"Brian," Justin called his lover softly. Justin had come out of the bathroom only to find his lover sitting on the bed, in the dark. The blond walked over to the bed and sat down next to Brian. "Brian, are you okay?" Still no answer came from the brunet and Justin knew that his lover was anything but okay. It had been two weeks since the American Headmaster Masters had come by the loft and in that time he had watched as both his lover and their young guest withdrew more and more. Justin knew it was because the two men were trying to understand everything they had been told. The blond understood the betrayal they were feeling after hearing about Dumbledore's plans for the young Slytherins in his charge, but he was sure what he could do to help. He just knew that he was going to do everything he could to make sure that not only Brian, but also Harry knew that he was there for them. Justin recalled the conversation he and the brunet had shortly after Masters had left the loft.

Two weeks before

"This is so fucked," Brian finally said. "If what Master's said is true, then us going to Hogwart's is just walking into some kind of a trap. Then again, if what he said is true, we have no choice but to try and help those kids. No child should be used as a pawn, especially in the middle of a war."

"Brian, you know that, no matter what you decide, that I'm going to be with you all the way," Justin assured his lover.

"Maybe it will be better if you stay here," Brian told the blond, already knowing that there was no way he was going to stop Justin from following him. He had yet to win a real battle against the younger man and he had a good idea that he would win this one either.

"You know there is no fucking way that I'm going to stay here and let you go back there to fight whatever it is you're going to have to fight," Justin said. "We're partners, Brian, even if you still have trouble admitting it, and that means that where you go, I go."

"I had a feeling you were going to say something like that." Justin huffed a little laugh, hitting Brian's shoulder with his own. The two men stayed quiet a little longer before looking towards the living room and the young teen that was restlessly trying to sleep on the couch. "It's not going to be easy when we get there, especially if we want to look out for Harry too. Somehow I don't think that Dumbledore had been too honest about what he wants from him either. I was talking to Harry when we were out and he told me about his home life. About the people that Dumbledore left him with."

"And?"

"From what I heard, it sounds like he and you had a very similar childhood," Justin said. "Harry's aunt and uncle treated him like a slave and his cousin, Dudley, apparently like to use Harry as his favorite punching bag. It was one of the reasons Harry was so grateful when he found out that he was a wizard and that he could go to Hogwart's. It gave him that chance to get away from a family that treated him like shit and maybe have a chance to actually make some friends."

"Speaking of friends," Brian interrupted, "doesn't it seem odd that Harry has been here for close to two weeks and he hasn't heard so much as one word from anyone, even though you and I both know he's sent them letters? From everything Harry has told us about his friends Ron and Hermoine, I would have thought they would have written to him at least once, or even called him since Hermoine is from a Muggle family."

"Maybe they don't know how to contact him," Justin suggested. "I mean, it's not like Harry's still in England. Hell, he isn't even on the same side of the ocean."

"Harry told me that they know where he is," Brian reminded his lover. "And being on the other side of an ocean isn't that big of a deal, even when I was younger. I still got letters from my supposed friends during the summer, just like they got mine. It took no time at all for the letters to get through. In fact, it was usually faster sending them over the ocean than cross country because of what was involved. And we know that owls know where he is, remember. That's how we got the newest addition to our growing family." Both men looked towards the snow white owl that had arrived a couple of days before, without a letter much to Harry's disappointment.

"So, what are you thinking then?"

"What I'm thinking is that, maybe Harry's friends aren't as good of friends as he thinks." Justin turned to look out at the younger man, his heart going out to the boy.

"Shit I hope not. That kid has been through too fucking much, he shouldn't have to go through it alone. Nobody should have too," and suddenly Brian knew that his lover wasn't just talking about Harry, but Brian also. Justin had told him that he couldn't wait to get to Hogwart's so that he could give Dumbledore a piece of his mind for what he had done to a hurting teenage Brian.

"You know, Harry's birthday is coming up," Justin brought up, not sure if Brian knew that fact or not. "And I know for a fact that he's never done anything special for it before so I was thinking that maybe we could do something for him ourselves. Especially since we have to go to England right after."

"Why do I think you have something planned already?"

"Because you know me so well," Justin smirked, giving Brian a look he was used to seeing on his lover's own face.

