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Preventative Measures	By : SpeedyTomato Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male Views: 151582 -:- Recommendations : 8 -:- Currently Reading : 30
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and make no money off this work in perversion

Chapter List
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Chapter 46

Beta'd by the most wonderful, amazing and stupendous Tenchi. Woman, you are the best and love you for all you do for me!

With help from Lynn who works with me when it comes to flow, continuity and other issues.

Just a reminder of what’s on my profile: reviews complaining or whinging about the lack ‘o sex in stories will get deleted. If you want a smut-filled romp, you need to find another story to read.

After tossing his card out, Harry grinned at the moan from Fred and George. He then shifted around to get more comfortable while he waited for them to take their turns.
By now, it was mid-afternoon and they were relaxing in the kitchen while playing a game. While they had done some cleaning, taking care of the room Phineas’ painting was in and a couple others, most of what they did was muck around, having fun. They’d horsed around in the backyard for a while, even giving Quodpot a go, though none of them liked it as much as Quidditch. After lunch, they had retired to the kitchen to play a few games. Sirius and Remus had joined them for a bit, but were now off doing something else. Harry assumed it was to give the three of them time alone.
As he sipped his butterbeer while the two tried to decide what they were doing, he couldn’t help but grin. They had their dragons with them, creatures they called Gred and Forge, and both of the stuffed animals were already taking on a bit of their personalities. They were into everything, causing chaos and seemed like they were conspiring. Just like the twins did. Elliot was out as well and, unlike with the other dragons, he didn’t attack them, but seemed to play with them a bit. It was something he would have to mention to Sirius later. His thought was Elliot realized Fred and George were friends, thus the dragons were also. While not sure there, he was certain it related in some way.
All in all, he was really enjoying himself. While he was still plenty uptight about the hearing in less than a week and other areas, he was more relaxed than he had been, something which helped tremendously. At least he could focus elsewhere for a time.
Once Fred made his play and petted Gred, who flew up to perch on his shoulder, he asked, “You doing all right, Harry?”
“As well as can be expected,” Harry told him honestly, making his own play after George did.
“We overheard mum and dad talking last night. They said the Hogwarts Board is settling a suit with you.” George told him.
“They are,” Harry nodded. “I accepted their first offer, so it’s done and over,” he then explained, not going into details.
“Good,” Fred nodded. “They needed to sting over this crap, big time.”
“It’ll sting,” Harry chuckled, thinking of the amount he agreed on. “I’m sure they won’t like what it cost them.”
“Hope they take it out of Dumbledore’s hide,” George snarled, looking rather angry.
“I’m sure they’ll go after him in some way,” Harry said with a smile, thinking about what Lucius said.
“Good,” Fred said. Then, quietly, he added, though he didn’t really care if Remus and Sirius overheard, just out of habit, “Mum and dad are right irate over some of this. You have my word on that. Especially at Dumbledore and a couple others.”
“We’re used to mum blowing up on whoever and getting upset, but not dad.” George told him, tossing out another card. “And you can take our word for it, he’s right bloody furious.”
“They try to watch what they say around all of us, of course, but we heard this bit. He had a good blowup and ranted up a storm over it,” Fred told him, waiting for Harry to make his play. “Don’t think we’ve ever heard him that mad before.”
“He even mentioned to mum that he wasn’t sure if the board shouldn’t remove Dumbledore as headmaster over this,” George said, shaking his head. “While they agree with everything the Order is doing since the Ministry is denying all of it, they aren’t so much in line with him as they had been.”
“Something needs done there,” Harry admitted, not sure how much he wanted to go into this. “My feelings on it—well, I’m rather biased and I’m sure you can guess how I feel about it.”
“And we don’t blame you a bit for any of it,” Fred huffed, grumbling under his breath.
“Keep in mind, if you want to talk, we’ll listen,” George told him once more
“And keep it to ourselves,” Fred assured him.
“Might not be known for that with some areas, but you know we will for this one,” George added, tossing out a card after Harry did.
“You have our word on that. Just write us a letter if we’re back in school, hide it in some way then talk. We’ll listen,” Fred nodded, making his play.
“Appreciated,” Harry told them tossing out another card and smiling a tad.
“You are talking to someone at least a bit, aren’t you?” Fred asked, looking across the table at him.
“Like Sirius, Remus or Snape?” George inquired.
“A bit,” Harry told them. “They’re helping all they can, which is assisting a bit.” That’s where he left it.
“Even a bit helps, Harry,” Fred told him.
“Keep going,” George counseled.
“We’re going to keep you in the loop on what happens in the castle,” Fred then grinned.
“Make sure you hear it all,” George added, chuckling.
“Have to let you know what chaos we cause,” Fred snickered.
“Can’t let you go without knowing, of course,” George told him.
“And we’ll do some bits and bobs to make you laugh,” Fred imparted with a wink.
“Much appreciated,” Harry told him with a chuckle, wondering what the two were up to.
Then he sobered up and said, “Be careful. From what I’ve been told this year is going to end up a right nightmare with that Umbridge. She’s a nasty piece of work from what I saw of her.”
“We’ve heard that already,” Fred told him, sobering up.
“Not sure what she’s up to or what her game is, but mum and dad are already worried about her,” George sighed, shaking his head.
“From what I’ve heard, she’s there to help Fudge,” Harry told them, looking between the two. “Want to bet that’s making sure no one hears anything against what he’s putting out there?”
“Yeah, not good there,” Fred admitted, glancing at his brother, brow furrowed.
“If it’s related to so much that happened this summer and what was said in the paper, we need to watch out,” George said softly, shooting his brother a worried look then focusing back on Harry.
“From what I know, having heard parts, that’s what she’s there for,” Harry told them honestly, though planning to say nothing about where he heard it. “Be careful and make sure people like Lee are as well.”
“We will,” Fred said with a determined nod.
“Thanks for the heads up,” George told him honestly. “We’ll watch our backs.”
“Might be best to watch at first and judge from there,” Harry told them, looking between the two. “No sense in walking into whatever. I’m sure she’s well aware of how close your parents are to Dumbledore.”
“Something we’ll keep watch for,” Fred assured him.
“Not something we thought of either,” George admitted.
“If I hear anything to help you lot stay out of trouble, I’ll pass it along,” Harry assured them. “I don’t pay much attention to all the crap the Order is doing, but I hear some you lot don’t. If I do, I’ll pass it along.” Then, softly, he added, “If Snape says something to you, take his word for it. He knows what he’s talking about.”
“Will do,” Fred nodded.
“Our word,” George agreed.
Fred then groaned when Harry tossed out the winning card, shaking his head. “This hand is yours.”
“It’s a good game, though,” George nodded. “Going to see if Sirius will duplicate the deck for us a couple times. I think we can take it and do something fun with it that’s magical. Should be a riot.”
“Yeah, it should,” Harry grinned. “I get one when you finish, though.”
“As our chief investor and the person who helped arrange the meeting with our inventors, your money is no good with us,” Fred told him with a winning grin.
“You get products first!” George told him with a laugh, scooping up the cards to deal them again.
“This should be fun,” Harry chuckled, shaking his head. He was having a good time and it helped. At least he could stay focused on something besides the hearing.
“Know any more games like this?” George asked as he dealt the cards.
“The Muggle sort, not necessarily cards,” Fred quantified.
“Some,” Harry nodded then talked about the board games they picked up on the shopping trip. If Sirius’ plan worked, they’d be over plenty before the term started, so he could show them and play a bit. Might give them an idea for products.

