Authors Note: A miracle has occurred today - I finally updated! You don't know how happy I am to do that! And I know it has been a year since the last chapter went up, and for that I deeply apologize. Even though I know it's not real excuse, let me just say that my life has been crazy during the last year with school, a summer job, volunteer work at my local theatre, and personal problems as well. And then I told myself I wouldn't update again until I had chapters 24 (this one) through 30 finished so I wouldn't be late in updating again. Well, that goal wasn't exactly meet, but it's pretty darn close; with five full chapters complete and 2 half chapters almost complete.

As to future chapters, I will be updating the first Friday of every month! (I would have done it last Friday, but I really did not want to update on April Fool's Day...) And I will continue to work on future chapters as quickly as possible, which is much easier for now as I only have two classes and a really easy job with my theatre's current production. If you want to be kept in the loop, just check my author's page, I update it every time I've made some progress on a chapter. Update dates will be posted there as well! And, I will also be going over past chapters for spelling, arrangement, and continuity errors.

Anyway, enough of me talking - I hope you enjoy this chapter, which is longer than normal, so yay for that! And just a reminder, there was a warning in the beginning of the story for abuse and violence. This chapter and a few more after will be the reason why the warning is there.

(P.S. - THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR OVER 300 REVIEWS and OVER 700 FAVORITES! I never expected this story to get so popular, but thank you each one of you!)

Chapter Twenty-Four:
Secrets

Glistening snow crunched under Harry's paws as he bounded through the Forbidden Forest, the white ground almost glowing under the light of rising sun, whose beams just managed to slip through the thick trees. While it was beautiful, Harry was concentrating more on weaving in between trees and avoiding boulders that might appear in his path. He was probably concentrating harder then he needed to, not wanting his thoughts to wander into dangerous territory.

Like the fact that Harry hadn't heard from his mother yet, hearing no new information on the danger that had been circling the camp, which had been apparently had Elysia so worried that she asked him to stay at Hogwarts for the holiday instead of returning home.

Then there was the fact that Harry and Susan had still found nothing on the mysterious Nicolas Flamel, even after sneaking into the Restricted Section of the library Christmas night. Harry was close to giving up, but after being found out about her nightly visits to the Mirror of Ersid by the Headmaster, Susan had thrown herself into finding even just the little bit of information before the other students returned from winter break. Nothing still, and the students were coming back to Hogwarts any moment now.

And to top it all off, there was the matter of Regina Winters. Harry had been with the Slytherin girl when she received the news that her mother had unexpectedly died, and he felt the wave of anguish that rolled over her as she took in the news that her only family was gone. He had felt her pain when Regina screamed, but before he could even say a comforting word, Snape had whisked her away. He hadn't seen her since.

Tossing his head to shake away the thoughts, Harry kept onward, running with no real sense of where he was going. He had continued the tradition of spending the winter run out in his wolf form, greeting the moon with a chorus of howls, which even the werewolves of the Forbidden Forest agreed to with their own set of cries. That had been three days ago, and since then he'd been spending as much time as he could outside before the students returned today. But since school didn't started up again till Monday, it meant he had had the next three day to get caught up on sleep and the homework he had been slacking off on.

A piercing whistle echoed through the woods, and Harry came to a slow halt, ears twisted towards the sound. He howled in greeting, even if couldn't be understood, and started to bound towards the sound. It looked like the rest of his pack had returned. And they were about to get a surprise.

After a lot of talking over the remaining holiday, both Harry and Susan had agreed on telling Neville and Draco about his ability to transform into a wolf. As Susan pointed out, it was only fair, they were both great friends, and Harry hated keeping secrets from them. Plus, she said more people would be able to help protect it if something got out of hand. Not that they anticipated any, but it was always better to be safe than sorry.

Coming to a slow trot, Harry pricked his ears at the voices near the edge of the forest, which were getting louder as the three students came his way. Shifting back to human form only long enough for him to put on the clothes he left hidden nearby - nobody there would be happy to see him naked, Harry crawled forward carefully, intent on seeing his friends before they saw him.

"So Bones, now will you tell us why you've dragged us to the edge of the Forbidden Forest?" Harry heard Draco asked with a sneer, as if not even remotely afraid even though his fear was tainting the air. "Most friends would like to receive an explanation as to why you've taken us here instead of letting us go inside the castle like everyone else? I just want breakfast. It's Friday and they serve cinnamon rolls on Friday. I love cinnamon rolls." He sneezed unexpectedly. "Plus, it's freezing out here."

