Authors note- You guys are amazing with the comments. I'm so glad you are enjoying reading the story as much as I am writing it.

Update- Sorry for the double chapter replacement. I always do a listen through once it's posted and i made my usual corrections. But I want to apologize for the excessive use of the word 'boy' in the last part of the chapter. I think i have clean it up now. Thank you for your patience.

Chapter 24

Hard Truths

Sirius sat on the porch looking out at the woods. Remus was still sleeping. The week before the full moon always exhausted him. He'd sleep as much as he could in the next few days. Sirius had made some headway in the room for Harry. It was a little boring, but he hoped Harry would make it his own.

Sirius looked back down at the book in his lap. He'd asked Remus for some mind heeling books. He wanted to see what he could learn that might help Harry. He hadn't made it very far in the book before his mind had started drifting. It was an unfortunate side effect of long term dementor exposure. Remus had explained that he'd likely always have issues with focus and mood fluctuations. Dementors by their nature draw your mind away from what you were thinking about to feed off the worst of your memories. The constant exposure to your worst memories can eventually lead to mood issues. Sirius was prone to bouts of depression now, that he'd never really felt before. Remus had been a godsend this last year keeping him going.

Remus also suffered with depression but his was more related to his condition. Sirius had helped him all through Hogwarts with his low moods. They were supporting each other now. Sirius felt warmed inside by the care.

Sirius was startled from his thoughts by a crack of apparition. He jumped to his feet with his wand in his hand. Whoever it was had apparated at the edge of the wards, they were in the woods. Sirius scanned the tree line.

The door slammed open, and Remus was next to him in a moment, wand out.

"Thought you were asleep?" Sirius said not taking his eyes off the trees.

"I got up a little while ago. Was just getting dressed. Did you see anything?" Remus muttered beside him.

"No." Sirius replied.

He squinted a little as he saw movement at the edge of the wards.

"Looks like a Weasley." Sirius said. Guessing by the red hair he could see.

"It's Bill." Remus said, lowering his wand.

Sirius kept his up. He trusted Moony sense of smell and sight, but he wasn't going to relax until, he was sure.

Bill walked closer to the cabin and waved. Sirius could see him now and he didn't have his wand in his hand.

"Hello." Bill said as he came to a stop in front of the porch.

"When did you see us last?" Sirius asked.

"In Dumbledore's office on Sunday." Bill answered.

Sirius nodded and put his wand away.

"Come on up Bill." Remus said taking a seat on the porch.

Sirius returned to his seat.

"What can we do for you?" Sirius asked a little annoyed. Bill could have sent his Patronus ahead.

"I talked with Albus about strengthening the wards. I had assumed Harry was with you. He um… He told me he wasn't yet." Bill said, looking at them and then away.

Sirius felt a stab of pain that Harry was still being kept away from him.

"No, He's not here. We would appreciate the help with the wards. We both have some skills, but a curse breakers skill would be greatly appreciated." Remus said.

Bill nodded.

"No problem. Your wards aren't bad but obviously there is still some concerns." Bill said gesturing vaguely at the two of them.

Sirius could admit he'd been concerned about how the wards would hold up if someone showed up. He'd been able to just walk in and he knew that Remus had allowed Albus to key in some of the order members, but they were mostly just a warning system if someone not keyed in showed up. They wouldn't keep anyone out.

Sirius watched as Bill bit his lip and looked away from them. He was nervous about something.

"Is there something else?" Sirius asked.

Bill nodded and looked down.

"Um…what um…What do you know about Harry's home life?" Bill asked softly. His blue eyes looked over both him and Remus.

Sirius felt a lump form in his throat. What did Bill know? As far as Sirius knew the oldest Weasley hadn't spent much time with Harry.

Sirius turned to catch Remus' eye.

Remus looked sad. They both knew they were about to get some confirmation about what they had suspected.

"We know he doesn't like living there. We have our suspicions about that. Why do you ask?" Sirius asked as calmly as he could.

Bill bit his lip and looked horribly sad.

Sirius felt his heart sink.

"I…Um…I talked to the twins the day I found Harry. They told me some pretty upsetting things." Bill murmured.

