Chapter Text
It wasn't apparition, or a portkey. Those felt differently. When his mother or father took him somewhere with side-along apparition, it felt like being sucked through some kind of straw and spat out again. A portkey grabbed him like a hook from just behind his navel and twirled him through a world of color and distorted sound. This was a sudden jerk and a stop, like tripping over an uneven floor tile. From one stumbled step to the next Draco Malfoy was no longer heading out of his room but stepping into someone's back garden. He put out a hand as if to steady himself but didn't actually need it. Instead, he stared, frozen to the spot. He was in a small garden with hedges and neatly trimmed flowerbeds. To his left was a small, semi-detached, house made of brick.
Draco had just begun to wonder where he might be when the back door opened and a florid faced man with very little neck tossed a small boy out onto the stone walkway. Draco pressed his back against the hedge but the large man only had eyes for the small boy he had just thrown into the back garden like so much trash.
"I don't want to see your freaky face for the rest of the night!" With that the back door was slammed shut. Draco stayed pressed to the hedge, looking around for anywhere to hide but seeing no where. The small boy wasn't moving. Was he dead? Had that dreadful big man killed him? He was afraid the man would come back out of the house and hurt him too. Where was he? Where were his Mother and Father? He looked at the boy, crumpled on the walk. Did he need help? Should Draco help him? He looked at the small windows next to the door and wondered if he would be seen if he approached the boy. Maybe, if he helped the boy, he could find out where he was.
Stepping carefully, ready to run for it if the back door opened again, he inched forward until he could kneel down by the prone form. The child had dark hair that stuck up every which way, and, judging by his size, he was a couple of years younger than Draco's nine years. Gently rolling the boy over, he sneered at the ratty worn clothes that were far too big and the broken round glasses. The child's eyes were closed, sooty black lashes brushing his pale cheeks and his mouth was slightly open. Beneath the rucked up shirt, Draco could see dark bruises both old and new. There were hand shaped bruises on the boys' arms and a livid red handprint across one of his cheeks. When Draco went to lift the boy's head into his lap, his hand came away sticky with blood. The boy must have hit the back of his head on the stone walk and that was why he was unconscious.
Becoming more anxious by the moment, Draco looked around, wondering what he could do or if there was any way to wake the younger child up. Looking back down at the boy's face, Draco gasped. There, peaking out from under unruly bangs, was a lightning bolt shaped scar!
"You're Harry Potter!" he cried out and then flinched, looking worriedly at the back door. When nothing happened he let go of his breath with a whoosh and started looking around again. There had to be something he could use to wake up the Boy Who Lived, but, other than some gardening tools beside a bench towards the back of the garden, he could see nothing. He wished his mother were here. Or Dobby. Oh! Of course! Dobby!
"Dobby!" Draco called lowly. He really didn't want the scary man to come back out into the garden. With an entirely too loud crack, Dobby appeared, twisting his hands into the filthy pillowcase he wore.
"What can Dobby be doing for..." the elf trailed off, looking around with wide eyes. "Wheres we be, Master Draco? Youse supposed to be studying in the libraries, sir!"
"Shh! Dobby, you'll make that horrible man come out here if you don't quiet down! I don't know where we are, Dobby. I don't know how I got here. But look! Look! It's Harry Potter!" He gestured to the small boy in his lap. Dobby came forward to look at the unconscious child's face. More specifically at the boy's scar.
"Harry Potter!" the elf squeaked out jumping back in shock. "Harry Potter is injured! Harry Potter must not be injured! Are youse injured, Master Draco?"
"No, no, I'm fine. But he's bleeding and I can't wake him up. I'm afraid that horrible man will come out into the garden at any moment. I need Mother, Dobby! Can you bring her here immediately?"
"Right away, Master Draco!" and with another crack, the little elf had disappeared. Draco looked fearfully at the back door. If the purple faced man had heard those cracks and came out to investigate, Draco knew he'd be stuck. He couldn't get out from under Harry Potter fast enough to run and he certainly couldn't hide. For one, there was nowhere to hide and for another, he couldn't lift the boy much more than he already had and he felt a strange reluctance to leave the Boy Who Lived behind. No, he wouldn't leave the younger boy to face that terrible man alone. He wished Dobby and his mother would hurry. Just as he had the thought, there was another loud crack, and his mother and the elf were there.
