"I see you!"

Harry's breath caught painfully in his chest as he awoke, the words disappearing to a place he couldn't reach. He made to open his eyes only to squeeze them shut as pain radiated through his body, reminding him what had happened. Something landed on his shoulder and he flinched, whimpering in anticipation of the coming pain. Whatever it was moved up to cup his face and he realized it was a gentle hand accompanied by soft consoling.

"You are alright, child. You're safe."

Harry forced his eyes to open at the familiar, comforting voice, blinking at their heaviness and scratchiness. Everything was blurry until his glasses were set on his face, allowing him to see Snape sat next to him on one of the beds in the extra room in Snape's quarters. He frowned as his thoughts and memories cleared to be identifiable just in time for them to race around his head.

"Draco! Draco...I...I left...he...I didn't..." he stuttered frantically, unable to articulate his fear and guilt.

"Harry, Harry, calm down," Snape said and Harry met his dark eyes. "We found Draco. He is in the Hospital Wing."

"Is he okay?" Harry asked, his heart pounding as Snape sighed and pulled back, hand coming to rest on Harry's leg instead.

"He was severely injured," Snape said and Harry thought the tight lines in the man's face were lines of worry, making Harry's stomach twist for Draco.

"I...I should have stayed with him. I left him alone," Harry said, feeling his eyes begin to burn. He brought his hands up to press his heels into his eyes. "I...I didn't mean...I didn't want...it's my fault. It's my-"

"No. No, child, it's not," Snape said and Harry's hands were gently pulled from his eyes, allowing a couple tears to fall. "There is nothing you could have done. He was attacked in the common room. None of this is your fault."

Harry wiped at his cheek, wincing at the pain it caused in his bandaged left hand. He looked at the bandaging, remembering what had been done to him. He looked up at Snape when the man brushed his hair back comfortingly, meeting a soft gaze.

"How are you feeling?" Snape asked.

Harry dropped his hand, tapping the bandages with his other fingers. "Okay. Sore."

Snape nodded, combing his fingers through Harry's hair again. "You will feel the Cruciatus effects for likely another day. The...cuts will heal and none will scar, except..."

Both their eyes fell to Harry's bandaged hand.

"It was already scarred anyway," Harry muttered.

"I'm sorry," Snape said and Harry looked at him curiously. "I'm sorry this happened, that I allowed it to happen."

"You didn't-" Harry started.

"I did nothing to stop Umbridge, allowing her to go this far," Snape said bitterly.

"You couldn't do anything, not without being discovered," Harry said. "You can't be discovered. You'll be killed and then we'll be-" he cut himself off, dropping his gaze to the blanket covering him.

"If anything were to happen to me, you and Draco will be taken care of and safe," Snape said, clearly knowing what Harry had been about to say. "You will not be alone."

Harry gave a small nod, silently praying nothing would happen to Snape, especially as he remembered Umbridge's threats. He couldn't lose any of them, not now they were becoming his...

He didn't want to even think the word, not when they could still easily leave him or be taken away.

"Can I see Draco?" Harry asked, pushing aside his worried thoughts.

"Not yet, I'm afraid," Snape said and Harry frowned, confused. "For one thing, you must remain in bed until at least tomorrow. Additionally, we cannot currently be in proximity with Draco. Due to the severity of his injuries, his magic began to drain both of ours when we were in the infirmary with him. It is why you are here in my rooms."

"Is anyone with him?" Harry asked, now exceedingly concerned about his friend. If Draco's magic had been automatically draining them, then Draco was really hurt and his magic was fighting to heal him, but needed more, needed their bond.

"Alexei," Snape said. "He is able to prevent draining as there is no Life Bond."

"Not Leif?" Harry asked, slightly surprised at the man's absence.

"He is at the Ministry," Snape said.

"Umbridge said everyone who helped hide my magic will be punished," Harry said, more worry bubbling inside as he thought of Leif in the Ministry where they had numerous enemies, including Lucius Malfoy who had been threatening Leif for weeks.

"Leif is more than capable of protecting himself," Snape said, putting a hand on Harry's leg again. "You just rest. Alexei and I will do the worrying."

"Are you?" Harry asked. "Worried?"

Snape gave him a small yet gentle smile. "Less so now you are awake and Draco is in the infirmary with Alexei."

Harry gave a shy smile back, leaning into the hand that carded through his hair once more. He'd never believed Snape could be so tactile and it was still surprising to him to see just how much things had changed between them. This was a man that truly cared for him and that he also cared about, something he'd never believed he would have.

"You should try and get some sleep," Snape said. "You're safe. She won't hurt you anymore, I promise."

"Did I kill her?" Harry asked, remembering the way his magic had exploded and thrown her.

"No, but I will be ensuring she sees no more days at Hogwarts," Snape said.

"How?" Harry asked, even as he settled further into the bed, exhaustion creeping over him.

