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Chapter Text

"Come out, Harry Potter. Or is Albus' Golden Boy a coward?" Voldemort taunted as he slowly walked through the headstones.

Harry was sitting as silently as he could behind a large crumbling headstone. He was terrified and in so much pain he could barely think straight. He was gripping his wand in both hands close to his chest so that it didn't fall from his trembling hands. Voldemort had put him under the Crutiatus more times than Harry could count. He just needed to get to the Goblet of Fire without getting hit with anything too badly.

"Expulso," Harry heard Voldemort hiss out in Parseltongue. He saw a flash of spell-fire and five graves down a headstone exploded. He was running out of time.

"Let us help you, My Lord," Harry heard one of the Death Eaters offer. 'Bad idea' Harry thought just as he heard Voldemort yell out 'Crucio' and a man started screaming.

"I told you that he was mine. I do not require your assistance," Voldemort spat. This was his chance. The evil no-nose bastard was distracted. Harry lunged for Cedric's lifeless body. When he grabbed the Hufflepuff he almost sighed in relief when he spotted the Goblet a few feet away.

"There, My Lord. He is going to get away," Harry heard someone shout. He pointed his wand toward the Goblet and screamed.

"Accio, Goblet of Fire," Harry forced his exhausted magic to respond. As the Goblet sailed toward him, he heard a spell hissed out and felt a burning pain across his back before the Goblet slammed into his hand. Harry felt the gut-wrenching feeling of being squeezed down a small tube before he landed on the hard ground. Music began to play and people began to cheer but all Harry could focus on was the lifeless body beneath him and the pain that was beginning to make his back go numb.

"Harry, HARRY," He heard someone yell his name and looked up when his arm was yanked almost out of socket by someone. His eyes snapped to blue eyes that looked at him expectantly. Harry just stared at him blankly. What did he want from him?

"Let him go, My Boy," The headmaster said softly. Harry just shook his head and then flinched when he heard a man yell out. He turned to see Cedric's dad stumble towards them and slam to the ground next to them.

"MY BOY," He wailed. Harry knew he should feel something but he was just numb everywhere. He was jostled again and looked up to see Professor Moody looking at him. There was something he should remember about the Professor. Something that Voldemort had bragged about. Dumbledore had apparently moved away from him and was trying to control the crowd while Minerva and Bagman tried to move Cedric and Amos somewhere private. He stumbled to his feet when he was yanked again.

"Come on, Boy. You don't need to be here. Let's go," Moody growled at him. Harry watched as his tongue flicked out and darted across his mouth. Then it was like a flip switch and he remembered what he should have. This wasn't Moody. This was a Death Eater. Barty Crouch Jr. and he could not let this man get him alone. He tried to pull away but he was too weak from all of the curses he had been hit with. He couldn't even feel his legs properly anymore. He looked around desperately for someone who was paying attention to him.

He locked eyes with Severus Snape. He just hoped that he was right about the man having looked out for him before or he was going to die.

"Help, Please," Harry tried to call out. But apparently, he had damaged his vocal cords in the graveyard. He looked at his Professor desperately and just kept mouthing 'Help' over and over again hoping that he would understand. Then he was pulled off the quidditch pitch and couldn't see the professor anymore. Moody started moving faster and Harry tried to cry out again.

"Stop," Harry heard behind him. He looked back to see Snape standing there with his wand drawn and held steadily pointed at Moody. "What are you doing with the boy?" Severus asked sounding calm as could be. Moody spun around and growled.

"I am simply taking him to the medical ward," He stated. Harry shook his head and begged Snape with his eyes not to fall for it. "He is in shock and likely suffering from poison. He looks like he was bitten by an Acromantula. I know Poppy has the antidote in her ward."

"Well, lucky for the boy, I have the antidote here. I made sure to have it when I was informed that there would be Acromantulas in the maze. No need to go all the way to the castle," Snape insisted while he pulled a vial from his robes.

Harry felt the hand on his arm tighten and he heard Moody curse under his breath. Then the man raised his wand and Harry panicked. He heard the spell shouted and threw his body backwards and caught Barty unaware. The two of them tumbled to the ground. The grip on his arm loosened and he rolled away. He heard more spells being called out and tried to use the distraction to escape. He somehow managed to make it to his feet and limped very slowly away. He was in so much pain that he was starting to black out.

"NO," He managed to croak out when he was grabbed. "Let me go," He whispered brokenly.

"Potter," Snape snapped and Harry sagged in relief. Everything in him decided at that moment to give out. Harry expected to hit the ground and was surprised to be swept up into someone's arms. He blinked heavy eyes up and tried to smile at the man who had saved him more than anyone else his entire life.

"He....is...back," Harry managed to croak out before he succumbed to blessed darkness.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Severus stared in horror down at the broken, bleeding boy in his arms.

The only person he could possibly mean was The Dark Lord. The evil bastard was back and somehow Potter had survived him again. He was hurt and going by the trembling in his unconscious body he had been subjected to the Cruciatus a few times. Severus shifted his body so that he could cast a Patronus and sent it to Poppy to meet him in the medical ward. Potter needed help and he needed it now.

Severus had healing knowledge but it was limited. He would start the diagnosis and begin healing what he could until Poppy arrived. He just hoped that she came quickly. He levitated Moody's petrified body behind him as he swiftly carried Potter to the castle. Once there he deposited Moody on a bed and then gently placed Harry on a bed far away from him. He didn't want the boy anywhere near the man in the event that he woke up.

Once Harry was lying on the bed, Severus waved his wand in the most complicated, but familiar movements. This would give him the most in-depth scan he could think of. As he continued to wave his wand, he was shocked at how long the parchment was becoming. The purpose of this spell was to go all the way back to the time of birth and categorize every injury, illness, or malady that the person had suffered from.

It was a spell that was supposed to be used on every first year. Every Head of House was responsible for either doing it themselves or sending the students to Poppy so that she could do it. Every parchment was supposed to be kept on file and instances of abuse were supposed to be reported to the Headmaster immediately so that the children could be removed from their abusive homes.

Based on Potter's scan, there was something terribly wrong. There was no way the boy was living in a happy healthy home with a read-out this long. Severus was barely scanning it over and was sickened by what he was seeing. Yeah, something was definitely wrong and he was going to figure out what. He didn't care two galleons if this was James Potter's child. He would never wish this kind of abuse on anyone, except maybe The Dark Lord. He couldn't let anyone know that he had seen this until he knew who to blame for the fact that Potter was suffering this way. Either Minerva, Poppy, or Albus was to blame for this and he would find out which one and he would make them answer for it.

Severus ripped the bottom part of the parchment off and tucked the rest into his robes. That way only the things that had happened to him today would be seen by the others when they came in. He didn't want anyone suspicious that he was now aware of something going on. Just tonight alone the boy had suffered greatly. He took out his potion bag and spelled a high-level pain reliever, the Acromantula antidote, Skele-grow, a nerve potion he had created to counter the Cruciatus, and Blood replenishing potion straight into Potter's stomach. Then he used an antiseptic to clean all of the wounds so that there was no chance of infection.

He was using a spell of his own making to heal the large gash across Potters's back from a cutting curse when Albus and Poppy came running into the infirmary followed quickly by Remus and Sirius Black in his animagus form. They glanced in surprise at Moody on the bed close to the door and Albus moved to awaken and unbind him.

"Do Not," Severus snapped out. "There is something wrong with him and I have not yet had the chance to figure out what. He was dragging Potter away from the pitch and attacked me when I told him that I had the antidote Potter needed. Potter was terrified and begging for help."

"I am sure it is nothing but a misunderstanding Severus, My Boy," Albus said in the condescending way that Severus hated the most. Like he was the only one in the room who knew what was going on and everyone else was stupid. He raised his wand to once again remove the bindings. Severus growled and stepped around the bed so that he was between Potter and Moody. Remus and Sirius were watching him with concern.

"Stupid Man, listen to me," Severus spit out. Remus and Sirius looked between the two men for a split second and then moved to stand next to Severus. He was surprised they were taking his side against the Headmaster he would have to figure out what they knew that had caused them to lose faith. Because that was exactly what this meant. Albus simply shook his head and smiled at them like they were small children.

"Calm down, Severus. Alastor is an Auror and a very good friend...." Albus was cut off when he was hit with a 'Stupify' and crashed to the ground. Moody was awake now and cackling like a madman. Right before their eyes, he began to change. He removed the fake leg as his own grew in. The fake eye popped out of his head as his own appeared.

"Barty Crouch Jr," Severus heard whispered behind him. He turned slightly so that he could see Harry and also keep an eye out for what was going on with Albus and Crouch. Harry was trembling and whimpered slightly when the Death Eater turned towards him. Severus turned and gave his full attention to the threat in the room.

"I was ordered to bring you to my Master. But I guess I will have to settle for killing you for him. I will be rewarded either way. I did everything I was told to do. I put your name in the Goblet of Fire and confounded it so that it would choose you. I nudged Hagrid into showing you the dragons, I frightened off every person who thought to hurt you during the tournament, I helped you to see that flying was the only way to defeat the dragons, I gave Longbottom the book with Gillyweed in it and then nudged him into telling you about it, I imperioed your competitors in the maze, and I turned the Goblet into a portkey. I am my Lord's most loyal follower," Barty called out.

"You will get nowhere near him," Sirius growled out. He had turned back into his human form when the polyjuice had started to wear off. Barty cackled wildly again and then shot a stunner towards them. Four things happened at once. A shield sprung up in front of them and shattered as the spell bounced off it. The wolf cast 'Stupify', the mutt cast 'Bombarda', and Severus cast 'Expulso'.

Barty Crouch Jr. slammed into the infirmary wall with a sickening thud and didn't get back up. Severus didn't know if he was dead but he wasn't a problem for now. He turned back to see Harry panting in exhaustion with his hand still extended. The tortured boy had cast a wandless, wordless, shield. He had moved quicker than the rest of them and had saved them.

"Quit casting you silly boy before you fracture your core," Severus admonished him. Harry just smiled at him weakly and once again succumbed to his exhaustion. Severus went back to work healing the boy and snapped out instructions to the others. "Lupin, bind Crouch and take his wand. Poppy see to Albus and Black you help me make sure that Potter doesn't thrash when I begin to heal him." He was obeyed without question surprisingly. He had expected at least Black to oppose him but the man simply walked to the other side of the bed and held Potter down as Severus began chanting. There was still so much damage to heal.

"Severus, Albus is fine and has sent a message to the Minister about what has happened and to let them know that Crouch is here and needs to be retrieved," Poppy stated as she stepped up next to him. "Can I help?"

