Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Harry, face heavily glamoured, was happily sipping his tea and watching as the Order members trickled into the kitchen at Grimmauld Place. To many of the members' consternation, Harry was now allowed to sit in on Order meetings. Sirius and Remus agreed, after finally hearing the prophesy from Harry, and knowing that Harry was basically now a fully trained wizard, that he really should know everything that was going on and have a say in it. So, above several members' protests, Harry sat at the table and smiled at each witch or wizard that joined him. The meeting was just about to start when the floo flared once more and Snape emerged with a scowl on his face.

"We have a problem," he grumbled to the room as a whole.

Everyone, Dumbledore especially, looked at him in concern that Voldemort was about to do something horrific. Instead, Snape sat a small, aquarium with two turtles in it on the table. "What's that, Severus?" Remus asked, leaning closer to get a better look.

Snape sighed. "I should probably start from the beginning instead of answering that, Lupin."

"Yes, my boy, that seems like a good plan," Dumbledore said with a chuckle and a twinkle of his eyes.

"Narcissa Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange stopped by my house earlier today," several people gasped at this. "They wanted me to make an unbreakable vow to help Draco in some mission the Dark Lord has set for him this year."

"So, Draco has joined the Death Eaters?" Dumbledore sighed. He really wished Snape had told him all of this in private, but the man continued before he could tell him to stop.

"Indeed…Anyway, they were in the middle of their little intimidation ploy when my boyfriend," Snape sneered at the term. "Decided to come down the stairs and see what was going on, even when I told him to stay out of it, and you can see here his reaction." Snape motioned to the aquarium with the turtles.

The Order members seemed stunned. Harry wasn't sure if they were more stunned by the fact that Snape had a boyfriend or that the turtles were most likely Narcissa Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange. "Well…he needs to turn them back," Dumbledore finally stammered out, obviously at a loss, a very rare occurrence.

"He refuses," Snape rolled his eyes. He caught Harry smirking in his peripheral vision and knew he was getting Tom's side of the story through their link. "He said that if we turn Bellatrix in then the Dark Lord will just break her out of Azkaban again. And, trust me, I tried to reverse the spell myself, but I can't. He's more powerful than he appears…and more stubborn too."

That's brilliant, Dad! Harry was remarking on his end. Don't you think we should let Narcissa go though? She's not a Death Eater.

She's more ruthless than Lucius! Tom disagreed. She was just much better at not getting caught. Nope, not doing it! Draco might actually have a shot at getting out of all this if he's out from under her influence.

"You know, I wouldn't mind another pet or two. I can make sure my snake knows not to eat them," Harry spoke up with a chuckle. "We could turn them back once Voldemort is gotten rid of."

"Which one is Bella?" Sirius asked as he studied the turtles in the tank in amusement. "She might be a good welcome back gift for Frank and Alice."

Snape sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Evan seems to think she's the one with the red stripe on its head, but his reasoning is that it has crazy eyes, so I don't think you can go by his guess."

"This…Evan," Moody began suspiciously. "How do we know we can trust him? Obviously, he knows far too much about you, that you aren't really a Death Eater. I don't see why you would be so reckless."

"You can't expect Severus to have no life at all," Mrs. Weasley spoke up with a glare towards Moody. "I'm glad you found someone, dear," she added kindly.

Severus nodded in gratitude. "Who is this Evan then?" Dumbledore asked, not liking the idea of there being an unknown factor in Severus's life, especially one this obviously powerful.

"Evan Shade, your new DADA professor," Snape raised an eyebrow at him, wondering why he hadn't put that together yet. "I was the one that recommended him if you remember. Besides, I've known Evan for years, and he's trustworthy, if a little eccentric. If you can't take my word for it, then take Potter's."

Everyone looked at Harry, Sirius and Remus more confused than the others. "I've known Evan a long time too. We're friends. He's the friend I was telling you about Siri and Remy," Harry explained. Sirius and Remus looked to each other and shook their heads, seeming to communicate nonverbally about how strange this all was.

"Why have none of us heard of this man before now?" Dumbledore asked.

Harry was wondering if Dumbledore even read the DADA application he had spent so long putting together with the very solid backstory he had created. He was a little indignant. That was a lot of work to make up a new life for someone with just enough truth in it to be believable. "He's been working out of the country, getting his mastery in Defense," Harry explained his well-thought-out truth/lies. Tom Riddle had gotten his Defense Mastery (and Dark Arts Mastery) on the continent, just many years earlier and under a different name than Evan Shade.

