A/N: Sorry about the last chapter, I just re-read it and a lot of it doesn't actually make sense O.o It's really all over the place the structures really really off.

It's obvious I don't have a beta, and I don't really know how to get one. If anyone would like to beta this I would greatly greatly appreciate it! Otherwise we can all keep suffering my wonderful unbeta-ed writing (I do try and re-read over it most of the time)

Sorry for no individual replies for the last chapter but a HUGE thank you to you all! I love you guys so much +glomps+
ElsaGemma, Yasmine Lupin, Helena, Tora88, RainSeaker, Kathleen LaCorneille, Dark-Lady-Devinity, StarAngel531, greypanther, Alexis8907, galyn, muhjaa-ness, Raclswt, Hoshi Tamamushiirono, lucifer0901, Kateri1, Lisea 18, Lady Lynn and mactunes.

WARNING: physical abuse, mild swearing, male male, dark thoughts.
This Chapter is was very hard to write, I'm not sure if I portrayed the emotional torment of it well, but meh, plus I wanted the end to be happy (but not too happy), a nice lift from the last few angst ridden chapters.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, nor am I making money from this.

SS

Severus watched the boys, taking notes on their movements, keeping his anger in check.

His eyes flickered to the pile of rags again and the dark brown stains which he knew were of old blood, a lot of old blood.

"I think I might break you nose again Freak." Dudley chuckled gleefully as he took a step forward. "Coach told me to keep practicing you see."

"I'd break your spine you insolent pig, but I doubt you have one. Choosing to use your strength on people weaker than you. It makes me sick." Severus knew he had to rile the boy up so he would stop thinking and just act.

The way the walrus's face turned a dark shade of purple in the moonlight made him think Severus had hit the target.

"Why you little…" The fat fist swung towards him but Severus could already see the boy was off balance and all he needed to do was duck under the sloppy hit. Rounding back and kicking the back of the boys knee had the boy on his face before he had finished his full swing.

A swift kick to the diaphragm had the boy gasping for breath.

Severus turned to the middle boy who was still standing, the taller boy now having climbed to his feet after the kick to the knee.

"You're going to pay freak." The taller boy swung his hand, the knuckles grazing Severus cheek bone, as he realised he had underestimated the boy's length in arm and over estimated the distance his short legs could jump back.

He also heard glass shatter, and the way everything blurred around the edges and the forms became loose shapes, made him realise he had lost his glasses.

He would have to fix the boy's eye sight as soon as they returned to school, he couldn't have such a disadvantage as this while fighting the Dark Lord.

Severus let his instincts guide him, his eyes only making out heavily shadowed blurs.

He dodged the next wild swing, and ducked under it, elbowing the boy hard in the side, before bringing his knee up into his crotch.

The boy was back on the ground and Severus let his elbow connect with the side of the boys head. The groaning boy suddenly silent and slumped unconscious on the floor.

Grinning a little he turned to where the third boy stood, cowering slightly.

"You're mad." The boy whispered into the dark and Severus merely smirked, stepping forward.

"Stay away from me." The boy took a step back and Severus took another step forward, his smirk falling when a grip on his ankle tightened and pulled his feet out from beneath. He landed awkwardly, his wrist jarring, as he tried to keep from hitting his head.

He was pulled back roughly by the ankle, the wood scrapping hard against his bare back as his shirt was bunched up from the movement.

He kicked with his free foot, twisting, before the tight grip turned crushing.

He gasped loudly and stopped resisting, waiting for the walrus who had attached himself to his foot, to take it as a sign of defeat and let his guard down.

The tight grip remained and Severus wondered if perhaps Harry had tried that tactic too many times.

"That's a good freak." The voice was mocking. "Now play nice."

Severus twisted suddenly, kicking where the voice had come from. His heel connecting with something soft that caved in under the force.

There was a squeal followed by a scream.

Severus felt a sense of self-satifaction, standing now his ankle was free.

But the scream kept going, getting louder and louder, before it drowned everything out, even the pounding in Severus's head and the fire in his wrist.

It was broken only by a muted pounding, a large crack of straining wood and a flood of light.

Severus blinked, the light blinding, before his head cracked against the wall.

HP

Harry stared at the counter top of the kitchen.

If he could get there before Remus's sent messenger than he could get Snape out of there with no one else knowing.

