Welcome to my favorite of my fanfics! This story is very personal to me, and most of the themes of the story are things I have either personally dealt with, or walked with a close friend through. It's been really therapeutic for me to write, and I hope you will enjoy reading it.

Trigger warnings: Sexual abuse (no graphic descriptions!), self harm, suicidal thoughts/actions, eating disorders, and addiction. These are general TWs that apply to the story as a whole. I will type TW: with a brief description (self harm mention) before any scenes I feel may be especially triggering, and End TW at the end of the scene, with a recap if you would miss pivotal information by skipping that part.

I don't own HP or any of the characters, but I like to think JK Rowling might be on this site writing fan fiction just for fun.

Please review, it helps me remember to post new chapters when they're complete, and it makes my day.

Chapter One: What went unsaid

When Harry came out of the last trial clutching Cedric's body there were a lot of questions. All he could manage was "He's back. Voldemort is back." After that he just gave them blank stares, or shook his head silently. At first, they thought it was just the stress of the tournament, the shock of seeing his school mate murdered. But after a week people started to worry that it might be more permanent.

The school term was ending, and Sirius and Remus refused to allow Harry to go back to his relatives.

"They have never treated him right, and you know it Dumbledore!" Sirius argued as they stood in the headmaster's office pleading their case. "He's in a rough place right now and he needs people who will support him. Not people who treat him like a slave and call him a freak!"

Remus sighed and gave Sirius a warning look. He knew his friend loved Harry, but he could be a bit insensitive when he was upset. "Dumbledore, what we are trying to say is that Harry is very fragile right now. There is a lot on his plate and I think he would benefit from being with people who were aware of his situation and could be sensitive to it. And Grimmauld place is as safe as anywhere else. I know you'd rather he goes to his aunt and uncle… but I think that might break him." The Werewolf locked his grey eyes with the crystal blue ones of the headmaster. Remus had a lot of respect for Dumbledore, but the man was blinded by his 'end game'. Someone needed to be watching out for Harry.

They argued with the older man for another hour, and when they emerged they had reached an agreement that no one was pleased with. Harry would go back to his relatives for two weeks, then he would be moved to Grimmauld place for the rest of the summer and be in the care of Sirius and Remus.

Both of the marauder's made sure to be at the train station when the Hogwarts train arrived for boarding. They couldn't risk going to King's Cross, but they wanted to make sure their godson knew he was not being abandoned.

It was an obnoxiously bright day, though in the mountains of Scotland the air was still crisp and a bit cold. Harry stood at the boarding station, looking forlorn and empty, a stark contrast to the jubilant crowd around him. Sirius knew they were children, that likely the whoops and yells of joy about the end of school were covering up the trauma of the end of the tournament. But seeing his godson so clearly hurting, while the rest of them carried on made his blood boil.

They stood apart from the crowd a bit. Remus hugged Harry tight, feeling with shock just how thin the boy had become. Sirius jumped up and licked his face (as a dog of course). "Harry, it is only going to be two weeks. I promise, as soon as we can we will come for you. And if you need us before then, just owl alright?" Remus waited for the sulking boy to nod before he smiled. He paused for a moment before letting go though. "I know you aren't ready to talk, and I won't pressure you, but I am here for you when you are ready, alright?"

Harry gave the slightest of nods before pulling away and boarding the train. He sunk down into the seat Hermione and Ron had saved for him and leaned heavily against the window.

Hermione tried to give him an encouraging smile. "At least you only have to stay with them for two weeks this time."

Harry glanced up at her, but didn't respond. Hermione, Ron, and Ginny did their best to keep him involved in the conversation but they could only do so much. He hadn't even spoken to them since the last trial. Of course, they all understood, but it was hard not to feel helpless around him.

After an emotional goodbye at King's Cross Harry slipped away from the wizarding world. Two weeks later no one had heard a single word from him. Remus and Sirius showed up at number four privet drive completely frantic. The moment Uncle Vernon opened the door Sirius bounded past him in his animagus form. He raced through the house following the scent of his godson.

Harry looked worse off than he had two weeks before. He was mowing the lawn in the back garden. He had lost even more weight and seemed to be limping. Remus quickly informed the Dursley's that they would be removing him from their care and ordered Harry to collect his things. As he stood closer to the fifteen-year-old boy Remus could see fresh bruises on his face. Harry just stared at him blankly until Petunia sighed and walked over to the small cupboard under the stairs and started to unlock it. Eventually they had all of his things and they were ready to go.

When they finally got to Grimmauld Sirius morphed back into his human form and immediately began fuming. "WHERE DID YOU GET THOSE BRUISES? IF THAT IDIOT MUGGLE LAID ONE HAND ON YOU I SWEAR I'LL… AND HAVE YOU LOST WEIGHT? THEY WERE STARVING YOU! I SWEAR I WILL SKIN THEM WITH IN AN INCH OF THEIR LIVES THEN FEED THEM TO THE DEMENTORS!" He paced the hallway, only giving the portrait of his mother, which had woken and started screeching, a half glance as he drug his hands through his hair and contemplated putting his fist through the wall.

Remus sent him a sharp look "Sirius now is not the time!" He hissed. The moment Sirius had started yelling Harry had cowered into a corner with a terrified expression. Sirius was still fuming so Remus sent him into the living room, his voice so dangerously stern that even the fiery tempered Black didn't argue.

