I do not own Harry Potter..
A big thanks to everyone who has been reviewing my fics. If it wasn't for the reviews, I would probably give up :)
Hope you enjoy this nice long chapter. Please review.
***HP
***LAST TIME***
"Don't, pup," whispered Sirius, watching the elves with his smallest pup. He didn't need Liam to voice how he felt to know that he was jealous. "They're mates and it is the bond pulling them together. Harry needs you just as much, if not more then he does his mates. He may have reached out to them, but he doesn't trust them the way he trusts you."
Liam bit his lip and nodded his head. He really was being stupid and selfish, Harry needed all the love and support he could get. It wasn't fair of him to want to keep his brother all to himself. He had wanted Harry to get close to Bill and Charlie, but it still stung a bit to see him reach out to them already.
Shade was finally able to tear his gaze away from the magnificent golden lights. It wasn't easy for him to do it, the lights made him feel safer then what he has ever felt. Looking past the golden lights, his eyes caught his brothers light and he softly whimpered to him. He was confused and scared, he needed his brother to comfort him.
***HP
Liam fell to his knees between Bill and Charlie. "It's alright, Shade," he softly said to him. "This is Bill and Charlie Weasley, the guys I was telling you about. Bill and Charlie are brothers and they have four other younger brothers and one younger sister. They are really great guys and have been like older brothers to me too. Bill is the oldest with long red hair that he keeps pulled back in a pony tail, and he has a few freckles on his face. He works at bank, kind of like a security guard." Really, how was he supposed to explain a curse breaker to his brother that knew nothing about magic?
Shade listened to his brother as he rambled on about the brothers. Liam was good at rambling, but that was ok, it soothed and relaxed him.
"Bill thinks he's really cool." Liam continued, chuckling. "He always wears leather boots and a dangling fang earring. Mrs. Weasley, his mother, is always threatening to cut his hair and remove his earring."
Shade reached around and pulled his long hair to his chest. He hoped that no one would cut his hair, he loved it. He remembered when he was younger and could still see, his hair was short and it stuck up in every direction. His aunt was always going on and on screaming about how horrible it was and how ugly he was.
Bill smiled as his small mate curled protectively around his beautiful long hair. "It's alright, Shade. My mother can be a bit of a handful, but she would never cut our hair without our permission. Your hair is truly stunning, you should be proud of it. My hair only comes a bit past my shoulders. Oh, and just so you know...I am totally cool."
Shade blushed as goosebumps broke out on his skin. Bills voice made his body tingle. He didn't understand why, but it didn't feel like a bad thing... just a strange thing.
Liam laughed at Bill. "I hate to admit it, but Bill really is cool. For my ninth birthday, I asked mom and dad for boots just like Bill's and I pleaded with them to let me get my ear pierced. They got me the boots, but they refused the ear piercing."
Shade scrunched his face up in confusion. So they did have parents, well at least Liam did. What was wrong with him? Why didn't they want him? Was he a bad baby? Was he too ugly? Why would they keep Liam and trash him?
Liam's heart plummeted when he saw the pain on his brother's face. He had been purposely avoiding talking about their parents. He didn't know how to explain why his parents abandoned one baby, yet kept the other.
"Ch-Charlie Weasley is the second oldest brother." Liam said, ghosting over the issue of their parents. He knew that he was going to have to explain things to Shade, but he needed to understand about magic first. He wanted to gain his brother's trust more before bringing up magic, he didn't want his brother thinking he was a raving mad lunatic.
Shade lowered his head to hide his tears. Obviously Liam didn't want to tell him about their parents. He must have been a horrible baby for his parents to send him to an abusive home, at least that's what his aunt and uncle had told him.
Liam cleared his throat, wiping the tears from his eyes. He could feel his brother's pain coming through the bond. "Charlie is as cool as Bill. He works with animals, the bigger...the meaner...the better is what Charlie likes. He also has long red hair, a face full of freckles and more muscles than a dragon. Despite his appearance, Charlie is a big teddy bear."
Shade sadly looked to the second golden light, the light that he knew belonged to Charlie. Why did these golden lights feel warm and comforting to him? Why did he want to crawl up in Bill and Charlie's arms and never leave? It was all confusing and it was causing him a headache.
"Hey, Shade." Charlie said, not really knowing what to say, but needing to say something. "Sorry we frightened you, but we will never hurt you. Bill and I are hoping that you will allow us to be your friends."
Harry cocked his head to the side. Charlie was speaking the truth, he really did want to be friends. He hadn't had a friend since the other boy from the home was killed. He didn't know if he knew how to be a friend, and he honestly didn't think he would make a very good one. What good was a friend that was scared of everything, couldn't see and couldn't talk?
"So what do you say, are you willing to give this friends thing a try?" Charlie asked hopefully.
Harry looked to Bill wondering if he felt the same way, or if it was just Charlie.
"You can never have too many friends." Bill said grinning. "Besides, being friends with us means more brownies and food from our mother for you?"
Harry smiled at Bill and slowly nodded his head yes. He would give these two a chance, but he didn't want to be alone with them, at least not yet.
"Excellent!" Charlie cheered. "Now, our first order of business as friends is to remove this hideously, disgusting bed. Really, no offense to you, Sirius, but the Black's had a horrible sense of style.
Sirius threw his head back and laughed. "They were a bit eccentric weren't they? That's why I would have been more than happy to chop this bed up and watch it burn.
Shade breathed a sigh of relief when the two golden lights moved away from him. The golden lights felt warm and comforting, but having someone so close to him terrified him.
"Will you be ok here if I go and help them?" Liam asked. "I worry about Sirius purposely trying to sabotage them so he can destroy the bed. It may be an ugly bed, but it's an antique and probably worth a fortune."
Harry stood up nodding his head. Keeping his back against the wall, he watched the lights as they moved around taking the bed down. He found it a bit strange that Sirius didn't know how to use a hammer and screw driver, and even Bill and Charlie weren't sure what to do with them. Even he knew how to use tools. Before he lost his sight, he did everything around his aunt and uncle's house.
***HP
"Well, that's the last piece." Charlie exclaimed, plopping down a few feet away from his mate. "No more ugly bed, just this totally cool tent, nest thing you and Liam got going on here."
Shade smiled shyly at Charlie, grateful for his help. He wished he could thank him, but he couldn't even remember the last time he had talked. Uncle Vernon didn't want to hear his nasty voice, so he put a collar on him, and each time he made a noise, the collar would hurt him. He didn't remember how old he was, but he couldn't have been more then four.
"Sirius did manage to break one board...on purpose." Charlie chuckled. "I swear, Sirius is more immature then an eight year old."
"Hey, I heard that." Sirius yelled from across the room. "And I totally would have been offended, if it wasn't true. Honestly, what's so fun about being mature? Look at old Moony, he's mature and absolutely no fun whatsoever."
"I'm going to tell him you said that." Liam threatened.
"You wouldn't." Sirius gasped. "I'm your godfather, you wouldn't rat me out like that." Sirius dramatically grabbed his heart, feigning passing out.
"Moony's my godfather, too" Liam reminded him.
"My own pup, throwing me to the wolves." Sirius pouted.
Liam took a seat in front of his brother, laughing. "The bed is completely gone. Now you have a nice big empty space for..."
"Dancing?" Bill offered, joining the other two on the floor.
"Or tumbling, there's plenty of room for tumbling." Liam suggested.