"Yes, before he left, he was fairly well-known around Diagon Alley," Snape added, also true but more like Knockturn Alley.

"How did you meet him though, Harry?" Tonks spoke up to ask. "Especially if he's been out of the country a while."

Harry rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "You all do realize that I'm good friends with Charlie Weasley…in Romania. I also trade recipes with Keket, an elderly witch from Egypt and am playing a game of chess through letters with Marius, a vampire from Norway. Headmistress Masterson, in Canada, writes me every couple months to check in, and I've even been known to exchange the odd letter or two with Mr. Ollivander, though I still find him a bit creepy. I meet people, and I like to keep in touch." He really had met some interesting people at the Quidditch World Cup and had enjoyed writing to them occasionally. Mr. Ollivander was more begrudgingly than anything though. He was fairly positive the man wanted to become some kind of follower.

Everyone looked at him like they had Snape when he said he had a boyfriend. Sirius and Remus were already planning to talk to Harry about what "Stranger Danger" meant. "Mr. Potter is annoyingly persistent when wants to get to know someone," Snape grimaced; he remembered that he had yet to change the password to his chambers at Hogwarts and made a mental note to do that. "I'm sure he latched on to Evan at some point in time and refused let him go as well."

"Well, is this Shade person Order material?" Moody grumbled, still not wanting to trust this new person.

Snape and Harry both snorted. "Obviously not," Snape motioned to the aquarium. "He doesn't follow orders very well and has his own personal brand of a moral code."

"He's very against Voldemort though, and he'll help if he's ever needed," Harry added. "Just don't expect him to sit in meetings and be a team player."

"So, where'd you meet?" Fred and George asked together in a sing-song voice to Snape with wide, matching grins on their faces.

"Misters Weasley, just because you learned I have some semblance of a personal life doesn't mean you get to know anything about it," Snape gave them his most withering look.

"Can I keep them, please?" Harry asked Sirius and Remus as he pulled the aquarium closer to himself. "I promise to keep them alive and treat them well until we can give them to the dementors."

"Personally, I'd be fine if you let your snake eat them, but sure, keep them if you want," Sirius shrugged. "Just don't let them get away!"

"Awesome! Well, we've got to get you a bigger aquarium and maybe some rocks and things to play on," Harry spoke to his new turtles.

"Don't play with the Death Eaters," Remus held back a snort of laughter. "And, please take them out of the room while we discuss Order business. I doubt their little turtle brains could process it, but I don't think we should take any chances."

"Cool! I'm going to go talk to Evan and see what he knows about turtles!" Harry rushed out with the aquarium in tow.

"Between the two of them, I'm going to have a nervous breakdown one day," Snape griped into the room, rubbing his temples.

"Welcome to our world," Sirius sympathized with him for probably the first time ever.

"Gentlemen, we need to discuss what Voldemort is going to do without two of his most relied upon followers now," Dumbledore called them back to order.

A couple weeks later, Sirius and Remus both walked into the sitting room where Harry was reading a book on soul magic and thoroughly bored with his grounding. "Hey guys, what's up?" He asked since they were both looking at him intently. "What's that?" Harry asked, noticing that Sirius was holding something behind his back.

Just as Sirius was about to answer, the floo flared and Snape stumbled out. "Idiotic! Meddling! Annoying! Son-of-a…!" Snape stopped his tirade when he realized everyone was in the room.

Harry lowered his glamour that he had raised when the floo flared. "Hiya, Professor!"

"Potter," Snape nodded and sat in one of the armchairs. "Your…person…is about to come through. He threw me in first to give you a heads up. Emphasis on threw."

Harry laughed. "I think he's technically your person now. I passed him off."

"Who're we talking about?" Sirius asked, confused at the conversation and why the potions master was sitting in his house when there wasn't an Order meeting happening.

"Evan…obviously," Remus responded with an eye-roll at his clueless friend.

"Ooo, we finally get to meet him?!" Sirius said excitedly. He wasn't sure how he felt about anyone who would willingly date Snape, but he definitely wanted to meet whoever it was that his godson was so very close to.

The floo flared green once more and Sirius and Remus both gasped as the man who strode out looked remarkably like James Potter. He had the same height and build, the same dark, wild hair; it was only his bright, blue eyes and higher cheekbones that made it clear it was someone different. "Lord Black, Mr. Lupin, it's so good to meet you!" Tom walked over, hand outstretched to shake. Numbly, they both shook his hand. "Harry has told me so much about both of you, I feel like I've known you for years. I'm sorry to just barge in like this, but Sev told me the OWL results went out this morning, and I just had to hear how Harry did."

