Five years later…

Harry Potter woke abruptly in the middle of the night feeling as if a bucket of icy water had just been thrown on him. He squinted around the dark room for a few seconds before he remembered to put his glasses on. Even with the blurriness gone, he still couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary in his small bedroom, but that slight sense of foreboding that had fallen into the pit of his stomach when he awoke was still there. Harry carefully pulled his blankets away from himself as he withdrew a long, slender wand from beneath his pillow.

“Lumos!”

The wide beam of light bounced off the mirror on the door of the wardrobe in the corner, startling Harry for a moment. He took a deep breath and tried to settle his shaky nerves as he crept over to the window, pointing his wand towards the floor so no one would see the bright light. The long road lined with square houses looked as calm as ever at three o’clock in the morning, the streetlights shining dimly onto the black pavement beneath. Harry had just been about to turn towards his door when he saw – something.

The streetlight closest to Number Four flickered for a split second, but just long enough for Harry to see movement. What caused it to flicker, Harry wasn’t sure, but he was positive that he had not imagined it. He squinted down into the street just beyond the lamp and felt the air rush from his lungs.

Two figures in black cloaks, the hoods pulled up over their heads, silver masks gleaming in the dim streetlight. They were staring straight up at Harry, who stood stock still as he began to feel a familiar feeling of panic rise in his chest. After a moment of complete horror, Harry gathered himself and moved quickly away from the window.

“Nox!” Harry hissed, the beam of light disappearing from the tip of his wand immediately. He wanted to check if the cloaked figures were still there, but was afraid of being noticed. Though they were looking up through his window, he was not altogether sure they had actually been able to see him.

“Shit, shit! Just what the fuck am I supposed to do?” Harry whispered to himself as he paced carefully across his cramped bedroom.

Owling Dumbledore or some other Order member was clearly out of the question, seeing as the Death Eaters were camping right outside his window, not to mention Hedwig was off delivering a letter to Ron. He didn’t think the Dursley’s fireplace was connected to the Floo network still, so that was out as well.

Think, Harry! There has to be some way…Fucking Dumbledore, he should have prepared me for this type of thing!

Harry groaned in frustration as he racked his brain for an idea of just what in the hell he was supposed to do. He went over a list of people in his head, people who could help – but, no! That wasn’t the issue. Contacting someone who could help was his dilemma. He couldn’t send a message with his Stag Patronus. The Death Eaters would surely see it, and besides, he had no clue just how to go about doing that.

Patronus…

That’s it! Something snapped in Harry’s mind as he remembered his last meeting with Remus Lupin, just after Sirius’ funeral – or memorial service, rather. No body to bury, you see.

“Take this, Harry. If ever you should need help and find yourself stuck, just snap it in the middle, sort of like a Muggle Glow stick. It will warm up and start to vibrate. I have a matching one, and will carry it with me at all times. As soon as you activate yours, mine will react and I’ll know you need help. Emergencies only; these are rare bits of magic here…”

Harry practically dove for his Hogwarts trunk, which was lying at the foot of his bed. He wrenched it open and began digging through the messy contents, looking for the small, velvet bag Remus’ communication device had been in. Aha! Harry pulled open the little pouch and dumped the small, silver stick into the palm of his hand. He noticed then that his hands were shaking something awful, but he pushed that away and focused on the little cylindrical stick. Harry grasped it firmly in his hands and bent it in the middle, immediately feeling it grow warm and slowly start to lightly vibrate.

Many things happened all at once. Later, Harry couldn’t have been sure exactly what had happened first, or what exactly had happened in general. All he remembered was feeling the little stick vibrate before the world seem to tremble beneath his feet as a deafening bang shook the foundations of Number Four Privet Drive. After that, Harry saw nothing but black.

S~S~S~S

“What in Merlin’s name?” said Severus as he sat up slowly in his bed. There was a faint buzzing noise coming from the general direction of his writing desk in the corner of his quarters at Hogwarts.

Though the school year was over and the summer holidays were in full swing, Severus was still at the castle finishing up end of the year business and planning his lessons for the coming year. It was soon to be his fifteenth year teaching at the appraised School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and he wasn’t any more excited about the special Anniversary than he would be for a normal year. Well, he wasn’t excited at all, really.

