Weeks had passed since the night Harry had to duel four against one, but since Pansy wasn't much of a fight, it was Crabbe, Goyle, and Nott versus Harry in the corridors near the Slytherin dungeons. Harry did win, regardless of not letting out his full power beyond his leveling system of five. Harry knew the those three idiots would report to Voldemort, and his secret of being very powerful would be out. Harry did not need Severus to tell him to keep such things under wraps; he already knew not to give too much away. The rest of that night was joyously spent having a dinner date with Draco, then the two made out until Severus returned. Beyond a small chat about horcruxes to Severus, Harry and Draco spent the night in Draco's bed where they engaged in foreplay activities until finally going to sleep around 11:30 pm. It didn't go beyond fingering, which was their way of working out how having sex would go sometime in August, after Harry turned seventeen. Draco would be turning such on June 5th, which was coming right up in the next week. Thus far, Harry didn't mind the fingering when it had stayed at just one and admitted he was on the fence for when they had sex for the first time. Draco, on the other hand, hadn't minded at all and told Harry that he was fine to bottom when the time came. That pretty much set things for how that wonderful night would go. The last thing to plan was where they would do it when August came around.
Today was the 30th of May, and it was literally just a couple more weeks until school let out for the summer. Harry had already been warned by Dumbledore of when they'd be going to that next horcrux, which was after exams. Harry felt like he was ready for the journey, but he wasn't sure on the destroying of it. Dumbledore admitted that he may have found another but would need Harry's help in destroying it because he couldn't do it alone. Harry had a sickeningly bad feel wrenching at his gut ever since Dumbledore revealed the date of their adventure; Harry couldn't explain it. Harry still did his therapy sessions with Madam Strout on Saturdays, he'd be escorted there by Severus and then take the hour or so to talk about some major issue in his life. The mind healer would work with Harry on better ways to cope, and right now they were working on bigger things than the abuse with the Dursley's. Harry was on how much Sirius's death bothered him; it was coming up on the year mark, so while the pain was easier, he still had moments where it became too much. Madam Strout told Harry that it was completely normal to have moments where it bothered him, as long as he didn't let the pain take over and drive him into a depression.
Harry still had dinner dates with Draco once or twice a week, but they kept the making out to only when they were alone in the dorm so that Severus wouldn't have to walk in on things, or become visibly uncomfortable to see such acts. It was easy to realize that Severus was worried they'd go too far and get lost in things. Today brought Harry to Dumbledore's office to finally tell the man that he was actually abused by the Dursley's; he'd been putting it off but Severus came to him at lunch and told Harry that Dumbledore was now requesting Harry to reveals things because he wanted to know the truth from Harry himself, still feeling like it never happened. Harry agreed to go after dinner, so he was currently standing outside the statue entrance as Severus strolled up beside him.
"Remember, Potter…Tell him the truth. Don't hold back because the memories bother you; he needs to know that his foolishness to leave you there landed you hurt." Severus informed.
"Yes, sir," Harry nodded.
"Good, up you go then," Severus told him. Harry got on the step as Severus put his hand out. "Lemon Drops." He said the password as the statues staircase began to rise. "Minerva and I will be up there shortly." He added before Harry went out of sight.
Harry got to the top and went through the door, finding Albus at his desk. "Professor Dumbledore," Harry stated as his greeting and to get the man's attention.
"Harry, my boy," Albus smiled with that twinkle in his eyes. "Come, come. Have a seat," He offered. Harry walked forward and sat down in the available chair. "Lemon drop?"
"No, thank you," Harry replied calmly.
"Now, I've heard word that your time at the Dursley's was…Miserable-," Albus began.
"It was hell, sir, if you don't mind me being frank about it," Harry interjected. "They hated magic, and therefore hated me by default. They never wanted me there, Professor Dumbledore and made sure I never forgot that. As well as the fact I was a freak, just like my parents."
Albus was about to speak when Minerva and Severus walked through the floo together. "Ah! Minerva, Severus…Join us. Harry and I were just discussing what you told me, Severus. Harry was telling me that his aunt and uncle never wanted him there, and hated him. To which I was just about to respond," He paused while Minerva took the open seat next to Harry and Severus decided to stand with his arms folded. "I know you did not like being there, Harry, but it was the safest place for you after your parents passed. The blood wards-," Albus started again.
