Alia: Before you do anything read the warnings. They've been updated a bit and probably just for this chapter (I can't go through this again). I would like to say (before anyone even thinks it) that I had this idea almost as soon as I finished Raven's Gift and decided to do a sequel so there was no idea snatching goin' on. I have witnesses to testify on that. Let's just hope this doesn't get me kicked off Thanks: My Queen of the Damned Soundtrack and 'The Joy Luck Club'.

Reviews
Mattisune: I try not to screw up my work too much. I've been doing this too long to really do so although I ask that you not read that last installment of WDCA. Yeah. Thanks. I caught the eye mistake...but it just seemed so much better at that moment to have black and red then blue and red. I got you into Severus! That just made my year. Thank you! No...just this chapter...for Julian. Thanks.
Kyer: You don't like those kinds of stories. I got bad news cause that's mostly what I write. Kyer, they do and they don't...don't worry, you'll see. You'll love it I promise. I think I got ya. Thanks.
aikidobrat: Yes, Bell, I know the last chapter was evil...this is worse. By the way, I do need your help. BADLY. I had an idea for Second Chances and you need to talk me out of it. FAST. Contact me as soon as you can. I'll be in my room most of this week. Finals.
abraxis: It won't kill you...but it'll probably make you want to kill me. And check back to when Julian comes to Hogwarts. Remus is fine, mostly.
Audrey: Oh Audrey...god I can't say anything or I'll give it all away. (sighs) I have them already but if you would take a couple of my plotbunnies it would be appreciated. And just take your time. You'll be writing like a maniac any time now.
Marie, arnyekmester, Sarahamanda, Kalystia, ladyoficyblueyes: Thanks for reviewing you guys. It means a lot. And yes I am evil.

TITLE: Second Chances -Because of Answers 3

AUTHOR: Alia

STATUS/PART: 6

SEQUEL: Raven's Gift

RATING: R (just a heavy R)

PAIRING: Severus Snape/ Harry Potter

SPOILERS: All the books

WARNINGS: rape (not explicit), language, angst, violence, slash, hints to mpreg

DISCLAIMER: I do not in anyway or fashion own HP or anything else. I'm making no money from this.

SUMMARY: The characters of HP and Raven's Gift learn that some things won't stay buried.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: This is 'Because of Answers' 3 because there are three chapters of answering what happened to Julian, Severus, and what Julian was able to tell Albus and Harry. This is the THIRD and LAST installation of Answers. I have stuck up more warnings on this chapter. Please read them.

Second Chances- Because of Answers 3

(Last time)

A cough made their attention snap to the open cell door. All four men still stood there. Malfoy stepped forward.

Severus and Julian scrambled to their feet and Raven pushed his son behind him despite the boy's silent protests.

Draco raised an eyebrow with an arrogance that screamed 'I'm an arrogant Malfoy bastard.' "Mr. Esan, I'd hate to disturb this..." He seemed to look at Raven's protection of his son with disgust, "reunion. But I believe that you and I have some business to attend to."

Raven's heart could have stopped. / Oh no.../ "What 'business'?"

Draco gave a slow, frightening smirk.

Malfoy took another step forward as Raven pushed his son backward into a corner, remaining before the boy at all times. "I believe that my Lord bid me to show you 'hospitality'. Like him, I would like to believe myself to be your host." He stretched his arms open before him. "What type of host would I be if I didn't do what I could to provide 'comfort'?"

The emphasis on the word had no trouble making Severus's chest tighten with fear. He could feel Julian trembling slightly behind him. The thirteen year old's hands were buried in his father's robes. Julian was too intelligent not to realize exactly what was going on.

Draco smiled seeing Raven's understanding. "Now lets see. What's first?"

Julian felt his father tense, preparing for whatever the blond man was going to do. He closed his eyes and leaned against his father, trying not to be so afraid. Julian had never been in a situation like this before. He didn't know what to do except try to stay calm. And he knew he wasn't doing a very good job of it. He was trembling, frightened.

