Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, associated characters, or a magical horse. Just saying.

A/N: It goes without saying that this was a very delayed chapter. I'm so sorry that my life is too crazy for regular updates, but I appreciate each one of you who has the patience to keep reading and providing me with comments. It's really nice of you all.

Thirteenth to Fifth

Reckless

Harry woke with a start on Saturday morning. The bell had just rung, and even through the door to his small room and then the door to Pomfrey's office he could hear students rushing through the halls. Tendrils of music floated to his ears—bits of vocals, strings, and other instruments people were playing in the halls on their way to classes. Rhythmic steps of dancers practicing in the hall also reached his ears.

Harry was surprised he hadn't been woken up, but like any teenaged boy he wasn't going to complain about being allowed to sleep in. Once awake, though, he had no desire to return to sleep. He took a moment to check himself over. His ribs and arms felt far better than they had before, although the sharp twinges of pain that still raced through him when he moved meant he wouldn't be dancing for a while.

His injuries were the last of Harry's concerns, though. They had been constants in his life until that point; he was used to the painful twinges and burning of torn muscles. He was used to the bruises and cuts. But things seemed to be changing, and as he lay in bed, Harry was filled with an overwhelming nervousness about his future.

First in his mind was Draco. Who had kissed him yesterday. He wasn't going to lie to himself and pretend he didn't think Draco was attractive: the boy was as sexy as they come. But Draco was also far above his station, and while the older boy had been a loyal friend up until now, Harry didn't want to end up as his plaything come year-end. Creeping thoughts of paranoia sank into his brain for several minutes until Harry shook his head lightly. No. Draco wouldn't do that. And even if he would, the blond would graduate in the spring and Harry would never see him again so it wouldn't be all that crushing.

So there was Draco, and then there was George. Harry knew that he loved George, but it wasn't the love of a passionate lover, it was that of a respectful brother. And if he loved George like a brother, why did he feel so attracted to him? George and him weren't really a 'thing,' anyway. Maybe they had been at one point, but Harry felt like he spent so little time with the redhead, and now, so little time in Thirteenth district at all, that their relationship would have to fade back to a platonic brotherly connection. George was a shoulder to cry on, but Harry realized with some guilt that if he never kissed the redhead again he wouldn't be devastated. He would barely even miss that part of his connection with George.

Harry groaned and sat up with only a few winces of pain. He needed to stop thinking about Draco and George, and instead go find Pomfrey, like he was supposed to upon waking up.

Pomfrey fussed over him for a short period of time, and then sent him off to the cafeteria to find breakfast. Harry obeyed, and spent the next fifteen minutes eating the best breakfast he had ever eaten in his life while listening to the student string quartet practicing in the corner of the cafeteria. Then he made his way back to the room in Pomfrey's office and packed up his backpack and returned to Pomfrey for further instruction. She was busy with a dancer with a twisted ankle; a sophomore who Harry recognized from his modern class. He gave a small smile to the kid and then looked back to Pomfrey with a raised eyebrow. Pomfrey only told him to get to his next class, as it wasn't a dance class. Harry glanced at the clock in the office and realized it was time for chemistry. Go figure.

To everyone's surprise, Snape didn't yell at him or give him detention for showing up to the class half an hour late. He only nodded towards the back of the room where there was an empty seat. Harry went silently, avoiding everyone's eyes even though Neville tried painfully hard to catch his attention. Harry sat down and took a notebook out of his backpack, along with a pencil. His chemistry textbook was still at Vernon's motel room. Throughout the class Harry sat perfectly still, save the scribbling of his hand as he took notes. Snape found himself snapping at more than one student who turned around one too many times to stare at the mysterious Harry Potter.

As Snape released his class he, as expected, asked Harry to stay behind for a moment. Neville had to be all but shoved out the door by other students. Harry stayed immobile in his chair until Snape asked him to come to the front of the room.

"I trust you're feeling better?" the chemist asked. Harry nodded. "I've arranged to bring you to your uncle's…motel room after classes today." Harry's head snapped up.

"You talked to my uncle?"

"No, the owner of the motel. I made him aware of the serious nature of the situation," Snape said vaguely. Harry didn't want to know if he was leaving anything else out. He wasn't the nicest of people when angry; Harry knew that from experience.

"Should I…will I be staying there?" Harry asked. He was resigned to the answer. It was too much to hope that Snape could magically whisk him away from Vernon. Snape looked at him.

"Why in hell would you think that?" Snape asked. Harry took a step back.

