A/N Enjoy Chapter 4 (Updates will now be Thursdays)

Severus winced as he swallowed a mouth full of water along with the two panadol he'd taken, the pills feeling as though they had taken up residence in his throat. He hadn't had more than a couple of hours sleep and it was fitful at that.

All night the piece of paper and the words it contained had drifted through his mind, all manner of scenarios of Harry's reaction presenting themselves to the Professor for analysis. But nothing could have prepared him for the scenario that came knocking on his office door shortly after arriving that morning or the chain of events it unleashed as a result.

'Mr. Prince?' a young man came to stand in front of Severus' desk, he looked as though he should still be in school, not at a university.

'Yes that's correct' Severus said shortly 'What can I do for you?'

'I have a note here from the Dean of the Science Department Sir' the young man replied, handing over the note

Severus took the paper and read it's contents, his brow furrowed in confusion at the request. 'Is Professor Flamel alright?' he asked, thinking he'd only seen the man the evening before and he looked fine.

'Yes Sir' the man replied

'It says here he is dealing with an emergency' Severus remarked, gesturing towards the note in his hand

'I believe the Dean said it had something to do with his son Sir, he was taken to the hospital last night I don't know anymore than that, perhaps you can contact the Dean, he may know more'

'Yes, yes I may just do that, thank you young man' Severus answered, his mind a whirl of emotions.

When the young man had gone from the office, Severus picked up the phone on his desk and dialed the number for the Deans office, checking the clock as he did, hoping that the man was still in his office. His secretary answered and transferred him through to the Dean a middle aged man by the name of Ashford Prescott, Severus found him to be a fair and approachable man, he had on occasion joined Severus in the cafeteria during lunch.

'Professor Prince what can I do for you?' came a deep voice down the phone line.

'Dean Prescott, good morning Sir, I have just received a note regarding Professor Flamel's absence, I am enquiring as to whether he is alright Sir?' Severus replied

'Ah yes' the man answered 'Nick is fine, it's his son young Harry, collapsed at the beach last night and was taken to hospital, Nick contacted me early this morning to tell me he wouldn't be in'…

'And his son?' Severus asked in as even tone as he could manage

'Still unconscious, they are running some tests this morning, something to do with his heart I believe' Prescott informed him 'You'll be right to take his classes I trust?'

'Of course Sir, no problem at all' Severus murmured 'Do you know which hospital he was taken to, I would like to send some flowers?'

'St Richards I believe' Ashford replied 'I am sure they will appreciate them'

'Thank you for letting me know Sir, Good morning to you' Severus said and hung up the phone.

He sat and stared at his hands, then he looked up and stared into space, it was his fault, he was the reason that Harry was lying unconscious in a hospital bed, with suspected heart problems. His note hadn't done a damn thing to placate Harry, relieve him of his fears that his secret was about to be exposed, it had done the complete opposite, it had horrified him to the point of collapse, riddled him with fear that his heart had been effected.

He had to make this right no matter what it took, whether he never laid eyes on Harry again, he had to make it right. Looking at his computer Severus hurriedly pulled up the class schedule for the day, he had two classes that morning, then another one just after lunch, Nick's class ran during the break between his morning classes all going well he should be done by 2pm 3 at the latest and on his way to the hospital.

Taking his satchel from the back of his chair and his briefcase from the floor, Severus strode from his office and down the hallway to the elevator, getting on he pressed the number for his desired floor.

Harry had woken up that morning lying in a hospital bed with a pounding headache, Nick and Perry where sitting in two chairs at his side. The look of relief on their faces when they saw that he had woken would be forever etched into his memory.

Nick went and fetched a Dr who came into the room and greeted them warmly, no sooner had he rattled off how Harry had come to be in hospital, then and orderly was wheeling a wheel chair into the room and Harry was whisked off for this test and that. They certainly didn't waist any time he thought as he was wheeled down the stark white corridors of the hospital and through a set of swinging doors.