With black slippers on his feet and a dressing gown thrown over his night clothes, Severus moved over to his desk and started to rummage around, the buzzing sounding much louder as he reached the oak desk. After pulling open all of the drawers and finding nothing, he opened the top cabinet, the buzzing becoming even louder, then. A small, black velvet pouch sat in the corner, moving idly as whatever was inside vibrated continually. Severus reached in and pulled the pouch out, pulling the strings open and pouring the small silver rod into the palm of his hand. He thought back to when he had acquired the little rod, his memory a bit vague on exactly what the rare magical little rod was for.

“Harry has the other one. They’re communication devices in case of any emergency Harry should find himself in. I told him I would have this half with me at all times, but I’m afraid that was a bit of a white lie. I’m terribly afraid that Harry may be in need of help and I won’t be able to get to him because of my monthly affliction. I wouldn’t have asked this if I didn’t already know about the Vow, but will you take this half and keep it with you, just in case Harry should need any help?” Remus asked as he held out the small velvet bag to Severus, who was glaring daggers at the werewolf with his arms crossed over his chest.

“Oh, that was a very nice way of ensuring that I had to agree to take this – thing, Lupin. You knew the Vow would kick in as soon as you asked and I’d have to agree to it or meet my untimely death. Very Slytherin indeed, I applaud you,” Severus said in an icy voice as he scowled down at the velvet pouch, which he still hadn’t taken from Remus.

Remus sighed, his shoulders drooping slightly out of sheer exhaustion. “That is, in fact, not why I asked you to take this, Severus. You’re one of the only Order members who has such ready access to help Harry, should he need it. If he is at school, you will be right here. If he is at the Dursley’s during the summer holidays, you would be able to help the quickest, as you do not work during that time. I will admit the Vow did help sway my decision towards you, but it was not the sole reason. I am only trying to protect Harry, as you are. I fear he is in even greater danger than usual this summer after hearing the Prophecy. I couldn’t bear it if I couldn’t help Harry because it was the full moon. Please, Severus.”

Severus let out a slow breath as he uncrossed his arms and took the pouch from Remus’ outstretched hand. “Fine, I will take it. How does it work?”

“It will grow warm and vibrate when Harry activates his own. The rod will allow you to Apparate directly to wherever Harry is, wards be damned. These are very rare, the last pair Albus had, in fact. Carry it with you always,” Remus said. He felt a bit weary leaving Harry’s safety and well-being in the hands of Severus Snape, but was also confident that, whether Severus actually cared about Harry or not, he would help him in any way he could simply because of the Vow. It was the best course of action and Remus would not let his personal feelings about the man put Harry in danger.

Severus inclined his head to show he understood and turned away from Remus, his cloak billowing out behind him dramatically as ever.

It took Severus about five seconds to realize just what that little rod meant; Harry was in trouble and was asking for help. He quickly grabbed his wand from his bedside table and changed his clothes into his usual black robes and cloak with a twirl. Holding the little vibrating rod in his hand, he turned on the spot, hoping that Lupin had been right about being able to Apparate through wards with the little rod.

As he materialized again, the sight that met his eyes made him drop his usual expressionless mask.

Where Number Four Privet Drive used to be, there stood the smoldering wreckage of some sort of explosion, far beyond being recognizable as a house. Smoke was rising from many small fires littered in the debris, but all else was still. The neighboring houses had not been affected in the slightest bit, nor did their in habitants seem to be aware that Number Four had been blown to bits.

Severus pulled his wand slowly as he tried to recover from the shock. He became aware of his jaw hanging open and quickly shut it as he took a tentative step forward. He needed to find Harry, make sure he was ok, and get him out of there as soon as possible. Severus felt distinctly confused as he moved around what used to be the front door of the house. He had not been summoned to any meetings recently, and had heard no news of a planned attack on the Potter boy from the Dark Lord or any of his other minions. Being one of His closest inner-circle followers, it was strange that he had not been informed of this attack. Something boded ill about his being unawares, and he proceeded with great caution.

The stairs leading to the second floor were hanging lopsided and blown to pieces. The second floor had been completely obliterated and the first floor was buried under the rubble.

“Lumos!”

Severus held his wand aloft, lighting the area in front of him as he searched for any sign of Harry or his family. He stopped short when he caught sight of a pale hand sticking out from under and large piece of fallen dry wall. He moved quickly around the debris and knelt down, trying to lift the wall up. The hand was that of a woman’s, and the wall was too heavy to lift using just his body strength. Severus clasped his fingers around her wrist, checking for a pulse. There wasn’t one.

