The Iridescent Conclusion

Chapter Six

“So, Lucius,” Bellatrix’s unmistakable voice interrupted him mid-conversation with Alistair Nigellus.

He turned, giving Alistair a short, wry nod of apology and looked at his uninvited sister-in-law with a quirked eyebrow. What was she doing here, he wondered quietly? And, thank heavens Daniel had gone to his family; one glimpse of Bella’s distinctive features and Lucius’ cover would have been blown wide open.

“Bella,” he greeted in his best, urbane drawl, “are you enjoying yourself?”

“Hmm.” She shrugged, looking around the room with a bored expression. “I’m wondering, Lucius, where is my sister?”

Narcissa. Of course.

“She’s left, Bella.” He informed her curtly and then turned to re-engage Alistair in their discussion of half-bloods and the risk to the pureblood strain.

“I hear what you’re saying, Lucius,” Alistair nodded, his blue eyes wide and sincere, “and I agree that magical power runs strongest through pureblood veins, but you must admit that there are now fewer and fewer pureblood families and sooner rather than later, we will all die out.”

“So you’re saying we should marry mudbloods?” Lucius responded with raised eyebrows, taking a sip of his drink.

“Well, not just anyone,” Alistair replied, “but if we married our sons to women who had at least -” He halted again as Bellatrix stepped around into Lucius’ view.

“Why did she leave, Lucius? What did you do to her?” she demanded rudely.

Lucius bit back a sigh and looked down into the woman’s heavy-lidded brown eyes. “I believe you’ll find, Bella, that Narcissa left of her own accord. As to what I’ve done, the answer is nothing…yet. Excuse me.” He finished cuttingly and took a side-step in the hope that Alistair would do the same and his sister-in-law would take the hint.

“You were saying?” he prompted with an apologetic smile.

“Yes,” Alistair’s eyes glanced briefly to Bellatrix and Lucius caught a glimpse of the wintry gaze before the man’s expression changed again. “I was saying that, to a certain degree, we should consider including half-blood witches and wizards in our gene pool. Whilst they’re not as powerful, they will at least ensure that inbred congenital…problems…are done away with.”

“You mean, for example, the occasional squib?” Lucius asked, still aware of Bella’s presence.

Alistair nodded, “Or more physical distinctions like joint defects, growth disorders,”

“The inability to take a hint, perhaps? Yes, Bella, what can I do for you now?” Lucius all-but snarled.

Impervious to both her brother-in-law’s lack of patience and the fact that she was definitely not welcome, Bellatrix gave Lucius a frosty little smile and asked, “What did you mean when you said that you’ve done nothing to Narcissa…yet? Did you threaten her, Lucius? Is that why she’s left you? Or did she grow tired of your incessant affairs? One too many rent-boys, perhaps?”

As Alistair retreated, looking distinctly unnerved, Lucius seized Bellatrix by the arm and pulled her roughly out into the brightly lit foyer.

“That is quite enough, Bella,” he spat. “Now, I don’t know who you came with and I really don’t care, because right now, you are leaving! Is that understood?”

“Is there a problem, Lucius?”

The new voice, uttering its question with quiet malice, was quite enough to diminish Lucius’ anger. He turned swiftly to find Lord Voldemort sweeping towards them with effortless grace.

“Bella was my escort for this evening, Lucius. I was certain that you meant to include me on your list of invitations and, of course, I wouldn’t dream of attending unescorted.”

“Of course, my lord.” Lucius bowed his head, painfully aware of the smug expression on his sister-in-law’s face, “Bella and I were simply exchanging a few words concerning my wife’s recent departure from this house.”

“She has left.” Voldemort stated, quite calmly. “Frankly, I’m disappointed that you didn’t arrive home soon enough to chastise her, Lucius, but I suppose that that moment will come in time.”

Lucius inclined his head again in acquiescence, careful to keep his thoughts to himself. After all, if the Dark Lord hadn’t insisted on haranguing him for the escape of Potter and Snape, then he might have arrived home in time to punish Narcissa.”

“Chastise, my lord?” Bellatrix frowned uncertainly.