An hour later he returned, minus some of his blood, feeling sticky from the dots that had been stuck to various parts of his person so they could measure his heart rhythm, also feeling slightly violated as he had been prodded and poked at by all manner of people some that had no consideration for his dignity.

As he had only been wearing shorts and nothing else at the time he collapsed it made hiding a morning problem that much harder and quite frankly he hadn't liked the hungry look the nurse had given him when he was laying on the bed having dots stuck to his body, not that it should have mattered she was female and it really did nothing for him under normal circumstances, but still she didn't know that morsel of information and well it was quite mortifying to say the least.

Perry had brought and overnight back packed with some of his things, Harry was beyond grateful for this and for the shower that he was allowed to take as long as he had someone to assist him. Draco who had arrived after taking Amber to school was given the honor of seeing Harry in all his glory.

'You've been working too hard' Draco said as he ran the water for the shower 'I'm sorry I shouldn't have made you work at the shop'

'Drake it isn't your fault, Luna needed you and I was only too happy to help' Harry reasoned, knowing full well it wasn't his friends fault. The memories of the night before had come flooding back while he was being examined; the words on the note clear as day in his mind. Even when the Dr had asked if he remembered anything, Harry stated that he felt dizzy and had tightness in his chest, next thing he knew he woke up in hospital. It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth either.

'Right let's get your scrawny butt into the shower' Drake said bringing Harry out of his stupor

'Looked at your own butt lately?' Harry scoffed as Draco helped him up and into the shower, where a white plastic chair was placed the middle.

'Utter perfection' he drawled unclipping the hose and letting the warm water run over Harry's back.

'You are a twisted individual' Harry remarked relishing in the warmth the water was providing

'One of my many qualities' Draco supplied handing Harry a flannel and soap 'lather up'

Feeling slightly more human after a shower and definitely less sticky, Harry settled back into bed and waited for the Dr to come back with the test results. Draco had left to take Luna to her own appointment and would drop by later that afternoon. Perry was sitting in the chair reading a magazine and Nick had gone in search of a cup of coffee.

'You feel better love?' Perry asked

'Yeah, more human anyway' Harry replied 'could sleep for days'

'Why don't you rest your eyes now awhile, I will wake you when the Dr comes back in?' Perry suggested.

'Ok' Harry said and shuffled down further in the bed, closing his eyes.

When Perry woke him 90 minutes later, because the Dr had come back in with his results, Harry still felt incredibly exhausted as though he'd had no rest at all.

'We have the results of your tests here Harry' Dr Mark McKinley said 'All your blood work came back fine although it did show some deficiencies in some areas your ECG reading was good, however your blood pressure is slightly elevated, more than it should be in man your age. I believe what caused you to collapse was a mixture of stress, anxiety and exhaustion. Has anything changed or happened recently to cause this problem?'

'I have been working a lot recently, a friend needed me to look after his shop as his wife was unwell, I also work during the day' Harry told the man 'Don't get a lot of time to stop and eat on some days'

'That will have to change' Dr McKinley said sternly 'Stress isn't good for your heart even though the results say it was fine in the type of situation you experienced it can often feel as though you are having a heart attack, which accounts for the pain you felt and why you collapsed. I am going to recommend a regime of vitamins for you to begin, I will also have the nutritionist come and visit you as well. In the meantime I want you to rest and take it easy'

'When can I go home?' Harry asked

'Couple of days' the Dr said noncommittally 'if everything still looks good tomorrow we will discuss discharge the day after'

'Thank you Dr' Harry said trying not to sound like a sulking child who'd just been told they weren't allowed to go out and play.

'Rest' he said reassuringly 'it's the best thing for you at the minute'

Getting in and out of elevators seemed to be the theme of the day, Severus thought as he stepped into yet another elevator and pressed the button for the 5th floor. He was at St Richards's hospital and the receptionist at the front desk had told him Harry was on level 5 in room 9.

