Severus arrived at the meeting around the same time Lucius did, and they hurried to rush to the Dark Lord’s side. He didn’t feel comfortable in the slightest about leaving Harry alone in the house with Black with only the wolf to protect him; but there was nothing he could do now. In fact he wasn’t even supposed to be thinking about Potter, and he quickly occluded his personal feelings away. He valued both his life and the boy’s too much to be thinking on it right now. Thankful for his mask for once, they positioned themselves in front of the Dark Lord.         

Harry could hear Remus talking to someone, and he couldn’t pinpoint their voice but it didn’t matter as he had something to do. He walked quickly but quietly to Sirius’s room door and tried the knob, it was unlocked and he breathed a sigh of relief. The room was dark despite it being morning and he saw that the curtains were drawn. He could hear his heart speed up, as he closed the door behind him. Turning on the light by the door, he allowed a small smile to grace his face as he saw his godfather’s arm and head nearly hanging off the bed as he slept. Harry walked closer to the bed and cautiously reached his hand out to touch his godfather. He took a deep breath before shaking him awake.

“Sirius?” Harry called softly before moving back a step as the man on the bed opened one eye to look at him.

“Harry?” Sirius said tiredly as he moved himself to sit up.

Harry swallowed hard, the thought that this was a horrible idea finally penetrated through his thick head, but there was nothing he could do now. Harry stared at his godfather trying to control his pounding heart and breathing.

“Can we talk?” Harry croaked out; his body trembling slightly in fear.

“What is there to say?” Sirius asked narrowing his eyes at the boy.

“I think I might have overreacted,” Harry said quietly.

He missed his godfather’s laughter and his hugs. He didn’t like feeling alone in the world, Sirius was his family.

“No shit Harry,” Sirius replied annoyance clear in his voice.

Harry flinched back unconsciously from the tone, before turning his face neutral.

“I miss you,” he mumbled out.

“You should have thought about that before you chose Snivellous over me. How could you do that to me Harry? How could you hurt me that way?” Sirius hissed angrily back.“

I’m sorry Sirius, I didn’t mean to,” Harry replied tearfully as his eyesight blurred from his tears.

“Well you did, you caused me so much grief Harry. I’m beginning to think that you aren’t worth it. Why should I fight for you if you won’t fight for me?” He said crossing his arms childishly.

“I am, I’m here now,” Harry pleaded; he had to get his godfather to understand.

“So I see, but for how long? You chose a snake over me Harry; and not just any snake either. You chose Snivellous; do you know how that felt?”

“You hurt me Sirius, I was scared and I panicked.” Harry replied trying to quickly explain himself.

“That’s not good enough Harry, and I didn’t hurt you. I was trying to toughen you up kiddo; you’re too soft as it is.”Sirius explained.

Harry swallowed audibly as he stared at his godfather in silence.

“What do I have to do for you to believe me?” He asked his tone borderline begging.

“You wanna know how you can help?” Sirius asked before standing up and walking towards Harry.       

Harry backed up instinctively before forcing himself to stand still. He flinched back as his godfather grabbed his chin roughly, forcing him to keep eye contact with him. His petrified green eyes stared back into his godfather’s wild blue ones, and he shuddered.

“I want you to take back what you said to everyone. We’re family Harry, families help each other right?” Sirius asked gripping his chin tighter as he tried to bring his point home.           

Harry nodded as best as he could, and forced the tears that tried to fall to stay where they were. He was sure that Sirius would not appreciate him crying, Uncle Vernon never did. He could do that, though he wasn’t sure if Snape would believe him in the slightest. Harry was a horrible liar, and they all knew it. He was so lost in thought that he missed the fact that his godfather was still speaking to him until, he felt himself get shaken.

“Are you even listening to me Harry?” Sirius asked quietly. He looked into the boy’s eyes daring him to lie to him.

“No Sirius, I’m sorry.” Harry said apologetically, ridding himself of his thoughts.

“Then I don’t think this is gonna work Harry, you obviously have no respect for me. You’re better off with Snivellous; you’re lucky James isn’t alive.” Sirius replied releasing him roughly.