"We're going to meet Harry out here," said Susan simply. When Harry was close enough to peer at them through the brush, he saw that she was glancing around for him, waiting for him to find them by her signal. Nearby, Draco was rubbing his nose before burying both his hands under his armpits for warmth, and Neville was staring at the ground, quiet. He was nervous, that much was obvious, but Harry could also smell a wave's pain. He snorted softly, confused. What had happened to his friend during the break?

"Well he better getting here soon," snapped Draco, irritated as Harry crept out of the bush. "Before I freeze off my - Ah!" The Slytherin jumped into the air as he noticed the sudden appearance of a large black wolf, frightening Neville along with him. "What the -" He scrambled for his wand. "Bloody hell -"

Susan grabbed his wrist, stopping Draco from drawing his wand out. "Stop - it's alright. He's not going to hurt us."

"Are you mad, Bones - it's a bloody wolf!" snapped Draco, his gaze rapidly going from wolf-Harry to Susan. "Probably one of those werewolves Dumbledore warned us about! He's probably wants to eat us! I'm sure I'm delicious."

Barking in amusement, Harry stood on all four paws and trotted over to Neville, who hadn't moved at all. He squeaked as Harry got uncomfortable close, but didn't shy away as the wolf nudged at his hand with his nose, silently asking for a stoke of the head. When that didn't work, Harry licked his hand, earning a yelp as Neville jumped back, falling to the ground.

"Ew, that's gross, Harry," said Susan with a wrinkle of her nose as she let go of Draco's wrist and walked towards him, and that got both of the boy's attention.

"Harry?" they said in unison, snapping their gaze towards the wolf, who was laughing in a strange set of short barks as Susan stroked the top of his head, just behind the ears. Just to annoy her, Harry licked Susan's hand as well, making sure it was extra slimy. She grimaced, shaking it. "Really? Are you sure not a just a giant puppy instead of a wolf, Harry?"

"Wait - wait a minute," said Draco, one hand held up as in plead for her to stop and another running over his face. "You're telling me, that this - my god, it's a real wolf, isn't it - is Harry Potter? Our Harry Potter? Are you off your rocker, Susan Bones?"

"Yes, of course it's - Harry, stop licking my hand!" screeched Susan, yanking her other hand away from Harry, whose mouth was hanging open and resembled a large smile, bright pink tongue lolling out. "I know you're only doing that to annoy me!"

Neville looked ready to faint at any moment, pale as a sheet, so Draco barged in. "Are you insane?" he said with a huff. "You cannot tell me that this wolf is our friend, Harry Potter!"

Shifting back to human form in a blink, Harry rested an arm on Susan's shoulder, ignoring her angry look as he leaned against her. "Well, I could tell you, Draco, if that makes you feel better."

Dead silence filled the clearing as the two boys started at Harry, who stood where a very large wolf had moments before; one that had the same raven black fur as Harry's hair, and whose eyes were the same bottle green...

'Thud.'

"Oh dear." Susan sighed. "I told you he'd faint... You owe me a galleon." She rushed over to Neville, checking him over as Draco stared at Harry with disbelief, slack-jawed. "He's alright," she announced a few moments later. "Already coming around - that's good. Come on, wake up, Nev."

"You're - You're -" Draco ran a hand through his slicked back hair, staring at Harry, who was stretching his arms above his head. "You're an Animagus?"

"Technically, yes," said Harry, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's just a bit more complicated than that."

"More compli - How is more complicated?!" asked Draco, the pitch of his voice going up.

"You best start explaining, Harry, before Neville faints again," said Susan as she helped Neville stand up, leading him to a log to sit on. "Or before Draco blows a gasket."

So Harry did. They sat around a fire they quickly built and he told his story again. He told Draco and Neville what he had told Susan before - how he had been left in the woods by a relative, leaving out the more graphic details, how he was saved and raised by a clan of werewolves. Again, he hid the fact that Fenir Greyback was his adopted uncle. And he finished with how he had been found by Dumbledore and offered the chance to attend Hogwarts.

When he was done, Harry sighed. "So, is that a good enough explanation for you?"

"...Not really, no," said Draco dryly, dragging his hand over his face. "By the gods above, this is unbelievable."