"Is that what you're hiding behind your back!" Harry stood and tried to grab the envelope out of Sirius's hand as he held it just out of Harry's reach. "No fair! Just because I'm vertically challenged doesn't mean you can be mean to me!"

"Oh pup, I don't need a reason," Sirius laughed as he continued to hold the envelope out of Harry's reach.

"It's good to meet you, Mr. Shade," Remus smiled at Tom as Sirius and Harry began to run around the room. Snape sneered at them from where he was sitting.

"Please, call me Evan," Tom responded as he watched his son tackle Sirius to the ground.

"Then call me Remus and that idiot Sirius," Remus laughed.

"Got it!" Harry called triumphantly and tore open the envelope.

"Well…?" Surprisingly, it was Snape that broke down and asked first.

"I passed!" He exclaimed and danced around.

"Everything?" Sirius asked in a surprised tone, pulling himself up. "You know, we get your progress reports. I wasn't expecting you to pass History of Magic or Divination."

Tom ripped the parchment out of the hand of his dancing son who was now trying to get Snape to join him and getting a death glare for his troubles. "Let's see…He got an O in Astronomy, O in Care of Magical Creatures, O in Charms, O in Defense, surprisingly an E in Divination, an E in History of Magic which is impressive since you passed out before finishing the test, and an O in Potions."

"An O in Potions?" Snape raised an eyebrow.

"Please, please, please, can I drop Divination and History of Magic now?" Harry asked Tom.

"You may drop Divination as long as you talk with Luna about it occasionally, but if you drop History of Magic you need to pick up Ancient Runes," Tom told him as he passed the parchment to Remus who was trying to see it.

"Hey! Shouldn't I be the one he asks?!" Sirius exclaimed indignantly at this new intruder into their lives.

Harry turned to him with puppy-dog eyes. "Can I please drop History of Magic, Padfoot?"

"Wait," Tom raised his hand to stop Sirius. "Let me explain. I've had Harry doing an independent study for History and Ancient Runes. We've planned on him taking NEWTs in both. If he takes neither class, it will raise questions with the ministry. So, if you deem it worth the effort of having to explain everything, then you can drop History. Or…you could do your independent study while Binns drones on and use it as a study hall."

"Fine," Harry grumbled.

"Wait…you're doing an independent study for both History and Ancient Runes?!" Sirius exclaimed. "Why're your progress reports almost all Acceptables?"

"First, I didn't know they sent out progress reports," Harry shrugged. "It's not like the Dursleys ever opened them or mentioned them…or cared."

"Second, your godson got it into his brain first year that he would aim for the middle of his classes to draw less attention to himself," Snape answered for Harry with a sharp look towards his student. "When I found this out, I made him do his best in Potions, and I just mark everything with A's."

"Why in Merlin's name would you do that, cub?" Remus asked, confused.

"Voldemort was at Hogwarts in Harry's first year," Tom answered for his son. "After that, there always seemed someone out to get him, so it made sense to be underestimated."

"I'm still learning, and I did my best on the tests," Harry shrugged. "It's not like I really need the OWLs or NEWTs anyway since I'm already qualified for a job. I don't see why it's a big deal."

"Well…" Remus couldn't come up with an argument. Obviously Harry was learning, and he really didn't need the scores if he continued in necromancy.

Sirius shrugged. "I was happy with the Acceptables. Just do your best on the NEWTs and play a few pranks on your classmates to pretend to be a normal kid for a bit, yeah?"

Tom snorted and Harry shot him a look. "Well you tell or I will," Tom laughed.

Harry rolled his eyes. "I helped Luna prank all the Ravenclaw girls last year. We used all the prank supplies you both bought me."

Sirius and Remus shot each other shocked but happy looks. "Why the Ravenclaw girls in particular?" Snape was the one that actually voiced the question.

"They've been bullying Luna since first year. They steal her clothes and school supplies and make fun of her. We mainly used the pranks to boobytrap her stuff so they'd stop taking it," Harry smiled, remembering the fallout. "It actually worked in that they stopped going through her trunk. Unfortunately, they're still pretty mean to her though."

Snape frowned. "That's unacceptable. Does Filius know of this?"