Severus stood up and raised his wand light high so that is cast over more of the wreckage. He was searching for a sign, something that pointed to Harry being there and being alive. A shock of black hair and a pair of broken glasses were lit up as Severus swept his wand in a wide streak. He immediately made his way over to Harry, who was unconscious but otherwise looked ok. Severus moved the black fringe out of Harry’s eyes as he checked his pulse. His heart was beating, if only a little bit slowly.

“Expecto Patronum! Go to Dumbledore, tell him Harry is alive and seems well, but his family is not. I’m taking him to my home in Bristol,” Severus whispered to the silvery doe that stood before him. He flicked his wand and the doe galloped away gracefully.

For reasons unknown to him, he picked Harry up into his arms instead of simply levitating the boy, and began to walk away from the wreckage that used to be Number Four Privet Drive. One quick turn and Severus was Apparating himself and Harry to his summer cottage in Bristol.

S~S~S~S

Bright light. The last thing Harry could remember was an almighty boom followed by blackness, and now there was bright light. Everything was out of focus and blurry when he opened his eyes. From what he could see, he wasn’t anywhere he recognized. A slight movement on his left startled him.

“Where am I?”

“You’re safe, Mr. Potter,” Severus answered as he pulled his wand slowly out of an inside pocket of his cloak.

Harry scrambled away from Snape as fast as he could, only then recognizing that he was laying in a bed, the light that had awoken him coming from a warm, blazing fire in the grate across the room. “Where’s Remus? M-my stick thing, it was supposed to contact Remus,” Harry said in a scratchy voice. He was eyeing Snape’s black wand wearily as the man glared slightly at him. Why on earth had Snape come for him and not Remus?

“Settle yourself, you idiot child. I’m not going to harm you; I just need to perform a few spells to see if you’re injured internally at all. Sit still a moment,” said Severus as he waved his wand in a wide arch over Harry, murmuring in Latin under his breath.

Harry relaxed minutely as he settled himself against the pillows behind him. “You didn’t answer me, Professor. Where’s Remus? I was trying to contact him.”

Severus frowned as the tip of his wand suddenly glowed bright red. “My spell has indicated that you might have some internal bleeding. I need to check for tenderness in your abdomen. Just relax, alright?”

Harry stiffened slightly. He had been feeling a sharp pain every time he took a breath, but he thought it was just from being thrown by the blast. He nodded slowly to show approval for whatever Snape had to do and tried to relax his tense muscles.

“Lie down,” Severus directed, setting his wand aside as Harry lay down on his back. He lifted Harry’s thin T-shirt up enough to expose his abdomen, and his frown deepened. There was already a large bruise forming on the left side of Harry’s abdomen. The colour was a deep purple, evident of internal bleeding. Severus gently placed a hand over the bruise and applied very little pressure.

Harry sucked in a quick breath as a sharp stab of pain shot through him. “Ouch! Don’t do that again!” he pleaded, his breathing becoming shallower as the pain receded very slowly. He distractedly felt bemused at the softness of Snape’s hand on his stomach. For some reason, he was expecting rough, dry hands for someone like Snape.

Severus picked up his wand once more and ran it over the length of the bruise, muttering some sort of spell again. “I’m sure I can heal this myself, but you’ll need some blood replenisher; you’ve lost quite a bit already. I’m surprised you weren’t complaining of the pain, to be honest.”

Harry frowned as he wondered the very same thing. He had just woken up, after all, but still, it looked painful enough to warrant at least some recognition of discomfort. “I could feel a sort of sharp pain every time I took a breath, but I didn’t think it was anything serious. It honestly didn’t really hurt that bad until you pushed on it. What, er…what’s bleeding, exactly?” Harry asked, not quite familiar with the human anatomy and wondering what he could have injured.

“I’m not sure myself, actually. These spells only reveal so much, like the type of damage inflicted and amount of blood lost, but they do not locate where exactly the injury is. I’m no healer, but I’ve had some training in mediwizardry; standard things for becoming a Hogwarts teacher. You need a few potions before I can heal the wound itself. I don’t believe I have everything you need here with me, but I can go back to Hogwarts and fetch the needed potions and be back in no time at all. Do you feel comfortable staying here for a few minutes by yourself?” Severus asked as he gently pull Harry’s shirt back down and pocketed his wand.