"I am nearly done with all of the worst damage. You can finish applying Dittany and bruise paste to him when I am done. I will write down a list of the potions he needs to be given and when. I will make sure that you have them. Black hand her that parchment. This is the scan I performed. He has suffered more than you can imagine. I do not imagine he will wake again anytime soon," Severus told her. Poppy just nodded and looked at him funny. Severus knew why. He didn't normally do the healing himself in these situations. He would do what he needed to do and then allow Poppy to take over. He just couldn't make himself do that this time.

"I am afraid that we must wake him up. We need to know what happened and he is the only one that can tell us," Albus said as he walked up to them. Remus, Sirius, and Severus made very unpleasant noises at that.

"Like hell you will. My godson needs to rest. He has clearly been tortured and you will leave him be," Sirius snapped. Poppy looked at the Headmaster as if he had lost his mind.

"I will not allow you or anyone else to wake this poor boy anytime soon. Based on this read out he has suffered unimaginably and you will leave him be. I mean it Albus I will bar you from this room. It is my right as the healer to bar anyone that I deem a threat to my patients. You already risked him once by not listening when Severus warned you about Crouch," Poppy snapped at Albus.

Severus had to work really hard to hide his smile. Albus looked shocked at first but then he just smiled that condescending smile at the Mediwitch.

"Now Poppy," He started only to be cut off.

"Don't you, 'Now Poppy' me, Albus. You heard what I said. Speak on it again and I will remove you," She interrupted. She lifted her wand and Severus watched as Lupin and Black both raised their own wands in preparation to back her up if they needed to. Albus held up his hands and smiled.

"Of course, you know best, Poppy. I will wait until you think he is ready. Even though poor Amos deserves to know what happened to his son," Albus tried to guilt them.

"I am sorry for that, Albus but he will just have to wait. I will not risk Harry's core for this," Poppy stated resolutely. Severus watched something flash across Albus' eyes before he hid it. Oh, he was pissed.

"No, we wouldn't want to risk that. I will inform Amos that he will know as soon as Harry is cleared to be awakened," Albus finally conceded. Then he turned to Severus. "You were with him while he was still awake earlier. Did he say anything to you at all?"

Severus was about to say yes but he changed his mind. Potter had not told Albus when he had the opportunity. He had not called for the Headmaster when he needed help. He had called for Severus and had told Severus. So Severus would keep silent for now and let the boy tell his own side when he woke up.

"No, Albus he didn't say anything other than to call for help," Severus answered. Albus looked disappointed when he turned away.

"Well, I will go and handle the crowd and await the arrival of the Aurors and Minister. Let me know when he wakes," Albus said as he strode from the room. Severus finished healing the last of the large wounds and stepped back with a sigh. He had done everything he could for the boy. It was up to him and Poppy now. He conjured a parchment and quill to write out the potions and schedule that they needed to be given and then left the room. He needed a drink and to look over Potter's medical scan so that he could get an idea of what the boy had been suffering his entire life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Has the boy awoken yet?" Albus asked. Sirius and Remus exchanged a look that showed both of their irritation at the situation. It was dinner time the day after the tournament and Harry woken twice in a panic screaming in terror and whimpering in pain. His magic had lashed out violently both times and his core was still really low and at risk of fracturing. Both times Poppy had given Harry a half vial of Dreamless Sleep. Remus and Sirius had not left his side.

Albus and Minister Fudge had been in there four times since breakfast to see if Harry was awake so that they could interrogate him. Poppy was one more visit away from banning them. It was getting ridiculous.

"Nothing has changed since the last time you were in here asking, Albus," Sirius snapped. "He has awoken twice terrified and out of his mind and whimpering in agony. Both times he has been put back to sleep so that we did not risk irreparable damage to his core." Albus frowned at the disrespect he was receiving from someone who should be grateful that he was helping keep him out of Azkaban.

"Honestly, Albus it is like you are more concerned about the information the boy can give you rather than caring about the boy himself. Harry shows signs of torture, Dark Magic residue, and magical exhaustion and you haven't asked how he is once. You have seen him five times since he returned and have not asked about his health once. Only about where he was and what information he has," Sirius accused.

He was really starting to rethink everything he had ever known or thought about the supposed 'Leader of the Light'. How could he possibly be more concerned about information than one of his students lying unconscious in a hospital bed in Harry's condition? Sirius was really starting to question his faith in the man. Well, he wasn't starting now, he had already been concerned. Last year, Harry had been too eager and too willing to say yes when Sirius had asked him to move in with him. Sirius was a stranger who had just escaped from prison and he had jumped at the opportunity to live with him.

He hadn't thought about it at the time beyond being happy that his Godson had said yes. But then he and Remus had sat down and talked about it. They had discussed Harry's size. He was so small. James was always one of the tallest in their year and Lily hadn't been short either, but Harry had been barely bigger than the first years during his third year. But that was just the beginning. Harry ate like someone who was used to going hungry. He didn't like it when people touched him. He flinched from sudden movements and was overly cautious around all adult men.

They had tried to talk to him about it and coax the truth out of him but Harry always clammed up and refused to talk about it or changed the subject so effortlessly that they hadn't even realized what he had done until he had escaped the room. Something was going on and from the looks of resentment that Harry often sent Albus and Molly when he didn't think anyone was watching him, he at least partly blamed those two. Sirius was jolted back to the situation at hand when Albus finally spoke up.

"Now, there is no reason to make baseless accusations. Of course, I care about the boy. But the information he has is important. We must know if it was simply Death Eaters who concocted a plan on their own or if it is time to start preparing for war. This could have all been a ploy to bring back Voldemort and if he has truly finally come back like I predicted all those years ago then we must be ready," Albus tried to explain to them as if they were ignorant children.

"True or not, Albus. I won't risk my Godson's health for your war. So back off and give him the time he needs to heal. When he awakens and feels like talking we will let you know. He will talk to you only if he wants to," Sirius said sternly. He wasn't going to let anyone compromise his Godson's health. Albus was being ridiculous. The odds of it being rogue Death Eaters once again acting independently just like the World Cup were higher than it being Voldemort himself returned.

"I expect to be called the moment he awakens," Albus stated and then he strode from the infirmary. Sirius and Remus both breathed out and sagged in their chairs.

"There is something going on and I just can't quite put my finger on what it is. I don't think I trust him anymore Siri," Remus said quietly. Sirius nodded solemnly.

"I don't think I do either Mooney. I think, maybe, that when the time comes and Harry is fit to travel we should take him and run. Seal off the wards around Grimmauld or flee to a Black property in another country. I don't think the old coot is thinking about what is best for Harry. He is thinking about what is best for his war and I know that as the Leader of the Light, it is his job. But as Harry's Godparents it is our job to think about what is best for him," Sirius spoke just as quietly. Remus patted him on the hand.

"You are absolutely right my friend. I think we are going to have to take Harry and run," Remus agreed.

Neither of them noticed that Albus had slipped back into the room under a Disillusionment Spell. He hadn't liked the way the two men had been acting and wanted to know what they were talking about when they didn't think anyone was listening. He needed to do something about this. He could not allow them to take Harry and run. Harry was far too important to the war. Harry had to fight. Unfortunately, Albus did have to think about what was best for the war. There were too many people counting on him to do what was best. He couldn't afford to think about what was best for one boy.

Albus slipped back out of the infirmary and into an abandoned classroom. He pulled two vials out of his robe pocket. He had hoped it wouldn't come to this but he would do what he had to do.

"Lettie," Albus called. He smiled when his personal house-elf popped into the room with a bow.

"What can Lettie do for Master Dumbly Door?" She asked her Master. Albus smiled at her sadly.

"I need you to get a tea service for two and a few finger sandwiches and snacks bring it here please," Albus instructed. Lettie bowed and popped out of the room quickly. It took only a moment before she popped back into the room with the requested Tea Service. Albus poured two cups of tea and then uncorked the two vials from his pocket and poured one into each cup.

"Now, deliver this to Mr. Lupin and Mr. Black in the infirmary. Let them know it is an apology from me for upsetting them," Albus instructed again and watched as the elf popped out of the room. He once again disillusioned himself and slipped back into the Infirmary undetected. He would need to be present when the two of them finished off their tea so that he could plant the suggestions and compulsions on them. He placed a 'Confundus' on Poppy for the time being to keep her in her office and out of the infirmary so that she didn't get in his way.

Once they were finished with their tea and Lettie had popped the empty tray out of the room he approached the two men sitting next to Harry's bed. Both of them were sitting and staring at the wall with vacant expressions. This potion was one that he had a dark potionier in Knockturn Alley brew for him. It was essentially a liquid imperious. Sirius and Remus' minds were just waiting for instructions. There was a counter potion but he had no intention of using it. He couldn't allow anyone to know what he had to do to ensure they won the war. He removed the Disillusionment Spell and made sure to speak loud and clear.

"You will forget that you were ever suspicious of me. You trust me wholly and without question. You will trust me to know what is best for Harry and leave him in the care of his Aunt and Uncle where he is the safest. You do not want to run away with him. He is safest here. When he awakens you will call me so that I can question him about his experience whether he is too tired or not. The information he has is the most important thing right now," Albus continued to impress upon them about how important Harry was to the war. How they needed to trust Albus to train him. That in this Albus knew best and to always defer to him when it came to Harry's care.

When he was finished he removed the spell from Poppy and left the room satisfied and not even a little bit guilty about what he had done to keep Harry under his control. Harry needed to be watched over and kept ignorant until Albus needed him to sacrifice himself for the Wixen world to survive. Only Harry could defeat Voldemort and so he would. Albus would make sure of it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The first thing Harry became aware of was the soft voices next to his bed. He kept his eyes closed and listened to the sound of his Godfathers discussing the latest pranks they had heard about the Weasley twins pulling off and other such silly gossip. Then he tuned them out so that he could take stock of himself.

He wasn't hurting anymore other than a slight soreness in his muscles. He felt much better than he thought he would after the amount of torture he had endured. He needed to warn his Godfathers that Voldemort was back and then talk to them about whether or not they thought he should tell the Headmaster about it. He figured it was time to let them know about the abuse he had endured at home and that Dumbledore was aware of it and had done nothing about it. He needed them to know why he didn't trust the Headmaster so that maybe they would help him.

Harry wasn't safe behind the 'blood wards' at Privet Drive anymore if he ever was. He and Hermione had researched blood wards a few years back and learned that they were only useful if there was love between the family members in the home. And there definitely was no love between Harry and his so-called family. He didn't feel safe at Privet Drive with Voldemort being back and able to touch him now. He was hoping he could convince Sirius and Remus to keep him safe.

Finally, he opened his eyes and blinked until his eyes had adjusted to the brightness in the room. It had to be around lunchtime now with how bright it was.

"Hey, Pup. You are finally awake," Sirius called out. Harry smiled at him and nodded.

"How long was I out for?" Harry asked quietly. His voice didn't feel as raw as it had before but it was definitely not healed completely. He smiled gratefully when Remus offered him a glass of cool water. It felt so good going down.

