A/N: Wow, it's ages since I've updated... I'm really sorry. Exams are finally over, in the end, I passed Latin and chemistry but failed maths en physics. Ah well, can't have everything (A).
A bit of Sirius/Harry cuddling chapter, but still no real romance... Don't worry, they will end up together... eventually.

A/N: I am not sure if I should continue, because I started this story such a long time ago (when my English wasn't as good as it is now (and it's still not perfect)) so it takes ages to rewrite it. The first three chapters weren't edited to match my current style at all, and they annoy me a bit to be honest, because it feels like I can do better. On the other hand, I want to post the chapters and continue, because I am really happy with all my faithful readers and reviewers. That being sad, enjoy the chapter.

Chapter Five

-You wanted it all,
but I give you,
give you none,
oh, I'm not the one. -The Black Keys

~~~~HPSB~~~~

'Wait.. if Bellatrix liked to apparate and disaparate..why were they hiding in the only building in the entire street which wasn't provided with these wards?"
"Draco.." He began, but a malicious giggle from behind them cut him of
in mid-sentence. They turned on their heels and stood face-to-face with Bellatrix Lestrange.

~~~~HPSB~~~~

Harry groaned in despair and Draco gasped. Bellatrix giggled again.

"What a pleasant surprise" She said, pulling her wand and stalking forward like a predator.

"How did you know that we were in this building?" Harry demanded, trying to shuffle backwards towards the back door they'd just blasted open a few minutes ago. Draco was right beside him, his wand slightly shaking as he pointed it towards his aunt. Bellatrix rolled her eyes.

"I saw you and my beloved nephew running in this direction. My, my Draco. What would your father think of you, helping a filthy mudblood..."

"Shut up." Draco sounded brave, but he was still shaking.

"That's no way to talk to your family, is it? But then again, since dear Lucius betrayed our Lord, I assume that mingling with muggle-borns and blood traitors has become a daily routine for you?"

Harry shot a curse towards the talking witch. She blocked him and frowned.

"No time for a little chat, potty? Expect no help from the Order, they are running around in circles, trying to find me, assuming the two of you are safe..." She giggled again, her smile turning into a vicious grimace.

"Listen, I am not interested in your nonsense" Harry shouted. "Let's get it over with."

He tried to disarm her, but she blocked him again.

"Confringo" Harry shouted, and Bellatrix blocked again.

"Only defending? Too much of a coward to fight?" Harry said, dancing away from the backfiring spell.

"Oh, but I am going to enjoy this. First, I'll torture you and take revenge for the Dark Lords defeat. And then.."

She turned to Draco. "I give you once chance. Run back to Lucius, while you can."

Draco answered by firing a hex in the direction of his aunt. Bellatrix shot a curse her Nephew only barely managed to dodged and grinned.

"Draco my dear, you've really made a mistake in siding along with those traitors."

Draco sneered.

"Disarm" He mumbled and Harry threw an Expelliarmus in Bellatrix direction, and for a moment it seemed the two spells would hit her in the chest, but she disapparated with a pop, only to apparate behind them a few seconds later. A spell hit Harry before he could turn around and a deep cut appeared on his cheek. The pain was sharp and stinging and Harry felt a jolt of adrenaline rush through his veins.
Bellatrix giggled and disapparated again.

"What the hell?" Harry shouted.

"Language Potter" Malfoy smirked from beside him, he shot a stunner that barely missed its target.
Bellatrix was done playing know, she fired unforgivable after unforgivable, and Harry and Draco were soon hiding behind various pieces of furniture in order to escape the killing curses she fired.
Harry, cursing himself for not thinking of it sooner, conjured a Patronus, he hoped the stag would alert the other members of their distress.
In the process of sending his message, he got disarmed, and he was barely able to roll away from another Sectumsempra. The stag exited from the shop though, but at the same time Bellatrix
sealed of all the windows and disconnected the floo-system. They were stuck. Draco looked panicked, he tried to keep the shielding charm upon the two of but failed miserably, his wand flew out of his hand and they both were now defenceless. Bellatrix laughed, her eyes crazy.

"Stop cackling like a psycho" Harry shouted, in an attempt to alert the order members to his location by making as much noise as possible. Bellatrix snickered.

