Thank you, thank you, thank you Castiel's Grace for looking this over! You are amazing!

ginnyweasly123 - It's already all written! :)

While Severus was leaving the house, Remus was yelling at Sirius for being such an idiot, and then eventually just punched him square in the nose. Arthur though, was now sitting in Harry's room with the boy on his lap.

As soon as he had entered the room, he sat down next to George and Harry and was a bit surprised when the boy leaned on his side. He hated to even think this, but it was an accomplishment that Harry was seeking comfort. Before this, Harry had always been as closed off with his emotions as Severus was.

Knowing that if Harry had gone that far to seek comfort he desperately needed it. So Arthur did what he would do for any of his sons. He gently pulled Harry up so that he could rest in his lap and cry into his chest. Even if Harry was fifteen years old, he was still small for his age and Arthur was also dismayed to find out just how light he was.

As Author pulled his surrogate son into his lap, he watched quietly as his other son's left the room, but not before George whispered a bit of information in his ear that he wished wasn't true. That someone had called his son a freak and the poor boy believed it true.

Looking down at Harry, Arthur sighed, wrapped his arms around the small boy and made himself comfortable on the bed knowing he would be here for a while. His son had been strong for so long, and it was no surprise to him that Harry was now breaking down. Everyone had their breaking, point and it appeared that Harry's godfather not accepting him was his.

The man was right too, and Harry sat there on his lap for more than a half hour until he calmed down enough to look up at him. Giving the boy a gentle smile Arthur gently stroked back his hair.

"Do you want to tell me what happened Harry?"

The boy looked down and nodded. "It didn't go so well..."

Arthur smiled and tried to make light of the conversation. He had found that often times a light poke in a serous conversation with his children went a long way in making them both more talkative and more comfortable. "You don't say."

Harry let out a small smile and nodded while leaning his head back up against Arthur's chest. He then told the man slowly what Sirius had told him stopping occasionally to take a deep breath or to close his eyes to hold back the hurt in his chest. Every time Harry paused, Arthur held the boy tighter and reassured him that everything was going to be okay.

Although Arthur had remained calm and collected outwardly as he calmed Harry down, inside he was seething. He was not one to get angry over something, but when someone hurt one of his children the tables turned. Sirius was just lucky that Harry needed him or else he would have flown in there in a blind rage and done things to the man without thinking first.

When Harry finished telling his story, Arthur sighed and then told the teen exactly what he thought about his Godfather's words. "Harry, I am so sorry Sirius said those things to you, but you do know that they're not true right?"

Harry shrugged. "He's the one person besides Remus who grew up with my parents...wouldn't he know?"

Arthur shook his head. "You know I knew your parents as well. Maybe not as well as Sirius or Remus, but I did talk with your Father on a number of occasions. Especially about you, and giving him parenting advice."

Harry looked up at the man curiously. He had never heard this before; the man had always stayed silent about his parents. Probably trying not to hurt him anymore or reminding him of what he had lost. "Did he say anything about me?"

"You were his world Harry. He loved you more than life itself. I don't think there was a time when he wasn't gushing about you. Even Lily had to hit him on the head a few times to get him to shut up."

"Really?"

Arthur nodded and then got an idea. "Would you like to see my memories of them?"

Harry looked up at the man with hope filling his eyes and Arthur knew the answer was yes before the boy could speak.

"Do you want to stay here while I go grab a pensive? I'll be right back."

Softly Harry nodded. "You won't be long?"

"I'll be back before you can say Supercalifragilisticexpialid ocious."

Harry smiled and let the man gently sit him down on the bed and then watched as he left the room.

True to his word Arthur came back in, in just moments with the stone bowl. Albus had left one downstairs for the Order to use, but he thought that this was more important at the moment.

Sitting down beside the boy Arthur put the stone bowl on his lap. He then took his wand out and pointed it to his head closing his eyes thinking of a specific conversation he had with James Potter. Slowly with his eyes still closed Arthur pulled the wand away from his head and dropped the silvery wisp into the bowl.

