This is a rewrite of my story Lean On Me, and it's sequels. I have yet to decide if I want to leave them up or take them down, but figured once I have this written, I'll know. I was irritated when I went and read my story again. So many mistakes, and inconsistencies, that need to be rectified (if you catch something that needs to be fixed in the current one, please let me know so I can fix them. It doesn't have to be a review a PMwill work as well). I hope all of you enjoy my rewrite of my Strength series. Unfortunately this means Staying Strong will be discontinued as it is.

Trigger Warning: Mentions of RAPE and CHILD ABUSE and HOMOSEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS. If you cannot read this because of that, I understand. Thank you for clicking on this. I'm sorry that I couldn't fit it in with the summary.

As always, I do not own Harry Potter. If I did, nothing would be as it is. At least, not relationship wise.

Enjoy!

Chapter Two
Friends New and Old

Harry blinked lethargically as he awoke. He could hear laughter from other kids that were worse than others when it came to their Black Quill wounds, and soft chatter. One voice stood out to him, and he couldn't place why. A soft laugh and voice made him hold his breath in hope.

"You gonna open your eyes sweetheart?" Green eyes opened slowly to meet the blue eyes he'd missed so much.

"Ma..." She chuckled again, reaching out to touch his cheek. His eyes widened as he flinched away. The woman froze, hand hovering before falling back to her lap. As it did, and Harry's mind left it's panicked state, he remembered why she would be at Hogwarts. "Harvey!"

"Easy harry, he's fine. Look, he's right their asleep." Claire assured, motioning to the bed to Harry's left, where she was standing between them. Harry relaxed slightly, laying back down.

"I'm sorry, ma." Harry whispered, eyes sad. The woman shook her head.

"Nothin' to apologize for." A croaky voice interrupted before she could say the same. Harvey's sea like eyes stared at Harry. "Are you okay? You look like hell." Harry's lip trembled.

"I thought you hated me."

"What? Why would you-"

"You never replied to my letters after my Second Year. The house was sold by the bank in a foreclosure. I had nowhere to go anymore." Claire flinched, closing her eyes tightly.

"It was my fault, Harry. My hospital bills ate up my money, and then my parents died. I was tryin' to save up to come back to England to get you." Claire admitted. Harry slowly sat up, looking her in the eye for the first time since he awoke. The woman gave a wobbling smile. "You're so handsome now."

"Ma, I-" Claire shook her head, glancing pass his curtain.

"Your professor is bringin' a couple to meet you. They may become you're new guardians if you want."

"Why can't you-"

"Harry." The boy blinked, looking up at the sad woman. That's when he noticed the dark rings around her eyes, and how her hair looked strange. "I'm dyin' harry. The cancer is terminal. Not even the wizardin' world can heal me." Harry shook his head, denial clear on his face.

"What about Fawkes? Phoenix tears can heal anything-"

"Only if they feel a connection to the person." Claire smiled at the kind child before her. "You always were too kind. Always worryin' 'bout other people, instead of yourself."

"What about Harvey? What will happen to him?"

"When ma dies, I'm gonna be livin' with Nathan Bishop. My mate."

"Mate?" Harry cocked his head in confusion. "As in friend, or-"

"As in the person I will marry and have babies with." Harvey grinned happily. Harry gaped at him, eyes wide. "Are you okay, Harry?"

"F-fine." Harvey narrowed his hissing as he sat up. "What are you doing? Lay back down!" Claire watched her son closely, but didn't stop him from standing and moving to sit beside Harry on the smaller boy's bed. Her son was panting with exertion but made it.

"You wanna try that again?" Harry lowered his head in shame.

"Is it horrible that I'm gay, even after what Vernon did to me?"

"Harry, you can't change who you are. You shouldn't wanna. What that bastard did wasn't right, and he will get what he deserves eventually." Harvey hesitated for a moment. "May I hug you Harry?" The small boy was wrapped around his chest a second after he asked. Harvey huffed, but held tightly. "I'm sorry I had to leave you alone. I didn't wanna. I shoulda tried harder to get to you. To get you away. Their might've been somethin' I could have done."

