Funny story on why this chapter is late: I can't count apparently. That's it.

Warning: Issa long chapter

Chapter 9

Kingsley Shacklebolt was a rising star among his auror circles and, if he were being honest (but humble), an all around good man. He was kind and fair to his coworkers whether they be above his rank or below, always ready to lend a helping hand, and loyal to the letter of the law. Even the criminals he apprehended couldn't fault him as he took more alive and uninjured than any other auror on the force past or present. He never took a day off and he had not a single complaint against him. He was a wizard who consciously and unconsciously held himself up to all these standards and more.

Which is why he was now leaning against a muggle hospital wall and desperately trying to keep his food within his stomach and not all over the floor.

"I feel… dirty," Kingsley murmured aloud. The memories of Vernon Dursley were absolutely disgusting. It was so hateful and harmful that he felt the need to scrub his brain. At least he was the last muggle that he had to alter because he doubted he'd be able to even view the events of this day ever again. Why did he have to have such a skill with altering memories? Why did he only tell two people of this skill that was definitely a secret weapon? Of course it wasn't the man who helped him hone his natural skills that had him out in this hospital—that man wouldn't be able to convince him to eat his favorite chocolate with how distasteful he was these days. No, there was only one man in the entire world who could and would convince him to alter more than fifty people's minds and free that disgusting animal from a well deserved life behind bars.

"I would not have asked you to do this if I did not truly believe it was the right thing to do," Albus replied beside him in his most solemn and serious voice. Of course he knew that. Only someone truly evil would want to free either Dursley without good cause. Kingsley suppressed the sigh that wanted to leave him and instead started a mantra to center himself. He was a good man and an upholder of the law. He was a good man and an upholder of the law. He was a good—

"You're back," a voice stated. Kingsley slowly pulled himself from having a full on meltdown to face a too small little boy. He was so pale that Kingsley could see the veins pumping his life force just below his skin with hair as red as blood. His little arms were folded across his chest, pushing at the muggle contraption tethering him to a beep machine. Kingsley dully wondered how he hadn't heard him approach with such a thing tied to him. But then he was distracted by the heated glare that the boy had leveled them with. It was impressive given that he was literally only hip tall. Actually, he looked rather familiar.

"Hello, my boy," Albus smiled, turning to face him completely with his blue eyes in full blown twinkle mode. Unlike many others who found comfort in the old man's expression, the boy's face twisted into a nasty snarl that Kingsley thought too mean to be on such a cute little face. But oh. That's how he knew this boy. He was the 'demon' Vernon had tried to brutally murder. In his memories the boy had been warped horribly to the point that he hadn't even looked human in the evil man's memories.

Merlin, he felt dirty again. This boy was being harmed—truly harmed by his own relatives and yet, here he was, actively undoing all the hard work people had done to get them out of this situation. From the lovely social worker to the doctors and the constables. Kingsley's stomach made a valiant attempt to disobey him as he realized that this was also how their supposed savior was being treated as well.

Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived was just beyond that door all beat up and hurt. And soon to be back in the arms of hateful monsters. Kingsley was a good man and an upholder of the law. He was a good man and—

"Who are you? You're not a part of the memory squad but…" the redhead eyed him with too much suspicion. Kingsley cocked his head and eyed the boy right back.

"What do you know of the memory squad?" He countered. He, along with the other Order members, had been told that the Potter boy was being raised away from the magical world. That included this new Potter boy or so he thought. Then again, Kingsley wasn't sure that he was actually in the loop. To think that Lily and James had been able to keep such a huge secret—twins!—from the entire Order was just unbelievable. The kid did look like his mother though and had his father's eyes and Kingsley trusted Dumbledore with his life but still… a hidden twin? It sounded like something from a sappy muggle telenovela.

"I know that they will be making sure that Harry and I will be right back with the Dursleys. This was very messy business. Much too messy to let sit," The little boy hummed thoughtfully, face relaxing minutely.

"You are very sharp, Severus," Albus complimented. Severus?! Is that the name Lily had saddled this poor child with? Kingsley rubbed at his eyes and tried to hold in the heavy sigh stuck in his chest somewhere. No wonder this boy was such a defensive, smart tyke. A name had a lot of power and it could only be assumed that the personality of that nasty piece of work was influencing this boy. Seriously, how had Albus convinced anyone, much less the school board that Severus Snape of all people should be around children? Even if the man was currently on a sabbatical, he was sure the first five years had traumatized enough children!