Opening his eyes he looked down at Harry gently. "Do you want to view this by yourself?"

Looking down at the bowl Harry shook his head slightly nervous. "Can...can you come with me?"

Arthur nodded and they both plunged their face into the watery substance.

Once inside the memory Harry looked around curiously. They were in a large home painted is soft tans and grays and felt strangely familiar. Harry looked to the man standing next to him. "Where are we?"

Smiling Arthur pointed to a photo of two smiling people on the wall with the woman was holding a small baby. "This was your home, before your parents went into hiding. We often had meetings here, and I believe you and Ron even shared a crib once."

Harry looked around in awe. "I lived here?"

Placing a reassuring hand on Harry's shoulder, the man nodded just as a younger version of himself and James walked in shutting the door behind him. They then walked over to a table with a tray of tea already placed on it and sat down on either end.

"Arthur, how are your children doing?"

The man smiled. "They're all doing fine. Ron said Mummy the other day, except he directed it to me instead of Molly. I think the twins had something to do with it."

James shook his head laughing. "I can just imagine the look on Molly's face. Did they admit to anything?"

"They're the twins, what do you think?"

Smiling James nodded. "So that is a no." James then turned his head to look out the window, his features becoming serious. "I just finished putting all our affairs in order. If anything happens to us, Harry should be set for the rest of his life."

Surprised at the sudden change of topic Arthur nodded. "Where would Harry go?"

"Remus would be our first choice, but with the werewolf laws we cannot put him down in our will. It would be overturned, and he would go to the Ministry's care. So we put Sirius down, because we know Remus will be there every step of the way. If something happens to them, we put you down. Is that alright?"

Reaching over the table, Arthur placed a gentle hand on James's hand. "We'd be honored to look after Harry."

James smiled. "I..I just want what's best for him no matter what it is. As long as he is happy that is all that matters."

"That's all a parent ever wants, for their child to be happy."

James looked back out the window. "I've never felt this way before about anyone. I love him so much, and I know he couldn't do anything that would make me love him any less."

Just then the door was pushed open, and Lily came in holding a happy, giggling baby. "He wants you James. He wouldn't leave me alone until I took him to his 'pongs'."

James looked down and shook his head. "It looks like Sirius got to him."

Lily laughed and shook her head mischievously. "I'm just teasing you James, but could you take him for a little while. I wanted to talk with Molly about some things, and I don't want to fill his growing vocabulary."

James held out his arms and accepted the happy bouncing baby. "I would be more than happy to take him."

"Daddy!"

Turning him around so that little Harry was sitting in his lap he held up the little hand. "Say bye-bye Harry."

The little boy bounced up and down on his Father's knee. "Bye-bye! Bye-bye!"

As soon as Lily left, James turned his baby around and smiled down at him. Gently he poked the little nose and then held his finger so the boy could grab it and giggle. "I know you're too young to understand this Harry, but I want you to know that I'll love you no matter what. It doesn't matter if you're a squib, if you're magically powerful, if you're a Slytherin, if you're straight, gay, transgender, or anything else I'll still love you. Merlin forbid even if you are bitten by a werewolf, I will still love you."

Baby Harry giggled and shook his Daddy's finger and then looked over at the other man in the room just noticing him. Letting go of James's finger the little boy waved at Arthur and gave him a toothy grin.

Arthur waved back. "Hi Harry."

The room then began to swirl and fade back out, and the next moment Harry was sitting back on the bed next to Arthur. Looking over at the man he then launched himself at him and almost knocked the stone bowl to the floor. Carefully Arthur put the pensive on the bed next to him and then reached his arms around Harry.

"Hey now, what's wrong?"

Harry pulled back and brushed the few new tears from his eyes. "He really said that?"

Arthur nodded. "That was my memory. So now do you believe me when I say that you are indeed still a Potter?"

Harry gave a small nod and rested his head on the man's shoulder. "Why did Sirius say what he did. I know he wants me to be just like my Father...but I don't really remember him. I'm doing the best I can..."

"Harry, look at me."