"Snape left a potion for you to take when you woke up. He said it had to be swallowed and could not be spelled into your stomach. It is for your throat to heal your damaged vocal cords and the rawness from screaming. How does it feel?" Remus let him know. Harry smiled. He really didn't understand why Snape was always so gruff and mean. He was seriously just a big softy Harry was starting to suspect.

"It feels much better," Harry said a little louder. "So, how long was I out for. I feel much better than I thought I would."

"You were out of it for two days, Pup. School lets out for the year in two days," Sirius told him. Harry nodded.

"I need to talk to you guys," Harry insisted. Remus ruffled his hair and Sirius smiled happily at him.

"Of course, you do, Pup. Let us call the Headmaster so that you can let him know what happened," Remus answered. Harry frowned and shook his head.

"No, I need to talk to the two of you first. Please don't call him yet. This is important," Harry insisted. Sirius just grinned and patted him on the hand.

"We can talk afterward, Pup. It is more important that the Headmaster knows what happened. He has to know what his next steps are," Sirius replied. Harry's frown deepened and he shook his head and gripped Sirius' hand.

"Please, listen to me. I need to talk to the two of you before he comes in here. I don't feel safe. I need your help," Harry pleaded. Remus gave him a sad smile and pulled him into a gentle hug. Harry sighed thinking he had finally gotten them to listen now.

"Of course, you don't feel safe, Love. You have suffered something horrifying," Remus comforted him. Harry nodded. "This is why we need to get the Headmaster in here to talk to you. He will be able to keep you safe. He can help you. He will know what needs to be done."

Harry pulled back and looked between his Godfathers with a terrible thought. What had happened? They spent an entire year trying to get him to open up and tell them what was wrong. They had hinted that they knew he wasn't being treated right at home but he hadn't confirmed anything. Now he was ready and they were acting like he was overreacting.

"I am ready to talk to the two of you now. I am ready to tell you about what has been going on with the Dursleys but I need to tell you alone before you call Dumbledore, Please," Harry tried again. He figured if he laid it out there, they would be more willing to listen.

"Headmaster Dumbledore, Harry. Be respectful," Remus answered. Harry just looked at him like he had lost his mind. "If anyone can help you with the Dursleys, Harry it is the Headmaster."

"I already told him about it. He ignored me and told me that it wasn't as bad as I was claiming and that I shouldn't tell stories that could get people in trouble," Harry exclaimed.

"Well, Harry sometimes children tend to exaggerate about punishments," Remus replied. Harry just looked at him so betrayed and wounded.

"Mooney, they don't let me eat sometimes for days and lock me in a cupboard under the stairs. They hurt me far beyond what is normal discipline," Harry insisted. He turned to Sirius when Remus didn't seem to believe him. "Siri? You believe me don't you?"

"I am sure that it seems really bad, Pup. But Remi is right, children do tend to exaggerate. I know, Pup. I used to do the same thing," Sirius stated calmly. Harry just looked between the two of them horrified. Then he just gave up. Of course, they didn't believe him. No adult had ever believed him. It was why he stopped telling people that he needed help.

Harry had tried to tell so many people. Neighbors, teachers, police, social workers, McGonagall, and Dumbledore. But no one had ever believed him. Or if they did believe him at first they would talk to the Dursleys who would claim Harry was disturbed and a troublemaker. They always believed the Dursleys over Harry. Every Time. Why did Harry think this time would be any different? He should have known that adults couldn't be trusted to look out for him. The only adult who had ever truly protected him was a professor who seemed to hate him the most in the world.

Harry's eyes became dull and he pulled away from both of them. He looked down at the bed and just nodded.

"Of course, you are right. Please, call Headmaster Dumbledore. I am ready to talk to him now," Harry said quietly and with no emotion whatsoever. He was already preparing himself mentally to return to the Dursleys. He had hoped that he would finally get to stay with Sirius this Summer but now he knew that wouldn't happen. Dumbledore would insist he was safest at Privet Drive and Sirius and Remus would agree. He was going to die this Summer. Voldemort would find him and he would kill him. Harry couldn't depend on the adults in his life to keep him safe. He was going to have to save himself or die trying.

Harry must have been lost in thought for longer than he thought because the next thing he knew Albus and Minister Fudge were striding into the room. Fudge looked solemn and Albus has smiling at him kindly. Harry hated both of them. He hated Sirius and Remus. He hated all of them. These should have been the people that he could trust to keep him safe and they had all failed him again.

"Harry, My Boy. It is so good to see you awake finally," Dumbledore said kindly. Harry just glanced up at him before ducking his head again. Sirius had apparently been paying attention because he was already back in his animagus form laying at the foot of Harry's bed. Harry fought the urge to kick him off.

"Thank you, Headmaster," Harry said dully.

"And how are you feeling? You were a frightful sight when Severus brought you in," Dumbledore asked.

"I feel fine, better than I thought I would," Harry replied. Still no emotion in his voice.

"That is wonderful news, Dear Boy. I am sorry to have to ask you this so soon after waking but, we need to know what happened," Albus asked him. He tried to sound reluctant but Harry could see how eager he was by the look in his eyes. Harry dropped his eyes back down quickly. He knew that Dumbledore could read minds.

"Well, Sir. It is all my fault. I insisted that Cedric and I take the cup together because we had gotten to the center at the same time. It didn't matter to me which of us won since the win would be for Hogwarts. When we grabbed the cup we were portkeyed to a graveyard. I heard a strange voice call out 'kill the spare' and a green light hit Cedric and he died," Harry told them all as emotionlessly as he could. "He never stood a chance we couldn't defend ourselves because we didn't know where we were or where the threat was going to come from. Then I was taken and tied to a headstone...." Harry just kept telling them what happened in that dead voice.

He told them everything. He told them about the ritual and Voldemort coming back. He told them about the torture, the Death Eaters, and the duel. Harry told them about hearing how Moody was actually Barty and hiding until he had the chance to escape. How he couldn't leave Cedric's body behind. Being afraid when Crouch tried to drag him away and begging Snape for help. He left nothing out because it would do him no good.

Harry watched as Dumbledore looked more and more pleased as if this was exactly what he was hoping would happen. Harry couldn't understand why the man would be happy that the Darkest Wizard was back. It didn't make sense for Dumbledore to look almost gleeful. Minister Fudge was the complete opposite. He looked panicked and disbelieving. That was the reaction that Harry thought was the most appropriate. No one should want the return of the Dark Lord. There was something seriously wrong with Dumbledore.

"You are a very brave young man. Brave, kind, and powerful to have survived what you did. Thank you for letting us know so that we can begin preparing to defend ourselves against him," Dumbledore said happily. Minister Fudge took a moment to collect himself and then his face went blank.

"I read over the diagnostic test that was performed after your return. I do not believe that He-who-must-not-be-named has returned. He is dead and we are not going to cause a panic by saying otherwise," Fudge stated firmly. Harry just looked at him. Of course, he didn't believe him. He didn't expect anything different from an adult. Dumbledore, Sirius, and Remus looked at Fudge like he was insane.

"I know what I saw, Minister," Harry tried. If he didn't believe him this time then it wasn't Harry's problem. He had done his part he wouldn't beg to be listened to.

"I know what you think you saw, Mr. Potter. You are a good boy and I don't think you are lying to be malicious. I think you are just confused. Acromantula Venom is known to cause hallucinations and it was in your system for a long time. There were many things in the maze designed to confuse and scare you. I believe that you were merely suffering from delusions caused from the tournament. And since you have no one to back up your claims, I will not risk a panic until there is irrefutable facts," Fudge insisted.

"Now, Minister, there is someone who can back him up. Barty Crouch Jr," Dumbledore stated calmly. Fudge just shook his head.

"I am sorry to say that he has already been Kissed. The man was an escaped convict who led the charge during the World Cup to stir up trouble. He killed his father and tried to kill Mr. Potter as well. He was a dangerous man and a Death Eater to boot. He was Kissed on site to prevent him from escaping again," Fudge announced. Harry was not shocked. Nothing had ever gone the way he needed it to. Dumbledore looked livid for a moment before he schooled his face.

"That was not the best choice of action. He could have given us the information that we needed. We could have given him Veritaserum. Now we will have to give it to Harry to prove that he is telling the truth. That will prove his story," Dumbledore insisted. Harry looked up at him in shock. It was illegal to use Veritaserum on someone under seventeen because it could react badly. Hopefully, the Minister would refuse. Harry didn't really care if he didn't believe him. He was used to that.

"We absolutely will not. It is illegal to give to an underaged Wixen. It could poison them. On top of the fact that since he was actually infected with Acromantula Venom it would affect his memory so badly that he would be able to speak his delusion as if it were truth because he believes it to be true," Fudge countered. Fudge was right. Veritaserum was not foolproof. It only forced people to tell the truth and if someone truly believed what they were saying then the potion would register it as truth.

"Minister," Dumbledore started only to be cut off.

"That is my final say in the matter, Albus. You will not cause a panic by spreading this rumor. It is unconfirmed and until it is you will say nothing," Fudge stated firmly. Then he turned to Harry. "You understand don't you Mr. Potter? You must not spread panic until we can prove that what you experienced wasn't a hallucination caused by the venom in your system." The Minister was, surprisingly, much kinder when he spoke to Harry.

"I understand, Minister. I won't spread it around until it can be proven," Harry agreed. He didn't really care if they didn't want to believe him. For all he knew, it had all been a delusion. He felt really good for someone who had been tortured. He wasn't even twitching like he knew happened as a result from being under the Cruciatus. The Minister patted him kindly on the hand.

"Good lad. Now you just relax and concentrate on getting better. Maybe you will be well enough to join your classmates for the Leaving Feast. You are the Triwizard Champion after all. Your school wants to celebrate with you," Fudge said. Then he turned hard eyes to Dumbledore. "Come with me. We need to speak to the Diggory family and then we need to discuss your silence."

"Of course, Minister," Dumbledore stated reluctantly. "I will be right behind you. I just need a moment."

"Do hurry, Albus. I don't want to be here all day," The minister called over his shoulder. Dumbledore turned toward Sirius and Remus.

"It is time to start preparing. I need the two of you to start preparing. Sirius, you need to go back to Grimmauld so that you can be on-site to give permission for the books in the Black Library to be used so that research can be done. You also need to make sure that you do not leave Grimmauld again so that you can not be captured. It is now more important than ever for you to remain out of prison. Remus I need you to leave by this evening to start speaking to the Werewolf clans before Voldemort can do it. You may say your goodbyes to Harry. He will be returning to the Dursleys for the protection the Blood Wards offer. You will likely not see him again until just before the new school year," Dumbledore instructed and then left the room to follow Fudge.