He shifted to look around his father's body. They were inside of a small cell. Not very big. There was a thick wooden door that they had come through. A small window was at the top, providing a weak amount of light. A long cot sat along the right wall, across from where Julian and his father stood. It fit rather snugly, showing just how small the cell was. The wall behind Julian felt slight damp but it was the slight chill that made it cool to the touch.

His brown eyes turned to three men standing before him and his father. The blond man was frightening. Julian knew that he and his father were going to be hurt. He didn't know how soon until it was too late.

The 13 year old barely had time to gasp as his father was ripped away from him and Julian was tossed to the floor of the cell a few feet from the door.

The first scream that was ripped from the boy as a boot connected with his ribs. Julian was thrown to the side by the force of the kick. Gasping at the pain, the boy looked up and caught the sight of the two Death Eaters advancing on him. Before they descended on him, Julian managed to catch a glance at his father who was magically bond against the wall unable to move.

"JULIAN!"

Raven struggled with all his might, trying to get loose and to his son. His sight of the boy was almost totally blocked by the black robes of the Death Eaters. Unfortunately, he could hear everything. From the thud of fists and kicks raining down on his son, to the boy's screams and cries of pain.

Draco Malfoy laughed at him as he continued to keep Raven bound against the wall. "Calm yourself, Mr. Esan. There's no reason to become wild?"

The bound man screamed at him. "You bastard, he's a child!"

"Really? I thought he'd just turned thirteen?" Malfoy replied mockingly.

"Leave him alone!"

Malfoy looked at the struggling father for a long haunting moment. He raised a hand and brushed a few tendrils of Raven's hair to the side causing the potions master to pause in his struggling horrified. Malfoy smirked.

Turning his head slightly over his shoulder, he yelled, "Enough!"

The Death Eaters stopped automatically and moved to stand before the door of the small cell with silence. For a moment all that was heard in the room was Julian's sobs.

Draco watched the man that was watching his son closely. There was little blood on the boy but the bruises were tremendous. /Not bad/ thought Malfoy as he glanced at the guards. Taking a few steps back and toward the other Death Eaters, he released Esan from the wall.

The moment Severus felt the pressure against his body released, he found himself rushing to his son's side. He didn't move the boy for fear of what damage the Death Eaters had done to him. Instead he lay his hands on his son, his left on the boy's shoulder and his right on top of Julian's head.

Julian lay on the floor trying with all his might to stifle his sobs. He'd been hurt before of course. He'd gotten into his share of fights back home and had his share of falls. But no one had ever harmed him with such malicious intent before. No one. Only one dark thought went through Julian's mind. /I'll get you for this! I'll get you for this/

"Julian?" whispered Severus as he ran his left hand across his son, finding numerous bruises and a swollen ankle. Julian turned his bruised face to his father, tears slowly drying up although the boy was obviously still in pain. Raven leaned down and pressed a light kiss to Julian's forehead whispering that he was sorry. He was sorry he couldn't protect his son.

"This is rather touching, you know?" Raven turned around, blue eyes blazing with anger and hatred at the blond man behind him.

"You bastard! He's a defenseless child!"

Draco scowled. "That defenseless child," he snapped, putting emphasis on 'defenseless', "harmed my men."

"Had they not been so incompetent then perhaps-," He was cut off as Malfoy rushed forward prepared to strike. Severus immediately bent over his son's body. Prepared to take any abuse Malfoy was ready to throw at him as long as Julian was a bit safer. However, the blow he expected never came.

Malfoy took a step back after seeing the action. Raven turned his upper body slowly to see why he wasn't being beaten within an inch of his life. Draco was just staring at them. At Raven to be precise.

"You're so protective of that stupid little boy, aren't you?"

Raven didn't reply. He merely continued to hover over his son's body, fearing what was going to come next. Julian was still beneath his father's body tense with fear. The boy knew his father was about to be hurt. There was just something in the blond's voice.

Malfoy crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. "Very protective indeed. I wonder how far you would go to keep him from harm."

Severus stiffened. He didn't dare move, not when he couldn't identify the look in Malfoy's cold eyes.

Draco smiled coldly at the pair before him. "Yes...I believe we should find out."

"Stand up, Esan." Malfoy commanded.

