A/N: Do not own. This chapter was a difficult one to write. I cut it off where I did because otherwise it would have been around 10k words. 10k is just too much information all at once. Besides, I decided that Teddy's birthday deserved its own chapter, although I cannot promise the whole chapter will be happy. Just as this chapter is not entirely happy. This chapter may seem random, and perhaps it was, but it just struck me and needed to be written. It does involve a rapist...but as always, there is nothing graphic here and it is past, not current, rape. Just bear with me here. I promise it is a good chapter. AND you get to learn much more about Bain and Karrie! Enjoy. X's are scene breaks, italics are usually thoughts. As always, use your words.
~Case

-x-

"Teddy, a moment please." Charlie called out, causing the brown-haired boy and his black-haired friend to turn toward him. It was a few minutes to the start of breakfast and Phil was already leading the rest of their group down to the Great Hall. It was two days after their argument, nearing the end of the first week of camp. Teddy's potions would arrive with his breakfast and they had checked his sugar first thing this morning. This was about something different, a conversation that would hopefully go well. "It's alright, Harry. I just want a quick word with Teddy. Go on with Karrie, please. We will be down in a minute." He added quietly, smiling reassuringly at the boy. The three children were almost inseparable now, although Karrie was getting along better with her bunk mates now. He was sure the boys had something to do with it.

"Go ahead, Harry. I'll be alright." Teddy murmured, glancing at his friend. Harry merely nodded, giving him one last worried glance before trotting off to catch up with Karrie and her group. "What'd I do?" He asked, turning brown eyes back to Charlie. He couldn't remember doing anything, but he was sure something was wrong. Although, Charlie was smiling at him and his eyes were soft, not like he was disappointed or displeased at all.

Charlie sighed, shaking his head softly. Of course the child would automatically assume he did something wrong. He could tell that the child had barely slept last night and he wasn't sure if the boy would sleep well tonight, either. He wasn't sure if it was anxiety or excitement though. For tomorrow was Teddy's birthday. "You did nothing wrong, Teddy. I just wanted to talk to you about tomorrow." He replied finally, frowning when the child tensed.

"What about?"

"Your birthday, Teddy. We will be having a birthday dinner for you, as we did for Lacey on Tuesday. We would also like to throw a small party for you afterwards, for you and your friends. It is up to you, of course, but I was wondering if you wanted to invite any friends from outside of camp?" He explained quietly, crouching next to the younger boy. They had thrown a similar party for Lacey, who had turned sixteen, with her closest friends. It was the Headmistress' idea and as Teddy's counselor, his responsibility to find out who to tell Alexis to invite. If the child wanted to invite anyone. For there was a bit of terror there, hidden in the depths of those brown eyes.

He stared at the blond for a moment, blinking rapidly. A party? He had never had a party on his birthday before, usually his friends just sent him letters and cards. His father had been against parties, but sometimes the Malfoys managed to get him for the day, to take him, Blaise, and Draco to a nice dinner. He wasn't sure if he wanted a birthday party; he hated his birthday. But perhaps this year would be different. He did know who he would want to invite, though. But he wasn't sure if he wanted them knowing what happened. They did all know he was at Hogwarts, though. So it couldn't hurt. Teddy sighed, fighting to sort the mess of thoughts in his head. "I...can Draco come? And Blaise and Neville? And Millie and Daphne?" He asked finally, naming the current group staying with the Malfoys. His friends.

"Of course. I will let the Headmistress know." Charlie smiled, keeping the concern off his face. The child's mask was still up, much as his own was, but there was something there. Teddy did not seem happy for his birthday at all, which was a bit unusual.

"Harry and Karrie have to come too." Teddy stated quietly. He would not have a party at all without them.

"Ah, but I already figured that. You can tell them at breakfast, which we are late for." Charlie teased lightly, causing the mousey boy to smile for a brief second before he started trotting off. "Wait for me, Teddy!" He shook his head, following at a slower pace. He would tell the Headmistress of the boy's choices after breakfast; hopefully the present he owl-ordered would arrive today.