Harry’s eyebrow shot up as he looked up at Snape. “I’m not a child, I can handle being alone for a little while. Do whatever you need to do, but I’m not taking anything like Dreamless Sleep until you answer a few of my questions,” Harry said firmly, feeling distinctly wrong footed by Snape’s current behavior and attitude.

Severus sighed almost imperceptibly but nodded slowly. “Alright, I will be right back and I will answer your questions before I put you to sleep,” he said before turning towards the fireplace to floo to his Potions lab at Hogwarts. He paused and turned back to look at Harry, who looked thoroughly confused. “You are a child, by the way, no matter how grown up everybody else in the Wizarding world expects you to be.” A few more short steps and he was flinging Floo powder into the fireplace, stepping into the bright green flames that shot up. “Potions lab, Hogwarts!”

Harry’s jaw had actually dropped as he stared after the man masquerading as Snape. Oh yes, he had made up his mind that, whoever this person was, it could not possibly be his surely and snide Potions Professor. The man had been polite, kind, and even seemed a bit concerned. It was too distinctly not Snape, and it made Harry feel a bit ill at ease. That last sentence alone was proof enough that, whoever this savior was, there was no way in Merlin’s name it was Severus Snape.

What had happened, anyways? His memories were a bit foggy, but he remembered seeing the Death Eaters out his window, activating the little metal rod Remus had given him, and then the loud bang that threw his world into darkness. Now he was lying in a bed in a strange house that Snape had brought him to. How had Snape even known he was in trouble, and where was Remus? What was that loud bang, why were the Death Eaters there, and what of the Dursleys? All these questions threatened to overwhelm Harry just as Snape returned in the Floo, his arms full of multi-coloured flasks and vials.

Severus walked quickly over to Harry and sat down the many potions on the bedside table, arranging them in the order the boy would need to take them. He picked up the first, bright green one and used his wand to remove the wax seal and pop the cork.

“Blood Replenisher first, you’re even more pale than before I left,” he said as he handed the small vial to Harry.

Harry took the vial and hesitated only a moment before drinking it down in one gulp. It tasted and felt like acid, burning as it slid down his throat. He coughed and spluttered, trying to keep the potion down. “That’s horrible,” he complained as he pushed the vial back towards Snape.

Severus took the vial and opened the next in the short row on the table. “I didn’t say it was going to be pleasant, did I?” Severus drawled as he held out the next vial. “Pain Relieving potion; no doubt the internal bleeding caused most of your discomfort, but you have been through quite an ordeal and will most likely start to ache soon.”

Harry took the vial and drank it down as quickly as the first. He was glad to note that it tasted something like flat soda pop rather than something more vile. He pushed the vial back into Snape’s hand once again, only making a slight face at the taste this time.

Severus’ face remained his usual expressionless mask, but there was amusement sparkling in his black eyes at the face Harry made regarding the potion. The next potion, then. “Stomach Calming Draught. With so many different potions mingling in your system, you’re bound to end up with an upset stomach. I prefer you not retch up everything I’ve given you.”

Harry felt a bit bemused as to why Snape was naming each potion and explaining why Harry needed to take it. He had been expecting Snape to simply pour each potion down his throat quickly and none to gently, but his odd behavior was still evident as he passed the third potion to Harry. Stomach Calming Draught, it turns out, tasted like over-ripe pumpkin juice and was threatening to cause his stomach upset despite its purposes. He grimaced at the taste as he handed the vial back.

Severus pulled out his wand and moved it in a complicated arch, pointing it at Harry’s abdomen. A soft blue light illuminated Harry’s shirt before slowly fading away.

“The wound should be healed up, now. The last potion you need is Dreamless Sleep, but I do believe I agreed to answer your questions first, so,” Severus pulled a straight backed chair beside the bed and sat down, crossing his legs rather stiffly as he gestured towards Harry, “Ask away.”

Harry shifted so that he was sitting up more by himself rather than leaning heavily on the pillows behind him. Where to begin? Well, how about the beginning. “What were the Death Eaters doing there and why had nobody told me about any plan to get to me? Did the Order even know?”

Severus was a little surprised Harry had the sense to ask about the facts of the attack first. “It is not yet clear exactly what the Death Eaters intentions were, but we have pieced together what information we do have to guess about their orders. The Order was not aware of any planned attacks, as I was not told, nor summoned to any meetings recently by the Dark Lord. Some speculation as to my spy disguise becoming evident to the Dark Lord has been brought up,” Severus answered stiffly, dreading what he knew he’d have to tell Harry eventually, soon.