"Well, you heard the man. We have important things to take care of. You rest and get better. We will write to you when we can. Be a good boy, Pup. Don't cause trouble. We love you," Sirius said to Harry as soon as Dumbledore was gone. Harry just looked at the two of them shocked. They weren't going to stay with him? What else did he expect? He didn't reply. He just laid down and turned away from them. They left without so much as another word. Harry would never forgive them for this. He hated them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Harry jumped when someone slammed a Daily Prophet down in front of him. He looked up to see an upper-year Hufflepuff that he had seen hanging out with Cedric many times. He sneered at Harry.

"Cheating your way into the tournament and then winning wasn't enough for you? You had to lie about how Cedric died and then try to convince everyone that You Know Who is back? You just can't stop seeking attention, can you? You disgust me," The boy spat out and then he actually spit on the bench next to where Harry was sitting. Harry looked up at him shocked.

"But I didn't...." Harry started. He was going to say that he hadn't truly tried to convince anyone that Voldemort was back. He had mentioned it once and when they didn't believe him he had agreed to say nothing. But he didn't get the chance.

"Yeah, that sounds like Potty," said a nasty voice from the Slytherin table. Surprisingly it wasn't from Malfoy. The students erupted into laughter. Harry just looked away and down at the paper. It was rubbish.

Skeeter was claiming that Harry was hysterically trying to convince everyone that Voldemort was back. Then it explained what Fudge had said about the venom and hallucinations. Skeeter drug Harry and Dumbledore through the mud. There was even a quote from students about how Harry was an attention seeker and a troublemaker. The one that hurt the most though was the direct quote from Ron. Though he shouldn't be surprised. Ron had been an absolute shithead since Harry's name had come out of the Goblet. They had not made up because Harry was just sick of how conditional Ron's friendship was.

Harry didn't respond or attempt to defend himself. He just turned away and continued to push his food around his plate. He was hungry but he never ate too much at the leaving feast or for the entire week before going back to the Dursleys. It was his way of preparing for the starvation he knew he would suffer through for the Summer. There was movement on either side of him. He smiled slightly at the appearance of Fred and George.

"Try and eat a little more, Harrykins," Fred encouraged quietly. Harry nodded and took a small bite. Fred patted him on the leg. "That's good, Harry."

"We are going to send you packages as often as possible," George stated from his other side. The twins were the only ones who believed him about his abuse. They had cornered him and demanded answers after rescuing him before second year. Since then, they had been trying to help when they could. They would try to get him a package with food in it at least once a week but it didn't always work out that way. Sometimes, his Aunt and Uncle would see the packages and take the food and then he would get beat worse and go hungry for longer.

Harry was just glad that someone knew and cared enough to try to help. He didn't tell them he didn't always get their packages or that he got beat worse when he was caught. He didn't want them to stop sending food. It was worth it for the times when he did receive the food without the Dursleys knowing. If there was anyone in the world that Harry trusted unconditionally it was Fred and George. He had never trusted adults or Ron and he had lost some faith in Hermione because of the way she had treated him at the beginning of the year.

"Thank you," Harry responded gratefully. Maybe if he managed to escape the Dursley's house, he would receive all of their packages and he might actually not starve this Summer. He tried really hard not to get his hopes up about any of it. He just figured he could try and get to Gringotts to withdraw his money and have it converted to Muggle money. Then he could disappear into the Muggle world. Other than the twins there was no reason for him to stay. School was just as dangerous as the Dursley's house. Except, people here could use magic to hurt him which was so much worse than getting beat in Harry's opinion.

"No problem, little brother," Fred answered.

"We got you," George added. Harry really did love them. Fred and George were probably the only people he would burn the world to protect. They loved him and Harry knew they were the only ones in the world that did.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"He looks awful," Draco said under his breath to Theo. The other boy nodded in agreement.

"Worse than he ever has," Theo answered. Draco sighed and took another bite of food.

"Is he telling the truth?" Blaise asked just as quietly. Draco paled just a little and nodded. He handed his letter to the dark-skinned boy. His mother had written him the day after the tournament to not so subtly let him know that the Dark Lord was back and living in their home. She didn't want Draco to be taken by surprise. She was warning him to be cautious.

"In your home?" Theo asked looking a little pale himself. His father had written him as well. He wanted to brag to Theo about the return of their Lord. To let him know his true training would begin soon so that he could best serve his Lord. Theo was afraid.

"You are both welcome to come to my house. You know my mother will allow you to stay as long as you need to or want to," Blaise added. Draco was grateful for his friends. They had always had his back. The two of them were the only ones who knew that he did not agree with his father's pureblood bullshit at all. The three of them had talked about what they would do if the Dark Lord ever did return. Theo and Draco would have it worse because their fathers were prominent Death Eaters. Blaise's family had always been neutral. He had offered both boys a place to run to if they needed it. His mother had already agreed to hide the boys and run if she needed to.

"I hate how bad his own house treats him," Draco whispered after a bit. He was once again watching Harry.

"What happened to house loyalty? But what can you expect from a bunch of Gryffindors?" Theo added. Draco nodded and Blaise smirked.

"The two of you have it so bad. I don't know why you won't tell him how you both feel. It might actually do him some good to know that he has more people on his side than he believed. It isn't like you are going to follow You Know Who," Blaise commented.

"He wouldn't believe us or be interested in what we have to offer. Starting next year though we are going to start guarding him from the shadows. It is going to get bad for him now," Draco answered.

"We will be his silent protectors. He will need it," Theo replied. Blaise just shook his head and smiled.

"Well count me in. I will help guard your oblivious paramour. Especially, since it might earn me points with a certain redheaded twin," Blaise teased. The three of them would be hexed out of their house if the other snakes knew that they were interested in Gryffindors. Especially, the boy who lived and his blood traitor Weasley. It was time to start letting them know that the three of them were on their side. That they were not going to be taking the Dark Mark or joining the Dark Side. They would also make it clear that they were not willing to follow Dumbledore, but they would follow Harry Potter.

"I am worried about the Summer," Draco insisted. "Who will protect him during the Summer? We all know the signs of abuse, we know someone is hurting him. I don't know why it wasn't caught when he had his medical exam in first year."

"Maybe we should talk to Professor Snape about it. We know he takes abuse cases seriously," Blaise offered. Theo and Draco both rolled their eyes.

"My godfather hates the very air that Harry breathes. I am not convinced he would actually help him at all," Draco answered.

"Besides Snape is a Death Eater. We don't know for sure if he can be trusted," Theo added. Draco nodded.

"I forgot about that," Blaise said sheepishly. "Well, maybe we can find out where he lives and try to keep an eye out for him. Someone is bound to know something. Or maybe we can send an anonymous letter to the Headmaster, McGonagall, or the twins. Someone is bound to do something."

"Let's think it over later when we are able to speak more freely," Draco pointed out. They had already spoken too openly in the dining room. They shouldn't have been so careless. So the three of them went back to talking about their summer and other superficial things while they discreetly watched Harry and his twins. Draco, Blaise, and Theo went to bed satisfied that the Hufflepuff and Pusey both suffered from a pretty dark hex after dinner as well. Of course, they could only take credit for Pucey. The twins had been the ones to get the Hufflepuff.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Harry winced when he was shoved into the back seat of the car by Vernon. The train had been a little bit late and of course, Vernon blamed Harry as if he was the one driving. Harry was not looking forward to arriving at the Dursleys. He would be lucky if he was allowed to go up to the room he was given. Because sometimes they still made him stay in the cupboard.

"You are to place your things in the cupboard as soon as you get to the house," Vernon instructed.

"Yes, Uncle Vernon," Harry replied. He wasn't going to antagonize his uncle just yet. He was still not completely recovered from the graveyard. No need to add to his suffering.

"Then you will go to the upstairs bedroom where you will stay for the next week. We heard about the trouble you caused this year. You will be let out once a day to use the bathroom. You will be fed once a day if we remember to do it. Your window has been sealed so that you can not open it in any way. So you will receive no letters or packages from any of your freaky friends. I don't want to hear any noise out of that room at all. Do you understand, Boy?" Vernon continued as if Harry hadn't spoken at all.

"Yes, Uncle Vernon," Harry answered again. Then Vernon was silent for the rest of the drive to Privet Drive. Once they arrived Harry hauled his trunk out of the back of the car and drug it into the house and put it in the cupboard. He had done something a little different this summer though. Everything wasn't locked up in the trunk. Harry had found a small charmed bag on his bed this morning. There was a letter written with a quill that made it so that the handwriting was unrecognizable. Someone had given him a charmed bag that basically had unlimited storage and lightweight charms on it.

Harry had placed all of his personal things including his broom, wand, and invisibility cloak inside the bag. The only things left in his trunk were his school books and parchments. Then the bag had been tucked into his pocket. So when he placed his trunk in the cupboard, he didn't panic because everything he needed was in the bag in his pocket. Vernon quickly locked the cupboard and placed the key on a chain around his neck. Then he roughly grabbed Harry's arm and yanked him up the stairs. When they got to the room, Vernon grinned maliciously at him and then, without warning he swung.

Harry stumbled and had to blink away the spots that had formed in his eyes from the hit. Merlin, what had he done to earn a beating?

"This is just to remind you to behave. You have been running free doing whatever you want all year long at that freak school of yours and now I need to remind you about the rules in this house," Vernon said with glee. Harry noticed that Vernon was always happiest when he was beating the life out of Harry. Vernon punched, kicked, and lashed Harry for a good ten minutes until he was satisfied that Harry was properly cowed. Then he left the room and locked the seven locks on the outside of the door. Harry just lay where he was on the ground and didn't know how long he lay there before he sat up and moved so that his back was resting against the wall. Then he went to sleep.

Harry spent the next week in a weird pain-filled routine. First thing in the morning, Vernon would come and beat the hell out of him before he headed to work for the day. Petunia would let him out to use the restroom and then lock him back in the room. Around noon, two stale pieces of bread and a half-full glass of water would appear through the cat flap at the bottom of the door. Harry would eat and then push the plate and cup back out. Then he would lay on his floor and try not to feel sorry for himself. In the evening, Dudley and Vernon would come home and his uncle followed by his cousin would come up to his room so that Vernon could watch Dudley take his turn beating him.

By the time the week was finished, Harry was broken. Inside and out. He was just done caring about anything. At this point, he would welcome Voldemort with open arms and embrace the oblivion that would come with death. Saturday morning he was let out of his room and ordered to make breakfast. Harry did exactly what he was told to do and didn't complain when he was sent out to market for groceries.

Little did Harry know that this was the day that everything would change for him. He had purchased everything on the list and was on his way home when he was shoved to the ground from behind. When he looked up, Dudley was standing there with his gang of idiots. They looked ready to pummel him. Harry winced and closed his eyes to accept his fate and not antagonize the gang of abusers further.