-x-

"Remus?"

"Yes Harry?" Remus looked up from the stack of papers he was going through, the supply and book lists that needed to be sent out soon, to raise an eyebrow at the small boy. He had been lounging in their quarters to get some work done, as the staff room was hectic and he had agreed to help with afternoon activities. But it wasn't lunch yet and he hoped that the child had told someone where he was going.

Harry hesitated, worrying his lip between his teeth for a moment. He wasn't sure if Remus would want to go with him, and he was prepared to go alone but he didn't want to get in trouble. And Karrie wanted to come too. "Tomorrow is Teddy's birthday." He stated finally, eyes focused on the carpet. How he wished he still had his fringe!

He knew this already, of course. He was acting as a chaperone for the small party, as was Severus. He had a feeling Alexis would be there as well as the Malfoys. He was confused only for a moment as to why the child was telling him this with that downtrodden look. Like he would turn him away for something he asked. He wouldn't, even knowing that it meant he would have to continue his work later. He had to take a child gift-shopping, after all. "Would you like to get him something for his birthday, Harry?" Remus asked quietly, brown eyes soft.

"I..yes. But Karrie...can she come? She wants to get Teddy something too." Cautious green-eyes peered up at Remus, not quite meeting his eyes. Because although they kept requesting that he meet their eyes, he knew better. Uncle had drilled it into his head. Asking to go shopping for Teddy was pushing those limits hard. It made him almost...uncomfortable. Uneasy. Scared.

"Of course she can." Remus smiled, glancing at the timepiece. The children in Harry's group would be entering a different activity soon and he was pretty sure it was the period where Teddy met with Tim. He was quite proud to say that his ward was cunning and bright. "We could go now, if you like?" He questioned, putting his paperwork away.

"I don't want to interrupt your work, Remus. Sorry." Harry grimaced, turning his eyes back to the floor. He had forgotten that his guardians would be working. He knew Severus was in the lab with Bain, but he hadn't thought about taking Remus away from his work. That was bad of him.

"It is alright, child. It is nothing important and I did need a break from it." Remus forced back a sigh, standing slowly. "Why don't we find Karrie and I'll let your counselors know where you will be. Then we can head off to Hogsmeade." He remarked quietly, summoning his robes and a money pouch. He knew that neither child would have much money, but that was alright. He had enough here to give them each a bit for Teddy, especially as they had planned to give Harry a bit of money as an allowance anyway. The child merely nodded, grinning brilliantly for a moment, before darting out the door. "Slow down, Harry!" He called out, shaking his head slightly. One moment the child was so old and the next he was acting like an excited twelve-year-old. How he wished Harry could be twelve all the time.

-x-

Soft green eyes scanned the bookshelves, critically evaluating each novel. Karrie ran her fingers across the spines of the books, stopping every now and then. She had wanted to find the perfect book for Teddy, although with the five galleons that Remus had given each of them, perhaps she could get him more than one.

Harry sighed impatiently, shuffling slowly beside Karrie. He knew exactly what he wanted to get Teddy; they just needed to go down to the toy store. Hopefully Karrie would make a decision soon. Girls were so slow when it came to shopping. Ugh.

"Found it!" Karrie grinned briefly, picking up a large, leather-bound novel. There was another novel on the next shelf that also looked interesting. She glanced at the prices, doing a bit of quick math in her head before picking up the smaller book.

"The Complete Adventures of Sherlock Holmes? That's a good choice, Karrie." Remus commented quietly before glancing at the small green book. "Merlin, the Great"? He shook his head, biting down a smile. He had read that book once, when he was younger. It was merely glad that Karrie had found a gift without wondering into the backroom, where the child had actually wanted to go. Why a child would know of the grittier, darker books was beyond him. He led the children to the counter and then, finally, back outside. "Alright, where to Harry?"

"The toy shop." Harry grinned, sprinting toward the store.

"Walk, Harry!" Remus called, following at a slower pace with Karrie. That boy was going to be the death of him.