“What do you mean by that?” Harry asked stumbling a bit as he caught himself; a tormented expression on his face.

“He would disown you, your shaming the name of Potter.” Sirius said simply as he glared at the boy.

Harry’s eyes were wide as saucers when he heard that, and his tears immediately started falling down his face. Did his godfather really mean that? Is that what his father would have really done? He didn’t know what to believe since he never knew the man, but Sirius had grown up with him so it must be the truth, right?

“Now get out of my room, I have no intention of getting punched by Moony again,” Sirius said gesturing with his head towards the door.

“You just said we were family, and families love each other right?” Harry pleaded as he tried to stop the tears.

“I do love you kiddo, I love you enough to tell the truth. Whether or not you believe me is up to you.” Sirius said grimly.

“I believe you,” Harry sobbed.

“Then you know what to do,” Sirius said simply.

“When I do it will we be a family again?” Harry asked hopefully through his tears.

“Of course we will, as long as you remember this one rule: what happens in my house stays in my house.” Sirius said quietly.

Harry cried harder and he couldn’t resist the urge anymore as he ran to his godfather and hugged him as tight as he could. He allowed himself to get lost in the feeling of having a family again. He wasn’t surprised at the one rule to remember; the Durselys had told him basically the same thing. He felt arms tightened around briefly before he was suddenly shoved away. He glanced up at Sirius who was shaking his head in the negative.

“What’s wrong?” Harry asked sniffling.

“Tough love kiddo, when you tell them the truth then you can hug me.” Sirius said eyes flashing with anger.

“Oh,” Harry said nodding his head in understanding.

“You’d better go before Moony comes in here,” Sirius said voice sounding unexpectantly gentle.

Harry nodded before walking out the room and heading for the bathroom again. He had just closed the door when about 5 seconds later someone knocked on it. Looking in the mirror he frowned, his eyes were bloodshot red and his face was splotchy.

“Harry is everything ok in there?” Remus asked a bit concerned. The visitor had taken a lot longer then he thought they would. He glanced back towards Padfoot’s room to find the door open, and his heart flipped upside down.

“I’m fine, I’ll be right out,” Harry replied trying to keep the tears out of his voice.

Harry was so confused at the moment, and he had no clue what he was really supposed to do. Sirius said to tell the truth, but didn’t he already do that? The truth is what landed them into this mess, wasn’t it?

Remus walked towards the room to find Sirius awake and glaring at the wall, that was until he saw him then he was glaring at the werewolf.

“What do you want Remus?” Sirius asked angrily as he glared at his friend.

“Were you in your room the entire time?” He asked wearily.

“I’m not a child Moony, and in case you haven’t remembered this is my damned house.” Sirius said angrily as his voice rose.

Remus’s eyes flash amber as his wolf got angry, it hadn’t forgiven Sirius for what he did to his cub and he knew the other man had seen it as well.

“Calm down Moony, I haven’t left my room ok?” Sirius replied sighing angrily before flopping back on the bed.

Remus nodded before walking out and closing the door behind him.

Harry opened up the bathroom door after trying but failing to clean his face of his crying episode. Keeping his face low to the ground he walked back downstairs with Remus. He had no clue how he was gonna pull off what Sirius wanted, it seemed impossible from his end.

Remus noticed his behavior and he could smell saltwater on his cub. He waited until they were back in the sitting room, locking the door behind him.

"Harry what’s wrong? Why are you crying?" Remus asked softly.

Harry kept his gaze on the carpet, no idea what to say. He opened his mouth to attempt a lie of some sort when his scar was suddenly filled with pain. He moaned and grabbed his head as he was pulled into the meeting. Apparently Voldermort was angry about something and was making that displeasure known to his followers.

Harry hated the cruciatus curse with a passion, why did he have to feel their pain? He screamed silently and wished the meeting would be over soon. As Voldermort tortured Wormtail Harry found his consciousness slipping and he welcomed it.