“No problems?” Remus asked when Sirius came back into the room they were relaxing in. He had just gone to check on Harry and the twins.
“They’re good,” Sirius assured him and Snape. “Just playing some games and talking. From what I heard, neutral topics like the dragons, games and such. Nothing to worry about.” Then he smiled and added, “Harry seems a bit better than he’s been. They have lifted his spirits a tad.”
“Good,” Snape nodded, relaxing back and sipping his tea. “You have plans to bring them over most of the week?”
“Yeah, we do,” Sirius nodded. “With the hearing approaching, I thought it would do Harry good. There’s work to do, of course, something we’ll tend to, but I planned to let them do whatever to entertain themselves for the most part.”
“Good plan,” Severus agreed. Then he asked, keeping his voice low, “Has Harry been working his victim’s impact statement?”
“A bit each night since you suggested it to him,” Sirius nodded. “I think we have it done, actually. He says he has everything in it he wants, but wants to read it over some more to make sure. It’s a bit long, but that would be expected. However, he’s made it clear he won’t read it in court, though.”
“One of us would gladly do it for him,” Remus said, seeing Severus nod as well.
“I think I can persuade him to allow me to do so. The effect might actually be better than if he does since Petunia knew me growing up,” Severus said, smirking a tad malevolently.
“That I’ll leave up to you,” Sirius told him, grinning a tad at what could come of it if Snape did. “I’ll mention it again then let you have at it. It’s not something I want to push too hard about with the shape he’s in right now. He’s doing a bit better with some of what we’re doing, so I don’t want him backsliding.”
“I’ll take it on,” Severus told him with a nod. “It’s something I think I can manage with him if I go about it the right way.”
After hearing Sirius agree, Remus asked, “You said there was something you wanted to talk with us alone about?”
“There is,” Sirius nodded. “It can go no further for now as I don’t want it slipping out.”
When the two agreed, he said, “Lucius found me a Solicitor. From what I understand, he’s a close associate of both Harry and Lucius’ solicitors. What he thought was since Harry gave up those memories and they’re being used in court, obviously being verified as real, I can use the other to end up freed. They can’t quibble one is real and not another if they are taking them as such for official prosecutions. He said he thinks it can be pushed to free me, especially with Harry as a witness. Fudge might have taken after him, but everything Harry is doing is being proven right and there is heavy compensation for parts because he has. With who this is, he’s going to get Lucius and Harry’s solicitors to help. They can give him enough to push it plenty, from what Lucius says.”
“Look,” he then sighed, shaking his head, “we have shit when it comes to getting out right now. If I end up freed, it can only help find something and cut the danger down. We think, though aren’t sure, the DMLE might end up looking at me if you lot just vanish with Harry. They might be able to play it off as Harry ended up fed up and left, as is his right, but we don’t want to take that chance. Getting me cleared can not only help take the heat off protecting me, but send the whole Ministry into a tailspin over it.”
“It would throw off Albus as well,” Severus added with a nod. “I agree. We have more options if you’re out.”
“Lucius also thinks if You-Know-Who finds out the DMLE is seriously investigating those memories that it might make him all the worse. As you’ve said, Snape, he’s plotting something big. And it involves Harry. Not sure what will come of it if it doesn’t work.”
“More I won’t quibble with,” Severus said honestly. Then he added, “Albus as well. None of us are sure what he’s plotting when it comes to so much, though it involves the Prophecy and Harry. We need something before those two end up pulling something we can’t counter or it ends up with Harry right in the middle. Not sure, but I imagine it’s coming, no matter what we’ve put in place.”
“Has Carthwaight managed to find a way to get his hands on a copy of that dratted prophecy so we know what it says?” Remus asked, looking at Sirius. “Or do you know?”
“From what Lucius said, no,” Sirius groaned, leaning back and crossing his arms over his chest. “He hasn’t found the correct procedure yet and his normal contacts don’t know either. He’s also wary of asking too much as it’s obvious Albus has contacts in the Hall of Prophecy. He doesn’t want the old goat to know he’s trying or tipping him off in some other way. I can understand his stance there.”
“As can I,” Severus agreed sourly. “I’m at a loss as well, honestly. It’s not something I know how to look up either. Albus would know, but there is no chance I’m approaching him. Let me see what else I can wheedle out of him on the matter. There is plenty yet we need.”
“No offense, Snape, but I don’t fancy your chances of getting too much any time soon,” Sirius told him with a groan. “With much as we’ve taken out of his hands and how he’s fumbling for plenty, he’s not going to give shit up unless he thinks it can help with the situation when it comes to Harry. As we know this heavily involves him, he’s going to keep his mouth shut as we’ve all guessed it’s plenty bad, whatever it is.”