"Sharp enough to know that your memory charms won't work on me," Severus snapped harshly, his expression tightening again, "And if you try to alter Harry I will just dissolve them."

"It is much easier to perform on unsuspecting people…" Kingsley conceded with a carefully indifferent nod and a bit of relief courses through him. Somehow he hadn't even thought that they would alter the twins' minds. It was bad enough that he crafted a story of innocence for the beast—oh no he wasn't trying to murder his nephews, in fact he was nowhere near those boys! He was coming home to surprise his son with presents when he got attacked by some lunatic that Vernon couldn't quite remember thus making it very hard for him to help the muggle officers who were there, not to arrest him but to take his statement and provide some protection. As for the boys… well, they were jumping on their beds and it was all an unfortunate accident that everyone would just be glad didn't end in tragedy. He was lying and putting the blame on innocent victims and he was sure that this itchy sensation would never go away.

"Indeed it is. We shall take our leave now. Have a speedy recovery, my boy," Albus half chuckled but there was a… tightness Kingsley didn't hear quite often in his tone.

"Oh, no you don't, old man. Who are you?" Severus demanded, stepping in their path. He really was such a tiny thing. Much as Snape had been but Snape wasn't anywhere close to being this cute at any age or this clean. But it was this attitude, this presence of being a dragon covered in scales and equipped with claws despite being something much softer and fragile that truly had him seeing the Potions fanatic.

"You remind me of your namesake, you know…" Kingsley noted absently. Severus seemed interested in his statement but a shift from Albus had fiery brown eyes locked onto the old man like a hawk with prey.

"Who. Are. You?" He repeated firmly.

"Who do you think I am?" Albus peered over his glasses at the boy.

"I think you are a sneaky old man who has ulterior motives." The auror coughed heavily into his hand to hide the amusement that suddenly overtook him. If that wasn't an apt description of Albus Dumbledore then he wasn't sure what was. Not that Albus was a bad man, no he was the best of the best but he looked at the broader picture even when others couldn't bare to do so. He never saw the trees, just the forest and some people didn't understand that. Merlin, Kingsley could just barely grasp the concept and he applauded his Order leader for having such guts to be that way but still, it made Albus a 'sneaky old man with ulterior motives'.

"I dare say that I have other, more notable and positive attributes," Albus let out a genuinely amused chuckle. Severus looked as though he doubted it, highly doubted it but he said nothing more. It seemed that the boy had enough sense to know that he would get no straight answer from either of them but especially not from Albus so it was best to retreat. He stepped back into his room and gently closed the door, drawing the curtain next.

The two wizards wasted no time in leaving the hospital, ducking in an alley to apparate their separate ways. He briefly stopped at a pub to drink himself into something more likely to sleep through the night then walked home on unsteady legs. He hoped that the new memories he planted would curb the evilness that was Vernon and make life a little better for the Potter twins. They were little babies who didn't need to suffer, they had suffering coming towards them in a couple of years—was destined for it even. Keeping them safe, Harry especially, would be a back breaking task he wouldn't wish on anyone. Kingsley flopped into his bed, still in his muggle disguise and thanked all the deities he knew that he was already bald.

"Wotcher, Potters!" Nate was there with a huge vase of flowers and his parents ("Mrs. Mum and Mr. Dad" Nate had introduced. "Mr. and Mrs. Khalidi or Terrance and Nnedi" Mr. Khalidi had corrected with clear amusement on his face) behind him. His mum was a short, chubby lady that just seemed so warm despite how little she talked. She was much darker than Nate and his dad but had his same energy of calmness and the softest grey eyes he's ever seen. Nate's dad was also short but with broad shoulders and only a bit of chub around his stomach. His voice boomed with emotion and there was no mistaking the love he felt for all those around him. He had a big fluffy beard and a nose as hooked as Nate's. It amazed Harry just how much Nate looked so much yet nothing alike both of his parents.

"Look who we bought along," Nate announced as he set the flowers among the few others. Harry perked up and even Severus looked up from the book Nate had brought last visit.