"Nah, Shade doesn't look like a dancer or a tumbler." Sirius said, also taking a seat on the floor. "Horseback riding. We can get him a horse to ride."
"Sirius, there is a lot of space, but not enough for a horse." Bill groaned.
Harry silently chuckled at their antics. He knew that they were goofing around to make him feel better, and it was working. He was uncomfortable with the four of them sitting close to him, but he wasn't on the verge of freaking out.
"Hey Shade, do you like animals?" Charlie asked, already thinking about buying him a pet. He knew that it was going be a while before his mate was comfortable enough to move around the house, so maybe a pet would be a good companion for him.
Shade shrugged his shoulders. He never really had a pet before. Sure there were rats and mice in the building he was living in, but he wouldn't exactly call them pets.
"As you know." Charlie said. "I love pets and they make wonderful friends. Would it be ok if I got you a pet? Something that can keep you company when you're up here alone."
"That's a great idea." Liam said excitedly. "I have an orange cat named, Magic, and he sleeps with me every night."
"Really, you named your cat, Magic?" Charlie asked, rolling his eyes.
"What? Magic is a good name. Besides, I was nine when I named him." Liam said defensively.
"I think a pet will be a good thing." Bill agreed. "Maybe a dog." Bill looked at Charlie and pointed to his eyes. A seeing eye dog would be perfect, he would be a companion to Harry, but he would also help him get around.
"Do you like dogs, Shade?" Sirius asked, loving the idea.
Shade shrugged his shoulders. He had never been around a dog before. There were stray dogs out on the streets, but they always stayed away from him.
"How about this." Charlie offered. "I have a friend who breeds and trains dogs. I will get one from him on a trial. If you're not comfortable with a dog, then we will try something different."
Harry bit his lip, thinking. He had never let anyone or anything get close to him. He didn't know if he could handle a dog getting in his face and wanting to be petted. Then again, it would be nice to not be alone all night long, and maybe he would feel safer with a dog watching over him. Harry slowly nodded his head.
"Excellent." Charlie said, getting to his feet. "I'm going to go and see my friend now and see what he has."
Harry watched as Charlie left the room feeling mixed emotions. Everything was so confusing. Part of him wanted Charlie to stay, and another part of him wanted him gone. For some reason, Charlie made him feel safe, and watching him leave, made him feel a bit panicky.
Harry also didn't know if he really wanted a dog. What if it didn't like him and bit him? He didn't want to hurt Charlie's feeling by turning down the dog. Charlie sounded really excited about getting him one.
"How about lunch?" Sirius asked, clapping his hands.
"How about it, Shade? You hardly touched anything this morning." Liam asked.
Shade smiled and nodded his head. Ever since the medicine his brother gave him earlier made him feel better, he had been feeling hungry. He thought about getting some of his food earlier, but he didn't want to leave his corner with so many men in the room. He felt safer with his back against the wall, that way no one could tackle him from behind.
"Do you mind if we join you for lunch?" Bill asked, not ready to leave his mate. He had been waiting for a mate since he was sixteen years old, and now that he found him, he wanted to spend as much time with him as he could. He tried not to think about what his mate would have been like if James and Lily would have kept him, but it was hard. Sirius and Remus had said that Harry was a very loving baby, so he probably would have been a kind and caring young man. If he would have went to Hogwarts, he would have probably been a Hufflepuff. Despite everything his mate has been through, he still wanted to trust them and be loved.
Shade gave a small nod. So far he had been enjoying having them in his room and he didn't want to be alone again. As long as they didn't get too close or touch him, he was ok with them here.
"Sweet, picnic in Shades room." Sirius sang, jumping to his feet. "I will go and get us some lunch, be back in ten minutes.
***HP
James had his arms around his wife, half carrying her into their house. They had just spent the last fourteen hours in a ministry interrogation room being forced to relive the seven years that their son spent with Lily's sister. They were forced to look at pictures, watch muggle videos and watch memory orbs of the interrogations they conducted of Vernon, Petunia and some of the men they had arrested for raping his young son.
Lily had gotten physically sick within he first ten minutes of looking at the pictures and by the time they started on the videos, she was practically catatonic.
Never could he have imagined such cruelty to a child. How could you hate so deeply that you took pleasure in beating up a toddler? How could you ignore a two year olds cries for food or laugh as they laid on the floor curled up in a ball trembling with hunger? What kind of sick bastard gets sexually aroused by looking at pictures of a naked child?
James couldn't even bring himself to think about the rapes. He tried to block them from his mind, but they were running on a continuous loop. Then there was the screams. Until the day he died, he would never be able to get his son's screams out of his head as the men violated his tiny body.
Picking up his wife, James carried her up the steps and laid her down on their bed. He wanted to blame her for giving up their little Harry, but it was equally his fault. At the time, he honestly thought they were doing what was best for his son. Now though, he wondered if Lily didn't suggest it more for herself, than for Harry. At first he didn't want to give his baby...his mini clone up. Harry looked so much like him, that it was freaky. He fought against Lily, but she had made some good points. It wouldn't have been fair on Harry to be brought up in a magical home when he had no magic himself.
Why didn't he just allow Sirius and Remus to raise Harry as their own?
Collapsing on the bed next to his wife, James finally let the tears he had been holding back fall. Deep down, he knew that the main reason he gave his little son up was because he was embarrassed. He was embarrassed that his son was a squib and he didn't want the world to know about it. Parents were supposed to love their children unconditionally, and he had failed his first test as a parent. He was disgusted with himself that even after they found Harry, he was still more concerned about his image. Liam was in the right when he tore into him in the kitchen at Grimmauld.
Getting back up, he walked into the bathroom to take a hot shower. He felt dirty and disgusting after witnessing everything that was done to his son. How had his Harry survived? How could his small body take so much abuse and not give in? How could he ever make it up to his sons, especially Harry?
***HP
"Moony old man, what has your hackles raised?" Sirius asked when his mate came storming into the kitchen, slamming doors and tossing books onto the table.
"What has my hackles raised?" Remus snarled. "How about James and Lily getting off with just a slap on the wrist?"
"What!" Sirius yelled, jumping to his feet.
"James was fired as an Auror, and they have to set up a large trust for Harry, but that's it." Remus growled, slamming a mug onto the table and pouring himself some tea.
"Harry doesn't need money, he needs justice." Sirius roared, throwing his cup against the wall and watching it shatter.
"Lily was also fined for using a compulsion charm on muggles, but since her sister and brother-in-law took Harry in, they are being held solely responsible for the abuse."
"What the hell was Amelia thinking?" Sirius asked.
"James and Lily had good representation. Amelia tried to get more, but that was the best she could do. Expect it to be front page of the Prophet tomorrow too. At least they don't know that Harry was the one who defeated You-Know-Who and not Liam."
"This isn't right." Sirius snapped.
Remus nodded his head. "Dumbledore was also at the ministry trying to get your guardianship of the pups revoked." Remus covered his sensitive ears when Sirius exploded with a round of very colorful curse words.
After Sirius exhausted himself of his yelling and cursing, he slumped back into his chair. "Are the pups still ours?" he asked hoarsely.
"Yes, as of right now they are, but Dumbledore isn't going to give up. Now that he knows that Harry is the true chosen one, he isn't going to stop until he has Harry under his thumb. " Remus sighed.
"Harry may come around some, but he will never be able to function one hundred percent. You don't recover from that kind of abuse over night." Sirius said, raking his fingers through his long dark hair.
