Bound and Broken

Chapter 2

I don't own Harry Potter. I don't want to own Harry Potter either. Now Severus Snape (Alan Rickman) I wouldn't mind owning him, but sadly I don't own him either. I do however own other soon to be known Characters. I also own the plot of the story. I adopted this fic from SpikesWoman77, and I hope to do her some justice. I posted this fic on my web groups. If you would like to check out the groups go to my profile. Summary—This is an abused Harry bonds with Snape fic. Harry is kidnapped by Death Eaters, tortured and raped. Severus happens upon him and alerts the Order. Harry is brought back to headquarters where he has to face what he's gone through while dealing with the death of Sirius. Dumbledore is his usual meddling self and finds a way to "help" his two most important "friends". Features a slightly OOC Snape and dark Lupin. This will be HP-SS slash. I hope it's original enough for you all and I hope you enjoy. And don't forget to review!

Warning—this chapter contains mentions of Rape and Torture though I will not be describing much of it. Be warned! I would like to thank everyone who has reviewed so far. I would also like to suggest if you like Flaming then light a match. No one is perfect so please be nice constructive criticism is one thing but to be rude is not.

Thanks,
Serena (Rena)

Dumbledore waited until he heard the door slam and Severus was gone. He marched to the fireplace and tossed in a pinch of powder. The flames turned a bright emerald green and he stuck his head in the flames. "REMUS LUPIN!" he shouted.

Exactly five minutes later, the swirling figure of the werewolf appeared. He stumbled out of the grate and hastily used his wand to clean himself off. He fixed Albus with weary amber eyes. "You wanted something Albus?" His tone was tired, defeated.

"We've located Harry," Dumbledore said gravely.

Remus' eyes widened. "Have you?"

"Severus has, actually," he said softly taking a seat.

Lupin remained where he was standing, his arms crossed over his chest. His eyes darkened at the idea that Snape found Harry. "Where is he? Is he here?"

Dumbledore shook his head. "No. He has yet to be rescued."

"WHAT!" Remus shouted. "Snape found Harry…being tortured no doubt, and did not see fit to rescue him?"

Dumbledore sighed softly. "Severus' position is very precarious with Voldemort, Remus. He could not afford to go tromping into Malfoy Manor and rescue him from the hands of the people he is supposed to be serving."

Remus rubbed his hand over his face, frustrated and angry. "What do we do now?"

"We rescue him, of course." He said simply, giving a small shrug.

"And how, pray tell, do we do that?" he snapped. "The Malfoy Manor is un-plottable not to mention protected by wards just as strong as the wards that had protected the Dursleys."

"I can disable the wards," Dumbledore said with a small twinkle in his eye. "I have it on the highest authority that Voldemort is not in this country at the moment. We and the other Order members will take Malfoy Manor by force, imprison Lucius and rescue Harry."

Remus rolled his eyes uncharacteristically. "Two problems with that. One, like I mentioned before, Malfoy Manor is un-plottable. And the other, Lucius will just ferret his way out of Azkaban again."

"I am aware of both problems. The first is simple. We will learn the location from Severus. The other…well, we'll just have to deal with that when the time comes. The important thing right now is to save Harry."

Remus turned his head away from Dumbledore. "Yes, that's always the important thing, isn't it?" he mumbled under his breath.

Dumbledore heard but did not comment. He knew he was hurting over the death of his one remaining friend, and he blamed Harry. Truth be told, Harry had acted stupidly and rashly. Yet, Harry acted as Sirius would have acted had their positions had been reversed, and Harry was a teenager. Sirius was a fully grown, fully trained wizard. Dumbledore silently mused whether Remus would be feeling the same had the positions actually been reversed.

"I will go alert the others," Lupin said finally.

"I must go speak with Severus," Dumbledore answered. "We will all meet back here in three quarters of an hour. No later."

Lupin nodded in a businesslike manner and disappeared again in a flash of green flame.

Dumbledore waited a few moments before doing the same, calling out, "SNAPE MANOR!" He closed his eyes against the ashes and didn't open them again until his feet were firmly planted on the stone hearth.

Brushing the soot off of his colourful robes, he looked around and found Severus behind his study desk staring at him with vague curiosity.

"Albus," he said in a guarded tone. "What is it?'

"I have come up with a plan," the old man answered evenly. "I need to find Malfoy Manor, and I need you to locate it for me."

Severus sighed. "Even if I tell you, you still won't be able to find it. The un-plottable charm is rather strong."

