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

Notes: MerlinHalliwell, Harry cont speak because of the tubey thing down his throat (apparently) it stops you talking, or so a friend of mine told me when her dad had it though I only have one persons view on it sorry if it's wrong but I thought it made life more interesting, people say a lot more to those who can't speak then they would do normally.

Chapter 8

Snape stormed back to his own office, he needed to get in control, while Harry was technically safe at the Burrow, and Remus was not likely to force this issue with him Snape was not happy with the werewolf knowing the Harry's whereabouts. Snape paced up and down the length of his office. Half an hour later he was calm enough to start work on the dreamless sleep potion, it was slow work, but he kept himself focused by remembering who it was for. It was the early hours of the morning before he finished, it would have to wait another night. The thought tore through him; Harry was going to suffer another night of haunted sleep because he was angry at someone. He felt the rage boil up inside him. Stop it, you'll only take it out on the boy and none of this is his fault he released a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding and let the anger go with it. Go to bed he thought and willed himself out of the lab, there was nothing more to be done tonight. 

Remus lay awake staring at the ceiling, he felt dread come and go in waves, he was sure that Severus would now prevent him any access to Harry outside lessons. He didn't know if he could cope with that. Tomorrow he thought, I'll go see Harry tomorrow. He rolled over and tried to sleep, now he had a plan of action it was easier.

Harry bucked against the restraints; the silencing spell Fred had used prevented him from talking but didn't mask the sounds of his body slamming against the mattress repeatedly.

"Think we should free him?" George said,

"He'd do something stupid again if we did" Fred was leaning against the wall sitting on the bed watching in horror as Harry flinched and wrestled with an unknown enemy

"He's going to hurt himself if we don't" Ron was very pale, from his vantage he could see the blood trickling from Harry's wrist where the bindings were cutting in. it looked like some macabre puppet, he was so thin, coupled with the tubes which disappeared into his nose and the ropes, he looked like an asylum patient. Ron couldn't take it anymore he walked over to the cot Harry was on and put a hand on his chest, Harry woke immediately and looked at him.

"You were dreaming again mate" Harry nodded his thanks to Ron, and turned away. Ron went over to his own bed and tried to get back to sleep. He failed miserably.

Next morning breakfast at the Weasley's was a quiet affair, the sat and eat in virtual silence. Hermione after having several attempts at conversation rebuked roll her eyes

"What is up with you lot? You're acting like he died, and yes I know it was close but it's been close before and he didn't you shouldn't be moping around, you should be relieved" she glared around the table, Molly go up to clear the breakfast things away

"You're absolutely right, come on, lets get cracking there are still things to do" The rest of the Weasley's got up and started to go about the days activity. It was a little after 9 when the first person flooed in. Remus smiled at Hermione and Ron

"Hello you two how are you"

"We're good. How are you?"

"Fine, is Harry up?"

"I should think so" Ron snorted "I'm not sure he ever sleeps properly these days." Remus nodded and headed for the stairs.

"That's a bit odd don't you think?" Hermione was staring at where Lupin had been Ron rolled his eyes

"What's odd?"

"He chose to use floo powder then apparate" Ron shrugged

"So?"

"So if you could apparate under normal conditions why would you use floo powder" She said exasperated, Ron thought about this

"Err I don't know" Hermione rolled her eyes

"Maybe because you were someone where you couldn't apparate from?" Ron nodded then his eyes went wide

"Like Hogwarts" Hermione sighed, that was painful,

"Yes like Hogwarts"

"I wonder what he was doing there" Hermione shook her head and wandered into the garden, Ron could be amazingly thick sometimes.

Remus knocked on the door, and entered, Harry looked worse then he had done the other day, the tubes didn't help but it was his eyes that really troubled Lupin, when he looked at you it was as though he had died inside already and was just waiting for his body to catch up.

"Hello Harry" he said quietly, sitting on the edge of the bed, he took hold of his hand, was like ice. Harry tried to pull away from him,

"It's ok Harry I told you I won't hurt you." Harry stopped moving, but Remus could still feel the tension in him. He reached up and stroked his hair, he moved every time Harry did to keep contact and eventually Harry gave in. Remus smiled, he looked so tired now, more so then he had even last year.

"Harry, I know I've said this before but you mustn't believe a word your uncle said ok? You have done nothing wrong, and maybe if we tell you that enough you will believe it" Remus looked at the boy, Lily's eyes stared out at him under James's hair, he could smell both of them on him, it was intoxicating. He leant forward and brushed a kiss across his cheek, Harry whimpered and moved away. Remus caught himself

"What the hell am I doing" he whispered Harry was now panicked and trying to break free. Remus held him still Harry it's ok I'm sorry, I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you" Remus let go of the boy and he started to settle again, Lupin looked at him,

"I am so sorry it was not my intention to frighten you. You're like a son to me. Will you forgive me please?" Harry so the sincerity in his eyes, he wondered why Remus had just done that but if it wasn't to hurt him then he could forgive. Harry nodded slowly, Remus sighed in relief

"Thank you Harry. I want to stay with you a while do you mind?" Harry shook his head, he seemed to spend so much time alone company, even if not entirely comfortable was welcomed.

