive you," Snape reminded him.

"I know. Believe me, or he'd have died last year. And that was close and before I even knew what was going on," he said with another low growl.

"Well, he'll get his just desserts," Snape said with a deeper sigh.

"He deserves Azkaban," he said fixing Snape with a knowing stare.

Snape nodded. "I know, but as a muggle, they won't send him there."

"Doesn't mean they shouldn't," he said, running a hand through his wavy black hair. "I can't believe Lily's sister…how could she let this happen?"

"She didn't know about the rapes, from what we could tell. She happily let the police take him. Perhaps out of fear her son might be next if she didn't. But she didn't deny he was abused and starved. I can't imagine what his first few years there were like," Snape said with a deep sigh.

Sirius looked up, somewhat shocked by the real emotion he was seeing in the man. He had to admit, he'd changed a lot since their days at school. And now, what he was doing for Harry had given him more than a small amount of respect for him. "Anything else I should know?"

Snape thought and nodded. "I believe he may be forging a relationship with my godson, Draco. I wasn't sure about Harry's sexuality, but it seems he prefers wizards to witches. Just from what I've observed in the way he interacts, but I may be wrong."

Sirius nodded. Ugh, a Malfoy? Well, he guessed it didn't matter as long as he didn't hurt Harry. But he thought all they did was fight. He shook his head. "Let's go, I want to see Harry."

"He's already asleep," Snape said with a frown.

"Then I'll sleep on the foot of his bed and protect him during the night," he responded, a thick black brow arching.

Snape nearly growled to rival the dog before him. "Fine, but stay in the bloody dog form for now."

"I will as much as I can, but you know I have to change back so it doesn't stay permanent," he countered with a smirk, shifting smoothly into the large black dog. Together they made their way past the whomping willow and into Snape's quarters where Sirius made his way into Harry's room and curled on the foot under the wary gaze of the potion master. He snorted and checked that Draco was asleep and headed to his own rest.

The next morning, Harry woke to find his feet incredibly warm. He groaned and tried to move them but found them pinned. He panicked briefly but sat up, grabbing his glasses. His mouth hung open to see a large black dog on his bed.

"Sirius?" he breathed. The dog lifted his head and then shifted smoothly into the tall black haired man.

"Harry!" he said quietly. He sat still.

Harry didn't know what to say, do or thing, his mind just shut down. Sirius was on the foot of his bed. For a second he panicked but he pushed it away. This was Sirius, the godfather who would never hurt him. He waited another moment then crawled over and hugged him tightly. "Sirius, how? Won't you get caught?"

Snape stood at the door sipping tea. "I collared the mutt," he explained. Sirius gave him a hard glare then pointed to the collar.

"Something Severus came up with," Sirius explained. Makes me hard to detect, and it changes form with me, but obviously I have to stay in my animagus form most the time while I'm here. Too easy to be detected otherwise."

"Speaking of which, Black, get back into it, Draco's about to wake up."

It never failed to amaze Harry when he watched the transformation. He ran his hands through the black fur and wrinkled his nose. "You need a bath, come on, Padfoot," he said, filling the bathtub in short order.

By the time both emerged from the room, Harry was clean and dressed with an equally clean black dog beside him. Draco stared as he sat down at the table.

"What?" he asked, looking at Snape.

"A little extra insurance for Harry's safety, his name is Padfoot, and he's a magical dog, so he'll protect Harry with his very life," Snape explained, biting off toast and reading the Prophet.

Sirius growled and rolled his eyes, flopping on the floor beside Harry's feet as he sat down to eat. Harry sighed dejectedly as he looked at the front of the Prophet. An interview with an anonymous Hogwarts student detailing Harry's wanton behaviors during the school year, which seemed to end with blaming it on his abuse. Snape looked at him, then sighed.

"Harry, you know they make these things up. Just ignore it, before long they will have another scandal to deal with," Snape assured.

After breakfast he went to his room, ensuring the door was open. Sirius followed and laid himself in the doorway. He may not be able to talk to his godson like this, but at least he could protect him from any threat that came their way.

-The Trial-

The trial was an incredibly simple affair. The jury came in and opening statements were read. Evidence was presented in an orderly fashion. The jury was not shown the videos, since the plea was guilty after the defense saw the videotaped evidence, they were only told about their existence and given the file of photographs. A man who remained unnamed in the court documents testified in place of the victim, something the jury had never heard of happening. However, when the man was done explaining his position as guardian and the fragile state of his mental health, they agreed it was for the best. The defendant's wife and son also testified, admitting to taking part in the physical and psychological abuse of the boy from the time they came into custody. The jury wondered at the fact no one noticed the abuse before.

After a half an hour spent deliberating (most of which was discussing what horrible things could be done to the man before them), the verdict was returned with perhaps the stiffest sentence anyone had ever heard of for this type of crime. The fat defendant took it all stoically. He had nothing to say. He'd been caught. But then he stood suddenly and started yelling that it was terrible for them to punish him for something that happened to a freak that was less than human and a great many other things that left those in the courtroom quite stunned.

However, the mauling by a huge black dog (some claimed it to be a black bear!) didn't seem to shock anyone. Even the man's wife seemed to watch as the beast tore at her husband with disinterest. A couple rubber bullets were fired at the creature, sending him running away, and no one bothered to follow or try to catch him. They wondered at the fact they didn't care. The fat man was hauled off to spend six weeks in the infirmary. The black dog was quite self-satisfied when he appeared beside the tall potion master and trotted off to clean the blood from his paws and mouth. The muggle's taste had to go.

All the while, Barty Crouch watched the events unfold with a smile. He didn't know how Black had gotten wind of the trail, but it was clear he was incensed to come out in public. Unfortunately, he was thwarted in his attempts to trace the beast even when he knew where to look for him. He smiled to himself. Yes, the plan was working, if a little differently than intended. By the time the boy who lived faced Voldemort, he would be a shell of himself, and he would die. And nothing would stop that. He would keep the pressure up now. He sighed, running hands through hair. His son had escaped, but that didn't matter. He knew he was out there.

And indeed he was. He smirked to himself, downing the potion again that maintained his disguise. He really needed to make this last longer. His lord's plans were moving forward splendidly. He would have to see if he could spend some time alone with the brat. He did miss his face, though. He had everything in place, and in just a few weeks, the Tri-Wizard would start. And he would make sure everything followed according to plan.