Sirius felt a little sick. Although The twins being the source of information made more sense. Sirius had seen how close the boys had been with Harry last summer at Grimmauld. He'd suspected mischief when he'd found the three of them coming out of the kitchen late the first night Harry had been there. They'd all frozen like they were about to get scolded and upon seeing Sirius had just made jokes and snuck past him up to their rooms.

When he'd descended into the kitchen, he'd expected to find the basket of treats Molly had made empty or at worst his firewhiskey missing but he hadn't noticed anything amiss.

"What did they tell you?" Remus asked softly. Sirius could see Remus hands clasped tightly together between his knees. It was a tell of anxiety for Remus. Sirius would catch him like that or even digging his nails into his opposite hand when he was worried and upset.

Sirius was thankful that Remus had taken over talking though. He felt like he couldn't speak around the lump in his throat.

Bill seemed to be steadying his nerves.

"The twins told me that his relatives have been abusing him." Bill said not meeting either of their eyes.

Sirius felt like he'd been kicked in the chest. He'd known. He knew that it was what Bill was going to tell him. But hearing it was something else.

Sirius closed his eyes for a moment.

"Apparently, they've been helping him for years. They promised not to say anything. I think they thought they were protecting Harry. They've been deeply concerned about him and wanted me to find out where he was. I…I told them you were alive. Sorry." Bill said looking to Sirius.

Sirius waved off the apology.

"I thought Dumbledore would send Harry with you two back to Grimmauld. When I asked him today and found out he was with Snape I wasn't sure what to do. The twins thought Harry might need help. Apparently, he's not likely to speak up if he's hurt. I got Snapes phone number from Albus and called Harry… He um…He didn't sound good. I think I upset him by telling him that the twins had talked to me. He hung up before I could push to see if he needed anything." Bill explained.

Sirius felt sick. Maybe Albus would have let him take Harry if he'd agreed to go back to Grimmauld.

Harry was upset. He just wanted to wrap Harry up in his arms and take him away from all of this pain.

"Did you tell Albus?" Remus asked.

"No, with everything the twins told me about Harry's relationship with Dumbledore I didn't think it was wise. It didn't sound like he was aware but more like willfully ignorant. According to the twins Harry's not even aware that Dumbledore is his magical guardian." Bill said.

"What?" Sirius finally spoke up.

Bill just shook his head.

Sirius turned to look at Remus. who just shrugged his shoulder.

"I'm not sure if he knows or not." Remus replied.

Remus reached out and took Sirius hand.

"He won't be his guardian much longer, Siri." Remus said, giving his hand a squeeze.

Sirius nodded.

"I'm not sure what can be done while the professor has him. I know he won't take advice from a former student. I don't think telling him would be a promising idea either. But maybe making sure Harry is okay would be a good idea. Make sure he's not walking around wounded and in pain unnecessarily.

"Physical abuse then?" Sirius said in a whisper.

"Yeah." Bill said quietly.

"I don't know the details. But it sounds like it's been pretty bad. The twins patch him up at the end of the summers the best they can." Bill said quietly.

Sirius closed his eyes as pieces fit together. They'd been in the kitchen patching Harry up. They had raided the potions supplies.

Then a thought occurred to him. He'd sat with Harry that first night giving him his birthday gift. They'd spent nearly an hour together. He hadn't noticed anything. The metamorphmagus wouldn't have hidden injuries.

"How has no one ever seen it?" Sirius thought out loud.

"The twins think it's some kind of accidental magic. Like an accidental glamour." Bill answered.

Sirius sighed and looked to Remus for support. He looked just as lost. They had a long road ahead of them.

"Is there anything else." Sirius asked with dread in his heart.

Bill shook his head.

"The twins didn't tell me much." Bill said.

Sirius nodded. It was confirmation but not much more. Who knows what all the poor kid had been through.

"I'm going to go do a survey of the ground and the existing wards." Bill said standing up.

"Thank you, Bill. Thank you for bringing this to us. Tell Fred and George thank you too. For taking care of Harry when clearly no one else was." Sirius said. His voice a little thick with emotion.

