First Place - Angst

"If you so much as speak to my son again you will regret it," Severus said in his deadliest tone.

"If he's your son why was he left on my doorstep? His father is supposed to be dead. Why were we forced to raise the worthless excuse for a...?" Vernon Dursley stopped and swallowed hard when he took in the four glares.

Healer Albright looked at Severus, astonished, "He is talking about Harry Potter, right?"

"He is," Charlie growled. The redhead lowered his wand and Severus watched out of the corner of his eye as he led Harry away to another part of the ward.

"Look muggle," Healer Albright, a petite witch, snapped. "This is a hospital. We do not take kindly to people who assault our patients or their visitors, especially if that visitor is Harry Potter. If you cannot behave yourself you will be removed from the premises and forbidden from returning."

Dursley's chest puffed, "That boy is the reason my son is dead and my wife unconscious. What are you people going to do about that?"

"You son is dead, Mr. Dursley, because he weighed more than twice what he should have and his heart could not take the strain of the curses inflicted on him. Blame the Death Eaters and his eating habits," Healer Albright explained. "If he was healthy he would have survived in no worse condition than your wife."

Healer Richards took up where she left off, "As for Harry, he is no more at fault than I am. Without him we would all probably have died years ago. Unless you want hordes of angry witches and wizards after you I suggest you show Harry a little more respect."

Vernon Dursley just stared at them blankly, "What do I tell my sister?"

"Frankly Mr. Dursley, I don't care what you tell her," Severus said condescendingly. "You've lied to her about Harry for years. I am sure you can concoct something to satisfy her."

Severus gave the man one final glare and went to find Charlie and his son. When he did Harry was shaking like a leaf in Charlie's arms, mumbling about everyone close to him dying. He tried continually, but rather feebly, to physically push Charlie away but was unsuccessful. Charlie looked up as Severus approached and his eyes were full of desperation and sadness.

"Harry," Severus said softly. "It wasn't your fault."

They were by an empty bed, with permanently catatonic patients on either side.

"It was," Harry insisted weakly. "The wards... I didn't see it as a home... Dumbledore said I had to call it home... my fault..."

"If the requirement was that you call your aunt's house a home, the blame lies with your relatives Harry," Severus said sternly. It was not a time to coddle his son and let him entertain thoughts of guilt. "The Dursleys ensured you would not see their house as a home. If they had treated you with any kindness they might have saved themselves."

"I want to leave," Harry said firmly. "I want to go home to Hogwarts. I never want to see him again."

"Harry," Charlie was trying to be the voice of reason this time, "you have to go to Dudley's funeral."

"No... oh no... Aunt Marge will be there... and Piers... and all his other friends," Harry was nearly hyperventilating. "I can't go. I can't be there."

"Severus," Charlie's eyes flicked towards the moveable curtain, both hands busy trying to soothe Harry.

Severus shot a glare towards the entrance of the ward, where the Dursleys were, and shut the curtain sharply. The healers were still talking to Dursley and giving them privacy. The curtain sealed them off from any prying eyes and Severus cast a localized silencing ward.

Charlie sat Harry down on the bed and kissed him. Severus could not help but watch and feel the ache return to his own heart. The kiss was tender and loving, even if Harry still didn't know about the latter. Charlie's hands rubbed circles on Harry's back and the redhead was projecting calm strongly enough for Severus to feel it.

A kiss on the cheek, then the forehead, "We will all be there Harry. You won't face them alone."

Harry's breath hitched, and then he dissolved into sobs, clinging to Charlie. Severus sat down behind his son and added another comforting hand to his back. Charlie stroked his head, murmured soft words in his ear, and held his waist while Severus rubbed his back.

"Why?"

Severus sighed, "He knew it would cause you pain."

"They hated me," Harry's voice was muffled by Charlie's robes, "and he still went after them. Everyone I touch gets hurt."

"I don't want to hear it," Charlie said firmly, much to Severus's surprise.

Harry sniffed, "You know it's true."

"You saw those healers Harry," Charlie admonished. "People care about you. The whole wizarding world either cares about you or wants you dead and nothing you can do will change that."

"Don't cheapen their deaths by taking the blame Harry," Severus added sharply. "Voldemort ordered the attacks, they are his fault. Any student with muggle family could be in the same position."

Harry nodded but stayed pressed against Charlie.

"I think we can leave now," Charlie said quietly. "I could use a bed myself."

"Go to Headquarters and take Harry with you. He can stay there for a few days," Severus ordered. If Albus wanted Harry at Hogwarts he would have to go through Severus. Harry would not deal with this surrounded by his roommates. It would just get pushed down like so much else.

Charlie nodded and helped Harry up. His wand brushed by the bruise from Vernon and it faded away. Harry straightened his jumper and it was then that Severus noticed what Harry was wearing. The boy must have been dragged out of bed hours ago.