"Um…because…" Snape stormed back to his desk.

"Of course I'm not leaving you there. Jesus, I'm not inhuman," he said, his voice only a few decibels below a yell. Harry took a few more steps towards the door. "Don't even think about leaving this room until you're excused." Harry froze. Snape sighed and attempted to regain his temper. "I only intend for you to get your belongings. All of them. You will be staying one more night here and then by that time we'll know whether or not you're staying with Black or….me." Harry raised his eyebrows.

"You? Sir?"

"It's a temporary solution, of course. The headmaster is looking into more long term solutions, but we all thought it would be best if you weren't admitted to foster care or adoption programs in the middle of the school year." Snape noticed the fear that flashed across Harry's face and realized that Harry would never allow himself to be thrown into that system. A hurdle that would have to be dealt with later, he supposed.

Harry blanched, his heart dropping into his stomach when Snape mentioned foster care. Those families could be worse than Vernon, he knew. In fact, the only family that takes on a street rat from Thirteenth is one who wants a household slave or worse, a sex toy. Harry had heard the stories. If it came to foster care or adoption he would rather chance it with Vernon. At least Vernon didn't rape him.

Snape took a step towards Harry and reached a hand out. Large green eyes locked onto the hand as it moved closer, until it finally rested on his shoulder. Harry looked back up into Snape's eyes before averting his gaze. Snape's eyes are black, he realized.

"Mr. Potter. Harry. The Headmaster would not put you in a home in which you would be further abused. He cares about his students." Harry couldn't help but snort. Yeah right. There's over two hundred of them. Snape knelt down. "Look at me, Harry. Albus helped me a long time ago, just like he is trying to help you. He is a good man, and you can trust him. You can trust me," he said seriously. Harry had to look away when his eyes became watery. The words weren't said tenderly, but they still brought a wave of wistful emotion on. No adult had ever said anything like that to him. Snape gave him a pat on the shoulder and lightly pushed him away. "Get to class, Mr. Potter," he ordered in the familiar brisk voice. Harry gave him a smile and opened his mouth to say something, but turned around and left the room when he couldn't find the words. The chemistry professor watched him leave, sighing as he noticed the boy's shoulder blades moving underneath the thin t-shirt. He needed better clothes and more food.

…

Severus looked up from his computer when Sirius Black threw the door to his personal office open. He sighed.

"Black, you barging into my quarters is becoming uncomfortably familiar. What do you want this time?"

"Harry's gone. Can't find him anywhere," Sirius gave him a look that Severus didn't understand.

"Did you talk to his friends? Draco?"

"No idea where Draco is either. Maybe they're off making out in a broom closet?" the shrink asked hopefully. Severus glared. They better not be.

"I'll find him. Just get out of my office," Severus said sharply, staring Sirius down until he shrugged and left. Severus pulled his cell phone out of the top drawer of his desk and dialed Draco's number. After two rings the teen answered.

"Hey Sev."

"Please tell me you know where Potter is," Severus said in his driest voice.

"Oh shit, I totally forget to tell you. He needed a ride to work because he didn't call his boss yesterday when he didn't show. Seemed a little panicky."

"Was he planning on working the full shift?"

"No, he just wanted to explain the situation—er—most of it, to his boss. I'll turn around and pick him up. He'll be back at the school in half an hour I'd guess."

"Don't bother. I'll pick him up. He's supposed to get his things from his Uncle's tonight."

"Uh….is he not living there anymore?"

"Obviously not, don't be stupid, Draco. Where does Potter work?"

"Regulus' place." Severus was surprised. Why would Harry be working at the dance shop? "Oh, and Sev, why don't you and Harry come by for dinner tonight? Lucius is home. I know he wants to see you."

"I'll see how much progress Potter and I make. What time is dinner?"

"Eight."

"If we're not there by then you know we won't be attending."

"'Kay, Sev. See ya." Severus hung up and saved the lab report he had been drafting, standing up to grab his coat and keys.

…

Harry looked like a dear caught in the headlights when he noticed Severus looming in the doorway of the shop. Regulus just glanced at the man and shrugged, turning his attention back to Harry. Severus wasn't able to hear the words his brother spoke to his student, but Harry's face became less panicky so he assumed it wasn't anything harsh. After another whispered word to Harry Regulus looked up to Severus.

"Well don't just stand there, Sev," he said dryly, although he was smiling. Harry was looking back and forth between the two black-haired men.

"I'm just here to collect Harry, actually," Severus said, nodding his head in Harry's direction.