"Trying to make some noise Pothead?" She said. "Well, if you insist"

Harry knew what was coming even before the Cruciatus hit him, but it didn't make the pain more bearable. His nerves felt on fire, he felt like every bone in his body was crushed and crushed again. He bit on his lips until they bled and started screaming, giving Bellatrix the pleasure of enjoying his torture even more. Harry barely registered he was rolling around on the floor, shaking and trembling.
The pain suddenly stopped, and he saw Draco had tried to tackle his aunt. The blonde was now experiencing the curse himself, and Harry, his vision slightly blurred from the soundless tears of pain he had shed, threw a piece of shattered furniture in the direction of the psychotic woman.
It hit her in the chest, in her surprise she lifted the curse long enough for Draco to hide behind a broken table, but otherwise it was a very poor attempt.

"So helpless" she said, pointing her wand towards Harry's heart.

"The Order will be here in a few minutes to kill you" Harry spat, "I've sent them a message."

He felt the excruciating pain again, his glasses flew from his nose and he barely noticed the curse being lifted off him again, he kept on shaking and suddenly he felt himself being lifted off the floor by his collar. His feet hovered a few inches above the ground and he gulped for air.
He heard Draco scream from behind him, and he tried to wriggle himself free, but this only made breathing harder. His vision was blurred, but his glassed were roughly placed upon his nose again and he found himself face to face with the werewolf Fenrir Greyback.
The monstrous creature grinned, baring a row of glittering sharp teeth and Harry felt his warm breath ghosting over his face and smelled a mixture of rotten flesh and copper blood. Harry kicked the wolf in his stomach, but it had no effect. He felt his body being pressed up against the wall, the smell of blood and burnt fur drew into his nose and he panicked. His wand was gone and he had no defence left, he kicked again, but Fenrir merely chuckled and inclined the pressure on the boys neck. Harry choked, desperately gulping for air.

"My, you've grown into a pretty boy" The werewolf growled into his ear and Harry felt a wet tongue lick his wounded cheek. He gagged, black spots started to cloud his vision, but suddenly, the
pressure on his neck was gone. He fell forward and landed flat on his face, his glasses breaking and
his nose bleeding. He heard shouts, a crack, and knew the two Death Eaters had disapparated again, he had no idea why though. It took him a few seconds to adjust to his environment. He heard more shouts and a second later he felt two strong arms around his torso.

"Cub" He heard the voice of Remus from somewhere near his shoulder. "Are you al right Harry?Did he bite you? Are you hurt?" The otherwise calm wolf sounded panicked. Harry smelled the calming scent of Horehound and allowed himself to close his eyes briefly before answering.

"Everything is okay" he sighed.

"Harry!" He opened his eyes, Sirius was kneeling at his side. Harry hugged his godfather and tried to stand up, he swayed and Sirius steadied him.

"You okay?" Harry asked Draco, still leaning on Padfoot's arm for support. Draco, who was standing a few feet beside him, nodded, he was pale, his left cheek was bruised but looked unharmed otherwise. He handed Harry his wand and the boy tried to keep from trembling. Snape stood beside Draco, his eyes remarkably soft as he checked his Godson for injuries.
Bill and Arthur were repairing the door and Moody kept everyone who was gathered outside in check.

"Damn, that was close" Draco murmured.

"Nice tackle Malfoy" Harry couldn't help himself but grinning.

Draco in his turn smiled. "Your act of throwing pieces of shattered furniture wasn't bad either. Very entertaining Potter."

Harry let go of Sirius and, to everyone's utter surprise, hugged the Malfoy heir. Draco returned the gesture and, after letting go, pointed towards his wounded cheek.

"Severus, I'm fine, but could you heal Harry's cheek? It was a nasty Sectumsempra."

Snape locked his gaze with his godson's for a few seconds before swaying it towards Harry. He looked at him with an unreadable expression before pointing his wand and murmuring an incantation. Harry felt his cut closing and the stinging subsided.

"Your skin won't scar if you apply a few drops of Dittany, the wolf knows where to get it" The potions master stated. He flicked his wand again and Harry's vision was clear again, his glasses repaired.

"And please, do something more useful then hiding behind furniture if you are under attack in the future. I understand it is hard for you fame-fogged brain to comprehend, but spells are more helpful then shattered pieces of wood." Snape sneered, before stalking away and re-opening the floo connection. Harry stared after him, his expression baffled. He was at a loss of words for a few seconds.

"Thank you professor" He mumbled, once he had regained his speech. Snape ignored him and stepped through the green flames.

"How..?" He asked Malfoy.