"Do nothing to protect me when I was being hurt inside the house that was supposed to protect me," Harry cut Albus off again. Harry didn't care if it was rude, Severus was right; he shouldn't hold back his disdain of being in that house as much as his aunt and uncle didn't want him there.
"Do not get upset," Albus said gently. "I understand you did not desire to be there after the multiple times you came to me at the end of the year and asked me to place you elsewhere."
"Don't tell me not to get upset and don't tell me not to get angry because I have every right." Harry remarked, surprising Minerva and Severus. "Don't presume to tell me how to feel, Professor Dumbledore. You weren't there, you didn't have to go through it. You just stuck me there, where I wasn't wanted, and told yourself it was to protect me."
"Mr. Potter, I will request you don't speak in such a way to me. I've been very good to you over the years since coming to Hogwarts." Albus stated in a firmer tone.
"Then I will request you stop deluding yourself that I was safe in that house," Harry argued.
Silence.
"You are the one who asked me to come here and explain why I hated it there, sir. And everything I've tried to tell you, you have some lame excuse as to why it was necessary to leave me with the people who abused me." Harry added after a moment.
"If I may, Albus…I believe Harry has a point. You asked him to reveal the truth you were seemingly unaware of, and you're just clouding the issue with your own reasoning." Minerva spoke up. "I told you the day you left him on the doorstep that those people were the worst kind of muggles."
"Oh, that just makes me feel loads better," Harry folded his arms over one another, a scowl on his face. It honestly looked like a Severus stance.
"Harry…" Albus warned.
"I told you I'm not gonna sit here and let you feed me some inane reasoning behind your decisions. Not to mention, sir, that you shouldn't have had a say over me and where I went. Sirius Black was my legal godfather and I know he was there that night my parents died. He showed up when Hagrid did, and you wouldn't let him take me when he had every right." Harry remarked.
"Sirius was wanted for murder," Albus informed.
"He was not. Do not lie to my face…" Harry glared. "Sirius only went after Pettigrew when Hagrid said you were putting me somewhere safe. He was a free man, convicted of no such false crime and had the right to take me in. You interfered with me growing up with someone who actually loved me, would have protected me. And just on that subject, Sirius may have gone after Pettigrew, but he never did anything to him because the bloody coward cut off his own finger and went into rat form for twelve years. Sirius was put in Azkaban the entire time for something he didn't do and he didn't even get a trial!"
"I think we've…Strayed off course of the topic for tonight's meeting," Severus stated. "Harry, I understand your anger…But none of it can be changed now. It does not do well to dwell on what cannot be remedied in life," He added calmly. "Calm yourself…I can feel your magic spiking."
"Yes, sir," Harry replied, taking a deep breath and relaxing; his power level fading off. "Sorry," He bowed his head to Severus.
"It's alright to get upset, but maintain your emotions. Just as I taught you with Occlumency." Severus reminded.
"Okay, Professor Snape," Harry responded.
"Now, Headmaster…I believe Harry is right. This was called for him to tell you from his own mouth about his time at the Dursley's. I feel we should just sit quiet and let him talk." Severus suggested.
"Very well," Albus sat back. "Go on, Harry," He invited.
Harry took a breath and began to tell Albus, Minerva, and Severus everything he went through before turning eleven. How he had lived in a cupboard under the stairs from the age of two to twelve, and the only reason they changed where he slept was because his Hogwarts letter came the year before and the Dursley's assumed it meant people would be checking up on him. Harry spoke of having to learn how to cook and clean by the age of six. And if he ever messed up; he'd find himself facing punishment. And it wasn't standing in the corner to think about what he did. Harry told them how his punishments were smacking his bare behind or hands with their own. That they started throwing him down, kicking at his midsection, stomping on his back, using the belt. And eventually, just went into full on beatings when he finished his first year of Hogwarts.
