Disclaimer: All the wonderful, fabulous characters belong to the wonderful, fabulous J.K. Rowling. I mean no offence to anyone and I don't make no money with this.

Author's Note: Sorry, this took me so long, but I had to catch up on some work. And to make up for it this chapter is rather long and that without any blackmail...

Oh, and I hope that I managed to send everyone who wnated one a complete chapter, but it got pretty confusing because most of the time the email addresses didn't show. I think I sent everyone, but Consu a chapter. Sorry, but your email address was deleted again... If anyone else didn't get a chapter, tell me and I will see what I can do...

44. FRIENDS?

When Harry awoke the next morning it was to gentle, caressing fingers and smiling red-eyes and a huge bouquet of red roses.

"What's this?", he mumbled confusedly- why would Tom be sitting on the bed with a bunch of flowers?

"Well, normally they are called roses", Tom smirked slightly at the disgruntled expression on Harry's face.

"You can't expect me to appreciate your sarcasm so early in the morning", he muttered as he threw back the blankets that had been wrapped tightly around his body and walked past Tom to the bathroom, leaving him angry with himself for making fun of the black-haired Gryffindor.

"Tom?", Harry had returned to the bedroom to find something suitable to wear and found the older man still sitting on the bed with the flowers on his lap, "I'm sorry I made you angry."

His face snapped up at those words and he patted the bed next to him wordlessly, waiting till Harry was sitting stiffly next to him: "I'm angry at myself, Harry. I wanted to give you those flowers to show you how much I want to thank you for last night and to ask your forgiveness once more. I was stupid of me to make that comment earlier."

"Those roses are for me?", Harry asked surprised and Tom smiled at him and transferred them into Harry's lap, "Thank you."

"I thought that you might like to go down for breakfast, which was the reason I woke you up", Harry nodded eagerly, still tracing the red petals, mesmerised, "Should I put them in water for you?"

Harry smiled at him: "Those are the most amazing roses I've ever seen", Harry carefully handed them back.

"You might want to take a jacket with you", the red-eyed man advised from the doorway, "Your godfathers asked if you would like to see your new room in their house and Lucius offered to take you to Hogsmead after breakfast, where they want to meet you."

"They didn't ask me", Harry said perplexedly and a little hurt.

"I think they did, Harry", he waved at a pile of unopened letters that sat on Harry's night table, "Lupin only saw fit to ask me as well. And you don't have to go, I just thought you might enjoy spending time with them, so I agreed."

"I want to go", Harry smiled happily at him before he skipped over to the tall man and hugged him tightly, "Thank you."

Tom sighed inaudibly while he put the roses into water. The things he did for Harry! While Harry would undoubtedly enjoy the time with his godfathers he would spent his time with the exciting task of preparing his lessons, write some pop-up quizzes and go through the Death Eater reports, strategizing how to best deprive Dumbledore of his power and keep him away from his Harry, all the while imagining how fantastic it would be to have Harry with him.

And that really was how their separate days were: Harry forced some breakfast down his throat, sitting in Tom's lap, who glared at Dumbledore whenever he tried to speak up, and then walked with Lucius down to Hogsmead, where Sirius and Remus were waiting for him. The older Animagus pulled him into his arms and apparated them to the borders of their new property, from where they walked up to the modest cottage house with natural stone walls and a bright red roof and many wild flowers, growing everywhere around them. The front wall was almost completely covered in ivy and the two small towers made it look more like a small castle then a normal house.

His own room turned out to be a long room on the second floor, with white walls and five windows. In one corner stood a queen-sized four-poster bed in Gryffindor colours and with the names Moony, Prongs, Padfoot and a scratched-out Wormtail carved in the headboard and Remus explained that it had been his bed during his schooldays and that they had all cut their names into it one fateful day when the retaliation of a prank against the girls' dormitory had resulted in the soaking of the three other beds (Remus had been spared because it had been the full moon when the prank had been carried out) and they had slept in that one bed. When Professor McGonagall had inspected their room a week before their graduation she had found the damage and since Sirius strictly refused to remove his name he had instead bought it.

Next to it on a small table stood several photos: One of his parents wedding day, the same he had found in his album, one with his parents and him as a baby, the one he had got from Dudley for his birthday and one with the three of them, which had been made on Christmas in Grimmauld Place.

There was a small working area, which Remus had insisted on and Sirius had insisted on being so moderate and a long bookshelf next to it.

Near one of the windows stood a comfy-looking brown armchair with a small secret compartment in the wall behind it, which held a safety supply of Wizarding sweets.

The only other furniture was an old cupboard for his clothes.

After the two lovers had showed him around the rest of their home they had tea out in the garden, where Harry told them a bit reluctantly why he hadn't answered the letter and what Tom had done to him. Sirius immediately stormed back into the house and only returned one hour later, looking smug and satisfied, and wouldn't answer any of Harry's concerned questions. When Harry had finally given up Sirius showed him how to shot with bow and arrows and told him about the report he was writing, discussing the various candidates for the post of the Minister of Magic, while Remus was tending to the flower beds nearby.

At around seven they brought him back to Hogsmead, where Tom was already waiting for him, and with many promises to write and assurances that they would always be there for him they said their good-byes, though not before a last warning glare to Tom.