"How is he today?" Remus asked.
Sirius grinned. "He let us have lunch with him, even Bill. He had a meltdown earlier when Bill and Charlie first went into his room, but their bond helped him. Charlie is out now getting him a seeing eye dog."
"That's excellent news. I think a dog will help him a lot." Remus said. "Where's Liam?"
"With Harry, talking about everything...and nothing." Sirius chuckled. He never met anyone that could talk as much as Liam. "Bill will be back shortly, I think he went to the Burrow to beg some more brownies from Molly. We might have ate all the ones she sent Harry after we had lunch."
Remus shook his head, chuckling. "I think you need help, Padfoot. You have a serious brownie addiction. I hope Harry at least got some of the brownies."
"He was the one that brought them out...it was his idea." Sirius whined. Pouring himself a shot of whiskey, he looked sadly at his mate. "Even after everything he has been through, he's still a good kid. He made sure we each had a brownie before taking one for himself."
The pair looked up as Severus entered the kitchen. "The old fool has called a meeting for tonight at 10."
Sirius cursed, Dumbledore was the last person he wanted to see tonight. "Remind him that the Order will only be allowed in the kitchen. I don't care if they have to take a shit, the rest of the house is closed to them." He would let the Weasley's have run of the house, just not the floor Harry was on. Officially, the Weasley's were now family. Bill and Charlie were Harry's mates, so that made them family.
Severus snorted. "I will use your exact words, Black. How's the boy?"
Sirius looked at Severus thoughtfully. "If I didn't know any better, I would swear that Harry could see. He looks right at you no matter where you are standing, even if you hadn't made a sound."
"I noticed that in Liam's memories. There is no way that Harry can see, but there is something going on there. I would like to check him over, but I don't think he will let me anywhere near him."
Sirius vigorously shook his head no. "He won't even allow Liam to touch him, though he did reach out to Bill and Charlie earlier."
Severus scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Charlie has some medical training, maybe I can teach him the spell to scan his eyes. I would like to see if there is a way I can reverse the damage, either by potion or spell. I'm sure I'm going to have to invent something, but I think it's worth a shot."
"Not a problem." Charlie said, entering the kitchen. Trotting beside Charlie was a medium sized black and white dog that was wearing a special harness. The dog was scanning the room with large intelligent eyes.
"What kind of dog is that?" Remus asked curiously. The dog stood about knee heigh to him, had a medium length black and white coat and one blue eye, and one brown eye.
"This dog is a result of years of breeding the muggle Border Collie to a Crup. My friend wanted an intelligent dog, but something larger than a crup. Muggle Border Collies are highly intelligent and agile. He has been training his dogs for years to be service dogs to those who need help. This particular dog has been trained as both a seeing eye dog and a guard dog. He is one of the most intelligent dogs my friend has ever bred."
"That must have cost you a pretty penny, Mr. Weasley." Severus remarked.
"Shade is my mate, I would get him anything he needed." Charlie snapped.
Severus blankly stared at Charlie. "I didn't mean anything by it, Mr. Weasley, I was just making an observation. Now, if you're willing to learn the spell, I will teach it to you. It should only take you a few minutes to learn and he won't even be aware that you are casting it."
"We haven't done any magic around him yet just in case he can sense it." Sirius quickly added.
"That's a good point, Black, but as far as I'm concerned, it's worth the risk. If there's any hope of him regaining any vision, I need those readings. It could take months to brew a potion that could help, and the sooner I get working, the better the chances."
"I-I think it's worth the risk." Charlie agreed. "I'm sure that Shade would love to see again, even if it was just a little. We are going to have to tell him about magic soon anyway. You saw his face when Liam brought up their parents. He wants answers and I don't blame him."
Sirius sat thinking about it. He wanted Harry to see again, but he didn't want to scare him with talk of magic. He just got his pup back, and he didn't want to loose him again. "Alright, we will give it a try."
***HP
"I'm telling you, Moony chased him around the house until he passed out." Liam was laughing so hard that he had tears falling from his eyes. For the last two hours, he had been telling Shade about some of the pranks that Sirius had pulled on Remus. Even though Sirius and Remus stopped talking to his parents, they still visited with him regularly, and he would stay with them a couple of days every month.
Shade silently laughed, but his smile never quite reached his eyes. Hearing all these stories made him feel sad. Why wasn't he allowed to be part of this family? How come Liam got to have all the fun why he was being hurt and starving? He would never in a million years wish his past on Liam, but it still hurt and confused him.
Liam sighed sadly when his brother frantically jumped to his feet when there was a knock on the door. The fear in his eyes was like a punch to the gut.
Sirius slowly opened the door a peeked his head in. "Is there room for two more at this party? Well, two and a quarter more?"
Liam looked to his brother who had his back pressed hard against the wall. "It's Sirius and Charlie. Can they come in?"
Shade perked up a bit at the mention of Charlie's name. Looking past Sirius's light, he could just make out Charlie's comforting golden glow. He felt his face warm up some as he blushed.
"Hey, pup, is it ok if we come in? Charlie has a present for you?" Sirius asked Shade.
Shade slowly nodded his head. His heart rate picking up. If Charlie had a present, then it was probably the dog.
Charlie led the dog into Shade's room keeping a close eye on his mate's reactions. He could tell and feel that Shade was nervous and scared about the dog. "Shade, I have a new friend here for you to meet, his name is Loki." Charlie chuckled. "My friend has an obsession with Norse mythology."
Shade just stared at Charlie, confused. He didn't know what Norse mythology was so he didn't find it funny. He had never been to school before, so all he knew was how to survive on the streets and suck cock. He didn't get to have friends, go to school and have fun godfathers like Liam,
Shade lowered his head in shame. For a minute there, he was jealous and angry with Liam. It wasn't Liam's fault that he was such a horrible baby that his parents didn't want him.
"Shade." Charlie called out softly. "Are you ok?"
Shade sadly wiped the tears from his eyes and nodded his head. Tilting his head, he listened to the clicking sounds that was coming from beside Charlie as he moved closer to him. Dogs didn't have much of a color, not like humans anyway, they made more of a shimmering distortion in the air.
Whimpering, Shade pressed himself even tighter to the wall and scooted away until he bumped into the table.
Charlie froze when he saw the raw fear on his mate's face. Shade wasn't looking at him, but to where the dog was. He was curious how Shade knew exactly where the dog was. Shade was staring at Loki, his eyes unblinking wide with fear.
As if sensing his new masters fear, the dog lowered itself onto its belly and whined softly. Without waiting for a cue from Charlie, Loki slowly crawled towards Shade.
"Shade, you don't have to be scared." Liam said softly. "The dog won't hurt you. He's a very pretty boy, with cool different colored eyes. His left eye is blue and his right eye is brown, it's totally awesome. Loki's coat is a shiny black and white and it looks so soft.
Shade started trembling as the dog drew closer. He could tell that the dog wasn't big, but a dog didn't have to be big for it to hurt you.
Charlie held his breath as Loki stopped a half a foot from Shade and just laid there softly whining. He was hoping that his mate could find a friend in the dog, but he wouldn't force Loki on him.
Shade listened as the dog cried feeling bad for making it sad. He knew that he was acting like a baby, but he couldn't help it.
"Shade, it's ok if you're scared of Loki." Charlie said as he slowly approached his terrified mate. "How about we let Loki stay for a week, and if after a week you're still uncomfortable, I will take him back to my friend."