“For treachery, Bella,” Voldemort replied smoothly. “Your sister betrayed our position to Dumbledore’s pathetic little resistance.”

Lucius had a brief moment to enjoy the look of chagrin on Bella’s face before his master sent her away and then turned to fix him with his blood-red gaze.

“And what of your plans to deliver the location of Remus Lupin and Sirius Black?”

“I have the approximate location, Master,” Lucius replied softly, for fear of being overheard. After all, it wouldn’t do for his fellow brethren (other than Rabastan) to learn of his plans. “I intend to move in, the day after tomorrow.”

“Very promising.” The Dark Lord nodded approvingly. “However, Lucius, I think I would rather you proceeded tomorrow. So don’t drink too much tonight, my old friend, will you?”

“No, my lord.” Lucius bowed and waited with apparent calm and patience as his master stepped silently back into the crowd. Then, striding with swift, sharp footsteps, he made straight for his study and locked the door behind him.

Once there, he cast a silencing charm and let loose to all his anger and frustration. He had a plan! A good plan! It was going to work, there was a schedule, everything would be in order –

And yet Voldemort had just swept in, taken control and issued orders as if Lucius were nothing but a low level Death Eater like Rabastan fucking Lestrange!

With savagery born of disappointment and intense aggravation, he gave his bureau a vicious kick and then summoned his house-elf.

“Sir?” Erind quavered, still holding a bottle of vodka.

“Send a summons to Rabastan Lestrange, for me. Tell him to meet me at the East Gate at five o’ clock, tomorrow morning. Then find these people,” he wrote a list of names on a piece of parchment and handed it to the house-elf, “and inform them all that I will need them sober, awake and alert at six o’ clock, tomorrow morning.”

Erind, aware of his master’s present mood and no stranger to Lucius’ temper in the past, bowed solemnly and glanced at the list.

“And fetch me some coffee.” Lucius finished, wishing that he could have the bottle of vodka instead.

*~*~*

Cornelius Fudge, Minister for Magic, had taken his usual Christmas Day and Boxing Day holiday and had been intending to take the rest of the week off too. However, after two days with his wife, their sons, their son’s wives and nine grandchildren of varying ages, Fudge found himself yearning for the peace and solitude of his office.

So with a promise that he would only work for the morning, he Apparated into his office just as the very first hints of dawn were staining the sky; quite looking forward to simply tying up a few loose ends and preparing for work to resume as normal on Monday.

However, upon sitting down at his desk, Fudge found the latest report from Alison Litworth. He considered leaving it until Monday, or even sending it down to the In-Tray of Kingsley Shacklebolt for him to deal with upon his return.

However, almost without his will, his fingers unrolled the document and he scanned the contents. Within seconds of reading, he found himself scrabbling for the floo powder and stuttering Albus Dumbledore’s office address into the fire.

*~*~*

It was strange, Remus thought much later, but if Oscar hadn’t had a nightmare, then he and Sirius wouldn’t have woken up in time. Or perhaps, he thought with a start, they wouldn’t have woken up at all!

As it was, just as light was starting to edge from behind the curtains, Oscar woke with a wail and Sirius responded with a muttered oath and an elbow in Remus’ ribs.

Unlike most occasions when the small child was disturbed by nightmares, Oscar refused to settle and so Sirius took him along to the Drawing room while Remus went to prepare some drinks for them.

It was as Remus was coming back upstairs with two mugs of tea and a beaker of milk, that he heard first a quiet query from Oscar followed by footsteps and, a moment later a shout for Remus to come quickly.

In the Drawing room fireplace, Dumbledore’s face was pinched and grey with anxiety.

“…you have to leave and you have to leave NOW!” he was saying earnestly to Sirius. “Leave everything, there’s no time. Take this portkey,” he handed Sirius the morning edition of the Daily Prophet. “It will take you to Severus’ house in Yorkshire. He’s already there and the house is well protected. I’ll be in touch in just a while and then you can both bring the child on to Hogwarts.”

Remus plonked the mugs and beaker down on the coffee table, ignoring the spill of tea as he did so. Then, nodding once to Sirius in response to his urge to hurry, he moved towards the window where Oscar was staring out at the city.

