Disclaimer: The characters and places and stuff belong to JKR. But for now, they are at my mercy. *evil grin* I'll return them as soon as I'm finished…maybe.
Thanks to everyone for the reviews!
In this chapter: Draco, a visit to Sirius and Remus, and forgotten Silencing Spells
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Chapter 5
Draco,
Come whenever you're ready, but I have to warn you that Harry Potter is staying with me as well. He had some trouble with his relatives this summer, and he's been here at Hogwarts for about a week. He'll be staying in my quarters for the rest of the summer, and he's already promised to be civil to you. I want you to do the same because none of us need to have any fights or problems with each other. We all have enough of our own problems as it is.
When you get here, come straight to my quarters. I've still got Salazar spelled to let you in.
Severus
~~~
When Draco entered the chambers, he was pale and tired. He dropped his things on the ground and was immediately wrapped in an embrace. He returned the hug, burying his face in his godfather's shoulder.
"I'm so sorry, Draco," Severus said, softly, as he rested his hand on the back of Draco's head, stroking his hair. "I'll take care of everything, don't worry about it."
"Thanks, Uncle Sev," Draco sighed, drawing back. "Where should I put my stuff?"
"The only bedroom besides mine is the one Potter's in," Severus explained, apologetically. "Do you mind sharing with him?"
"Whatever, I don't care," Draco replied, tiredly. "I just want to lie down and go to sleep."
Severus levitated Draco's things and led Draco into the bedroom. Harry still lay on his bed, facing away from the door, but Draco didn't say a word. Severus transfigured an old chair into a bed and placed it on the opposite side of the room from Harry's. Draco immediately lay down under the covers of the bed.
"Do you need anything, Draco?" Severus asked. Draco shook his head. "What about you, Potter, are you all right?"
A whispered "yes" was heard from the other bed. Draco looked curiously at Severus, who shook his head, as if to say "don't ask." Severus then left the two boys alone. Draco tried to fall asleep but, even as tired as he was, he couldn't. Finally, he decided to strike up a conversation with Harry and find out what was going on.
"Potter, Uncle Severus told me you promised you'd be civil to me," he commented. "Where the hell did that come from?" There was a pause before Harry answered.
"I don't mind that you're here, as long as you don't mind that I'm here," he said, quietly. "You have more of a right to be here than I do, after all, being his godson."
"What's the deal with you, anyway?" Draco demanded, surprised by the response. "Why are you here? Uncle Sev said you had some trouble with your relatives. Did they refuse to buy you something you wanted?"
He couldn't help but keep the sneer out of his voice. Harry just sighed and shook his head, so Draco tried another guess.
"Did they try to kill you?"
He'd heard the rumors about the way the Boy-Who-Lived was treated at home. He'd heard the horror stories involving cupboards and starvation. But he'd never believed them. He believed that Harry was spoiled at home, just like anywhere else.
Draco watched in shock as Harry slid out of bed and stood up, shifting his weight to rest on the cane in his hand. Draco's eyes trailed over Harry's thin, sickly body before finally resting on the fading bruise on his tearstreaked face. Harry gave him a weak glare.
"They didn't succeed," he said, quietly. "Sorry to disappoint you, Malfoy."
With that, Harry limped out of the room and went to the living room. He lay down on the sofa, staring up at the ceiling.
I can do this, I can be nice to him, Harry thought to himself. Until he asks too many questions. Or uses it against me. Hell, if he found out I tried to kill myself, he'd probably only be disappointed that it didn't work.
After a moment, Harry got up again and went in search of Severus. He found the Potions Master in the kitchen, drinking coffee and reading the Daily Prophet. Severus looked up when he heard Harry come in and, seeing the tear stains on the boy's face, he frowned.
"Is something wrong?"
Harry ignored the question and asked one of his own.
"Professor, can I go see Sirius? Please?"
Severus studied Harry's face for a moment. The boy was obviously distraught over something, but what, Severus didn't know. Perhaps he needed a visit to his godfather.
"Please," Harry said again when Severus didn't answer. "I-I need Sirius."
"Let me make you a portkey, so you don't hurt yourself going through the Floo," Severus replied. As an afterthought, he added, "And call me 'Severus.'"
He grabbed a Muggle pencil from the counter and pointed his wand at it, muttering several complex spells. He then handed it to Harry.
"It will activate in five minutes and send you to Lupin's living room. To come back, you have to say 'Snape Chambers.' Please be back by midnight, unless you intend on staying the night over there, in which case I ask you to call me by Floo and let me know."
"I will. Thank you."
Five minutes later, Harry found himself in Remus's living room. Remus had been reading a book on the sofa, and he jumped a little when he saw Harry. Then he smiled a little.
"You scared me," he said, chuckling. He then saw the expression and the tears on Harry's face. "Oh, Harry, what's the matter?"
"Is Sirius here?" Harry asked in a small voice, wringing his hands and staring at his feet. Remus shook his head.
"He's in France for a couple of days," he explained. "More Death Eater activity has been tracked, and Dumbledore wanted him to look into it. I would have gone with him, but he wouldn't let me because my health hasn't been up to par lately. But is there something I can help you with?"
"I don't know," Harry sighed, sitting next to Remus, who put his book down. "I don't know if Sirius could have helped, either... It was really just on impulse that I decided to come here."