The blonde Slytherin smirked.

"I tend to have that effect on my godfather" Draco stated, looking very pleased with himself.

"Merlin, I should have become friends with you earlier" Harry deadpanned, still in shock that Snape would even consider healing his injuries

"Mr. Malfoy we've sent your father a message, he will be here in a few minutes" a blonde Auror Harry hadn't noticed before waved towards the blonde heir.

"Not necessary Dovers, Tell him I'll floo directly into his office."
Draco nodded towards the Auror, whom he seemed to know. Harry sighed and closed his eyes for a brief moment. Immediately, he felt Sirius' presence at his side again, a warm hand engulfed his elbow.

"Let's take you home" Snuffles said, carefully guiding his arms around Harry's waist.

~~~~HPSB~~~~

Remus was angry, he felt his whole body burn in a rage he hadn't experienced in a long time. He had been franticly trying to break down the wards surrounding the Leaky Cauldron, he felt a deep panic taking over his body as he thought of what might been happening inside to his pup. He was throwing spell after spell, almost as if in a frenzy. As he finally was able to break trough, he saw that dirty creature holding his harry, pressing his helpless pup against the wall. Before he could curse the vile wolf into oblivion, the creature had been grabbed by Bellatrix, they turned on the spot and disapparated. For a moment, Remus was almost stupified with fear, he was afraid that Harry was be bitten, but as he hugged the boy close, inhaling his scent, he had smelt blood, fear, sweat, but the strong and marking smell that would have been present if Fenrir had bitten his cub, was
absent. Harry was safe. He closed his eyes in order to gather his thoughts. He was going to kill that monster for this, he swore it to himself. The inner wolf inside him howled in agreement.

~~~~HPSB~~~~

The last evening of his summer vacation Harry spent laying on the couch in the living room with Sirius constantly fretting over him, healing his minor injuries and apologizing over and over again. His godfather felt guilty for leaving his godson on his own and for so carelessly giving up on his protection.

"I shouldn't just have ran off like that.." Sirius mumbled.

"Shut it Snuffles" Harry sighed, he really wanted to get some sleep before his departure. Sirius mumbled something that sounded like 'sorry', but Harry closed his eyes. His godfather had told him they'd been chasing after Bellatrix, but had lost her suddenly, and were just on the brink off sending a patronus his way to locate him when his stag reached them. Snape had told them he'd seen the two of them running towards the Leaky Cauldron, and they'd made their ways towards the pub, but Fenrir kept on attacking them on their way and it took them a while to reach the warded building. It had taken another five minutes to break down the wards Bellatrix had conjured around the Leaky Cauldron. Remus had been the first to break through the guarded pub, he stormed in, barely missing Fenrir with a nasty curse before the werewolf had disapparated.
Harry had been so relieved to hear no one had been hurt, Bill had broken his arm due to a dark curse from Bellatrix, but otherwise nothing had happened. Another apology from Sirius tore Harry out of his thoughts.

"I am okay, I'm not hurting anymore and I just need some sleep." he said, his tone implying the subject was of the table.