Inhaling and exhaling deeply Severus waited for the ding of the doors and walked from the lift and out into the corridor. Reading the signs hanging from small chains suspended from the ceiling, he noted that room 9 was down the hall to the right. Straightening his shirt Severus walked the short distance and came to a stop outside Harry's door.

He knocked gently and when he got no reply, pushed the door open and walked into the room. Harry was lying in the bed his eyes closed. Severus considered abandoning his idea and leaving the young man to sleep, but he had come here for a purpose and was determined to see it through.

'Harry?' he spoke softly, but loud enough so Harry was hear him

Green eyes opened and fixed on Severus, before narrowing until they were little more than slits 'you stay away from me' Harry pointed a trembling finger at the older man 'who do you think you are leaving notes on my windscreen like some cowardly school boy too afraid to talk to his crush face to face'

'Harry please let me explain' Severus said moving closer to the bed 'I only meant to reassure you'

'Reassure me' Harry spat 'you scared me half to death, what do you want? Is this some form of payback for me approaching you that night or what?'

'No nothing like that, I wanted to let you know that I wouldn't say anything, I saw your face when Nick and I left the room last night, I just wanted to put your mind at ease' Severus tried

'I don't care what you want, or why you came here, but you need to get the hell out and leave me alone, Whatever twisted game you're playing I want no part of it, I am not that person anymore, and I will not let you ruin that for me, NOW GET OUT!'

Perry who had been walking back from the cafeteria heard the commotion and quickened her pace, she reached the room Harry was in, in time to see the table that had been across his bed, pushed roughly out of the way, the magazines and glass of water sitting on top falling to the floor.

Harry's face was red with anger and his breathing was laboured. Perry set the paper cup of coffee on the bedside cabinet and went to her foster son's side.

'I think you need to leave Mr. Prince' she said firmly her tone inviting no argument 'Harry I need you to breathe for me, take some deep breaths'

Mrs. Fla… Perry please I wasn't trying to upset him I just wanted to explain' Severus pleaded

'It was him' Harry stammered in between pants 'he's the reason I am in here'

'Now Mr. Prince' Perry warned again

Severus nodded his head and left the room, his heart was in his shoes as he walked dejectedly down the corridor, he was almost at the lifts, when the doors dinged and Nick stepped out of the one on the left. He startled at seeing Severus standing there, but quickly recovered when he saw the look on the mans face.

'Severus is everything alright?' he asked

'I was just trying to explain, I didn't mean to upset him' he said

'I'm not quite sure what's happened, so why don't we go and sit in the waiting room' Nick suggested, taking Severus by the elbow and leading him towards the small room, just past the Nurses station.

Seated Nick allowed the man to compose himself before he spoke Severus was visibly shaking. 'Now what happened and who didn't you mean to upset?'

'Harry' he said quietly 'I just wanted to explain is all'

Before Nick could ask Severus to elaborate further, his mobile phone rang. 'Forgot to turn it off before I came in' he said sheepishly, taking it from his pocket and pressing the answer button.

Severus watched the emotions play across Nick's face as whoever was on the other end; Perry presumably explained the situation to him.

He ended the call and put the phone away, but not before he switched it off. Wordlessly he got up from the chair and went over to the water cooler in the corner of the room, filling a small plastic cup, he handed it to Severus. 'I have to go and speak with Perry, if you want to wait here I will be back as soon as I can' Nick said leaving the room.

The chemistry Professor sat back in his chair and leant his head against the cold wall, he took a small sip of the water and shut his eyes.

Thoughts spinning around his head like a rollercoaster ride, Severus tried to reason why he'd thought it a good idea to come to a hospital and confront a man who had collapsed and quite possibly had a heart problem as a result.

He didn't get far in his musings when footsteps sounded outside the door, looking over he saw Nick and Perry coming into the room, blank looks on their faces.

'How is he?' Severus ventured

'He has calmed down some, the Dr gave him something to help him relax' Perry replied curtly 'it was quite foolish to come here and confront him like you did, although I can understand why you did'

'You can?' Severus asked incredulously

'Yes, we knew it would surface again one day, just not when or how' Perry said resignedly

'You know?' Severus gaped 'about me?'