“I won’t disagree there,” Severus grumped, shaking his head. “Let me see what I can manage. We’ll keep going on our end, but we just don’t have much to work with. Lucius is doing some digging on his end. It might help. We’ll continue how we are.”
“From what you’ve said, all he’s doing is stringing you along with hints that Harry’s in more danger, Severus,” Remus added softly, shaking his head.
“You’ve said it was Trelawney who gave the prophecy initially?” Sirius asked Snape, brow furrowed.
“I agree, Lupin,” Severus sighed, slouching down in his chair, looking sour.
“She was, why?” He then asked Sirius.
“Any shot at getting it out of her?” Sirius asked. “I don’t know. Harry said she really didn’t remember the bit with Wormtail after she imparted it, but she has to remember on some level or another. I’m also sure she knows how big it is if Albus is pulling so much and protecting her. You can’t tell me she doesn’t and it doesn’t help fuel her magical mystical super seer routine.”
After thinking it over, Severus sighed then shook his head. “Not sure. Let me see what I can try. If I get the chance, I’ll poke in her memory though I’m loathe to do so as it’s a serious invasion of privacy. In this case, I think I might have to. Lupin is right; he’s just stringing me along with some of it, almost like he’s holding it out as bait. Not sure why, other than the obvious.”
“While any other time I would frown on you poking in her memory, this time I won't, Severus,” Remus sighed, shaking his head sadly. “We have everything we can think of to try to figure out what's going on and are getting nowhere. All we have are pieces we can’t slide together. You and Harry have given us all you have. It was more than we had before, but it’s not enough. We need something, desperately, to counter what might be coming.”
“I know,” Severus grunted, scrubbing a hand over his face and shaking his head. “Let me see what I can find or if I can locate the procedure to file for a copy of the prophecy. Since I have contacts Albus knows nothing about, I might manage. Give me time.”
“Not sure how much of that we have, honestly,” Sirius told him quietly.
“This I know as well,” Severus groused, head going back.
With a sigh, Sirius then settled back and told them, changing to a topic he wanted to bring up, “I do need something from both you bookworms.”
“And that is?” Remus asked, looking amused at the name, though figuring it involved research.
“What I’m doing with Harry is helping, plenty. You’ve seen the results.” When they nodded, he continued, “What I want is some help in doing this the ‘right’ way. Psych wasn’t my strong suit in Auror training. You both know plenty more than I do and can find pieces to help. Not going for the whole Mind Healer thing here, just some hints that can help.”
“Good suggestion, Black,” Severus admitted, straightening up. “I have some at home, but not nearly enough. Let me see what I can purchase.”
“I have a few as well. Not sure if they’re on the topic we need, but I’ll look. If not, I can borrow a few from some people I know.” Remus nodding, pleased Sirius came up with the idea as it wasn’t anything they had thought of.
“Any particular area you want delved into first?” Severus asked, hoping to garner some clues so he knew what he was looking for.
“My thought? Working on not only his self esteem, but how to convince him he’s not at fault,” Sirius sighed, shaking his head sadly. “Look, he’s put up with shit unlimited from so many and just accepted it. Ron and Hermione are prime examples of that. What he took from both of them over the years was far more than most of us would. He can put his foot down, we all know he can as we’ve seen it, but what’s gone on tells me there’s a serious issue there as he just accepts plenty though it’s wrong or unhealthy. There’s also some of what I’ve seen from him.”
When both of them looked like they were going to ask, Sirius sighed then explained, “One example is I’ve noticed he avoids mirrors. I mean avoids them. If he does look in one, it’s very briefly and he won’t meet his own eyes. Most of the time he tends to what he has to do, like brushing his teeth, looking down. There is only the briefest glimpses and he averts his eyes as fast as he can. I’ve asked about it and he just mumbles about not liking mirrors.”
“Wonderful,” Severus muttered, shaking his head sadly. “Let me see what I can find on the topics.”
“That’s just one example. You lot have seen plenty more with how he acts, reacts and plenty else. My thought was if I knew what to do, at least the basics, I might be able to incorporate it into what else I’m doing,” Sirius told the two, looking between them.
“We’ll find something, Sirius,” Remus assured him, planning to go out to get his hands on some he knew about right off the top of his head.
“Any little bit will help here,” Sirius told him.
Relaxing a bit, knowing it was probably about time for them to take the twins home, he switched topics to the more neutral sort, of laying out just what they had to do so they could plan accordingly. It would get them all up to speed so they knew what was coming and could go from there.