"Okay, sleep tight, I will pack your stuff, I can do it with a few spells for you..." Sirius ran upstairs and Harry slowly drifted off to sleep.
Somewhere during the night he felt himself being lifted of the couch, strong arms carried him upstairs, but he was to drowsy to realize what exactly was happening.

~~~~HPSB~~~~

He awoke with a start, sweaty, his hart pounding. He tore his eyes open in panic, it took a while for his racing pulse to calm down. He felt fear taking over his body for the second time that day, suddenly a bright light, and a shadow leaning against the door frame.

"Harry?" He heard his godfather whisper.

Harry didn't answer and Sirius entered his room. His godfather eyed the dishevelled bed, Harry's obvious distress and he sighed.

"You al right? Do you think you'll be able to go back to sleep?"

Harry felt hot tears burn behind his ears. The dream had been so realistic, similar to the visions he'd had last year when Voldemort hadn't been destroyed. Only, this time, it had involved Bellatrix. Bellatrix killing Sirius...

"Please.. " he whispered, whilst he climbed out of his bed. He wanted to be comforted, to feel Sirius warm embrace, he wanted his godfather to whisper in his ear everything was going to be okay. He stumbled, his feet were tangled in the sheets and he almost fell.

He wanted to ask Sirius to keep him company so bad, but he didn't dare. Somehow, asking that question meant overstepping an invisible boundary. A boundary he refused thinking about, he didn't dare to cross it for he wasn't sure what exactly it would mean if he did. It was the same fine line that kept him up at night, that made him hide in Regulus' room so often. He couldn't cross it now. He had to get over his fears and just get to bed. Nothing was going to happen to him here. He needed to grow up. He didn't dare to continue his sentence now and changed his tone.

"I'll just drink some water" he mumbled, looking at his feet, he felt embarrassed his godfather had to wake him from nightmares at the age of sixteen. He walked towards the bathroom, noticing Padfoot made his way back to his own bedroom.
Harry locked himself up and stared in the mirror, forcing his tears down and trying to calm down his shivering. After he'd splashed some cold water on his face, he heard Sirius barking voice drift trough the closed door.

"Harry, we can go downstairs if you don't want to go to bed again?"

Harry opened the door to find Sirius poking his head through his own bedroom door, looking a bit awkward as if he wasn't sure how to handle the situation.

"Can I..." Harry cleared his throat and made his way over to Snuffles.

"Can I just.. sit with you for a while?" Harry finished his sentence. Sirius opened his bedroom door and dove back into his bed.

"You can sleep over here if you want to?" The man offered, stretching his arms over his head in a content yawn.

Harry met Sirius' grey eyes nodded, relieved that his godfather wasn't ridiculing him because of a nightmare. The man lifted the sheets and Harry crawled underneath them without any hesitation. Snuffles bed was warm, his sheets smelled the unique smell of his caring godfather; peppermint and musk. There was only one pillow, and Harry snuggled closer, laying face to face with Sirius. The man just looked at him, concerned, but calm and satisfied. Harry closed his eyes and smiled.

"Goodnight. And, thank you" He mumbled.

He felt Sirius thumb caress his cheek for a brief moment, the animagus bade him goodnight. Harry buried his nose in the soft crook of Sirius arm. he felt the older men's arm ghost around his waist and soon he drifted off in a peaceful sleep.

~~~~HPSB~~~~

The next morning was too hectic for Harry to be awkward. They'd overslept, and as soon as Harry opened his eyes after being shaken awake by Sirius, he was propelled in the direction of the bathroom.

"Hurry, we have ten minutes until the Order arrives to take you to the station!" Sirius shouted, whilst trying to change into a new pair of jeans without stumbling over the threshold. Thanking Sirius mentally for packing his things the former evening, Harry showered and came downstairs just in time to catch an apple Sirius threw in his direction 'for breakfast.'
The animagus had managed to make coffee and change into a muggle outfit, though his shirt was buttoned wrongly. It made him handsome in a way, Harry mused, as he checked if everything was packed. The Windbender was stored away safely in his pocket after Sirius had shrunken it, and Hedwig was already on her way to the castle.

"Phew, we made it. Moony would surely kill me if you missed the train" Sirius sighed, checking his watch and slurping coffee. Harry shook his head to clear his thoughts and averted his eyes from his dishevelled looking godfather. Just as he took his first bite of the apple, the doorbell rang and several Order member strolled inside.

Sirius levitated Harry's trunk into the hall and Harry waved in Bill's direction, who wove back with his non bandaged arm.

"Sirius, button up your shirt. You look like a stray dog" Kingsley chided and Harry felt his cheeks redden as Sirius opened the shirt entirely, fumbling with the buttons to get it right this time.

"How are you Harry?" Tonks winked, she was standing just behind Kingsley. Her hair was a deep blue this time and Harry smiled.

"Fine." Harry didn't trust himself to say more, since he was still blushing furiously. He lowered his head and pretended to munch on his apple.

"We need to hurry, are you ready?" Kingsley announced calmly once Sirius was done with the buttons and Tonks took a firm hold of Harry's trunk.

Harry turned to Sirius to say his goodbyes, suddenly feeling awkward. The man grabbed him in a tight hug, holding him close to his chest.

"I'll write you." Harry whispered as Sirius ruffled his head.

Kingsley nodding in Sirius' direction before he grabbed Harry's arm and disapparated them with a pop.

The arrived in midst of the platform, Bill and Tonks appeared a few seconds later just behind them. The train was ready to roll out of the platform, they had decided to wait until the last moment to avoid being on the platform for too long. Kingsley loaded his trunk into the train and Harry waved his final goodbyes just as the doors closed and the train began to move.
Harry smiled contently, Bellatrix had been no where in sight, it had all gone well. He struggled to lift his trunk, it had become a lot heavier since he was living with his godfather, and made his way through the train in search of an empty compartment.

