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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
- 48
- 49
Chapter 49
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.

By the day before the hearing, Harry was as close to full meltdown as he came. Jumpy and unable to focus on anything else, he found himself more than a tad snappish. Though he didn’t like the idea, he took not only a nerve tonic from Severus, but something for anxiety and a mood stabilizer. They were helping, but it didn’t kill all the problems. All he could think about was what was coming. While he didn’t have to stay in the courtroom, even standing up there and confirming the memories were his was more than enough to make him twitch. Then there was the bit about him agreeing to let Severus read what he wrote. That—he was certainly rethinking that! Even worse? The meeting with Madam Bones afterward.

Honestly, he was trying to stay calm, knowing it would end up horrible, certainly not at the level of that first hearing, it was just the idea. All he knew was his mind kept conjuring up the worst and fixating there. Nothing he did could draw his focus elsewhere. And it made him feel extremely anxious.

Fred and George had been over earlier, but even their antics couldn’t distract him much. His mind just circled back to what was coming, then the anxiety increased again. As it grew, he felt like he was going mad. Nothing he did could push it aside.

After the twins went home and they had lunch, they all went to his appointment with his Solicitor. Most of the appointment was about the following day and what would happen, but he also filled them in on what he had learned. The former made it a little easier since he knew what to expect and that he could stop plenty and not answer. The latter—there was nothing to report. He had met brick wall after brick wall on some matters. Even the DMLE wasn’t having much luck. From what he told them, Madam Bones found it highly suspicious and planned to get to the bottom of it. She said it would just take time.

Once back home, Harry, though he felt a tad better, still couldn’t focus on anything but the following day. Everyone went out of their way to try to keep his mind off it, but it wasn’t working. It was all he could focus on, feeling more and more panicked as time went on and it drew closer. On his end, he found himself counting down the hours until he had to be there. That did not help anything at all.

Now he, Sirius, Remus, and Severus were in the kitchen. They were discussing what they learned and speculating on what it meant while he leaned against Sirius, staying quiet while sipping a soda. Though he tried to focus, he found his mind wandering to the following day, unable to escape it. With a soft sigh, he rested his head on Sirius’ shoulder and shut his eyes, smiling just a little when Sirius’ arm slipped around him. He felt better when they were touching and it soothed him. While it didn’t do away with the stress and anxiety, it helped lower it just a bit. At this stage, anything was good by him.

As the three continued to talk about various areas dealing with the war and other items, Harry tried to focus on what they were saying as a way to distract him from what was approaching. If he honed in on it, he was able to push the other aside just a little. While it helped and he asked some questions about what they were talking about, he couldn’t fully shove aside what he was trying to ignore. It helped, though, so he would continue.

Severus figured out quickly why Harry seemed to focus on the discussion and took it under consideration. Nothing they were discussing interested him, honestly, and he didn’t care about other parts since moving away from areas dealing with him. Since made aware of the issues bothering Harry today, he thought they could do more to distract him, such as a game of Quidditch or something. It would keep his mind off the looming events the following day and make sure he focused on what they were doing. As Harry loved the game, he thought it would be easy to talk him into it even though he looked a tad peaked.

Just as the suggestion was about to come out of his mouth, the front door opened. Since most left them alone since the meeting where Molly blew up, he figured there was something coming they needed to know. After a glance around, seeing the other three staring at the door as well, he then gave an internal groan when he saw both Tonks and Kingsley come in. While the two always brought much needed information, with the state Harry was in he was damned sure they would set him off as he wasn’t likely to hold back if the two tried to play nice with him. While he felt they deserved whatever Harry would say to them, it probably wasn’t a good idea for the young Wizard to unleash on them if he wasn’t sure he could control himself.

After shooting Black a pointed look that he hoped the man would understand as he wanted him to get Harry out of there, he then asked the two who took a seat, pleased they were far away from Harry, “Is there something we should know?”

“Just passing on some information about Harry’s meeting with Madam Bones tomorrow,” Kingsley said, withering a little at the glare he received from Harry.

“Figured we should pass it along to help not only demystify what’s coming, but add some of what we heard,” Tonks told them, glancing around at those there, giving an internal sigh at the look on Harry’s face. Yeah, he didn’t seem happy to see her and Kingsley.

