Disclaimer: I am not JK Rowling; it's not mine.

Two hours later he leaves me, bleeding in my cupboard. My eyes are swollen shut, but even if they weren't, I wouldn't want to look. I know that this is it. I have been raped five times and been beaten by both my uncle and my cousin. Using a broken quill and some of my blood I write a letter to Sirius on a torn piece of parchment. I am able to squint and see, but it hurts like nothing I have ever felt before. In my mind it feels worse than the Cruciatus curse. I write about all that has happened this summer and detail the pain of tonight. I lay, sobbing as quietly as possible, to not disturb Vernon, and I think of my parents and how happy I'll be to see them again. Eventually the world goes dark.

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Sirius was hurrying. He knew he was early to visit his Godson, but he was very excited. Dumbledore was going to let Harry stay at Sirius' new home. Of course, he was also hurrying so that he wouldn't have to spend too much time with Snivellus.

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It wasn't like Snape was happy about being with Sirius. It had been the Dark Lord's choice, not his. Dumbledore had asked Snape to tell the Dark Lord about Harry being relocated as the Dark Lord was becoming suspicious of Snape's loyalties. Snape had been appalled; he didn't want to go to Potter's house. He didn't want to see Potter on the holidays, during the school year was bad enough. The snide, arrogant boy was the bane of Snape's existence; born to Snape's enemy and his one true love. Potter was a reminder of all he had lost and he didn't want to have to face his past again. Snape was sure, 5 million galleons sure, that Potter was treated like the spoiled brat he was and as such, he wasn't prepared for what they found waiting for them in the cozy little house at 4 Privet Dr.

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As Sirius drew closer to Harry's home, he knew something was wrong. He could smell the musty odour he had come to associate with a person dying, during his years as an auror, radiating from the house. Sirius morphed into his human form and walked up to the front door. He knocked and waited with baited breath, listening to Snape recite potion ingredients, until a tall horse faced Petunia answered the door.

"Pet, I've come to visit Harry."

"He's not home; he went to Mrs. Figg's house, she's a neighbour of ours, and he's been there all evening."

"He's not there Petunia. We have people watching the house and Harry has not left home. May we come in?"

"I'm sorry, but we are too busy to have company," Petunia said shrilly before going to shut the door.

"I'm sorry too Pet," Sirius said as he stuck his foot in the door way, "Stupefy!"

Snape and Sirius burst into the house. Snape entered the living room and tied Vernon and Dudley with conjured ropes. Snape is shocked by the amount of pictures of the boy who looked sort of like a beached whale. That must be Dudley, Potter's cousin, but… where are all the pictures of Potter? Snape wordlessly climbed the stairs and opened the door on the left. The room was full of toys and other odds and ends; pictures of Dudley and a couple of boys lay scattered ontop of a broken television. This must be Dudley's room. From there, Snape walked past a bathroom and a master bedroom that could only belong to Petunia and her husband. The only other room had six locks on the outside. Those locks are to keep something in that room. What would they want to keep locked up? Snape broke the locks off of the door and slowly entered, Sirius following. The room looked like it had been freshly scrubbed, but there was a large red stain on the bare mattress. The smell of sweat and semen was unmistakable in the small room.

"Where is he?" Snape wondered aloud.

"Let's check downstairs."

Snape led the way downstairs. Underneath the stairs they came to another door with locks on the outside. It looks to be a cupboard, but why does a cupboard need locks? Snape undid the locks and cautiously opened the door. Sirius pushed past him and peered inside.

"Harry!"

Harry was curled in a ball in the corner of the cupboard. He was covered in blood and was barely breathing. Sirius bent down and shook Harry lightly. Harry whimpered and opened his eyes.

"S…nape? Siri…us? What are you guys doing here? Is there something wrong? I don't feel well. Come back tomorrow and I'll bake you a cake… with house elves on top… purple house elves."

"Shh, you are coming to my house now. Don't worry, I'm going to take good care of you."

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Snape was disgusted. Here was the saviour of the wizarding world in all his glory; a small, frail, broken boy. He could smell the semen on him and knew the boy had been raped. He couldn't believe it. How was he, Snape, supposed to hate Potter, no Harry, with this picture in his head? He knew what it was like to be abused. He wouldn't wish it on anyone, not even on the senior Potter, and especially not Harry, who had already seen so much pain in his short life.

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Sirius was trying to stay calm but he was quickly losing his cool. Here was Harry, his Harry, broken and hallucinating. Harry was supposed to be safe here, yet it was here he learned to cry silently, it was here he learned to duck when someone lifted there hand, it was here he learned sex was painful and not at all a loving sacrifice for a special person. How could Dumbledore not know about Harry's neglect? Why did no one suspect anything or if they did, say something? This could have been prevented. Harry could have been saved. And now, here was Harry, holding onto life by a thread, but still trying to please people. Sirius looked to Snape, who nodded and left the room in search of the Dursleys. Sirius prayed that Snape would give them what they deserved; yet he hoped Snape could control himself and not kill the bastards. Harry wouldn't want-didn't need-the Dursleys to die. He would place the guilt on himself and he didn't need that. Right now the only thing Sirius knew was that it was all about what Harry needed and it always would be for him, because Harry would never do anything he needed if someone didn't tell him he could.

"Harry," Sirius whispered, touching Harry's arm.

Harry whimpered and Sirius knew Harry was trying not to cry out.

"Harry, don't worry, it's Sirius. I need to know what happened."

Harry glanced at a piece of parchment lying haphazardly on the floor and then looked at Sirius with worried green eyes.

"I fell down the stairs."

Sirius sighed and used a spell to float Harry out of the cupboard. Before Harry noticed, Sirius picked up the paper, noting the hastily scribbled letter, and floated Harry's trunk into the living room. Sirius led Harry over to the fireplace. I am so glad we thought to connect the floo to our new house. Sirius and Remus had built a new home together just outside of Hogsmeade. Remus, Hermione and the Weasley family were all helping to decorate the inside and they were most likely in the house at this moment waiting for Harry. This is probably not what they expect Harry to look like though.

Just then Snape entered the room, interrupting Sirius' thoughts. He informed Sirius that the Dursleys were alive, but he would be back to kill them if Harry gave permission. I wonder how Snape knows Harry wouldn't want them killed. Sirius floated Harry into the expanded fireplace and stepped in behind him, throwing the floo powder into the grate.

"Marauders' hovel."

Sorry it took awile, it's been a busy week at school... Steff