"I need a solution then, my boy." Dumbledore said.

Severus pinched the bridge of his nose in thought. Finally, he looked back up at Albus. "I will go there myself," he said simply.

"No," Albus replied firmly. "You must not compromise your position."

"I won't have to," Severus replied in a slightly irritated tone. "I will place a locator charm on a pendant and I will head to the Manor with information for Lucius. I will inform him that the Aurors are on their way to the Manor. I will make sure to arrive too late to stop them. He will want me to take Draco and run. He wants to keep my position here safe to watch over the boy. It is easy, Albus and I won't be compromised."

"Can you keep him from killing Harry?" Dumbledore asked.

Severus nodded. "Knowing Lucius, he'll want Harry poisoned, and I'll take along a vial of antidote."

"Do you know the proper antidote, Severus?" he asked warily.

"Lucius uses only one poison. I created it along with the antidote," the Potion's Master replied coolly.

Finally, Albus broke into a smile. "Excellent Severus. Do you have the pendant? I will charm it now."

Severus reached into a drawer in his desk and pulled out a simple silver chain with a small silver serpent dangling from the end. "This will do."

Albus pointed his wand and muttered a long incantation. The silver pendant glowed a soft golden colour for a moment before going quiet once more. Severus slipped the chain around his neck and tucked it under his robes.

"I will leave for the Manor by Apparition," Severus said after a moment. "I will leave in one half hour, and you must follow no later than five minutes after that. Is that a possibility?"

Albus nodded as he walked back to the fireplace. "It will be done. And Severus…good luck."

Severus nodded as he watched the old man step back into the flames and disappear.

"Fuck," Severus cursed out of pure annoyance. But if he wasn't going to save Potter, who was?

Dumbledore stepped gracefully out of the hearth at Grimauld place and found the lounge full of the Order members. He gave them all a tense smile as he brushed the ashes from his robe and beard.

"We will be leaving in exactly forty minutes," he said softly.

"Severus will enter Malfoy Manor. He carries with him a locator charm so when he arrives, I will know where we are to be going. We must make haste, time is of the essence and Harry's life is in very real danger. Lucius is to be immediately apprehended and taken into custody of the official Aurors." He eyed Tonks and Shacklebolt who nodded at him.

"Lucius will be alerted to our coming but he will not be given enough time to call for reinforcements. Severus is going to escape with Draco unharmed and we will meet up with him later."

"Surely we want to arrest Draco," called out one of the Weasley twins.

"No doubt he's participated in torturing Harry," the other commented.

Albus sighed. "That is true, he has. But at the moment we must make allowances. He is under the influence of his father, and I would like time to decide where his true loyalties lie."

Dumbledore watched warily as one of the twins whispered something and the other nodded grimly. Shaking his head slightly, he clapped his hands, drawing everyone to attention. "Are there any questions?" There was a collective "no" from the group. "Then let us prepare."

Lucius, Narscissa, and Draco were seated around the dining table eating in silence when the head of the house felt his wards disturbed for the second time that night. Tossing his fork down on his plate, he pushed his chair back angrily.

"This had better be good," he snapped to under his breath as he excused himself from his family. Storming into the parlour, he ended up walking directly into a tall, black clad form standing in the middle of the room.

Lucius backed up, composing himself swiftly and glowered at the form. It was Severus. But the look on Severus' face immediately alarmed the Malfoy. The normally composed Snape was shaking slightly, his black eyes wide and anxious.

"Snape, what is it?" Lucius asked warily.

"They've found you out," Severus said in hushed tones.

"How," Lucius hissed back.

"From what I've heard, the werewolf got a hold of a pub owner in Surrey who recognised you."

Lucius paled further. "Shit," he cursed angrily.

"They're on their way now," Severus hissed. "Dumbledore will have broken through the wards and…" His words were cut off by the sound of the alarm shrieking through the house. It was the alarm alerting the Malfoys that someone has successfully broken down the outer wards. It would only be a matter of moments before they had fully taken down the inner wards.

"Take Draco," Lucius hissed, grabbing Severus' arm. "There is an emergency escape located in the dungeons. Take him and go. Narscissa and I will deal with the Aurors."

Draco and Narscissa came bursting into the parlour. The teen was pale and shaking slightly as he watched the exchange between his father and Severus. "What's going on?" he demanded after a moment.

Lucius turned and glared at his son. "They're here to rescue their precious golden boy," he spat. "You're going with Severus, Draco; and Narscissa and I will deal with these pesky Order members."