Sirius held out his hand and Bill took it and gave it a firm shake.

Sirius watched as Bill walked off the porch and headed around the cabin.

He felt Remus stand up next to him. He turned and looked into his eyes. Remus held open his arms and Sirius folded into Remus body. He felt sick. He wanted to go back to bed and forget ever having this conversation.

"Remy. What are we going to do?" Sirius cried into Remus' chest.

Remus rubbed his back with one hand and held him tight with the other.

"Nothing has changed. We knew he needed help. This was just confirmation. We'll get him and help him. Remember we're making a home for him here. We're going to be his family now. Show him what a family is supposed to be." Remus whispered.

Sirius felt hot tears running down his face into Remus shoulder. He felt so rung out. He just wanted to go and get Harry. He hoped the meeting on Friday would go well and things moved quickly to clear his name after.

"Come on, Siri. let's go inside. Bill will come back when he's done. Let's just go have a cup of tea. Yeah?" Remus asked softly.

Sirius just nodded into Remus' shoulder.

Remus pulled away and took Sirius hand as they walked back into the Cabin.

Harry felt panic as he came back to consciousness. Snape had attacked him.

He tried to move but quickly became aware he was bound and laying on the floor. His head throbbed. He'd clearly hit it on the floor on the way down. The throbbing was near his temple on his left side. He figured he must have another lump. The one on the back of his head was still healing from when he'd hit it on the road.

Harry struggled against his bindings. The longer he was awake and tied up the more his mind slipped back to being tied to the tombstone in the graveyard. Waiting and watching as Pettigrew cut open his arm and resurrected Voldemort.

The fear of seeing a naked man rise from a bubbling cauldron and knowing that this was the man that had killed his parents. The fear of being completely helpless to do anything in that moment. Tied up and vulnerable to anything these men wanted to do to him. The fear that no one knew where he was. He could see Cedric's dead lifeless eyes staring up into the dark sky.

Harry struggled like a trapped animal in his bindings. He didn't know why Snape had attacked him. He didn't know why he had just left him here unconscious on the floor. He just needed to get out of the bindings.

He felt the exhaustion begin to overtake him. His struggle began to fizzle out. He was too weak from not eating to keep fighting. His mind began to slow down, and he took a deep breath. He mentally chanted the counter curse to the incarcerous, and the ropes fell away and disappeared. Harry pulled himself to a sitting position and pulled his legs close to his chest.

He was sure Snape was going to come back. He knew he was supposed to stay here. He hoped he wouldn't be in more trouble for breaking the bindings, but he couldn't stay like that. He felt so weak and dizzy.

He buried his head in his knees and rocked himself softly. He would give anything to be back in his cupboard now. He hated it but it had created a sick sense of security. He knew no one could get in. He knew what to expect when his relatives opened the door. There would be yelling, there might be pain, but there would be no magic, there wouldn't be much uncertainty. Now he felt he knew nothing. He was just here. Waiting. Everything right now was uncertainty.

Harry heard footsteps coming towards the office door. He closed his eyes and waited for whatever came.

He heard the door open and two sets of footsteps. Maybe Harry had been wrong. Maybe Snape was still a Death Eater and he'd brought Voldemort here to finish him off. Somehow that was almost comforting. He didn't want to live like this anymore. A quick Avada to his back and he'd be done.

"Harry? Are you all right?" Dumbledore's grandfatherly voice sounded from above him.

Somehow that was worse Harry thought. Dumbledore would just justify Snape's actions and tell Harry to behave, and then leave.

Harry sighed and looked up at Dumbledore. His eyes briefly flicked to Snape. He was still standing by the door. His face was a blank mask. Harry had seen this expression enough and now that he sort of understood Occlumency he understood that the expression was one of full occlumency shields. Whatever Snape was feeling on the inside in this interaction, he was burying it. Harry thought that was probably a wise idea. He made sure his wall was fully up and looked again at Dumbledore.

"I'm fine, sir." Harry said flatly.

Harry watched as the headmaster looked over to Snape with a glare. He'd not expected that.

"You didn't tend to the boy's face like Remus asked. He's got a bump on the side of his head too. I'm guessing you didn't bother to stop his fall?" Dumbledore growled.