Shade jerkily nodded his head. He didn't want to give the dog a week, but he didn't want to upset Charlie. Charlie had been nice and taken his bed down for him and even bought him a present. He didn't want to be an ungrateful freak. He was also scared that if he refused the dog, then Charlie would get mad and beat and rape him.
"How about some dinner?" Sirius interrupted.
Shade shook his head no. He was feeling too overwhelmed to eat and he just wanted to be left alone. He wasn't use to being around people so much, and there had been someone in his room all day.
"Alright, pup, we will all leave you alone for a bit, but remember that you have food in here if you get hungry." Sirius said, signaling for the other two to follow him out of the room.
"If you need me, Shade, my room is across from yours. Don't be scared to wake me." Liam sighed, reluctantly following his godfather. He may have spent all day with his brother, but he still didn't want to leave him.
"Come, Loki!" Charlie ordered. Whining, Loki got to his feet and followed Charlie to the door. "Goodnight, Shade. If it's alright with you, I would like to visit you again tomorrow?" He didn't get to scan his mate's eyes, not wanting to risk stressing him out anymore tonight. Harry looked like he was on the verge of breaking.
Crying, Shade nodded his head. As soon as he heard the door close, he fell to his knees sobbing. He had so many questions and no way to ask them. He was scared, confused and overwhelmed. His life had changed so drastically and he didn't know if it was for the better yet. So far he liked Liam, but he didn't know if he could be brother that Liam dreamed off. He also felt guilty for being jealous of Liam, but he couldn't help wish that he had lived Liam's life.
Crawling on his hands and knees still crying, Shade laid down in the soft nest that his brother had made up for him. It only took a few minutes before his exhausted body succumbed to the call of sleep.
***HP
As soon as the door closed behind Charlie, Liam flung himself into his godfsther's arms, crying.
Sirius eyes watered as he rubbed his pup's back. "Just give him time, pup, he's overwhelmed right now."
"Our bond is getting stronger and I'm feeling more of his emotions now, and it's killing me." Liam cried. "I don't know how he can handle it."
Sirius guided Liam to the kitchen so Harry wouldn't hear his brother break down. His heart was breaking for his two hurting pups. Harry had suffered unimaginable hell because of his parents and now Liam was suffering. Liam was being forced to grow up overnight and having to deal with issues that he himself was having a hard time dealing with. Then there was Harry, he never got to be a kid, his innocence was brutally ripped from him before he could even dress himself.
Severus quickly stood up and handed Sirius a calming draught when he saw the state that Liam was in. He wanted to hurt James and Lily for what they did to Harry and for what they were putting Liam through. He may be a bastard, he would be the first to admit that, but he would never abandon his child, even if they were a squib.
Sirius took the calming draught then helped Liam to a chair. "Here, pup, you need to calm down before you make yourself sick."
Liam downed the potion then laid his head on the table. Feeling a weight on his thigh, he looked down to see Loki resting his head on his leg, looking up at him with sad puppy dog eyes. Smiling at the his brother's dog, he started caressing his head and ears. "We can do this, Loki, we just have to be strong and patient."
"I take it the dog didn't go so well?" Remus asked the depressed trio.
Charlie shook his head. "He acted like I was presenting him with an acromantula."
"He's scared to tell you...us, no. He's afraid if he's says no, then we will hurt him. " Liam whispered.
"You said that the twin bond is getting stronger?" Sirius asked.
Liam started nibbling on the food that Remus placed in front of him. "I'm picking up on more of his feelings. Yesterday. I could only sense his extreme emotions, but now I'm getting some subtler emotions."
"Do you think he is feeling your emotions." Severus enquired.
"No." Liam sighed shaking his head. "It doesn't seem it anyway. Which is good, his own emotions are already overwhelming him."
During dinner, Remus briefed Liam in on what happened to his parents at the ministry. Liam was just as mad as the rest of them. It wasn't that he wanted to his see his parents being punished or sent to Azkaban, but he didn't think they deserved to get away with what they did to his brother.
"There's also an Order meeting tonight, pup." Sirius warned him. "That means Dumbledore and your parents. This is now your home so I wont ban you from the meeting, but I'm sure the topic of tonight's meeting will be Harry."
"Oh, I'll be here for the meeting." Liam snarled. "I can't protect my brother if I don't know what's going on. I'll take Shade and run before I let Dumbledore or my parents get him."
***HP
Shade bolted awake, trembling. He didn't know how long he had been sleeping, but he sensed that he was no longer alone. Peeking out from his tent, he silently screamed when he noticed a shimmering distortion laying outside his tent. Looking around the room, his panic spiked when he was met with only blackness. He was alone with the dog. For some reason, they locked him in alone with the dog. Were they punishing him for being afraid of the dog or not wanting to eat dinner with them?
Shade jumped when he heard a soft thumping sound. Keeping his eyes on the dog, he noticed him move, then heard another thumping sound. Whimpering, he pulled his blanket tight around himself when the dog moved closer.
Shade cried out when something landed on his lap. Scared, he reached down and brushed off whatever the demon dog had dropped on him. Cocking his head, he watched as the dog chased whatever it was that went thumping across the floor.
Shade started trembling when the dog grabbed whatever it was he was chasing and trotted back towards him. Stopping less then a foot from him, the dog dropped the object on his lap again. Slowly reaching down, he let his fingers ghost over the object. He was relieved to find that it was just a ball. Picking up the ball, he looked at the dog when it started to whine excitedly. Quickly, he tossed the ball before the dog could attack him for it.
Shade didn't know how long he had to toss the ball to the dog, but he was relieved when the panting dog finally laid down in front of him with his ball. At first he was only tossing the ball to the dog because he was scared, but near the end, he was starting to have a little fun.
Taking a deep breath, he reached out with a trembling hand and lightly touched the dog. He only let his hand linger for a few seconds, but he was surprised at how soft the dog was.
Looking towards where his food was kept, he stood up keeping an eye on the dog. After waiting a minute to see if the dog was going to attack him, he slowly made his way to get something to eat. He wasn't that hungry, but he could go for something small. Never before in his life had eaten food like this two days in a row.
Turning with half a sandwich, he froze when his knees bumped into the dog. Not knowing what to do, he reached behind his back and grabbed the other half of his sandwich and tossed it to dog. Covering his half of the sandwich with his hands, he quickly scurried back to his tent and dove under the covers. As fast as he could, he scarfed down his half of the sandwich before the dog could steal it from him. Peeking his head out from under the blanket, he sighed with relief when he saw that the dog was once again sleeping outside his tent. He still didn't understand why the dog was in his room, but at least it wasn't trying to eat him. It seemed all it wanted was to play and have a snack.
Shade was just settling back down into his blankets when there was a soft knock at his door. Being careful of the dog, he crawled out of his tent and cowered against the wall. He tried not flinch when the dog joined him against the wall, standing slightly in front of him.
Bill quietly opened his mate's bedroom door, he didn't want to wake him if he was sleeping. The Order meeting was getting ready to start, but he had something he wanted to give him first. They also couldn't find Loki so they had all split up looking for him. He was the lucky one that got to look in Harry's room.
"Shade." Bill called out quietly, eyes immediately going to the wall that his mate felt the safest at. "Oh, well this where Loki disappeared to." Bill chuckled when he spotted Loki standing protectively in front of his mate. "We have been looking all over for him. He disappeared from the kitchen when we weren't looking."