Draco looked over at Severus and the Potion's Master raised an eyebrow at him. "Any questions Draco?" Severus asked in a low tone.

Draco shook his head. "No sir."

Lucius reached down into his boot and pulled out a very tiny stiletto. He pressed it into Draco's palm. "One tiny nick will do, Draco. One nick and the poison will be in his body." The alarms grew more frantic as the Order members grew closer.

"Go," Lucius said frantically.

Severus grabbed Draco's arm and pulled him along roughly to the dungeons. Draco activated the door and Severus left the door slightly ajar to give the Order members access to Harry. They raced down the stairs and to the last cell in the room.

Shaking, Draco pulled the blade out and stared at him. "Be quick about it boy," Severus snapped.

Draco looked at the blade and back up at Severus. "I…" he said and hesitated.

Severus frowned and put his hand on Draco's shoulder. "You don't want to, do you?"

Draco swallowed. It looked as if it took all his effort to speak. "No…I don't."

Severus nodded. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the antidote and held it out for Draco to see. "This will keep him alive."

Draco's mouth dropped. "You…" his voice failed him so Severus nodded. "He won't be killed?"

"No," Severus said sharply. "But you must do this if you do not want to be found out. I don't wish to be found out either, Draco. So be quick about it."

Draco took the vial and walked into the cell. Harry was lying on his back on top of the small bed. His eyes were closed and his breathing was shallow. Bruises covered nearly every inch of his body and his lips were cracked and bleeding.

Draco looked at Severus one more time. "Do I give it to him first or…"

"Cut him and put the vial in his hand," Severus ordered. "They will find him in time. We must leave the cell open."

Draco quickly cut a shallow gash into Harry's arm. The boy whimpered but his eyes did not open. Draco pressed the vial into his palm and leaned down to his ear. "I'm sorry Harry," he whispered softly. "I really am."

With that, he walked away from the teen and back to Severus' side. "We must be swift. They cannot catch us here."

Draco nodded. Walking to the wall, he pressed his hand to the stone and moments later, a large fireplace appeared. Draco and Severus stepped in, having no need for Floo Powder, and disappeared in a flash.

The Order entered Malfoy Manor, shields up and wands out. They knew Lucius and his wife would put up a fight, but they managed to overthrow them without sustaining any injury.

Dumbledore pulled Remus aside and leaned into his ear. "The dungeons," he hissed. "Through that hall and there will be a door open for you to reach the boy. He will be poisoned but there should be an antidote in there with him."

Remus nodded mutely and walked away from Dumbledore. He found the open door and walked down the stairs to the darkened chambers. There were several empty cells in rows, but no Harry.

Just the, the sight of an open door caught his eye at the very end of the room. Walking swiftly, he marched into the cell and gasped.

There was Harry lying prone on a ragged bed. His skin was bruised and sweaty. His breath was coming in harsh gasps and there was a festering wound on his arm. Remus realized it was from the poison and knew he did not have much time. Looking around, he couldn't see the vial of antidote anywhere.

"Sneaky bastard," Remus muttered under his breath. "He wants Harry to die." Turning his gaze back to the teen on the bed, he finally spotted the vial in Harry's hand.

Prying it from the tight grasp, he held it up and looked at the liquid shimmering in the dim torchlight. Remus sighed, looking as if he was fighting an inner battle.

"If I let him die, vengeance will be served. But if I let him die, it won't bring them back," he whispered to himself. "And the wizarding world will have no hope against Voldemort."

Remus mused silently for a few more moments before finally forcing Harry's jaw open and pouring the liquid down his throat. The teen gave a shuddering gasp as he swallowed. He stopped sweating immediately and his breaths evened out slightly.

Remus gathered the teen into his arms and carried him swiftly back to the parlour where the Order waited impatiently.

The werewolf unloaded the burden to a sobbing Molly Weasley and a grim Arthur. The redheaded man cradled the broken teen and looked at Dumbledore. "What do we do now, Albus? Hogwarts?"

Albus shook his head. "No. I do not believe Hogwarts is safe for Harry right now."

"But surely Poppy can do something for him," Molly cried.

"I'm sure she could," Dumbledore replied. "However, she is not part of Hogwarts, she merely works there. She's gone to France to visit her family and will not be back until start of term."

"Harry needs a trained medi-witch or wizard to tend to his wounds," Charlie Weasley called out.

"I only know of one other that I trust with this secret," Dumbledore said gravely.

Remus knew exactly whom he meant, but he didn't trust him. "He hates Potter," Lupin called out. "He won't want to help him."