"I could have ran away. I have enough money." Harry whispered brokenly. "I should have left, and never went back, but I didn't. I was too afraid to leave what I knew, that I suffered quietly instead."

"To hell with coulda, shoulda, woulda. This wasn't your fault either! Harry, you're a kid like me. You shouldn't have to worry 'bout where you're gonna sleep, or who is gonna hurt you next. So many people have failed you, and I'm one of them." Harry shook his head.

"You're right. You're a kid. It's the adults who always fail me, not you, Harvey."

"But I did. I stopped bein' your best friend, when you needed me the most. When you were in that stupid game, I shoulda tried to get to you then." Harry fell silent, thinking about what his friend was telling him.

"You're right. It hurt when you just gave up on trying to contact me. I was so scared that you didn't care anymore. That you found someone better." Harry gave a hallow laugh, "and I suppose, in a way, you have found someone better."

"You're still my brother." Harvey whispered, burying his face in Harry's shaggy hair. "I'm just glad this happened on President's Day, and not a school day. Things would have been worse if I'd been at school." Harry nodded his agreement. "Ma, will you let Nate know?" The woman nodded, breezing from the room.

Two familiar faces raced in before the doors closed. Hermione Granger with her wide cinnamon eyes, and large bushy hair, and Ronald "Ron" Weasley with his red hair and freckles. The girl slowed to a stop at the edge of her friend's bed when she noticed he wasn't alone in it. Ron was frowning in his own confusion as he came to rest beside her.

"Harry, who is this?" Hermione asked calmly and carefully.

"Hermione, Ron, this is Harvey, my first ever friend. Harvey, this is Hermione and Ron, my best friends at Hogwarts." Hermione sighed, pinching her nose.

"Harry James Potter, when will you learn?" The young woman shook her head. "You can tell us anything, Harry. You're our best friend. Is there anything else you haven't told us?"

"Professor Snape knows about the Dursleys, as do the others. I'm meeting with the ones taking me in later." Hermione's eyes grew sad at first, and brightened as he continued.

"This is great!" She saw his downtrodden expression and deflated. "Or not?"

"What if they think I'm just as much as a freak?" Harry whispered brokenly.

"Harry, what those people did to you is despicable! No child deserves it, and no child is a freak. You could have five eyes, tentacles for arms, and a dog's tail, and you still shouldn't be treated as a freak." Hermione reprimanded her friend, who lowered his head. She didn't even know everything. She just thought he'd been physically abused, and neglected. She had no idea about the emotion, mental, and sexual abuse. Yet she was there to help him every step of the way.

"She's right, mate. I'd even live with Snape if the Dursleys were the only family I had left." Ron agreed, his blue eyes sad as he stared at his best friend. "Hey Harry?" Green eyes looked up. "No matter what, I'm your friend. I was an idiot last year, and I learned from my mistakes." Harry nodded, giving a small smile before yawning. A glance up proved that Harvey was asleep, curled to protect Harry, despite being injured.

"We'll go. You've probably had an emotional day, and need to sleep." Hermione murmured. "We'll be back for dinner."

"Okay." Harry nodded, settling down to sleep again.

"Who is he, ma?" A deep voice, hinting at angry, penetrated Harry sleep. His brow furled, unable to process who it was. "Why is he in bed with my mate?" Ah, so it must be Nathan. Harry relaxed again, trying to fall asleep.

"He needed comfort from his brother." Claire's calm voice replied. "Leave them be for now. He hasn't been sleeping well, according to his charts." Harry was slowly falling back asleep. "He's going to need so much help recovering, Nate. I should have asked your parents for help. They would have helped me."

"You never said his name."

"Harry. Harry Potter." Came the reply. It was Harvey. "You're wakin' him up Nate. Just enlarge the bed and get in. Just don't touch him. I've been the only one able to so far." Harry felt the bed shift, stretching to a larger size. He tensed when an arm brushed his back as it settled over Harvey's waist. When Harvey relaxed contently, Harry did too, hesitantly leaning further back.