"Harry! Severus!" Surajmukhi and Chameli jumped into view, both laden with large teddy bears that insisted they 'get well'. Harry felt the whole room lighten and his mood felt like it was made from sunshine and fresh flowers. He hadn't seen Surajmukhi in what felt like forever but here she was and just as happy to see him.

"We'll leave you kids alone. Don't go playing with any of the equipment," Mr. Khalidi warned playfully. Nate and Harry turned a dark shade of red because they had caused quite the panic when they convinced Severus to make his heart monitor stop. It wasn't their fault! Severus said that he could do it and they didn't believe him and then he did it and… alarms went off and it was a lot of screaming and pulling them away and why did Severus even need that thing anyway!?

"We promise to behave," Severus called after their retreating backs, shifting his position to allow for two more to join their three. He sat his book to the side and accepted the large teddy Chameli presented him with. It was a nice bear with white fur and a large red heart. In contrast Harry's bear was black with a pink heart.

"We thought you'd be less likely to get the white one dirty," Chameli shrugged as an explanation.

"Hey!" Harry protested over the laughs of his friends. Friends. Three of them! Harry never thought the day would come when he had not just a relative who loved him but three whole friends who would visit him in hospital and bring him flowers and gifts. This had to be what Heaven was like.

"So my nanni said that her 'sources' said that you two jumped from the window," Surajmukhi frowned disapprovingly once it was quiet again. All the cheer and happiness Harry had felt disappeared in that very moment. Severus had told him that there were people who would make sure they'd be back with the Dursleys and, for some reason, he hadn't believed him but just one day of being here and Aunt Petunia had come by to deliver a whole speech about 'jumping on the bed' and then sobbed hysterically about Uncle Vernon being 'attacked' while trying to come home to his family. The whole day had been wiped away and then redrawn by some unknown wizards until it fit a narrative that wouldn't put anyone in jail for hurting them. It wasn't fair! It was horrible, in fact. Harry hated it.

"We didn't jump from the window," Harry muttered, looking at his soft bear.

"We know that but how did you trip so hard from your bed to get wounds like that?" Chameli leaned closer to Severus to observe the purple bruises around his neck. Even though his voice was much better, his skin seemed to be refusing to heal all the way.

"And that's a wicked scar…" Nate eyed the cut on Harry's exposed chest suspiciously. It certainly didn't look like something to happen when falling out of a window, even if they went through glass. Harry wiggled uncomfortably. None of the adults around them had questioned the oddity of their wounds, they almost seemed to have come up with own conclusions. But here were the kids he had become friends with and he just knew that they wouldn't just let it go because he wouldn't and neither would Severus if it had involved anyone else. A glance to said boy showed that he had opened his book and buried his nose within rather than answer any questions.

"Can you guys keep a secret?" Harry whispered, pulling them closer with a crooked finger.

"Harry, no!" Severus hissed, slamming his book shut.

"Why not? They're our friends!" Harry protested. Severus grabbed him by the robe and yanked him until he was practically on his lap, careful of his still bound arm. When he spoke, it was very low and urgent.

"They are also muggles and it is against our Law—."

"You guys are wizards?" Nate interrupted him. Severus gaped at the other boy for a moment, allowing Harry to pull from his grasp and straighten.

"No," Severus denied.

"Yes," Harry confirmed at the same time. The two leveled each other with icy glares. Severus vaguely noted that he should have known Harry would try this as his twin didn't seem the type to care about laws set in place if it meant lying to his newfound friends.

"Magic isn't real," Chameli piped up. Severus almost agreed with her and had an entire planned speech about the illogices of magic when taking science into account but Nate had no troubles speaking out in his defense and enabling of Harry.

"Yes it is. My mum is a priestess but she gave it all up when she married my dad… well, not all of it. She blesses us before we leave, heals us when we get sick and sometimes looks into the future when there's big, big decisions to be made… hey, wait a minute," Nate frowned as though he had just realized that maybe his mother hadn't given up any of her priestess practices.

"Priestess… like voodoo?" Severus tilted his head.

