Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in this, or anything Harry Potter-ish

Death is a blessing

Chapter 4

Harry walked in silence next to Snape, he felt exposed and alone he thought if it were possible he hated the man more now then he did an hour ago. Snape picked up on the passive aggression.

"They need to know, Potter you should have told them years ago"

"There were reasons why I didn't" he muttered Snape was interested

"And they were?" Harry didn't answer, he was still shaking. Snape then did something that surprised Snape as much as Harry he turned to face the boy and pulled him into a hug. Harry didn't have time to back away or flinch, Snape held him for a moment before regaining his sense and letting Harry go. Harry walked to rest of the way on the other side of the corridor. In the infirmary Madame Pomfrey gave Harry another basic meal to wash down the stomach sealing potion. Snape stayed with them leaning against a wall he didn't speak. An hour later the doors of the infirmary burst open

"YOU LIAR!" Lupin screeched at Snape "it's not true you made up that memory" Snape sighed

"I assure you it was all true and accurate" Remus glanced at Harry who was sitting stock still on the bed in fear, he had never seen Lupin acting like this. Remus marched over to the bed and grabbed at Harry, forcing him to lie down

"REMUS WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" Molly screeched as she flew in, Snape tried to pull him off Harry who was struggling but Remus batted him away, he got hold of Harry's shirt and pulled it up revealing the scared and slashed chest, his anger left him and he left go of Harry

"It's true, it's all true" he muttered Molly and the rest of the Weasley's had come in and had too seen Harry's chest, Harry pulled his shirt down in a hurry and glanced around for a means of escape. There wasn't one Molly Wealsey came round to his side, and hugged him; he was still shaken from Remus's outburst. The room calmed down again

"Harry why didn't you tell someone?" Harry didn't know what to say

"I tried you knew I didn't like it there" she held him tighter

"If we knew it was this bad we would have never let you go" Harry felt tears forming in his eyes he couldn't hold them back. He sat there crying in her arms for a long time. Dumbledore and McGonagall entered and looked at them Remus looked sad and tired he was standing on one side of the room, Snape was sneering at him from the opposite corner, most of the Weasley boys were having a conversation in the corner not wanting to look at Harry.

"Molly, Arthur I am sorry but I need to ask you to do something" Dumbledore looked pointedly at Harry;

"Don't be stupid Albus of course he's coming with us" Molly snapped, Harry hadn't even got that far. Dumbledore nodded.

"You may use the fire in office it will allow you to floo straight back," he left, Harry looked up

"Don't tell Ron" he blurted quickly Molly stroked his head

"We need to tell him something, Hermione too when she arrives" Harry nodded miserably

"Will one of you do it?"

"Course we will mate" Harry turned to find that the arm over his shoulder's belonged to George not Mrs. Weasley as he thought.

"Well we better make plans to move, boys go fetch Harry's stuff and go home will you?" Harry's eyes went wide he'd completely forgotten to ask

"Is Hedwig ok?"

"Yes dear she arrived almost a week ago now, she was a little thin but she's fine" Relief washed over him. Molly went to leave she looked back at the too skulking in the corners

"Come along Severus you need to show us where you left his belongings" Snape left the room unwilling, casting one more look of disgust at Remus, the door shut. Harry was painfully aware that there was just the two of them left. Remus rose and walked over to the bed

"Harry, I am so deeply sorry for my actions" Harry nodded but didn't look up until Remus put a hand under his chin and forced him too. Harry's emerald eyes still glittered from the tears. Remus hugged him Harry tried to pull away but wasn't strong enough. After a while Remus let him go.

"Harry why did he do that to you do you know?" Harry nodded slowly

"It was punishment." He said simply, Remus had to reign in his temper

"Punishment" he spat "what for?" Harry swilled against the hard lump in his throat he didn't know if Remus would agree or not

"He said it was punishment for not dying with my parents" Harry shrugged and laughed nervously "Maybe he's right and I deserve it" Remus was shaking with anger

"Is that why you didn't tell anyone, because he said you deserved it?" Harry nodded Remus took hold of the boys shoulders and held him at arms length

"Do you ever believe that ok? Not for one second you have done nothing wrong! Understand it's not your fault ok?" Harry didn't respond Remus was frustrated and shook him "OK?" Harry nodded

"Yes" he said quietly, Remus folded the boy back into another hug he wanted desperately for the boy to believe him, he knew he didn't. He stroked his hair absently, he remembered the first time he had done this with James, and how it felt then. Harry was so similar to James in some many ways, but he had aspects of Lily too, blend of it was complex and amazing. Remus tipped his head forward and kissed the top of Harry's head. Harry looked up at him with wide eyes, Remus smiled James had done the same thing the first time he'd kissed him, only that was a little less discreet. Remus began to slowly lower his face to Harry's the boy was unsure how to react. The door slammed, Remus turned to see Severus standing there, who knows how long for.

"Get out!" he spat at Remus. Remus was reluctant to leave Harry but didn't have much of a choice. Harry didn't move, interfere or say anything while the men glared at each other. Remus marched out leaving Snape to contemplate the boy.

"They are ready to leave Potter" his voice was like ice, it wasn't Harry he was angry at but Lupin, he should know better, he was taking advantage of the fragile state of a child. Harry didn't volunteer any information about what was going on when Snape arrived, in fact he didn't speak he got up and began to walk to the door. When he got there Snape caught his arm

"What was that animal doing?"

"Lupin is not an animal! And nothing he wasn't doing anything!"

"Really didn't look like it" he snarled, Harry shrugged and didn't say any more. Snape let him go, making a note to have it out with Lupin later. Harry arrived in the office a few minutes later. Molly smiled encouragingly

"Ah there you are Harry, right it's just you and me left to go, Fred and George got your case, we're going straight to the burrow" Harry nodded. He took a handful of the floo powder and stepped into the flames

"THE BURROW" he said with as clearly as he could. He disappeared from the office. Molly was about to follow suit when Snape stopped her

"Look after him Molly. Lupin has been sniffing round" he spat the last part, Molly rolled her eyes and nodded

"You know if you told him you would make everyone's life so much easier" and with that she was gone. Snape turned and left the office. He went straight to them staff room. Lupin was talking to Dumbledore.

"Remus" he snarled "I think we need to have a chat don't you" the colour drained from Remus's face he nodded and excused himself. Remus followed Snape down into the dungeons and into his office. Snape warded the door and turned on Lupin, he grabbed him by the throat and pushed him into the wall

"If you so much as breathe on Harry Potter again I'll kill you" Snape growled. Lupin smiled

"So there's that paternal instinct we thought you didn't have" Snape was still breathing heavily put he put the Dark Arts teacher down.

"You knew I was there"

"Of course I did, but Harry needs support now. He needs you"

"He needs to be left alone and to heal not another bombshell" Snape spat silence fell

on the room. Lupin walked to the door,

"You're right he need people he can trust" the door closed before Snape could reply.