They found him in the living room, standing ramrod straight in front of the window as he watched Vernon drive away, his arms folded tightly in front of him.

Ron knew that stance. "Harry," he said softly, taking a step forward.

Harry stiffened at the sound of his voice. "Not now, Ron."

"If you think for one second that I'm just going to watch as you retreat into yourself again," said Ron. "We're not children anymore. This time I won't be stupid enough to let you."

Harry turned around angrily. "I said not now, Ron!"

His stance involuntarily relaxed when he saw his godson. "Teddy?"

"Yeah," said Ron in a hard voice. "Teddy. It's not just Hermione and I anymore, Harry, you can't just close yourself off."

Harry looked down. "I'm sorry," he said. "I just… I can't…"

Ron took that as the green light to approach. "I know, mate," he said, landing a quick pat on Harry's shoulder.

Harry groaned and rubbed his hands over his face. "I wasn't ready to face him, Ron. Not yet, not today."

"You don't have to explain."

Harry nodded, looking at the floor.

Ron stiffened, and a moment later Teddy saw why. Harry's arm was already sporting a dark bruise the shape of Vernon's meaty hand. "That bastard. I'll kill him."

"Ron," said Harry in tired exasperation.

"Not if I kill 'im first," Teddy mumbled under his breath.

"Teddy," Harry admonished.

"I hate this," said Ron. "I hate that he can still get to you. Just thinking about it makes me–"

"We've talked about this, Ron," said Harry. "Leave it where it belongs."

"What that man did to you–"

Harry silenced Ron with a dark glare, and Teddy frowned. He'd known that none of his family liked Harry's uncle–Hell, this was the first time Teddy had met him, and he already hated the man–but there was something wrong with the look on Harry's face, like the pain this man caused ran deeper than Teddy had ever imagined.

"We're not talking about this," Harry stated coldly.

"Harry–"

"Shut up, Ron!" snapped Harry, and there was real anger present in his voice now. His eyes were sparking with it.

Teddy held his breath. He had never seen Harry so shaken, so angry before, especially not at Ron. By the look on his godfather's face, Teddy feared that there was a very real chance that he would curse his best friend.

But Harry didn't make a grab for his wand. He just let out a sigh and didn't so much sit down onto the couch as he fell onto it.

"Can I see your arm?" Ron asked, his voice soft.

Harry kept his head down. Teddy could practically see the gears turning in his head, the decision he was making, then, slowly and hesitantly, Harry held his arm out to Ron.

Ron examined it gently.

Teddy ran his hand back through his hair, too numb to be surprised when he saw that his hand was shaking. He turned around to look out the window. Vernon Dursley's car was nowhere in sight, having long since driven away, but Teddy couldn't tear his eyes away from the spot the car had disappeared.

He had never hated anyone before. He had been annoyed, definitely, disliked even, oh sure, but hated somebody? He had never thought that he would meet someone who would affect him like this. Two minutes with this man had his blood boiling. Just thinking about him had him unable to sit still.

He turned back around just in time to see Harry flinch away when Ron applied a little too much pressure. This rage was new and unfamiliar, and he didn't understand why he was reacting this way. He had seen Harry hurt before–loads of times. Teddy had a theory that danger had a grudge and actively sought Harry out on a daily basis. But this was different. This was inflicted by a man who had known Harry all of his godfather's life. This was a man who had lived with him for years. This was a man who was, dare he say it, family–though only in the biological sense of the word.

To know that Harry had lived with him, had been in this man's care–in the loosest sense of the word–had Teddy wanting to break something. The scene of what happened outside was playing over and over in Teddy's head: Vernon grabbing Harry violently by the arm with a practiced hand.

A practiced hand.

A sickening sense of dread enveloped him.

Vernon had done it before.

Probably many times.

Harry never talked about staying with the Dursleys if he could help it. Nobody did. And on the rare occasion that it was brought up, everyone would turn stony-faced and quiet. Harry in particular would turn morose.

Teddy knew that Harry's life had been difficult. He'd been told the big picture, but nobody really liked to talk about it, especially Harry. He had learned early on never to mention the war if he could avoid it. It was a real mood killer. But there were little snippets, little slips of mouth from Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and occasionally other members of the family, that brought it all home for Teddy–small, unguarded moments. Teddy always took each of these moments and locked them away in his mind, keeping inventory of every single one. Reading between the lines, he caught a far grimmer and more terrifying picture than anything else that they said gave him.

He knew that Harry's aunt and uncle had been awful to him. He knew they sometimes withheld food. He knew that they would lock him away for days. He knew they never bought him anything of his own. He knew that they blamed him for everything.

And now he knew that they had hurt him too; or at least his uncle had.

And now the stony look that was always on everyone's face when the Dursleys were mentioned graced his own features. He watched in a silent fury as Ron took out his wand and pointed it at Harry's arm.

"Careful," said Harry, a hesitantly playful note in his voice. "I'd like to keep my bones, thanks."

Ron snorted and shook his head. "You're not allowed to do that."

"Do what?"

"I'm being angry. Stop it."

Teddy felt like he was missing something.

When Ron healed Harry's arm–Hermione must've taught him how to do that, Teddy thought wryly–the two of them leaned back into the couch and stared at the ceiling.

Teddy watched them curiously, wondering if he should leave.

"So, you're all right?" said Ron, looking at the ceiling.

"Yeah, I'm all right," said Harry, and Teddy was relieved that he really did sound okay.

Ron nodded, satisfied. "Good."