"Really? I thought you might be picking up some ballet shoes," Regulus quipped sarcastically, giving Harry's shoulder a squeeze as he walked around the front counter and walked the student dancer over to Severus.

"I'm sorry, Professor. I….forgot you were taking me…home…after class," Harry said in a halting speech that let Severus know Regulus was unfamiliar with Harry's home situation.

"Well he's free to go, Sev. Just came by to apologize for not letting me know where he was yesterday. I was worried." He looked at his friend with a meaningful gaze, which Severus returned. Well, Severus thought, the man isn't stupid.

"In that case we'll be on our way then," Severus said. Giving his brother a nod before walking briskly out of the shop. Harry waved to his boss and then turned and ran after his professor. When the two were seated in Severus' black sedan and speeding alongside the city traffic, Harry opened his mouth.

"Do you…um…know Regulus? It seemed—"

"He is Sirius Black's younger brother. Regulus and I are…friends, of a sort," Severus answered. Silence returned to the car, and Harry began nervously fidgeting with his hands, seeming to suddenly remember exactly where the two of them were going and for what purpose. The dancer began thinking of what belongings he would need to bring with him to wherever he would be staying now. He figured that he shouldn't bring too much—this wasn't his first rodeo. There was a young woman who worked at the church in Thirteenth that gave out winter clothes to homeless people during the fall. She had taken a liking to Harry when he was ten or so and offered to unofficially adopt him. It lasted for three days, although, Harry remembered, that was really because he ran away and not because she grew tired of him. But he was sure that she would have. Just like Severus or Sirius or whoever had to deal with him now would. He figured he would either be back with his uncle or out on the streets within three weeks. It wasn't a cheery thought.

Severus' sharp voice roused Harry from his thoughts. "Do you expect your Uncle will be home?" Harry shrugged.

"I don't know. Maybe. But he might be out still. Job hunting…or whatever," Harry finished in a mumble, not believing his own words. Like hell Vernon was out job hunting. Severus nodded. "Turn left up there, at that light," Harry directed softly, assuming his professor wouldn't know where to go.

"Thank you, Potter," the man answered. The rest of the ride was spent in silence, save for Harry's quiet directions. The houses turned from individual condos with white or pale yellow siding to huge apartment complexes, to more run-down apartments and finally—and much too quickly—they pulled into the driveway of the motel.

"I don't have a key," Harry said, just remembering. Severus stepped out of the car and waved for Harry to do the same.

"Not necessary. The landlord will let us in," he said briskly, locking the car and waiting for Harry to start moving towards the motel. When Harry hesitated for several seconds, Severus gave him a hard stare. "Are you alright?" Harry's head snapped up, eyes flicking to Severus' and then away again.

"Sure," he said, shoving his hands in his jeans and walking towards the door. Severus rang the buzzer for the landlord and the man, a tall, too-thin and too-pale man, let them in, giving Severus a spare key to Vernon's room. Even though Harry was pretty sure Severus had never been in the building before, the man seemed to know exactly where he was going. Harry was content to follow, each step seeming to numb him. By the time they reached the door to Vernon's room Harry didn't think he could muster up an emotion if he opened the door to Vernon holding a shotgun to his head.

Without pause Severus knocked loudly on the door. There was no answer, and Harry didn't hear any shuffling behind the door. His teacher inserted the key, twisted, and pushed the door open, walking inside. Harry suppressed a shudder as he walked into the cold stale air of the living room, alcohol and cigarette smoke filling his nose. Severus didn't seem to notice, glancing around and taking in the various beer bottles and cans littering the room. Harry assumed he should feel embarrassed, but there just wasn't any feeling there to dredge up. Severus stopped in the middle of the room.

"Your Uncle is an alcoholic?" he asked. Harry looked around the room.

"It's not obvious?" he asked quietly. Severus gave him a sharp look.

"Answer me," he demanded. Harry shoved his hands into his pockets and nodded his head.

"Yeah. Yeah he is."

"Where do you sleep when you stay here?" Harry pointed to the couch. Severus noticed with a twinge of anger that there was no blanket on it for Harry to sleep under.

"Right. Gather your things, then. Do you mind if I look around?" Harry shrugged.

"Guess not. There isn't much to see, though," he mumbled, moving to the area between the couch and the wall where a few boxes were stacked. As Harry began rummaging through them, Severus moved to look around the motel room. The kitchen seemed that it wasn't used. There were a couple dirty dishes lying around, and the only food in the refrigerator was a package of hot dogs. There was a box of crackers on one of the counters. The only items that were frequent in the kitchen were bottles of alcohol, some empty, most not.