Harry frowned in consideration. "Not unless Luna told him."

Snape grumbled about unobservant Ravenclaws, but seemed caught up in his own thoughts, probably planning to confront Professor Flitwick at some point. "Erm, Evan, Severus, would you like to stay for lunch?" Remus asked since Winky was already looking through the door like she wanted to summon them but wasn't sure if she would be interrupting.

"I'd love that!" Tom exclaimed happily. Winky's food always looked amazing when he was living in Harry's head, and he was excited to be able to actually eat it for once.

"I have a potion I need to check," Snape answered. Harry was pretty sure he just didn't want to stay for lunch with his school enemies though. He turned to Harry with an unreadable look. "If it is convenient, I was thinking I would return this evening for your medical exam?"

Sirius and Remus looked surprised. "You're ok with doing his exam?" Remus asked, happy but surprised that Harry had already asked, and Snape had agreed.

Snape nodded and threw floo powder into the fireplace. "Lily said to have me do it. Of course, I agreed," he said before flooing back to his home.

"What?" Remus asked, turning confused eyes on Harry while Sirius gaped at the floo. "What did he mean that Lily wanted him to do it?"

Harry grabbed Tom's hand and started heading to the kitchen. He knew this conversation would take a while and he wanted food while it was happening. "Mum knew I didn't want to go to some random person for the exam, especially someone that might leak things to the press, so she suggested Snape since he has healer training. Plus, Evan can be pretty persuasive as well."

"He didn't need persuading, Love," Tom shook his head with a laugh. "Sev likes you a lot more than he shows."

They all sat at the table that was laden with soup and sandwiches. "Ok, that concerning bit of information aside, I still don't understand what you mean by your mum?" Sirius looked at them stunned.

Harry pointed to the third stud on his face. "Third level," he said before taking a big bite out of his sandwich.

"Ok, for those of us who aren't quite as knowledgeable about all the levels of necromancy, that means what?" Sirius prodded for more.

"Summoning spirits of the dead," Tom clarified as he chose his own sandwich.

Remus was staring at Harry's face, a questioning look in his eyes. Sirius's face moved from confusion to shock. "You've been talking to James and Lily?!"

"I've only summoned them a couple times," Harry smiled at him. "They're really nice. They said to tell you both thank you for looking out for me and that you should visit them more often. They think it'll help you heal. I'm happy to summon them for you sometime though as well."

Sirius nodded slowly in a daze. "Yeah, wow! Talking to James again. Can you even imagine, Remy?!"

"Yeah, Padfoot. That would be…unbelievable," Remus agreed a little guiltily as he realized they had never taken Harry to the grave. "Maybe we actually visit their grave a time or two first though, yeah? Ease into it?"

Sirius just continued nodding in understanding. It was all a bit of a shock for them. "Did you know Mum practiced dark magic too?" Harry asked them. "She said it was how she saved my life back when I was a baby."

Remus nodded while Sirius continued to look shocked. "I knew," Remus finally said. "Siri was a bit prejudiced as a teen, so she didn't talk to him about it as much. Your dad knew though."

"Hey!" Sirius said indignantly. "I'm not prejudiced!"

Remus raised an eyebrow at him. "Well, you got better after we left Hogwarts and you joined the aurors. I think after Regulus died is what really turned you around though."

Sirius finally nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I wish we knew exactly what happened to my baby brother. At least it seems he died on the right side, by what we've heard."

Tom cleared his throat. "I might know a bit about that," he said. "I have contacts, like Severus, amongst some of the Death Eaters. Unlike Severus, I've never been a Death Eater myself," he added and quickly drew up his left sleeve before they started looking at him suspiciously. "I would kill Voldemort in a heartbeat if I could, I assure you." Harry was very proud of himself that he remained expressionless and didn't break down laughing when Tom said he'd never been a Death Eater.

"Then, how do you have contacts?" Sirius asked him, hoping to hear what happened to Regulus, but not wanting his pup to be associated with someone dangerous.

Harry put a hand on Tom's arm. "It's more like his family has contacts, if you know my meaning," Harry answered for him with a meaningful look towards his guardians. Sirius and Remus were both immediately reminded of what Harry had said about his friend's childhood being similar to his own, and they looked on the man with understanding instead of suspicion.

Tom sent a grateful look Harry's way since he hadn't really come up with a good excuse yet. "I heard that he turned against Voldemort and tried to help stop him."