Harry felt even worse. He was fine. He just didn't want to be around anymore angry adults.

"The boy didn't complain about his scratches. I figured he would ask if he needed something." Snape replied.

Snape took a few steps forward. He pulled something from his pocket.

"I don't have anything to fix a bump. This will help with the headache though." Snape said.

Dumbledore took the vial from Snape and held it out to Harry.

He just stared at it. Snape had just attacked him. Was he supposed to trust the man not to poison him? The magical aura for a headache potion looked right but…He still felt weird about taking it.

"It's okay, my boy." Dumbledore said kneeling down in front of Harry.

Harry did not feel like anything was ok. He'd been possessed, lied to that Sirius was dead, told the whole wizarding world was his responsibility, beaten, threatened, groped, starved, locked up. His magic and memory had been doing some very strange things. He was now convinced someone had attacked his mind when he'd entered the wizarding world and done something to his mind and magic.

Then he'd found a somewhat safe place and still managed to get punched and ripped half up on the pavement. Then he got plucked from that place and dumped here. Snape had bruised his arms, not offered food, yelled, berated, threatened, and then attacked him with magic. Nothing was okay. This was all less than a month and honestly, he was fucking done. Dumbledore was not a comforting presence. Snape certainly wasn't. This house wasn't. He supposed he'd been fine before Snape had returned. Now though he just wanted to leave. Get the hell away from these angry unpredictable adults.

"I'm fine, sir." Harry said more firmly. He scooted back away from Dumbledore. He really didn't want to be within reach of either of them.

"Severus how about you make us some tea. We'll have a sit down in the other room." Albus said pulling himself back to standing.

Snape nodded and left the room.

Harry picked himself up and stood awkwardly away from Dumbledore. He wouldn't let his guard down. He'd made that mistake again. He'd lowered his wand when he thought Snape wasn't going to be able to get past his wall. He'd not expected to be attacked a different way.

"Come on." Dumbledore said and walked out of the office.

Harry took a deep breath and followed him.

Severus grabbed the kettle and set it on the stove top. He paced back and forth in the kitchen. He felt embarrassed by the headmasters' words. He'd been doing what he could to instruct him. They didn't have time for him to build a relationship with Potter and help him build walls. He needed the boy to close his mind.

He didn't think he'd done that much damage. He'd not seen much. Mostly just the boy and his friends at school. One memory of a dog chasing him up a tree. That was about it. The boy had hardly had his mind raped as Severus had experienced with Voldemort. Severus had no interest in seeking out the boys' deepest memories. The most personal he thought he'd seen was the boy looking into that blasted mirror at his parents. Or maybe the most awkward kiss he'd ever been forced to see between two teens.

The boy didn't have anything to hide.

Severus pulled his mother's tea tray from the top of the cupboard and was surprised to see that it was clean. It hadn't been used in more than a decade. Potter had really outdone himself cleaning in here, Severus thought grudgingly.

He found the sugar dish he never used and filled it. He knew the old man drank his tea so sweet the thought alone made Severus teeth hurt. Severus had no idea how Potter took his tea. Frankly, he didn't care. It was all the boy's fault Albus was upset with him.

If the boy was a natural Occlumens then all their work last year was a complete waste of time. So much of this could have been avoided if Potter could just follow instructions. Close your mind. Clear your mind before bed. Don't leave your house.

He walked into the quiet sitting room and set the tray on the coffee table. Then he sat in his regular seat and plucked up his cup of tea.

Albus picked up his and half filled it with sugar. The boy didn't even move to take the cup. Ungrateful little brat.

"Now, Severus what has Harry done to make up for his transgression this summer?" Albus asked, crossing his legs, and leaning back in his chair.

Severus could feel his control over the situation slipping.

"I believe the agreement for me housing the boy was that I would be allowed to decide how he paid for his misbehavior." Severus stated.

Severus glanced at Potter. He was sitting at the very edge of his seat again. His hands clasped tightly together. His eyes stared blankly at the floor. He looked awful, frankly. He was having the thought of him being sick again. He still looked too pale.

Severus looked back to Albus.