Raven was hesitant to do so, not liking the idea of leaving his son without any protection, but he did indeed stand, placing his body between Draco and Julian. However, he still felt uncomfortable with the Death Eaters behind them.

Malfoy continued to smile. "You know Mr. Esan, I always believed myself to be quite an agreeable and fair man," Raven snorted at that, "so I've decided to offer you a deal."

Severus narrowed his eyes at Malfoy. "What kind of deal?"

Draco laughed for a short moment. "Oh it's quite simple really. You give me something, in exchange for your son's safety from my men," he pointed over his shoulder at the two Death Eaters, "and I."

Raven was silent for a moment before saying, "What makes me believe that you would keep to any deal you offered me?" He didn't believe that Malfoy would leave his son alone for a moment.

"A wizarding oath. Neither my men or I will lay a violent hand on your son...for the rest of the day."

"You're mad! The DAY!" shouted Raven with complete outrage.

Malfoy raised an eyebrow at him and smirked. "Is that such a bad deal? I'm sure they would enjoy having another round now."

Severus lowered his eyes in defeat. "What do you want?"

Malfoy's smirk turned predatory. He came closer to Raven and looked deeply into the dark blue eyes. "You know, there were always problems between Potter and I." He took a few steps away from Esan and pointed to the center of the cell with his wand. Raven reluctantly moved forward.

Draco continued to talk. He started to slowly walk around Raven, unsettling the man. "It seemed that he was always the best at everything, that he always got everything that he wanted. Only the best for the Wizarding World's Golden Boy."

With his wand hand close to his side, Malfoy placed his other hand on Esan's shoulder causing Severus to jump slightly. "Tell me Esan is that why he got you? Did he want you," Draco leaned in and whispered into his ear, "Did he TAKE you, because you were the best?"

Raven felt sick to his stomach.

Draco ran his hand across Raven's shoulder and slowly down his arm. He nuzzled the back of Severus's neck causing the potions master to shiver in disgust. "I always felt that I deserved the best and I still do." He pulled away and came around to stand before Raven. "Let's see just how good you are, Esan. You give yourself to me, willingly, and I leave the boy alone."

/You sick asshole/ thought Severus as he stared at Malfoy in shock. "You want to..." he trailed off not knowing how to continue.

Malfoy nodded his head, smirk in place. "Yes." He proceeded to look Raven up and down.

Severus glanced behind himself at his son. Some time during his confrontation with Malfoy, Julian had gotten the strength to roll over and keep an eye on them. The bruise on his son's face was easy to catch despite the cell's poor lighting. Parental instincts called for him to do all that he could to protect his son. He couldn't stand Julian going through more pain. He dropped his eyes to the ground. However, before he could answer to Malfoy, the blond continued.

"Is it so hard to decide Esan? Then I'll make it easier for you. I want something that belongs to Potter and I'll get it one way or another. So if you do say no...I'll just have to find something else to entertain me."

Raven's head snapped up, eyes wide at the implication. "What?"

Malfoy glanced at the glowering child behind Raven. "I don't much have a preference for young boys but it may have to do." He said it so quietly that only Severus heard him, but the impact of his words could have knocked Raven to the ground.

/H-he'll rape Julian/ Severus's eyes darkened with hate as he glared at the man before him. "Don't you even think about-,"

"Then I suggest," Draco injected calmly, "that you make your decision."

Looking right into the cold gray eyes before him, Raven said, "On your oath...I'll do it."

Draco smiled almost sadistically. "Excellent. As for my oath, I, Draco Lucius Malfoy, swear that neither I nor my men will physically harm Julian Triton Esan for the day." Something in the air seemed to grow more potent for a moment before dissipating. "Now Raven, I may call you Raven yes? Now, I believe that we should start." He pointed toward the cot on the wall to Severus's left.

Raven frowned. He glanced at the cot then at his son. "And Julian?"

Draco shrugged. "Unfortunately, we would prefer to keep the two of you in the same cell."