Harry frowned, surveying the racks and bins of toys closely. He knew exactly what he wanted to get Teddy. He just wasn't sure if this toy store had it. He wandered aimlessly for a moment, pass the dolls and games, stopping in front of the display of Quidditch figurines. He scanned them with an air of disinterest, turning to the shelve of small figurines beside it. Enchanted animals, Griffins, unicorns...Dragons! He searched through them carefully, finally finding a great white dragon. Picking it up, he tickled its stomach, giggling when it sprouted a ring of smoke. This was perfect for Teddy. He knew the other boy missed his dragons greatly; Teddy loved dragons and wanted to work with them one day. He turned to pay, backing up suddenly, eyes fixed on the man at the counter. He looked...creepy.

"Harry? Come on." Karrie whispered, slipping her hand into his. She watched the gray-haired scarred man out of the corner of her eyes, shuffling sideways toward where Remus was studying the back cover of a game.

"Ready, you two?" Remus asked, glancing up at the children. He frowned, noticing quickly their posture and smelling the fear that radiated off of both children. "What's wrong?" He added softly, crouching to their level.

Karrie grimaced, tilting her head slightly toward the man. She slid closer to the professor, clutching Harry's hand tighter. She knew that man from somewhere...but she couldn't remember where There was something about him that scared her though, like he could easily hurt her or Harry.

He stiffened, brown eyes scrutinizing the other man. The man smelled dangerous and familiar. The store owner didn't look happy having the man in his shop, either. He hadn't realized that the man had been released from prison, for there was no mistaking Dalius. He was actually surprised that he was alive, considering what he went to jail for. Kidnapping and raping children, even if they had been muggle children, they were still children and their society was against crimes toward any child, no matter their blood. Unfortunately, not all wizards followed that trend, as shown by the handful of pure-blooded children currently at the castle. He needed to get his children out of here, and soon. He did not like how that man was watching them and, although he could prevent the wolf inside from rising up, he would protect these children. With his life, if he had to. "Stay close to me." Remus murmured softly, straightening and turning to put himself between the man and his children. A small hand slipping into his caused him to look down at the preteen girl. She was white and shaking, her eyes looked haunted. He squeezed the small hand comfortingly, leading the two children to the part of the counter that was furthest from the convict. He put the game on the counter next to Harry's dragon, watching the man closely out of the corner of his eye.

"Such a pretty package you have there." The gray-haired thug snarled softly, eyes raking over the boy and girl. They did not look older than ten, if that. Perfect. If he could just get their keeper away...

Remus turned, eyes flashing to amber. "Touch them and I kill you." He growled dangerously, tightening his grasp on Karrie's hand. He dropped the requested number of galleons on the counter, shrinking and pocketing the toys before maneuvering the two children to the side furthest away from the man and ushering them out the door. The two children were still grasping each others hand and he still had hold of Karrie's, which helped them move faster. He hesitated for a brief second before leading the two into the Three Broomsticks. There was no way they would make it back to Hogwarts without that man following them and he did not want him to know where they were. Or that there were indeed children currently at Hogwarts. "Rosemerta, may we use your floo?" He questioned quietly, stopping briefly at the bar. At her nod, he moved toward the floo, crouching down once more. "We are going to floo back to Hogwarts. We will floo together so, Harry,I need you to take one of my hands, Karrie will hold the other." He murmured quietly, keeping one eye on the door.

Harry didn't hesitate, releasing Karrie's hand to take Remus'. He had not liked that man, he had been...scary. He was a bit frightened and he knew he would feel safer at Hogwarts. Plus, Karrie was still shaking badly. He didn't feel safe right now, or he wouldn't anyway, if Remus hadn't been with them, and he knew that she didn't either. He grabbed the floo powder at Remus' direction, tossing it into the fire as his guardian softly whispered their location to the fire before being pulled into it.

-x-

Remus caught both children as they stumbled, steadying Teddy for a moment before turning to Karrie. The child was still deadly pale and shaking. She was also now...crying. Oh if he could go back to that man...but he could not. All he could do was comfort these two children.