The boy looked up at Arthur; confusion written in his eyes. He had never heard the man's voice so stern; except when he was scolding the twins.

Sighing, Arthur gently ran his fingers through Harry's hair. He hadn't meant to sound so stern; he was just so angry with Sirius. "You don't have to be anyone but yourself, Harry. Remember what your Father said, he just wants you to be happy and so do I. Sirius...I don't think he's in his right mind. Maybe the dementors did more than we thought."

"Do you think he'll be mad at me forever?"

Again, Arthur sighed as he looked down at his boy. "Oh Harry, I want you to forget everything he said. None of it was true and I'm sure he is regretting what he said at this very moment."

Harry relaxed against Arthur's chest, not quite ready to accept what Arthur was saying, but also not ready to leave the man's protective arms. He had never had parental arms he could hide in when he was growing up, and he knew he took advantage when Arthur offered him comfort, but then the next moment he pulled back suddenly angry. Hadn't his Father said that he was supposed to go to Arthur if anything happened to Sirius?

Arthur looked down concerned at his son. "What's wrong Harry?"

"You never came for me. Why didn't you come for me?"

To the boy's shame tears began to cascade down his face showing his hurt and betrayal mixed with his anger. There had been someone out there that could have taken him from that hell hole and they hadn't. They hadn't come to rescue him.

Sadly Arthur looked at Harry. "It was the end of the war, and things were quite hectic. When I went to get you that night Albus told me he was placing you with your relatives and that it would be better for you growing up there instead of in the lime light of the press. He didn't want you to have burdens pressed on you while you were so young, and he wanted you to have a normal childhood. I thought that he was right at the time."

"You never checked on me. Not once. Why?"

"I know Harry and I'm sorry. Mrs. Figg always said you were fine, and I believed her. I should have come myself and made sure you were being well taken care of."

Harry leaned his head back on Arthur's side as his tears continuing to flow, but the anger he felt was slowly ebbing. His emotions were truly a wreck.

After a few moments, Arthur pulled Harry back and looked him in the eyes. This last outburst had told him more than words ever could, but he needed some confirmation. "Harry, I have to ask you something."

The boy looked up at the man curiously and nodded his head.

"Who called you a freak Harry?"

Harry buried his head in the man's chest. Not this again. He thought he had deflected it, but apparently they had just put it aside then. He really, really did not want to talk about this.

Concerned Arthur reached down and placed a gentle hand on the back of Harry's head. "Please, child, tell me."

Harry shook his head making the man sigh. "I can't do anything to help you if you don't tell me what's going on."

Again, Harry shook his head, so Arthur decided that if Harry wasn't going to open up he would pry. He hated himself for this, but he had a bad feeling about this. He had a bad feeling that this was more than just name calling by the way Harry was acting. Hadn't Harry gone through enough?

"Was it a teacher, Harry?"

Harry shook his head, but froze he didn't like where this was going. He knew he couldn't lie to this man; he had done so much for him.

"How about a student? Was it a student who called you a freak?"

Still buried in Arthur's chest Harry shook his head yet again.

Stroking back Harry's hair Arthur sighed. He felt like an awful man hoping that it had been a teacher or a student because he knew what the alternative was, and he didn't like it. He knew it couldn't have been any of his children, they all loved Harry too much, and Sirius, Harry hadn't spent enough time with Harry for him to believe it the way George had said he did.

"Was it your relatives Harry?"

The boy froze in Arthur's arms and made a move to shake his head, but he stopped himself and nodded. Why did he have to pry? Couldn't he have left well enough alone?

Gently Arthur pulled Harry back and wiped away the fresh tears. "I need you to be honest with me Harry. Was it just your cousin who called you a freak or was it your Aunt and Uncle too?"

Arthur knew that there was no lost love between Harry and his relatives, but this was bordering on verbal abuse. Especially since Harry believed it was true, meaning that this had been going on for a while.

Harry looked down at his lap and twisted his fingers nervously. He didn't know how Arthur would react to his answer, and if he was being frank he was kind of scared. Very quietly, so quietly that Arthur had to strain his ears, Harry gave his tentative answer. "All of them..."