At one point he felt something in his chest snap when someone stomped down on him. Then breathing became really hard to do. He struggled to breathe as they continued to beat him. Then everything in him gave up. The pain stopped, his eyes closed, and he smiled knowing this was it. They had murdered him and he would never have to suffer in this life again. Another moment passed and Harry knew no more.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The first thing that Harry registered was fire. He was burning. They had thought he was dead and tried to hide his body so they set him on fire. Why couldn't anything be easy for him? Not even in death could he find peace. Why did Fate hate him so much? He must have been a horrible person in a past life and he was paying for it in this one. That is the only explanation as to why his life was as horrible as it was.

It felt like he burned forever. Then suddenly it stopped and he was looking up at the roof of an abandoned building. Dudley and his gang must have thrown him in here when they thought they had killed him. Merlin, why didn't he just die? Harry didn't know how long he lay there waiting for Death to finally take him. For anything to happen a wild animal, a mugger, a cave in, or a freak storm anything to finally just end it all for him. He was too tired to keep going. He was done.

Then a bird started circling him. Good maybe it would peck his eyes out and he would die from infection. As he lay there waiting for the bird to end it all for him, he noticed that it was actually getting closer. The closer it got the more he realized that it was an owl and not a bird at all. Great, he must have done some accidental magic and now he was going to get expelled. Which honestly wouldn't be so bad. It would make it easier for him to disappear if no one was expecting him to show up at school.

"Hey pretty girl," Harry whispered as the owl landed on his chest and held out its leg. Harry sighed and took the envelope. He pulled an owl treat out of the bag in his pocket and fed the owl. He lay there and watched her fly away before he lifted the letter up and checked it out.

Gringotts. Why were they sending him anything? He had never gotten anything from them before. He opened the envelope and took out the letter.

It is very important that we speak to you immediately regarding your accounts and inheritance. This letter is a portkey that will activate thirty seconds after opening. Be ready.

That was it. No names no nothing. Before he could truly comprehend what he had read, he was being yanked through a tiny tube and deposited on a very hard surface staring at what looked like a roof made of rock. Oh Merlin, it had been a trick. Voldemort had gotten him again. Well, he had a treat for him, Harry was just going to lay here and let the man kill him. Nothing happened though. He did hear some papers rustling around though.

"If you are expecting me to fight you, well think again. I am ready to die so just kill me already," Harry called out into the room. Maybe Voldemort thought he was just shocked or waiting for him to jump up and shoot off a spell. There was a very gravelly chuckle from somewhere to his left.

"I assure you, boy, that we did not bring you here to kill you. Though I am concerned about your self-preservation skills if you are willing to lie there and let someone kill you," That didn't sound human. Harry blinked a few times and then rolled over until he was sitting cross-legged on the floor. He was in an office of some kind and to his left was a large desk with a goblin sitting behind it. The Goblin was looking at him with a mixture of humor at his actions and concern at his appearance. He probably looked like shit.

"You know you would look like shit too if you had been tortured near to death by Voldemort two weeks ago and then spent the last week getting beaten twice a day. Oh I was also starved and locked in a small room only to be let out once a day to relieve myself. And let's not forget that earlier today I was jumped by six guys much bigger than me who tried their hardest to kill me," Harry paused for a moment and then nodded. "Yeah, that about covers it. Locked up, starved, beaten, and tortured."

"I am afraid, Young Heir that it is about to get worse," The Goblin stated solemnly. He waved his hand at the chair on the other side of his desk. "Come and sit, we have a lot to discuss." Harry just sighed heavily and looked pleadingly at the Goblin.

"Are you sure that you don't just want to go ahead and kill me now?" Harry asked pleadingly. The Goblin just gave him a look of pity and shook his head. Harry sighed heavily and stood up slowly from the ground. His body literally ached everywhere. He hunched in on himself and then took the seat the Goblin offered him. It was actually a really comfortable chair and Harry sank into it with a sigh.

"Ok, what did you need me for? What could be worse than what I have already been through?" Harry asked finally. Thankful that the goblin had given him a few moments to compose himself. "Also, what is your name?" The Goblin smiled and pushed a few items across the desk toward Harry.

"I am called Silverfang. I am the account manager for the Prince family. The first thing we are going to do is verify your identity with an inheritance test and then we will move on from there. I need you to take the needle and prick your finger. Drop seven drops of blood onto the parchment, please," Silverfang instructed. Harry just shrugged and did as he was told. The Goblin vanished the needle and blood and the two of them waited as the blood was absorbed into the parchment and words started to appear. Harry barely caught the name at the top and was confused that wasn't his name. Who was Hadrian Anthony Stark-Prince?

"This is exactly what I feared. You, Young Heir, have been lied to and manipulated your entire life. Starting with your birth and your parents," Silverfang growled out and handed the parchment to Harry. The fourteen-year-old 'scoffed'.

"That's nothing new, honestly," Harry murmured as he took the parchment. He braced himself but he was woefully unprepared for just how much his entire life was about to change.

Hadrian Anthony Stark-Prince

Born: July 14th 1980
Father: Anthony Edward Stark
Bearer: Severus Tobias Prince

Magically adopted:
Father: James Fleamont Potter
Mother: Lily Evans Potter

Godfather: Remus John Lupin

Creature Inheritance:
Dark Fey Hybrid (Suppressed by: Albus P.W.B. Dumbledore July 31st, 1980)
Suppression broken June 10th, 1995

Titles:
Heir to the Ancient and Noble House of Prince (via Bearer)
Heir to the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Ravenclaw (via Father)
Heir to the Ancient and Noble House of Potter (via Adoption)
Heir to the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Peverell (via Adoption)

Blocks, Spells, and Compulsions:
Magical Core Blocked 50% (Albus P.W.B. Dumbledore July 31st, 1980)
Parseltongue: Blocked 100% (Albus P.W.B. Dumbledore July 31st, 1980)
Broken 100%
Secondary Gender: Blocked 100% (Albus P.W.B. Dumbledore July 31st, 1980)

Blood Glamour placed: 100% effective (James and Lily Potter July 31st, 1989)
Behavior Modifier: 100% effective (Albus P.W.B Dumbledore yearly since 1989)

Harry was shocked. James and Lily were not his parents. He was not a Potter. Hell, his name wasn't even Harry. Severus Snape was his Bearer, he had carried him for nine months and gave him life. Maybe it was why Snape always felt such a compulsion to always protect him. He didn't know who Anthony Stark was but he was also alive. He had living parents he wasn't an orphan.

Somehow Dumbledore was responsible for everything. Harry wanted to kill him. Harry...well Hadrian, he should probably start thinking of himself as Hadrian. He was happy not to be Harry Potter. Hadrian looked up at the Goblin.

"I know it is a lot to take in but we have looked for you for a long time. Your bearer was devastated the night you were taken. He was hoping that you would arrive at Hogwarts when you turned eleven but when you didn't show he lost all hope," Silverfang told him sadly. Harry's mind was in shambles. All he kept thinking about was all of the times that Snape had protected him and he was overwhelmed with this near suffocating need to be with him.

He didn't know he was having a panic attack until he felt rough hands on his face and then having his head shoved down between his knees.

"Deep breaths, Little One," Silverfang soothed. He had been there for the young heir's blessing day. He had always hoped to find him someday. Hadrian finally settled down enough and Silverfang let him up. "Better?"

"Yes, Sir," Hadrian said quietly.

"Good, now here is what we are going to do. We are going to send you to the ritual room for a cleansing. While you are being taken care of I am going to call Lord Prince and get him here. How does that sound?" Silverfang offered. Hadrian nodded, that sounded like a plan. Silverfang led him down a hall and into a ritual room. Hadrian was instructed to drink a potion that made him violently ill and then he was guided to a stone altar where he was laid down and the chanting began.

Hadrian was fine at first but gradually the pain started and then it just kept getting worse and worse. Finally, Hadrian was screaming his throat raw until he passed out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Severus was distracted. He was learning very quickly that Albus was manipulating and making plans that revolved around Harry Potter. He had decided to ask around about his mandatory scan. What he learned was troubling. Minerva always sent her Lions to Poppy to get their scans. When she had gotten her list back Potter was marked as all clear.

So Severus had gone to Poppy. According to the Medi-Witch, she had been assured by Albus that Potter had gotten his scan done by Minerva. She even pulled a scan from his file that didn't match what Severus had seen at all. They showed a completely different story than the one Severus knew to be true. Severus asked for permission to run a scan on the parchment to see if it was a true document. Of course, it came back that it wasn't. It was a false document and it had Albus' magical signature all over it.

Albus was hiding something about Potter and Severus was going to figure out what. Everything in his scans pointed to a very abused and neglected child starting from fifteen months old. What kind of monsters abused a baby? He was sitting in his office, weighing the pros and cons of confronting Albus about it when a letter arrived through his floo.

It was from his account manager, Silverfang. It also had their codeword on it for urgent. So Severus opened it only to see a short sentence asking him to come to the bank immediately. He grabbed some special floo powder that allowed him to use his office fireplace to floo straight to his account manager's office.

"Severus, I have wonderful news," Silverfang said with a smile. He took the parchment that the Goblin handed to him. He read it over and he had to fight back his horror. He felt bile rising in his throat at the information he had just received. It was simultaneously the best news and the worst. His son, they had found his Hadrian and he was here. But his poor baby boy was none other than Harry Potter whom he had recently learned was probably the worst case of abuse he had ever seen in his long life.

"My Hadrian. My poor boy. I am going to murder Albus and whoever that vile man placed my precious boy with," Severus snarled. He pulled out the parchment and handed it to Silverfang. "Look at the things my poor child has suffered since he was taken from me. Where is my son? Where is Hadrian?"

"Here," said a small uncertain voice from behind him. Severus turned to see him. He knew from the inheritance test that Harry had been under a blood glamour to make him look like James and Lily. Now it had been cleansed. In front of him stood a boy much too small and fragile for a boy of fourteen but he had already known that. His poor boy had suffered greatly.

He still had dark hair but it was more black now and fell in tamable waves that looked just like Severus' own hair. He had beautiful brown eyes that looked the spit of Tony's eyes. His cheekbones were high and sharp like Severus' and his lips were full and shaped just like Tony's. His son was a beautiful and perfect blend of Severus and Tony. He was standing there perfect and beautiful. And so uncertain it broke Severus' heart but he could understand it. Severus had never been kind to him. Taking out his hatred of James Potter on his spawn.

Ironic that it wasn't Potter's spawn at all. His own son probably hated him now. He was going to kill Albus. That horrible man had encouraged the animosity between himself and his own son. He knew exactly what he was doing. Severus took a small step forward and held his now empty hands out in a non-threatening way.

"I am so sorry for the way that I have treated you, Hadrian. I know nothing that I can say or do will make up for the way that I have treated you, but Merlin please let me try," Severus was not a man known to be gentle or kind. But he kept his voice low and calm. He was a hard, hateful man because his only child had been stolen from him and he had grown bitter. He was shocked when he suddenly found his arms full of a trembling teenager.