Several of the Order members looked at Lupin in surprise. It was not like him to call Harry by his surname. Dumbledore raised an eyebrow at Remus but did not comment.

"He's the only one," Albus finally said to the group. "I'm sure Severus will oblige."

Harry felt someone prodding his skin gently, though it was sending sharp waves of pain through his arm. He groaned and tried to pull away, but a hand held him firmly.

"Stay still Potter," came a silky, annoyed sounding voice. "If you move, this will take longer."

Harry knew that voice. It sounded like Snape. "Where am I?" Harry croaked, still unable to open his swollen eyes.

"Headquarters," Snape replied gruffly. He began to rub a foul smelling cream all over Harry's exposed skin and face.

A strange tingling flooded his body and he gave a small groan. After a few minutes, the tingling subsided and with it, the pain. His eyes were no longer swollen, nor were his lips.

He started to open his eyes slowly, blinking against the harsh light. His vision was blurred as he didn't have his glasses with him, but he could make out the vague outline of Snape standing over him.

"What happened?" Harry asked after a moment.

Snape sighed. He took a glass off the table and pressed it to Harry's lips. "Drink," he ordered.

Harry took a sip of the cool water and smiled gratefully. "Thank you sir," he said, his throat a little less sore.

"Do you not remember what happened, Harry?" Snape's voice was weary and without the usual malice.

Harry blinked and tried to bring him into focus. He struggled to sit up, his body still a little stiff. Snape walked forward and helped prop Harry up with several pillows. Harry sighed. "I remember…being in my room. I'd had a nightmare and then…" he closed his eyes and suddenly it all came flooding back. The potion being forced down his throat. Waking up in the dungeons to Lucius Malfoy and…and…Draco. Harry began to shake violently and he hugged his knees to his chest.

"I take it you remember?" Severus said in a neutral tone.

Harry nodded meekly. "Are…are my glasses here?"

Severus shook his head. "Your things are still in the Dursley house. I imagine Dumbledore will send someone for your things tonight." He pointed his wand at Harry's face and lazily muttered an incantation.

Harry blinked against a bright light and suddenly the world swam into focus. He gasped. "What did you do?"

"Temporary charm to help you see," he replied mildly. "It'll last a few days at best. I'm sure someone around here will know it if it wears off before you get your things."

Harry bit down on his lip hard as he stared at his snarky Potions' Master. "I…I…" he began to shake, swallowing back tears that were threatening to fall.

Severus gave an annoyed huff at the boy though inwardly he felt absolute pity for what he'd just gone through. "I have some matters to attend to Potter," he said in a low tone. He grabbed a vial off the night table and handed it to Harry. "Drink that and get some rest. You'll wake in a few hours and someone will see to it that you get some food. The Weasleys are here, no doubt you'll be properly coddled," he added with a sneer.

Harry sighed and drank the potion. "Thank you sir," he whispered and curled up into a small ball.

Severus waited until Harry was asleep before leaving the room and walking down to the lounge where Dumbledore, Lupin and the Weasleys were waiting impatiently. They all stared at him expectantly, so he gave a small sigh of annoyance before giving his report.

"He'll live," he said mildly. "There was severe skin damage and a few broken bones but nothing un-repairable. The poison was almost in his system too long," he said and looked pointedly at Lupin who promptly looked away. Severus knew the werewolf nearly let him die and almost throttled Albus for sending Lupin to fetch Harry from the dungeons. "But the antidote was given just in time. He had some severe trauma to his rectal muscles from the repeated rapes…" Molly gasped and began to cry loudly but to Severus' relief, Arthur shushed her. "I have healed the outer wounds, but his psychological wounds will be…significant."

Dumbledore sighed. "Thank you Severus. How is he at the moment?"

"Sleeping," he replied curtly. "I will be back in a day or two to check up on his healing process. I've left necessary sleeping and pain relieving potions near his bed though he should be monitored. I do not want an overdose happening because he's too upset to handle his memories of what he's just been through." He turned and glowered pointedly at Remus.

"I want him taken care of. He doesn't need anymore guilt or trauma for a while."

Dumbledore nodded, ignoring the look Severus was giving to Remus. "Thank you. We will see you in a few days."

Severus nodded curtly and a moment later disappeared into the flames of the fireplace.

Harry woke a few hours later with a pounding in his head. Bringing his hands up to his temples, he rubbed them gingerly until the pain subsided. He looked around and breathed deeply as he saw he was alone.