“Look!” Oscar pointed and, half expecting it to be the usual sighting of a pigeon or a dog on the pavement, Remus glanced out and then did a double take.

“Death Eaters!” he barked, scooping Oscar up into his arms. “Lucius Malfoy himself, would you believe.”

“They’ll never find the house,” Sirius shook his head, glancing at Dumbledore.

“They don’t need to,” Remus shook his head. “They’re setting light to the houses next door, on either side.”

“Hurry!” Dumbledore ordered, “Go now, as soon as I’ve gone.” And with a soft pop, he vanished from the fireplace.

In the following silence, Remus and Sirius stood and stared at each other for a couple of seconds.

“Shouldn’t we get some clothes, at least?” Remus queried, glancing from himself, in a bathrobe, to Sirius in blue pyjama bottoms, and then to Oscar in pyjamas and slippers. He was answered, though, by the distinctive whistle and whoosh of fire taking hold outside.

“No time,” Sirius shook his head as he snatched up their wands, “Snape will just have to lend us something.”

And with that, he caught his lover in his arms, smiled grimly at Oscar and activated the portkey.

*~*~*

The thin, sunless dawn found Severus Snape asleep in his bed with Harry and Draco in their customary places on either side. At some point in the night, Draco had come up to bed and hadn’t even considered finding his own bed. Instead, he’d crept in on Harry’s side of the bed and was now curled tightly around his own pillow.

As always, they slept in their individual positions but maintained just the slightest contact: the touch of hands, of knee to thigh or fingers on shoulders. Comfortable in their close proximity, they slept the sleep of those genuinely at peace with the world and each other.

And so, perhaps, that would account for the fact that Severus didn’t stir when the wards admitted Remus and Sirius. He didn’t even wake when there came a high-pitched cry of surprise and alarm, as if from a small boy caught by wards that didn’t recognise him. In fact, the first thing to wake Severus was the sound of his house-elf’s high pitched voice as she rambled a string of words whilst hurrying from the door to where he lay facing the window opposite.

“…Have visitors, Master Severus. They sent Keely to find you, sir. They has a child, sir, and the child is caught in the wards. Visitors are most agitated, Master Severus, and one told me to come and wake you immediately. The child is caught, sir, and the other visitor is shouting, Master Severus. So Keely thought she should come and wake you, sir, and -”

“Keely,” Severus interrupted with a frown, “what are you talking about?” But then he felt it: the sense of two familiar magical signatures and the jangling of someone caught in his own protective wards.

“Visitors.” Keely pointed towards the landing, apparently having run out of words.

Severus got onto his feet with a startled oath and a fluid, rush of movement, dislodging Harry’s leg from across his thigh and, in turn, Draco’s hand from Harry’s shoulder.

“Black and Lupin,” Severus growled, hurrying around the bed to grab his robe. He ignored the two teenagers currently blinking up at him in surprise and swished out of the bedroom with his wand held tightly and Keely skipping after him in nervous agitation.

“Snape, hurry up and get him out of here!” Sirius shouted before he’d even reached the top step. Looking down, over the balustrade, he saw Sirius glaring up at him from beside the front door.

“The wards admitted them, sir.” The house-elf jabbered once more, “Keely did nothing. But the child is caught and -”

“Enough, Keely.” Severus snapped and then, berating himself, he caught the house-elf before she could strike her own head on the banisters in self-punishment. He bowed his head in silent apology and then continued hurrying down the stairs, “Please prepare some breakfast and coffee. No doubt our guests will be hungry.” Although he snarled the word ‘guests’, he had no doubt that Dumbledore would want him to afford Black and Lupin every courtesy.

“Give me the child’s name,” he then demanded curtly of the two men below, lifting his wand.

“Oscar Litworth.” Remus supplied, shooting his lover a quelling look to prevent any inappropriate response.

Using the name, Severus then released the boy and watched as Sirius lifted him up into his arms and attempted to soothe him.

“Finally.” He growled, ignoring Remus frown.

“Thank you, Severus,” Remus said then, “and sorry for the rude awakening.”