Sirius let out a sigh of relief and sadness. "Did Voldemort kill him?"

Tom shook his head. "Not directly, but he died in a trap Voldemort had placed. He died a heroic death as a good person if that's any consolation."

"Kreacher actually knows more," Harry told Sirius who turned shocked eyes on him. "If you're nice to him, he might tell you the full story. There's a reason why he likes Regulus so much."

"Thank you both," Remus told them with feeling. "You've given us both some closure, and we'll try to be kinder to Kreacher," he shot Sirius a look at the last bit.

"Of course," Sirius nodded.

"Now," Remus picked up a sandwich and looked at Harry with that parental glare again. "I could have sworn you only had six silver studs on your face at the beginning of the summer. Care to explain?"

Sirius narrowed his eyes at his godson, obviously counting the silver studs. "I very distinctly remember grounding you."

Tom took a large bite of his sandwich in an obvious ploy to stay out of this part of the conversation. Traitor! Harry shot at him through the link.

"I promise I got permission to leave the house," Harry tried sheepishly.

"Well, I didn't give you permission, and Remy seems just as confused as me. We've already told you that Kreacher isn't a parental figure, so how did that happen?" Sirius crossed his arms and tried to look stern, but he had a twinkle in his eye that kept it from being quite successful.

"Well, I kind of asked Mum and Da," Harry said quietly, avoiding eye contact.

Sirius repressed a snort of laughter and Remus narrowed his eyes at Harry. "You went behind our backs and summoned your dead parents to ask if you could leave the house for something?"

"It was for a good cause! And Mum and Da agreed!" Harry protested. "Besides, it won't happen again. I've reached the highest level I can."

"I thought there were twelve levels of necromancy?" Tom asked, not doing a good job of staying out of it.

"There are," Harry explained. "But you have to go in order, and I'm morally against the eighth level." They all seemed to be trying to remember the eighth level. "Regardless, I got permission from parental figures. Wasn't that the rule?"

"We didn't think you'd summon your actual parents when we made the rule," Sirius let out his laugh at that. "I guess we can't argue against it though since they are your actual parents."

"You've out-maraudered the marauders," Remus laughed as well.

"Please don't tell Snape that," Harry grumbled.

"Ah, but he'd get such a kick out of how Slytherin it all was," Tom laughed.

"We forgot we are raising a Slytherin, Padfoot!" Remus continued laughing.

"Yes, one who apparently even manipulated the Sorting Hat," Sirius agreed disgruntledly. He was trying hard to forget that his godson was supposed to be a Slytherin.

"Oh man!" Remus pulled himself together. "So, Evan, what house were you in?"

He smiled at them mischievously. "Slytherin, where else?"

"Wait, does that mean Snape was your head of house?" Sirius looked at him in horror. "Is that where you met?"

Harry snorted. "He said people would call him a cradle-robber!"

Tom shot him a disparaging look. "No, I'm older than I look," he told the concerned adults. "We did not meet at Hogwarts. It might not be a story Severus would like me to tell though as neither one of us were at our best at the time." Meaning they met at a Death Eater meeting where he was trying to recruit Snape.

"How did you meet Harry then?" Remus asked, never having gotten a straight answer from Harry on that before.

"We actually met out in the muggle world. In Surrey of all places!" Harry laughed because it was true. "He knew who I was before I did." Also true, since Harry didn't even know his own name until he started school.

"He needed a friend," Tom smiled at his son. "I could sort-of understand what he was going through."

"Speaking of, when's Snape coming back for the thing?" Harry asked with some trepidation.

Tom shrugged. "Probably whenever I assure him those two aren't around," he motioned to Sirius and Remus.

"Hey! We're going to be there for the exam," Sirius said adamantly.

Harry shook his head frantically, panic in his eyes. He hadn't realized they'd be there. A full-blown panic attack was creeping up on him. "Harry deep breaths," Tom said seeing what was happening and taking his son's hands in both of his own.

"Cub, calm down. It's ok," Remus tried assuring him in concern.

Harry just kept shaking his head and clung to Tom in desperation. "Give us a minute please," Tom asked the others.

Reluctantly, Sirius and Remus left the room, but Tom knew they were probably just on the other side of the door, listening in. Son, it's ok. It's just a medical exam. It's not like they're going to see your memories or anything.

But Sirius will know. What if they think I'm a freak? What if they don't want me anymore?

Harry, they'll never think that because you aren't a freak, and they love you. Tom assured him. They won't turn you away, ever.