"I went days without food. Not missing one meal, but several. I spent all day cleaning, cooking all their meals, like a servant. If one thing was wrong, or not to their standards; I was beaten until I couldn't move, and then sent to my room. Which, might I add was locked from the outside with keys only Vernon had, and there were bars on my window. The clothes I had were my cousin's old ones. The one year I got rescued was second year because Ron, Fred, and George showed up in their dad's flying car to yank the bars off and take me to Burrow." Harry said. "I asked you every single year when school ended if I could stay elsewhere, and you always said no. Don't you think I had a good reason for asking? For begging you to place me elsewhere. Mrs. Weasley offered to take me in. Hagrid too. But no, I just had to go back to the people who were literally trying to kill me, or so it seemed at times."
"Had I known the extent of things, I, would have taken him in." Severus commented.
"Your life hardly allows to care for children." Albus remarked.
"No? Then how is it I've taken care of Draco all these years? Every time his parents wanted a night out, or go away for the weekend. I was taking care of him. I'm his godfather. I was more than equipped to care for children." Severus scoffed. "What's worse about this is that you didn't even know, did you? Never bothered to check in and ensure your golden boy to defeat Voldemort was still okay. Harry could have ended up starved to death and you wouldn't have known until he didn't show up for school one year."
"It's fine, Professor," Harry assured him. "I managed to survive."
"It's not alright, Harry." Minerva sighed. "Albus, do you have anything to say?"
"I'm sorry for not being more aware, Harry. But my reasoning hasn't changed; you were safer there." Albus informed.
Harry narrowed his eyes before standing up. "Was I? Or are you just trying to justify your terrible reasoning for child neglect and endangerment? Because in the muggle world, that would have landed you in prison." He headed for the door. "You don't give a bloody care in the world about me; you just want me to kill Voldemort because of that stupid prophecy. If that's all I'm good for….Well, that's a pretty bad reason to keep living." Harry stormed out.
"Harry Potter, you return this-," Albus started.
"I'd let him cool off, Albus," Minerva stated. "Potter isn't wrong."
"I told he was a mess, and you insisted he was just fine. Probably stress? What do you think now that you've heard it yourself? Heard from him what's actually going on inside his head? He's bordering a serious depression and now believes the only thing he's good for is destroying Voldemort. How can you dare to have let it come to this, to let a child believe that?" Severus left afterward.
"Was I wrong, Minerva?" Albus asked.
"It would seem that you were very wrong," Minerva replied. "I've said it before, when Harry ended up in in the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Regardless of his age at current…He's still just a boy who has been laid a very heavy burden and you've only worked to prepare him to fulfill that prophecy. You haven't one taken into account the strain it's putting on him to basically be this world's savior. If Potter isn't at his best for the battle, Voldemort will succeed in taking over and we're all at his mercy beyond that and I don't think I need to tell you that there won't be any mercy." She informed. "Perhaps you should give Harry some time to calm down and just back off. No matter what you believe Albus, come August 1st, this year, Harry will be seventeen and allowed to do whatever he wants. Which means he can leave this school, and the always decision; he could decide he doesn't want to be a weapon to destroy Voldemort anymore."
Nothing else said, Minerva left the room as Albus sighed and closed his eyes. This was not good at all.
. . .
Harry had gone right back to his common room after the conversation, bypassing everyone and going to his bed. Harry paced back and forth, trying not to lose control of his anger. In the common room, Draco, Blaise, Ron and Hermione were probably the most confused at Harry's angered state.
"What was that all about?" Ginny was first to speak.
"We knew Harry had to talk to Dumbledore after dinner, but apparently whatever it was about has his pretty mad." Ron supplied.
"Go check on him, Ron," Hermione stated.
"I think he wants to be left alone," Blaise offered. "He stormed in, ignored everyone and went right up to the dorm. I feel that's enough to say he doesn't want to be bothered right now."
"I agree with Blaise," Draco nodded. Though, he was worried for his boyfriend. Harry was very angry, and Draco knew that the talk after dinner had been about Harry telling Dumbledore of the abuse he dealt with at the Dursley home. For now, Draco would give Harry his space to calm down.
