For as long as Harry could remember (which admittedly wasn't that long as he was only five years old) his parents hadn't gotten along. He liked it when they were at parties or out in public, because it was times like that when his parents would smile and act like a real couple. Harry didn't understand why, he was far too young for that. He had thought that it was normal for mums and dads to sleep in separate rooms; he had thought that it was normal for mums and dads not to talk to each other (except to fight). Of course, that opinion changed when Harry had a sleep over at his friend Neville's house for the first time.

Neville's parents slept in the same room, they talked to each other, and more than that they were affectionate with each other. Harry couldn't understand it. Why didn't his parents do the things Neville's parents did? Harry would like it if they were more like Neville's parents. He hated it when they fought with each other. His mum would yell and scream at his dad about Uncle Sirius, Uncle Remus, and Uncle Peter. Harry didn't understand that either, why didn't she like his Uncles?

Then his dad would yell right back at her, and Harry would hide under his blanket and pretend that it wasn't happening. He would pretend that they loved each other, and that they were happy. He couldn't help but feel responsible, like it was his fault that mummy and daddy didn't like each other. Maybe if he hadn't been born then they would like each other still? After all they had to have liked each other before he was born, or they wouldn't have gotten married, right?

Sometimes when the fighting got too bad and Harry couldn't pretend that is wasn't happening, and he got too scared, he would sneak into the parlor and floo to Sirius' house. He wasn't supposed to floo by himself, mummy said it was dangerous. But he had to go somewhere where he felt safe, away from all the screaming. This time his parents weren't just screaming at each other, they were breaking things too.

"YOU'VE ALWAYS CHOSEN THEM OVER ME! YOU'VE ALWAYS TURNED TO THEM FIRST, TAKEN THEIR SIDE! NEVER MINE!" Harry couldn't hear his dad's reply over the sound of breaking glass. He pulled the blanket tighter over his head. It wasn't real, this wasn't happening, they were a happy family.

"You don't understand!"

"Well maybe I would if you just told me why!"

"I can't!"

"But you can tell them? I'm your wife! You're supposed to put me first, before them!"

"It's not that simple! It's more complicated than that, I don't have a choice!"

"You always have a choice! Let's pretend for a second that that is true, that for some reason you really can't do it. Let's pretend for a second that I actually believe you. Now answer me this James, if you could tell me would you?"

Harry's dad was silent for a moment too long. "If you have to think about it, then I already have my answer James. Why bother hiding behind excuses? You won't tell me why you put them first, why you constantly choose them over me because there is no magical reason other than the fact that I don't mean as much to you as they do." Harry didn't wait to hear his dad's reply; he slipped out of bed and made his way into the parlor to floo to Sirius' house.

Harry stumbled as he got out of the fireplace, and slowly walked further into Sirius' living room. He couldn't see Sirius anywhere, but he could hear noise coming from the kitchen. Pushing open the door to the kitchen Harry saw Sirius, Remus, and Peter sitting around laughing and drinking.

"Harry?" Sirius asked, concerned, as he got up from his seat and made his way over to his godson. "What are you doing here? What's wrong?" But, as he crouched down in front of Harry and picked up his now crying godson, he knew he already knew the answer to his question.

Harry just shook his head and buried his face in the crook of his Godfather's neck. Sirius felt his heart clench, Harry had come to him before during some of James and Lily's fights but never before had he been this upset. Sirius slowly rubbed calming circles on Harry's back, "Are your mom and dad fighting again?" He felt Harry nod against him. He could feel Harry start to cry some more, his small body shaking with the force of it.

"It was really scary." Harry whispered quietly, but Sirius heard him anyways. And judging from the look on Remus and Peter's faces he figured they had heard him too. Harry couldn't stop shaking as he quietly cried into Sirius' shoulder.

"It's okay Harry, I've got you now." Sirius said as soothingly as he could, "Everything is going to be okay. You're safe with me." In that moment Harry felt warm and safe as he always did with his godfather. In that moment Harry felt sure that Sirius loved him, Sirius would always be there for him in a way nobody else was.

Eventually Harry calmed down. Although Harry had been more upset this time then he had been in the past Sirius was fairly used to Harry coming to him in these situations. Sirius would calm Harry down and reassure him. Then he would make them both some hot chocolate, and take Harry to sit in front of the fire while they drank their hot chocolate. Sometimes Sirius would tell Harry stories, and sometimes they would play games. Then Sirius would put Harry to bed in the room Sirius kept for him in his flat. After that he'd send a message to James letting him know where Harry was.

The bond the marauders shared would normally force Sirius (or any of the four of them) to tell each other about something like this. However, when they made the pact and formed the bond they had made their children's secrets the exception. James was obviously aware that Harry came to Sirius, and Sirius hadn't exactly kept it a secret from Remus and Peter. But, he hadn't talked about it with them either.

So, obviously Remus and Peter were fairly concerned. They did a good job of following Sirius' lead though, as it was obvious to both of them that this wasn't the first time this had happened. An hour later Harry was tucked in bed, sound asleep, and Sirius had sent off a message to James letting him know where Harry was. Now, the three friends sat in the kitchen once more.

"How often has this happened Padfoot?" Peter asked tiredly, he felt awful for Harry. He knew what it was like to grow up in a home with parents that were constantly fighting.

"Not that often."

Remus merely raised an eyebrow, "Even with all the fighting James and Lily have been doing? You know how much worse it's been getting."

"It's been happening more often lately." Sirius admitted, scrubbing his eyes. "Each time Harry is more upset. This can't continue, it's not good for any of them."