Tom's high-light had been that the students once again parted respectfully in front of him (something they had neglected a little in the past week) and that Dumbledore kept his distance.

Then not exactly surprisingly Black had stormed into his quarters and had started to scream at him in such a volume that the words were still ringing in his ears: "You overgrown, big-headed cockroach", that was only the first insult and if he said so himself they became more inventive with time, "How is it possible that one sole idiot can fuck up so badly? Is it really so difficult to figure out that poisoning Harry is more than a bad idea? How did you expect him to react while you were raping him?", suffice to say, Black didn't expect an answer to those questions, "I would castrate and bury you alive under Dumbledore's desk so that you would have to listen to him all day long and hear him snoring in the night, but then Harry would blame himself and you are definitely not worth it. You have no right to be forgiven!", at this point Black had pushed him against the wall and he hadn't done anything to protect himself when a wand was pointed at his heart- he deserved to suffer for what he did to Harry after all and he didn't need a furious godfather to tell him that, "Do you think, just because you love him that everything is alright again? Do you think flowers and pancakes can make up for how much pain you caused him? I could still see how much he had suffered and your stupid declaration of love did nothing to help him one bit. Don't you think you should perhaps stop hurting him before throwing something like this at his head? He never knew what it feels like to be loved... Do you really want him to believe that love is supposed to hurt? Merlin, how can you be so dim-witted?", Black had trailed off exasperatedly and ran his fingers through his hair, stepping back a little.

"Wasn't it you who told me to tell him as soon as possible?"

"Did I tell you to break his shields and cause him more pain than you can possibly imagine?", Sirius had snapped, "This is not a convenient excuse for you, Voldemort! It may not mean anything to you, but to Harry it most definitely does..."

"He didn't believe me in any case", he had answered, not seeing a fault in that reasoning.

"And that is okay for you?", Black had mocked him, "And it is okay for you that Harry is even more confused and feels even more betrayed now, is it? Have you any idea what he's thinking right now? No, of course you wouldn't..."

"Well, no-one is telling me anything..."

"You knew he was an empath, you knew that he needs his shields", the Animagus had shouted at him, jumping up once more, "What else is there to know for you, if you already do more than enough harm with this small information?"

"Are you telling me that his empathy is the only reason why he acts like he does?", he had retorted, "Something is definitely wrong with Harry and whatever I did to him isn't even half as bad as you make it out in comparison to what has already happened to him. His empathy may intensify my mistakes and I don't deny that I messed up more than badly, but can you really expect me to react correctly when I don't know what is wrong with him?"

"I don't know either", Sirius had admitted and for a moment he had wavered in his belief that Harry was keeping secrets from him, "But I don't hurt him because of it and I will never force him to tell me."

"But there is something wrong?"

"Yes, there is something wrong", Harry's godfather had sighed, "But I can accept that Harry doesn't want me to know and that he obviously doesn't want you to know. I think I have a fairly good guess and you can believe me that if I had any proof for my assumption that I would confront him about it, but I don't and though I want to help him, I can't do so as long as I don't know what is going on. You should have informed me about Harry's state."

"I wanted to avoid this situation..."

"And you claim to love him?", Sirius had stared at him disapprovingly before leaving without another word, leaving him with his own confused thoughts.

He just couldn't understand Harry's reasoning in telling Severus and most likely Lucius and the Lestranges, but not him or Black. Now that Sirius was gone he could admit that he silently admired the Animagus for handling this so well, for standing up for his godson when Harry wasn't willing to do so himself, for not nursing his wounded pride, but to take care of the small boy, even though not knowing what was wrong. Not for the first time he wondered what kind of bond the two of them had.

Other than that the day held little surprises or even slightly exciting aspects. One Seventh-year Ravenclaw had only handed half of her essay in and after debating it briefly he decided to leave her paper unmarked until he got the second part. Jugson, who had been in Rumania for the last month, wrote him a report, stating that he had returned and that the Rumanian Minister was willing to support him if he guaranteed the integrity of his own country.

He was now able to perform more complex charms and spells without a wand, though he was unable to do any curses. Severus came by and brought some more potions for Harry. And he had to visit the bathroom more then once to relieve the tension in a certain part of his anatomy.

Harry was so tired by the time they reached their rooms that the only thing he was fantasising about was a soft pillow and a warm blanket. Tom noticed this, too, and, not wanting to push Harry, sent him to bed while he stayed awake for a few more hours to read a book he had found 'Wandless Magic- Myth or Reality?'.

"Potter", an unfriendly, all to familiar voice called from behind him, stopping him on his way to Charms the next day, "We have to talk- in private", Hermione glared at Draco and Blaise, who were accompanying him once again.

"Dream on, buck-teeth", Draco sneered, pulling Harry into a one-armed hug.

"No-one was talking to you, Ferret-boy", Ron's face had turned an unbecoming shade of bright red, "We want to talk to Harry."

"We aren't hindering you", Blaise shrugged, looking bored, "If you could hurry perhaps? We are going to be late for Charms."

That got Hermione's attention: "We can be friends again after you have apologised to all of us", she motioned to Ginny and Ron, who stood next to her, "And accepted our rules."