"So, when you were sneaking out at night," started Neville slowly, speaking for the first time since his arrival, "you were coming out here? To run?" He gulped as Harry gave him a nod. "But what about the-the werewolves?" he asked with a stutter. "I mean, the other werewolves."

"There aren't any other werewolves – their just really big wolves, though a right deal smarter than normal wolves. And they're alright, I've run with them once or twice and so far they haven't reacted badly." Harry shrugged. "It's the centaurs you have to watch out for."

"Centaurs?" chimed out Draco, Susan, and Neville in unison.

"Yah, they don't take kindly to trespassers, of any kind," Harry answered, "even though they're supposed to be sharing the forest with any magical creature that lives here."

"Have you seen a unicorn yet?" asked Susan in a dreamy way, sighing. "I read that Hogwarts has a herd of them somewhere on the castle grounds."

"No, not yet," said Harry, to Susan's disappointment, "but then again, they're creatures of light. Werewolves; not so much light creatures. They might be trying to avoid me."

"I want to be mad at you," suddenly said Draco, earning everyone's attention. "For not telling us, I mean. But I can't - this a big secret that you just can't tell everybody. Can you imagine the panic if anyone who didn't know found out that not only can already shift into an Animagus form, but you have been living for honest-to-goddess werewolves for over five years? The media alone would be having a field day." He took a breath. "So, I forgive you for not telling us."

"Uh, thanks?" said Harry hesitantly, but Draco wasn't done yet.

"BUT," Draco went, going as far as to thrust a single finger in Harry's direction. "To make up for it, you have to teach us how to become Animagus too!"

The group was silent for a long moment, Harry staring at Draco and blinking. In the end, it was Susan who spoke up first. "Are you joking, Draco? Do you know how much training it takes to become an Animagus? Not to mention that not everyone can even become an Animagus! And technically, what Harry's doing is illegal!" She directed her next words partly at Harry. "You have to be registered with the Ministry, what your form is and any special identify features, so that people can't just sneak around as animals and abuse the power by doing whatever they want! I mean, Dumbledore hasn't said anything, so I wouldn't worry about it just yet, but Draco, what you're asking for is impossible. Harry, tell him!"

"I'll do it," said Harry suddenly, looking at each of his friends in return and taking in their reactions - Draco's delight, Neville's panic, and Susan's shock. "I'll teach you all how to be Animagus."

'...Thud.'

"Neville's fainted again," Draco announced loudly and necessarily, Susan pinning him with a glare before she went to check on Neville again, who had fallen of the log.

"Oi, you're going to have to start being nicer to Neville if you really want me to teach you," said Harry sharply, a growl in his voice, and Draco stiffened. "If you are going to do this, part of the condition is that you'll be a part of my pack, and my pack members are going to get along. Understand?"

Draco nodded, trying to look nonchalant about it and failing. "Alright, alright. Don't get your pants in a twist."

"You can't be serious, Harry," said Susan as she helped Neville back onto the log, taking a seat next to Draco. "We could get hurt, or worse! And what if someone finds out?"

"To be fair, Susan, we've been in worse danger with Fluffy," pointed out Harry. 'And the mirror,' he wanted to add, but didn't. "And the whole someone jinxing my broom thing, too. Compared to that, this will be pretty tame."

"Think of it, Bones," said Draco, nudging her with his elbow. "Wouldn't you like to turn into an animal? I mean, isn't cool enough that McGonagall can do it?"

"...It would be an interesting experience," said Susan slowly. "But still..."

"What about you, Neville?" asked Harry, turning back to his still quiet friend. "Do you want to try it?"

"I-I don't know, Harry," nervously said Neville, his gloved hands twisting in his lap. "I'll probably turn into something really pathetic, like a mouse or something."

"Or maybe a toad?" mumbled Draco lowly under his breath, but when both Susan and Harry shot him glances, he held up his hands in defeat. "Sorry, sorry. Maybe you'll be something cool, Longbottom, like... like a great big hound, or... a peacock."

"A peacock?" echoed both Susan and Neville.

"What? My family really like peacocks, alright? My parents like to keep a lot of them on the grounds - all white and all mean as hell -"

"Oh Merlin; Draco Malfoy's going to turn into a peacock," said Susan dryly, the sides of her lips twitching up betraying how hard she was trying not to laugh. "Alright, that would be worth it."

"Hey!"