Present time

Justin couldn't help but smile at the excitement he saw on Harry's face as the young wizard took in the town around him. Brian and he had surprised the youth with a trip to New Hope, giving all three men a chance to see an American wizarding town in action, even if it was one that was also popular with non-magical folk. It was, in Harry's opinion, the best birthday present he had ever gotten, tied only with Hagrid's gift of Hedwig, his snowy owl.

"This place is great," Harry said, his enthusiasm overflowing. "I can't believe things are so laid back here when it comes to Muggles knowing about this place. I don't understand why Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley aren't more like this."

"Probably because they people in charge refuse to admit that the times are changing and that the old ways aren't necessarily the best way for things to get done," Brian replied, disdain for the magical community that had willingly thrown him away without so much as a backward glance apparent in the tone of his voice. "Hogwart's even let the ghost of a former teacher continue holding the position he held in life because they didn't want to force him to leave."

"You're kidding right," Justin asked. "You had a ghost for a teacher?"

"Professor Binns, History of Magic," Harry answered. "His class was nothing more than an excuse to take a nap. All he ever taught about was Goblin wars or something equally as stupid."

"That's just….just completely fucked. It makes no sense."

"Your point being what, Sunshine," Brian asked, wrapping his arm around his lover. Justin smiled at the public display, knowing that just a year before Brian would have killed someone if they had told him he would show affection to a lover. Before anything else could be said though, a voice called from behind them.

"I can't believe it, Harry Potter here in America." Harry groaned, recognizing the voice instantly. "I heard you were here, but I didn't think I would actually see you."

"Blaise Zabini, what a not so pleasant surprise," Harry said, turning to face the dark haired Slytherin only to see he wasn't alone. With Blaise were two young girls that Harry knew had to be his sisters that were in their second year at Hogwart's and an older couple who didn't appear to be any relation to the Zabini family. Harry felt, rather than saw, Brian and Justin move closer to him and felt glad that they were there to support him. "What are you doing here?"

Blaise looked at the two men behind Harry and the protective air they had about them. "Something tells me that you already know what I'm doing here." Harry only nodded his head. "Let's just say that my sisters and I didn't like that idea of being bait."

"I can understand that," Harry agreed, looking around New Hope, and finally realizing that everything that he had been told about Dumbledore and his plan for using the Slytherins to protect Hogwarts was true. Even though he had no reason to suspect Masters of lying to him, there had been a small part of him that didn't want to believe it. But now, seeing Zabini and his sisters in New Hope, looking more carefree than he had ever appeared at school, showed him that there was a lot more to what was going on back in Britain than he had been told.

"Is there anyone else here with you?"

"Do you mean here in town or in America in general."

"Both."

"In town, I haven't seen anyone else today but I can't be too sure. In general, about half of the students that were going into second, third and fourth year," Blaise answered. "Daphne Greengrass and Tracey Davis from our year and a couple of sixth and seventh years, although because they're older they have a little more freedom to choose where they wanted to go. Theodore Nott also left but he's with family down in Australia." A clearing of the throat behind Blaise drew his attention to the people he was with.

"Forgive my manners, Potter. Let me introduce you to my sisters, Maria and Calia, Slytherin second years and these are our foster parents, Patricia and Robert Morgan. This is Harry Potter."

"It's a pleasure Mister Potter," Patricia said, shaking his hand. "We've heard quite a lot about you. And who are your friends."

"Oh this is Brian Kinney and his partner Justin Taylor." Harry waited to see if there would be any reaction to Brian and Justin being a couple, like he knew would happen back in the British wizarding world, and was pleasantly surprised when none came.

"Nice to meet you," The Robert Morgan said, before turning towards the children. "Blaise, girls, we have to leave soon if we want to make it to Sea Isle before dinner."

"Okay," Blaise turned his attention back to Harry. "Look, Potter, I know we've never been friends and that you have no reason to trust me, but Draco needs your help. He can't get everyone out without you, especially when Dumbledore figures out what is going on. He's got a lot of convincing to do still, especially when the new school year starts and he has more first years he has to protect."

"I'll do what I can, Zabini," Harry promised, finally admitting how much things had changed and suddenly very glad that both Brian and Justin were going to be going back to Hogwarts with him because he had a feeling he was going to need them.