Shade looked down at the dog, curiously. Bill's gold color stayed steady so that meant that he was telling the truth. The dog came up here on his own, he wasn't sent to hurt him as punishment. He felt a little guilty for thinking that they sent the dog to punish him when they had only been kind to him since saving him.
"Is he bothering you?" Bill asked, concerned. Charlie had told him what a disaster Harry's first meeting with Loki was.
Thinking about it for a minute, Shade shook his head no. He still wasn't comfortable with the dog, but he wasn't bothering him. He didn't know if he wanted the dog to stay all night, but he was ok for now.
"I only have a few minutes because I have a meeting to get to, but I wanted to give you some more brownies that mom made." Bill sat down on the floor in front of Shade and Loki. Setting the box brownies on the floor, he scooted them towards his mate.
"This first box of brownies mom made for you to share with everyone." Bill scooted another box towards Shade. "This second box mom made for you to hide from Sirius since he will end up eating all the first."
Shade grinned at Bill. Sirius really did have an addiction to the brownies. He had to admit, they were the best things that he had ever put into his mouth. He had never had chocolate or sweets before.
Bill laughed as he scooted a third box towards Shade. "Lastly, this box of brownies is your back up hidden stash for when Sirius finds your second box of brownies."
Shade silently giggled. He couldn't believe that Bill's mother had made him three boxes of brownies. Why would she do that? She didn't even know him, why would she go out of her way to make these delicious brownies for him?
"All right, I got to get to get to this boring meeting." Bill sighed. He would much rather remain up here with his little mate than deal with Dumbledore and the Potters. "Do you want me to take Loki?"
Shade looked at the dog as it started to whine. He was startled when the dog moved behind his legs, hiding from Bill.
"He really likes you." Bill said grinning. "He wants to stay with you."
Shade sucked on his bottom lip not knowing what to do. He wouldn't mind the dog staying as long as it didn't bite him. His crying was also making him feel bad. He knew what it felt like to be not wanted, he didn't want to do the same to...Loki.
Bill reached out to grab Loki's collar, but was shocked when his mate gently grabbed his hand with his much smaller and delicate one. Shade only allowed the touch for a split second, but it was still a major achievement.
"Are you sure you don't mind Loki staying?" Bill asked, practically bouncing with excitement. He couldn't wait to tell everyone that Shade touched him. He also couldn't wait to show everyone the memory, there was definitely something going on with Shade's vision. How did he know that he was reaching out for the dog? Shade had even grabbed his hand without having to feel around for it.
Shade lightly touched the dogs soft ears and nodded his head. If Loki wanted to stay, then he would allow it. He didn't want the dog to feel unloved or unwanted.
"Charlie is going to be so happy when he hears that you two are getting along. He was scared that he did wrong by getting you the dog." Bill started to walk backwards towards the door. "Shade, don't let Loki have any brownies, even if he begs. Chocolate is poisonous to dogs."
Shade quickly scooped up the three boxes and held them high out of the dogs reach.
"See you tomorrow." Bill said, feeling for the first time since finding out that Harry was his mate that things might actually work out. They had a hell of a long way to go, but Harry was an incredibly strong, caring young man.
Shifting the boxes in his arms, Shade waved to Bill, blushing.
***HP
Bill's smile slipped off his face when he saw who was in the kitchen. Dumbledore and the Potters were sitting at the table, Dumbledore looking smug and the Potters pale and sickly. He knew that Amelia was going to force them to watch the videos and pictures of young Harry. It looks like they were finally hit with the realization of what their selfish actions caused.
"Did you find Loki?" Charlie asked on the verge of panicking.
Bill gave his brother a reassuring smile. "That's a smart dog you got there. It seems he found his way back to Harry, how he even got in the room, I don't know."
Bill had to quickly grab his brother's arm when he went to take off. "It's ok, Charlie, Harry said the dog could stay. He's still not comfortable with him, but I saw him lightly touch Loki's head."
"Really?" Charlie beamed. "That's perfect. I was scared..."
"I think Harry will learn to love Loki, he has an incredible heart. For a boy who has never known love, his capacity to love it unlimited." Bill said.
"Is Shade, ok?" Liam asked, glaring at his parents who were listening in on their conversation.
"He laughed at the three boxes of brownies, silently laughed, but it was still an honest laugh. He also reached out and grabbed my hand when I went to grab Loki's collar." Bill was slightly blushing, he could still feel his mate's hand on his.
"After the meeting, I would like to see the memory of that." Severus said.
"Well, we have figured out why the lad refuses to talk." Moody said gruffly, glaring at James.
"I take it we're not going to like this story." Sirius growled, taking his seat at the table. Looking around, he noticed that almost every Order member was present.
Moody shook his head. "Voldemort isn't even as sick and sadistic as this fat muggle. He will be getting the kiss, no doubt there. The Dementors will soon be very well fed, between the fat bastard, his horse faced bitch and the rapists that we have in custody so far, they are going to be feasting,"
"My sister." Lily cried, tears rolling down her face.
"Fuck your sister!" Sirius roared.
"You showed more emotions over her than you did my brother." Liam snapped, disgusted with his mother.
"She, she's my sister. " Lily cried.
"And Harry was your son. The son that you tossed away and she helped abuse." Moody growled. "Don't fool yourself, she isn't innocent in this mess. She taunted that boy with food when he was starving. She held him down in scolding hot water in the bathtub and laughed as he screamed. She let him go days without changing his diaper, and she willingly participated in the physical abuse. She also knew what her husband was doing to that boy, but she didn't care as long as she had money to spend on herself and that disgustingly fat boy of hers.
"You cry for that bitch, but not your own child. You deserve the kiss too as far as I'm concerned." Molly screeched.
"Now everyone, let's not fight amongst ourselves." Dumbledore said calmly.
"I agree with Molly." Alice sneered. "Lily is a horrible mother."
Lily flung herself at her husband, sobbing. She was a good mother, just look at how perfect her Liam turned out.
"Lily and James made a mistake, they don't deserve everyone turning their backs on them." Dumbledore scolded.
"A mistake!" Sirius yelled. "Go tell that boy upstairs who can't even sleep in the same room as a bed because the only times he had ever been in a bed was when he was being brutally raped, that they made a fucking mistake."
Moody fired a bunch of sparks in the air to get everyone's attention. "We are still pulling memories from the fat bastard, but we do know why Harry stopped talking. About five months after you left the boy on their doorstep, the bastard got tired of hearing the baby pleading and crying. He put a muggle dog collar on him...a shock collar. Each time the boy made a sound or tried to talk, he would press a button that would shock the baby around his neck. For years Harry wore the dog collar and that bastard always kept it set at the highest setting. We went out and bought a similar collar to test how bad the shock was. I personally tested it, and the damn thing dropped me to my knees it was so painful."
Liam angrily swiped at the tears that were falling from his eyes. He didn't know how much more he could take. "I want to watch as that sick bastard gets his soul sucked out by a dementor...if he even has a soul."
"Liam you can't..." Lily tried protesting.
"Do not talk to me." Liam snarled at his mother. "You no longer have any say in what I do."
"Now Liam, that is not true." Dumbledore chastised. "Lily is your mother and she loves you very much."
Liam glared at his ex-headmaster. "She is no longer my mother and the only people I to listen to is Sirius and Remus."
Dumbledore's eyes started twinkling madly. "Once again not true, my dear boy. You see, since your parents weren't found guilty in any wrong doing, they once again have custody of you and your brother. After this meeting, you and Harry will be returning to Potter Manor."