Before Remus could reply, Harry wrapped his arms around him, burying his face in Remus's shoulders. It took the werewolf a moment to realize that the boy was trembling, and he held Harry tightly, rubbing a hand up and down his back.
"What's wrong, Harry, please tell me," Remus pleaded, gently.
"I want to forget," Harry whispered. "I want to forget everything they did to me, everything I did to myself... But I can't, and every time I think of it, I feel sick and disgusting. I keep having nightmares and flashbacks, and God, why do I have to keep remembering?!"
"I'm sorry, Harry, I'm so sorry you have to remember," Remus murmured, stroking his hair. "I'm sorry you have things so terrible to remember... Oh, I wish the Ministry had let me have custody of you all those years ago..."
Remus just sat on the sofa, holding Harry and comforting him, for half an hour or so until they suddenly heard the front door open. Sirius's excited voice echoed through the house.
"Remus! Remus, we found him, baby! We found the bloody rat-- Harry? What's wrong, kid, are you all right?"
Sirius stopped short when he saw his distressed godson in Remus's arms. He rushed to sit on Harry's other side, but Harry sat up and gave Sirius a small smile.
"I-I think I'm okay now," he said, quietly. "I just...freaked out for a little while. It sounds stupid, but I guess I just needed someone to hold me or something. It was comforting, I guess."
"Are you sure, love?" Sirius asked, concerned as he touched Harry's cheek. Harry nodded.
"Yeah, I'm sure. Now what were you saying?" At this, Sirius grinned.
"The Aurors that went to France to check out the Death Eater situation found Wormtail!" he exclaimed. "They put a spell on him so he couldn't transform, and they took him to the Ministry! I'm supposed to get an owl tomorrow, Mundungus says I'll get a trial!"
"That's great, Sirius!" Harry exclaimed, hugging him. Remus did the same and then gave Sirius a chaste kiss on the mouth.
"I'm happy for you, Siri," he murmured.
"Are you going to stay the night, Harry?" Sirius asked.
"If it's all right," Harry replied, relaxing in his godfather's arms. "I have to call Professor Snape and tell him."
"I'll take care of that," Remus told him. "It's late, and you look tired. Siri, take him upstairs and show him to the extra bedroom."
Sirius took Harry by his hand and led him up to the spare bedroom. Harry climbed onto the bed, and Sirius sat next to him, tucking the sheets around him.
"You're sure you're all right, Harry?" the older man said, softly. "I worry about you."
"I'm okay," Harry assured him, clasping his hand with his godfather's. "I'm just trying to come to terms with the things that have happened to me, and it becomes overwhelming at times. I'm all right."
"If you're sure," Sirius sighed. "All right, then. You get some sleep, love, and we'll wake you for breakfast." As an afterthought, he added, "I love you."
"I love you, too, Siri..."
~~~
Several hours later, Harry lay awake in bed, staring up at the ceiling. He couldn't sleep amidst the moans and cries of passion coming from the master bedroom, a result of forgotten silencing spells. Not only were they extremely loud; they were also causing Harry to think of a certain Potions Master.
Finally, Harry gave up on trying to sleep. He climbed out of bed and searched the room for a quill and a piece of parchment to write a note.
Siri and Remus,
I couldn't sleep, so I'm taking the portkey back to Hogwarts. Come visit if you can.
Siri--Congratulations again.
Remus--Thank you.
Love, Harry
PS--Silencing Spells work wonders. Just a suggestion.
He left the note on the bed and then activated the portkey. He instantly found himself in the living room in Severus's suite. Even though it was nearly two o'clock in the morning, Draco and Severus were both awake. Draco sat on the couch, leaning over with his elbows resting on his knees and his face in his hands. Severus sat next to him, rubbing his hand over his godson's back and speaking quietly to him. They both looked up when they heard the 'pop' of Harry's arrival, and Harry saw the tears streaming down Draco's face.
"Sorry," Harry said, quietly, as he turned to exit the room.
"You can stay, if you want," Draco called after him, his voice shaky and scratchy. Harry turned around again in surprise, and Draco continued. "I don't mind."
Harry nodded slightly and sat on Severus's other side, though he sat slightly apart from him.
"I thought you were staying with Black and Lupin," Severus commented.
"I couldn't sleep," Harry mumbled, tiredly. "They were being quite loud while shagging in the next room." Draco chuckled, while Severus snorted. "It's not funny. They told me to go to bed because I looked tired, and then they forgot a Silencing Spell. So I left a note and came back here."
"You do look tired," Draco said. "Worse than tired. You look like total shite, Potter."
"I know," Harry muttered, yawning. He curled up in the corner of the couch.
"Do you want a potion so you can sleep well?" Severus offered.
"No, thank you. I think I'll just go to bed and hope for the best. Good night."
After Harry got comfortable in his bed, he sensed someone entering the room. He heard Draco's voice from behind him.
"Potter? I just...wanted to tell you that I'm sorry for upsetting you this afternoon. And I'm sorry for the way I've treated you for the past six years. After I get used to you, I'll probably tell you why I had to be like that. And if you want, you can tell me what happened with your relatives. I'll listen."
Harry turned over and stared at Draco for a moment. He studied his face and saw nothing but sincerity. Finally, he nodded.
"Apology accepted. Thank you."