Though feeling bad about the reason behind the look, Tonks pressed on, glancing around at the others, “It’s just with Madam Bones tomorrow. While Rufus wants to attend, she made it clear he’s not allowed since Harry is under enough stress as it is.”

“Good,” Remus said with a sigh of relief and nod. “The less the better here.”

“Exactly,” Kingsley agreed. “She has some pointed questions, but, from all we heard, she’s planning on handling Harry with kid gloves as she knows how hard this has been on him and how bad it’s been up to now. There is also the hearing before this meeting. Which means you don’t have to worry about an intense grilling,” He told everyone, looking around.

“This is good,” Remus said with a smile. “Any idea what the questions will be or what we need to prepare for?”

“Nothing to worry about there,” Tonks assured all of them. “Just the standard of what he saw and what happened, not much more other than, maybe, names to verify what he says. Not sure on that as Death Eaters aren’t going to confirm anything.”

“The normal then,” Sirius nodded, pleased. “Anything else?”

“Some, yes,” Kingsley said, sobering up. “From what we’ve heard, this might be the big push you need to getting you cleared, Sirius.”

“And for them to focus on You-Know-Who, believing he’s back,” Tonks tossed in there, a serious look on her face. “It means it can help all of us by pushing for what we need.”

“What we desperately require,” Severus agreed, pleased with this turn of events, clasping his hands in front of him on the table.

“Which means you need to give up everything you can, Harry,” Tonks told the young Wizard. “It will help plenty, not the least of which is Sirius. While it might not get him completely cleared, it’s a huge step in that direction.”

“I will,” Harry told them, tone icy, glaring at Tonks and Kingsley. Honestly? After he knew what they said at that meeting, he wanted no part of them, let alone talk to them civilly. Though they brought over much needed information, he wanted them gone, now. He was sure one wrong thing said would mean him blowing up on them. Despite the worry and anxiety over the following day, he could feel his temper start to boil, wanting to grab his wand then impart how he felt about them.

Having heard the tone of Harry’s voice, Remus glanced at him then he stiffened up, eyes widening. It was readily apparent Harry wasn’t real happy with the two and it probably wouldn’t take much to set him off. From what he could see, it was best to get them out of here before they took a misstep then he would blow. Before he could say anything, though, Kingsley put his foot right in it.

“If you like, Tonks and I can be in there with you,” Kingsley offered, still not liking Harry’s expression. In fact, it made the hair on the back of his neck stand up. “It’ll give you a couple more friendly faces.”

“No,” Harry said bluntly, teeth grinding, temper spiking as his head began to throb slightly.

Sirius felt Harry tighten up and heard the tone of voice, so he slipped his arm around him then pulled him close, about to suggest the two drop it when Tonks chimed in.

“Good idea,” Tonks nodded, looking enthused, pink hair bobbing. She saw this as a way to get back in Harry’s good graces by proving they were trying to help him. As she couldn’t see any downside to it, she thought it was a great idea. “We can take you for a tour of the Ministry as well,” she added, thinking he would like that.

“I said no!” Harry snarled, eyes starting to flash. “Why do you want to be there? So you can tell Dumbledore everything? Or is it that you just want to help get him back in my good graces? I’m betting it’s both with the two of you trying to wiggle your way back in favor with me. Not going to work. I heard just what you two said at that meeting from Mrs. Weasley. If you two think I want anything to do with you after that bit, you’re sadly mistaken.”

“Harry, we’re sorry for what we said and now understand it was wrong,” Kingsley told the upset Wizard softly, shaking his head and looking chagrined.

“Just give us another chance,” Tonks added.

“Hell no,” Harry snarled, face going red. “Sorry don’t feed the bulldog! You felt that way, it was apparent. You’re just feeling guilty. Not to mention that I would bet the two of you would ignore everything if Dumbledore told you to! I very much don’t believe anything you two say or want you around me.” Stopping, he clutched his wand and glared at the two, chest heaving.

“I understand,” Kingsley said, keeping his tone soft. “What we said was unconscionable. If someone said the same to me, I would be outraged. Just give us a chance to prove we mean what we’re saying.”

“Piss off,” Harry growled, eyes flashing dangerously. Standing up, shrugging off Sirius’ hands as he tried to grab him, he leveled his wand at Kingsley then glanced at Tonks. “I want nothing to do with either of you ever again. You had the only chance you were going to get and proved why I shouldn’t trust you. Just leave me alone and stay away from me!”