"Like hell!" Sirius bellowed, eyes blazing with fury.
"Just make me you stupid old fool." Liam yelled at Dumbledore, pointing his wand at his chest. He desperately wanted to wipe the smirk off his wrinkly old face.
"And what do you hope to gain by forcing the boys home?" Severus calmly asked, voice carrying out over the loud commotion.
"Why, the boys belong with their family." Dumbledore said, matter of factory. "Harry will heal under the loving care of his parents and he will be ready to start Hogwarts this fall."
Without looking at Black or Liam, Severus held up his hand stopping them from protesting. "Don't you know anything about magic?" he asked, appalled that someone who was supposed to be the greatest wizard alive, knew next to nothing about magic.
"I would like to think I do." Dumbledore chuckled. "After all, I am the Headmaster of a Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot."
"And yet you still mistook an exhausted core for no core at all and sent the real prophecy child to a home that made hell look like a sunny day in the park." Severus sneered.
"I did not send Harry away."
"No, but you planted the seed. Admit it, you didn't want Harry in the way. Now thanks to you, that boy upstairs will never be able to properly perform magic."
"What do you mean?" Dumbledore asked, paling.
Severus shook his head. "Why is child abuse punishable with life in Azkaban?" he asked.
"Wizards, with the exception of the Weasley's." Dumbledore smiled fondly at the Weasley parents, ignoring the icy glare that they were giving him in return. "Are unable to have a lot of children. Most can only have one child."
"Our mighty Supreme Mugwump is wrong." Severus snarked. "While it is true that most purebloods only have one child, that is not why child abuse is punished so severely in the wizarding world. Purebloods normally stop having children after the first one or two because the magic grows weaker with each additional child."
Severus looked to Molly and Arthur. "I have taught all seven of your children, and despite them all having adequate magic, the younger five are nowhere near as strong magically as Bill and Charlie. Fred and George are more powerful than the other three, but I believe there is a reason for that." Severus knew of the twins creature inheritance. Them coming into their inheritance gave them a huge magical boost.
"How come we didn't know about this?" Molly asked appalled.
Severus glared at the headmaster. "It was once common knowledge, until the old ways stopped being taught and practiced."
"So that's why my Ronnie struggles so much in school." Molly gasped. She could never understand why Ronnie did so poorly despite how hard he worked. Everyone assumed that Ronnie was a slacker, but he really did try. There were plenty of times that she caught him over summer break with his nose stuck in a book.
Severus nodded his head. "If tested, you would find that Ronald's magical core is probably half the size of Bill and Charlie's. Because of his smaller, weaker core, his children will also be magically weaker."
"That... That sounds like extinction." Frank stuttered. "If we keep producing magically weak children, and if their children are even weaker, eventually we will end up breeding the magic out and birthing nothing but squibs."
"Not even squibs." Severus corrected. "Squibs have a magical core, they just can't access it. Eventually we will end up having children with no magical cores whatsoever."
Everyone sat in silence, stunned. Since the old ways were no longer being taught at Hogwarts, they didn't know about this.
"How do the purebloods know this and we don't?" Arthur asked. He may be a pureblood, but his family hasn't followed the old way in generations.
"Just because practicing the old ways is...illegal." Severus spat out. "Doesn't mean that they aren't teaching and practicing behind closed doors and the safety of powerful wards."
"This is all very enlightening, Severus, but what does this have to do with Harry?" Dumbledore asked, a slight bite to his tone. "Harry is a magical twin and very powerful."
"Oh, he's powerful alright, more powerful than you." Severus grinned, enjoying how the old man squirmed in his seat. "But, the chances of him ever being able to use his magic properly, is almost zero."
"Why?" Liam asked softly.
"As a child grows, they have bouts of accidental magic. Normally they start off with small things, such a levitating a toy or summoning a cookie. In some magically strong children, they have been known to destroy rooms with a temper tantrum or even apparate. Accidental magic is important for the developing magical core. It's like exercising a muscle if you will. Now, in Harry's case, his magical core had to work on the inside, healing internal injuries, mending broken bones, repairing the damage from being brutally raped, sustaining him when he wasn't fed properly and keeping him alive on the dangerous streets. I also believe that his magic has helped him get around with his blindness; he can't see, but he is seeing something. Harry's magic has grown to work more internally. For him to be able to use his magic externally like we do, will be almost impossible. It would be like asking your knee to bend in the opposite direction." Severus explained.
"We can use our magic internally too." Tonks said, looking a bit confused.
"Our magic has learned to work both ways, but we still need the aid of potions and spells to fully heal the damage if we are injured. Harry's magic has only worked internally and has adapted to heal major injuries without potions and spells. Now I'm not saying that he has never done magic, obviously his magic lashed out the night that he burnt that house down. Also, Bill said when they found Harry being attacked in that bathroom, the pipes were rattling and water was flooding the floor.
"Couldn't his magic be retrained?" James' asked, not making eye contact with anyone.
Severus sneered at James. "It is possible that he will able to do small things, maybe some first year magic, but his magic will never work properly. Even then the chances of him being able to do that are slim. That is why child abuse is punished so severely. It damages the child's magical core beyond repair. Dumbledore may not want to admit it, but we are fading out. In another couple hundred years, magic will be dead and gone."
"Now Severus." Dumbledore said tightly. "You are being a bit over dramatic. We are in no risk of losing magic."
"Keep telling yourself that old man, but the proof is undeniable." Severus growled.
"Well, I believe that Hogwarts will be able to sort out Harry's magic, and in no time at all he will be a fully functional wizard that will be able to fulfill his destiny." Dumbledore said happily, eyes sparkling with excitement.
Sirius stood up, leaning across the table he got right into Dumbledore's face. "Harry will not be leaving here and he will not be going to Hogwarts."
"Now Sirius, I know you care for the boys, but babying Harry isn't going to help him. He needs to learn his place in this world. He will be going back to Potter Manor tonight and he will be on the Hogwarts Express on September 1st." Dumbledore stated firmly.
Before Sirius could protest any further, Bill and Charlie stood up speaking at the same time. "As dominate mates to the submissive minor, Harry James Potter, we claim full guardianship of him. His parents have been neglectful and a danger to him. As Elemental Elves, it is our right to claim our mate early if we feel that he is in danger. There is nothing you can say or do to reverse this claim, so mote it be." Smirking, they retook their seats as a soft golden glow surrounded them.
"Gutsy move big brothers." George chuckled.
Dumbledore sat there with his mouth rudely hanging open.
"I think you broke him." Fred snorted, high fiving his twin.
Bill looked to Sirius. "As required by law, we must live with our submissive mate. We feel that it wouldn't be in his best interest to remove him from your home, so we are requesting to move in with you for the foreseeable future."
"Requested granted." Sirius said with a sigh of relief. If it wasn't for Bill and Charlie, he would have been forced to hand over Harry to James and Lily."
"Why didn't you tell me that you were Elemental Elves?" Dumbledore demanded, face flushing with anger.
"My boys creature status is none of your business, headmaster." Arthur said flatly. "We are not required to inform the school if our children inherit."
"What about the rest of your children?" Dumbledore asked, shocked that the Weasley's had been keeping important information from him.
"Also none of your business."Arthur snarled. "If I hear that you tested any of my children to see if their elves, I will report you to the elven council, and the DMLE. I know that you feel that you're above the law, but I will see that you're convicted if you do." It was against the law to test minors or those against their will for creature inheritances. You could spend up to fifteen years in Azkaban if found guilty.