“Well,” Severus shrugged coolly. He looked then at his visitor’s attire – or lack of – and raised a questioning eyebrow.

“We were staying at Sirius’ house, in London,” Remus began and when Severus nodded in response, added, “Death Eaters attacked almost before we’d woken up.”

“If it wasn’t for Oscar,” Sirius said, looking over the child’s shoulder, “it would have been too late.”

A sound then drew Sirius’ attention to the landing above and a smile started to curve his lips as Harry stepped into view. A moment later, however, and the smile vanished entirely. Sirius had just watched his naked godson emerge from Severus’ own bedroom.

*~*~*

Awakened suddenly by Severus swearing and jumping out of bed, Harry and Draco had caught a departing glimpse of their cohort before exchanging a bemused look and listening to hear the cause for such behaviour.

“Snape, hurry up and get him out of here!”

‘That’s Sirius!’ Harry exclaimed silently, sitting up.

‘Your godfather? What’s he doing here?’ Draco asked, remaining nestled in the quilt and pillows.

Harry shook his head and listened, just catching Remus’ explanation of the attack on Grimmauld Place. Hearing them, knowing that they were just downstairs, brought a flood of jumbled emotions. He was eager to see them, eager to hear more of this attack, to check that they were okay, but still lingered the sense of betrayal from before.

‘You’re still angry with them,’ Draco stated, watching him calmly. ‘You should probably deal with that before you do or say anything you might regret?’

‘What?’ Harry frowned at him over his shoulder. But without waiting for an answer, he swung his legs out of bed and stepped towards the door.

‘Harry! Robe!’ Grabbing the garment from the foot of the bed, Draco threw it at him and so Harry was just pulling it on over his shoulders as he thoughtlessly stepped onto the landing. The first words to greet him, therefore, weren’t quite what he’d expected.

“You perverted BASTARD!”

Harry blinked, shocked and for a moment confused. Then he looked down to where Sirius was pushing a little boy into Remus Lupin’s arms, whilst drawing his wand from the waistband of his pyjama bottoms. His angry shout was directed at Severus, who was glancing with unmistakable horror from Harry to Sirius.

“No!” Harry cried and ran for the stairs. Severus was armed, his wand was still in his hand and yet he made no move to defend himself. So Harry took the initiative and cast a Stasis spell over his godfather. There was no thought behind the spell; it was simply the first to come to mind.

‘Just as it did when you stopped that knife in the Great Hall,’ Draco commented, stepping from the bedroom behind him. In no time at all, he had pulled on grey trousers and a black jumper and looked infinitely better turned out than any of them, despite being barefoot.

“Harry, what have you done?” Remus demanded, hurrying to Sirius’ side. “What you cast – what you just did – that was Dark magic.”

“It was necessary.” Harry replied frostily and descended the last of the steps to stand by his lover’s side.

Severus, however, wouldn’t look at him for some reason and Harry started to get a sense of dark foreboding in his stomach.

“Release him,” Remus commanded abruptly.

With a flick of his eyelashes, Harry acceded and then stepped smoothly between his godfather and Severus.

“You will not hurt him,” he stated flatly.

“Harry, get out the way.” Sirius growled and made as if to push him.

“Harry, I assure you; I’m more than capable of handling the lunatic ravings of your psychotic godfather.” Severus interjected with deceptive mildness.

“No.” Harry held his ground, speaking to Sirius, “I won’t let you hurt him. He’s done nothing wrong.”

“Nothing wrong -?” Sirius stared at him incredulously, “Harry, you just stepped out of this pervert’s bedroom as naked as the day you were born. How can you say he’s done nothing wrong?” he demanded, his voice growing in pitch and volume.

“Because you don’t know the full story, perhaps?” Harry raised an eyebrow. “And don’t call him a pervert!”

“Harry, tell me you weren’t in his bed.” Sirius stormed furiously, “Tell me he hasn’t touched you!”

“Harry, you don’t have to say anything,” Severus stated flatly, looking white and shaken.

“No, he doesn’t,” Remus shook his head, “but I’m wondering why you would tell him that, Severus.”