How do you know?! Harry asked, still in full panic.

Because I love you, and I can see they feel the same. Tom rubbed soothing circles on Harry's back and spoke as calmly as possible. Even if in some alternate reality they got mad at you and sent you away, you would come live with me and Severus. That grumpy git loves you too, even if he won't admit it to himself.

What if…what if they don't stay for the exam? What if, maybe you just sum it up for them? I don't want to see their faces when they know…

Tom nodded. I think I might be able to convince them of that. You stay here and try meditating some. I'll go talk to them, ok?

Harry nodded. Thanks, Dad.

Tom left the room and found Sirius and Remus just outside of the door, only slightly ashamed to be caught trying to listen in. Tom smirked at them and leaned against the door, crossing his arms. "Harry's going to be ok, but he's more concerned about what you both will think of him than anything a medical exam will actually say. He's ashamed you'll think less of him that he wasn't able to protect himself." Tom raised a hand to stop their protests. "It's not rational, and he even knows that on some level. That doesn't mean it isn't a fear of his. He seems so fearless all the time that we forget he does have some very strong, ingrained fears stemming from all he's gone through."

"Oh cub," Remus sighed sadly with a look to the door.

"What should be do?" Sirius asked at a loss.

"How about I take him back to Sev's place and we do the exam there?" Tom asked. "I'll then bring him back and just sum it all up for the two of you. That way everyone will be informed, but Harry won't be on the spot as much with the two of you in the room."

Both looked unconvinced. "I don't know…" Sirius began.

Tom nodded. "You don't know me or have any reason to trust me. I know. I honestly don't know what's best here either. I know Harry has some bones that didn't heal properly and definitely needs some nutritional supplements, so we have to do the exam. He's going to panic if you two are there though. Sev and I both have gone through childhoods at least somewhat similar to his, so he doesn't feel as uncomfortable around us."

"Wait, Snape?!" Sirius asked in horror.

Tom winced, he hadn't meant to let that slip. "Yeah, maybe don't mention I said that."

Remus gripped Tom's arm with a nod. "You take him. Bring him back and tell us what you can."

Tom nodded and went to collect Harry who was much calmer in the other room. They made their way to the floo and left for Snape's home at Spinner's End. "What have I done, Remy?" Sirius asked as the flames died down after Tom and Harry left.

"What do you mean?" Remus asked his friend.

"Snape grew up like Harry. Then at school, everything we did to him…" Sirius looked at Remus in horror. Remus patted him on the arm, not being able to offer any comfort. He just nodded in agreement wondering himself how they could have done what they did, no wonder he still hated them.

Snape's house as a little on the shabbier side since he was hardly ever there. Like his quarters at Hogwarts, they were still comfortable though, and Harry felt himself relaxing in the space, especially since it was just Snape and Tom that he was around. "I like your house," Harry told Snape as he picked up P.C. and hugged the squirming cat.

Snape snorted. "My house is a wreck. You just have low expectations," he explained.

Harry shrugged. "Either way, I like it."

"Are you ready, Harry?" Tom asked as he looked at his son nervously hoping he wouldn't have another breakdown.

"Stop looking at me like I'm going to break!" Harry told him indignantly. "I know I reacted poorly, but I'm fine now."

Snape raised an eyebrow at both of them. "Should I even ask?"

"Probably not," Tom sighed. "Let's just do the exam and go from there," he suggested as he sank gracefully into an armchair.

"Put the cat down and just stand there, Potter," Snape instructed him and pulled out his wand.

Once P.C. was set free, Snape started a complex series of wand movements and diagnostic spells that collected the results on a floating parchment over Harry's head. Harry felt strangely comforted with Snape's magic swirling around him. It felt warm and supportive, like a hug, not that he would ever tell Snape that.

Snape finally grabbed the parchment out of the air. Harry noticed it seemed to have a concerning amount of writing on it. It didn't make him feel any better when Snape started to turn a sickly shade of green. Tom stood and put his arm supportively around Snape's shoulders and looked at the parchment as well. "It's not as bad as I expected," Tom told Harry while Snape's head shot up and stared at Tom in horrified shock. "What? I only know a few healing spells to teach him. I was worried they were less effective over the years than they seem to be from the list there," Tom shrugged.

"It is clearly spelled out on this parchment that if Harry hadn't known those healing spells, he wouldn't be alive right now," Snape snarled. "I don't see how that can be 'better than you expected.'"

