A/N: Couldn't leave the cliffhanger there over the weekend, specially since I'll be gone. Future chapters will return more to Severus, but we had to patch Harry up first. I got the idea of a wand holster from Midnight Blue's The Mirror of Maybe, although I changed where it would go.



whispered Hermione, and then the three were accompanying Harry's battered body back to Gryffindor Tower.

They did... all of that... just because Harry's gay? Seamus asked in a shaky voice. Why... why do they even care?

I don't know, replied Hermione sadly. I don't know. Ron merely shook his head and continued pounding his fist into his palm.

They reached Gryffindor Tower, and the Fat Lady gasped at the sight of Harry. Oh, my dears, what has happened to our Mr. Potter?

He's been beaten up, Ron replied grimly. Ma'am, please don't tell anyone. Harry would be embarassed. What an understatement, thought Ron. If word got out, they might kill him the next time.

Yes, yes, of course. Mum's the word. Oh, do take care of him! she called as the portrait shut behind them, and they were in the relative safety of Gryffindor Tower.

Our dorms, Ron said decisively. Seamus, run ahead and turn down his bed, open the door, and get some towels, washclothes, hot and cold water in the basins. Get Dean and Neville to help you.

I don't think I'll be getting Neville's help, Seamus replied quietly. He was out this evening, and he had scraped knuckles when he returned. Until we know any better, he's a suspect.

Ron and Hermione's eyes were wide as saucers as Seamus hurried up the stairs. said Hermione in a scandalised tone. I never would have thought...

Ron shook his head. Neither would I.

They entered the dorm, and saw Dean casting a sleeping charm on Neville's bed, and a silencing charm around the entire dorm. Seamus came bustling out of the bathroom, requested supplies leviating in front of him. Carefully, Hermione lowered Harry onto his bed, and Ron began removing his robes. He paused, then looked at each of the others.

We're going to have to remove all his clothing. I don't think he'll wake up before we replace at least his underwear, and if he ever asks, I changed his underwear, but none of the rest of us saw a thing. Got it? The others nodded, and Ron continued removing Harry's clothing.

Once the extent of his injuries was seen, Hermione was even less sure of herself, but the others were looking to her to direct his healing. Right. Dean, could you remove any remaining curses or hexes? Seamus, basic healing spells on the lesser injuries. Ron, I need you to help me with these. She pointed a shaky finger to the gashes in Harry's body. Luckily none had severed a major organ or blood vessel, and luckily Hermione had taken an advanced biological sciences course before she left Muggle schooling.

The four went to work on their friend, and it was past two am before they paused in their work. Seamus had began helping Dean once his job was through, and the pair were only satisified just as Ron and Hermione closed the last of the knife wounds on Harry's chest. Hermione let out a shaky sigh and sagged, Ron's arms barely catching her. Hang in there, he said softly. Look at the map; he's not flickering anymore.

Yes, but he's still got injuries! Hermione cried. Look at his arm, his ankle, his leg. It's an entire other set of damages, and I don't know how to do much beyond set the broken wrist and wrap the sprain. I suppose we had best close these cuts in his leg, first, she added wearily.

Seamus, who had picked up on more of the healing spells, helped Hermione with the cuts, while Ron began cleaning the dried blood off of his friend. Dean, meanwhile, having been raised by Muggles, was able to wrap Harry's ankle with a bandage that he transfigured from one of Harry's old baggy cast-off tshirts. Ron bit his lip angrily when he found a splinter of wood underneath Harry's buttocks. Wordlessly, he picked it up and held it out to Hermione, who gaped. It was Dean who finally spoke.

Their wands?

I think so, Ron's voice was low and angry. I just hope Harry was already unconscious then.

Keep it, Seamus said. It's not much to go on, but the kind of wood is a clue, at least.

Ron nodded and placed it carefully inside the drawer of his own bedside table, then returned to washing Harry's body carefully.

Around 2:30, Hermione began the last part of their delicate operation. It was the part she was also the most unsure about – setting Harry's wrist. She murmured to herself, transfigured objects, and sent the boys for more water and some things from the kitchen. She was exhausted when she finally sat down on Ron's bed, the procedure complete. Someone should cast an illusion charm on the cast and the bandage, she said weakly, before falling over, driven to exhaustion herself. Ron carefully placed her in his bed and drew the covers over her. Dean cast the illusion charms, then looked at the other three.

We have to be up in just three hours, he said softly. I suggest we use this time wisely. Ron, can we count on your brothers? Ron nodded. Good. We'll wake them, and they can help us examine the wands in Gryffindor, at least, for any missing a splinter. They should also know some sort of energy charm that we can use. Ron, you need to shower and change robes, and Seamus and I need to change into our robes as well. We'll do that while you shower, and cast a sleeping charm on Harry, as well as a pain-relief charm.