Of course there would be lots of awkward questions once someone figured out they were missing. The ministry would get involved, they'd blame Dumbledore for his lack of attention, like they had that third year when he had run off to London.

But wouldn't it be better for them to find an empty house then to find Harry Potter being punished by his muggle family?

That would raise even more awkward questions.

And beside he couldn't let someone find Severus in such a state.

Harry fervently prayed that Severus hadn't even been touched. But if he had been allowed no magic…

Besides, it was meant for him, this punishment, and if Severus received it on his behalf, then it was Harry's duty, his responsibility to go and get him out of that mess.

It was Harry's fault.

Frowning, he pulled himself to his full height.

He would go save Snape from a summer with the Dursley's.

Stalking to the front door, he jotted down a quick note on a torn piece of parchment.

Gone to 4 Private Drive.

Leaving it on a small table in the hallway he slipped outside, stepping down off the small steps that led onto the street from his door. There was a small tingle of magic as if trying to catch on to him, trying to pul it back, but he brushed it off, pushing forward down and out into the street.

The evening air was cool and the street lights threw an orange pallor on everything. Harry pulled the dark coat around him a little tighter.

Now that he stood out in the open, he wasn't sure how he would go about his mission. He knew it was dangerous to even leave the house, but he had to do this.

Magic was out of the question, and that included the Night Bus. He had never caught a train to Little Whinging before, he wasn't sure if the trains even went near there, a normal bus would take too long. He couldn't drive…

But he had money.

The pouch in his pocket had been charmed to be light, so it didn't betray the amount of money he had on him. Conveniently changed from wizard to muggle.

He found himself back at King's Cross, asking a woman in the ticket booth to help him find his way to Whinging. She had directed him to the nearest town and the earliest train which left in little under ten minutes.

He thanked her and found his way to a train very similar to the one he had arrived on with Remus. It would take a while to get where he wanted to, and the silence of the carriage didn't help to calm his nerves or his imagination.

SS

Severus blinked to try and clear his head. Opening his eyes to a blur of movement and light, of screams and raised voices and confusion.

Severus had to close his eyes again, his head pounding.

"What the bloody hell is going on here?"

The continual scream almost drowned the roar out.

"Petunia, get Dudley to a hospital."

The scream receded and Severus slowly opened his eyes to see the middle boy trying to drag his unconscious friend out of the room. The door closing ominously behind them, leaving only moonlight.

Vernon Dursley stood menacingly over him from where he lay half propped up against the wall. The man looked like he was nearly fuming.

"What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?!" The man roared and Severus ducked a wild backhanded swing. "You ungrateful little Freak!"

"We feed you! Clothe you! Offer you our home! And you pay us back with this!"

A kick to his side and Severus winced at the unexpected power behind it.

"You're lucky you're still alive you freak!" Another kick which Severus tried to dodge, feeling it connect sharply with his ribs. He felt a crack and a flame of pain envelop him. The man was out of control and Severus no matter how many fancy moves he had up his sleave would not be able to take him down.

"Your lucky we even let you stay you murderer!" Severus blinked as the face suddenly loomed close to his and he was dragged to his feet and tossed against a wall, his head hitting it hard. "You should be grateful we punish you. We're doing you a favour, reminding you of what you really are." The face was close, the breath hot and heavy on Severus's cheek and he tried to hold his breath.

"We see you for who you really are Freak."

Severus bit back a retort, feeling the anger well up inside him. How dare these people think that Potter needed punishment, that they treat him like this?

Just the presence of the man made Severus want to strike back, revenge the wrong he could feel seeping into his skin from this room. The pain and suffering hidden in the shadows of the dark corners.

No one, no child, no adult, no person should be put in a such a situation like this and made to deal with it on their own.

His heart clenched for Harry, and everything he had tried to hide. He could feel himself burning inside, the anger at these people, at Dumbledore for not looking out for the boy, at Sirius, at Remus, at the wizarding world. But mostly at himself.

He had broken his word.

The promise to both of the boy's parents.

James Potter's Wizarding debt.

Lilly's promise.

He would make it up to them ten fold.

Even if it meant sacrificing his existence to look after the boy.

"Do you hear me Freak?" Severus's teeth rattled as he was shaken violently, his head hitting the wall a few more times.

"You are going to wish you were drowned at birth, like they should have done to creatures like you." Severus hissed, into the older mans face, enjoying the varying reactions it caused.

The last ending in rage.