"Oh, you know the meaning of that word", Draco mocked, acting surprised, "What rules would that be? School rules, house rules, moral rules or perhaps safety rules. You've broken all of them didn't you, Granger, so it doesn't make much of a difference, right?"

"Rules for our friendship", Ginny sneered, "After all, Harry obviously needs some guidelines."

"You will stay in Gryffindor again", Hermione demanded imperiously, "You will stop stealing the attention that rightfully belongs to us. Ginny will be Seeker from now on. You will stop pretending to be more clever than I am- we both know that you don't come anywhere near it, don't we? And of course you will break all contact with those two and the other Slytherins...", she contemptuously jerked her bushy head in their direction, "There are a few more rules, but those are the most important."

"No", Harry said quietly, grabbing both of the Slytherins to prevent them from answering for him, "I am sorry that I hurt you with my actions, but I still think that what I did was right and I would do so again. Draco and Blaise are my friends, they helped me when all you did was making it worse, insulting me, trying to hex me and threatening me. They are self-confident enough not to think that I'm stealing their attention and instead showed me more of it than you ever did. I can't change my life and won't change myself just to please you because that would disappoint a lot of people that actually return my affection... I'm sorry, but I want more from my friends than you can give me", he pulled his wand, steadily pointing it at them as the two Slytherins did the same, "You should go now!"

"We already gave you more than you deserved", Hermione snapped, "Without me you would have failed potions in first year. Without Ron you would never have known what Quidditch is."

"And if it weren't for me no-one would desire you, you're ugly, Harry", Ginny pushed her generously revealed breasts towards him, "You think you can have everyone, don't you? That they're just waiting for you to show up and fuck them, but everyone knows Slytherins have bad taste and you fit that category perfectly. You are a dirty, little whore, not even worth a knut and no-one but a Slytherin would even want to pay that much for your services..."

"You wouldn't even get a client if you paid them, Weaslette", Blaise sneered, "This is the last warning, one more word and we'll show you what our fathers told us."

"This is not over, yet", Hermione hissed, though the last few words ended in a gurgle as Draco washed her mouth out with soap before unceremoniously dropping her out of an open window; fortunately or unfortunately, depending on who you were asking, they were only on the first floor.

Ginny squeaked horrified and ran down the corridor, not even bothering to glare one last time at Harry or to look after Hermione, who had started screaming through the window that she was hurt badly and that she would sue Draco for attacking her, to which the blond only rolled his eyes before calmly closing the window.

"What are you waiting for Weasel?", he drawled, "Do you want a personal invitation?"

Ron shook his head slowly as if in deep thought: "I wanted to apologise", he finally croaked out, looking at Harry pleadingly, "You know me, Harry, I'm not clever, I never really had to think for myself. There was always someone, first mum and then you and Hermione and Dumbledore. I didn't mean to hurt you. You are my best friend, Harry. I thought I'd agree with what Hermione said that you were evil and that you didn't give a damn about us, that you had betrayed us. But then I talked to Fred and George, they gave me a piece of their minds, they said that you were family and that you were the best that ever happened to us and I came to realise that it's true. I'm sorry for how I treated you in the last few month, I should have been there for you. It was not your fault what happened. I should have asked you and be more considerate of your feelings. It was not fair of me to demand such a thing from you. I'm just not good with such things, you know that."

"It's too easy to live out your faults and say this is who you are, Weasley", Blaise sneered, "You say you know that you're not good with such things and that you're not clever- don't get me wrong, I'm absolutely not denying it- and yet you expect Harry to take you back. He's better off without you, he doesn't need anyone who makes his life even more complicated."

"Shut up", Ron shouted at him, his face becoming redder with every moment, "No-one was talking to you. Harry, I know that you don't need me, but I need you. I need you to be a better person and I need you to tell me what to do so that I don't hurt anyone else. I want to change, Harry, I want to be the best friend that I could ever be. Maybe you still have some space in your life for me, please?"

"I don't love you", Harry pressed out, "I never loved you like you expect me to do. I'm married, I signed a contract, saying that I would be faithful and I will. I will not hurt Tom and I will not give up any of my friends, Ron. I can't give you what you want."

"I don't love you that way, either, Harry, promise", Ron flushed in embarrassment, "I think I never really did. I wanted you, yes, I know this doesn't make it any better", he pulled out a Wizarding photo from his robe pocket, "Creevey made this last year. I just couldn't stop thinking about this."

Harry took the photograph with shaking hands, nearly dropping it, as he saw what was on it before pressing it against his chest with the picture side down and blushing crimson. The photo had been taken after Quidditch practise. He could still remember that day. It had been so hot and Angelina had pushed them mercilessly, until they all had been raining sweat over the pitch and on each other. Everyone else had went down to have swim in the lake in order to cool down a little and Harry had been left alone in the changing rooms after he had finally convinced everyone that he really didn't want to join in. He could remember the icy water of the shower pounding on his sore and heated body, so refreshing, and then suddenly he had felt that he wasn't alone anymore. There was someone, someone who was watching him eagerly, it was so much like his uncle. Longing, lust, anticipation, hunger. He hadn't however noticed someone taking a photo and he had never found out who had been there, for as he finally regained his senses he was already out in the Forbidden Forest, his shoes still undone, the socks forgotten somewhere, the shirt the wrong way up. On the photo he was completely naked, the water doing little to hide his nudity as he swayed under the water.