"I'll need muggle clothes for the funeral," Harry said in a distant voice.

"Leda Vestire will still have your measurements. I am sure she can come up with something appropriate," Severus almost cringed at the thought of attending a muggle funeral. Even wizarding memorials were too emotional for him.

Harry and Charlie apparated directly out of the ward, much to the surprise of the healers. With the lack of the typical sound associated with apparition Severus was able to convince them it was a Portkey. He remained at the hospital with the Dursleys until a team of Aurors replaced him, one of them a member of the Order.

"Albus wants to see you," Patrick whispered as he passed.

Severus nodded. He wanted to go to Grimmauld Place, but Harry was most likely, hopefully, asleep, and Charlie would watch over him. It had been a long day but Severus still had classes to teach. He used the main hospital fireplace to Floo to Hogwarts as he didn't trust himself apparating just then.

"Severus, have some tea," Albus pressed the cup into his hand as he stepped out of the fireplace.

Severus sipped at the tea, laced strongly with Energizing Elixir, "Thank you Albus. Dudley Dursley is dead. I sent Harry to Grimmauld Place. If we can expedite the funeral we should."

Albus nodded but did not answer. Severus had only seen the headmaster like this a few times. The man was undecided about something, something important.

"These came for Harry," Albus gestured and a roll of parchment and a box appeared on his desk. "They are from Voldemort, and I can not open them."

"You?" Severus blinked. Albus had never failed at anything Severus had seen him try to accomplish.

"There is written Parseltongue on the parchment," Albus said darkly. "I assume it explains how to open the letter and box, so Harry will be the only one who can open them."

"And he will insist on reading the letter and seeing whatever is in that box," Severus finished, understanding. Albus needed whatever information was in there but did not want to subject Harry to more of Voldemort than absolutely necessary.

"Severus," Albus leaned on his desk and look down at Severus, "you are his father. Do we throw these in the fire or allow Harry to open them?"

"They have been checked?" Severus asked even though he knew the answer. They would not have gotten to that point had any curses been detected. "Bring them to Grimmauld Place and let him open them."

Severus felt the same quandary as Albus but knew there was a possibility that whatever the letter and box contained might snap Harry out of his guilt and fill him with determination again. Charlie could only pull Harry out of depression so many times and Severus was not willing to rely solely on the redhead.

"Tomorrow night," Albus said. "We will both go and you can stay the weekend." There was a pause. "They should have been safe Severus."

Severus shook his head, "Harry figured it out immediately Albus. Your wards required Harry to see Privet Drive as a home. The instant he found another place to call home, the instant he set foot inside this castle, Privet Drive ceased to be a home for him. It is only luck that the Death Eaters waited this long to attack there. I believe they could have broken the wards after his first year."

Albus blinked at him, "Harry said that?"

"Not in as many words," Severus grumbled. "He was nearly hysterical after his uncle attacked him."

"I am old Severus," Albus's voice was weighted with regret. "I can only hope to be here long enough to help Harry in his task."

Severus nodded and finished his tea. Together they went to the great hall, as it was nearly time for breakfast to begin. Severus cast a quick cleaning charm and summoned a house elf to bring him a set of robes from his quarters. In a side room off the hall Severus slipped the robes on. He entered the hall and spotted Ron and Hermione immediately. They would be worried, as Ron had woken to find Harry missing. Severus went to them and pulled them aside.

"There were several attacks last night, the Dursleys among them," Severus explained in an undertone. Hermione paled and Ron gripped her hand. "Harry's uncle is fine and his aunt is being treated at St. Mungo's. His cousin died."

"Oh Harry," Hermione said softly.

"Harry is with your parents Ron and will stay there until the funeral," Severus said with a sharp look. "Charlie and the twins and Bill are there. Harry has enough people to support. You may not leave the castle to try to help him. If you wish to attend the funeral you must ask the headmaster's permission."

Both Gryffindors nodded and went to their table solemnly. The students who were already there instantly stopped chattering upon seeing their bleak faces and started questioning the couple. The whole school would know about Harry's relatives before the Daily Prophet arrived, which would undoubtedly have a heart wrenching story about the Boy-Who-Outlived-More-of-his-Family.

There was a triple headline when the paper did arrive and the issue was thicker than usual.

The order of importance assigned to the stories made Severus glare at his paper in disgust. There was no denying that Harry's name sold papers, and his image even more so. Severus wondered how Skeeter had gotten pictures from the Ball. It was hard to believe it was only the night before.

The seventh year Potions practical that afternoon was subdued. Even the Slytherins were quiet and went about their work efficiently and cooperatively. Ron and Hermione stayed behind to use his fireplace to check in on Harry, only to be told by Molly that Harry was sleeping and she would not disturb him. She did agree to pass on their condolences and took a letter they had written on the off chance that they didn't get to talk to him. Ron also handed his mother a bag of Harry's clothes and a few other things.

