Harry continued to stare off in space, he could see Snape out of the corner of his eye working on the kitchen table, scrolls were spread out, most like homework assignments already Harry thought...but he couldn't bring himself to sneer at the cruelty of so much homework just after school had began. Instead he turned and found himself watching Snape closely.

The potions master had chosen to don muggle attire wearing a pair of black sweatpants as well as a black t-shirt that had something written in white letters across it that Harry couldn't translate. A mug of steaming coffee, black if Harry remembered, sat forgotten at his left side as he scowled down at the paper he was reading. His black hair was pulled back from his face. Harry felt his heart clench. This was something he could never tell him, this was something that should never be brought in front of him. His breath caught in his throat when Snape suddenly looked up at him scowling.

"That doesn't look like going to bed Potter." He said in such a cold voice that Harry visibly flinched. Snape frowned at him. "What has gotten into you?" Harry averted his gaze instead focusing on his hands for several minutes. "Harry please go to bed, you're tired I can tell that no go." Snape finally said, Harry only looked up when he heard the quill scratch against the parchment in front of him. He pulled his good knee up and rested his chin on it as he watched Snape correct essays again. They went on for quite some time, Snape seemingly to not notice Harry's presence, and Harry just content to watch his guardian grade his schoolmates. It seemed like something so normal to do that Harry blinked, almost like a f-no they weren't that he shook his head even as a lump began to form in his throat his memories of the dream he had still blazing in his mind. All at once he found a pair of black eyes staring intently into his eyes. He slid back on the couch surprised at the intensity of it. Snape's eyes narrowed and in a slow movement capped his bottle of ink and set the quill aside, essays forgotten. Standing he continued to stare at Harry as he walked towards him, his mouth in a grim line.

Harry didn't move a muscle, only when Snape was towering above him did he tilt his head up to stare at the man.

"What is on your mind?" Snape demanded, Harry shook his head as if to deny that anything was in fact on his mind, hastily he lowered his eyes, he didn't want to chance Snape slipping into his mind and see the dream. "Harry..." Snape said with what was actually a gentle tone. It was enough to startle Harry into looking up at him again, he had no idea that his eyes held something that Snape found painful. Sighing Snape sat down next to him seeming intent to just sit next to him, he conjured his mug of coffee as well as a thick black bound book.

Was he just going to sit there? Harry thought in wonderment, tears threatened to break through, like hell! Like hell he would let something as silly as silent company break him down! Harry bit his lip and moved to shift away from Snape and nearly yelped as Snape laid his free hand on Harry's leg preventing his movement. Harry stared at him again in shock.

"Don't..." Snape said not even looking at him, Harry's vision began to blur. He leaned his head back against the couch closing his eyes tightly, a strange feeling settled on his chest. Snape didn't offer any comforting words, just continued to read the book, his other hand holding the mug of coffee. It seemed like an eternity before Harry finally made a sound that sounded something like a cross between a scream and a sigh. Snape moved then, not his hand on Harry's leg, the other one set the mug on the table then the book, and then...Harry had Snape's full attention.

"Talk." Again it was one word, and that word set Harry off, he shoved the hand off his leg and tried to flee the room, instead Snape reached out and yanked Harry's arm causing the teen to come tumbling into his lap, then he wrapped his arms tightly around him. "You've been brooding since I found you this summer and it will stop, have I made myself clear Harry?" Harry nodded dumbly wondering where this sudden mood came from. Snape sighed and tightened his grip slightly unsure of what was pushing him to get the idiot Gryffindor to talk.

"Ta-...talk about what Professor?" Harry asked in a small voice. "Can you let me up?" he asked as an after thought.

"And let you escape? I think not, it wouldn't be very Slytherin of me Harry. You are not going to keep bottling things up like you have with your god-father's death." He pressed noticing how Harry's face paled; the fool still hadn't dealt with it. He thought with narrowed eyes. "However I will not push that matter, I want to know what has you upset tonight."

"I'm not upset beyond the fact you suddenly are touchy feely!" Harry protested, he was not going to admit it actually felt good, it felt like he had someone he could rely on for something other than physical safety.

"If you weren't upset you would be in the room I had made for you fast asleep already or do you not realize it is already three in the morning!" Snape snapped. Harry blushed staring at his hands.

"It was just a nightmare." Harry whispered.

"Of what?"

"...I lost something I had just gained that was really important to me...and it's probably going to come true so I have to make sure it doesn't." Harry babbled. Snape raised an eyebrow at Harry and released him, or so Harry thought until he found himself being pulled along behind him towards where he knew Snape's bedroom was. Instead of turning into it, he turned into the door across the hall pulling Harry in. Harry gaped, it was a large bedroom with shelves filled with books on all manors of things, a window seat looking out on the Quidditch patch. The bed was huge filled with pillows and comforters...and the entire room was done in Gryffindor colors. But that wasn't what got Harry choking on tears, no on the wall where his bed was against were a dozen pictures. With his parents, Sirius, and Remus. He felt his throat close and the room spin, right when his knees could no longer hold him and he would've fallen to the ground Snape grabbed him and carried him to the bed holding him awkwardly. It was all Harry needed he threw himself against the strong chest and began to cry not caring anymore that he needed to be strong that he wasn't the hero. Snape's arms surrounded him; he didn't hear the potion's master sigh nor the odd look in his eyes as he stared down at Harry.