“I’ll tell you why,” Sirius raged, “because he’s a sick, demented bastard that preys on little boys. And now he’s been caught out.”

“NO!” Harry shouted, barely holding on to his temper. The magic came rushing towards him from Severus and Draco, making them each stagger a little and cast him startled glances. “You’re wrong! He isn’t sick! He’s done nothing wrong. Nothing I didn’t want. And I’m not a child, Sirius!”

“Harry, you’re only sixteen,” Remus attempted to reason. “You’re too young to make such decisions.”

“Funny,” Harry said, partly to himself, “that’s just what Severus said.”

“And don’t call him ‘Severus’!” Sirius shouted. He made another attempt to curse Severus then but found himself up against a solid, invisible barrier, cast by Harry.

“You can’t accept it, can you?” Harry fumed, glaring at Sirius and Remus. “You just can’t see that I’m not a child anymore. I can’t tell you why…or how…but I’m not the sweet little innocent kid you think I am!”

“We know, Harry,” Sirius said softly then, looking sad and sorrowful, “we know what happened.”

“What?” It came out as a whisper; a horrified, deathly whisper that drew Sev’s hand to the back of his neck in silent sympathy.

“Don’t you touch him, Snape!” Sirius howled, “So help me, I’m going to rip your arm off if you lay one finger on him again!”

And that snapped something in Harry. In a second, he lost control of his temper, the magic flooded to his fingertips and only Severus’ close proximity prevented something disastrous from occurring.

‘Don’t do this,’ he murmured silently, his breath on Harry’s ear. ‘Let it go, Harry. We’ve been caught and there’s no point in fighting. You’ll never forgive yourself if you act on your temper.’

‘They have to understand,’ Harry moaned, closing his eyes and willing the magic to diminish.

‘I think you’re asking too much right now.’ Severus replied, still murmuring softly. ‘We knew this couldn’t go on forever,’

“No!” Harry shoved him away. He turned then, staring at his lover with wide, betrayed eyes, ‘You’re giving up?’ he demanded silently in disbelief. The truth stood tall and unmistakable in Severus’ thoughts, though. “Sev, don’t do this. We can convince them, make them understand.”

“Like that’s ever going to happen,” Sirius snorted. “Harry, come on; this sick old bastard is old enough to be your father.”

“We could use magic, the Imperius curse, Soto Suasoria,” Harry persisted, ignoring his godfather. Remus drew in a shocked breath and Sirius’ eyes widened in alarm. But Severus shook his head.

“Harry, you know that’s not an option. Dumbledore may have allowed you to wield Dark magic but he would never allow you to use it in such a way.”

“Who’d tell him?” Harry challenged, backing up. He seemed totally unaware that Draco was moving silently to stand behind him. “I’m more powerful than Dumbledore anyway!”

‘Harry,’ Draco’s voice interrupted him, bringing him up short, “this isn’t right. There are better ways to get what you want.”

“Listen to him, Harry,” Severus urged earnestly.

Harry, however, couldn’t take in any more. His once-beloved godfather and DADA professor were appalled and angry with him, thinking that he was nothing but Severus’ catamite. And Severus…well, he didn’t quite know what Severus was doing but he was clearly not intending to fight for him, so what did that mean?

‘Harry, wait – you have to understand,’ Sev silently implored but Harry had heard enough.

Turning, he brushed past Draco and stormed through the nearest door towards the Drawing room, with the intention of going out through the French windows and continuing on until he just couldn’t go any further. After just a second, Draco hurried after him.

In the lingering silence, Severus straightened his shoulders and gave Remus and Sirius a cold, baleful look. “Congratulations,” he said with frozen, biting sarcasm, “you appear to have undone three months of work in just ten minutes. Up until this morning, Harry was in control of his emotions, his magic and was finally – FINALLY – coming to terms with all that happened whilst under the Dark Lord’s dominion.”

“Given that your methods appear to be linked with seduction, Snape, I doubt very much if Harry has really recovered at all.” Sirius sneered but his eyes nonetheless travelled unwaveringly after his departing godson.

