"Thirteen years ago, when you were three, and you and your parents were in hiding from Voldemort, the plan was for Sirius to be the secret keeper. At the last moment we decided that Peter Pettigrew, our friend at the time, would take his place. As most people assumed it would be Sirius doing it, Peter and your family would be safer." Remus begins to explain and Harry nods hesitantly, this was not the version of the story that he had heard before.
"Peter betrayed us to Voldemort; he revealed your location and by the time Severus was able to come warn us , it was already too late to save them. When we arrived at Godric's hollow the house was mostly destroyed. We found you and we were so grateful that you were alive that we cried." here Harry nods again, shocked by what he was hearing.
"We're your godfathers, along with Severus, and your parents wanted the three of us to look after you if anything happened to them." Remus continues, offering Harry a sad little smile and Harry takes a couple of tentative steps towards the two men.
"Why didn't you ? What happened ? Why was I forced to live with the Dursley's and suffer all of that abu... abandonment ?" Harry asks almost slipping up and Remus and Sirius narrow their eyes at the obvious word change.
Before either of them can even begin to respond to his questions or to question him about the word change, Severus walks through the open door and straight to Harry, checking him over to make sure he is okay. Seeing how upset he is , Snape wraps an arm protectively around his shoulders and glares at the forms of his two friends and co-godfathers.
"What did you say to him ? Why does he look so tired and upset ?" Snape questions.
"We're not sure why he's so tired or upset, though we did just explain most of everything to him." explained Sirius.
"Harry talked about being abandoned and he was going to say something that sounded like abuse. Earlier he said he wanted to tell you and Remus something but he realized, when he thought we had betrayed him, that adults always let him down." continues Sirius.
All three adults and two students turn to look at Harry, who is staring nervously at the floor.
"Abuse ?" questions Severus softly, and Harry, realizing that he will have to explain, hesitantly nods. Harry looks up and upon seeing the murderous looks on Sirius' and Remus' faces instinctively snuggles closer to Snape, who tightens his hold on Harry and glares at his friends.
"We're sorry Harry, we won't hurt you and we didn't mean to scare you . It just makes us very angry to think that someone has been hurting you."
"Can you tell us what they've done to you ?" asks Sirius softly.
Harry nods again before beginning to explain nervously ; "The Dursley's never loved me, never cared for me, in fact they have always hated me and my magic. They never touched me if they could help it. This meant that they wouldn't change my diaper for days, baths were once, maybe twice a month. I never was allowed to play or have toys or new clothes. They often forgot to feed me and usually kept me locked in my cupboard for long stretches of time."
Severus squeezes his shoulder comfortingly and Harry continues his story; "They called me boy or freak so much that I thought that that was my name until I started school. When I started school they felt that I was old enough to do chores; I cooked breakfast and supper everyday. I cleaned, painted, mowed the lawn , did the gardening, and I did the laundry. If they felt that I did something wrong is was b..b..beaten. If I left my cupboard without being told they hit me, same with speaking without being spoken to, doing better in school that Dudley, being seen by the neighbours , burning food while cooking, and basically living at all." Here Harry takes a breath before continuing, much to the horror of his family and friends.
"Vernon used me as a punching bag often. I was beaten unconscious several times, which is part of my eyesight problem. Dudley beat me up all the time with his friends, like going 'Harry Hunting', and Petunia likes to swing at me with a frying pan and often slapped me."
"I have nightmares about the night my parents were killed. I can remember exactly what happened and I would wake up crying and screaming. That never made my uncle happy and facing Voldemort first year, the Basilisk second year, and the Dementor at the beginning of this year, has only added to those."
"When my letter came and it was addressed to me in my cupboard under the stairs, they were not happy, they thought that I had told someone, but they were afraid that someone would show up to check on me so they gave me Dudley's second bedroom. They left me alone for a while, until I went to school, but when I came back after first year things got bad again."