Harry processed all of that, coming to the conclusion that it made perfect sense. Things were still amiss, however. “Why didn’t Remus come for me, or did he? Where is he?” Harry asked, frowning at the fact that maybe Remus had rescued him and delivered him to Snape for some reason.

Severus sighed and shook his head in exasperation. He had already formulated a slightly altered answer for this question when he was fetching the many potions. Why he was so concerned about the boy’s feelings, however, was lost on him. “It is the full moon tonight, Potter. Or it was, since the sun is rising as we speak. On the night of every full moon, Lupin brings the device to me so that I may be able to help you if you activate it; a good thing, too, seeing as how it just happened to be the full moon when you needed help. Lupin will be informed shortly about the happenings. I alone came to your aide, and brought you here after informing the Order that you were alright, then had an emergency meeting with everyone while you were still unconscious.”

Harry felt extremely stupid as he listened to Snape. Of course, Remus couldn’t possibly be able to help him during the full moon. What had he expected? Well, he’d like to think that Remus would hand over Harry’s safety to someone other than Snape, but he was not complaining since the man had saved his life. “So…What happened? The last thing I can remember is some sort of explosion is my guess. What’s the Order’s guess for why they attacked, and where are the Dursleys?”

Severus expression turned a little darker as he shifted slightly in his seat. He knew this was coming, but he was not looking forward to explaining it. “The wards protecting the Dursley’s home were born of ancient blood-magic, as I believe has been explained to you?” He waited for Harry’s nod of assent before continuing, “They are not to be confused with magical warding such as the Fidelius charm. The Dark Lord has known where you reside all along, it was never a matter of finding you; it was a matter of getting to you where you were. Over the last year or so, the Dark Lord has been doing extensive research about your mother’s blood-sacrifice that has protected you since her death. I had been aware and informed the Order following shortly after your fourth year at Hogwarts. My guess was that he was searching for a way to get to you now that he had your own blood within his veins after his rebirth; Dumbledore agreed.” Severus paused to let Harry absorb all that had been said so far, as the next part would be a little more confusing.

“This is where the speculation and guesswork comes in. The Dark Lord did not give me any details as to what his research had provided him, and the Order’s own research brought up a frightening possibility; with your blood running in the Dark Lord’s veins, your mother’s blood-sacrifice may be null and void. As soon as we discovered this, we worked to ward your home with spells instead of just letting the ancient magic your mother had placed there protect you alone. Apparently our efforts were in vain, for the Dark Lord’s followers were able to break through these to get to you. A sort of alarm notified the Order that the wards had been broken, however, and when the Death Eaters realized this, they fled without completing their mission. The force of their spells to break the wards was what caused the explosion to occur, and a massive one it was at that,” Severus said the last part a little quietly as he remembered the state he had found the house in when he first Apparated to Harry.

Harry realized he was trembling as he took it all in. His mother’s sacrifice was nothing now? There was no where safe for him, now. Though he hadn’t got on with the Dursleys or been happy with his having to be there, he had always believe that he would be safe there with them, but that comfort was now gone. “What…what about the Dursleys?” Harry asked timidly, already fearing the answer as Snape’s expression softened very slightly.

“When I Apparated to you, I located your aunt; she was already gone by the time I had gotten there. I wasted no more time in getting you to safety, so I did not check for your uncle or cousin, but Shacklebolt has informed me that, on their inspection of the wreckage, your uncle and cousin were both killed as well. I’m sorry, Harry.” The boy’s first name sounded foreign, almost wrong on his tongue, but now was not the time to be harsh. The boy truly had no family left in the world at all, much like himself.

Harry gulped and nodded, though not entirely sure why. He brought his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them, resting his chin on his knee. He was completely, utterly alone. The last remnants of his family, the last people connected to his mother, were gone. He was in every sense an orphan now, and had absolutely no where to go. He had been very used to the fact that he was an orphan, but he had always had his aunt, uncle, and cousin as a pseudo-family, no matter how bad they were at it. But now – now there was no one, and it hit him hard just then. He had no desire to break down in front of Snape, but his emotions had different plans, apparently. He did not weep or sob, but simply let the moisture swimming in his eyes slid slowly down his cheeks, staring at the wall across from him. He took a few rattling breaths as he sat and cried for what felt like hours, but was probably only about ten minutes. In all that time, Snape had not left his side, nor had he said anything. This was not lost on Harry, but his sense of foreboding about the man’s behavior still bugged him.