'We've known for sometime about Harry's life on the streets and the things he did to simply survive, however I knew nothing of your involvement until a little while ago' Perry admitted

'Harry told you?' Severus asked

'No, he told me about the note, I put two and two together after that, we always knew there were men and women' Perry replied. 'I remembered the time Lorna came to us, saying that she was worried about you, had seen you hanging around outside the supermarket, near the alleyway, she thought you might have been meeting someone there a date perhaps, but it was Harry you were looking for wasn't it?'

'Yes it was' Severus said truthfully 'after that night I went back each night for over a week hoping to see him again and get him off the street to somewhere safe, but he was long gone. I didn't see him again until the night of the barbecue at your house'

'That's why he was sick in the bathroom' Nick breathed 'I had no idea'

'Why the note?' Perry interjected

'Last night when Nick and I went out onto the back deck to speak, I saw the look of horror on Harry's face, all the talk of his younger days he must have thought I would reveal to Nick that I knew him and the details of our encounter. When I left your home, it was purely coincidental that I saw his car parked at the beach; I drive past there on my way home. Leaving the note was foolish, but I only wanted to reassure him that his past and whatever happened was safe with me'

'He has carried that with him for a long time' Nick sighed 'perhaps we were wrong in keeping the fact we knew from him, but we just wanted him to have a clean slate, a fresh start'

'How did you find out, if you don't mind me asking?' Severus wondered

'Duke' Nick said plainly

14 years ago

Perry put down the phone and came into the living room, her face crestfallen her lips pursed into an almost invisible line, Nick only had to look at his wife to know the phone call she'd received wasn't good news. Whenever the phone rang, his mind instantly went to Harry, their foster son who had only been with them a short time. It was always in the back of his mind that someone would try to take the boy away from him and Perry.

'What is it love?' Nick asked

'That was Miriam from Children's Services on the phone, they had a call from Dukes foster family today, it seems that he has run away again, been gone for the last 3 days apparently' Perry told him.

'Why has it taken them so long to report him missing?' Nick asked 'surely they should have contacted someone before now?'

'He has done it before Miriam said, but always comes back after a day or so, this is the first time he has been gone this long' Perry supplied

'Why are they telling us, do they think he will come looking for Harry?' he ventured

'Miriam said it's a possibility' Perry nodded her head 'although she doesn't think he would make it all the way from the city to here'

'But he could' Nick finished for her

'Yes he could' Perry replied

Nick got up from his chair and went straight to the living room window, checking his watch as he pulled the curtains aside and peered out into the street. They lived in a cul de sac and for the most part it was a safe and quiet street to live in.

Harry and Draco often walked home together from school, Harry's young friend spending a lot of time at the Flamel's, his home life was nothing spectacular apart from that his father had been arrested for fraud and extortion. Nick wanted to snatch up his car keys and go and pick Harry up from school, but at the same time he didn't want to worry the lad.

Perry had joined him at the window and was the first to spot Duke walking a ways behind the other two boys, as they came across the vacant lot, backing onto the cul de sac.

Once the boys were inside Nick herded them down to the basement, telling them they could have a game of table tennis, while he and Perry got an afternoon snack ready. He had only just got back upstairs and shut the door, when the front doorbell sounded and Duke was standing on the front porch.

'I've come to see Harry' Duke groused out, arms folded across his jacket clad chest, the smell of alcohol coming off him in waves. Perry could see a tattoo of a skull on the right side of his neck. He was swaying slightly and once or twice grabbed hold of the railing to steady himself.