Severus shook his head furiously as cold gray eyes laughed viciously at him. "You can't honestly expect me to...not with Julian here!" Raven honestly didn't think he could do such a thing. With Julian so close, in such a small cell...his son would hear, and possibly see, everything! He felt utterly helpless.

"I am sorry, Raven, but that is how things will have to be." Draco walked over to the cot and sat down, waiting for Raven to join him. He slowly began unbuttoning his robe.

Turning his head with fear and disgust, Raven's eyes caught his son's face. The boy looked totally horrified. He obviously knew what was about to happen. Brown eyes jumped back and forth between Raven and Malfoy wildly. Severus grimaced before he knelt down before his son. Glancing behind him, he could see that Malfoy was unbuttoning his shirt.

Raven turned back to Julian. Placing his hands on either side of the boy's face, Severus forced Julian to look into his own blue eyes. "Julian, listen to me," he whispered softly to his son. "Julian, I want you to turn around and face the wall." Despite Julian's confused look, he continued, "I want you to close your eyes and put your hands over your ears."

Julian's face went totally white as he heard Raven's instructions. His eyes widened before they suddenly slammed shut and a sob was ripped from Julian's throat. He wasn't stupid. Malfoy was about to rape his father.

"Now, Esan."

Hearing Malfoy's impatience, Raven forced his son to turn around and kneel in the corner near the door. "Remember what I said."

Julian nodded, quickly covering his ears and closing his eyes. He bit deeply into his lip to keep from vocalizing his crying.

Severus turned and walked toward Malfoy, who smiled darkly at him. "Let's get started."

Words were muffled at first. With Julian's hands over his ears, along a finger deep in each, and the fact that his father was silent and Malfoy was talking softly, Julian didn't hear much of what was happening...at first.

However, slowly, things began getting louder. A loud moan hear, a groan, either of pleasure or pain, here. Julian began shivering, trying to block any images that the sounds provoked. It worked for a while but things continued to get louder.

He could hear Malfoy's voice quite clearly now and no matter how hard Julian tried not to listen, tried to keep from hearing, he could.

"Merlin, yes! Take it you whore!"

Julian's shaking grew as choked sob was heard and Malfoy groaned loudly. A loud slapping noise could be heard throughout the cell followed by heavy breathing. Julian bit deeply into his lip, hiccuping in the back of his throat. He didn't want his father to hear him cry.

A loud scream, only partial cut off, startled Julian enough that his eyes shot opened. Unfortunately for the boy, his peripheral vision was enough that he could see his father's face. His head thrown back, Raven's entire face showed how much pain he was experiencing. His teeth bit his lip bloody as he tried not to make another sound. Julian could also see what caused his father so much pain. Malfoy was bitting deeply enough into his father's shoulder that Julian could see blood run freely down, the older man's shoulder and to the grimy sheets of the cot.

His father had turned his head toward the wall but Malfoy had glanced over and saw him. Draco grinned at Julian, mouth and teeth still bearing a bit of Raven's blood.

Julian closed his eyes again tightly. However, the damage was done.

Malfoy began to speak, "Don't be sad, Raven! There's no reason for you to feel ashamed. You're doing this for your son after all. All to protect your precious little boy. This isn't your fault at all."

Julian released a sob before he could help himself. He knew whose fault it was. It was his. /It's my fault. He wouldn't be hurting Papa if I wasn't here. I'm so sorry, Papa/

Malfoy continued to talk, growing louder before he stopped talking all together. Julian cried softly as the slapping noises grew louder and Malfoy's own noise even more so.

"Uh! Yes, AH YES!" The blond screamed behind Julian. Soon, everything went quiet. Julian pressed his head closer to the wall, just trying to get away from what had happened.

A few minutes later, Julian heard footsteps that went right past him. A few more could be heard outside the cell before things went quiet again.

"Julian? Julian are you alright?" A slight hoarse voice sounded from beside him along the wall. Lifting his head, Julian turned to see his father. He was dressed now, but the man's face was pale and his hair was in slight disarray. He sat more on his hip also but Julian was more upset at his father's eyes. Sadness and disgust were prominent.