“Thank you…for saving me and – and fixing me up and all,” Harry whispered as he dried his tears and looked over at the Potions Master, who had evidently been watching him closely.

Severus blinked and sat back in his seat, suddenly aware of himself leaning forward towards Harry. “It was no trouble. It is my job, after all, as an Order member and a staff member of Hogwarts to protect and keep you safe. No matter how much contempt I have shown before, I still must do my job.”

That was the last straw for Harry. He had heard enough lies in his lifetime to know when one was being dangled in his face. He’d also been through enough hell to have sense not to trust anyone, especially the likes of Snape.

“Why are you being so nice? You’re supposed to hate me, whether or not you’re an Order member and Hogwarts Professor. Why the hell do you care about ‘protecting and keeping me safe’? If it wasn’t your job, you wouldn’t give two shites about my well-being. So don’t pretend like you have any compassion for me, Snape. I don’t need your sodding pity,” Harry snapped as his grief quickly turned into rage.

Severus pinched the bridge of his nose as he leaned his elbows atop his knees. He had been expecting some sort of similar break down, but it made him weary all the same.

 “I am being nice because I have sense enough to know when not to add insult to injury. You’ve lost the little bit of family you had left, I was not about to be snide in the face of your grief. It is my job to protect and keep you safe, and it has been my job for a long time now. I care because I made a promise not only to Albus Dumbledore, but to your mother’s memory that I would not let any harm come to you – note that this was long before I had heard the Prophecy in whole and you became The Chosen One. Loathe I am to admit, the fate of the Wizarding world, and the rest of the world alike, lies in your hands. It is not easy for me to blindly place my faith in a sixteen year old boy who has had this destiny dumped on him from the age of one – scratch that, before you were even born. It is my faith in Dumbledore as well as the side of the Light that allows me to have trust in you, not to mention your frequent displays of idiot Gryffindor bravery which I have no doubt will carry you through this war and see to you having victory over Voldemort!”

He had clearly begun to lose his temper as his speech went on, and the last bit was clearly said out of exasperation and anger. It was the first time he had called the Dark Lord by his name in years.

Harry was slightly taken aback at not only Snape’s use of Voldemort’s name, but at what the man had just admitted. “A promise to my mother’s memory…?” he asked tentatively as he uncurled his legs and scooted down a bit on the bed.

Severus felt his shoulders relax a little bit as he leaned back in his chair. He had not meant to let that slip to Harry – ever. He didn’t have much choice but to explain his gaffe now. “I knew Lily in school. I met her the summer before we both got our Hogwarts letters, actually. I…used to live near Privet Drive when I was a child. I was, in fact, the one who told your mother that she was a witch. She had no idea, being Muggle born and not yet old enough to get her Hogwarts letter. We were good friends from then on. That is, until our fifth year. You saw the scene in which we parted ways, last year. After…after your parents’ deaths, I promised Lily, in spirit of course, that I wouldn’t let her son meet the same fate as her and James. I feel quite – ah, responsible for your parents’ deaths, as the bearer of half the Prophecy to the Dark Lord.”

Severus had never admitted that to anyone but Dumbledore, and had never planned on saying such to Harry, of all people. It was the truth, he did feel responsible in part for Lily’s and James’ deaths, and he would never be able to forgive himself for that. Though Dumbledore had ‘redeemed’ him and given him a second chance at life, he would never forget what he had done. Maybe that was something Harry needed to hear as well.

“Professor Dumbledore gave me a second chance after I realized what I had done and gone to him, but I have never been able to forget it, nor will I ever. You may think I am heartless, and you may be right, but I am not without morals, I am not without shame. That is why I care, Harry.”

Harry? Where did that come from? That was the second time in one night that he had used the boy’s first name. Severus frowned at his apparent softness in the face of the situation. Damn that Dumbledore and his lessons in how to have a heart! He did not take it back, however. He had said what needed to be said, and Harry’s reaction would be what it was, regardless if Severus called him by his given name or not. Maybe calling the boy by his first name would be more beneficial than not.