"I confiscated it and told him if he made copies of this or told anyone else about it, I would lock him in the Vanishing Closet after testing some of Fred and George's products", Ron was also blushing, "I wanted to give it to you, honestly, but then I just couldn't anymore. I kept dreaming of you and how you looked in that photo and then I started to imagine how it would feel to touch you in that way, to take a shower with you, to kiss you. I just couldn't take it anymore when I saw you in Diagon Alley, you were so beautiful, Harry. I'm sorry."

"You won't do it again, will you?", Harry asked pleadingly and Ron, in spite of the two Slytherins, hugged him fiercely, pulling his small friend to his broad chest: "No, Harry, you are my brother, my best friend. Please, give me another chance."

"Okay", Harry whispered, "But only if you accept that Draco and Blaise are my friends, too."

Ron grimaced, but nodded: "I'll even support you with You-know-who if it makes you happy. But if they ever hurt you..."

"Thanks", Harry laughed happily, "I think they know that already."

"My name's Ronald Weasley", he struck out his hand to Draco, "It's nice to meet you."

"Honestly, that's so childish", Draco rolled his eyes, smirking slightly as he shook the red-head's hand, "But what can you expect of a Weasley?"

"Oh, I perceive some underlying tension there, Dracipoo", Blaise teased the blond, "Didn't Charlie write today?"

"Ha, I knew it was his owl", Ron punched the air triumphantly, before he went pale, "Oh, shit you are Charlie's new boy-friend?"

"No, idiot", Draco snapped annoyedly, "We're seeing each other, there's a difference."

"Yeah, sure", Harry and Ron said simultaneously before bursting into peels of laughter.

"You know", Blaise said pensively to his blond friend, "I thought it was bad that Harry had a humour, I don't understand, but I just realised that's it's much worse when he has someone to share it with."

Draco nodded in agreement: "Gryffindors are strange, aren't they?", he mused, "Why is it again that we like Harry?"

"I have no idea", Blaise shrugged his shoulders.

"Hey", Harry cried indignantly, "You are both mean."

"Great, can we leave then?", Ron asked hopefully, but Harry hit him over the head, which made the Slytherins smirk triumphantly, "I was only suggesting."

"We should go to Charms", Blaise said, handing Harry his bag, "See you around, Weasley."

"I have Charms, too", Ron protested.

"Wow, we're impressed", Draco sneered, not sounding impressed at all.

"What is that supposed to mean, Malfoy? If it weren't for your family's money, you wouldn't even be going to Hogwarts."

"And if your family had money, then maybe they could pay for your stay in St. Mungo's..."

"Stop", Harry clutched his head in pain, "Please, stop, both of you."

"Sorry", Draco mumbled, gently taking him in his arms, "We stopped. It's okay. Don't worry."

"Yes, Harry", Ron also enveloped the smaller boy with his long arms, although he was bound to also touch the blond, who didn't seem to notice, "I'm sorry, too. I won't insult Malfoy anymore, if it hurts you."

"I don't want you to fight", Harry sniffed, "Can't you at least try to get along? Please."

"Yes, we'll try, little hero", Draco nodded at Ron, who nodded back, "What we said to each other had nothing to do with you, Harry."

"I'm sorry."

"Not this again, Harry", Blaise groaned irritatedly, "We already had this. You don't have to apologise to them. They're both idiots... Let's go to Charms, okay. You can apologise to Flitwick if it makes you happy, I don't think he'll believe us that we couldn't find the classroom."

"Wait", Harry grabbed his arm, effectively preventing him from going just yet, and rummaged through his bag, finally extracting four slips of paper, holding them out triumphantly, "Tom gave them to me."

"Wow, this is great", Ron grabbed one of the papers, studying the elegant scrawl, "But why did he give them to you?"

"Let's get to class", Draco interrupted, saving Harry from an answer, taking the quill Blaise offered him and wrote his name onto the paper, stating that Professor Riddle had kept them, watching in fascination as the writing changed to match the rest of the letters.

The two Gryffindors also filled in their passes before they all took off to the charms classroom.

"Mr. Potter", the dwarf squeaked after he had read the paper, "It seems to me that Professor Riddle is making a habit of delaying you and your friends."

"I'm sorry, Professor", Harry fidgeted a little, "I'll talk to him."

"Take a seat, Mr. Potter", Flitwick sighed, feeling sympathy for the delicate boy, "You should have no problem with the Translation Spell we're learning today. The instructions are on page 314."

Everyone turned back to work after this, the short interruption having been a welcome opportunity to exchange and come up with the newest gossip. And soon after the books in front of the students, began to sprout wings, change colours, their size and in the rarest of cases their language while Flitwick was trying to preserve some kind of order in his classroom.

The relaxed atmosphere was interrupted a second time as a wet and slightly soapy Hermione Granger stormed into the classroom without knocking, banging the door behind her, effectively rising all the half asleep students, who had long since given up on making their books speak another language.