"Who knows what you'll turn into," interjected Harry. "My uncle says you can't chose - it's based on your personality or something like that. He said I was pretty lucky that I wanted to be a wolf so badly."

"So Draco really is going to turn into a peacock then," snorted Susan, and Draco glared at her.

"I've heard that too," said Neville sadly as he stared down at his lap, probably thinking of how pathetic his form was going to be. "I did read once about a potion; it supposed to give you a dream about what your Animagus form is supposed to be." He looked up, and his three friends were staring at him. "What?"

"How did you read about that?" asked Susan with curiosity and awe.

"Oh - in a Herbology book." Neville looked embarrassed. "There's a plant called the Sommnus, that can only be used in dream potions, and that was one of the ones listed."

"That's amazing, Neville!" said Susan with delight, looking like she was almost ready to jump off the log and hug him. "Do you remember what the potion was called - maybe what other ingredients we need?"

"Um, sorry, I don't really remember what it was called," said Neville, much to Susan's disappointment as her excitement started to deflate. "But I still have the book - it's in my trunk, back in my room, if you want to look through it."

As Susan's face lit up with delight, Draco snickered. "I thought you weren't interested in becoming an Animagus, remember, Bones?"

"Well, I am allowed to change my mind," said Susan defensively. "And besides, I've decided this is going to a good learning experience."

"You just want to see what kind of animal you'll turn into," Draco teased.

"At least I won't turn into a fluffy white peacock," shot back Susan.

"Alright, calm down," said Harry forceful, enough though he was trying to hold back a smile. They might not be the best of friends, but at least they were getting along. "Susan, why don't you and Neville look into that potion, find out what we need and how to make it. Draco, why don't you look into finding us a place to practice once we start learning? You three can't keep coming out to the Forbidden Forest, it could get dangerous, and I don't want any of you to get in trouble with a professor."

Both Neville and Susan nodded, and Draco gave a shrug as he said, "I'll see what I can do."

Standing, Harry stretched his arms over his head, rolling his neck before he dropped his arms and nodded. "Come on then, let's get back to the castle for breakfast - I'm starving!"

"Oh, this makes sense now," said Draco with an undignified snort and started to laugh. "This is why you eat like a pig all the time at meals."

"Oi!" growled Harry playful, "if you had to run around as much as I do you would eat a lot too!" And when Draco just kept laughing, Harry grinned before he shifted again and ran at his friend, snapping at his heels when he started to run away from him.

"Potter, you bloody wanker!" yelped Draco as he scrambled back to the castle, Neville and Susan laughing at the sight. "Ahhhh!"

"She's not here, Potter."

Standing in front of the entrance to the Slytherin common room, Harry deflated a little, shoulders falling slightly. After revealing to his friends the truth, he had gathered up the courage after a hearty breakfast to go ask the one person that might now what was going on with Regina, with the help of Draco leading him to his common room and even fetching the person he was looking for. But it looks like it was all for nothing. Not that he should be surprised. Regina's mother did just die after all, she would need more than a few days to recover before coming back to school.

But she hadn't even called him on her newly invented Micro prototype, though. Not that she needed to, they had only talked a few times before, and officially they weren't best of friends. But still...

"I figured that. I just wanted to check. Um, do you have any idea when she'll be back?" Harry questioned the Slytherin in the doorway, who huffed and shook her head. Millicent Bulstrode was leaning against the door frame to her common room, wearing black trousers and white dress shirt under her open robes, the green and silver tie hanging loosely over it. Harry thought that might be a violation of the dress code, Milli not wearing a skirt like the other girls had to, but he didn't comment on it. He also noticed that her hair was considerably shorter - even shorter than his. It was cropped close to her head, her former shoulder length hair now spiky waves that just fell over her ears. Had it been like that when she and Snape had searched for Regina? He hadn't noticed.

"No. I haven't heard from her since she left." Milli waved a hand, which held onto a Micro prototype, similar to the one that Regina had given him too, just before she left. "I've tried calling her on this new thing she gave me, but she only answered once, and she didn't look to happy." She huffed, running her free hand through her short hair, as if still surprised how much was gone. "All I got out of her was that the funeral was over a few days ago, so I don't know why she not back yet like the rest of the students. But..."

"But?" pressed Harry. "What?"

Glancing behind her, making sure that no one was listening in, Milli turned back to Harry and leaned forward. "Regina's not the only one gone. Blaise Zabini's gone too. He's, well -"

"Her half-brother, Regina told me." As Milli raised an eyebrow at that information, Harry went on. "But why is he gone too? I thought he hated her."