"You bad mouth her magic or religion and no more friendship for you… or Harry," Nate warned, his hazel eyes hardening for the first time since knowing him. The little wizard blinked at the threat, almost appalled that the boy would ever assume he would do such a thing but there was bad blood between Western magic like his own and African magick like Nate's. Magick like voodoo was deemed barbaric, complicated and evil but that was due to stuff his pa insisted he was too young to know about (deeply rooted racism is what his ma whispered) and the secrecy shadowed voodoo even from those with magical capabilities. It was never, ever taught to outsiders and most of those outside of the family were outsiders. There weren't a lot of books that didn't demonize it but his ma told him it was all hogwash after a witch doctor took her in for a few years when she was a little girl. She spoke highly of him even though she never revealed his identity or location.

"I would never mock a valid branch of magic. Voodoo rituals may take much longer but they have strong foundations and are hard to reverse. It takes a lot of patience to master any form of it," The redhead said solemnly as solemnly as he heard his ma say the same thing. Nate stared at him as though to gauge his honesty then relaxed with a small smile.

"A lot of secrecy involved too so don't go mouthing off or my mum will have to curse you lot," Nate laughed but he wasn't joking as he gave them each a meaningful look.

"What kind of prank is this?" Surajmukhi frowned, arms crossed over her chest.

"Seems complicated," Chameli chimed in with a similar expression. Harry went from looking confused about just what the two boys were talking about to scandalized that the best girl in the world and her twin thought that he would lie to them. Well, he didn't know anything about voodoo but if Nate insisted it was real then it had to be.

"We're not pranking you! Magic is real. I didn't believe it either but it is and it's why everyone believes we jumped from the window!" Harry insisted. The Indian girls shared a skeptical look between each other and it was very obvious that they didn't believe him.

"Are you sure you want them to know?" Severus huffed grumpily next to him as Harry began to adopt the most heart broken kicked puppy look he could manage.

"They're our friends," He said as an answer. If he knew nothing about friendship at the very least he knew that you didn't keep secrets from them. He wouldn't keep a secret from Severus and he was his very bestest friend. Severus huffed again, willing himself to not think too hard on the one time he revealed magic to another of his age, and focused his attention on his teddy. At first nothing happened and the two girls were becoming more convinced that they were right when, abruptly the bear jumped to its feet. Chameli let out a startled scream and scrambled backwards and almost off the bed whilst her sister did her best to mimic a stone statue. The bear stretched and wiggled then began to walk around. It climbed onto Nate first, scaling onto his shoulders to get a better look at Surajmukhi. If her eyes got any bigger, the boys were absolutely sure that they would fall out of her skull and right into her lap.

"If nanni was here she'd be exorcising you," Chameli bounced back as any child faced with a friendly moving teddy bear would. She poked the bear in one plastic eye and received a soft pawed slap in return.

"She would have thrown it in the fire first," Surajmukhi giggled, moving her hands above its head and around its body. She was looking for strings even though it would have been impossible for them to be there. Then again it should be impossible for a teddy bear to come to life. "So magic is real…"

"Nah, we just got your sister to be in on our prank," Harry joked. He was met with a highly unamused glare from the chubby girl.

"Chameli is a horrible liar," Surajmukhi sniffed delicately. They all laughed above the short haired girl's protests and denials. When it died down, again, Harry wasted no time telling them the real story. Of how their uncle had come home and immediately went on a rampage simply because he thought that there were potions in his home (and a little bit because Harry and Severus were still there but that was another story) and had tried to kill them. He regaled the cleverness of his brother to make them a ladder made of their bed sheets and his magical prowess of… well all the magic he used from throwing their uncle back to moving their heavy bed to the window (Severus gave him a funny look at this but continued reading without interrupting). He told them of the terrible, horrible fight that ensued when Uncle Vernon caught hold of Severus and how he climbed back up to help him. He went a little red in the face when he explained that his uncle had essentially crushed him into a pulp and made him useless for a little while but he was back to being proud of jumping after Severus even if the other had to use magic to get them together and closer to the window. From there everything was a blur of doctors and cops and people making (unknowingly) false promises.

Their friends listened with wide eyes and open mouths as the story unraveled. Harry didn't really like the sad look that Surajmukhi leveled him with at the end, he didn't want to see her cry but he also couldn't stop her from doing so because he didn't know why she was going to cry. He was fine, Severus was fine and those memory people probably made things alright. But still, tears were gathering in her big, dark eyes and her round cheeks were trembling. Harry couldn't stand seeing her like that so he looked anywhere else and focused on his teddy bear. He had thought telling them the truth would make it better but it just made Surajmukhi sad and he hadn't even looked at Chameli or Nate yet.