"Miss Granger", the diminutive Professor was quite shocked- so shocked in fact that he fell from his stack of books, "I must insist that you keep quiet, this a room for learning."

"Professor", Hermione gasped, trying to regain her breath, "Malfoy hexed me and threw me out of a window."

"Miss Granger, you should maybe go to the hospital wing and calm down", the Charms professor suggested gently so as not to upset her even further, "Mr. Malfoy, can't have done anything to you."

"I am calm", Hermione spat, "Ron can testify to it."

"Mr. Weasley?"

"I don't know what she is talking about", Ron lied, the tips of his ears tinted red, "We all had a talk with Professor Riddle. I can't remember seeing her at all."

"Five points from Gryffindor, Miss Granger", Flitwick declared gravely, "I never thought you would accuse someone falsely just to excuse your lateness. I would suggest you leave my classroom. I will have to talk with Professor McGonagall about this..."

"But, Professor", the bushy-haired witch looked close to tears.

"No, Miss Granger", Flitwick opened the door with a wish of his wand, "It is time for you to go."

The witch trudgingly walked out of the door, not before glaring at Ron and Harry, who had his head bowed as if in deep concentration, but was indeed hiding tears.

Blaise, inconspicuously, pretending to look closely at his book, grabbed his hand under the table, squeezing encouragingly: "Not your fault, Harry, she's just a bitch, you can't change that. You have Weasley back and you have us, you don't need her."

"I thought she would understand", Harry whispered, "She was always the clever one."

"All her books didn't help her one bit to gain some common sense", Blaise murmured lowly, "Or she would see what she's missing. Even Weasley found that out."

"What if he starts hating me again, Blaise? What if he kisses me again? I don't want him to kiss me."

"We'll make sure of that, Harry", the Italian boy promised, "We'll teach him what it means to be a good friend."

"Are you angry at me for forgiving him?", Harry asked unsurely.

"No, we're happy for you that you got your friend back, even though it's Weasley", Blaise had to stop briefly since Flitwick was passing their table, nodding approvingly at Harry's work, "Just don't cast us aside."

"I would never cast you aside", Harry exclaimed a bit too loudly, alerting both Ron and Draco to their conversation.

"I know that", Blaise chuckled, ruffling Harry's hair, "I was only teasing you."

Harry glared at him. Blaise only laughed harder.

"Let's get some food in you", Draco declared as Flitwick had just dismissed the class, "I have strict orders from my mother to fatten you up."

"We have to find Tom first", Harry argued, turning in the opposite direction and almost running into Tom, who caught him easily in his arms.

"What do you need me for, kitten?", he murmured amusedly, "Missed me already?"

"Maybe", Harry smiled up at him, "Did you miss me?"

"No, I was just admiring the intriguing wall pattern in this part of the corridor", Tom teased him before sweeping down to kiss his husband, "I like the wall pattern, you know?"

"In this case I didn't miss you one bit", Harry pouted, making to turn around.

"And why were you looking for me?", Tom chuckled, carefully pulling the resisting boy back in his arms, "To tell me that you didn't miss me?"

"I just wanted to warn you that Flitwick thinks we had a talk with you earlier", Harry stated boredly, "If you would let me go now?"

"And who exactly is included in that we?", Tom inquired, not letting go of Harry.

"Draco, Blaise, Ron and I obviously", Harry turned around, grinning happily, "Ron and I made up, isn't that great? And Draco threw Hermione out of the window and then she stormed into the classroom, all wet and soapy and said it was Draco, who did this to her, but we had the pass and Ron said he hadn't seen her at all and Flitwick sent her out... Ginny was there, too, she and Hermione still hate me, but Ron apologised and he even stood up for Draco", Harry's smile widened again.

"Harry, I didn't give you those slips for something like that", Tom demurred and Harry's face fell immediately.

"I'm sorry", he murmured, looking down at the floor, "I'll tell Flitwick that I lied. I'm sorry, it won't happen again."

"No, Harry, stop", Tom grabbed his arm, "I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean for it to come out like this", he gently lifted Harry's chin, making him look up again, "I'm glad for you that Weasley apologised, though I don't think that makes up for abandoning you, but it's your decision and I'm probably the last one who should be complaining. And it's alright that you used the slips, it's your decision as well, it just sounded a bit like you were skipping classes on purpose and I don't want that."

"I was not skipping on purpose", Harry protested weakly, "They stopped us in the hallway and Hermione and Ginny, they had all those rules and they wanted me to apologise and give up on all of you and...", Harry choked.

"Shh, it's alright", Tom murmured soothingly, tenderly embracing the sobbing boy, "I should have been more understanding and supportive. I know how much they mean to you."

"I didn't want them to get into trouble..."

"I know, sweetie", Tom kissed his forehead lightly.

"I won't do something like this again", Harry promised, "I'll only use them when I'm in pain."

"No, use them whenever you need them", Tom smiled down at him before taking him by the hand slowly leading him towards the Great Hall; the three other boys had long since left them alone, Ron looking slightly green after he had seen his best friend being kissed by the Dark Lord, "Just promise me to be careful around Ron, I don't want you to get hurt."