Severus had seen Harry like that before, quiet and distant. He had acted similarly after Black died. Severus dreaded what would happen if another person close to Harry died.

"Harry," Albus tried to get the boy's attention. "I want you to read this."

Harry walked over to them and sat down on a bench at the kitchen table next to Charlie. Molly and Arthur were there, and the twins and Bill. The Weasleys had determined not to leave Harry alone, and to surround him with care and support whenever possible.

Hissing noises came from Harry's mouth as he leaned over the parchment and it unraveled. The box opened. Harry stepped back, a little startled before leaning over again. There was more hissing as he read the letter and his face paled. A ceramic bowl was levitated out of the box and set down on the table, a pensieve, and before anyone could stop him Harry put his wand in the liquid.

"Damn," Severus swore.

He was not alone when he touched his wand to the silvery surface. Charlie, Albus, and the twins had joined him in chasing after Harry.

They were outside a plain muggle house as black robed figures stormed it. There were flashes of light and screams from inside. Another muggle house and more screams and light came into view. The images changed rapidly. Charlie drew Harry against him and the twins flanked them. Severus stepped behind them and reached an arm between Charlie and Fred to rest a hand on Harry's shoulder. Albus stood at his side.

They moved to the inside of the houses, saw the muggles tortured and killed, saw the infants scream as their parents did and cry when their parents died. The final scenes were in the Dursleys' house and Smeltings, showing the torture of Petunia and Dudley.

It ended swiftly and they were all in the kitchen again. The twins were pale and Charlie looked furious. Albus was like a stone statue radiating cold fury. Severus was mostly drawn to Harry, who was shaking just slightly and giving off waves of pure magic. Severus was not as affected as the others, having been on many raids himself, having tortured muggles.

"What does the letter say Harry?" Severus asked slowly.

Harry picked it up and read it to himself, then looked up, "I hope you enjoy my tribute to the Potters. Feel free to count them Harry. I did. There are forty-seven new Harrys and Toms. Happy Anniversary."

"Sick fucking bastard," George commented.

"I want their names," Harry demanded, ignoring George, his eyes fixed on Albus. He slammed the letter down on the table, making the pensieve rock. "I want their names. I want to know where they go. There will be no more Toms or Harrys, not ever again."

"What will you do Harry?" Albus asked as though Harry had not just given him an order. All the Weasleys were staring at the pair of extremely powerful wizards.

"I will visit them," Harry said more quietly but there was ferocity in his tone. "I will make sure they are happy. Merlin help me, if I have to I will take them away from their guardians. No child is going to live through what I did if there is anything I can do to stop it."

Albus bowed his head, "Minerva will help you. She has The Book."

Severus wondered if Voldemort knew that his actions had both broken Harry and lit a fire under him. Harry burned with purpose. He had contacted Minerva that night and requested a list with as much information on the orphaned children as she could gather. Once Albus approved she agreed to have it for him when he returned to Hogwarts.

Their muggle suits were delivered by owl that Saturday. Severus had requested that they be both as fashionable and robe-like as possible. Madame Vestire even went as far as providing thick wool muggle overcoats, gloves, and scarves. She said their boots normally worn with dress robes would be fine. The suits were entirely black, shirts as well, with high collars. The trousers and shirts were close fitted and the jackets loose, falling to mid-thigh. Their coats were long and straight with half capes that fell over the sleeves and ended at the waist. Severus had a black coat, gloves, and scarf, while Harry had a charcoal gray coat and dark green scarf and gloves that matched his eyes perfectly.

He did not know how the Weasleys found suitable muggle clothes for the funeral, but suspected that Bill was the driving force behind outfitting the family. Tonks, Kingsley, Alastor, Davey Gudgeon, and the Diggory twins were all detailed to join them. Remus had wanted to come as well, but only so many professors could be absent during classes. Albus somehow manipulated the Dursleys so the wake was on Sunday and the funeral on Monday. Ollivander would also be at Grimmauld Place on Sunday as no one was willing to delay Harry's lessons, Harry least of all.

The wake was the most distasteful, barbaric custom Severus had ever been witness to. The dead body was put on full view for a large group who all walked past and peered in the coffin. Some of them paused and spoke and others just walked by. A smaller group than would be at the funeral went to the wake. Charlie, Bill, Tonks, Kingsley, and Severus were the only escorts as they did not intend to stay long. Each one of them had a wand up their sleeve and ready at a moment's notice.

Severus almost wanted Dursley to try something. He was itching to curse the man.

The wake passed without incident. A woman who had to be Vernon Dursley's sister, as she had the same double chin, glared at Harry openly. She caused several people outside of Harry's escort to give her looks of disapproval and distaste. It seemed that not all muggles were that bad.

Finding the Key - Chapter 30

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