"Remus? What happened?" Severus asked, frowning slightly, when he looked up from the table where he and Bain had been working. His eyes narrowed as he watched his partner, who had been crouching next to the children, suddenly lift the girl up on his hip, swaying slightly with her. He was more surprised, however, to see Karrie, a child who hated touch and was terrified of most men, cling to him like her life depended on it.

"Shh, child. You are safe now. You are both safe now." Remus whispered, rocking slightly with the too light child. The fact that she trusted him enough to touch her at all, to pick her up, spoke volumes. Her arms and legs were wrapped tightly around him, her body still trembling as tears soaked through his robes. She was twelve, yes, but he knew that she had also probably never had anyone hold her before; never knew what a gentle, loving touch was. Never knew what guardians were suppose to be. She wasn't his ward, yet, but she was a hurting child and she needed comfort. Much like the young boy beside him, who had wrapped his arms around his middle, his head buried into his chest. One child clinging to his neck and the other clinging to his side. If he could hold both at once, he would.

Severus hesitated for a moment, since he still did not know what had happened. But it must have been bad if it upset both of the children. He moved slowly, going to crouch near Harry. He beckoned the child and suddenly caught an armful of shaking preteen boy. Thankfully, the child had yet to hit his growth spurt, as he was easily able to lift the child up into his arms. Skinny legs wrapped around his waist as a head buried itself into his neck. "It's alright, Harry. You are safe now. You are home." He whispered softly, catching Remus' eyes briefly. He would be getting the story in detail later. He turned at the soft touch to his shoulder, nodding gratefully at the teenaged boy. Bain was his apprentice for a reason, the boy was quite smart. He took the calming draft that he offered, watching with one eye as Bain moved to give one to Remus as well. He held the vial to Harry's lips, helping the child drink. Within minutes the boy's grip loosen and the child was asleep in his arms. A glance at Remus showed that Karrie was now asleep as well.

"I conjured an extra bed in Harry's room." Bain murmured softly, taking the two empty vials and vanishing them. As worked up as the children had been, sleep was the best thing for them right now. That way they could calm down and they would feel better, safer.

"Thank you, Bain." Severus replied softly, careful not to jostle his light child. He carried the boy into his room, nodding when the Bain moved the covers back for him before moving to do the same for Remus. He tucked his Harry into bed, smoothing a hand over the child's hair. His child was upset and it upset him. He didn't know what was wrong, just that his child had been scared and his partner angry. It did not make him happy, that a simple trip into town would end in two children under a drugged sleep.

Remus tucked Karrie into the spare bed, setting a charm in the room to let them know if either child woke up. He moved back to their sitting room, taking a deep breath to calm himself. Bain handed him a potion and he downed it without question. The boy was not a potions master yet, nor a healer, but he knew the child would not poison him and he was learning from the best.

"What happened?"

"There was this man in the toy store...both children were terrified of him." Remus muttered, running a hand across his face. He felt calmer now, his heart slowing back to normal. What he would give for a Fire-whiskey!

Severus frowned, narrowing his eyes. There was something that Remus wasn't saying, he knew that. It was much more than just a strange man, to scare both children. To make them wary, sure, but to terrify them to the point of tears? He glanced toward Bain, who had settled back down at the table with his assignment, before turning back to survey his partner. He knew the teenager was listening but that really wasn't a problem just yet. "Tell me. Please?"

"He was leering at them, Severus! He wanted them! He kept staring at our children like they were meat. What was worse, Karrie seemed to recognize him. I'm not sure if it was from the papers or something else, but the child was so upset by him.." Remus took a deep breath, forcing his emotions down. He wanted to tear that man limb for limb, no one would harm his children. He would tell Severus about threatening the man later; that was not something Bain needed to hear.

He bit back a growl, pacing the room. He did not like the implications of Karrie knowing this man, nor of this creep wanting his kids. He had not missed Remus calling them their children after all. He was quite alright with that, actually. Karrie needed positive male figures in her life, as well as a place to call hope. Just as Harry did. It was something to speak on later, however. This issue at hand was a bit more important, especially if there was a pedophile near Hogwarts. "Did you recognize him?" He asked softly, dangerously.