"That's still true," said Milli with a roll of her eyes, muttering, "And he's still a prick," under her breath. "And I was wondering why he was gone, too, until a little tidbit of information came up."

"And that is?"

Snorting, Milli shook her head and crossed her arms. "I'm not gossiper, Potter." She shrugged. "Not for cheap, anyway."

Seeing what she was getting at, Harry crossed his arms as well. "What about a trade of information? I'll tell you something, and in return, you tell me what the information is."

"Well, looks like somebody not quite as Gryffindorish as I thought," said Milli with a sneer, but she leaned in a little closer, interested. "I'm listening. But it better be good."

Harry leaned forward as well. "You know that third floor corridor that Dumbledore doesn't want us near?" When Milli nodded, he went on to say, "Through the door at the end of the hall is a giant three-headed dog. I don't know what it's guarding, but it's something important." He didn't add that he knew its name was Fluffy and it belonged to Hagrid's. That might get the caretaker in trouble.

Leaning back and raising another eyebrow, Milli stayed silent for a moment, her eyes narrowing as she took in the information, weighing its worth, and Harry wondering if that was good enough for her. He relaxed when Milli cleared her throat before revealing what she knew. "Regina's father has come back to England." She frowned with worry. "He's been spending the last ten years in Asia. Whatever is going on with Regina and Blaise, it has to do with their father; that can be the only reason they're both gone." She shook her head as turned to go back inside her common room. "I can't believe it took her mother's death for Regina to see her father."

"Wait, how long has it been since Regina's seen her father?" Harry had questioned.

Looking back over her shoulder, Milli raised her eyebrow. "She's never even meet him before," was the simple answer she gave before closing the door behind her.

A few hours later, when Harry was hiding in his shared bedroom, sitting on his bed and the curtain drawn around him as he withdrew the Micro from his pocket. Taking a deep breath and drawing on a little courage, he touched the glass with his forefinger and whispered, "Regina Winters."

A soft white light imitated from the glass, flickering gentle like the ringing of a telephone. It went on for about twenty seconds, and Harry was just about to try and figure out how to hang up when face appeared in the rounded mirror - the familiar face of Regina looking down at him as if the Micro was in her lap, though her eyes were red and her smile a bit hesitant.

"Harry!" whispered Regina, almost delighted. She glanced around her. "Just a moment," she said in an even softer tone. She stood, mumbled something, and then started moving. The background, which looked like a high class dining room, disappeared after a few moments and melted into a dark hallway, low candles giving her only a little light as she continued on walking. "You called," she said after a few moments, smiling again.

"I wanted to see how you were doing," admitted Harry, a hand going up to rub the back of his head. "How are you doing?"

Regina looked away, eyes watering and lip trembling. "I don't know," she said softly. "Tired, mostly. And I feel like I haven't stopped cry since... since I found out." She sniffled. "I actually would rather be back at Hogwarts, than here." She wrinkled her nose. "Well, maybe without Pansy and her groupies."

"School starts back up in a few days," said Harry. "Why weren't you on the train today, with the others?" He panicked for a moment. What if her father didn't want her to come back? "Are you ever coming back?" he asked.

"Yes, Blaise's mother is having me Floo over Sunday afternoon, I think. It's... it's just that it's complicated," answered Regina, unsure. She glanced around, and entered another room, and by the walls lined with books, Harry assumed she was in a library. "My father is here. It's the first time I've ever seen him in my life, and he's just trying to figure out where he's going to send me when school gets out. He doesn't even want me, Harry." Tears threatened to escape, and she wiped a sleeve over her eyes. "He didn't even tell me in person - Blaise told me, to hurt me more than anything. My father can't even tell his own daughter that he doesn't want anything to do with me."

"I'm sure that's not in," Harry said gently, but Regina shook her head.

"Later one, I heard him talk to his...his wife about it." She settled onto a couch, grabbing a pillow and hugging it to her chest. "It's supposed to be a secret. He doesn't want to have to deal with me, now that my mother's gone. He basically wants to give me to Blaise's mother and be done with me. She doesn't want me either, though. She doesn't want a reminder about her husband's affair." Her shoulders fell, and she couldn't look Harry in the eye as she said quietly, "I'm just a bastard child."