About two in the morning, Sirius was yanked out of a dead sleep by what was a strangled scream from Harry. Immediately awake, heart hammering, he snagged his wand then wrapped his other arm around his godson. Lighting the candles with a shaking hand, he tried to get oriented as to what was going on. One glance at Harry told him though Harry’s eyes were partially open, he doubted he was awake.
Going with what he had done so far, he wrapped his arm around his poor little boy and held him close, talking soothingly to him. Like he expected, it didn’t do much good. He then put his wand aside and wrapped Harry in his blanket then picked him up and moved to the rocking chair.
As he rocked, feeling Harry tremble and cling to him, he talked soothingly to him. Though he was sure Harry was mostly asleep still and being loathe to wake him, he shifted him around until they were in their normal position. Making sure his godson had Elliot, he managed to persuade him to take his thumb in his mouth. Though it helped, it didn’t fully calm what was there. It was a step in the right direction, though.
After making sure Harry was comfortable and situated right, Sirius picked up the book he had been reading to Harry each night. Holding him close with one arm, still rocking, he managed to open it to the page they stopped at then began to read again. As he read, keeping his voice soft, he rocked them gently. Each time this happened, the nightmares grew worse. Though the potions helped, as he was sure they’d be far more horrific without them, it wasn’t enough to stop them. This just meant he had to resort to other means.
While he read, he kept an eye on Harry to judge if it was working or not. It did seem to help some as Harry settled slightly and clung to him, but didn’t fully kill whatever the dream was. Though he kept reading, his mind began working on what else he could do to alleviate what Harry was dealing with. As nothing came to mind that didn’t involve waking Harry, he was at a loss.
After about a half an hour, just as he was deciding he needed to wake Harry, his godson finally let out a soft sigh then relaxed more. Though relieved Harry was finally away from whatever was terrorizing him, Sirius didn’t stop rocking or reading to him. He wouldn’t until he was sure they wouldn’t kick up again. As he sat there, his mind was going over what else he could do or put in place to help as he was damned sure this was going to grow worse until the hearing was over. They sure as hell didn’t need it worse! There must be something, it would just mean he had to find it. Maybe he would get with Lucius the following day to see if he had any suggestions.
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Preventative Measures