“I think it’s best to leave Harry alone at this time,” Severus said, standing, using the tone he did in school to get those he wanted to listen by striking the fear of God into them. One look at Harry’s face was enough to tell all but the most foolish that it was best to leave him alone. Apparently, Tonks and Kingsley didn’t have that kind of common sense so he would make sure they learned it, at least when it comes to Harry. Before he could continue on and have Black remove Harry from the room, Tonks jumped in.

“We are sorry, Harry,” she told him softly, hair going mousy brown and hanging limp around her face. “We didn’t think what we said through. What Molly said to us made us see it a different way. Now we understand as much as we can. All we want to do is help you all we can and prove you can trust us.”

Harry then lifted his wand, ignoring anything anyone said then cast a Silencio on Tonks and Kingsley. Though he wanted to cast a few hexes on the two, he didn’t. When Sirius put his hand on his arm and lowered it, he let him do so with no fight. “I don’t care if you’re sorry! Don’t you understand that?” He shouted, shaking from anger. “I don’t care about anything you have to say to me! All I want is for you and anyone who kisses Dumbledore’s arse to leave me alone and not talk to me! There is nothing any of you can say or do that will make me change my mind. Understand? I don’t care who you are or the reason! Just leave me alone and don’t try to get in my good graces.” Then he stopped, eyes ablaze, chest heaving, and irate.

“Black, why don’t you take Harry upstairs,” Severus suggested, glaring at the two imbeciles who seemed to have no common sense. Once Harry was out of the room, he was certain Black could get him to calm down before this grew worse. He knew it would just grow worse if Harry stayed. With as much stress as he was under, he was apt to completely blow up.

“Come on, Harry,” Sirius coaxed, glaring at the two and trying to move Harry along towards the door. “We’ll go relax and share a Coke.”

“Arseholes,” Harry snarled, but allowed Sirius to move him. “Just leave me alone!” He added just as Sirius was opening the door.

Arms folded over his chest, Severus glared at the two idiots, planning to chew on them but good. Yeah, this wouldn’t help anything.

Once in their room, Sirius switched the fuming and snarling Harry’s clothes to his onesies via a spell. Though it took a little coaxing, he managed to wrap him in his blanket then sit in the chair. When there, Harry did seem to relax, clutching onto Elliot, but kept on a tirade about the two fools. Starting to rock, Sirius told him, grinning a little at the colorful language, “Rant all you like. They deserve it.” He also thought that giving Harry something to focus on and expend something emotional on them was a damned good idea. After all, it would draw his focus away from the following day.

“Bloody idiots,” Harry seethed, clutching Elliot close and leaning his head on Sirius’ shoulder, snuggling under his blanket.

“Oh yes,” Sirius nodded, still rocking gently. “You won’t get any arguments from any of us.”

“How can they even think I would ever trust them again?” Harry asked, though realized it was probably more rhetorical than anything else.

“Because they think ‘I’m sorry’ fixes everything like so many people,” Sirius snorted, rolling his eyes. “So many are like that and you know it.”

“Doesn’t work,” Harry groused, eyes sliding shut. “It’s like shattering a glass by knocking it on the floor. Saying sorry to it doesn’t fix it. And, in this case, there is no amount of sorrys that will fix it. I won’t trust any of them ever again. Anyone one who is kissing Dumbledore’s arse aren’t people I will ever trust.”

“And most of us understand that point of view,” Sirius nodded not saying anything about the language this time. It was better for Harry to vent than worry about his little boy role. “You’re allowed to feel the way you do despite the fact plenty wouldn’t understand it.”

“Yeah, well, let them argue it with me,” Harry grumbled, curling up a little with a soft sigh. “They won’t win.”

“No, they wouldn’t,” Sirius agreed with a little grin. “And you’re allowed to say so to anyone fool enough to take it up with you. Once you’re done, the rest of us will have at them. I’m sure the two fools are getting an earful from Snape right now on the topic. You made it as clear as you could that you didn’t want to talk to them yet they pressed on.”

“Gits,” Harry mumbled, shaking his head. “Why can’t they just leave me alone? I’ve made it clear I don’t want to talk to any of them. You lot have as well. I don’t need this shit, especially now.”