"Huh, looks like he doesn't mind my touch either." Nathan muttered. The arm shifted to pull both boys to him. "He's so small. I always thought he'd be bigger." Harvey's breath puffed a laugh against Harry's nape.

"Yeah, when I learned who he really was, I was shocked, and scared. The British see him as a martyr, Nathan. Like a tool to be used and discarded." Harry rolled over, arms looping around his friend's waist as he snuggled close, still in that drifting half sleep state. "Go back to sleep, Harry. You're safe with us." Harvey whispered, placing a kiss to the boy's forehead and running his free hand through black hair. Harry relaxed further, but didn't go back to sleep completely. "Is Elias here?"

"Yes. Ma mentioned that a Black Quill had been used against children, and he offered to come to help settle them."

"He is good with kids. He's gonna make a wonderful dominate mate to someone one day."

"Ah, but no one has caught his attention as you did mine. To think, you hadn't wanted anything to do with me. What made you change your mind?"

"Somethin' Harry told me when we were kids. He said that love was sacred, and that when someone shows you it, that you should latch onto it, and not let go, because you never know when you might find it again."

"Wise kid." Nathan was silent for a moment. "Was he hurt like Nicholai?"

"I'm not really sure. Ma didn't tell me everythin'." Harvey admitted, "but I do know that his new guardians are healers, and one that specializes in mind healin'. It's terrifyin' to think that he needs one. Likely not just from the abuse either. He shoulda been seein' someone after the final task last year in that hellish game." Nathan nodded, and started to hum a beat that Harvey didn't recognize. "You and your songs." The teenaged laughed as the man kissed his neck.

"Get some sleep, love."

Harry sat nervously with Harvey beside him to the left and his potions professor behind his chair. Mirrored to the man was Nathan, who gripped Harvey's shoulder. A couple around the professor's age sat across from them, quiet and assessing. As if trying to figure out what to say without hurting Harry. Like he was a fragile person.

"Hello Harry, I'm Andromeda. You may call me Andy. This is my husband Ted. We are cousins through your father's side."

"What family are you from?" He asked curiously.

"The Blacks."

"Then we're related through my mother as well." Severus startled, looking at the boy and opening his mouth. "I did a blood test at Gringotts, and learned that all muggles are really just squibs too inbred for their magic to work. Once enough new blood is introduced to counterbalance, the magic is accessible again. The Evans family was once a well off pureblood family. When they had a son who was found to be a squib, they tossed him into a muggle orphanage, and forgot about him. They had a daughter who married Cygnus Nigellus, who, in turn, had Phineas." The woman was gaping in surprise.

"Are you saying that muggleborns are lost ones?" Andy sat forward, staring at her cousin intently. Harry nodded, sighing.

"Exactly that. I can trace the Evans all the way back to Herpo the Foul." The group shared a wince. "I got Hermione tested, and turns out she is distantly related to Hector Dagworth-Granger of all people." Harry shook his head fondly. "She and his granddaughter met before the Quidditch World Cup." Andy nodded, head still spinning.

"Harry, I'll be honest, I want you to come live with us." The woman held a hand up when he went to protest. "I'm your cousin, and was close to the Potters after I was disowned by my family. I wanted to take you in when you were first orphaned, but Albus insisted that you were well taken care of, and that I shouldn't worry since I had Nym to care for. As he wouldn't tell me where you were, I had no way to check if he was telling the truth."

"Surely someone knew I was with Petunia, and knew her well enough to check in on me."

"I tried." Severus murmured sadly, gaining everyone's attention. "A boy, looked a bit like a rat, and assumed he was Harry, for I was only able to get a glimpse of them from where the wards were keeping me at bay. I assumed he was you, and that you were happy because you were acting as bullies against smaller children."

"Polkiss." Harvey snarled, hands curling into a fist.