It was lunchtime when the next unusual visitor turned up at the Borrow, Snape appeared holding a goblet in one hand and a cauldron in the other. Molly turned to him

"What in the name of Merlin is that" She said indicating to the vessels

"Dreamless sleep potion, I head Harry might be able to use some, but by the sounds of it he isn't the only one" he said glaring at her, Molly shrugged

"Sorry, I'm not used to people arriving with potions" Snape settled them on the side and shrugged

"Just see that he gets it before bed. I think even in his current state he will consent to drink it" Molly nodded.

"Do you want to go say hello?" She asked quietly, Snape turned back from the fire; he had been about to leave. He sighed, turned back and offered Molly a curt nod before heading up the stairs. Snape didn't bother to knock he just entered the bedroom, what he saw made him stop dead in his tracks, Lupin had fallen asleep on Harry, his head on Harry's waste, but Snape had to do a double take, what he saw the first time was a professor with his head in the lap of a boy.  Snape growled and Lupin woke up just in time to see Snape before he was dragged up.

"I think I warned you about touching him" he said dangerously quietly Remus mustered all his strength and glowered back at him

"You did, but I'm not you pet Severus I don't do as you say" Severus glanced at Harry, he was awake and wide eyed, Severus pulled his temper back in before he said something he regretted

"We will be having words later" he spat before shoving the werewolf away. Lupin left the room, leaving Snape alone with Harry. Severus regained his control before sitting down next to the boy. Harry was once again trying to free himself of the bonds, he was a bit more subtle, but Severus still notice

"We must stop meeting like this Potter you chained to a bed with a man on you" he regretted the harsh tone immediately; Harry winced as the comment found its target. Severus changed tacks; he put his hand on Harry's wrist to stop Harry from making the rope burn worse, Harry's hand was still cold, Severus placed a hand on his head, it wasn't just his hands that were freezing. Severus went to the other bed and took the cover; he carefully laid it over Harry. The boy looked at him and nodded his thanks.

"You seem to be having a rough time here Harry" he said more gently. Harry shrugged, he hadn't really thought about. Severus concentrated on Harry's eyes, they were the same as Lily's, his lovely Lily, he had her nose too and her mouth. But the face shape and hair was most definitely James's. Harry hadn't moved or made a sound as Severus stared at him, Severus lost himself in those eyes, Lily's eyes he lift his hand gentle brushed it across Harry's face, Harry moved from the touch, Severus snapped back to the present.

"Harry I…" he stopped "I will explain later, but I have to go now. The others have already asked so I doubt it will make any difference if I do but please eat, that contraption is ghastly". He turned and left his robe bellowing behind him. What was all that about I wonder? Harry thought, he cared for a good two seconds.

Downstairs the family were eating; Severus nodded on his way past, and then as an after thought looked at Molly

"I activated the location charms for tonight, you seemed to have you hands full" Molly nodded, and then he was gone. The night drew in and Molly went upstairs with the twins for support, she hated seeing Harry like that but it was better to have this then have him dead. She entered the room; Harry was staring out of the window. She took the goblet and knelt beside him, Harry looked at it and then at her.

"It's a potion for dreamless sleep; you had it before do you remember?" Harry nodded, and when she raised it to his lips, he did drink it down.

"Good boy she whispered," but Harry was already falling asleep, the potion worked faster because he hasn't eaten she thought. She looked at the twins and bid them goodnight. Hopefully tonight they will all get some rest. The rest of the house went to bed in drifts and drabs but by midnight all in the house was asleep. So when the fire place sprung to life at 4, no one was around to witness it. The figure stepped out masked in black, the hood of his cape up over his head. He walked slowly as though not to make any noise, he had been in this house a couple of times before and was used to stalking through unfamiliar houses at night. He climbed the staircase and turned the door handle, it didn't creek, nor did the hinges, instead of relief he found that this was terrifyingly easy he walked over to the bed of his quarry. He pointed his wand at the sleeping bound wizard's chest and barely above a whisper had he said

"Immobilis" Harry's eyes opened in shock but that was all the movement he had. This is it he thought I am actually going to die he couldn't help at wonder at the irony, he had survived Voldemort's countless attacks and was going to die strapped to a bed in a house that should be safe. It goes to show nothing is ever truly safe. He waited the finally blow, but the wand was moved off him. To his surprise it was aimed at the ropes

"Finite Incantatem" the ropes disappeared. The figure bent down and scooped Harry up only grabbing the nutrient bag attached to him as an afterthought. The figure turned sharply and left the room as quietly as he'd arrived carrying Harry in front of him. He returned downstairs and then apparated away, no alarm sounded, no one woke, the boy-who-lived was taken without a fuss.