Dumbledore sat there gaping like a fish. He couldn't believe that Arthur Weasley, one of his most devoted followers, would speak to him with such disrespect. "I'm very disappointed in you for not informing me about your boys. That kind of knowledge can be very important in winning this war. To have elves on our side, especially elemental elves, would tip the scale greatly in our favor."
"And that's why we didn't tell you." Charlie snapped. "We are people, not pawns in your war. We will not allow you to use our mate."
Dumbledore was thinking fast, he had to find a way to get the boy. He couldn't legally take him from Bill and Charlie, and he couldn't force him to attend Hogwarts. "Well, I still must insist that Liam return to his parents and Hogwarts."
"Not happening." Liam yelled. "I'm not leaving my brother, I done care what you say."
Lily looked at her son, crying. "Please baby, you have to come home. We miss you so much"
"Liam, I'm sorry, but you will be going back to Potter Manor tonight." Dumbledore said. "I'm sure we can come up with a way for you to see your brother. If Harry was to go to Hogwarts..."
"No!" James snarled. "Liam can stay here with Sirius and he can be homeschooled."
"James, no." Lily gasped. "Please, Liam has to..."
"Dammit, Lily." James snapped, scooting his chair away from hers. "We have hurt our boys enough. Harry needs Liam, and Liam needs Harry. We split those boys up once, I'm not doing it again."
"James, think about what you are doing." Dumbledore snapped, quickly losing his temper. "Without Harry, we will lose the war."
James shook his head, snorting. "I don't care, let Voldemort take over the wizarding world. My family has sacrificed enough for your cause. Why should it be my son who has to defeat him. You heard Snape, Harry's magic will never be fully functional. You would sacrifice my son over a prophecy that a wanna be, alcoholic seer prophesied."
Dumbledore slammed his hand down on the table. "I can't believe what you are saying. Do you have any idea what our world will be like if Voldemort takes over?"
James chuckled. "No, I don't. Do any of us really know? We have been following you blindly, but do any of us truly know what Voldemort wants? All I know is what you have told us and you have proven lately that you don't know a whole lot."
James stood up, sneering at the old man. "This is your fault as much as it is ours. You told us our son was a squib. What the hell else are you wrong about?" James turned to his wife. "I'm done, you can either come with me or stay, the choice is yours."
"But what about Liam and Harry?" Lily asked, reluctantly getting to feet. "We just can't leave our boys."
James looking longingly at Liam. "We have to, it's the right thing to do. I don't want my boys to have anything to do with this damn war. From here on out, we are officially neutral, I'm done fighting."
Lily gasped, all the color draining from her face. "James, we can't. Dumbledore said..."
"I don't care what the hell he said!" James hollered. "Lily, if you don't come with me now, then don't bother coming home at all. I will send an elf to wherever you're staying with your things."
Lily started shaking, she couldn't believe that her husband was threatening to leave her. She also couldn't believe that he was walking out on the Order and going neutral. James was one of their strongest fighters, they needed him.
"Lily, you are still Liam's mother and can demand that he goes home with you. " Dumbledore said desperately. Everything he had worked so hard for was crashing right in front of him. If James walked, then he was sure that others would too. He needed Harry and the only way to get Harry, was through Liam.
"Please, mom." Liam pleaded. "Don't rip me away from my brother again. If you do, then I will hate you and never forgive you."
Lily nodded her head, sobbing. "I love you, Liam," she said brokenly. Looking to Dumbledore, she cringed when she saw the anger on his face. "I'm with my husband," she said, sounding stronger than what she felt. Tentatively she approached her husband, scared that he would reject her. She gave a half a smile when he held his hand out to her. "I too am neutral."
Arthur looked to his wife, silently communicating with her. Looking to his boys, he nodded his head. As one, Arthur, Molly, Bill, Charlie, Fred and George stood up. "Albus Dumbledore, the Weasley family is no longer part of the Order of the Phoenix. As long as the dark side leaves my family alone, we are neutral in this war."
Grinning, Sirius stood up. "Harry needs me so I will be taking an extended leave from the Auror force. Merlin knows I have enough money to see me through ten lifetimes without ever having to work a single day. I official declare that Remus and I are neutral in this war, unless the dark come after us or I take up being an Auror again."
Dumbledore's face was so red that he looked like he was going to spontaneously combust. The anger was pouring off of him. He was losing half the Order and all of his financial backing. Black and Potter gave a lot of money to the cause and they were his best fighters.
"Since we are no longer in the Order." Sirius added, smirking. "After tonight, there will be no more Order meetings held here."
"You are all making a grave mistake." Dumbledore roared, shaking with anger. "Voldemort will come looking for Harry..." Dumbledore's voice trailed off when Frank and Alice stood up.
"As an Auror, I can't go neutral in this war, but we are no longer Order members. I can no longer blindly follow a man who sends children into war, especially children who have been abused as severely as Harry. For crying out loud, the boy is blind, mute and terrified, and yet you still want to shove a wand in his hand and drop him off in front of the darkest wizard in history. You care nothing for the broken child upstairs."
Moody's wooden leg made a clunking sound on the hardwood floor as he got to his feet. "I also can't go neutral in the war, too much bad blood between the dark and myself," he chuckled grimly. "But I think I'm through with being a vigilante. Looks like the Auror's are going to need some help now the Black and Potter are gone. Guess I will dust off my Auror robes and fight the battle legally. Children don't belong in the war, even Voldemort draws a line at recruiting kids."
That one blindsided Dumbledore. Moody had been his close friend for a very long time. Never in a million years did he think that Moody would turn his back on him.
Tonks got to her feet, tripping over her chair in the process. "Shut up, Siri," she grumbled when he cousin started laughing at her. "I have spent the last two days going over videos and hearing testimonies of what that poor child had to suffer through. You played god and proclaimed Harry a squib when you had no healer training to do so. No, you are not completely to blame, James and Lily were stupid enough to believe you and toss away their child because of it. I can't let you hurt that boy anymore. I'm done with the Order, I just can't get that poor child's cries out of my head or those horrific images of what those bastards did to him. I can't go neutral because I'm an Auror, but I am through with the Order. It just sickens me that you show no care or remorse for that boy upstairs. You were even going to take Liam away from him just so you could get your hands on him. It makes me wonder if you honestly care about the kids at Hogwarts."
"Headmaster, I have always respected you." Kingsley said, still sitting in his chair. "You're a great wizard who has done many great things for the wizarding world." Dumbledore smiled tightly at Kingsley. His Order was broken up and only a few were left sitting. Other than Kingsley, the ones still sitting were the ones that were no help to him. They were average witches and wizards with no money or contacts. At least he knew he could count on Severus. Looking around the table, he cringed when he saw Mundungus asleep with his head back and drool dribbling down his chin. Diggle and Doge were both average wizards. While they were both loyal to him, Diggle wasn't all there in the head, and Doge, one of his oldest friends, wasn't as good with his wand as the younger generation. His Order didn't stand a chance with just those two, Kingsley, Minerva, Hagrid, and Severus.
Dumbledore was snapped out of his thoughts when there was the sound of another chair scraping on the floor. He paled even farther when Kingsley stood up looking at him gravely. "It's wrong what you are doing to the Potter boys. Personally, I have never believed in prophecies. How do we know that Harry didn't fulfill the prophecy when he was a babe? It said that he had the power to vanquish the Dark Lord, well he did do that. The Hall of Prophecies is filled with thousands of prophecies that have never been fulfilled. The prophecy was also told by someone who is as much a seer as Moody." Moody grunted from his chair, nodding his head. "I too am through with the Order, well what's left of it anyway.."