"The first night I got back Vernon pushed me down the stairs and I broke my leg and dislocated my shoulder the summer after first year. They put bars on my window and several locks on my door, and they used a cat flap to push small amounts of food in once a week. I was let out once or maybe twice a day to use the bathroom. This past summer I was beaten unconscious and locked in my room the whole time, I was allowed out once a day and Vernon... wasn't happy. His business has been doing badly and he drank a lot. He would..come into my room at night... and.. and he..." Harry's voice trails off with a shudder, beginning to cry.
Severus, as well as everyone else's, stomach drops, hoping Harry doesn't say what he thinks he will.
"What did he do Harry ?" questions Remus gently.
"He...he.. he tried to..t..touch me and he... he... he tried to... to.. but he couldn't because he was too drunk so he k..k...kept beating me instead" Harry answers brokenly and Severus wraps both arms tightly around Harry's shaking form. Harry wraps his arms tightly around Severus, tightly gripping the back of his robes, crying into his chest. After a few moments Harry is able to pull himself together enough to keep talking.
"I don't get birthday presents, or Christmas presents, or even really any acknowledgements that I exist. The happiest memories that I have are from Hogwarts, and that's with Voldemort trying to kill me several times." Says Harry and everyone but Severus, who had begun to suspect Harry's mistreatment, stares at him in shock. They had no idea that he was treated that poorly by his relatives.
"So can you please tell me why I was placed in their care? And why you, none of you, were there to take care of me ?"
"Hagrid arrived at the house and told us that Dumbledore had a way to keep you safe, but we didn't want to hand you over to him. Next thing we knew, Dumbledore had shown up trying to take you away from us. After we refused, things begin to get a bit hazy. The next thing we know Sirius was in Azkaban for the murder of your parents and thirteen muggles, Peter Pettigrew and for being a Death Eater. I was in another country and Severus was still stuck with the Death Eaters as a Spy. By the time Severus had realized what had happened and been able to get away, Dumbledore would not tell him your location." Explains Remus.
"What we've worked out is that Dumbledore imperioed us; causing Sirius to go after Peter. Peter turned into his animagus form after killing those muggles and cutting off his finger, and escaping into the sewer. It was only this year, after Sirius escaped and all three of us were able to get into contact again, that we were able to figure everything out."
"For the last thirteen years Sirius has been in Azkaban with the Dementors, while I have been forced to wander the country, alone, and Severus has been here teaching without being able to contact either of us and not knowing where you were. " explains Remus. Harry shivers in Severus' arms, something that is noticed by the three men, but not the other two students.
"You've met the Dementors before ?" questions Sirius, and Remus and Severus nod in confirmation before Harry answers the question in a whisper;
"Yes... the first time that I met one was on the Hogwarts express, Remy was asleep against the window and 'Mione, Ron, Neville, Draco and Blaise were in the compartment with me. The train stopped and everything turned cold. One came into the cabin and sort of took my happiness, feeding on my memories. I can see my mom pleading for Voldemort to spare me, and then she's surrounded by a bright, sickly green light, screaming as she dies." explains Harry hoarsely, tears in his eyes once more.
"I'm so sorry Harry, that is something that no child should have to bear witness to." says Sirius sadly.
"You all cared about my parents ?" he asks and when they nod he motions Sirius and Remus closer to him and Severus. The two men join in the hug, giving Harry the comfort that he needs.
After a short time Remus and Sirius step back, but Harry still has a tight grip on Severus' robes, and continue to tell their story.
"I've spent years keeping track of those on Voldemort's side, trying to find a way to prove that Sirius was innocent, and to try and find Pettigrew. It wasn't until you showed me our old map that I truly discovered where he was." he says pointing at a small cage, sitting on top of an old and dusty piano, containing Ron's rat Scabbers.
"You're telling me," interrupts Ron "that Scabbers, the family rat, is actually an animagus. And not only that, but, he's actually Peter Pettigrew. Who is supposed to be dead and killed thirteen muggles and by best mate's parents. And, framed one of his godfathers and has been sleeping in my bed for the last three years ?" Ron asks looking pale.