“No, you don’t,” Sirius told him. “It just comes down to they don’t listen. When they don’t, they get what you just did. While you did cast spells on them, it was just to shut them up. Those we can handle. We just don’t need you doing anything worse, Harry. It would cause all kinds of issues.”

“I wanted to,” Harry admitted, looking at Sirius without lifting his head. “I really did. It was best I didn’t, though. All I wanted was for them to listen and not argue. As they weren’t going to do that, it’s the only thing I could think of.”

“And it worked,” Sirius agreed. “Next time we just need to leave, though. It’s best for all of us, though I bet you feel a tad better now.”

“A little,” Harry chuckled, grinning just a little. “Blew off some steam anyway. As it was at two fools who deserved it, I don’t regret a word I said.”

“You shouldn’t,” Sirius said with a nod. “Nothing you said was bad and was how you felt. If they don’t like it and feel wronged, it’s their issue, not yours.”

“Bet your arse it is,” Harry mumbled, letting out a soft sigh. He then went quiet, letting the rocking soothe him. As he sat there, he thought over what else he could have said to them and wanted to until he dozed off, a tiny smile on his face.

As Sirius watched Harry doze off, he nodded. While he was damned sure there would be plenty of problems tonight at bedtime, he was at least a little relaxed, better than he had been that’s for sure. Maybe he could come up with something tonight to help him do more and blow off some steam. He’d see what he could manage.

By the time Harry took the Dreamless Sleep, Lucius and Sirius were both worn out as well. Though not showing overt stress, Harry was uptight and you could tell. He had been agitated and unable to concentrate on anything, even activities he generally liked. Finally, Lucius hit on something that did help.

What he did was create a game called Whack-A-Fool. They conjured a box with holes in it then some people who were made to look like the ones who were annoying that looked similar to painted clothes pegs. A few spells later, and the ‘people’ would pop out of the holes at random times. Harry would then try to whack them with a mallet. If he hit them, they would yelp in pain and protest. It was a game Harry seemed to enjoy, chuckling as he played. Hell, Sirius could understand that as he enjoyed it just as much when he had given it a go. This he would remember and show it to Fred and George.

By bedtime, Harry was calmer, though still plenty stressed. It was better than he expected, though. After the normal, he went to sleep. Since it was aided by Dreamless Sleep, he was out cold.

With a sigh, Sirius curled up tighter to Harry’s back and looked over at Lucius. “You have any suggestions to help tomorrow? I know you’ll stay as long as you can, but he’s bound to wake plenty stressed.”

“Not much,” Lucius admitted honestly. “Severus has something for him to take that will help. It’s all we can do, honestly. That and try to calm him down the best we can. We’ll reiterate all we have up to this point and keep him focused on the goal. If he has that in mind, like has happened before, he’ll get through it easier.”

“True,” Sirius nodded, planning to do just that. “I’ll also point out that I need him to do this as it’ll help me more than he knows. It’s something I can give to my Solicitor so he can start landing on people with both feet.”

“We will,” Lucius agreed. “It’ll help plenty. Your Solicitor can take it and run then do what he can. If he works it right, you’ll probably end up cleared. Harry can give them all they need, including names of witnesses who saw the same thing. We need that.”

After agreeing, Sirius lowered his voice then added, “Make sure you prepare yourself, Lucius. They are going to want names and you were there for one of them. At this date, I doubt it’ll bother you as Fudge is in full control and most won’t think to go after you without something concrete, but you need to cover your arse.”

“It’s all under control,” Lucius soothed. “I’ve made sure of it. Not to worry. My Solicitor knows it’s coming and has several ways to deal with it. Just worry about Harry. I know how to protect myself.”

“Just so you do,” Sirius said. Leaning over, he gave Lucius a kiss then joked, “I rather like your evil arse and having you in my life. You landing in Azkaban will throw spanners into the relationship.”

“Never fear, I’ll weather whatever storm that’s coming and come out fine,” Lucius said with a smirk, though pleased with what Sirius said. He then snuggled up closer to Harry and doused the lights. “We need sleep as well. Not only do I have a full day tomorrow, but you do as well, just in a different way.”

“Oh yes,” Sirius groaned, eyes going shut. However, he felt better with the three of them together at times like this. He wasn’t sure why, but thought that as long as they were together, the three of them could tackle whatever someone threw their way. It might not be the case, but it sure felt that way. Until proven wrong, he would go with it.
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Preventative Measures