Safe and Warm

New chapter for you guys, some interesting suggestions in the reviews. Anymore thoughts please let me know as I'm still a bit stuck and I feel as if I'm forcing this one out and that may be coming across in my writing. Please let me know what you think of this chapter and also any thoughts on where I could take this, thanks.

Chapter five

It took no more than a week for Vernon Dursley to be sent to prison for life for the horrific things that he had done to Harry thanks to the connections that Lucius had made in the justice system and the money he was willing to pay to speed things along. It was however a very public trial where it was made public knowledge the things he had done to Harry, who was swiftly becoming one of the most famous survivors of abuse in the world.

Dudley was taken into care and Petunia was sentenced to five years in prison as well for allowing it to happen and doing nothing to stop it.

Fortunately Harry didn't have to testify against his Uncle or his Aunt as the hospital reports were by far enough to condemn both Vernon and Petunia for what they had done combinned with the police statement Harry had given. If it had been up to Harry to stand up in court then neither of them would have gone to prison.

The poor teen was refusing to talk about any of it, he didn't want to relive his ordeal anymore, he wanted to just forget all about it. Draco knew that it wasn't going to be healthy for Harry to bottle it up but he wouldn't push the poor boy either. He could understand why he didn't want to go there again.

After a week of being monitored at the hospital Harry was finally being discharged, there had been a lot of fuss and hassle over this because Severus had said that it was proper procedure to place Harry into care, however Draco had been very insistent that Harry come home with them.

Lucius however was slightly concerned about this. He had his wife not to mention Elvira, Melody and Cassius to think about. He knew that their home, a ten bedroom manor house just outside of London, could cope with one extra teenager with no problems, it was the fact that he was a troubled and unbalanced teen that worried him.

Harry still didn't like to be touched by anyone other than Draco, though he was getting better with Lucius now. He also didn't talk much, just kept to himself. The only times he spoke were to Draco and very quite and withdrawn, he almost never asked questions.

He really wanted to help Harry but his foremost instinct was to protect his family. Draco however managed to convince his father that he wouldn't do any harm, which was right of course. The first time Harry had ever hurt another person was when he had defended himself against Vernon right before running away. He'd only done it because if he hadn't then Vernon would have killed him.

"I'll be taking him in for the time being Severus." Lucius informed his friend. "I realise it isn't normal procedure but I'm sure you can make the necessary arrangements. After all you don't need any more children in those horrible Care Homes than needed."

"You're right on that front. I'm sure Harry will be perfectly happy with you. I'm going to find out what happened to his parents, do some digging on how he ended up with that horrible family without anyone checking up on him. The media and the public are demanding answers."

"Considering that it is perhaps best that he remains at the manor with my family and I, after all it will keep him out of the press. I am concerned that too much attention will force him back into his shell and I don't want to destroy the progress that Draco has already made with the boy."

"I can understand that, I will try my best to keep them at bay while you transport him to your home. You understand that I will have to check up on his progress from time to time. After all he is in the system now but I can guarantee that it will be me personally that carries out those checks. I know how you feel about strangers in and around your property." Severus said, he had a great deal of respect for Lucius.

"Thank you, your kindness and understanding won't be forgotten in a hurry Severus. Come Christmas there will be a handsome donation for some of those Care Homes for the children and not to mention something a little extra just for you." Lucius said with a smile.

The Malfoy's were used to getting what they wanted no matter the cost. If this is what was going to make his son happy then this was what was going to happen. He knew exactly how Draco was feeling in regards to Harry and he didn't mind that in the slightest.

After all the two of them were spending a great deal of time together. Draco hadn't left Harry's side once other than to use the facilities. He had always admired the compassion for others that Draco had. He was aspiring to be a doctor and Lucius thought that no other profession would have suited him.

Lucius was a born businessman but Draco just didn't have the head for it, he was much more at home caring for people and he showed that in the way he was with Harry. Watching the two of them interact reminded him of how he and Narcissa had started off before they had had got married and had children. Of course the two boys would never have children of their own but Lucius was sure that they would eventually be together once Harry had been through counselling and could put the ordeal of his childhood behind him.