Harry nodded obediently, returning the smile full force before he plopped down next to Draco, pretending to have not noticed Ron waving from the Gryffindor table. A full plate with delicious-looking vegetable lasagne was immediately placed in front of him, followed by another plate full of mixed salad and a glass of pumpkin juice.

"Why didn't you come over?", Ron asked from behind him just as he was happily shuffling lasagne in his mouth and Harry could feel the confusion and slight hurt, radiating of him.

"Because at this table there are a lot more of my friends than at the Gryffindor table", Harry sighed, "And I'm trying to avoid Hermione and Ginny. I can feel them glaring at me from all across the hall- I don't plan to find out how much more intense it gets when they are not so far away."

"Oh", Ron shuffled his feet in indecision.

"Take a seat or your leave, Weasley", Draco finally snapped when the red-haired youth only stood there, not knowing what to do, "But stop breathing down my neck."

"Shove it, Malfoy", Ron growled back, but sat down nonetheless.

It wasn't long before Ron's need for food won over the initial discomfort and he started to fill his plate with everything in reach, emitting mild looks of disgust from the assembled Slytherins, though they bit back any scathing comment, as they both saw and heard how happy Harry was.

"...Nah, I'm fine with it, really, Harry", Ron said a short while later, his mouth now sufficiently stuffed with food, "But could you give a guy some warning next time? I mean don't you have a schedule or something?"

Harry burst out laughing: "A schedule for when he's allowed to kiss me? This is hilarious. Wonder what he'd say to this..."

"I meant it", Ron pouted, "Can't you tell him not to do that?"

"I could probably", Harry murmured, "But I kind of like it when he kisses me..."

"Oh", Ron stabbed his bratwurst rather forcefully, "I missed a lot while we weren't speaking, didn't I?"

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be, as you said, I needed to grow up", Ron shrugged, "As long as you're happy I'll try to be happy for you, too", he grinned apologetically, "But I never was good with this stuff."

"I'm happy and I'm happy to have you back", Harry hugged the lanky boy briefly before pulling back, "But I don't want to go back to the Gryffindor Tower or eat at that table and you can't expect me to just go back to being your best friend, because you hurt me, Ron, and you betrayed me and you were not there when I fell. Draco and Blaise were, they are my best friends here in Hogwarts now..."

"Okay, Harry", Ron stopped his rambling, "I understand that. I'm still in shock that you're actually speaking to me. I'm glad that you found new friends, better friends it seems, who were there for you..."

"What happened to the old Ron?", Harry asked shockedly, "Don't tell me you're an impostor!"

Ron laughed at this: "I'm still the old Ron, I just realised that I've been an asshole that didn't and still doesn't deserve you and that I have to change in order to get you back. Can't you just write it off as the foolishness of my youth?"

"You talk like an old man", Harry chuckled.

"Comes from listening to my brothers for so long", Ron grinned, "I've got more owls in the last month than in all the previous years... By the way, could you tell Fred and George that I apologised? I'd really like to enjoy a breakfast without spiders crawling over my plate", he shuddered in horror.

"Oh, Ron", Harry said in sympathy, patting his shoulder, "They didn't tell me about this prank..."

"They told you about their pranks?", Ron asked incredulously, "This is so not fair, I'm their brother!"

"Sorry."

"Whatever for?", the red-head exclaimed, "I deserved it. Would be kind of contraproductive if they told me about the pranks they were planning to pull on me..."

"Did you start reading books?", Harry inquired surprisedly.

"I read a lot of books", the youngest male Weasley stated proudly, causing Draco to snort, causing Harry to punch him in the arm, "I had to, after all I had to find out first what I did wrong and then how to make up for it- I must have spent more time in the library than Hermione. She became really strange, you know, she and my sister, they go up to meet Dumbledore almost every day and every time they come back they start ranting about you and that you have to be eliminated. Until two days ago when they declared that we should make up with you. They spent the whole weekend coming up with those rules. You should really be careful around them, Harry, I think they lost their mind or are about to lose it... They are obsessed, much like I was. I don't know how or if I'm maybe just imagining things, but it's like I finally can think for myself again, everything after that kiss until a few days ago is kind of fussy..."

"Did you hit your head, Weasley?", Draco interrupted suddenly.

"I thought we agreed not to insult each other anymore, Malfoy", Ron spat.

"It was a serious question, for Salazar's sake", Draco sneered, "So answer it!"

"Andrew hit me with a Bludger a week or so ago", Ron gave back after a bit of consideration, "But I really don't see how this is any of your business..."

"Imperius curse, ever heard of it?", Draco drawled haughtily, "A mild or shaky one can lose it's effect after a hit to the head..."

"But why would someone use Imperius on Ron?", Harry whispered, not willing to believe what Draco was suggesting, "Why would they make him hate me?"

"Harry, do you really have to ask that?", Pansy asked gently, starting to rub his back, "If what Weasley said is true, Dumbles is willing to do everything to bring you back to the Light side or rather to get his weapon back. Even use illegal curses on your friends..."

"Then maybe Ginny and Hermione don't hate me", Harry murmured hopefully, looking at them with almost pleading eyes, "They are only still under the curse."

"I'll ask Uncle Sev to check, okay?", Draco got up, "We have Potions next and he can find it out for you."