*~*~*

As soon as he stepped away from the fireplace after alerting Remus and Sirius, Dumbledore sent Fawkes to alert Kingsley Shacklebolt, Alastor Moody and Nymphadora Tonks. Quite apart from the aurors being dispatched by Cornelius Fudge, their mission was to survey the damage caused to the house and ensure that Remus, Sirius and Oscar had escaped safely.

“Albus?” Minerva enquired, stepping into the room with a loaded breakfast tray.

“There’s little that we can do now,” he said, staring thoughtfully at the mantelpiece. “Except, perhaps I should go down to London too?”

“They can cope,” Minerva said gently, her tone firm. “You’ve set the wheels in motion and now you need to sit down, drink some tea and try to eat a little breakfast before the reports start to come in.”

“I just don’t understand how they could have found them.” Dumbledore continued as if he hadn’t heard her. “The house is unplottable, it’s protected by numerous wards of ancient design. It should have been safe!”

“Albus, you cannot blame yourself!” Minerva spoke sharply and finally came across to physically manoeuvre the Headmaster towards his desk. “Now sit down and have some tea!”

Silently letting her wait on him, Dumbledore sipped his tea and pondered a little more.

“How did the Minister hear about the attack anyway?” Minerva asked after a few minutes.

“He has spies,” Dumbledore replied with a small gesture. “Specially trained aurors that have infiltrated various aspects of Lord Voldemort’s forces. Alison Litworth was the spy to alert Cornelius to this particular venture. I understand she’s been following Lucius Malfoy for a while. She’ll be reassigned now, of course. It would be too risky to allow her to remain where she is.”

“Litworth?” Minerva raised her eyebrows over her teacup, “Any relation to Jenna Litworth? The Psychologist that was assisting Harry Potter?”

“She’s Jenna’s sister-in-law.” Dumbledore nodded. “It’s her nephew, Oscar, who was in the house with Remus and Sirius. Fortunately, she didn’t know of the child’s location when she learned of Lucius’ plans for the house. I doubt very much if even the most highly trained professional could maintain their cover in such circumstances.”

Minerva nodded thoughtfully. “And what now?” she asked. “There’s no love lost between Sirius Black and Severus Snape. Is it wise to keep them under the same roof for any amount of time?”

Dumbledore said nothing and helped himself to a slice of toast and butter.

*~*~*

“Harry?”

He turned and found himself looking into the sincere amber eyes of Remus Lupin. His flight from the entrance hall hadn’t actually taken him very far. The French doors in the Drawing room were locked and, although he could easily overcome such a trifling detail, it was extremely cold and bleak outside and Draco was silently and persistently trying to make him see reason.

‘You can’t blame them for their reaction,’ Draco urged. ‘They love you and think they’re protecting you.’

“I don’t need protecting,” Harry responded aloud.

“You certainly seem quite capable of defending yourself…and others,” Remus said, thinking Harry was speaking to him. The ‘and others’ was delivered with a quirk of an eyebrow that drew a sneer from Harry.

“If Sirius wasn’t so quick to assume the worst, if he could perhaps control his temper, then maybe I wouldn’t need to defend Severus.”

“I don’t think he needs your protection, Harry.” Remus responded with a little smile. “And as for controlling his temper, I’d say that he’s not the only one.” He tilted his head to one side and asked, “Would you really have invoked Soto Suasoria?”

Harry shrugged, meeting his former professor’s eyes with chilling calm. “Maybe.”

Remus drew a deep breath and frowned a little, perplexed. “You said Sirius assumed the worst; is he right in his assumptions?”

Harry, however, made no comment and turned his head to look at Draco. ‘Are you sure they want to protect me?’ he asked plaintively. ‘It seems they’re determined to drive me insane.’

‘They just want to make sure you’re safe. After all, it must seem very strange to any outsiders.’ Draco shrugged.

‘Does it seem strange to you?’

Draco smiled and then shook his head, ‘No but I’m very much a part of your relationship with Sev. That is,’ he paused, looking suddenly wary, ‘I feel as if I am. Is that okay?’