Once Sirius was out of the way Remus turned to his frightened charge. "I'm sorry Harry, he isn't angry at you though. I promise." He hurried to cover the screaming portrait. When Harry still didn't move Remus changed the topic. "Why don't I take you upstairs and show you your room. Sirius has been working on it since we heard you were coming, it's actually quite nice now." He asked over the only slightly muffled screams of the home's late owner.

Harry refused the hand that had been offered him, but he followed his former professor upstairs without argument. The room really was nice. It was decked out in red and gold, and pictures of his friends and parents had been hung on the walls, along with some posters of his favorite quidditch players.

Remus levitated his trunk into the room and set it down gently. "It's not very big but we thought you would want a room with more windows. You can change anything you like of course."

Harry was wandering around the room quietly taking it all in. My own room… He thought to himself, a grin barely tugging at his lips as he gazed at the pictures of his parents hanging on the wall. Don't get ahead of yourself, He thought sternly. You're just staying with them for the summer, it's not like it's actually yours. There was a loud crash down stairs and He nearly jumped out of his skin, which of course did not go unnoticed by the older man.

Remus winced "I'm sorry Harry, he really means well… we've just been worried about you." After a pause he sat down on the edge of the large four poster bed and motioned for Harry to sit next to him. "You don't have to talk, but could you answer some questions for me if they were yes or no?"

Harry looked at him for a long time before nodding. His eyes pleaded the older man not to ask the questions he knew were burning in his mind. Why can't they just leave me be, no one cared to ask these questions before… It hardly matters now.

Remus swallowed and gave Harry a feeble smile. He knew that Harry didn't want him to ask about the bruises, but he also knew that it was his responsibility to ask. And it was better that it was him than Sirius. "Okay," He would start with something easier. "Were your relatives preventing you from contacting us?"

Only took three years at a magical school for someone to figure that out. A slight nod.

"Were they making you work for them, Harry?"

Again a nod, this time a little bit more sure of himself. It's not like it's a big deal… I was just earning my keep.

Now Remus paused, the next question would be a bit harder. "Harry, have they been feeding you enough?"

Harry didn't respond right away. He looked down at his hands. He can tell by looking at you, you idiot. He already knows the answer, why does he have to ask? Harry settled for more of a shrug this time. They fed me, sure it was the scraps from their table, and only when I got all my work done…. But it's not really starving if you are eating something.

Remus knew that Harry was shrugging it off. He could clearly see that the boy was malnourished. His next question was even harder. "Have your relatives ever hurt you Harry?"

This time he didn't hesitate at all, He shook his head fiercely. He can never know.

Remus sighed and gave Harry a sad look "How did you get that bruise on your face then, huh?"

Harry wouldn't meet his eyes, he could feel the tears welling up but he bit his lip until they lessened. Then he shook his head again. I won't tell them, it doesn't matter… Why does he even care?

Remus sighed and stood, pacing in front of him. "Harry, I know you are lying… you are safe, you don't have to protect them anymore!"

Harry continued to shake his head firmly, while refusing to meet Remus's eyes. He can't… I can't…

Trigger Warning: Suggestion of sexual abuse

Remus slowed and knelt down in front of the distraught teen. He paused for a long moment before he spoke again, this time with a deep pain in his soft voice. "Harry…" He asked uncertainty. "Has your uncle ever hurt you in other ways? Has he ever…. Touched you…"

Now Harry was shaking even more frantically, and silently begging Remus to stop questioning him. NO he mouthed firmly. He can't know, he can't. NO! What is wrong with you? Why do you even care? Can't you just leave it be? I'm not there anymore, I can't… you can't… everyone will find out…

Remus sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Oh Harry, I'm so sorry… I knew that they were cruel to you… but I didn't realize the extent of it."

Harry was still shaking his head, but it was no use. He knows… he knows and he must hate me, I'm disgusting. I'm dirty… I can't ever face him again… and he's going to tell others… of merlin he is going to tell everyone!

Remus enveloped Harry in a tight hug and held on until he seemed to have gained some composure. When he finally pulled back he locked eyes with him. "Harry, I am never going to let them hurt you again, I promise you that. And I want you to know that none of this is your fault, and it doesn't change how I see you one bit."

Harry kept his eyes locked on the floor, he couldn't bear to look at the other wizard. He knows, the horrible thought kept running through his mind like it was slapping him in the face. Then a crash from the room below reminded them of the presence of Sirius downstairs. Remus sighed "I should go talk to him, will you be okay up here?"

Panic coursed through Harry and he gave Remus a meaningful look. You can't… don't tell him! He will kill them, and probably me… He'll never look at me the same. He can't know!

Remus sighed "I'm sorry Harry, but I have to tell him. He is your legal guardian… I promise I won't tell anyone who does not need to know, and I will inform you of who I am telling before I do so. Would you rather come down with me when I do?"

Another crash made Harry jump, and after a moment he gave a resigned shake of his head. It's not like anyone actually cares what I want anyway.

Remus gave him one more hug, then promised to come back in a little bit and help him unpack.

After he had left all Harry could think about was what Remus knew. And that he was talking about him right now. He's saying words like abused, and raped… he's talking about me like… like I'm some victim. Harry couldn't stand it. After he was sure that Remus was downstairs he made his way to his trunk and searched for the one thing that was sure to bring him some comfort.

End Trigger warning: Remus discovers that Harry was being sexually abused by his uncle (Harry doesn't talk, Remus asks and guesses based on Harry's reaction to the question.