"Why is Professor Snape here with Professor McGonagall?" Ginny asked, motioning to the door where the two professors walked in.
"Where is Mr. Potter?" Severus asked.
"He stormed through and went to the dorm, sir," Draco informed. "Did…The talk go badly?" He whispered.
"Incredibly," Severus sighed.
"Should I go check on him?" Draco asked.
"No, it would best to leave him for now." Severus informed. "Keep an eye on him. Don't push the issue, but make sure he's alright. If anything seems concerning, contact me."
"Yes, sir," Draco agreed, now more worried than before. Harry wasn't just mad, he was upset.
"Good." Severus nodded, then he thanked Minerva and left the Gryffindor common room. Minerva sighed and walked out after him.
"I don't know if I like how close Harry is to you three," Ron muttered.
"Get used to it, Weasley…" Draco remarked firmly.
"No, I never will. It's unheard of," Ron glared. "Harry was our friend first, then you lot swooped in."
"Nobody swooped in, Ronald," Blaise sighed. "Draco and Harry never hated one another, it was just a rivalry and people grow out of them over time realizing how stupid it actually is."
"Ours was more Harry and I colliding at the end of fourth year and he apologized to me first, admitting he wasn't paying attention and had a lot on his mind." Draco corrected. "Either way, Harry just made it clear there was no need for us to feud over him not taking my friendship. That my views were wrong and not everything about being the strongest. Harry is a great deal stronger than I and he's only a half-blood. Hermione, props where it's due; you are exceedingly bright for a muggle-born. Harry's friendship with you two let me see over the years that it's perfectly fine to have friends of all types of blood. We didn't actually become friends until fifth-year when Dumbledore's Army was happening. Before that, we'd called a truce and got to know one another." He explained.
"I still think you did something to him. My bet is on Snape, the potions master." Ron countered.
"I'm just as good as Snape and you didn't accuse me." Draco rolled his eyes.
"I don't think you're that good." Ron said.
"I did study under him since the age of six…" Draco remarked.
"Ronald, enough," Hermione chastised.
"Can't we all just get along?" Blaise sighed.
"I have no quarrels with the situation, though odd." Hermione informed.
"Get it through your head, Weasley…" Draco began. "Snape and Harry have a new understanding of one another, and Harry is both mine and Blaise's friend. We're not going anywhere. I've been more than patient with you on the matter, even stopping laying insults, but you refuse to accept the situation. It's rather tiresome, isn't it? The only person you're going to hurt is Harry. You're going to push him away."
"Harry would never walk away from-," Ron started.
"Ron." Harry said from the top of the stairs.
"There you are mate. Feeling alright?" Ron asked with a smile.
"Harry…" Draco said gently.
"Enough. I heard you arguing with Malfoy, Ron. Not hard when everything is silent down here…Leave him alone. I don't appreciate you assuming I'll choose between friends. I love you all, equally. Everyone has come around but you, it's growing rather annoying." Harry told him. "Draco…Can I talk to you upstairs, please?"
"Sure thing," Draco smiled and turned to head upstairs, then both he and Harry vanished from sight.
"Draco is right, Ron…It's best to accept it. Harry isn't in the habit of abandoning his friends." Hermione told Ron.
Ron grumbled as everyone in the common room just went back to minding their own. Upstairs, Harry and Draco reached the sixth-year dorms and the space between their bed.
"What's wrong, love?" Draco asked gently. "Sev said the talk went bad…"
"If by bad you mean Dumbledore still believes that I was safer behind those blasted blood wards and I feel like I'm just his weapon against Voldemort…Then yes, it went bad." Harry muttered.
"What do you need me to do?" Draco asked. "What do you need?"
"Hold me…Just hold me, please…" Harry asked.
Draco said nothing else, but gave a smile as he laid down in his bed and left the space for Harry to lay beside. Harry climbed in and Draco wrapped his arms around Harry's figure, setting a kiss on his cheek before getting his wand and closing the curtains on Harry's bed, then his own.
"It's alright, babe. I'm here and I'm always going to be for you." Draco promised.
Harry just snuggled into his boyfriend, relaxing fully. "Thank you…"