"Hey!" Harry said forcefully, startling Regina and gaining her attention again. "Don't you dare listen to them. What happened between your mother and father was not your fault. They should see you for the person you really are, and if they can't, then that's their own fault." He took a deep breath, trying to ignore the anger that was rising up inside him, and went on again, this time much more calmly. "I know you're smart, and kind, and you listen to people when they need you. Now you need to show them that."

Blinking back tears, Regina gave him a shaky smile. "That's ... that's one of the nicest thing anyone's every said to me. Thanks, Harry." She rubbed at her eyes with the heel of her palm, riding herself of her tears. "Thank you."

A distant voice called out her name, and Regina shot up, looking towards the voice. "Someone's looking for me - I better go." A finger hovered over the screen, pausing before she hung up. "Harry... thank you," she repeated.

"Sure," said Harry, smiling back at her. "I'll talk to you when you get back?"

A nod. "When I get back," Regina confirmed before her face disappeared from the screen.

Falling back on his bed, Harry stared up at the canopy of his bed. Where would Regina be sent if Blaise's mother wouldn't take her in? And if she did take her husband's illegitimate child in, how would she even treat her? Memories of listening to the Muggle story of Cinderella in preschool floated through Harry's mind, of Cinderella being tortured by her horrible stepmother and sisters. He frowned. He didn't think that's what would happen, but he still didn't imagine a happy ending for her...

The door to his room opened. "Harry?"

"Here I am, Nev." Pulling back the curtains to his bed, Harry glanced at the clock. "It's not supper time yet, is it?" he asked, putting the Micro back in his pocket.

"Not yet - here." Neville held out a letter. "This came a little while for you."

"Thank you," said Harry as he glanced over the letter, Neville look in on his pet toad, Trevor. Realizing with a start that it was from his uncle Fenrir, Harry tore into it, ripping the letter out of its envelope and scanning over it as quickly as he could.

Cub,

Sorry for this late news, and for keeping you so long in the dark. It's been a rough winter, and only now do we have a chance to breathe and take a moment to write to you. Like your mother told you in her last letter, something dark has been near the camp, forcing Jason and Agatha to keep the clan confined to the camp when hunters were being attacked. It got so bad that they actually had Elysia come to my own camp and beg for my help. It was an interesting time, cub, with the two different clans force into one campsite while we waited for a chance to hunt down the problem. Thankfully, no one was seriously hurt by the end.

Sorry that meant you couldn't come back home for the holiday, cub, but don't worry – we'll see each other soon.

Uncle F.

"Good news?" asked Neville when Harry gave a little sigh, his roommate placing food in Trevor's cage.

"Yeah, I think so," Harry answered happily, tucking the letter into his nightstand.

"Great." Neville yawned a little. "I was just going to take a nap," he said carefully "I'm exhausted."

"Sounds good," said Harry, watching as Neville winced with almost every move he made as he curled on top of his covers. Even if he hadn't noticed his friend's sudden shakiness since that morning, he could still smell the pain he was in, it came off him in waves as easy as the smell of worry and fear mixed along with it. While Harry couldn't see any sign of hurt on Neville, he knew it was there; hidden just like his bruises had been when his uncle had beaten him long ago.

"Hey, Neville," Harry started, pushing himself up from his mattress and sitting up, crossing his legs. "What happened during break?"

Stiffening, Neville took a moment before he lifted his head, looking confused despite the fresh wave of fear coming off him again. "What? Nothing happened, Harry. I ... I don't know what you're talking about."

"You're a terrible liar, Nev," said Harry, tapping the side of his nose. "I can tell that even without my smell." When Neville flinched at his friends blunt honest, he repeated, "What happened?"

Gingerly Neville turned to his other side, facing the wall so he didn't have to look at Harry. "It's not a big deal, Harry, nothing you need to worry about it."

"I can tell you're in a lot of pain," responded Harry gently. Getting off his bed, he went over and placed a hand carefully on Neville's shoulder, hating that his friend still winced at the light touch. "Let me help, alright? I know what you're going through, hard as it is to believe."

A pause, and Neville looked back at him. "What?"

"I wasn't in the best place before I found my pack," admitted Harry. "My relatives were horrible people, and I couldn't tell anyone what was going on. So I won't tell anybody if you really don't want me to; I'll keep your secret like you're keeping mine." He hated saying that; he wanted immediately to tell someone what he thought was happening. But Harry remembered how he was so long ago, afraid to tell anyone. He hoped he was wrong, but if he wasn't, he would just have to give it time and hope Neville told someone - an adult - all on his own.