Ron nodded slowly; Dean was right. Alright, then. Just remember, not a word about this to anyone else.

Soon, the three had assembled once more, and they checked Neville's wand, just to be sure. It was intact, but his knuckles were scraped, as Seamus had said. Sadly, the three concluded that Neville could have been one of the attackers.

Then Ron crept into the seventh year boys' dormitory, and shook his brothers awake. Fred, George. Wake up. I need your help. Harry needs your help.

The twins were instantly awake. What's going on? Fred demanded.

Some people roughed Harry up pretty badly, Ron answered, his voice shaky. We've been up all night, patching him up. One of them... one of them left a splinter, of their wand. So we want to check the wands, at least in Gryffindor, to see... He swallowed. He nearly died, Fred. If we... if we hadn't used the map... I don't know what would have happened. He was flickering on it.

Fred and George had risen quickly and thrown on their robes. Let's go, then, they replied. If we have to, we'll do Gryffindor tonight, and another House each subsequent night.

We think one of them was Neville, because he was gone at the right time, and his knuckles are scraped, Ron told them in a low voice as they checked their own roommates. Hermione collapsed just a bit ago, she had to do most of the healing. Dean and Seamus really came through and helped us out.

The twins nodded. We'll take the sixth year boys' then, and the fourth as well, if you three could each do the other three years. The boys all agreed, and they set off, reassembling in the common room.

No luck, they each reported. Time to do the girls' dorms, Fred said somewhat gleefully, but George frowned slightly.

We'd best be careful here. Fred, you do the fifth years. Dean, you do the seventh years, and Seamus, you do the fourth years. Ron, I'll do the sixth years if you can get both the second and third years. Whoever's done first, catch the first years. So sent, they set out, and George's face was sober when they reassembled.

I found the one. One of the sixth year girls; I don't know her well. We can keep an eye on her, though, and see who she's talking to, glancing at, that kind of thing. Maybe Harry will remember something.

Ron nodded, and the others agreed. It's nearly six, Ron noted. Hermione said that Lavender gets up at 6:30, which always gets up her up as well, so we'd best move Hermione back to her dorm. Fred or George, we need some energy.

replied Fred, and the twins cast the spells over each of them. Sighing, Ron moved Hermione's sleeping body to her dorm, then whispered Hermione blinked and sat up.

Ron? What's going on?

Ron shook his head. The splinter came from one of our sixth year girls. Fred and George helped us find her. Neville probably was a part of it as well. Harry hasn't woken up yet, but you need to get changed and showered. He paused, then cast the energy charm on her, having picked up the incantation from his brother earlier. There. That should get you through today. Come back up to check on Harry after you change. With that, he left, returning to the side of his friend.

It was just before seven when the six reassembled around Harry's bed. Ron had carefully put fresh underwear, t-shirt, jumper, and robes back on the small boy, and then they woke him gently. Hey, you, Ron said, voice soft.

Harry's voice was confused, and he looked around the room a minute before sighing and sinking back onto the bed in relief. You found me.

Yes, we did, Hermione said. And we've healed you, mostly. Your ankle is still wrapped and there's a cast on your left wrist, but there are illusion charms so no one will notice. We know... we know who two of the attackers were, and we're going to find the rest. Do you remember anything?

Harry thought a moment. There were people from all four Houses there, and there were at least six or seven of them. Both genders. Beyond that, the only thing I know for sure is that none of them were Malfoy, Crabbe, or Goyle. I've gotten in enough scrapes with them that I would have recognised them. He smiled weakly, then noticed Dean, Seamus, and the twins. I take it you guys helped out too?

Ron nodded. Dean and Seamus helped patch you up, and Fred and George helped us look around Gryffindor to see what we could find out. Ron bit his lip; he would mention the splinter later, in private, or perhaps not at all. We're pretty certain that one of the attackers was one of our sixth year girls. He described her for Harry, then paused. Harry, we think Neville was one of them also.

Harry's eyes widened. he asked, incredulous. But... but why?'

The others only shook their heads. There's one thing for certain, Harry, Seamus said. You absolutely cannot walk around the school by yourself. I think you need to keep that invisibility cloak with you at all times, as well as that useful little map, whatever it was.

The Marauders' Map? Fred hazarded. Good suggestion, Seamus.

Harry smiled wryly. Somehow, I doubt preventing me from getting severely beaten was what they had in mind when they made it, don't you think?

Ron grinned. We can always ask Snuffles to be sure. Or Professor Lupin.