Remus was beside himself, but he stayed calm even as Harry’s scar burst open. That was probably the reason why the boy was crying, he had heard from Albus that his visions tended to be very painful. He gently placed some gauze over the gushing scar before summoning a pain potion for Harry when he woke up.

When Harry came too, the first thing he was aware of was that Snape was probably on his way back, and that Remus was looking at him worriedly. Gratefully taking the potion from Remus he sat up as his head spun.

“Have you talked to Severus about your Occulmency lessons?” Remus asked softly.

“No, I don’t think that would be a good idea,” Harry replied softly; his voice hoarse from screaming. He shook his head as he remembered the last one.

“I think it will,” Remus murmured, especially if that previous episode was anything to go by.

Harry shook his head, which turned out to be a bad idea as his vision tilted. He moaned softly, before lying back down. As he closed his eyes he heard the floo flare and Remus stand up from his position on the couch.

“What’s wrong with him?” Severus asked as he came through the fireplace.

“He just woke up from a vision,” Remus said quietly.

Severus nodded; he assumed they would have to resume their lessons. Hopefully this time they would go better, seeing as the boy seemed to trust him now.

“Has Black tried to come near him?” Severus asked quietly as he walked over to Harry.

“No he’s stayed in his room the entire time,” Remus explained.

“Good, I’ll be taking Harry now,” Severus said before gently picking up the boy.

“That’s fine, and thanks for letting him see me,” Remus said gratefully.

“I couldn’t deny him,” Severus admitted with a shake of his head, before they flooed home to his Manor.           

 Severus set Harry on the couch before getting a headache potion for the child. He gently shook him so he could take the medicine.

“This will make you feel better,” Severus said softly, holding out the vial.

“Thank you,” Harry said gripping the vial blindly; it hurt to open his eyes.

Severus was about to reply when he caught sight of some bruising on Harry’s face that wasn’t there when they left the house.

“Harry what happened?” He asked eyes narrowing slightly.

Harry finally opened his eyes to glance at his teacher in confusion. Was the man asking about his vision? But didn’t the man already know, he was at the meeting.

“The vision?” He asked confusion in his tone.

“No, this right here,” Severus said before gently running his finger over the bruised area.Harry grimaced before taking his own hand to feel. What was he gonna do now? Snape couldn’t know that he went to see Sirius, not before he told everybody what they planned. He opened his mouth to attempt a lie, when Snape surprised him with his words.

“Did Lupin do it?” Severus asked softly. But inside he was seething. What gave them the right to hurt Lily’s child?

“No Remus would never ever hurt me,” Harry replied quickly, not wanting to get him in trouble for something the man didn’t even do.

“Then who did this?” Severus pressed, resisting the urge to legimise the child. He didn’t want to lose what little trust they had gained.

“I…I can’t tell you,” Harry whispered fearfully.

“And why the hell not?” Severus asked in a dangerously quiet voice that had Harry’s insides quivering in fear.

“I don’t want you to be mad,” Harry replied softly.

“And why would I be mad?” Severus said pressing more.

Severus suddenly had a bad feeling in his gut, though the wolf had said that the mutt had stayed in room, what if Harry had gone to see Black? He shook his head, before taking a deep breath; the boy would never do that right? Harry knew that the man had hurt him. Severus couldn’t shake the feeling that he was correct in his assessment.

Harry watched Snape closely his dark eyes calculating, he hoped the man would let it drop. He couldn’t lie to the man’s face, no one could. Snape could pretty much read him like an open book; he had no chance in hell. Harry was just about to come clean when Snape spoke again.

“Don’t worry about it Harry,” Severus said figuring he would find out in time. It would do no good to get angry and cause a negative reaction in the child like before.

“Ok,” Harry replied suspiciously, something wasn’t right.

“In an hour or so we’ll resume our Occulmency lessons,” Severus said casually before getting up and walking out the room.

Harry’s breathing sped up as he looked at the man’s retreating figure. Snape was bound to find out then, what was he gonna do? What if Snape found out what Sirius wanted him to do? Would Snape hurt Sirius? Would Sirius hurt Snape? How the hell was he gonna get out of this mess?