It was a long few seconds before Neville finally pushed himself up and turned around, so that he was sitting on the edge of his bed and letting his legs swinging over the side. He picked at the edges of his long sleeved jumper, trying to delay what he had to do. But he finally lifted it up by the bottom, grimacing until the jumper was finally balled up in his shaky hands and he was half naked, not daring to lift his head even when Harry took a sharp breath.

Both of Neville's arms were covered his bruises, old and new overlaying, dark purple and bright red mixing with crusty yellow and aged brown; it was like two sleeves of tattoos that traveled from his wrist to his shoulder. Some looked like claws of a bird had dug into his arms, and others look as if he were hit by something hard. There were ever a few older ones littered on his round stomach and chest. Every part of Harry want to howl and growl and growl in anger, to avenge someone that he consider part of his pack. Instead, he simply curled his hands at his side.

"Neville, who did this?" Harry asked.

"... My gran wasn't happy that I was Sorted into Hufflepuff," Neville whispered shakily. "And she heard from Professor McGonagall that I wasn't doing well in Defense. So she..." He shrugged. "It's not a big deal, Harry - and I know you want to talk about it," he hurried on, seeing that Harry was ready to open his mouth. "But please, not tonight. I'm just too tired."

Snapping his jaw shut so hard a shock of pain traveled down his neck, Harry took a moment before he nodded, and only because Neville's shame - shame he shouldn't have - was so strong in the air. "Alright, alright. But let me at least get you something for those bruises. You won't be able to raise a wand properly tomorrow otherwise." He turned towards his trunk, digging through it with shaky hands of his own. How could Neville's grandmother do that to him? And for what - being sorted into the "wrong" house? For doing badly in a subject that everyone had trouble with due to a terrible teacher?

What a horrible, horrible woman. He could feel his teeth trying to extend as he thought of tearing into the old witch's neck, but Harry shook his head, banishing his fangs and his thoughts. Neville wouldn't like him thinking like that.

Grabbing a jar of salve and unscrewing it, Harry sat next to Neville, dipping his fingers into the medicine. "It's going to be a bit cold," he commented before smearing it over Neville's nearest arm.

His friend jumped, but then gave a little sigh. "That feels so much better. I smell... elderberry, and aloe. Did you make that?"

"Yeah. I was kind of an apprentice healer back in my clan." Harry gave the entire arm a generous coating before switching to the other one. "It's going to have to dry a bit before you can put your jumper back on, but you should feel loads better in the morning." He paused. "I know you don't want to talk about it, and I won't push you, but... don't you think you should talk to a professor? They could help."

"She's my gran," said Neville quietly. "I can't. And she's just looking out for me, Harry, really. She just wants me to be like my parents; brave and smart." He glanced at his wand, which was sitting on the nightstand. "Heroes."

"But you are brave and smart," insisted Harry, closing the jar and setting it next to Neville's wand. "You're best friends with a boy who can turn into a wolf, the first person who accepted me for who I was, fame and all. And you are the best in Herbology, better than some older years, and I know you could be better at spells if you just had a new wand, one that accepted you. Why can't that be enough?"

"It's not what she wants," shrugged Neville. "Please, just don't tell anyone, alright? Not even Susan or Draco."

"I... I won't tell anyone," said Harry unwillingly. And Neville didn't say anything else on the matter as he slipped back on his jumper and curled back up in bed, saying he just wanted to sleep till dinner. Harry just sat on the edge of his own bed, staring at the ground as he lifted a hand to his chest, his fingers curling into fist around the wooden charm that hung there.

First Regina - bullied by her Housemates, her mother dead, and shunned by the rest of her family. Susan, her aunt ignoring her for Ministry work, despite how hard her niece worked to please her. And now Neville, punished by his grandmother for not being exactly like her dead son and daughter-in-law. Why couldn't Harry help any of them?! In a world full of magic, where a flick of the wrist could heal or harm, why couldn't he protect his friends?

Then, his hand suddenly went to his pocket. Maybe he couldn't help Susan or Neville yet, but he could still help Regina - maybe. Yanking the curtains around his bed closed again, he made one more call.

"Milli, I think that I need your help," he said immediately before the Slytherin girl could yell at him for calling her. "And Draco's too."