"I did agree to those terms. However, given what I have learned, I think maybe Mr. Potter has made up for his behavior. What have you had him do?" Albus asked.

The boy's head shot up as Albus spoke and had a wild look in his eye. Severus raised his eyebrow. What was wrong with this kid?

"He's done simple cleaning tasks Headmaster. He cleaned the kitchen, bathroom, and the room in which he is staying. We had a bit of a disagreement yesterday and I had him do some work in the lab. I've hardly asked anything unreasonable of him." Severus answered.

If the boy took a simple cleaning task and turned it into an all-day deep clean that was hardly his fault.

"Very well." Albus responded.

"Harry, Severus seems to think you have Occlumency shields. Can you explain that?" Albus asked the boy.

"No, Sir." Potter muttered.

"May I assess your shields? I will not attack you. I just want to make sure they are solid." Albus asked.

"Yes, sir." Potter muttered again.

Severus wished the boy would speak up.

Potter raised his head and met the headmasters' eyes. He noticed the boy was shaking again and his hands were balled into fists. Perhaps he'd done more damage then he'd thought if the headmaster's golden boy was afraid of him just checking his shields.

A moment later the headmaster nodded, and the boy lowered his head again.

"Very well, he has strong shields. I don't think further lessons will be necessary. Voldemort should not be able to enter his mind again." Albus declared.

Severus heard Potter mumble something but couldn't make it out.

"Speak up Potter." Snape barked.

The boy's dead green eyes met his and he felt that uncomfortable feeling he did every time he was confronted with them.

"I said he can still get in. I had the wall up when I saw…" The boy cut himself off and just gestured to Severus.

Severus brow creased. How was that possible? If that was true then the lessons really were a waste of time. Why work to close the boys' mind if the Dark Lord could still get in?

"Albus?" Severus asked.

The old man sighed.

"I was afraid of that. No matter. Harry, if you see anything else you have to report it to the closest Order member. For the time being that will still be Severus. This is the safest location for you for now." Albus said.

Severus waited for the boy to throw a fit and demand to go to his friends. Demand that he go to the mutt, but he just nodded a little and sat quietly. Who was this kid? And who the hell did Albus think he was? Severus felt like he was being manipulated again. He would need time to think on all of this later.

"All right then. Severus, I do not think it unreasonable to ask Mr. Potter while he is staying here to help with housework. However, I think his current punishment is over. If he breaks further rules, you may assign a new punishment. Within reason." Albus warned with another sharp look.

"I think you have something you need to say, Severus?" Albus said.

Severus groaned internally. The old man was expecting an apology. He would not apologize for how their lessons had gone. It was on Albus if he'd wanted them to be handled better.

"I apologize Potter for attacking you in the office. It was unjustified." Severus said.

"Ok, sir." Potter whispered.

Severus wanted to scream at this silent child just to get him to react but that would not look good in front of the headmaster.

"Now, I think instead of occlumency lessons, dueling may be a better use of your time." Albus said.

"Educational dueling lessons." Albus said pointedly. He gave Severus a hard look.

Great! Dueling! Severus thought sarcastically. Educational dueling. He wouldn't even get to enjoy hexing the boy.

"My home is hardly big enough to practice dueling Albus." Severus drawled.

"There are several rooms at Hogwarts that would be acceptable. I believe Mr. Potter is aware of one room that works nicely for dueling practice." Albus said, looking at the boy.

"Yes, sir." Potter answered.

"Fine." Severus grit out.

"Good, I think twice a week would be a reasonable pace. I may have other Order members join you. They have their own space they are meeting and practicing in, but Mr. Potter may benefit from partnered work or facing multiple opponents." Albus added.

"Also, I would ask that you allow Harry out of the house. He will agree not to leave town. But he may as well take advantage of the unusual wards of the town. Perhaps there's somethings you could show the boy." Albus said with his grandfatherly smile back on his face and the twinkle in his eye.

Albus was out of his mind if he thought he was going to tell the boy about his mother. Or show him anything in this town. He would not taint her memory by dragging the brat around to those places.

Severus just made a grumbling sound and left it at that.