His son, his Hadrian was sobbing into his chest and clutching his robes as if he was afraid Severus would make him let go. But Severus had no intention of letting him go anytime soon. Severus sat down in the chair behind him and pulled Hadrian into his lap. They sat that way for almost forty minutes when Hadrian finally quieted down and seemed to be sleeping. Severus ran his long potion-stained fingers through Hadrian's soft dark hair. He was holding his child in his arms again.

"It is time to make plans, Silverfang. I won't have Albus or anyone else using my son for their own gains. I will take him and run. We will hide in the muggle world. He will not be forced to fight in this war of Albus and Voldemort's making," Severus spoke quietly but sternly. He would not allow his son to be used the way that Albus was planning to use him.

"Will you go to his father?" Silverfang asked. "You were very adamant when you found out that you were pregnant that you wouldn't tell him."

"Tony's feelings about it aren't important anymore. He is a good man and he will help us disappear. He has the money and tech to hide us. Getting Hadrian away from here is the most important thing now," Severus answered. There was a small noise from the child in his arms. He looked down into glassy, hopeful brown eyes.

"You would take me away?" Hadrian asked with a voice so vulnerable that it broke Severus' heart. "You would choose me?"

"If there was a choice between saving the entire wixen world from war or saving you, I would choose you every time. You are not a weapon or a tool to fight grown wixen's wars for them. You will never face The Dark Lord, Death Eaters, the Headmaster, or your abusers ever again. Never do you hear me?" Severus insisted. Hadrian paled and looked up at Severus almost afraid.

"You...you know?" Hadrian whispered. Severus tightened his arms.

"Yes, Hades I know. When I took you to the infirmary, I needed to know how badly you were wounded so that I could heal you to the best of my abilities. The scan showed me everything from the moment you were born. I know exactly what you have suffered and I swear to you that you will never be subjected to that kind of treatment ever again. I will happily rip apart anyone who lays a hand on you in malice. Do you understand? I will keep you safe, Always," Severus promised.

"I never have to go back to the Dursleys?" Hadrian asked sitting up more in Severus' lap to look him in the eyes. Severus cupped Hadrian's face so that he had his full attention.

"Vernon and Petunia Dursley will never touch you again. They will be lucky if they have hands left to touch anything once I am finished with them. That woman was horrid when we were children and she only got worse as she got older. I can not believe that Albus put you with those people knowing how they were about magic and how they treated Lily and myself," Severus stated.

"You knew Lily and Petunia growing up?" Hadrian asked when Severus let go of his face. Severus pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.

"Yes. We grew up around the corner from each other. Lily was my best friend growing up. Petunia was awful from the first moment Lily learned she had magic when we were eight. Our friendship didn't last past fifth year when she started dating James Potter who delighted in bullying me at every opportunity. It is a very long story that I promise to explain to you fully when we have more time. Will you allow it?" Severus asked.

"Of course," Hadrian agreed quickly. "So what now?"

"Now, I get you situated. You will claim your Heir rings. I will take over your Potter accounts. I will lock everything down so that no one but myself can access it. Once everything is in order I will transfer everything including myself to the American branch. You and your Bearer will go to America to your Sire and he will hide you in the Muggle world," Silverfang answered.

"We are really leaving? You are really going to take me away and hide with me?" Hadrian asked him again. Severus smiled and pulled him back into his lap.

"We are really leaving. I am taking you far away where no one can ever use you or hurt you again. I am going to protect you Hades. I promise," Severus insisted. Hadrian flashed him a hesitant but blinding smile.

"Perfect. So what do I call you? Bearer seems weird and I don't want to call you Professor or Snape," Hadrian asked with a grin. Severus chuckled and gently flicked his nose.

"Cheeky brat. I wanted to be called Papa or Tad when I learned I was carrying you. But if that is too much right now until you are more comfortable with me, then you can call me Severus," He told his still-grinning son. Merlin, after almost fifteen years he had found his son.

"I think maybe I would like to call you Papa," Hadrian said nervously.

"I think that would make me very happy, Hades," Severus answered.

"Is that what you called me when I was little? Hades?" Hadrian asked. Severus looked him in the eye to try and determine how he felt about it.

"Yes, it is a Prince family tradition to name our sons after Roman Emperors. Hadrian was a Roman Emperor and as a plus it meant 'Dark-haired'. It fit you perfectly. Hades is just a nickname that I started using right after you were born. If you don't like it or you feel uncomfortable being called something other than Harry, I will honor that. I want you to be comfortable," Severus explained.

"I don't want to be Harry Potter. That is a person who was created by Dumbledore and the Potters. A hero and a pawn. An abused, unwanted, freak. I don't want to be that person. I want to be Hadrian Anthony Stark-Prince," Hadrian answered him adamantly. Then in a quieter voice that Severus almost missed. " Want to be your son. Your Hades."

"Then you will never be 'Harry Potter' again," Severus replied.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hadrian was curled up in a chair next to his Papa. And wasn't that a weird thought? Severus Snape was his bearer. He wanted him and was choosing him over everyone else. He was making plans right now to take Hadrian and run far away from everyone who wanted to hurt or use Hadrian.

He snuggled further into the very oversized sweater that his Papa had given him earlier when he had shivered from being cold. Severus had been concerned about a fever but Silverfang assured them both that it was a side effect of the cleansing and Hadrian coming into his creature inheritance early. His body temperature had been higher than normal ever since waking up.

Hadrian thought that would make him warmer but his Papa had explained that it would mean that he was actually colder now even though he felt warmer to others. Thus the sweater he was snuggled up in that smelled just like his Papa. Of course, it was solid black and a little posh but Hadrian loved it all the same. He was pretty sure he was going to try and steal it so that he could wear it all the time.

"I think that is all that we need to do for now," Silverfang finally announced after a few hours. Hadrian had claimed all of his heirships, they had both put all properties that they owned under fidelius charms that only the two of them would be the secret keepers for, all of their vaults had been transferred to America after a quick correspondence with MACUSA, and Severus had called a house elf to pack his home and this rooms at Hogwarts for him as quickly as possible. Silverfang created an international portkey that would take the three of them straight to the New York branch of the bank.

They would go straight to MACUSA and file for citizenship. Once all of that was situated so that they were legally allowed to be in America, Severus planned on taking them straight to Hadrian's father. The quicker he could help them hide the better off they would be.

Hadrian could not believe that after almost fifteen years of praying to be taken away from the Dursleys and hoping that someone would see how bad he was hurting and save him, someone finally was. He was finally being put first, chosen by someone who wanted him for himself and not for his fame. Someone that was going to help him run from that fame. He was so happy.

"Hadrian?" The teen jumped when he felt a gentle hand on his head. He turned his face, red from embarrassment, down so that his Papa wouldn't see. He hadn't meant to flinch but he was not used to touch that wasn't painful.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to flinch. I..I know you wouldn't hurt me, Papa," He almost whispered. He felt a soft touch on his cheek and let the hand guide his face up so that he was looking at Severus right in the eye.

"I am not upset, Hades. There is no reason for you to apologize. I know it will take time for you to get used to positive touch but I promise that I am going to help you. Now our portkey is ready. Are you ready to leave?" his Papa asked him calmly.

"Yes, please. More than ready," Hadrian replied quickly. Severus stood and pulled Hadrian into his arms as Silverfang came around the desk and held the portkey out to them. A moment later the password was stated and the three of them were whisked away to start a new life in America. Hadrian couldn't have been happier.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hadrian took a deep breath and stared up at the biggest building he had ever seen. Apparently, this is where his father lived and worked. The way the worker at MACUSA had reacted to his father's name he was really curious about him now. The man had acted more in awe of Tony's name than he had ever seen anyone be of his name back in England. When Hadrian had asked about it, the man had just smirked at him and told him that he would just have to wait and see.

"Are you sure we are in the right place?" Hadrian asked quietly. It was a bit intimidating if he was being honest. Severus chuckled and ruffled his hair.

"Well, considering it says Stark Tower on it, I would say we are definitely in the right place. Remember, I don't know exactly how things are going to go in here. We have permission from MACUSA to reveal our secret to anyone who lives in the Tower. I will have a lot of explaining to do about our secondary genders as well. Don't let yourself get hurt if he doesn't react in a good way. It isn't your fault," his Papa told him for the tenth time.

Hadrian reached out and grasped Severus' hand and took a deep breath.

"Ok, Papa. I am ready," Hadrian said with a confidence that he really just didn't feel. The plan was to let Tony know that Hadrian was his. Severus had warned him that Tony might demand a test to confirm it and not to be offended by it. Hadrian understood that. Then Severus was going to explain what was going on in England and what they wanted from Hadrian. He was hoping that Tony would help them disappear.

Severus squeezed Hadrian's hand and then they pushed open the door to the building and headed for the receptionist's desk. Severus pointed at a chair in the waiting room and had Hadrian take a seat. He was still covered in some bad bruises and was really achy from the beatings he had endured the last week. Hadrian was still pretty sure he had died for at least a moment yesterday. But he wasn't going to tell Severus that.

He watched Severus talk lowly to the woman at the desk and he seemed to be getting agitated. Then a large man accompanied by two people in what looked like combat clothing came into the building from the front door. The large man and the blonde with a bow strung over his back approached Severus to talk to him. He didn't know where the red-headed woman that was with them went but he wasn't worried about it right that moment.

Hadrian was really worried about the two men who had pulled his Papa to the side and were talking to him. They had weapons and Severus would be limited to what he could do to defend himself in a room full of muggles. Hadrian on the other hand had a small dagger in his charmed bag that he pulled out and hid in his sleeve. He got up from his chair and very slowly made his way around the room toward the group of three. He had just found his family and he would be damned if he just sat by and let anyone hurt his dad.

He was just getting close when the smaller man looked like he was reaching for the blade at his waist and Hadrian reacted before he even had time to think about it. But before he could make contact someone grabbed him around the waist and knocked the blade out of his hand. He struggled to get away.

"Hadrian, calm child," he heard Severus' deep calm voice penetrate his panic. He stopped struggling and locked eyes with Severus. "What happened, Hades?"

"They have weapons and I thought he was reaching for one. I .... I didn't want him to hurt you. I only just found you..." Harry babbled out. He moved uncomfortably. The person behind him was still holding him tightly and his body was still hurting so badly.

"Would you please let him go? He won't do anything else. He only thought your friend was going to hurt me," Severus spoke to whomever was holding him. The arm holding him let him go and he went straight into Severus' open arms. Severus lifted his head and gave him an amused look. "Where did you get the dagger?"

"I stole it once when Dudley and his friends were beating the hell out of me. One of his friends had been bragging about his new blade and that they wanted to test it out. They decided to test it out on me. They....they cut me up pretty good and the next day I saw it sitting on the kitchen counter and I nicked it when they weren't paying attention to me," Hadrian told him honestly. He had already promised himself that he would not lie to Severus no matter what.

