Harry clung tightly to his porcelain god as he finished emptying his stomach, his head spinning with the images of the Dursleys spread around Fudge's office. He hadn't read the article, hadn't needed to, his imagination was bad enough. He whimpered softly and rested his forehead on the edge as it flushed, grateful for the cooling sensation flowing through his head. He heard footsteps behind him, not bothering to look up as his stomach and head swam, knowing it was Severus.

"Harry?" Severus spoke, watching the boy uncertainly, moving to crouch behind him. He awkwardly reached a hand out and patted his back, unsure of how to comfort him. In the doorway outside the bathroom stall, Dumbledore stood silently, waving the two men behind him silent. The dog sat by his feet and the worn looking werewolf stood silently behind him, all three listening to the two in the bathroom.

"They're dead…they're dead because of me, they didn't deserve that, it's all my fault," Harry muttered quietly, not lifting his heavy head from the edge of the loo, shaking it lightly. He flinched as he felt Severus' hand tighten against his back and tried to pull away as the man pulled him away from the toilet and to his chest, holding him gently, though firmly as the boy weakly slumped against him, not bothering to try to fight him.

"Harry, you listen and you listen well. You are not to blame for their deaths. You are not to blame for any deaths. The Dursleys deserved it, no matter what they pounded into your head; anyone who would treat a child as they treated you deserves what they got. Child abuse is beyond illegal in the wizarding world, it goes against everything the society stands for. Granted many pure blooded families do practice some abuse to gain control of their children as teens, it is more neglect that is practiced that outright abuse. Draco was neglected by his parents and would have grown very much like Lucius without Dobby and myself there to raise him properly when they were not around.

"What was done to them is no worse than what would have been done to them if they had been sent to Azkaban, without the pain you would suffer had they gone to trial," Severus explained softly into his hair, stroking his back gently.

Harry shivered and clung tightly to Severus' robes, "Was it Voldemort? Were you there? Why didn't you tell me if you knew?" His voice cracked a bit with emotion on the last statement.

Severus swallowed, pausing to gather his thoughts, knowing that this conversation could make or break their fragile quasi-relationship. He took a deep steadying breath and closed his eyes, speaking into Harry's hair once more. "Yes it was Voldemort, Harry, he questioned me on you last night and Dumbledore and I agreed to feed him limited information on some of your family history. I warned him against using it against you as it would break your trust in me, and I apologize for not speaking of it earlier, but I felt you would do better to not dwell on events that you could not change.

"He does not know details nor the worst of it, just that you were not treated well. He then ordered the Dursleys to be fetched and the papers showed the results of that." Severus stopped speaking, feeling Harry tense in his arms and looked down as burning green eyes met his.

"You told him and he killed them because of me…You didn't even ask me if I wanted them dead! They were my only family until this summer and you just up and got them killed! They may not have been the greatest, but-" Severus cut him off, turning the boy bodily around to face him.

"But what, Harry? But they should have been left alive so the ministry could deny any attempts I had at claiming you as my son in the future and force you to return to them? But your aunt and cousin did not deserve it, though they KNEW and condoned what that fat walrus did to you? But you find having me as family to be such a horrid idea that you would prefer to go back to THEM?" Severus spoke vehemently, gripping Harry's arms firmly, though not tight enough to cause pain.

Harry gaped for several moments, his mouth opening and closing as he stared at Severus, tears filling his eyes briefly before he tried to blink it away, dropping his head as the heaviness came back, a tear trailing down his cheek, "I'm sorry…I didn't think about that, I'm sorry I didn't think about you, how you've been taking care of me…you mean you might want to claim me someday even after this?" He stiffened, afraid that Severus would yell that he was stupid to think he would want him after how he acted tonight.

Severus stared incredulously at the boy, gently wiping away the tear that had made its way to the boy's chin and pulled his head up so that he could look the boy in the eyes. "Harry, it was partially why I agreed it was good to tell Voldemort. With the Dursleys gone, the ministry will attempt to get custody over you, which would be a perfect time to make it public, as it undoubtedly will be public thanks to your reputation, and I can adopt you officially if you'd like.