"Hey! You called me Harry!" Harry smiled at Snape broadly.

Tom ran his hand comfortingly up and down Snape's back. "I don't see why you're trying to comfort me," Snape narrowed his eyes but didn't slap the hand away. "He's the one that's hurt."

"What do you mean? I'm fine," Harry asked confused.

Snape looked surprised. "Because of your bones that set incorrectly, you should be in almost constant pain."

Harry looked at Tom and shrugged. "Did you notice any pain when you took over my body?" Harry asked.

"Yeah, a bit," Tom agreed. "I knew about the bones though."

"I guess I just don't really notice it. Maybe I'm used to it," Harry mused.

Tom looked at him consideringly. "That might be part of your unusually high pain tolerance."

Snape looked at both of them like they were crazy. "I'll have you several potions made up," he said, getting down to business. "I want you to take a nutrition potion for a few months to counteract the damage done to your internal organs and bones from years of malnutrition."

"Will it make me taller?!" Harry asked excitedly.

"No," Snape answered simply and continued with a glare. "The malnutrition went on too long for the nutrition potions to have any significant impact on your height. You may have another slight growth spurt soon. Don't be too hopeful though."

"It was worth a try," Tom went and wrapped his arms around Harry this time who was pouting at being told he would always be short.

Snape took out another piece of parchment to write down all the potions he would need to brew. "Most of your bones are at least close to having set in the right places, so I have a potion that will correct that damage. The good news is that your right arm is perfectly healthy with no bone damage at all."

"You mean the one that Lockhart vanished all the bones in and he had to have them all regrown?" Tom asked with a snarl, still angry at Lockhart even if he didn't even remember his own name at this point.

"Indeed," Snape suppressed a smirk. "The bad news is that I'll need to vanish and regrow the bones in your left foot and two of your ribs that all set poorly."

Harry shuddered both at remembering the feeling of regrowing bones and at what had happened to his left foot. "Vernon backed the car over my foot," he said quietly. "I think he was aiming for me as a whole."

Tom pulled him tighter into a hug. "When do you want to do this?"

"Can we just do it now and get it over with?" Harry asked the potions master.

Snape gave him a nod. "I can set you up in the guest room if Black and Lupin agree."

"I'll go and explain it all and get their permission for you," Tom offered, and Harry nodded at him.

"I may also be able to help your eyesight some, though we do not have a full solution as of yet to permanently fix it," Snape offered to Harry's joy. "Lastly…I see you have quite a bit of scarring. I'd like to take a look at your back and chest."

Harry narrowed his eyes at Snape. No one ever saw him without his shirt. Five years in the dorms and no one had yet to see his scars. "Harry, I had my own scars before this new body, and I know all of yours," Tom said quietly to him. "Severus won't judge you."

Snape sighed and raised up the back of the black, button-up shirt he was wearing to show a few faded scars crisscrossing his skin. "No one will judge you in this room…Harry."

Looking at both of them with what Snape was terrified might be a look of love, Harry slowly pulled his t-shirt over his head. Steeling his expression to one of no reaction, Snape stepped closer and examined the network of scars of various lengths and depths that told a story of pain and fear across Harry's chest and back. Unfortunately, most of them seemed too old for his creams to do much good in helping. "I'm sorry, Harry," Snape said sadly. "I don't think I'll be able to do much for these. I have a cream we can apply, and it may fade a few of them."

To Snape's utter surprise, Harry took his hand and gave it a little squeeze of gratitude. "Thank you, Professor," there was so much feeling behind that sentence, that Snape knew it was less for the offer of the only slightly effective cream and more for showing the abused child his own scars.

Snape nodded. "Come, I'll show you to the guest room, and your father can go talk to your dogfathers. You're in for a very unpleasant night."

Harry gave him a wry smile. "Me and Skele-Gro go way back. I know what to expect."

Snape nodded and gave the hand that he was still holding onto a squeeze before letting go and heading towards the stairs. "Bring the cat if you want. He likes to sleep on the bed, no matter how much I toss him off."

"I'll be back in a minute," Tom said as he turned to the floo, steeling himself for an unpleasant conversation where he planned to be as vague as possible until Harry was willing to open up to his guardians.

"Remind them to feed Nagini, Bella, and Cissy!" Harry called from the stairs.

"If only they would feed Bella and Cissy to Nagini," Tom grumbled.

"I heard that!" Harry called back.