"Merlin, Hadrian, I swear I am going to find a way to get all of them back for the way they treated you. Pick up your dagger and put it away," Severus instructed and Hadrian did as he was told. Severus tucked him back under his arm and they turned towards the other three people.

"So what exactly is going on?" The red-headed woman asked.

"They want to see Tony," the man with the bow answered.

"Why?" She asked. The larger man indicated Hadrian.

"He says this is Tony's son," He said calmly. "Pepper has given explicit instructions that we are not to let anyone see Tony until they can prove why they think Tony is their father and then have a paternity test done." The woman laughed a little and then clapped both men on the shoulder.

"Have either of you actually looked at the boy?" She asked. Hadrian could hear the amusement in her tone. "The boy could be Tony's twin. Who cares who the mother is? Take him to the lab."

"Damn, Tasha, you're right. He does look just like Tony," the man with the bow said with a grin. "Can you imagine his reaction when he comes home from his meeting to find a he has a teenage son?" The other two laughed with him.

"He is right. That will be hilarious. Come on let's get you to the lab," The larger man said finally. "Did I hear that your name is Hadrian?"

"Yes, Sir. What is your name?" Hadrian asked. He would rather know what to call them. The three people looked at him funny.

"You don't know?" The man with the bow asked. Hadrian just shook his head.

"Should I know? This is the first time I have ever met any of you," Hadrian replied.

"Do you know who Tony is?" The woman asked him curiously. Hadrian just shook his head.

"No, I only know his name and that I was told he is my dad," He answered her. She laughed again and then looked at Severus.

"He truly doesn't know. It is a really long, unpleasant story. I would really rather he only had to tell it once," Severus answered her unspoken question.

"Who is his mother?" She asked. Hadrian watched as Severus considered the three strangers.

"I am his bearer," He said finally. The other three were silent as they thought about his answer. Finally, the larger man spoke up.

"You are an Omega," He stated. It wasn't a question. Hadrian was curious now. Severus had told him that muggles wouldn't know about Alphas and Omegas.

"Yes," Severus answered simply.

"Would you mind if I tested his DNA against yours as well to confirm that? I am a scientist and I am simply fascinated by the biology behind that process," The man asked.

"Of course, I am surprised that you know what an Omega is at all," Severus stated what Hadrian had been thinking. They were in the elevator now and Hadrian was still tucked up against Severus as close as he could get. He didn't exactly feel safe with the other three people.

"We probably know a lot more about a lot of things that would surprise you," The woman, Tasha stated as the elevator doors opened and they were led into a large hi-tech lab.

"Oh, I got distracted, I apologize. My name is Dr. Bruce Banner. I live here in Stark Tower with Tony and the rest of the team," The larger man said with a smile.

"Nice to meet you, Dr. Banner," Hadrian replied as he sat down in the chair that the Dr. had indicated. He looked up at Severus afraid and was comforted when his Papa placed both hands on his shoulders.

"You are fine, Hadrian. He is only going to take a little blood. He will place a rubber band around your arm and then he will use a needle to extract your blood," Severus explained to him calmly. Hadrian was still really nervous and flinched when he saw the Doctor pull the needle out and lay it on the table next to his arm. He made a small wounded noise before he could stop himself and looked up at Severus again.

"I'm scared," he whispered.

"Have you never been to the doctor before?" Dr. Banner asked him. Hadrian shook his head no.

"My Aunt and Uncle never took me to a doctor or hospital," Hadrian replied quietly. Severus' hands on his shoulders tightened for a moment and then let go. He walked around and squatted down in front of him.

"I have seen your scans, Hadrian. You mean to tell me that you have never been properly treated for any of those broken bones, injuries, or illnesses?" Severus asked him calmly. Hadrian shook his head no. Severus cursed under his breath. "I am going to torture them painfully before I finally kill them in the most painful way possible." Hadrian gripped his hands tightly.

"I would rather just never see or hear from them again. Please, Papa. If you do that they will send you to Azkaban. I would rather have you with me than get revenge on them," Hadrian begged. Severus pulled him into a tight hug.

"I would never risk leaving you alone, Hadrian. Do you want me to go first? So that you can see exactly what Dr. Banner is going to do?" Severus asked him. Hadrian nodded against his shoulder. "Ok then, up you get."

Hadrian stood up and stayed right next to Severus as he rolled up his sleeve and offered his arm to the Doctor. He watched the man like a hawk to make sure he didn't hurt his Papa. He watched both the needle and Severus' face as closely as possible. Then he watched the man connect a small vial to the needle and collect a little blood. Then he removed the needle and pressed a small gauze to the place before putting a piece of tape over it to hold it in place.

"That's it?" Hadrian asked relieved. Severus nodded and offered him a small smile.

"That's it, Love. Barely feels like a small pinch when the needle goes in," Severus assured him.

"Ok, I can do that," Hadrian said confidently as he sat down in the chair that Severus had just vacated. Severus still kept a comforting hand on his shoulder through the whole thing. When it was done, Hadrian grinned up at Severus. "That wasn't so bad."

Of course, it wasn't," Severus replied. Then he turned to the Doctor. The other two people had retreated to a corner of the lab and were talking quietly to each other. "How long will we have to wait?"

"Oh, not very long. Tony is a tech genius and everything in this tower is the best and fastest. Tony's DNA is already on file we just need to match it to Hadrian's once the computer has processed it," Bruce explained. Hadrian stood up and watched closely as the man placed a drop of his blood on a small piece of glass that he fed into a machine. Once it was uploaded he did the same thing with Severus' blood.

"Ever seen anything like this?" Bruce asked him while they waited. Hadrian shook his head no.

"Not the computer stuff. The rest of it kinda looks like a potion's lab," Hadrian said absently.

"A potion lab?" Bruce replied. Hadrian nodded as he looked at everything without touching it.

"Yeah, I am pants at it. But Papa is a Master," Hadrian replied as he was looking at the different colored beakers. He was completely distracted and not really thinking about what he was saying.

"It sounds like you have had a pretty rough time of it. Your aunt and uncle were bad to you?" Bruce asked as he pulled down two chemicals that would make a harmless but pretty reaction. Hadrian watched in amazement as the chemicals changed colors and turned to foam.

"Yes, Well I guess they aren't really my aunt and uncle. They are just people I was put with after the people who kidnapped me died," Hadrian answered. "Can you do other things like that?" He pointed to the beaker that was now full of foam.

"Yeah, It is just chemical reactions. Do you want to do it?" Bruce asked. Hadrian nodded and took a beaker of water when it was handed to him. "Put a bit of the oil in it. Very good and then we will add this for color. Perfect. Now drop this in there. Cool isn't it?" Hadrian nodded as he watched it become like the lava lamp Hermione had shown him once. "How long have you known Severus?"

"Since I was eleven. He was the potion teacher at my school. But I didn't know he was my dad until yesterday," Hadrian answered. "I was taken from him when I was like fifteen days old. He didn't know I was his son either. When we found out he immediately took me and ran so that no one can ever hurt me again. He is the first person to believe me about how badly the Dursleys hurt me. The first person to choose me." Hadrian looked away from the beakers and smirked up at the scientist.

"I know what you are doing. You think you are distracting me so that you can get answers out of me. I am not stupid and my Papa and I have nothing to hide. If you wanted to know if he has ever hurt me, the answer is no. He is the only adult in my life who has always protected me even when he thought I was the spawn of his childhood bully," Hadrian stated.

"Forgive me, I didn't think I was being so obvious," Bruce said with a smile. Hadrian heard someone chuckle from across the room. "You said you have known your dad since you were eleven but you don't look like you could be much older than twelve. How old are you?"

"I will be fifteen next month. I am very small for my age but I guess that's what happens when you are forced to live in a cupboard under the stairs for ten years," Hadrian said with a shrug. He was surprised to see the look of horror on the doctor's face.

"I am so very sorry that you had to live that way. No one should, especially a child," Bruce replied sincerely.

"Thank you. Can we be done with questions now? I am feeling a bit wrung out," Hadrian asked. Bruce's eyes softened and he nodded.

"Of course, let's go back over to the computer. The test results should be done by now," Bruce answered. He reached out to put a hand on Hadrian's shoulder but he flinched away so he dropped his hand.

"Sorry," Hadrian said quietly.

"I told you before that you do not have to apologize for your reactions, Hades. It is a perfectly natural response to what you have endured your entire life. It will take you some time to heal enough to accept that not everyone wants to hurt you," Severus said as he pulled Hadrian into a tight hug.

"Besides, that was my fault. I should have known better," Bruce added. "Now let's check out these results." Bruce clicked a few keys on the keyboard and then turned to Hadrian and Severus with a smile and a like of surprise.

"So is he Tony's," the man with the bow asked eagerly.

"Yes, he is Tony's son. They were also telling the truth about Severus being his carrier," Bruce told them. "This is amazing. I can't wait to see Tony's face." There was a laugh and a groan from the other two. Tasha, the woman was laughing and the man was groaning as he handed her money.

"I told you there was no way he wasn't Tony's son. He looks just like him," Tasha said with a grin. "By the way, my name is Natasha but you can call me Tasha. This idiot here is Clint. We both live here as well. Come on, let's go up to the penthouse and get you something to eat and let you both relax while we wait for Tony to get back. Shouldn't be too much longer now."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Wow," Hadrian said as they stepped out of the elevator and into the biggest and poshest home he had ever seen. Not that he had seen that many.

"Yeah, Tony is a bit of a snob when it comes to his tech," Clint said as he headed for the kitchen.

"Why are you going into the kitchen? It isn't like you are going to cook anything. You are kinda shit at it," Natasha pointed out. Clint just flipped her the bird.

"You're one to talk, you don't know how to cook either," Clint pointed out. Natasha just shrugged and sat down at the table.

"I wasn't heading for the kitchen. The only one out of the three of us that can cook a decent meal is Bruce," Natasha answered.

"I can cook," Hadrian spoke up.

"That won't be necessary, Bud. I will just pull out the sandwich stuff. No one needs to cook for now and I am sure that Tony will want to order in for dinner," Bruce said as he headed for the fridge.

"Can I help?" Hadrian asked. He wanted to make sure they knew he was useful. Then maybe they would want to keep him around. He knew Severus didn't have any expectations of staying with Tony, but Hadrian was hoping to convince the man otherwise. If he could have both of his parents in his life he would be the happiest teenager in the world.

"Sure, Bud. You can pull out the bread from that cabinet there and then a few butter knives out of that drawer right there for the condiments," Bruce pointed out each spot and then left Hadrian to it as he finished pulling everything out of the fridge. The five of them fixed themselves sandwiches and sat down at the dining room table. They talked for a bit while they ate and then when they were done, Hadrian asked if someone would show him where the bathroom was. Bruce volunteered to show him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tony had decided to use his suit instead of the plane to come home from his meeting. The people there had been irritating and he had needed the time to calm himself down. So when he arrived at the tower he wasn't expected or noticed. He removed his suit and was about to enter the house when he noticed someone new in the kitchen talking with Natasha.