"Draco!" said Narcissa Malfoy, hurrying toward the two boys. She took in the dark haired child's condition with a glance. "Oh, dear. Draco, love, are you hurt?"
"No, Mother. This is Harry Potter. He's the one who is hurt!"
"I can see that. Where are we Draco? How did you get here?" Before Draco could answer, the back door slammed open with a loud bang.
"Quit making all that ruddy noise, Boy! I swear, if you're doing some of that freaky nonsense...!" The large, florid faced man halted upon seeing the intruders in his back garden "Petunia!" he bellowed, "Call the police! I don't know who the hell you people are... What is that?" He had caught sight of the House Elf. Recoiling he called for his wife again. Narcissa stood and calmly brushed off her robes.
"Dobby, protect the boys. If it seems any harm is about to come to them, take them to my personal suite." Dobby nodded vigorously.
"Yes, Mistress Narcissa!" he said, moving to stand between the children and the angry man.
"Vernon, what on earth...?" a horse-faced and bony woman came to stand by her husband, surveying the occupants of the back garden with shock.
"Ah, you must be the Petunia your, husband, I presume, was just bellowing at. My name is Lady Narcissa Malfoy."
"L..Lady..."
"Petunia, call the police!"
"Ah, yes. By all means, call your muggle law enforcement. I will be happy to show them the state of the poor child who is unconscious behind me." Narcissa said, somehow sounding icy cold though her expression remained calm.
"Vernon...!" squeaked Petunia.
"I see. Your names are Vernon and Petunia. May I enquire as to your surname, perhaps?"
"D..Dursley." Petunia squeaked.
"Thank you. Under the circumstances, you'll forgive me if I decline to say it is a pleasure to meet you. Who, may I inquire, is the unconscious child in my son's arms?"
"Our nephew and he is a liar! You, Madam, and your son and...whatever that thing is, are trespassing!" said Vernon Dursley, puffing up his chest.
"Indeed. It will be my great pleasure to remove myself, my child, and my servant just as soon as you've told me your nephew's name, sir."
"You...you...!" the large man was becoming red in the face.
"His name is Harry Potter!" shrieked Petunia, then, more quietly to her husband, "She's one of them, Vernon!"
"You stay away from my family!" bellowed Vernon, putting himself in front of his bony wife.
Dear Gods, Harry Potter? "I would like nothing more, sir, but, you see, your nephew is in need of a healer and I would be remiss not to see to it that he gets one." Narcissa's voice, if possible, had become even icier and she was openly frowning.
"I'll not be paying for any doctor for the freak! You can just take yourself off!" Vernon Dursley was becoming rapidly more red in the face. Narcissa surmised he would soon achieve a color of puce she had never seen on a human being before.
"Am I to believe, Sir, that you are refusing care on behalf of your nephew?"
"We...we...don't your kind have some kind of hospital? Mungy's or something?" Petunia squeaked, coming out from behind her large husband.
"St. Mungo's, yes."
"Well, then take him to Mungo! You can have him! We never wanted him in the first place!" Vernon's face was, indeed becoming puce colored. "And while you're at it, the lot of you can go with him! We don't want you and your... unnaturalness, around here! You and your kind keep away from my family!" Vernon pulled his wife towards the door, practically shoving her through it before slamming it closed behind himself. Narcissa heard the click of a lock.
"Mother?" Draco's voice was frightened. Narcissa took a moment to let the anger drain from her expression before turning to her child. What dreadful muggles! In Merlin's name, who placed the Boy Who Lived with such people? Flicking worried eyes over the boy's many bruises she took a steadying breath. Those bruises were layered, some fresh and some already healing. Which meant this was not a one time event. Reaching out, she ran her fingers through her son's silky blond hair before cupping his cheek. She wasn't ready. She'd only begun making her final preparations but it was time now. Thank Morgana, Lucius had left for Paris just this morning. He intended to be gone for most of the week on business. This would give her time to help the Potter boy. She briefly considered St. Mungo's before realizing she couldn't bring herself to just drop him off there anonymously and, if her plans were to work, she couldn't stay there with him. The Wizarding World would lose its collective mind if Harry Potter were brought to St. Mungo's by none other than Lady Malfoy. For Draco's and her safety, Lucius couldn't find out about any of this.
"Dobby, take Draco and Master Harry Potter to my private quarters please. I will meet you there."