"How dare you! You little shit." The man's fist drew back and Severus's merely smirked at the man, feeding his rage. "I'm going to make sure no one recognises you back at that freak school of yours when I'm finished with you." The man huffed, before the doorbell rang.

The fat man looked up for a second, before turning to ignore it.

The doorbell rang a second time.

Eerie in the quiet that had descended on them, almost as if from another world, intruding in their own.

It rang almost desperately and the fat man pulled back roughly, pushing Severus away.

Severus winced as his ribs complained.

"Run, little man, run." Severus smirked.

Waiting for the man to turn back to him.

He didn't expect the belt that whipped hard and fast across his face, bitting into his cheek just below his left eye. The second one he was prepared for, hearing the whistle of leather through air, before it caught on his upraised arm, buckle digging into his wrist.

"You, Freak, are going to pay tonight."

The heavy step of the man was cut short by the already abused door being kicked open.

Severus blinked at the bright light flooding through the now open door.

"Such dramatic timing Potter." Was the first scathing comment that slipped from his lips, before Severus could stop it.

The look on Harry's face bit into him however, as the boy looked down on him, seeing the welt already form beneath his eye.

Severus looked away from the stare.

"Oh Gods, I'm so sorry." The voice was almost a sob from the doorway. Severus refused to look up at him, those should have been his first words.

Sorry he hadn't taken better care of him.

Sorry for ignoring the signs right in front of his eyes.

Sorry for betraying his mother's trust in him.

Sorry.

He doubted he would be forgiven.

HP

Harry didn't know what to do, the shock of seeing it. Actually seeing Vernon standing over the cowering form of Harry Potter hit him hard.

Everything he had told himself, that he was being punished, that he deserved it, that it was just something he lived through because he had no choice. That it was his life and he should be grateful for what he had…

It took on such a disturbing view, such a awkward, painful slant.

No one deserved to be treated like that.

He frowned stepping further into the room. His hand reaching out unconsciously, wanting to touch the small child, dwarfed by the man, wanting to comfort and take away the pain that he could see in those eyes, though they tried to hide it.

He blinked and Snape glared up at him from the floor. He couldn't mistake that look for a child's, couldn't ignore the pull of the lips or the furrowed brow for anything other than his potion's master.

The glare shot through him.

He wanted to protect.

"What the bloody hell is going on here?! And who the Fuck are you! Do you realise your violating the law? That you've just broken into my house and…" Something seemed to click behind those small eyes. "You're one of them! One of those Freaks!" The man turned back to the small form on the floor. The belt lashing out, catching the smaller boy's neck, before raining down in a number of small sharp blows.

"What have I told you about bringing Freaks here?!"

Harry was moving before he could even thing. His strong fingers grasping the fat wrist of the man, stopping the blows.

He was pushed violently away, stumbling the wall.

The fat man turned on him snarling.

"I saw you come in here! You weren't suppose to leave the house, you bastard! Make my life difficult for me, have to follow and watch after you. Pfft stupid order missions." The angry and annoyed voice from the hallway caught and froze the scene.

"Now what the Fuck are you doing in Harry's house you slimy git?!" A wild dark haired man burst into the room, fingers flipping the light switch and Harry blinked from his position by the wall.

"Sirius?!" Harry gaped at the man, who stood frozen in the doorway. His eyes quickly snapped from Harry to Vernon, to Snape still on the floor, now clutching his neck, where the belt had bit into it.

"What the hell is going on here? Who the hell are you?!" The voice was a low growl and Harry was surprised to see Sirius was still standing on two legs as opposed to four. It had sounded almost animalistic.

"And who are you?" The large man standing in the centre of the room, belt still in hand, roared. "What are you doing in my house?!"

"Your house?" The voice came out even more dangerous. "Who the hell do you think you are?!"

"Vernon Dursley." Came the low drawl from where Snape sat on the floor. Harry wondered if Sirius would pick up on the drawl.

"This is Vernon Dursley?!" Sirius's voice hitched. "The one they said my Godson would be safe with?!"

Vernon's eyes narrowed and Harry watched the realisation and panic settle in.

"You're that filthy murdering scum. Get out of my house you-"

There was a wand held directly eye level to the man.

"Petrifucus." Sirius stood over the fallen man. "I'm not a murderer but I might just become one for you sake."

"No Sirius!" Harry stepped forward before Sirius whipped around to face him.