"A friend of the lard." Harry was quick to snark. "A bully that held people down when Dudley was too lazy to do so himself." Andy cleared her throat. "We've gotten a bit off topic, haven't we?"

"Harry, tell me the truth. Are you willing to move in with us?" Harry hesitated.

"What happens if I say no?"

"I will stop spying and take custody of you." Severus supplied, "as was in your mother's letters to me a few months before they went into hiding." Harry's breath stilled. "Breathe, Harry. That is our last option. We would be giving up a major influx of information." Harry nodded, leaning into Harvey, who put his arm around his friend's bony shoulders.

"Do I have to decide right away?"

"Of course not!" Ted spoke finally. "We can meet every weekend and talk. Even if you don't end up with us, I wish to help you through your ordeal, Harry. You've been through so much as a child, and I fear what your adult life will be like if it continues to be dismissed." Harry nodded, looking at his feet.

"Okay."

"So, how old are you Nathan?" Harry asked the next day as they were eating lunch outside.

"Twenty." Nathan laughed at Harry's face. "I'm not having sex with him. At most I just hug him, cuddle, and kiss." Harry hummed, looking closer at the blond.

"Are you a veela?"

"Oh?" The man smirked, "and you didn't even have to look too closely." Harry blushed, rubbing his neck.

"Defense Against the Dark Arts and Care of Magical Creatures are two of my favorite classes, both covered different bipedal beings." Harry said bashfully. Harvey snickered, poking Harry in the side.

"Planning on becoming the next Newt Scamander?" Harry shook his head, surprising those around him when he explained what he wanted to do.

"I want to become a Healer. I lied when Umbridge showed up at my appointment with Professor McGonagall, but she accepted my apology when I went back to explain I wanted to be a healer. I want to focus on children."

"Well, given what has happen to you, I can't say I'm surprised." Nathan nodded, glancing at his chosen mate. "Why are you studying Care of Magical Creatures?"

"Because you never know when that information will be handy in the operating room." A deep voice said, startling the group. Harry's head jerked up and around to face the intruder of his space. He hadn't heard anyone come up behind him. To his surprise it was someone that looked similar to Nathan, just a bit younger. "Sorry, I should have said something first. I'm Elias."

"My little brother." Nathan whispered to Harry, who nodded, scooting closer to Harvey. Elias shot Harry a smile, before sitting on the far side beside his brother. "How are the kids handling things?"

"Apparently, most of them are taking it well. Something about having help from a friend." Harry blushed bashfully.

"I just told them to stay out of her way, to always look her in the eye without protesting. That if they pretended they were listening to her, even if that meant shunning me publicly, they should do so. Isn't that what they teach you? Obey your captors until someone can help you? That's the only thing I remembered from primary school during a lecture on how to survive a kidnapping. Bonding with your captors is your best hope to survive the encounter."

"Did it ever work for you?" Harry looked away from the sky clear eyes, feeling as if he was supporting the weight of the world.

"Does it work for everyone?" Harry returned softly before he looked up into the eyes again, and froze.

He couldn't look away from the searching gaze. Something told him that the man would protect him from then on. He could feel his magic leaping for joy as he kept his gaze locked with Elias. As if he'd just found the one person he could always depend on. Could always trust Elias to support him, protect him.

Harry hated the feeling instantly, because it scared him. He'd always been his own protector. At least, when Harvey wasn't in his life. Why would he let a complete stranger in? He didn't even want to entertain the thought. It made his stomach curl. Black was flickering at his vision. His chest hurt.

"Harry, I need you to breathe." Harvey's voice cracked through the panic attack. Harry gasped deeply, hyperventilating. "You're okay. It's okay. What happened?" Harry shook his head, glancing at Elias, who looked sadly at him.

"I think everything just kind of hit me at once." Harry stood shakily. "I think I'm going to go to bed early tonight...I'll see you in the morning, right?"

"Yeah. I ain't leavin' until it's safe, so Dumbledore set up a private room for ma and I." Harry nodded.

"I'll find you in the morning then. Bye."

That night, Harry didn't sleep a wink.