He wasn't sure how he felt exactly, but his mind felt slightly detached from his body. It was if he was looking at his memories of what he'd just been through from a third person point of view. It didn't even feel like him.

Of course, Harry realized that experiences like this were to be expected when it came to dealing with Voldemort. The man was sick and twisted and so were his followers. Things like this were going to be abundant in his life until he could fulfil the prophecy and rid the world of Voldemort…or himself.

"Bugger it," Harry cursed, referring to his life. He rubbed his hair absently with his hands.

He was startled out of his thoughts suddenly by the sound of his door opening. Mrs. Weasley walked in carrying a tray of food. Her eyes were puffed and red as she gave him a warm smile.

"Oh Harry dear, I'm glad you're awake. I was just going to leave this tray here but you can eat now if you're hungry."

Harry shrugged. To be honest, he wasn't sure if he was hungry or not. His sensations were all slightly off. He imagined that he should be hungry and decided to accept the tray.

Mrs. Weasley gingerly placed the tray over his lap and caressed his cheek in a motherly fashion. "You gave us quite a scare, my dear." She said in a tight voice.

Harry bit his lip and looked down into the bowl of chicken soup. "Sorry," he muttered softly. "I didn't mean to worry anyone."

"Harry," she said sternly. "it was absolutely not your fault! It was those evil…those dreadful Death Eaters!"

"But I deserved it," Harry said brokenly. "I mean, I got both Cedric and S-Sirius killed and…and…" he broke off before the tears could fall.

Mrs. Weasley snatched the tray off of his lap and set it aside before pulling him into a fierce hug. "Harry, don't say that! We all know the risks we're taking joining in this war! It's kill or be killed Harry. Sirius fought his best and now he's gone! But it was not your fault."

Harry nodded in order to pacify her, but he didn't believe it. He would never get the blood off his hands now. He could only hope that when he was finally allowed to die, he took Voldemort with him. There was no way he could live past this war. Absolutely no way.

Mrs. Weasley finally pulled back and looked into Harry's eyes, searching for some kind of reassurance. Harry gave her the best smile he could muster. "Thanks Mrs. Weasley. I'm just…feeling a little weak right now."

She smoothed his hair back. "I know Harry. And who wouldn't after going through all of that. But remember, we're here for you. We really are. If you need anything at all Harry…"

He smiled softly. "I know. Thanks."

She replaced the tray and swooped down on him to place a small kiss on his forehead. "I'll just be down in the kitchens clearing up the leftovers. If you need anything, just call."

Harry nodded. "Thanks Mrs. Weasley. I will." She started to walk away but he called after her. "Oh! Is Ron here?"

She turned. "No Harry. Ron doesn't know what's happened yet. Dumbledore is keeping this all a secret for the moment."

"What happened to Lucius?"

"He was arrested."

Harry stared into his bowl glumly. "He'll buy Fudge off again," he said angrily.

"We know Harry," she replied softly. "But we got you back and that's what matters."

"No one er…was hurt…were they?"

She smiled. "Not a scratch," she said. "The twins are here if you'd like to say hello," she added as an afterthought.

Harry grinned. "Yeah, that might be nice. But I'd like to wait until tomorrow."

"I'll send them up with your breakfast," she said and with that, she left.

Harry ate his soup slowly and finished off the roll she'd left as well. Setting the tray aside, he eyed the potions on the table and looked at the labels. There were three marked pain-relieving potions and three marked dreamless sleep. He uncorked one of the dreamless sleeping potions and drank the contents at once.

The effects were almost immediate and he fell back against the pillows. His eyes closed and he drifted off into the blackness.

Harry woke to the feeling of someone prodding his stomach. He cracked an eye open to see two identical smiling faces.

"Morning mate," one of them said.

"We've been wondering how long it'd take you to wake up."

Harry smiled at the twins as he sat up and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. "How long have you been here?"

"Since the night before last…"

"…When Snape brought you here…"

Harry sighed. "So you know then…what happened?"

Fred nodded solemnly. "'Fraid so mate. We were there at Malfoy Manor when Lupin brought you up from the dungeons. Then Snape came and tended to your wounds…"

"And told us what happened to you. He seemed a little…"

"Angry with Lupin for something…"

"Acted like Lupin did something stupid."

Harry frowned but he had a vague memory of hearing Lupin's voice in the cell. He had been mumbling something about vengeance being served but not bringing them back. Shrugging, Harry turned back to the twins. "I dunno what happened down in the dungeons cos I was mostly unconscious."

