Chapter Nine – Standing in the Sun

Disclaimer: They still do not belong to me.

A/N: Once again, thanks for the reviews. You guys are absolutely awesome.


"Where's Tiny?" Harry had been late arriving at the meeting, a much anticipated (at least on his part) "birthday night." He would be receiving a three month chip as a symbol of the efforts he had been taking to actively put his traumatic past behind him. "Celina?"

The girl turned towards him and he gasped at the sight of her mascara-and-tear streaked face. "Harry." Her voice wavered and she buried her face in her hands, crying softly.

At one point, he would have awkwardly patted her shoulder to offer solace. Instead, he gave her a strong hug. "Tell me what's happened. Why are you crying?"

"I heard . . . on the news . . ." her words were jumbled, interrupted by gasps and soft sobs.

"What did you hear?"

"Tiny . . . you know his name was Luthor, right?" At Harry's nod, "I recognized the address that was said . . . someone broke into his house . . . he's at the hospital now . . . they wouldn't tell me anything--"

Harry felt his heart clench, a cold hard, frighteningly familiar knot forming in the pit of his stomach. "No. No. We'll wait for Tabitha and then we'll all go to the hospital together." He continued murmuring, keeping his voice low and soothing, unconsciously emulating the man who had spoken so gently to him and guided him over the past few months.

Tabitha arrived a few moments later and was quickly filled in on the situation. "All right," she said briskly, wiping her own eyes dry, "grab the chip basket. We're going to have birthday night with Tiny, even if we have to be out in the hall. He'd . . . he'd do the same for us."

Harry followed the two girls out and waited with them for a taxi. Thoughts raced in his head. This is why you don't want to care for people, Harry. It hurts and it will only hurt you more--NO! No, I won't think that way anymore! Yes, it hurts, but we're all hurting together. I'm not hurting alone anymore.

"I'm not in the cupboard anymore," he murmured softly, almost to himself. Celina over heard his words and, despite not knowing the full story behind them, took his hand.

"None of us are."


A somber group gathered in room 214. Tiny had been assaulted by a man trying to find money for narcotics. He had been beaten severely and remained unconscious. The doctors did not have him in ICU, as they were confident he would regain consciousness soon, and they encouraged his friends to speak to him.

Harry swallowed hard and felt tears well up in his eyes at the sight of his friend hooked to IVs, other machinery, and swaddled in bandages.

Tabitha put a small red chip in his hands. He turned it over – it was his very first chip – and read the words To Thine Own Self Be True on the back.

"My name is Harry and I am a trauma survivor," he began, his voice shaking with emotion.

"Hi, Harry." Like the first time it had happened, the response made him smile a little.

"I was abused by my relatives when I was younger. Locked in a cupboard that was my room. I knew nothing of my parents beyond the lies my aunt and uncle told me . . ."

Harry talked for thirty solid minutes, sharing as much as he could without breaching the wall between his worlds. He spoke clearly, he spoke honestly, and he didn't try to blink away the tears that streaked down his face.

It may have been his imagination, but he thought he saw Tiny smile very slightly and stir towards the end of his narrative.

"I'm somewhat reconciled with my guardian," Harry concluded. "He's as much a trauma victim as I am . . . and if he should find his way to a meeting, I would be glad to welcome him."

"Good job, kid," came a rough whisper. Tiny moved slightly and opened his eyes. "Good job." The serious nature of his condition was the only thing that kept three young adults from piling onto his bed, but they swarmed closer, each of them reaching out to touch him and reaffirm their individual sense of reality.

"This isn't what I meant by adding to your story," Tiny said later, having received well wishes and goodbye hugs from the other two girls. "Don't keep me on it."

"I won't," Harry assured him. "I'm just very glad that you are all right."

"Me too," Tiny said with good humor. "And I'm very glad that you're all right as well."

Harry laughed. "I am?"

I am. I am truly all right now -- or at least I am beginning to be.


Dear Severus,

I have told you about my friends. Would you like to meet them?

--Harry

Once again, Severus Snape found himself completely astounded by a Potter.

Harry,

It would be my honor.

--Severus

--End--