Seamus and Dean just stared. Professor Lupin made that map?

Harry nodded. He, my dad, my godfather, and the traitor. He stopped. If you ever see an old rat that looks like Scabbers, or a rat missing a toe, or with a silver paw, stun it immediately. That would be Wormtail, and he's a Death Eater.

Seamus and Dean merely nodded.

I think we'd best head towards breakfast, before the sleeping charm on Neville wears off, Hermione suggested diplomatically. Harry, get your cloak and the map like Seamus suggested. You'll have at least two of us with you at all times until further notice. Harry nodded and sat up stiffly, placing the two named items inside his school bag. His roommates gathered their own bags, and Hermione and the twins retrieved theirs from just inside the door.

Let's go, then, Harry said, attempting to look braver than he felt. Carefully, he hobbled down the stairs to breakfast. His friends surrounded him at the table, and Hermione filled his plate for them. There were few others at breakfast yet, which gave the six uninjured parties the time to eat before they had to go on high alert, and search faces and glances. Harry allowed himself to relax slightly, but made a mental note to ask Remus a question after class.

Ron scanned the room, his eyes narrowed. There! That Hufflepuff looked oddly at Harry, a different odd than most glances. So did that Ravenclaw there, and that one. Each of them, he noted, was scribbling down a list of potential suspects, occasionally asking each other for the name of one. They would compare notes later, and come up with a pared-down list.

Defense Against the Dark Arts was first, and Remus cast a sharp look at the group of fifth year Gryffindors that lagged behind the rest. Harry seemed to be limping slightly, and the others looked as if they were hiding exhaustion. Frowning, he wondered if Harry had experienced insults over his sexuality that were more physical than verbal.

At the end of class, Harry approached the professor, while Ron, Hermione, Dean, and Seamus all waited outside the door.

Harry asked. When we were talking about Aurors a few weeks ago, you mentioned that some of the Aurors use a special wand holster?



What I was wondering is... is that an Auror thing only, or can other people have one?

Anyone that wants one can purchase one, although they can be slightly expensive. Generally, though, only Aurors use them on a daily basis.

Thank you. Harry smiled and tried his best not to limp as he left the classroom.

What were you asking him? Ron asked curiously.

About wand holsters, Harry replied shortly. Hogsmeade weekend on Saturday, and I'm going to get one, even if it means having to Floo to Diagon Alley. His voice was firm, and the others immediately sensed that they would get no where if they attempted to argue.



The next day, Friday, carried a reply from Sirius, stating that he would be at the Shrieking Shack during the afternoon the next day, and he wanted to talk to Harry. On Saturday morning, Harry got up early, and ate quickly before leaving for Hogsmeade. With a bit of searching, he was able to find a wand holster, and he paid premium price for the best one available. Satisified, he strapped it on over his jumper, under his robes, and made the appropriate modification to his robes. Like an Auror, he could pull his wand in seconds, but also like an Auror, few people would able to discern that. Furthermore, the holster would protect his wand from breakage. Satisified, Ron and Hermione accompanied him to the Shrieking Shack, then waited just down the road.

Hello, Sirius, Harry said softly. Sirius jumped up and hugged his godson tightly, then stopped when Harry winced.

What's wrong? he asked, concerned.

I was attacked again, Harry said slowly. Right after I sent that letter to you. Ron, Hermione, Dean, and Seamus were up most of the night patching me up, but I still have a sprained ankle and a broken wrist. He grimaced.

Sirius spent the rest of the afternoon talking with Harry about various ways to protect himself, and he managed to mend Harry's sprained ankle, at least. Both were sure to avoid the topic of Harry's father, however.



Severus Snape had been in a foul mood ever since his son had shoved that article in his hand. Merlin, it had been a shock! Not to mention he had always been faintly disgusted by homosexuals. He had been angry, shocked, embarassed, and, yes, disgusted to learn that his son was gay. It had been quite a shock to discover that Harry was even his son, and then he had been so damn proud of the fact, and he... he had to take all of it away, all of the pride, the joy even. He wouldn't deny that he loved his son, but he was so hurt and ashamed. He didn't know when he would be able to have a conversation with Harry again. Knowing that the boy carried the Snape name... if there was a segment of wizarding society that was clearly homophobic, it was the Slytherins. After all, a pureblood line can't continue unless the members of it have offspring. Oh, certainly, there was the occasional black sheep, but Severus was the only male Snape of his generation, and Harry his only offspring. It meant the end of the Snape line, a line which had been proud and distinguished. And despite the fact that he wanted to get past that fact, he just couldn't. Not yet, at least.