The man let out a small sigh and trudged on. "How long?"

Shrugging his shoulders Harry continued to look down. "As long as I can remember...I thought it was my name until school."

Arthur now had four people on his hit list for hurting his son. Sirius and now the Dursleys. He just hoped that this was the extent of it, but deep in his heart he had always suspected something else going on. He just couldn't prove anything and Harry had run from him at any question. He had an opportunity now though, and he was going to take it. He was going to find out enough so that he could keep his son home with them all summer so he never had to go back.

"Did they ever hurt you Harry?"

The boy looked up nervously at Arthur with fear in his eyes and then looked down at his lap. "I...I...yes..."

Arthur tightened his hold on his son and placed a gentle kiss on the top of his head. "I am so sorry Harry. I promise you; you will never have to go back there."

A million thoughts were going through his head. He should never have let Albus talk him into letting him place Harry with those people. He had made a good argument then, but he should have at least checked on Harry every so often. Mrs. Figg had always said that Harry had been fine when he asked about him, and then he had gotten wound up with the seven children he had under his feet all the time. How could he have ever have forgotten about Harry? This was his fault. He should have done something; he should have known.

But, how could he have known? Yes, the signs had been there when they had first met the boy after all those years, but when asked anything Harry would always deflect or run.

Arthur sighed and continued stroking back Harry's hair. "Have you had a full physical lately, Harry, to make sure you're all healthy?"

Harry shook his head. "I haven't had one since I started Hogwarts and before that I only saw the school nurse."

Looking down at Harry in surprise Arthur sighed. "Madam Pomfrey never gave you a physical?"

Again Harry shook his head, and blushed as he looked down. "I always thought of a way out."

"That's alright Harry. Would it be ok if you had one now? I would like to make sure you are all ok even if it's just to reassure me."

Harry looked down. "You should see something..."

"What, child? You can show or tell me anything."

Harry held his hand up that had the scar "I will not tell lies" etched in the back of it. He just hoped the man wasn't too mad at him for not telling him earlier.

Arthur gently picked the hand up and cradled it in his. "Who did this Harry"

"Umbridge."

Arthur sighed. "Did she use a blood quill on anyone else?"

"I don't think so, she was just so mad at me." Harry looked up at Arthur sadly. "I wasn't lying though, I was telling the truth. I...can't do anything right."

The man hugged Harry close to his chest. "Harry, you have done everything right in my eyes. It's not your fault when people don't believe you or don't like what you have to say."

Tiredly Harry nodded against Arthur's chest. He didn't want to argue right now, everything from the day was coming back to him and he was beginning to get really tired.

Gently Arthur lowered Harry's hand back down into the boy's lap. "Can I go get Madam Pomfrey to give you a physical before you go to bed Harry?"

Harry shook his head. "Couldn't it be a guy? I...I don't feel that comfortable...you know..."

Arthur stroked back Harry's hair thinking of who else had a medic's degree that he trusted and unfortunately only one person fit that description.

"Harry, there is only one other person I can think of that is able to check you over. It's either Madam Pomfrey or Professor Snape."

"Snape."

Arthur rose an eyebrow; he knew of the two's animosity for one another. Why would Harry choose Snape over Pomfrey? "Can I ask why Harry?"

"He won't fuss over me and...and I don't like Madam Pomfrey seeing me in my underwear."

"Alright Harry." Arthur would have to look into that further, but he knew that now was not the time. Right now, he needed to make sure Harry was healthy and then put him to bed. He could tell that everything was becoming too much for Harry and that he was tired. A lot had happened since Harry, and Ron had flooed here. First Sirius, then his finding out about Harry's relatives and Umbridge, and now a physical.

"I'll be right back Harry. Can you lie back on the bed for me?"

Harry nodded and let the man position him so that he was lying comfortably on the pillows. Gently Arthur smiled down at the boy and placed a kiss to his forehead before standing up and leaving to fetch the potions master.