Raven held out his arms and pulled Julian close. The thirteen year old buried his head into his father's chest then he froze. He could...he could smell him. He could smell Malfoy on his father. It was the only explanation for the completely foreign scent that covered his father's own. It made him ill but Julian only pulled himself closer to his father.

Raven rocked Julian back and forth in his arms until his son fell asleep. He lay his cheek upon his son's head as he held the boy close. He would have loved more than anything to press his lips against his child's soft hair for comfort but... Raven closed his eyes. /Rest, then I'll get you out of here./

It was some time before Julian woke back up. Weary brown eyes opened as he found himself on the floor of the cell. He was lying on his father's robes. Julian found himself grateful for that. There was no way he was lying on that cot. He grimaced at the slight wetness against his face. Julian lifted his head and placed a hand under it. Raising a hand, he saw a bit of red. /Blood./ A few tears fell before Julian calmed down.

He sat up slowly to see his father kneeling beside the wooden door of their cell.

"Papa?" His father raised a finger to his lips, telling Julian to be silent.

Raven pressed his ear to the door for another long minute. He grimaced then stood up and walked toward Julian. "I think I may have an idea." He sat beside the boy.

Julian's eyes brightened somewhat causing Raven's lips to turn up slightly. "An escape?"

Raven nodded although he said nothing about how many people were escaping. /We can't get out of the castle, so it's a good thing my spying paid off./ There had been times when emergencies required Severus be gone from a place immediately, so he'd learned how to created a portkey. It was dangerous to do a makeshift portkey all on your own but it had always worked for Severus before.

The problem was that if he used another's wand, he would only be able to make it strong enough to take one person. And not only that, but that person would only be placed near the location you needed them to go. Since Severus planned to send him to Hogwarts, where he knew Julian would be well protected, Julian could end up in Hogsmeade, nearby waters, or even the Forbidden Forest. /He'll just have to stay alert./ Raven thought. He nodded. Severus knew they had little time. From what the guards had said, Malphas would be down in about ten minutes.

"Julian, the guards are about to come in. I...Julian, I'm about to do some things that I wish you didn't have to be exposed to but we can't stay here."

Julian watched his father for a long minute. "You're going to hurt them?"

"I'm going to kill them."

Brown eyes widened. "You don't have a wand."

"I used to be a Death Eater, Julian," whispered Severus shamefully. He turned his eyes away.

Blinking at his father, Julian said, "Okay."

Raven's eyes snapped back to his son. Understanding was there. Complete understanding. That seemed to disturb Severus slightly but he only embraced his son before standing. He pulled the teen to his feet and frowned at Julian's limp.

"I'll be fine, Papa."

Severus nodded. "When they come in...I want you to turn to the wall again and stay as low as possible. Lay down on the floor if you must but stay down. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good. Don't turn around until I tell you to."

The door opened then and both Death Eaters entered. Both Esans could practically see them laughing behind their masks. The one on the left pointed at Esan then to the cot. Raven frowned but walked forward, giving Julian one last glance.

Julian closed his eyes and covered his ears. A yell was heard a minute later, then a sickening crunch. Harsh breathing for a moment before Severus called him. Julian turned to see his father standing before him, a wand in one hand and a shoe in the other. Raven began using the stolen wand, chanting while he moved the wand this way and that around the shoe. Julian took a moment to look to the side. He could see two bodies.

He froze in shock. Julian had known that his father would do it but...it was a rather strong shock to the system. His father had killed both men.

"So they are down here?"

Raven held the portkey. /Malphas./ It was too late for him to create a portkey for himself. He needed to get Julian out quickly. "Julian, this will activate the moment I give it to you. Be very careful, do you understand? You're going to Hogwarts," he continued quickly before the boy could object. "You won't end up too close to the school so be prepared for anything when you land in your location."

"Where are they! ESAN!" Malphas was closer. It also seemed as if he noticed a couple of his guards were missing.

"Papa, what about you!" cried Julian. He couldn't possibly leave his father!

"Damn, you Julian! Listen to me. I will find a way but for now you must go!"

"NO!" shouted an enraged Malphas from behind him just as Severus forced the portkey into his son's hands.

Julian disappeared.

TBC

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