'Harry isn't here' Nick said firmly

'Don't give me that old man' Duke spat 'I saw him and some skinny blonde come in here not 10 minutes ago'

'Look you are not seeing Harry in your current state' Perry told the boy curtly 'now either leave or I will be forced to ring the Police to have you removed'

'Pigs don't scare me' Duke hissed

'Why don't you leave him a message and he can contact you at your foster parents house?' Nick suggested

'Don't live there no more, fucking do gooders' he snarled 'I don't follow rules for no one, as for Harry tell him I stopped by to see if he wanted to come and have a little fun in the city just like old times, even got my hands on some Pixie Dust, he was quite the seducer old Harry, had them practically begging for it, except one bastard thought he was too good to have a kid get him off'

'Leave now before I call the Police' Perry snapped

'Tell Harry boy he can find me in the High St in the city if he's interested, can even bring blondie along too if he wants' Duke slurred missing the step off the porch and stumbling on the path.

Perry slammed the door shut and locket it, sliding the chain across the inside of the door, Nick rang the Sussex Police station, but by the time they got there Duke was long gone. They rang Miriam and told her that he had been there; she was going to contact the foster family and let them know.

After a lot of back and forth about whether to tell Harry about Duke's visit, Nick and Perry decided it was best left alone; he deserved the chance to have a fresh start. They never heard from Duke again until Miriam rang three months later to say he'd died of an overdose.

Severus was stunned at the revelation, and for several moments he didn't know how to respond. 'I regretted not doing more for him after the night I saw him' Severus said in a low whispered voice 'he seemed to have vanished and I never found him again'

'That would have been Dukes doing' Perry sniffed 'For all his talk about not being scared of the authorities he wouldn't have stuck around in fear you might have alerted them to the fact two underage boys were living on the street and eliciting money the way they were'

'Please be assured that I never laid a finger on Harry, the only thing I offered was food and a warm place to sleep' Severus said with more conviction than he felt.

'Thank you Severus that means a great deal' Nick answered

'What happens now?' he asked the Flamel's

'We will talk to Harry, explain everything including your part in this and go from there' Perry replied 'it won't be easy, but the time for secrets has ended. We should have told him long before now'

'What can I do?' Severus asked meekly

'I think it's best you keep your distance for a time, let us speak with him and get everything out in the open, perhaps then he will want to talk' Nick said 'it's nothing against you mind, it might be less explosive if Perry and I deal with him first'

'I understand' Severus said solemnly 'please tell him I meant no harm with the note, I truly was trying to help'

'We will' Perry gave him a small smile 'Best go and see if he is feeling any better'

The Flamel's stood and walked out of the waiting room, Severus followed them, Nick shook his hand in the corridor and Perry patted his arm before parting ways. Severus went to the bank of elevators and Nick and Perry went down to the room Harry was in.

The Chemistry Professor slumped against the metal railing inside the elevator as the doors closed and it began its descent to the ground floor, Severus scrubbed his hands over his face and let out a long sigh.

Two days later in the living room of Nick and Perry's home, Harry sat with his foster parents, Draco and Luna. The day Severus had come to see him in the hospital was the day that Harry had stopped keeping secrets.

When Nick and Perry came back into the room after his explosion, he knew that the time for lies and half-truths was done. The looks on their faces told him all he needed to know and as such prepared himself for the lecture he was certain was coming.

And come it did, but what also came was a confession from Nick and Perry, their deep dark secret was revealed to Harry after 14 years. He wasn't angry, I mean how could he be, what was one secret compared to the vault of them he'd kept hidden all these years.

In hindsight he was glad they hadn't told of him of Dukes visit that day, lord only knows what he would have done if he had seen him after all this time?

Hands clasped tightly in his lap, Harry told his story, the real uncut version with all its murkiness, shame and guilt. He didn't falter he simply told them all as it had been, including the night that he had propositioned Severus, the nights that followed and Perry had been right in her assumption that Duke thought it best they move on, lest the man call the Police.

He told them about losing his virginity to the scruffy man and his girlfriend, how he had cried for days after, all the while listening to Duke tell him to man up and stop being such a sissy, this was the circle of life as it went on the streets and you did what you had to.