Then the man turned around and Tony thought he was seeing a ghost. He couldn't make his body work, he was in shock. How was he here? Tony had thought he was dead. Around fifteen years ago he had been in London on business for his father. He had met this gorgeous dark-haired man at a club and had felt drawn to him. So he had bought him a drink and spent the entire night flirting and lost in conversation with him.

Tony had invited the man to his hotel and he had turned him down. So Tony had begged him to at least let him take him out the next day. One thing had led to another and he had ended up extending his trip by six months. He spent nearly every day with his dark-haired minx. He had fallen for him hard. Then the time had come when he had to return to New York. He had told his love that he would be back. He had gotten a ring while he was in New York and was coming back to propose.

Only when he returned, he couldn't find him anywhere. He had gone to the police, hired a PI, and used everything he could think of, but he had not been able to find him. He had searched for a few years before he had to accept that something horrible must have happened. He had mourned Severus for a long time. It was one of the reasons he had never settled down.

Now here he was. Calm as you please, smiling and talking to The Black Widow. Severus had a lot to explain to him. Tony finally shook off his shock and walked into his home. All conversation stopped and Tony walked straight into the kitchen and stopped in front of the only man he had ever loved.

"I thought you were dead," Tony blurted out. That was not how he had meant to start the conversation. Jesus, he was a mess already. Severus flinched.

"I'm sorry, Tony. When you left some things happened and I truly thought it would be better for you if I disappeared," Severus answered quietly. "If it makes you feel any better, it killed me to do it."

"Will you tell me now?" Tony asked him. Severus nodded.

"There is so much to tell you. But I need you to promise to keep an open mind and to let me finish before you freak out. Responding negatively could have far worse consequences than you can imagine. Will you listen before you react?" Severus asked him. Tony just nodded.

"Have you heard of some people having a Secondary Gender?" Severus was going to start with the most important.

"Yes, my mother used to tell me stories about it. Said it was something that used to run in her family. She wanted me to be prepared incase it manifested in me," Tony replied.

"Good, that's good. That will make this easier. It did manifest in you at least a little. If the blood had been stronger you would have probably been a very powerful Alpha. As it stands you did gain the ability to impregnate an Omega," Severus informed him. Tony was confused. How would Severus know something like that.

"How would you know that?" He decided to ask instead of just think it. He watched as Severus took a deep breath and seemed to steel himself for what he was about to say next.

"Because I am an Omega. After you left for New York, I found out that I was carrying. We had just had a conversation about how you didn't think having a child would fit into your life at that time. I didn't want you to feel obligated or tied down. Plus there were things about me that you didn't know yet and I didn't want to throw your whole life into a tailspin. I loved you too much for that. Plus there was a war going on and I didn't want to pull you into that. So I disappeared," Severus rushed out.

Tony was in shock. That was a lot of information. Severus was an Omega and Tony had gotten him pregnant. Severus had given birth to Tony's child and kept it hidden from him because Tony had told him that a child would ruin his plans at that point in time. Tony remembered the exact conversation Severus was referring to. He had been very insistent that a child would ruin everything and was definitely unwanted at the time. No wonder he had hidden it from him.

"What happened? Where is our child? Was it a boy or a girl?" Tony asked quickly. Severus' face dropped and he looked so broken for a moment before he hid it.

"I gave birth to a beautiful, perfect little boy on July 14th, 1980. I named him Hadrian Anthony Stark-Prince. I cherished him for seventeen days before someone snuck into my home in the middle of the night and took him," Severus paused for a moment to compose himself. Tony's heart was breaking for the pain Severus must of felt and how alone he must have felt. Tony kept quiet and let Severus work through what he was feeling.

"I searched for years to no avail. I finally found him yesterday," Severus finished.

"Is that why you are here now? You need my help to find him or rescue him? I will do it, Sev. Just give me all of the information that you have and I promise that our son will be in your arms before the night is out," Tony promised. Severus smiled at him and shook his head.

"We don't need your help for that but we do need your help to hide from some really bad people who want to hurt me," Tony whipped his head around at the sound of that small voice. The small teenager standing almost behind Bruce looked so much like Severus it was amazing. He was also much smaller than he should have been for almost fifteen.

"I will hide you. Both of you. I will keep you safe," Tony promised him automatically. The boy smirked and cocked his head to the side. Well, maybe he didn't look exactly like Severus. That smirk was all him. Tony thought to himself.

"You don't even know who wants to hurt me. What if it's like murderous aliens from outer space?" His son, Hadrian asked. Tony chuckled.

"Piece of cake. Been there done that. The aliens weren't so tough," Tony answered. The boy looked confused. Did he not know? "Don't you read the paper or watch the news?"

"No actually, I don't. I wasn't allowed," He answered quickly. "Did you really fight aliens?"

"Yeah, Kiddo. All four of us did with a few other friends of ours. We are kind of a big deal. Real-life superheroes. There is a documentary about it," Tony answered. "Why weren't you allowed to watch TV or read the paper?"

Hadrian came around Bruce walked over to Severus and tucked himself up against him. He looked so small, especially wearing a sweater that was clearly about five times too big.

"The people that I lived with didn't let me. They said that things like the telly and sitting on the furniture were not something that Freaks were allowed to do. What if I was hiding from terrorists?" Hadrian asked him as if the fact that he lived with people who called him a freak and wouldn't let him sit on the furniture was normal. Severus just shook his head. Tony let it go for now.

"Terrorists are too easy," He answered.

"Hmm, what about robots? A few of my classmates talked about a movie where robots killed people," Hadrian asked after a moment.

"Done that one too," Tony replied. Hadrian smiled and looked up at Severus before turning back to him.

"What about Evil Dark lords and manipulative old bastards that can use magic and can torture you or kill you with one wave of a wand?" Hadrian asked him. But this time it was different. Something about his tone of voice let Tony know that this was the important question.

"Well, we did fight a God once that could use magic. He was pretty powerful and we had to work really hard at it but in the end, we defeated him too," Tony told him more seriously. "Why is a Dark Lord and an old man out to hurt you? What is their purpose in targeting a teenager?"

"It's a really long story. Can we sit down and get comfortable while we talk about it?" Hadrian asked him. Tony watched as the boy seemed to wilt right before his eyes and he started rubbing a scar on his head as if it were bothering him. Severus reached up and gently pulled his arm down.

"Sure, Kiddo. Do you want it to just be the three of us or is it ok if my friends stay?" Tony asked as he held his arm out and indicated for them to lead the way to the living room.

"They can come too. We have permission to talk to anyone who lives with you. MACUSA says all of you can be trusted and if anyone can help us it is your lot," Hadrian answered.

"Jarvis," Tony called out. Hadrian looked around confused. Then he jumped and looked around when his AI answered.

"How can I help?" The AI asked.

"Is the whole team here?" Tony asked.

"Yes, sir. Everyone but Mr. Parker," Jarvis answered. Hadrian was still looking around. Tony grinned he looked more interested than afraid.

"Perfect, let everyone in the building know we are having a family meeting in the living room. Be here in five," Tony ordered and then turned back to Hadrian and Severus. "That is Jarvis. It is a computer interface program that I designed myself. I would be lost without him."

"Everyone has been notified, Sir," Jarvis spoke up. "Just a heads up. The Asgardians have just arrived. Do you want them present for the family meeting?"

"Yes, thank you, Jarvis," Tony replied.

"Asgard is real? Like the home of Thor, Loki, and Odin?" Hadrian perked up. Before Tony could answer, the elevator opened and five people stepped out.

"Come on in so that I can give introductions," Tony instructed. He looked down at his son and smiled. "Proper introductions with their Hero names. That is Bruce he is The Hulk, Natasha the Black Widow, Clint Hawkeye, the big guy there is Steve Rodgers or better known as Captain America, the broody one beside him is Bucky The Winter Soldier, that big beautiful blonde is Thor, the asshole beside him is his brother Loki, and last but certainly not least is my best friend Rhodey also known as the War Machine. We are the Avengers, Earth's mightiest Heroes."

"That is a lot of information and I am sorry if I mess up names," Hadrian replied. Then he looked up at Tony questioningly. "Are you an Avenger also?"

"Of course, I am the most important Avenger. I am Iron Man," Tony answered.

"Do you have cool powers?" Hadrian asked.

"Nope. I have a brilliant mind with unlimited ideas and the money to blow to make them a reality. I will show you my suit later, Kiddo," Tony let him know. He pulled Hadrian and Severus to their feet and wrapped an arm around each of them. "Team these two are the reason that I called a family meeting. I would like you to meet the man who stole my heart fifteen years ago and is the only person who has ever come close to getting a proposal out of me Severus Prince. We will explain the details in a moment so that everyone can understand so just bare with me. This handsome teen is my son. Already been verified with DNA. Hadrian Stark-Prince."

"Excuse me? A son? and you didn't introduce me as Uncle Rhodey? How dare you, I thought we were closer than that," Rhodey exclaimed then he turned to Hadrian. "I have known your brand new dad since we were teenagers. I am not merely his best friend. So I would greatly appreciate it if you would address me by my proper title. Uncle Rhodey." Harry giggled and nodded.

"Got it," Hadrian agreed. Rhodey nodded, satisfied with that answer. He turned to Severus and held out his hand.

"It is good to see you again, Severus. Though I probably owe you a lick or two for hurting Tony," Rhodes stated in a not-entirely friendly tone. Hadrian immediately stepped between them so that Rhodes had to back up.

"Don't threaten my Papa. You don't know why he made the choices he did. If you hurt him you will regret it," Hadrian threatened. Tony and the others watched the interaction. It should have been comical to see this tiny, bruised teenager in clothes that practically swallowed him standing up to a grown man ten times his size and muscled up enough to hurt him. But it wasn't funny. Something had shifted in the teenager as soon as felt like Severus had been threatened. He seemed like 'more' than what he was. Tony heard Loki suck in a breath and step forward.

Rhodes immediately stepped back. Severus placed his hands on the boy's shoulders before he turned him around and wrapped him in a hug. He rubbed soothing circles in his back and as the tension bled out of the teenager the charged air in the room seemed to clear and become lighter.

"All right, let's all sit down and talk this out. Severus and Hadrian need our help. They are going to tell us their story and we are going to listen and then we are going to figure out the best way to keep my family safe," Tony said. Then he urged everyone to sit down so that they could get started.

"Where do we start?" Hadrian asked Severus. The older man chuckled and tucked a piece of hair behind his son's ear.

"I guess we will start with what we are," Severus said and looked at Tony. "Hadrian and I are not human. Well, not completely human. We are Wizards and also Dark Fey..."