When Harry had cried himself into exhaustion, Snape gently pulled away taking in Harry's state. The boy's gaze was mindless, his eyes were blank he humped when Snape adjusted his grip.

"Bedtime." Snape decided releasing Harry while the teen was preoccupied with blinking, he pulled the blankets back and glanced at Harry shaking his head. Honestly he hadn't even done this during the Summer! Merlin knew what possessed him to do so now. Perhaps it was the lost look in Harry's eyes that seemed to be appearing more and more lately. He turned and pondered if Harry was awake enough to get into pajamas. But decided he wasn't when Harry came close to falling off the bed, tugging on the Gryffindor's arm he got him standing and walking to the side of the bed. He transfigured Harry's clothes into his normal night time clothes, sweat pants and a t-shirt. Pushing Harry down into the bed, he conjured a vial of dreamless sleep, even though the boy was dead on his feet he didn't want his charge to have any further dreams.

"Drink." He said softly Harry shook his head. No, he knew that potion even when he was out of it, he would alw- he didn't even have a chance to finish his thought as Snape merely tipped his head back and poured the potion down his throat. Instinctively he swallowed and struggled not to be happy when Snape smiled at him approvingly.

"Harry you need real sleep, you do not need dreams anymore tonight." Snape said and pushed Harry so he was laying down. Sighing and wishing he hadn't felt like he was where he belonged Harry allowed the jaws of the potion to pull him the rest of the way into sleep...

Harry rubbed his temples as the Slytherins and Gryffindors in the DA began to throw insults at each other. Only Draco and Ron managed to stay somewhat civil. When wands were suddenly pulled he had had enough. He stood up noticing that at least the other two houses had turned their attention to him. He let it go on another few minutes before he felt a headache spike, he didn't want to have to go to Snape and explain why he was half blind from pain.

"ENOUGH!" he bellowed surprised he had learned the trick from Snape. That silenced the entire room, all eyes were on him. "Is this what it's come down to? Petty rivalry between houses that should be united when Voldemort is out there KILLING people!" he snapped almost pleased when everyone jumped at the name.

"Harry..." Hermione began to make excuses but he silenced her with a look.

"Take a good look around you! Because when it comes down to it if he were to attack the school then you would have to get over your feelings damn quick because if you don't you'll end up dead!" he bellowed. Everybody paled, good Harry thought darkly.

"For Merlin's sake we are in the same bloody school! What is wrong with you! Are you a bunch of complete imbeciles! Get out the entire lot of you! I don't even want you to come back until you realize just what is at stake here. For those of you who don't remember or weren't here, we caused a lot of death last year, and I refuse to allow that to happen again...even if it means disbanding the DA altogether." He said softly. When no one made a move to move he turned his back on them.

"Hermione, Ron you know the spells they should work on I'm leaving." He said and began to walk out of the room. He wasn't the least bit surprised when he saw Draco walking beside him. The blonde didn't even look at him, just walked beside him...just like Snape's silent company the night before. Harry stopped walking once they reached the Dungeons and leaned against the wall.

"Pretty stupid for me to blow up like that wasn't it?" he asked staring at the ground. Draco snorted.

"That was you blowing up? I thought that was your subtle way of telling them to grow up." Draco said eyeing Harry. "You have a headache don't you?" the blonde said guessing. Harry sent him a withering look. "A bad one. Well come on before Severus hunts you down." He said gesturing the way towards Snape's personal rooms.

"Not bad enough I need a potion." Harry scowled but he followed the Slytherin to the rooms, the doors swung open and Snape stepped out with a raised eyebrow.  "Can Draco sleep over tonight?" he asked. Draco glanced at him raising an eyebrow of his own. Snape smiled.

"Just like you, Draco is always welcome in my rooms Harry. Why don't you come in and tell me why you have a headache so severe it is affecting your ability to see." He said and pulled Harry in without giving him a choice.

"What is with the sudden increasing protectiveness of you!" Harry whined. Snape said shaking his head as he pointed to the couch. Stomping Harry slumped down onto it with a good pout.

"Draco can you go get me a high level pain potion?" Snape asked, taking the hint the blonde walked away. Snape stared down at Harry and sighed and sat down on the table facing Harry.

"I do not have a sudden Increasing Protectiveness of you Potter. This has always been present, but perhaps just as you once jokingly said...you've grown on me." He stated and smirked when Harry's jaw dropped.