"Right away, Mistress." With a crack, Dobby was gone with the two boys. Narcissa took one last look around the Dursley's garden. Twilight was setting in making the flowers in their neatly trimmed beds seem to glow. Taking a deep breath, she turned on the spot and was gone.
oOooOooOo
Upon arriving in her private apartments, Narcissa went towards the guest room and saw, to her relief, the small black haired boy laid out on the bed, her own little son kneeling beside him and holding his hand. She smiled softly. Draco had a big heart. It was one of the reasons she had begun her preparations. Gently, she called Dobby from the room.
"Mistress Narcissa be needing Dobby?"
"Yes, Dobby. I need you to head towards the Snape house located in Spinner's End. There you will find Professor Severus Snape. Inform him that I have an injured child and I could use his expertise. Tell him to bring his large potion's kit. Thank you, Dobby."
"Right aways, Mistress Narcissa!" The elf left with a crack.
Heading into the bedroom, Narcissa looked at Draco.
"Has he awoken at all?"
"No, mother. I think he's paler. Except where that man hit him. That's red." he pointed at the hand print on the side of the little boy's face which was beginning to bruise. Narcissa's lips thinned.
"Dragon, I'm going to cast a diagnostic spell. It will take a few minutes. Can you watch over him?"
"Yes, mother."
"Good boy." Narcissa turned her gaze on the small, pale face of Harry Potter, and took a breath. It had been quite some time since she'd needed to use her healer's skills. She'd been studying for a mastery of the craft before her marriage. Still, a simple diagnostic charm should not be beyond her abilities. A deeper, more intensive scan that would show past injuries and, she suspected, malnutrition and the complications that come with that, would have to wait. For now, she needed to know what was on the surface. Taking another breath, she held her wand over the boy and began. By the time she finished and had caught the piece of parchment her wand produced, she was happy to see Severus had arrived.
"What in Merlin's name? Cissa?" her old friend was staring openly at the Boy Who Lived, a heavy black satchel hanging from one hand. "This child had better not be who I think he is." He said, quietly, as if to himself.
"I'm afraid he is exactly who you think he is. Harry Potter."
The black haired man's face twisted. "But how...?"
"As to that, I'm not entirely sure. My house elf came to me just as I had sat down with a cup of tea to tell me that Draco was in someone's garden with Harry Potter and that the boy was injured. Not knowing how on earth Draco left this house through the wards and without knowing how to apparate, I decided I had better go to him straight away. I still have no idea where Dobby took me other than to the back garden of one Vernon Dursley and his wife Petunia."
"Petunia!" Severus exclaimed. "No. Surely he wouldn't have...I told him Lily's muggle relatives were unsuitable. He told me the boy had been placed where he was safe and happy."
"You are aware of what this means then? You know who the Dursley's are?"
"Certainly, I'm aware. I've no notion of the man Petunia married but the woman herself I know all too well. A more sour and jealous person you have never met. She is Lily Potter's sister, a muggle."
"Ah. I see. So the child was placed with Muggles? How strange. They have been mistreating him."
"I can see that. Some of these bruises are old." Carefully, Severus turned the small boy on his side and lifted his shirt in order to see his back. Narcissa and Draco gasped. Crisscrossing the small boy's back were scars layered upon one another. A few crusted over welts were still fresh.
"As I suspected. What does the parchment say?" Severus's eyes looked haunted as he gently placed the boy on his back again. Draco immediately took the younger boy's hand once more. Narcissa, remembering the parchment in her hand began to read it.
"I just did a surface scan for now. Hmm. Welts and bruises on his back and torso." She winced. "His right shoulder is nearly dislocated and three of his ribs on that side are cracked. He has a concussion from the head wound."
"Right, we'll need to treat that first. We should take him to St. Mungo's." Severus looked up at Narcissa with his black eyes narrowed.
"No. No, that won't do. If Lucius was to find out..." She trailed off.
"Ah. So you intend to go through with it then?"
"I do. Though I wasn't planning on things happening so fast. I'm not very prepared. Lucius will be out of town until Friday though he could always come home sooner if things go well for him. We'll need to be gone before then."
"I see. Let's treat the boy. We can discuss the rest later."
"Mother?" Draco was confused. Narcissa reached out and ran gentle fingers down the side of his face.