Harry was properly stunned by Snape’s speech. It took a little while to register that his jaw was hanging slightly open before he snapped it closed audibly. So Snape and his mother had been close friends, eh? No wonder his father hated Snape’s guts when they were at Hogwarts together. This was a whole new side of Snape that Harry had never seen before, having only been exposed to his snide and volatile side while in Potions class. This side of Snape, though – this side seemed to possess compassion, and even such things as regret and guilt. Dare he say even a little concern? It was like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Harry almost chuckled at the irony of that thought as he pictured the mad scientist and the neatly dressed doctor in his mind’s eye.

“I – er…Well, thank you, Professor,” Harry stuttered, feeling a bit ashamed of his previous outburst at the man that had just saved his life.

Severus shook his head slowly as he picked up the last vial of potion and uncorked it with his wand. “There is no need to thank me. I am not the only one protecting you, and I am certainly not the one worthy of your thanks. I think it high time that you rest now,” Severus said as he passed the vial to Harry.

Harry took the vial, but hesitated to drink it. “You saved my life, Professor. You’re worthy of my thanks and gratitude.” He swallowed down the bitter potion and handed the vial back to Snape before making himself comfortable on his pillows once more.

“Like I said,” Severus stood up and moved the chair aside, “It was no trouble.” He began to turn away but stopped as Harry spoke again.

“Where are my glasses and wand?”

Severus raised an eye brow at the sudden question, but didn’t comment on the randomness. “Your glasses were damaged beyond repair in the blast. I will see to getting new ones for you after you have rested. Your wand is there on the table, unharmed. Sleep, Potter; stop fighting the potion. I would wish you pleasant dreams, but you won’t be having any, pleasant or not.”

Harry felt slightly bemused by that comment, but nodded amiably as he pulled the covers closer to him. He had not realized that he was fighting the potion until he allowed his eyes to slam shut. It took Harry a little while to realize that that last comment from Snape must have been the man’s idea of humor. He let out a soft chuckle at the pathetic attempt just before his mind shut off completely and he was thrown into a deep, dreamless slumber.

S~S~S~S

Severus closed the door to his bedroom quietly behind him, using his wand to flick the lights on in the living room. He hadn’t been here in some months and his Bristol cottage looked very unlived in. There was a thin layer of dust atop the coffee table and book shelves lining the walls, and little puffs of dust would rise from the carpet with each step. After living in his Hogwarts quarters nine months out of the year, Severus felt more at home there than in his cottage. If not for having to go to Harry, he’d still be at Hogwarts that very moment.

So Harry Potter was lying asleep in his bed, truly orphaned to every degree. The boy had been through so much hell in his life, it was a miracle he hadn’t gone mad yet. Despite whatever Severus may have said to Harry during class, the boy was not unintelligent, and his Gryffindor bravery was something to rival. However, everyone had their breaking points, and it was a wonder Harry hadn’t met his yet. This latest tragedy seemed to have taken less of a toll on him than Cedric Diggory’s death and the death of Sirius Black. It went to show just how much Harry’s remaining family meant to him.

It was already six o’clock in the morning, and Severus was tired. He figured with Harry dosed on Dreamless Sleep, he could rest for a few hours himself without worry. He pulled out his wand and transfigured the couch into a comfortable looking four-poster bed, then flicked the lights off. He slipped off his shoes and robes and crawled underneath the sheets, falling asleep almost immediately after his head hit the pillow.

It was only thirty minutes later that Severus woke to an ear-splitting scream coming from his bedroom. He shot out of bed as fast as he could, slipping on the wooden floors in his sock-clad feet.

“Harry?” he said as he entered the room, running directly to the bed.

Harry was curled up against the headboard, his knees curled up to his chest and his face buried in his arms. He was shaking horribly and a soft whimper could be heard between sharp breaths.

Severus sat down on the corner of the bed and leaned towards Harry, resting his hand gently on the boy’s leg. “What’s wrong, Harry? You had a high dose of Dreamless Sleep, you couldn’t possibly have had a nightmare,” Severus said quietly. He felt Harry tremble even more violently and started to rub the teen’s leg in a comforting gesture.

Harry lifted his head very slowly, his expression distraught. “I don’t think it was a nightmare, Professor…I was in His mind again…H-he just….” Harry’s voice cracked as he tried to catch his breath.

Why did he care what had happened? He knew he shouldn’t, but he couldn’t help but feel horrible about it.

“Voldemort’s just had Narcissa Malfoy killed.”