"Sorry Ron, but yes. That is exactly what we are trying to tell you. That rat is Pettigrew and will be handed over to the Dementors and my name will be cleared." Explains Sirius before turning to Harry.
"Once that happens Harry, you can come live with us."
"Sev, Sirius and I are going to be living temporarily in Grimmauld place until we can get a better house for all of us. I'm not sure if anyone has ever told you, but Severus, Remy and I are all your godfathers and we want to adopt you. It's what we want and that is what your parents wanted." says Remus.
"No one had ever told me that you were my godfathers... You really want me ? You really want to adopt me ?" asks Harry in a quiet voice that breaks their hearts.
Severus, who still has hold of Harry, leans back enough that he can place his hands on either side of his face, and says;
" Harry, of course we want you. You are our son in all but blood, and even then, if you wanted we could, all three of us, blood adopt you. We care about you and we want you to be happy. We are deeply sorry that you had to grow up the way you did." Before gently placing a kiss on his forehead.
Harry is overwhelmed and all he can do is stand frozen for a moment before he hugs Severus as tight as he possibly can and cries. Surprised and slightly worried, Severus wraps his arms protectively around Harry and hugs him tight; Remus and Sirius each place their hand soothingly on his back.
When after ten minutes, Harry has yet to stop crying, Severus, Remus and Sirius give each other worried looks.
"Harry, what is it ? Why are you crying ?" Remus asks the crying boy gently.
All Harry does is shake his head and tighten his old around Severus, prompting the man to tighten his own hold on Harry.
Hermione clears her throat when it seems that they will question Harry again. All three look at the , but she fixes her gaze on Harry asking;
"Can I tell them some of it, just so that they understand ?" Harry gives her a small nod .
"Okay," she says turning to look at the three men "he is crying for a few different reasons; his life so far hasn't been easy and the only parent like figures in his life, besides his parents, have been mean and abusive. From what he's said, they never cared about him. And now the three of you want to adopt him and you care about him. You want him to live with you and that means a lot. You are also responsible for catching the man than betrayed his parents and..." here she trails off in thought
"And... ?" questions Remus
"And Harry came into an inheritance on his last birthday , his 16th birthday, and he is the submissive of a dominant alpha."
"What ?" asks Sirius confused, like the other two men.
"I can't explain. That is up to Harry to tell you later when he feels comfortable, but the important part is that he is a natural carrier because of his inheritance and his instincts are all about carrying young. He craves love and kindness, and needs contact from those he loves. His inheritance has made him an even more tactile person, except that with his past he is afraid of being touched unexpectedly. Without a mate, or mates, and without young, and without parental support, the more wild and out of control his emotions will get. Sometimes it is just too hard for him to control them and his emotions go to the extreme." concludes Hermione.
"Is all of that true Harry ?Do you feel that way ?" questions Severus gently and Harry nods against his chest.
"Oh Harry, we are so sorry that all of this has happened to you. As soon as my name is cleared we can all find a home in a place far away where we can all relax. Then we can all get to know each other. " promises Sirius.
"What about Ron and 'Mione ?" questions Harry hoarsely, his voice slightly muffled by Severus' robes, his cries slowing down.
"They can visit you whenever they want to or..." Sirius pauses, looking at Remus and Severus, who nod, before saying "they can come with us this summer. As well as any other friends who need to get away." reassures Sirius, rubbing Harry's back reassuringly.
It takes a few more minutes before Harry has completely calmed down to the point of just sniffling.
"Sorry" Harry apologizes " you can let go now" The three men nod, and they all separate. Harry sways on his feet and reaches out to grip the nearest thing, which happens to be Remus' arm. The three men look at Harry's pale face, and Severus looks at Harry's two friends to see if they have any explanation.
"He's wearing a glamour, has been the whole year, and last year as well." whispers Hermione.