"It's nothing for you to worry about, dear. We're going to help Harry now." Draco nodded firmly, still holding tight to the smaller boy's hand.
oOooOooO
Several potions and healing spells later and Harry was beginning to look a little better. Severus had held the unconscious boy in place while Narcissa tightly wrapped his ribs and then placed a sling over his neck for his arm. They had then rubbed bruise salve all over the boy's torso and onto the handprint on his face. The head wound was cleaned and healed and, with no sign of a bleed in his brain, he was eased from unconsciousness to a natural healing sleep. With Skelegro in his system to heal his ribs and the crack in his skull, he couldn't have any pain potions until later so it was just as well that they put him to sleep. Nevertheless, Severus intended to stay up with the boy. One couldn't be too careful when it came to concussions.
Severus, himself, was feeling rather ill. For the last eight years, he'd been secure in the knowledge that James Potter's son was living in the lap of luxury, doted on and treated like a prince. Oh, how he had hated that child! Looking just like his father, he most certainly would act just like him as well. An arrogant bully given everything he ever wanted. Never on Merlin's right arse cheek would he have believed the child was being abused. Despite despising the boy, he had promised Lily he would protect her son with his last breath. So far he had failed so badly it was laughable. Why did he never think to check on the boy? He trusted that the old coot had provided the very best for his golden boy. He should have checked. After all, Dumbledore had already proven he could turn a blind eye to abuse. Severus knew the old man had known about Tobias Snape. Very little escaped that twinkling gaze.
Severus ran his eyes over the sleeping boy. Draco had been chivvied off to bed. His little godson had held Potter's hand through the entire healing process, murmuring encouragement, and occasionally smoothing unruly black hair off the child's pale forehead. It was good Narcissa had decided to leave her husband. It wouldn't be long before Lucius was made aware of just how soft his son was, how much like Narcissa he was. Lucius despised his wife's "sentimentality" as he called it. Fortunately he was largely uninterested in children and had not yet turned his attention to Draco. Eventually he would take his son under his wing, teaching him to be hard and cruel; molding him into the perfect servant for his Dark Lord. Severus shuddered to think of what Draco's life would be like then. It would be soon. Lucius would want his son exhibiting "correct" behavior before he was sent to Hogwarts after his eleventh birthday. The child had just turned nine years old two weeks ago.
Then, of course, there was the inheritance. It would come next year, when Draco turned ten, but he would begin showing signs in the upcoming year. Narcissa was a half Veela, something that the Black family had carefully concealed. Lucius himself had Veela ancestry. Not that he was aware of or would ever admit to such a thing. It was nearly inevitable, therefore, that Draco would have a creature inheritance. Narcissa had managed, through a combination of magic and maintaining her distance from her husband as much as she was able, to hide her creature side from Lucius. If he ever found out he would kill her, of that Severus was certain. Thinking his wife to be weak and just a little stupid, Lucius had been all too happy to leave her be once she had given him an heir. He trotted her and Draco out to social gatherings or when his friends and associates were visiting giving the illusion of a happy family for the sake of the ministry. Otherwise, he was much more interested in his various mistresses than in Narcissa or their son. For now, at least.
Severus gnawed at his bottom lip. Narcissa had been his friend while they had been at Hogwarts. She was always so kind, never turning him away even though he was a strange little half-blood with greasy black hair. She had been only too happy to assist him with classes or within Slytherin house. She could see the makings of a potions prodigy in him. If he had stayed under her protection, it was altogether possible that he would never have joined the Death Eaters. Lucius, however, had seen his interactions with the prettiest girl in Slytherin and decided to try and earn points with her by taking Severus under his wing. A sneer twisted the Potions' Master's lips. He'd been so flattered by the older boy's attentions. Lucius was handsome, influential, and intelligent, the kind of boy you fall in love with. As such, Severus either ignored or made excuses for the more sadistic and cruel aspects of his hero, unwilling to give up his hopes that the blond would choose him one day. He'd had those hopes right up until Lucius's marriage.