Once Voldemort hears the truth when it comes out, my spying days will be over so I would not have to leave you again…I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to learn this way, I'm not entirely sure I knew how I wanted you to find out, but it wasn't like this. I was going to tell you though, and propose the adoption…if you want it," he spoke lowly, though not unkindly. The flicker of hope and momentary joy that passed through the boy's eyes was all that he needed to know how the boy felt. The boy then nodded enthusiastically, unable to say anything as his throat clenched tightly and he threw himself into the man's arms.

---

The three men listening by the door looked at each other and the one in dog form had the grace to look painfully ashamed. They quietly retreated, heading towards Dumbledore's office to give the two some privacy and once in the office, Sirius transformed back to his human form. Dumbledore sat at his desk, conjuring a few plates of dinner from the Great Hall to his desk and motioned for the two to sit. They all tucked in silently, though none ate much as they all stole glances at each other, both of the younger men looking sheepishly at their plate upon seeing Dumbledore watching them with that look in his eyes.

"I hope you both have come to a few valuable realizations tonight," he spoke softly, satisfied to see them both nod as he watched Sirius in particular. Sirius looked up, noticed the gazes on him, and swallowed, allowing himself to meet Remus'.

"I get it now, Snape isn't trying to hurt him, no matter what I think…I may not like him, but Lily must have seen something beyond the nose and hair and Harry, for some reason, needs something from him that I apparently cannot give," he finally relented, sounding resigned but not at all happy about it.

"Indeed, so now you see that this is serious and that Severus is not going to leave Harry's life, and once he claims custody he is going to be a permanent fixture in it, with or without you?" Dumbledore challenged, gaining the man's attention. Sirius visibly paled as he realized how close he came to accidentally throwing Harry away like a piece of garbage.

"I need to apologize to him, tonight, before I lose him, I can't lose someone else," he spoke softly; the pain in his voice and the paleness to his face convincing the other two that he was serious. Remus smiled, glad that his hours the previous night in trying to get him to listen were finally starting to pay off.

Dumbledore nodded and smiled to him, holding out a lemon drop to him, "I believe that would be a splendid idea, and then you can attempt to form a truce with Severus, seeing as how you'll both be in Harry's life from now on." His tone offered no room for argument and Sirius nodded jerkily, still disliking the idea of having to swallow his pride and find a way to get along with Severus, but he certainly was not going to say so around the others in the room.

"Well then, let us tuck into this splendid food and then you can be on your way gentlemen," Dumbledore spoke cheerily, tucking in with gusto.

---

"Shall we head back and try to salvage a light dinner? I'm sure Draco is concerned about our abrupt departure as well," Severus spoke after Harry had calmed, explaining what he and Draco had argued over that morning and talked about their misgivings concerning Sirius. They came to little conclusion on the latter subject and finally gave up. Harry nodded after a moment, once his stomach growled and answered for him.

"Just…make sure I can't see the paper, please," he whispered as he stood shakily, using Severus as support. Severus nodded and they returned to the Great Hall, Severus meeting Draco's eyes to reassure him. He moved ahead of the boy to move all the papers away and turn them upside down. He looked around, noticing the absence of Albus, Remus and Sirius, but tucked it away for later thought. They both sat in their former seats and sat in silence, thankful that no one else in the room said anything as they ate soup and salad as much as they could stomach.

Once finished, the three looked at each other before silently making their way back to their rooms, Draco a bit concerned over Harry's reaction, though relieved that Severus was able to bring him back in one piece. Once in their quarters, the tension seemed to break and dissipate quickly as Harry sunk onto the couch and looked up at Draco with a pleading look that made him look younger than he should, "Wanna play chess?"

Severus smirked and settled in to finish some work, watching the boys get into a friendly competition over several games, glad for the small reprieve from the chaos that was to come, for all of them.

---

A/N: Sorry about the wait folks, had a bit of a writers block since I'm writing this as I go, but I think I've overcome it and the story should be flowing a bit more quickly now. Thank you all for being patient.