"What about your aunt?" Severus asked, kicking a Bud Light can out of his way. Harry looked up from the box he was selectively pulling things out of.

"My uncle's wife is dead, and his sister is, well, here right now."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. Marge. She's a bitch," Harry snapped.

"Language," Severus muttered halfheartedly, a reflexive reprimand. Harry didn't apologize.

"She says she's helping Vernon to find a job. She bought us this place when we were evicted last week," Harry continued. Severus didn't interrupt, hoping Harry would continue. "I don't know what they're really doing together, though. Vernon's probably trying to pretend he isn't such an alcoholic around her, probably making it seem like he's trying to get a job. But I don't know. Marge would have to be pretty stupid to believe him, but then again, she is pretty stupid. I think she also has alcohol problems, but she's just better at hiding it."

"And does she also have…personal problems with you?" Severus asked. Harry gave a dry laugh, a quick exhale.

"You mean does she beat the shit out of me too?" Severus was silent, glad that Harry had finally admitted that his injuries were in fact the result of his Uncle's abuse. "I guess. I mean, she's rarely around me. But she's got a head for strict discipline. She also has this dog that bites me whenever I get too close. Ripper." Severus remembered the bite-mark on Harry's leg from several days ago.

"I see," he pause. "I'm sorry." Harry stopped packing his belongings into a trash bag, temporarily frozen by the unnecessary apology. It meant a lot to him, he realized, but he didn't reply, just kept packing. Severus let him work in silence and continued to look around the motel apartment. The bed was unmade. The second room was occupied by a woman's luggage and lots of dog equipment; Severus assumed this was the Aunt's room while she was here. There was one master bedroom, the bed unmade, the trash full of beer cans. Severus figured Harry's uncle could have provided a decent meal for the boy twice a day for a week with all the money he spent on alcohol. Not that Vernon appeared to have much care for the well-being of his charge. The window in Vernon's room overlooked the intersection of thirteenth and A Street. Severus absentmindedly thought of the old Death Eater territory that used Thirteenth as a border. But that was before they had taken over, or massacred, the remainder of the Vixens, which was one of two all-female gangs in the city. Severus couldn't help but glance back at Harry, who was still diligently looking through his meager boxes of belongings, remembering the flecks of black paint on his face weeks ago. That could potentially be a problem.

"Sir? I'm finished," Harry said from the other room. His voice was faint, but not weak. Severus turned from the window and strode into the living room, appraising the belongings Harry decided to bring with him. There was a box with what looked like some school supplies in it, a skateboard, and a bag that Severus assumed was full of clothes and other personal items.

"Let's go then. Would you object to dinner with the Malfoys?" Severus asked, ushering Harry out the door. He picked up Harry's box and glanced back into the room before slamming the door shut. He saw Harry tense at the mention of the Malfoys.

"I've never met his parents."

"They're…decent people." Severus knew he couldn't exactly call them 'nice.' Harry didn't relax, even until after they were driving away in Severus' car. He was acutely aware of Harry's discomfort.

"I guess I'll come," Harry whispered. Severus shook his head.

"If you are uncomfortable with the idea then I can drop you off at the school before I go." Harry took a deep breath.

"Um…that would be nice, actually," Harry replied. Severus was hesitant to leave Harry at the school by himself, but he figured Harry would wish to be alone. And Dumbledore was most likely there anyway. He pulled out his phone and speed-dialed Lucius' cell.

"Yes, Severus?"

"Evening, Lucius. Just wanted to inform you that I'll be dropping by for dinner, Draco invited Mr. Potter and I."

"And no Mr. Potter?"

"No. He'll stay at the school tonight."

"We're disappointed he won't be coming."

"That doesn't change the fact that he's not. Another time, just not tonight."

"Of course. It's understandable. Come over as soon as you like."

"Just after I drop Mr. Potter off," Severus affirmed. Lucius hung up. Harry glanced up at him but then looked away, staring out the window. "I'll let you in to the school. I think it goes without saying that you are not to leave the building—you will be locked out—and that your wandering in the school shouldn't break any school privacy laws." A smile flickered on Harry's face.

"Yes Sir."

"Would you like me to stay with you?" Severus asked after a long pause. Harry looked up out of surprise.

"Um. Uh…no. Thank you. Though," his reply was halting, more full of surprise than certainty. Severus nodded. He would rather spend the evening conversing with Lucius than babysitting his student anyway.