Gradually, and after he had already taken the dark mark, Severus had begun to pay attention to Lucius's ugly nature. He'd heard the man slandering his Lilly and he'd seen the occasional bruises on Narcissa's lovely, pale arms. Slowly, he had fallen out of love with his hero, but by then it was too late. He'd already alienated Lilly and joined the dark. Granted, he couldn't blame Lucius entirely for that. He'd gone to the Dark Lord for power and a promise of revenge against his bastard of a father. Busy with his potions' mastery, he hadn't fully realized his mistake until the day he'd heard that blasted prophecy! If only he hadn't...but he had and he couldn't change it now. Lilly was dead and her son had been placed with muggles who appeared to be just as monstrous as Tobias Snape had been. He had failed the child. Failed Lilly. He would change that now, he thought, letting his eyes linger on little Harry Potter's lightning shaped scar, he would protect him from now on. He would protect Narcissa and his Godson as well. It was time.
oOooOooOo
Narcissa slept well. Seeing how anxious she was, Severus had given her a dreamless sleep potion, promising to sit up with the Potter boy. He'd sleep come daylight, he'd said and she would need to be at her best in the coming days if they were to be successful in escaping from her husband. So she had agreed to the potion, after putting Draco to bed, and retired to her own room. Sitting up amongst the blankets and blinking against the morning light, she called Dobby to her side.
"Mistress Narcissa be needing Dobby?"
"Yes, Dobby. You stayed up to help take care of Mr. Potter as I asked?"
"Yes, indeed, mistress! Dobby helps Master Snape take care of Harry Potter! Harry Potter is great wizard!" Smiling rather bemusedly at the funny little elf, Narcissa asked after the boy's condition.
"Master Harry Potter's be still sleeping, Mistress. Master Snape's be saying Skelegro is all gone and he is giving Master Harry Potter a pain potion."
"Very well, Dobby. Assist Master Draco in getting ready for the day and bring breakfast to my sitting room"
"Right away, Mistress Narcissa!" the elf popped from the room. Narcissa, smiling a little, pulled a dressing gown over herself and went to the guest room to see to her patient. Severus looked up as she entered, bags beneath his eyes but not looking terribly anxious as he would if there had been complications. Narcissa considered that to be a good sign. Severus didn't wait for her to ask.
"The skelegro left his system about an hour ago. I've given him a strong pain potion but I expect he'll be waking at any time now.
"Good. Let me do another scan while he's still out of it." Narcissa raised her wand and held it sideways over his head. Slowly she moved it down from his forehead all the way to his toes. Parchment furled out of the wand and she caught it in one hand.
"His ribs, shoulder, and the crack in his skull have all resolved thanks to the skelegro. I'm not seeing much inflammation around the bruising, either. There is still a little inflammation in his head but no bleeds of any kind. He'll still be a bit concussed for another day, I'm afraid, but it should be gone by nightfall. Other than that, he's likely to be dreadfully sore and wanting to sleep. I imagine he'll be rather confused as well. He should wake in about an hour. Time enough for breakfast and for you to lay down for some sleep."
"Very well and what are your plans for today?" Severus leaned back in his chair and raised his arms above his head to stretch his back.
"I shall begin packing up those things that are precious to me and are specifically mine as well as Draco's things. First, though I'll have a talk with Mr. Potter and then Draco about what is going to happen in the next few days. I imagine I'll have two rather frightened boys on my hands but Dobby will help me, so I want you to get some rest."
"You can trust that little house elf? He works for the Malfoy family, does he not?"
"Actually, Dobby is my personal house elf. He was part of my dowry upon my marriage. It's why Lucius treats him so terribly." It was at that moment that Dobby popped into the room.
"Breakfast is served in the sitting room, Mistress and Master Draco be waiting."
"Very well, Dobby. Would you sit with Master Harry? Come and get me and Severus if he wakes or there is any change."
Yes, Mistress. Dobby will watch Master Harry!" and the little elf went eagerly to the boy's bedside. Narcissa smiled gently and led Severus from the room. Breakfast was an assortment of pastries with bacon, sausage, and ham and tea. Draco tucked in ravenously asking how Harry was and would he like breakfast? What did Harry like to eat? Did Harry have to go back to those awful people's house? Could Harry stay with them? Would Harry be his friend? The questions continued rapid fire until Narcissa reminded Draco to focus on his breakfast and not to talk with his mouth full.
After eating Severus went to a guest room. Narcissa had assured him that she would wake him magically if she needed to in case of an emergency, so he did the same as she had last night and swallowed a small dose of dreamless sleep potion. Meanwhile, Narcissa got herself and Draco cleaned up and dressed, ready to greet the Boy Who Lived as soon as he woke. Dismissing Dobby to get some food and rest of his own, she gently took the small boy's hand in hers. Draco took his other hand and they waited.