"Harry… Severus… are you… I can ask my mum to hide you two. He'll try this again, y'know?" Nate reached out.

"Our nanni doesn't know magic but she'll beat anyone with a broom if they tried to hurt you," Chameli reached out as well. They both settled their hands on each twin's knee and their words were so heartfelt and serious that Harry couldn't hold back the tears that had suddenly come. He waited his whole life for people to offer to help him, to even see that he needed help and now that they did he couldn't accept it.

"We can't. They would just wipe your minds of us, relocate you and take us back," Severus said stiffly, giving the brown hand on his knee a small pat.

"Yeah but, uh, thank you," Harry gave them a watery smile. Surajmukhi launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around him and crying freely into his shoulder and putting too much pressure on his poor ribs and sensitive shoulder. He let out a pained wheeze but wrapped his free arm around the chubby girl anyway.

"That's not faaaaiiiirrrrr!" She wailed loudly.

"Oh, no rain clouds, what happened here?" A deep voice rumbled. Nate's parents were back. Mr. Khalidi stood further in the room with his face twisted in concern. Mrs. Khalidi peered around her taller husband, her eyes sweeping around the room. Once she saw no one else there, she relaxed and stepped further within, face curious.

"Harry told them about our fall," Severus didn't lie.

"That was nasty business, I hear but you should be happy that they have survived and will be back outside very soon!" Nate's dad crooned, putting a comforting hand on Surajmukhi's back. When she continued to sob and tears fell silently down Harry's face, Mr. Khalidi gathered them in his strong arms and cradled them close, unknowingly providing great relief to the green eyed boy. Mrs. Khalidi came and silently opened her arms to the remaining three children. Nate immediately threw himself into the soft arms and Chameli soon followed. It was only Severus who remained, fiddling with his book and unable to meet the soft grey eyes. His parents used to look at him like that all the time. With soft but heartfelt love and understanding.

"Just what in the world have I walked in on?" Uncle Vernon was in the doorway with Aunt Petunia and he didn't look very happy as he leaned into his crutch. Mr. Khalidi startled but he hugged his pair of children a little tighter before settling them on the sheets. A few whispered words then he was straightening himself and approaching the other married couple, hand extended.

"You must be Mr. and Mrs. Dursley. My name is Terrance Khalidi and that is my wife Nnedi. We are Nate's parents. I am sorry to hear about your attack—a random looney from what I hear, Mr. Dursley?" Mr. Khalidi tilted his head.

"Why are you hearing things about me?" Uncle Vernon eyed him suspiciously and effectively ignored the friendly attempted handshake.

"Ooh birds talk to me all the time and I have the ears of a bat," Mr. Khalidi laughed, dropping his hand smoothly as though it were never up. "Nathaniel has had us here every day after school to visit your nephews and I have to compliment you on them. They are sweet, respectable boys."

"Hmph, wouldn't expect you to be a good judge of character," Uncle Vernon grunted then turned his attention to the boys, "Petunia bought you both some clothes. Let's go."

"We… but we haven't been discharged?" Harry said.

"And you haven't been paying the hospital bills either. You stay another hour and I'll be heaped with dozens of bills. Now, let's go," Uncle Vernon demanded. Mr. Khalidi looked like he wanted to protest, his eyes narrowed and his shoulders back but Mrs. Khalidi appeared at his shoulder and placed a careful hand on his elbow.

"We cannot wait to see the boys again. Have a nice day, Mr. and Mrs. Dursley," Mrs. Khalidi smiled politely, her voice deep and melodic. Reluctantly, Nate, Chameli and Surajmukhi wiped their faces as much as possible and filed out of the room with whispered goodbyes and promises to see each other at school. After all, there were two weeks before summer break. Uncle Vernon sneered the entire time they left and all the way until he couldn't see them anymore. Aunt Petunia paid the whole thing little mind, stepping inside to help them unhook from their respective machines. Just as Harry had finished wiggling into his jeans their doctor came in, red faced and very upset. She objected to Harry and Severus leaving early and insisted that they needed another week there but Uncle Vernon would have none of that. He threw a nasty tantrum and demanded that the paperwork be drawn up so that they could leave 'this godforsaken, money sucking hospital'. He had the right to take them out of there and never come back. The doctor only got a few more words in before she stomped off and ordered a nurse walking by to deal with them. The man was just as concerned but he explained the dangers in them leaving so soon and had Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon sign a bunch of papers then he gave them the simple orders of 'taking it easy' and 'monitor your body'. Then, just like that, they were off.