Twenty minutes later Severus was driving towards the suburbs of the city to the Malfoys', having dropped Harry off and making sure that he was going to be all right. At least, he hoped he would be all right. He had doubled-checked that Dumbledore knew the boy would be at the school, and asked the headmaster to check in on Harry before he left the school for the night. The chemistry teacher ran his hand through his hair, sighing. If Harry ended up living with him it would be a disaster. Maybe.

Harry sat cross-legged on the school bed he would be sleeping in for the night. His bag of clothes and his box of random items were near him on the floor, the skateboard next to them. His backpack was next to him on the bed. They seemed out of place in the tidy room with clean sheets and blue and white striped wallpaper. He sighed, unsure of what to do with himself. After half an hour of skimming through textbooks to catch up on reading he had missed, Harry stood up and slipped out of the room, double-checking to make sure that the door to his room wasn't going to automatically lock behind him. The school was dark, only lit by the dim lights the janitors used to clean by. He knew the headmaster was in his office down the hall because Severus had told him, and he could see the glowing light of the fire through the window that looking in on the lounge.

The front desk was across the hall from his room, and Harry slipped around it, looking around for the phone. He found it in the corner and picked it up, listening to the dial tone. A note on the phone instructed him to dial 9 for an outside call. He pressed 9, then followed it with George's cell number. The twin answered on the third ring.

"Who's this?"

"It's me, George. I'm calling from the school phone."

"Harry! Where the hell have you been? Fred get over here: it's Harry!" Harry smiled. It was good to hear their voices.

"Harry! Jesus we were worried about you," Fred exclaimed. "We went to the motel but you weren't there."

"I know. It's a long story."

"Well? We've got some important news for you, but what happened to you? Why are you at the school at eight o'clock on a Saturday?"

"I don't know. Things happened really fast. I was locked out of the motel a couple nights ago, bummed my way to the school but it was locked and I almost froze to death waiting outside for an hour without any warm clothes. Professor Snape, the chem professor, found me. Wondered about all the bruises and stuff, figured out about my Uncle, insisted that I couldn't stay there anymore. So now I'm staying here tonight and then I'm going to live with Snape or this Black guy for a while until they can figure out what to do with me. I told them I won't go into the system, that I'd run away, but I don't know if they'll care." Fred and George were silent for a long time.

"Shit, Harry. You have to live with that slimy git now? Can't you catch a break?"

"It's better than the system, so for now I can't complain too much. What did you need to tell me?"

"Oh yeah," George said. "Seamus got a note, we're assuming it's from Riddle. There wasn't anything on it but a time and an address. We think we're supposed to go to the address at eleven tonight." Harry's heart raced.

"I want to come with you. Come and pick me up," he demanded.

"No way! You're not getting yourself into another gang war. You've got a scholarship to one of the best schools in the city and you're not blowing it on this! Especially after everything that just happened. If you get arrested or whatever you have no one to come get you out and you know it. Even if one of your professors got you out your scholarship would be over and you'd end up going to a shit school and living with some foster bitch. You're not coming."

"Cut the shit, George," Harry hissed. "Dean is my friend. And I'm the only one who actually knows any of the Death Eaters, if that is a note from them."

"You have too much to lose. Six weeks ago and you would have agreed with me!"

"Yeah, well that was before my uncle threw me out and I'm living with a school teacher who hates me half the time and the other half of the time is trying to psycho-analyze me. No one gives a shit about me at this school. And what chance do I have of getting out now? I'm looking at probably getting thrown out of this school anyway. Hell knows that if I end up in the system I'm running away, and I can't just be homeless and going to one of the best schools in the city!" Harry snapped.

"Harry, calm down. You're not going to get thrown out, and you're not going to get carelessly thrown into the system. If Snape cares enough to let you live with him indefinitely, then he cares enough to not toss you into some awful family."

"Come pick me up, George." Harry paused. "Please." There was a long silence on the other line.

"Okay, Harry. Be on the front steps quarter till. If you're not there I'll assume you got smart and decided not to come," George said. Harry rolled it eyes.

"See you. Bye, Fred." The twins hung up and Harry set the phone down, squeezing his eyes shut. He had to figure out what to do about the headmaster, and then he needed to find his set of lock picks so he could get back into the school when this whole thing was over. He knew going with them to get Dean was reckless, but he was in a reckless mood. And what did he have to lose? Nothing, Harry thought with a grimace.

Nothing inspires me more than knowing what you guys thought of the chapter! Thanks for your patience and dedication to this story.

Wykkyd