"Very well. I will take my leave." Albus said and stood.

"Professor?" Potter said standing as well.

"Yes?" Albus said.

Severus expected this to be the moment he begged to be taken with him.

"I don't have my owl. I wondered if you might give something to Sirius for me?" Potter asked quietly.

Albus nodded.

"I'd like to limit owls if we can. If you need to pass something on, we can figure that out." Albus said.

Potter just nodded.

"I just need to grab it from my trunk." Potter said softly.

The boy left the sitting room again making no noise.

"Has the boy said anything about where he has been?" Albus asked concern thick in his voice.

"No." Severus responded.

"You're right. He does seem…different." Albus replied.

Severus nodded.

Potter reappeared out of seemingly nowhere with a box in his hands.

"Thank you, professor." Potter said, handing the box to Albus.

"No problem my boy. I'll make sure he gets it today."

"Have a good day." Albus said before disappearing into the floo.

Severus looked at Potter who was just nervously twisting his hands in the hem of his shirt. Severus sneered at the clothing. He'd told the boy he expected him to wear something presentable and yet, he continued to ignore him. Although, he had been doing nothing but housework. Perhaps he didn't want to dirty his nicer clothing.

"Did you manage to do any of your schoolwork while I was away this morning?" Severus asked neutrally.

"Yes, sir." Potter muttered.

"Speak up Potter. What did you get done?" Severus asked with a little heat.

The boy swallowed hard. Gotcha, he thought. The boy hadn't touched his work. He'd goofed off.

"My work was complete when I got here, sir. I added a few things to my essays and then revised." Potter spoke more clearly although he was not making eye contact. He didn't appreciate being lied to.

"Bring it to me." Severus ordered.

Potter eyes flashed up to meet his.

"Excuse me?" Potter said a little shakily.

"Bring me your work. I'll correct your essays so you can improve them. You do have them done, don't you?" Severus drawled.

Potter's face pinched up in confusion. Severus didn't think the request was so strange. Surely, he'd had a guardian look over his work before. Although given the quality of his summer work Severus wondered if he didn't do it in the hall on the way to class.

Potter nodded and headed to the office.

When he returned, he had his neat little stack that had been on the floor. Severus had nearly tripped over it when he'd gone to sit at his desk.

Potter looked a little hesitant and then placed the stack on the coffee table next to the tea tray. Severus watched as he neatly stacked what looked like notes in one pile and essays in another. He was a little impressed. The boy might have actually done his work.

When Potter had sorted his stacks, he held out a stack of essays. He once again noticed the fine tremor in the boy's right hand. He'd ask about it later. Surely nothing to be too concerned about. He was just nervous. It had been a stressful morning.

Severus took them from Potter and looked down at them then back up.

Potter had picked his books and notes back up and was just standing there looking a little lost.

Severus groaned. Maybe he should send him out of the house for a bit. It would be nice to have his house to himself for a while. He felt a little guilty for casting on the kid. Severus noticed his face and the lump. He'd get him some healing salve. He would not have Albus accusing him of not taking care of the brat again.

He needed to brew and having the brat out from underfoot for a while would be good. However, there were Wixen that lived in this town. It would be a risk to send Harry Potter into an area unguarded where he might be recognized.

Perhaps they could use his metamorphmagus abilities to their advantage. He would feel a little hypocritical asking him to use it now that he'd already told him not to though.

"Potter, I've got potions to brew. The wolf will need his first dose tonight. Why don't you go explore the town? I must warn you there are Wixen living in this town. It would be best if no one knew Harry Potter was here. Do you understand me?" Severus said sternly.

He was pleased to see a spark of some kind of life in the boy's eyes.

"Yes, Sir." Potter nodded.

"Very well. Get yourself cleaned up and be back by dark. Do not make me regret allowing you out. You will not bad mouth me, this town, or its people. You will not get up to any mischief. Have I made myself clear?" Severus warned.

Potter hadn't even left, and he felt like he was going to regret this.

"Yes, Sir." Potter nodded.

"Go then." Severus said dismissively.

Severus sighed as he watched the brat head out of the sitting room. Today had already been to much and it wasn't even lunch time yet.