"I don't want to see either of you until dinner. Go to your cupboard," Uncle Vernon ordered as soon as they stepped through the door. He hobbled over to the couch and started the television up. Harry sighed and headed for the cupboard, wondering how his shoulder would feel cramped up. He was so wrapped up in thinking of the best position to lay that he hadn't noticed that Severus was going up the stairs.

"Where do you think you're going?" Uncle Vernon snapped. Harry looked up, wondering what he had done wrong but then he heard his twin by the stairs. Harry sighed, he should have known that Severus wouldn't go back to their way of living. He should have known that Severus would keep on fighting even after they almost died.

"To our room. Cupboards are for storage and dogs. I am neither," Severus shrugged and continued his journey. Harry chewed on his bottom lip and looked at the still broken cupboard door. He wasn't storage and he wasn't a dog. He was a human boy. He was a human boy who didn't want to sleep in a cramped, dusty cupboard with only spiders for friends. He liked being on the outside with a proper room and a bed and things to call his own. He liked having a nightlight to chase away the darkness and enough space to stretch his body.

"Get back here," Uncle Vernon hissed. Severus stopped on the middle step but he didn't spare their uncle a single glance. Instead, he just stood there and looked forward as though he were waiting for something to happen. Or waiting for someone, Harry thought. Was Severus waiting for him to choose? Harry took a step back from the cupboard. He had gotten a taste of the good life too and he thought that, maybe, he was willing to keep on fighting too. He took another step back from his former prison and turned fully away to join his brother. "Don't go up those stairs, Boy." Harry bit down on his tongue to not look at the injured man, focusing his eyes on his brother. He was going to go to their room. "Didn't you hear me, Boy?" The first step. Second. Third. One foot in front of the other until he was at his twin's side and linking their fingers together. "Have you lost your mind?" Severus leveled him with a smile that made all the nervousness twisting his stomach up completely worth it. They continued on to their bedroom, ignoring the anger coming from the couch.

"I think I'm going to be sick," Harry groaned, stumbling to the large bed. He noted that their room was back in order with not even a trace of what occurred there. The only thing out of place was his plushies which now sat on their dresser rather than their bookshelf.

"You bit the man's ear off but it's going to your room that makes you queasy?" Severus rolled his eyes as he pushed on his brother's bum to help him on the bed. Harry grunted as he rolled towards the window side of the bed. Severus reminded himself to bring their cooking stool upstairs to make it easier during Harry's recovery. After he made sure his twin was comfortable, he began to unpack their Get well cards and little presents. Harry, meanwhile, went green as the nastier parts of their fight came back to him. He didn't know that ears could come off that easily! And he never imagined that it would feel like that in his mouth—a bloody (literally) ear! He wondered if they had reattached the ear as he hadn't been focused on the man. He figured he would get the answer soon because there was a steady thumping coming their way and he knew it was their uncle. He would be there soon. He looked over to see that Severus had gotten comfortable next to him, book in hand. He handed another book to Harry and his new, black teddy bear.

"Just what in the Hell do you—what?" Uncle Vernon gaped as though he had stumbled into a den of criminals or something equally unsavory and wrong. Harry glanced up and saw that, yes, his ear had been reattached. He thought it looked a little crooked but it was there. He tried to focus on the book in his hand but all he could really see was squiggles.

"Hello, Mr. Dursley. How are you feeling?" Severus inquired though he didn't stop reading. Uncle Vernon sputtered and spat and sputtered some more. "Some things changed while you were in the hospital… the first time." Uncle Vernon suddenly fell silent and his face turned an ugly red.

"Where did you get all this stuff?" The man hissed, looking around their room. Harry looked around too. He didn't think they had a lot of stuff especially compared to Dudley. Just books, some stuffed animals and board games. He focused back on his uncle and bit on his tongue to stop from flinching as the beady eyes was sweeping across him and noticing the difference. He had on his bright red, expensive glasses and new clothes that didn't even smell like laundry yet.