"Thanks", Harry smiled at him, silently praying for this to be true.

The next hour while absent-mindedly throwing random ingredients in his potion, only Draco's quick reflexes preventing an explosion, he came up with reason why this made sense, why Hermione and Ginny could only be acting like this under the influence of a curse, ignoring all the reasons that pointed out the opposite. Hermione was clever, she had never abandoned him before, she had come together with Ron, though their relationship hadn't lasted all that long. Ginny had no real reason to hate him, she had lots of guys falling for her, he had saved her life, all of her brothers were now again on his side.

"Mr. Potter, please stay behind or did you really think you would get away with your inattentiveness?", Snape stopped him like he had expected and anticipated at the end of the double lesson, "Can you at least tell me what potion was the subject of this lesson?"

"No, Sir", Harry muttered, ducking his head in shame, he really hadn't done a very good job in listening and repaying Severus for the favour, "Sorry, Sir."

"You will stay here and redo the potion", the Potion's Master sneered, waiting with impatience for the last student to leave the classroom, "And no, I'm not in the least interested that you have Quidditch practise... Come here, Harry, they are gone", he opened the door to his private chambers, "We should talk about this in private", he took the slender youth by the hand, pulling him over to his armchair and then hugged him tightly, "I'm sorry, Harry."

Harry felt like his heart stopped beating for a moment before thumping furiously against his ribcage as if it wanted to jump out: "They didn't...?"

"No, Harry I'm sorry, but what they are doing is completely of their own will", Severus answered gently, wincing as one pained wail erupted from Harry's throat before the small boy began to tremble violently, choked sobs wracking his delicate form.

Not knowing what else to do, he carefully cradled the crying Gryffindor to his chest, sitting down in the armchair, and let him sob into his black robes, rocking him slightly.

"I really thought they liked me", Harry finally burst out in between sobs, "What did I do wrong?"

"Hush, don't say that", Severus pulled him even closer, "It's not your fault. I'm sure they liked you at a time, but people change when they get older, some for the better, but sadly enough also some for the worst. Add Dumbledore to this and that's where we are now. He has the unsavoury ability to play with other's minds until they believe every word that falls from his lips. He can make almost everyone forget who they are..."

"Like he did with you?", Harry asked timidly and the older wizard nodded: "There was indeed a time when I was his spy. I had just joined the Death Eaters and the torture sessions and raids shocked me to say the least. I always liked the Dark Arts, I don't deny that, the feeling of unlimited power and endless possibilities- I never saw a point in foregoing a knowledge like this. But I had never imagined how much destruction could be done with them. Then there was my uncle's execution and when Dumbledore offered to guarantee my impunity in exchange for some harmless information I agreed, jumping at the chance to get out", he laughed bitterly, feeling slim arms tighten around his stomach, as if Harry was afraid of losing him, "I was initiated in the Order of the Phoenix almost immediately after I had told Dumbledore everything I knew, which wasn't much. He said I would be protected, though he failed to inform me that the price would be far higher. He made this long speech about working together and everyone doing his or her best to save the world from evil, then he sent me off to spy... The other Order members hated me, your father and Black in the lead, Dumbledore didn't care as long as I gave him information", he looked down, meeting Harry's eyes, "They didn't respect me. Dumbledore always talked about loyalty, about fighting for each other, but I knew none of them would have fought for me, though they expected me to fight for them. I changed sides again. I confessed everything to Lucius, I told him exactly what I had told Dumbledore and he made sure that nothing went wrong for our side. It wasn't really better on the Dark Side, but I'd rather let the Dark Lord torture me for the smallest of reasons than to let Dumbledore use me with his twisted favouritism and his manipulations. I belong there, I'm respected and I can be myself. I know that none of the Death Eaters would fight for me, but they don't expect me to, either."

Harry's small hand had started to caress his face, as if trying to smoother the wrinkles around his eyes: "I'm sorry."

"No, Harry", Severus reprimanded him gently, "You have nothing to do with this and we were not talking about me, anyway. This is about you."

Harry made a valiant attempt to brush away the tears, but they only seemed to be rolling down his cheeks faster: "I don't understand, Severus. What is so wrong with me?"

"Nothing is wrong with you, Harry, don't ever think that", Severus reprimanded him gently, "The Weasley girl was never the brightest and Dumbledore has her parents firmly under his thumb. From what I heard and read in the letters I intercepted, which she was writing in my class- stupid girl, really- she thinks that you belong to her, that it is her right to have the boy-who-lived as her husband. As much as it pains me to say, Harry, but to her you're only a way to get money, fame and an obedient husband all in one and if she can't have you, no-one else will get you either. You're a trophy for her and she wants you and hates you for the same reason. Granger, is a whole different matter", he tenderly ran his fingers through Harry's unruly locks, ignoring for now how much they reminded him of James Potter, "She has it set in her mind that she should get all the merits you are currently getting. She can't accept that she isn't the best in everything. All Dumbledore had to do to turn her completely was most likely to show her a list with all the discriminations against Muggleborns and a study of how disappearingly small the percentage of couples on different sides is. But it is not your fault. You can't change what they feel and I doubt you can make them see reason. It even seems as if Granger was the one to use the Imperius on Weasley from the weakness and instability of it", he tightening his hold as Harry started sobbing heart-wrenchingly again, "Shh, they are not important", silently and secretly he wished Black or at least Lupin were there now to deal with this problem- as loath as he was to admit it, but Black was much better with this than he could ever hope to be, "Please, don't cry anymore, Harry, I have no idea what to do in such a situation. I never had to calm anyone down and I was never even allowed to hold you as a baby..."