He told them of the night he came back from getting them food, they had found a place under one of the bridges to keep warm to find Duke high as a kite and having sex with some woman on the ground, turning around and spotting Harry and with a smug grin asking if he wanted to get in on the action. Harry had quickly scampered over the other side of the bridge into some bushes and waited till Duke had finished before venturing back.

Or the time Duke had caught Harry trying to hide money away; the then 15 year old hadn't had a fix for a few days and was feeling the effects.

He slammed Harry up against a brick and flicked open a pocketknife he kept on him for protection and demanded Harry hand over the money. Knowing that he wouldn't hesitate to use it, Harry gave him the money, grateful when he left moments later to go and score.

How relieved he felt when he saw Nick that rainy night, how good it felt to be cared for, he was so sick at the time and often experienced moments of delirium, for the first few days he was in hospital drifting in and out of consciousness he thought it was a dream.

Duke had been equally as unwell, although his illness had more to do with a bad batch of Pixie dust and something else he had taken, where as Harry had a raging chest infection that bordered on pneumonia.

When he opened his eyes and saw the friendly faces of the Flamel's looking back at him, his first thought was what he would have to do to be able to pay for the hospital stay.

Turns out he didn't have to do anything at all, except be a 14 year old boy. The next days passed in a whirl of Social Workers, Children's Services and Doctors.

The Flamel's stated categorically that Harry would be staying with them, and after a rigorous process their wish was granted. A family in the city agreed to take Duke in and for a time it seemed he was happy with the arrangement, maybe being on deaths door had knocked some sense into him.

'I was so worried you would be ashamed of me' he said quietly as his story came to a close

Luna stood from her place on the sofa and came over to Harry who was sitting in one the armchairs, Draco followed suit and said on the edge. 'That is not possible' she said firmly 'everyone has things in their past they aren't proud of and things they wish they could change. You did what you needed to do to survive, I for one am very proud that you for telling us this part of your life it can't have been easy'

'Luna's right Harry' Draco chimed in 'Your past doesn't matter anymore, it's the life and the future you have built for yourself that's important, we love you regardless'

'Thank you' Harry sniffled tears welling in his eyes.

'We're your family love, nothing you do would give us cause to stop loving you' Perry said softly

Perry and Nick and Harry had had many conversations over the coming days and expressed often that they were in no way ashamed or disgusted in Harry for the things he'd done while living on the streets.

Lorna and Ellie had been over the day before and listened while he told the same story he had just repeated. They both hugged him tightly and assured him it made no difference to them.

Draco had organised for Pizza's to be delivered to the house and for Ellie to bring Amber over, he didn't think it was a conversation his 7-year-old daughter should be privy to.

Giving Harry and moment with Nick and Perry, he went out the back and set up the picnic table, Ellie and Amber arrived just as he was sorting out the chairs and gave him a hand. The Pizza's arrived shortly after that and everyone congregated around the table and tucked into the Pizza.

Harry looked around at the people he considered family and felt lighter than he had in 14 years, certainly lighter than he had felt in the last month. There was still one thing and one person he had to face and that perhaps was going to be the hardest task of all.

'Are you feeling better Uncle Harry?' Amber asked as she scrambled into his lap

'Much better bug' he smiled, planting a kiss on her curly head.

'Good I don't like it when you're not feeling well' she surmised grabbing another slice of pizza.

'Me either bug' Harry agreed 'What have you been up to?'

Amber launched into a very detailed account of what she had been doing over the last few days, since Harry had seen her last. She was very thorough and didn't leave anything out.

By the time she was finished, her godfather had a clear picture in his head of the entire goings on at home, at school and anywhere else she had been.

He stifled grin when she complained that Draco and Luna had woken her up that morning with all their noise, she said it sounded like they were lifting something heavy, with all the groaning going on. The subject was swiftly changed to something else, Harry watching with delight as Draco spluttered and shook his head and Luna made the excuse she needed the loo.

'That child has no shame' Draco huffed a bit later on when Amber had gone with Nick to look at his trains

'Perhaps her parents should learn to be quiet' Harry chortled

'Things got a little heated is all' Draco muttered