"WHERE DID YOU GET THIS FROM?" Uncle Vernon lumbered over. He reached out and snatched the glasses from Harry's face. Much to his horror Uncle Vernon stomped on them with his cast foot and they audibly shattered under the weight. Tears welled in Harry's eyes. Before they could fall the sound of clapping hands started next to him. Severus was clapping. Slowly and, somehow, sarcastically. His lips twisted into a crooked smile and he climbed to his feet on the bed to be eye level with their uncle.

"That was an excellent closing act for you. Wonderful, really it was and I hope you enjoyed it. Because this is it. This is the last time that you'll ever lash out at us again. Ever. Again. So help me if you even raise a single, fat finger in our direction I will destroy you—without magic or much effort. You will be known as the man who gets his kicks from abusing little boys, how long do you think you'll get in prison—do you think you have the will to survive being caged? What will happen to your career and family?" Severus paused as though waiting for an answer. When all that greeted him was the angry, red face their uncle sported often he smiled brightly. "I am so glad that we are on the same page. Please, relax on the couch and keep your leg elevated for maximum recovery."

Severus flopped back onto his bottom, scooping his book back to read. Vernon hobbled painfully to the door but Severus stopped him again, sure that the man was as hard headed as he was pig headed.

"Mr. Dursley?" He called, keeping his eyes on the words before him, "Think wisely about your next actions. Or I will kill you. With or without Harry's permission." He lowered the book just enough to meet beady, dark eyes, "All it takes are some chanted words at the end of your bed in the middle of the night."

Uncle Vernon let out a wordless roar and continued his hobble out of the room. As soon as he slammed the door enough to shake the walls, Harry scrambled from the bed and fell to his knees in front of his crushed glasses. Sure he had the other pair, but he liked these glasses too. They were nice and a cool color and it just wasn't fair that they were broken for no reason. Harry cried silently over them. Something shifted and grinded loudly in front of him. Upon wiping away his tears, Harry saw that his glasses were good as new. He gasped and shoved them quickly on his face, blinking as the world was back to being focused.

"Thank you Severus!" Harry gushed, running to hug his brother. A little hand hit him on the forehead, effectively stopping him in his tracks. He blinked wildly at the other boy but Severus was still reading with one hand holding him away.

"I had nothing to do with fixing your glasses, Harry. Nor did I push the bed or safely teleport us to the windowsill. You are just as much a wizard as I am and you will not push your accomplishments onto me," Severus said firmly, turning a page. Oh. Harry mulled over that. Severus wouldn't lie to him just to make him feel better so that meant that he had saved them from falling so high up. He used his magic to help his twin. He used magic to save Severus! "You used magic to save yourself as well." Harry blushed. It appeared that he said his revelation out loud. Still, he smiled and gladly accepted the bum push to get onto the bed. He didn't care about saving himself. He snuggled underneath his covers with the best thought he could ever think: he had saved Severus!

Dinner was so tense that Harry was sure he could cut it with a butter knife. The silence bore down on him like an elephant's foot. Harry took a sip of his juice, ignoring the audible sound of grinding teeth. It was just Uncle Vernon who seemed to be trying to glare holes into his face and maybe bend his utensils with the way he gripped them so hard. Harry took a bite of the meatloaf and thought it was a tad burnt but it was Uncle Vernon's favorite meal and meant to make him happier if he understood his aunt at all.

It wasn't working.

He glanced at the twiggy woman but her attention was fixed solely on her meal even as she ate her lip more than the food. A look to Dudley show that, unsurprisingly, he wasn't affected by the animosity pouring off his father and seemed to be trying to beat some kind of world record for fastest to clear their second plate. Severus didn't seem affected either with a green bound journal in one hand and fork in the other. He had a couple of near misses with his cheek as he wouldn't tear his eyes away from what had to be fascinating words. Harry vaguely knew that it was a sort of scientific potions thing that got published once a week. Severus either really loved it or spent the time muttering about dunderheads who had less intelligence than a seven year old.

"Where is it?" Uncle Vernon suddenly spoke. Harry jumped and turned his attention to his uncle. The man hadn't even started his dinner. It seemed that he spent this entire time trying to set Harry on fire with his mind. Good thing he wasn't a wizard.

"Where is what?" Harry tilted his head.

"Don't try to play me, boy. Where have you hidden it?" Uncle Vernon spat, spittle flying across the table and nearly touching Harry's plate. He moved it closer just in case he would continue.