It was just his luck he ran straight into Ron and Hermione, the two of them were on their way to the prefects compartment, which was located in front of the train. Ron met Harry's eyes, sending him a challenging look.
Harry opened his mouth to say something, but closed it again, and an awkward silence hung in the air. Ron had his arm around Hermione's waist, proving Harry's theory that the two of them were still a couple.
Whilst Ron was trying to stare him down, Hermione refused meet Harry's eyes. Harry, who was still seething if he thought back at the insults the redhead had thrown in his direction, arched his eyebrow and made it to walk past his former best friends. It was obviously the three of them were done, since Hermione stuck with Ron and refused to believe Harry hadn't hexed his friend.

"Listen" Ron suddenly said, surprising both Harry and Hermione, who lifter her head to stare at a spot a bit left to Harry's shoulder.

"Let's not make this more difficult than it is. We both know we're done as friends, I don't want to talk to you, I frankly don't want to share my dorm with you-"

Harry interrupted him with a pointed cough.

"The feeling is mutual. I won't let you insult me Ronald. Watch what you're saying, because I am not going to keep up with your nasty comments."

"Oh, you are going to hex me again now, are you?" Ron said, raising his eyebrows.

"I did not hex you!" Harry roared. "You. Hexed. me. But if you continue this way I'll.." His voice trailed of. What could he do? Surely he wasn't going to step as low as to actually hex his friend.

"He will go to his head of house. And I will accompany him." A voice from behind them suddenly spoke. Harry whipped his head around to see Neville standing behind him, his chin lifted proudly.

"I am sure your parents wouldn't approve of your behaviour." Neville, who had grown a few inches this summer and looked a bit more confident after the ministry incident.

Ron huffed. "Right, Neville. You are siding with him then." But his tone was a bit more subsided, and Harry remembered his conversation with George, where the twin had stated that Molly and Arthur hadn't been happy with their son's prejudices.

"Yes, and so do I" Another voice sneered and Draco Malfoy poked his head out of the Prefects Compartment. Apparently their conversation had been louder then intended, Harry saw a few heads hovering behind the various compartment doors and he cursed mentally.

"And you should have done the same, Granger." Draco rested his gaze on the bushy haired girl.

"Hurry up, the meeting has already started." The blonde slammed the compartment door shut again, winking in Harry's direction. Ron huffed again and pulled Hermione with him. They disappeared into the Prefect's compartment and Harry sighed, rolling his eyes but smiling inwardly.

"Thank you Neville, It means a lot to me" He said. Neville was still looking at the closed compartment door, seemingly in shock that Draco Malfoy had defended Harry Potter.

"It's a long story..." Harry grinned.

Neville shook his head.

"I have saved you a seat. Luna is there too, but I doubt you want to sit with Ron and Hermione when they return?" The boy hesitated.

"Ron told us about what happened, but I just couldn't believe him. And I think it's wrong to judge people based on their sexual preference like he does. Or, on what we dream for that matter."

Harry sighed and rubbed his eyes.

"Let's search for another compartment, and I'll tell you everything from the beginning?" He said.

Neville nodded enthusiastically and together with Luna, who was wearing a bright dress with a strange, non-matching hat 'to keep the Snurskollus away, which Father discovered just a few months ago', as the witch said.

To their surprise, Draco joined them shortly before they arrived on the platform, looking at Neville and Luna for a few seconds, before awkwardly taking a seat and stating he approved of how they'd defended Harry, and that they should meet up some time. Together they occupied a carriage, the few students who saw them entering the vehicle watched with looks of interest mingled with surprise.
Harry sighed. 'Just when I hoped that I could finally spend a year in relative peace' He thought miserably.

A/N: Yes, a few of you guessed right. Remus has taken interest in Harry :). Sirius and Harry are still a bit oblivious to their attraction to each-other... Everything will turn out alright eventually, but
don't say I didn't warn you about the various Harry pairings that will take place this story.

A/N2: Don't worry. I will never abandon this story, I hope you haven't lost interest because of the long break between the updates.

A/N3: Woah, a lot this time: Yes, Hermione believes Ron. She is in love, that can make you blind for reality. That doesn't justify her decisions, not at all. But it might explain why she sides with him.