George sighed and exchanged a look with his brother. "Lupin's been a bit off lately, Harry. You should know that he…" he trailed off, not wanting to say it.

But Harry understood perfectly. After all, he was the one with Sirius' blood on his hands. "I know…he blames me."

Fred sighed softly and patted Harry's shoulder. "No one else blames you mate. Grief can do horrid things to a person and Lupin's just lost someone really important to him."

Harry swallowed the lump that was forming in his throat. "Yeah, I know. He was my godfather…the only family I had left."

George scoffed at him. "You've got us, mate. All the Weasleys!"

Harry grinned at him softly. "Yeah, I know. Your mum would be livid if I didn't accept that I was a Weasley now."

Fred laughed. "Yeah, and even you-know-who doesn't want to be on the receiving end of her anger."

Harry laughed at the mental image he got of a livid Mrs. Weasley attacking Voldemort with her frying pan. "Maybe I should send her after him," he mused.

The twins laughed in succession. "Well, we've done our duty…"

"Woke you…"

"Given you breakfast…"

"Made you laugh…"

"And came up with a plan to stop you-know-who…"

"So our work here is done."

Harry grinned. "Glad we've sorted all of that out then."

The twins stood up and Fred tipped an imaginary hat to him. "Well, we've got a joke shop to run and pranks to invent. But we'll be in touch as we're official Order members now."

Harry gave them a wave as he turned to his toast and tea. As soon as they left, he quickly devoured his breakfast and set the tray on the nightstand. He was desperate for a good hot bath and a change of clothing. He realized he was wearing too large pyjamas and his feet were bare.

Stepping out of the bed, he walked to the door, his stiff muscles protesting every step. He stretched a little, trying to relieve some of the ache as he opened the door and stepped into the hall. Harry winced as the familiar sights and smells assaulted his senses with a vengeance.

It was all too reminiscent of the home his beloved godfather hated. The home that made him the person he was, the rebellious and reckless man that contributed to his downfall in the end. Though it was mostly Harry's fault. If only he'd listened to Snape and stopped playing the hero.

Harry just stepped off the stairs when he walked straight into the path of Remus. Amber eyes locked with emerald and Harry saw a flash of hurt and anger behind them. He gave Harry a tense smile, which Harry returned shyly.

"Er…morning," Harry chanced, unsure of what to call him.

"Morning Harry," he said with false cheer. "How are you feeling? Not in any pain I hope?"

Harry guessed that Remus hoped he actually was in some amount of pain. "Nothing I can't live with," Harry responded softly.

Remus tensed a little at this but didn't comment on it.

"Harry…do you need something or did you just fancy a stroll?"

Harry winced a little at the sharp tone. "I er…was hoping I could take a bath and get a change of clothes. I think all of my belongings were at the Dursleys. I expect they won't mind giving them up. They hate wizarding things."

Remus' face was pained for a moment as he looked at Harry. "No one told you Harry?" he asked softly.

Harry felt panic rise in his face. "Told me what?"

Remus sighed and leaned against the wall. "I've got your things here Harry. The Dursleys…they were killed by the muggles that kidnapped you. Stabbed to death."

Harry felt as if he'd been punched in the gut. Dead? No…how was that possible? And by muggles? It made no sense. "Er…muggles?" was all that came out of his mouth in the confusion.

Remus nodded softly. "Muggles," he repeated.

"But er…they gave me a potion. A sleeping potion or something like it."

"Lucius paid them to kidnap you since he couldn't get past the wards without alerting us. He gave them the potion and told them to kill the Dursleys and take you alive and unharmed."

Harry blanched and sat down hard on the bottom step. More blood on my hands, he thought. Granted, I hated them…but they died because of me. Dudley…Dudley was only sixteen. "I…" Harry said in a broken voice. "I don't think I want that bath. I think I want to lie back down."

Remus nodded curtly. "Go on back up to your room." His voice was tight.

Harry numbly stood and walked back to the room. Before he was out of earshot, he caught a faint whisper. "Should have been you, not Sirius."

Harry silently agreed. It should have been him. It really should have.

Next Chapter—Snape gets a nasty surprise and Dumbledore swings into action. Harry deals more and Remus sinks deeper.

Thank you to: El Tejano, Lady-LunaPotter, butterfly18, Elka Shadow, Snowlight144, Kami Kaze05, Animegurl1088, Beth, Rosisgirl, Bloodfreak09, Lorelai05, and any one esle I forgot.

Serena