"If I am not mistaken, it was Dalius. How he is out of prison, I do not know." Remus sighed, shaking his head slightly. The man shouldn't be out of prison at all, but then he had gone to a muggle jail for some reason. Perhaps they had found it fit to release him? The soft gasp from the kitchen drew his attention. He glanced at the teenager and froze. The young man had gone white, eyes wide.

Severus cursed silently, turning to his apprentice. He knew that Bain had been severely abused, even if the boy's brilliance often overshadowed the abuse, making it seem irrelevant. It was only in moments like this, only when he could see the pain so clearly written in those eyes, that Bain seemed like the child he was. A survivor, rescued from the clutches of his muggle father, who had beaten him and locked him in a basement, and left with an uncertain future. He was magically an adult, but he could not complete any legal transaction in the Magical or Muggle worlds until he was eighteen. Without Lucius sponsoring his apprenticeship, one that he hoped to continue with the boy well after the summer was over, and Alexis taking over his guardianship, the child would be on the streets or in one of the few foster homes that accepted boys his age. Although the Ravenclaw wore a mask, he could not hide the emotion in those light blue eyes. "Bain?" He questioned softly, moving to the teenager. They have had discussions about his past before, because Bain was his apprentice and he would mentor the boy as a master should. He could not teach the boy the dangerous art of brewing if he was distracted by the demons in his mind. But getting the teen to open up to him, or anyone for that matter, was not easy.

The red-head to a deep breath, forcing his mind to calm. He did remember the basics of meditation, which Severus had taught to him when he was fifteen and losing his temper often. It was perhaps the only detentions where he had to fight to keep the Professor from finding out anything about his home life. Because Severus had wanted him to talk about what made him so angry. But he wouldn't, not then. And now, even though he trusted Severus completely, he was terrified. Because why would the man, or the Headmistress, care about him? Especially if they knew the truth. He sighed, pushing those thoughts down. He knew that both Severus, his Potions Master and mentor, and Alexis, his guardian, cared about him. Both had invited him into their lives with open arms. But would they really still want him around, if they knew? Tim would say he was doubting himself, falling into the thought patterns his abusers had taught him. He would probably be right, but it mattered not to him. "Sorry sir, was reading side effects of this herb."Bain lied softly, looking away from his mentor. Hopefully the man would believe him and let it go.

Severus arched a brow, glancing at the blank worksheet in front of the young man. He had just began it; it was a pitiful lie but a lie all the same. "Which herb?" He asked silkily, glancing at Remus. The slightly older man had leaned forward, studying Bain with worried eyes. A simple name should not produce a reaction of fear and pain from the young man, not if the boy didn't know the convict.

"Valerian." He answered instantly and then mentally smacked himself. He had studied Valerian yesterday, to see if it would work as a substitute in this potion. It would not, which was why he was once more back to the damn worksheet, trying to replace one ingredient with another, something he would have to do if he ever attempted his mastery. He cringed, waiting for a blow that would never come. His father would have hit him for lying and then hit him again for getting caught. But he was not with his father. He was with Severus and Remus, who had taken him under their wing and offered him knowledge and understanding. He flinched when a hand landed on his shoulder, but calmed quickly.

"Steady, Bain." Severus stated softly. He squeezed the younger man's shoulder, crouching so that he was on eye level with the seated teenager. "You are safe here. You can tell us whatever is worrying you. We are here for you child, we will not judge you for your past nor hold it against you. I've told you that before. " He coaxed gently.

He relaxed a bit, leaning into the comforting hand. He knew Severus would not harm him, no matter what he told him. That man...it was a name he remembered, from long ago. He had been ten and it was not something he wished to remember. He had blocked the memory, locked it in. But he was here, he was safe. Severus, and Remus by extension, would not let anything happen to him. Or Alexis would have their heads; he had heard her threats to Severus after all, involving him and experimental potions. "I knew him...once." He whispered finally, staring at his hands. The man had been in jail for five years, he had felt quite relived when he had found that out. It had been all over the muggle newspapers. He had been sentenced on six counts of kidnapping and three counts of rape...the man should still be in jail. But he was a wizard...in a muggle prison. He had probably found a way out, which did not make him feel well at all. Even if the man was on parole, it was not...right. He shouldn't be on parole so soon.