"What and let this piece of Scum get away with hurting my Godson? You'd love that wouldn't you Snivellus." Harry realised his Godfather didn't recognise him, how could the he? He was still in Severus's body.

"No. I just don't want you to murder anyone." Harry tried to keep the pleading out of his voice.

"I agree with Sirius on this. The man needs to be dealt with." Severus had stood up from the corner, wincing slightly, supporting himself against the wall.

"Two against one Snivellus." Sirius grinned, adding teeth to it when he turned to Vernon.

"Look, I'm not saying that. Just don't kill him, please." Harry frowned. How could he make them see? If they killed the man, then either or both could be sent to Azkaban, both were already watched, suspected.

"You've suffered the most under him Potter. Yet you say he should live?" Severus stepped forward from where he clutched the wall. Sirius blinked at the small boy.

"What are you talking about Harry?"

"Shut up mutt, I'm speaking to Potter." Severus directed the emerald gaze at Harry.

Harry grimaced at his Godfather. "When we were in the Shrieking Shack, I told you not to kill Pettigrew." Sirius took a step back. "Everything would have been so much easier, but I couldn't have you become a criminal, a murderer. And I won't have you become one now, especially because of me."

"Harry?" Sirius stared at him as if he'd grown two heads and Harry gave the man a small smile.

The man looked even more shocked by the smile.

"Yeah."

"Now Potter." Harry turned to Snape's sharp tone. "What are we to do with this?" He motioned to the man who stood fuming in the centre of the room, but too frightened to move as Sirius still had his wand pointing in his direction.

Harry frowned, taking in the form that had threatened him for years.

"I… I don't know."

How could Harry just suddenly turn around and be expected to answer that? Though he had seen everything through different eyes, though he had seen the depravity of the situation, how could he forget everything that had happened.

How could he just erase the belief he was a freak. He may not be a freak because of magic, but he was a freak, hadn't that been proven almost every single year at school? Didn't he have a scar the shape of a lightning bolt on his forehead? Didn't he speak to snakes?

And he was a murderer, and he did deserve to be punished.

He could see that it was wrong, but…

"I don't know." He found himself frowning, staring not at his tormentor but at Snape. Would the man understand him?

There was a small nod of the head. So slight it was almost invisible.

"We will deal with him at a later date."

Harry gave him a grateful smile, while Sirius gave a grunt of disapproval.

"Tonight is not the night to deal with this Black."

Harry saw Sirius about to protest and decided to jump in.

"Not tonight. Let's just get back before anyone finds us. And we need to get Professor Snape a healing potion."

Sirius merely frowned but nodded. Reluctantly tossing a small vile in Snape's direction. The man caught it, although Harry could see the effort had pained him. He downed it quickly.

Harry gave the large man lying silently on the floor one last glimpse before heading for the door.

"Come on."

All Harry wanted to do was get out of there, get Severus some help and forget any of this ever happened. But he knew there would be questions. Questions he didn't want asked, questions he didn't want to answer.

He stood on the front porch of the house, coat pulled tight around him. His whole mind felt numb, as it tried to deal with the lies he had been trying to feed himself throughout his childhood. As it tried to deal with the possibilities of the future, what Snape would think, what Snape would say, how Sirius would react when this first shock wore off.

How he was going to be able to explain all of this.

"You don't have to explain anything to anyone."

The voice was soft and came from behind him. Harry frowned, watching as Severus struggled down the stairs, breathing sharply. He wanted to offer to help, but he had been in that position, had seen the look Snape had sent him when he had stepped forward a little.

"What that creature did…" Snape frowned and Harry caught the flicker of something in the emerald eyes. "You don't have to explain it away. His actions will be seen as they were, not as an explanation." The man wasn't looking at him and for that Harry felt grateful.

He hadn't told him that it wasn't Harry's fault, which made him even more grateful.

But those words had meant more, than anything.

"Are you alright sir?" Harry asked. He received a dismissive grunt from the other.

"Sleeping potion mixed with Healing…"

Harry caught Severus's elbow as he stumbled forward almost loosing his balance. Catching the smaller body against his own. Supporting it.

"You alright Harry?"

Harry looked over his shoulder at his Godfather.

The stars were bright above number 4 Private Drive, and the moonlight caught the three of them.

Harry felt the warmth of the smaller man against him, the returned smile of his Godfather.

"Yeah, yeah I think I'm alright."