“Of course,” Harry suddenly smiled, speaking aloud and making Remus jump. Still looking at Draco, he said openly, “I love you just as much as I love Severus.” Then, with an almost challenging light in his eyes, he looked back at Remus and lifted his chin a little.

“Love?” Remus raised his eyebrows. “Harry, are you certain that this is how you feel? Not so long ago you despised Professor Snape. I wonder what’s changed.”

“I’ve changed.” Harry replied flatly. “It’s a little hard to remain at the beck and call of a megalomaniac for two months, being tortured, abused and repeatedly raped by all and sundry, without changing a little.”

“Harry,” Remus chided very gently with a little shake of his head, “I know. And, just for the record, I’m sorry. But I still don’t understand how you can…” he broke off then and looked down at the floor. Dressed now in beige trousers and a deep green shirt (probably conjured out of thin air), he seemed to resemble much more the DADA professor of Harry’s third year at Hogwarts.
“I need to ask you a direct question,” he said then, looking up at Harry again, “and I need a direct answer. Has Professor Snape taken advantage of you?”

This, thought Harry, didn’t sound like a very direct question at all. He knew what Remus was really asking him but was also very determined not to tell him what he wanted to know.

“Taken advantage?” he tilted his head, “No.”

Remus frowned and then opened his mouth to ask another question. He was interrupted, however, as Severus stepped smoothly into the room.

“Lupin, if you’re asking if Harry and I have had sex, then the answer would be -”

“No!” Harry cut in quickly. He shot Severus a desperate look, silently demanding, ‘What are you doing? They know nothing!’

“You haven’t had sex?” Remus asked intently.

For a moment it appeared as if Severus might tell the truth but, with a glance at Harry, he then shook his head and replied coldly, “No.”

“You’re not telling me you haven’t touched him, though,” Sirius snarled aggressively from the doorway. “And you haven’t explained how he came to be naked in your room, either. In fact,” he added, pulling the door closed behind him, “I noticed that Draco emerged from your room too. Can you explain that, Snivellus.”

Severus’ mouth thinned to a narrow line as he glared at Sirius. He didn’t, however, make any comment.

“You have no right,” Harry insisted hotly, “to come around here, calling him names and accusing him of taking advantage. He’s done nothing wrong -”

“You were in his room!”

“- nothing I wasn’t comfortable with -”

“You were naked!”

“ – AND NOTHING I DIDN’T WANT!” Harry finished with a yell.

For several minutes, they stood in frozen silence; the only sound, the distant delighted giggles of Oscar as he played with Keely in the adjoining room.

“Well,” Sirius said in a very quiet voice, “you can explain it all to Dumbledore. I’ve just contacted him. We’re to go immediately to Hogwarts.” He looked at Remus then, “Dumbledore’s planning to give Oscar back to his aunt.”

“I’m not going back to Hogwarts,” Harry retorted obstinately.

“You’re going if I have to drag you there myself,” Sirius barked. He evidently startled even himself with this outburst because he then shook his head and adopted a different stance. “Harry,” he said in a much gentler tone, “I know you’ve had it rough. If I’d known sooner…” he shrugged.

“What?” Harry asked, sounding weary, “You’d have come and seen me? Couldn’t do that, Sirius; I wasn’t supposed to know that you were alive.”

“Harry…”

“It’s okay.” Harry gave a bright, brittle smile, “After all, I only spent weeks mourning your death before Lucius picked me up and took me as his fuck-toy.” To his horror, tears suddenly spilled down his godfather’s cheeks and he felt his own eyes prickle in sympathy.

“You poor little sod,” Sirius grieved, oblivious to his inappropriate choice of words. He reached out as if to touch Harry, to pull him in close but Harry had other ideas.

With a low moan of remembered pain and remorse, he turned in to bury his head against Severus’ shoulder. He didn’t want to remember any of it; he didn’t want his godfather or Remus here. He wanted only to be left alone - left to love and be loved.

For a moment, Severus’ arms curled around him and Harry clung on; his fists bunching the fabric of Severus’ robe. Then, however, he was released and Draco stepped forward to claim him.

‘It’ll work out,’ he promised silently, his breath warm against Harry’s neck as he struggled to hold back tears of his own.