"How?"

The quiet question shook him from his thoughts, forcing him to focus on Severus once more. He didn't really want to answer and he knew Severus would accept that, but somehow he felt it was important that he did. They just didn't need to know the details. "He took me when I was ten, beat me into submission and then left me wandering in a park when he was finished with me." Bain shrugged, forcing to keep his voice level, his face expressionless.

Severus growled under his breath, fighting his urge to break something. Remus would not be happy if he destroyed their sitting room. Again. He could have guessed, to be honest, from the pain in the boy's eyes and knowing Dalius' crimes. How many more children had the man abused before getting caught? Before someone finally broke the silence? He understood the fear of speaking up quite well, he knew that abusers often threatened the children to make them too scared to tell. But the silence needed to be broken. Children needed to know that it was alright to tell someone, that there was someone out there who actually cared about what happened to them. That was what Bain and Karrie, Teddy and Harry, all needed to hear. That someone cared for them. That it wasn't their fault. Because he knew exactly what Bain wasn't saying, that the man had raped him. And he knew why Bain hadn't spoken up. Who would believe him if he had? His abusive father? His submissive mother? By the time he had come to Hogwarts, the child had been so used to being silent that he didn't know how to tell a teacher about it. He didn't know he could. It wasn't until the boy was older that they had finally managed to get him to say anything and that was only because his anger was so out of control. "It was not your fault, Bain. You are safe now. He will never hurt you again." Severus replied finally, gently squeezing the boy's shoulder once more. That vile being would never hurt any child again if he had something to say about it.

The young man merely nodded, looking away. He knew this. Deep down. But that didn't mean he had to believe it. He knew he was dirty, used. Or he used to be, anyway. He was alright now. Safe. Cared for. Or at least that was what he kept telling himself.

Severus hesitated, before straightening slowly. He held a hand out to Bain, pulling the boy to his feet and into his arms when he trustingly took his hand. He felt the young man stiffen briefly but he quickly relaxed, wrapping lanky arms, that he had finally grown into around, around him in return; a young head burrowing into his shoulder. He was not a cold man; he knew when a child needed comfort and by Merlin he would comfort this child.

Bain finally, after a few minutes of the comforting hug, pulled back, swiping at his eyes. He was not crying, his eyes were just leaking slightly. He gave Severus a quick smile of thanks because now he felt much better, safer. He was also hoping the man forgot his bit of deceit. But alas, if wishes were pie..

"Now, boy. Lines." Severus smirked, waving his hand at the table. A roll of parchment and a pen appeared. The child was muggleborn; his skills with a quill made his eyes burn and his head throb. Although he was teaching the boy to write better with one, he knew quite well that most European wizards used a certain type of pen or pencil. He often used a pen for taking quick notes and a pencil for corrections or changes to a potion recipe. The young man knew better than to lie to him, even if he had been trying to avoid a difficult topic.

Bain rolled his eyes, glancing at the parchment. "I will not lie to Master Severus." A hundred times? The man must be feeling lenient. His hands were going to be stained with ink before the summer was over. He had spent most of yesterday evening, after the boys had gone to bed, writing his assigned "I will not touch stinging nettles or squeeze nightshade berries with my bare hands" three hundred times. Although, that was much better than the threat the man had made, a promise really, that if he ever tried to brew an experimental potion or a mastery level potion by himself, that Severus would spank him. He didn't doubt the man either. He already had felt that man's stinging charm when he had ignored his own safety for the sake of a potion. Adults were so...weird about being safe. It was a bit confusing, but he had decided that it merely meant they cared and that was a good thing, he supposed. After all, why would they take the time to explain their reasons and lovingly discipline him if they didn't care?

-x-