"I can't read your mind, Uncle. If you tell me what it is then I'll know if I know where it is," Harry explained. He wasn't scared anymore, not of Uncle Vernon. He was just a bully who wouldn't dare treat them badly if other people knew. And they would know and they would punish him if the man tried to hurt them anymore. It never occurred to Harry that he could tell people of what was happening, he was a freak who nobody cared about and who no one would help even if they did know. But now he knew better. He wasn't a freak and people did care. He thought of the memory wizards coming back should they get their uncle arrested but Severus had explained that the runes didn't need Vernon, just Aunt Petunia.

"You think you can suddenly back talk me, Boy?" The man growled.

"You think I can suddenly read minds?" Harry shrugged. Severus choked on his next sip of juice and dropped his book to pound on his own chest.

"Where. Is. The. Money?" Oh. That made sense. He didn't actually know where the money was, Severus just said that he had taken care of it after giving their aunt a portion for half of the bills and all the groceries.

"You mean our money?" Severus cleared his throat. Uncle Vernon slammed his hands on the table, causing Harry to jerk away and Dudley to yelp like a dog who got his tail stepped on.

"That is my money that I earned for having freaks in my home, eating my food and costing me a fortune to take care of."

"Liar!" Harry shouted, standing up in his chair. "You've never ever taken care of me. Not ever! When I was five you left me in the cupboard for a week to 'sweat out my fever'. I thought I was going to die and if I had you wouldn't have even cared!" Tears that felt like lava poured down his face but he didn't wipe them away. He stared at his mean, evil uncle through his tears. He had been so scared during that week, hoping to get better but also, maybe hoping to stop existing because being with the Dursleys was so horrible that he just wanted to melt away. He was glad he survived because if he hadn't Severus would be in this stupid house all by himself. Harry was glad he survived to see this day where Uncle Vernon couldn't abuse him any longer. "You don't deserve that money and we won't give it to you!"

"Why you little—!" Uncle Vernon jumped up and, just like that, everything started to go in slow motion. His large, meaty hand was reaching for him and Harry just knew that Uncle Vernon was going to hurt him but he didn't step back or try to evade him. He knew he would be fine, could feel it in his bones. Movement from the corner of his eye revealed Severus climbing onto the table, fork in a death grip and a sort of anger he's never really seen before in his eyes. But Severus didn't get the chance to express his rage. Movement on Harry's other side proved to be faster.

"That is enough!" Aunt Petunia shouted on a shrill, deafening sort of voice. She grabbed her husband shoulders and shoved him down into his seat, his shock throwing him off balance to allow it. Everyone froze. The silence was back but not for long. Uncle Vernon started to sputter and stutter and make all sorts of noises of protests. Aunt Petunia held up a hand to stop him. She spoke firmly even as her hands showed her nervousness by twisting into her simple dress and her eyes couldn't quite meet her husband's. "No, Vernon. I should have… we should have… just, no more. That money is the twins' money. Only a portion will be used for this house and the rest just for them. Th… the twins… Harry and Severus are to keep their room and their things. They are just children. And I love you, Vernon-dear. I love you very much."

"You'll choose these freaks over your own husband?" Uncle Vernon spat through clenched teeth. Aunt Petunia fell quiet for a second, hands clenched in tight fists and literal strain on her thin face as she, finally, met his eyes.

"I… am not choosing anyone over anyone. I am being fair. They will bathe, eat, play and sleep like any other child. They will get medical care when they need it and new clothes when they grow. It. Is. Fair." Harry almost fell out of his chair or maybe jumped out of it because this was the most amazing thing he's ever seen. He knew that their aunt had had a change of heart but he hadn't thought, in his wildest dreams, that she would stand up for them against her own husband. After all, she was not innocent when it came to the abuse, even when it started to leave bruises and bloody noses.

But here she was, right now.

Defending them.

Wow.

This had to be magic.

TBC

Snarky Harry is best Harry and even a glimpse of my snarky baby soothes me. Or would it be considered sassy? Huh. Don't know.

Congrats on anyone who guessed that it would be Dumbles to come around after that shenaniganic showdown. I know you all wanted to see some more of him. So there he goes.

On a last note we're almost at the finish line! Yeeeeaaaaahhhhhh!