"You have all just signed our death warrant." Dumbledore shouted, face red with rage and a slightly crazed look in his eyes. "You are handing the wizarding wold over to Voldemort on a silver platter. I cannot win this war with just a couple of aged wizards and a potions master who blew it as a spy."
Severus rose slowly...and a bit dramatically from his chair. "Dammit Severus." Dumbledore snapped before his potions master could say anything. "If you quit the Order, you will be looking for a new job come fall," he snapped, giving him a look that was just daring him to say anything.
Severus stood, blinking at the old headmaster that was obviously losing his mind. With a smirk on his face, he turned to Black. "You wouldn't happen to need a teacher for Liam by any chance?" Severus didn't need a job, not with the Prince fortune, but it felt good sticking it to the old goat.
Sirius grinned at Severus, then sent a smirk of his own to the headmaster. "Like I would be stupid enough to turn down the greatest potions master since Salazar Slytherin."
Severus looked back to the stunned headmaster. "Well, it seems that not only am I now not a member of The Order of the Phoenix, but I am also no longer a Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
"You will not quit on me, Severus." Dumbledore bellowed, his magic swirling around him angrily. "I own you."
"You don't own me you crazed old fool." Severus snarled, his magic matching Dumbledore's. Many didn't realize it, but Severus was one of the most powerful wizards in the wizarding world. He wasn't as powerful as Dumbledore, the Dark Lord or Harry, but he was far above the average wizard. "I have only remained at Hogwarts so I could pass the old ways down to my Slytherin's and any other student who wants to learn."
"What." Dumbledore yelled, his magic shattering a glass. "You have been teaching the old ways behind my back?"
Severus smirked. "Since day one of my employment."
"Sirius, you wouldn't happen to have room for another student, would you?" Franked asked, not wanting his son under Dumbledore's control.
"What a splendid idea." Sirius chuckled. "I'm sure we can make room for a few gingers if the Weasley's would like to join us."
"We would be honored. Harry and Liam are now family, and we support family. I also don't trust the headmaster around my children." Molly said, giving Dumbledore one of her famous glares. It was those glares that would send her children running.
"I will not allow this." Dumbledore raged. "I will go to the board and demand that your children return to Hogwarts."
Frank laughed shaking his head. "Incase you have forgotten, I am on the board, along with Potter. You can't force our children to go to Hogwarts."
Sirius stood up and started advancing on Dumbledore. "I think it's time you leave, you are no longer permitted in any Black residence." Black family magic started swirling in the air. "You got five seconds to get out of here before I forcefully kick your ass out"
Dumbledore pulled out his wand. "I will not..."
Sirius pulled out his wand, as well as everyone else who quit the Order. "Five...four...three." Sirius started counting.
In desperation, Dumbledore sent a stunner at Sirius. He needed to do serious damage control and get his Order members back.
With a snarl, Sirius easily defected the stunner. "One!" he yelled.
With a flash and a blood curdling scream, Dumbledore disappeared from the kitchen at
Grimmauld. It was extremely painful to be forcefully expelled from a magical home.
"Where did you send him?" Moody asked, chuckling darkly.
Sirius walked around the spot that Dumbledore had been standing. "Hell if I know, I never done that before." Bending down, he picked something up off the floor. "Huh, guess I did something wrong." Grinning sadistically, he held up a severed ear.
"Doge!" Sirius called, startling the old man. Doge was pale and shaking, obviously not knowing how to handle the situation. "Here you ass kissing, bastard. You can return this to the Supreme Mugwump." Sirius tossed the ear at the old man who jumped out of the way, with a look of horror on his face.
"Looks like your lucky day, Doge." Moody grunted. "You always wanted to get a piece Dumbledore." The kitchen burst out into laughter. Everyone knew that Doge had had been in love with Dumbledore ever since he met him at the age of eleven at Hogwarts.. He had hoped to seduce Dumbledore after graduation when they went on their world tour, but his plans got derailed when the night before their departure, Dumbledore got word that his mother had died. Dumbledore had to return home to look after his little sister, leaving Doge to travel alone.
In a huff, Doge scooped up the ear and stormed off to the floo. He would have liked to have had a few choice words with everyone, but he didn't want risk getting forcefully expelled.
"Diggle, you got five seconds to floo your crazy ass out of here before you end up earless and with Dumbledore." Sirius barked.
With a squick, Diggle jumped up and ran to the floo. He was gone before Sirius could count to thee.
"What about Dung?" Remus asked, still laughing over Doge and Diggle.
"Wake the drunk bastard up, make sure he hasn't lifted anything that doesn't belong to him, then get him the hell out of my house." Sirius ordered.
"We got Dung?" The twins chorused, each grabbing one of the thief's arms and hoisting him to his feet.
Liam reluctantly approached his parents. "Thanks for letting me stay." Liam stepped back when his mother went to hug him. "I can't," he growled. "What you did was unforgivable. I may be thanking you for allowing me to stay, but I still want nothing to do with you."
Lily clung to James, crying, "Please come home." Lily begged.
"You have been in this house for close to two hours and not once have you asked about Harry. Why do you hate him?" Liam asked, scowling at his parents.
"We don't hate Harry," James sighed. "I'm not going to lie, I was embarrassed when Dumbledore told us that Harry was a squib. Your grandparents weren't happy when I told them that I was going to marry Lily, a muggle born. I was eleven at the time," he chuckled, "but I knew that Lily was the one for me. See, the Potters had always been a pureblood family, I was the first Potter to fall in love with a muggle born. Your grandparents said that Lily's blood was going to dirty the Potter blood. That night that your brother defeated Voldemort, was the worst night of my life. When I woke from the stunner, I thought for sure that I was going to find my family dead. My emotions were already all over the place and when Dumbledore professed Harry a squib, I panicked."
Lily reached out to Liam, but dropped her band when he moved farther back. "It was my idea to send Harry to my sister. I blamed myself for birthing a squib, there had never been a squib in the Potter line. I didn't want to give up my baby, my sweet little Harry, but I knew that when word got out that you defeated Voldemort, that you were going to be famous. I didn't think it would be fair to Harry to not only be in your shadow, but also not be able to perform magic. I was also afraid of what everyone would say when they found out that one of my children was a squib. I thought by sending Harry away, I would be doing all of us a favor. Harry would grow up happy in a non magical family, you would never have to feel guilty for having magic and being famous, and..."
"And you wouldn't have to live with the shame of having a squib for a son." Liam finished.
James and Lily lowered their head in shame. There was no good excuse for what they did.
"Harry wasn't the only one who grew up suffering." Liam said, with a faraway look on his face. "I always felt like there was something missing. I never felt right...complete. My suffering was nothing compared to my brothers, but I still hurt."
"Please believe that we never meant to hurt you or Harry. We're deeply sorry over what we did." James said.
"Sorry doesn't take the pain away, or give my brother back his sight or innocence." Without looking back at his parents, Liam left the room. He needed to see Harry before he went to bed, just to make sure he was alright.
Severus grinned as he walked to the apparition point. The Dark Lord was going to be very interested in seeing his memories. He had a feeling that there would be a lot more purebloods withdrawing from Hogwarts before the week was out.