"Why not?", Harry looked up, once again wiping away his tears.

"I think Potter was afraid I would drop you", Severus smirked humourlessly, "And Evans was overprotective even without a Death Eater around."

"I think you do a fine job in calming me", Harry mumbled, turning pink before snuggling into his chest, "And I'm sure you wouldn't have dropped me..."

"Thanks", Severus answered wryly, "I was actually more afraid you would break. You were the tiniest baby I've ever seen. Longbottom looked like the offspring of a giant against you."

"You can hold me now", Harry offered, though it sounded more like a request and the Potion's Master smiled in return: "I'd be glad to."

He carefully tugged the black-haired head under his chin, one hand resting gently on Harry's back while the other combed through the wild locks and they lapsed into a soothing silence, though he could still feel huge tears wetting his collar and his neck.

"Severus?"

"Hm?"

"How do I know that you don't hate me?", Harry asked almost two full hours later, mustering up his courage to ask this question that had been plaguing his mind.

"Why would you think that we do?", Severus asked back, tilting Harry's head up so that he had to look at him.

"I thought they liked me and I think you like me", the small boy whispered, "What if I'm wrong again? I felt that they liked me, Severus and then it changed, what if it's the same with you?"

"Don't say something like this", Severus said sternly, "I'll tell you something, I know for: We like you, we care so much about you that it hurts to see you hurt and that we couldn't go on without you anymore. You did so much for us. Slytherins are not known to be loyal, but they are to their friends and families and you are both, Harry. Lucius gave you a key to his house- a privilege not even the Dark Lord or I have, it's reserved for members of the family only, they have as good as adopted you with this. You got the Lestranges out of their shell. They barely talked to anyone other than themselves before you showed up and I know they showed you techniques that are normally reserved for the sons of the Lestrange line. Do you know how many tried to be part of Draco's clique and failed? It was only ever him and Blaise, maybe Pansy, if they were in a generous mood, the others are tolerated, but not a member. You somehow were accepted without even making an effort and, judging by your clueless face, without your knowledge. I guess I don't have to tell you that the Dark Lord never allowed anyone to come this near to him, let alone order him around. You've become far more to him than just a husband. And I've never done so much for one person as for you- more than half of the time I'm spending in my lab I spend there because of you and I come to the Great Hall for every meal to make sure you're okay and I wash my hair, because you want me, too. Don't delude yourself into thinking I would do this just to make you think I like you."

Harry happily snuggled into his chest again: "Thank you."

"You're welcome, imp", Severus sighed deeply, "Just don't ever accuse us of anything like this again."

"I won't, I'm sorry", Harry promised solemnly, "Can I ask you something?", Severus nodded against his head, "Why did you protect me when you always were on Tom's side?"

"The blood debt for one", the Potion's Master admitted, "Something like this is not to be taken lightly, it's not only a matter of honour, but it's like a magical binding contract. And you were a child, you should still be, you shouldn't have so much put on your shoulders. I guess I enjoyed the thought that I would do what your parents couldn't, that I succeeded where they had failed."

"You don't think so anymore, do you?"

"No, now I regret how I acted, because you didn't need someone to put you down, no-one to protect you for selfish reasons and I should have done so much more for you", the older wizard confessed, "But I don't have it in me to be a father."

"You do, Severus", Harry smiled timidly up at him, "Before I found out about Sirius, I often hoped you would...", he blushed ducking his head, "I know it's stupid, forget it."

"You hoped I would be your father?", Severus asked, not believing what he was hearing, but Harry nodded against his chest, "Wow", he was speechless for a moment after uttering this word he had never in his life used before he smirked triumphantly, "I think your father just turned in his grave", Harry chuckled relievedly and Severus gently cupped his face, "I would have loved to be your father, but since this job is already taken I'll contend myself with being your friend and maybe your uncle?", he asked hopefully.

"Uncle Severus?", the green-eyed boy tried it on his tongue and then nodded vigorously, "I'd like that."

"Well, then it's settled", stated Severus, "Everything okay again?"

"No, but I can't change it", he shrugged helplessly, "They hate me. So be it, I wish they wouldn't, but I won't let them hurt me more than they already do..."

The Potion's Master nodded understandingly: "Should we go find your husband? I'm sure he's already searching the whole castle for you, I'm surprised he didn't come here yet..."

As if on cue, someone forcefully hammered against the door, making it tremble and the hinges creak and Harry, chuckling, went to open the door, allowing Severus to stretch his long legs.

"Is... Harry!", Tom pulled the delicate boy in his arms, "I was so worried. I thought Dumbledore might have tried something. Salazar, never do this again, precious! Is something wrong?"

"I'll tell you later", Harry smiled at him, "Thanks for everything, Uncle Severus", he waved happily at the Potion's Master before dragging Tom from the room.

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