Snape smirked. "With Leif and Alexei, we have ways," he said. "Now, sleep. Get some rest. We have you."

Harry nodded, for once believing in someone's conviction that he was safe with them. While he was still worried about Draco, Snape, Leif, and Alexei, about Umbridge's threats towards them, he was, for the moment, willing to trust in Snape to protect and take care of him and Draco. So, he settled and let his eyes close as Snape squeezed his leg and left the room, door closing behind him with a quiet click.

Severus sat on the sofa with a deep sigh, scrubbing his face tiredly with his hands. He rolled his neck, desperate to relieve the tension that had only been building since Harry appeared in his rooms the previous evening. There was a small sense of relief, as he'd said, having Harry there with him and Draco with Alexei, even if the two were still quite injured. Yet, the terror was still there, the fear of seeing the boys in such terrible states and knowing this would not be the last attack. Anger was also boiling inside, anger at the attackers, at Dumbledore for turning a blind eye, at himself for allowing it to happen. He'd been so concerned with his job and role as spy that he'd allowed Harry and Draco to remain in danger. He'd put them second. He'd promised to protect them and he'd failed...again.

He dropped his hands and glanced over his shoulder at the closed door to the boys' room. He blinked, realizing just how he'd thought of the room and set his jaw with a sigh.

He was done failing.

He turned back around at the knocking on his door. He frowned, not expecting anyone, especially not while he had Harry there. He stood and walked to the door, momentarily surprised when he found Dumbledore on the other side before narrowing his eyes at the old man.

"Good evening, Severus," Dumbledore said pleasantly.

"What do you want?" Severus said stiffly.

"I've come to check on Harry," Dumbledore said. "I've just been to see Draco."

"No need to pretend you suddenly care," Severus snapped.

"Severus," Dumbledore chided with a frown. "I do care."

"After the fact," Severus said. "Not enough to prevent this from happening in the first place."

Dumbledore just gazed at him, almost disapprovingly, and Severus sighed. He stepped aside and gestured to the respective door.

"I ask you do not wake him," Severus said tightly. "He needs to rest to heal."

Dumbledore inclined his head and Severus watched him cross to the boys' room, disappearing inside. Severus rubbed his brow, feeling all his tension skyrocket again. He moved slowly back to the sitting room, waiting for the headmaster to re-emerge from the room. It made him uncomfortable letting Dumbledore be alone with Harry, but he knew he could only deny the headmaster so much. The man's threats of taking the boys away still echoed in his mind, and he knew Dumbledore had the ability to end the guardianship and follow through on his threats. He had his hands on the back of the wingback chair and his head bowed when the door opened and Dumbledore walked out.

"He seems well considering," Dumbledore said and Severus pinned him with a hard stare.

"You will remove Umbridge from this school," Severus said.

"Severus, I cannot-"

"No. No, you can and you will," Severus said. "I don't give a damn about Fudge. You need to get rid of her."

"And what of Defence?" Dumbledore asked. "We cannot be without a core course halfway through the school year."

"Cancel it for these last three weeks before break and then find someone else. She cannot stay here. She torturedhim," Severus said. "It is a simple solution for a simple ask."

Dumbledore stared at him for a long while and Severus was sure he saw more refusal coming. He glared.

"If you don't get rid of her, I will," Severus threatened.

"You could be discovered," Dumbledore said.

"And I told you I am not your spy any longer," Severus said. "If being discovered is what it takes to keep them safe, so be it."

"Of course," Dumbledore said, inclining his head again. "Have a good night, Severus."

Severus watched the headmaster leave, well aware that no promise had been made to remove Umbridge from Hogwarts. He shook his head and moved to sit back on the sofa, propping an elbow on the arm and pinching the bridge of his nose. He had to do something, had to make sure Harry and Draco wouldn't be attacked again. Umbridge he could take care of with Leif's help; the Death Eater children, however...

"Professor?"

Severus turned to look over the back of the sofa at the quiet voice, finding Harry standing shakily in the bedroom doorway.

"Harry, you shouldn't be out of bed," Severus said even as the boy shuffled over to stand behind the sofa, leaning on its back. "Did you need something?"

"Don't get rid of her," Harry said and Severus frowned.

"What?"

"Umbridge," Harry said. "Don't get rid of her."

"Harry, look at what she did to you," Severus said. "She cannot be allowed to get away with it or to try again."

"But, if you're discovered, you'll be killed," Harry said. "Where are we supposed to go then?"

Severus' face softened and he gestured for Harry to sit. The boy did, pulling his legs to his chest with small issue due to his soreness and stiffness, and Severus put a hand on the child's knee.

"I told you that you and Draco will be taken care of if anything were to happen to me. Trust me on that," Severus said and Harry gave a small nod though he could still see the uncertainty in the green eyes. "As for Umbridge, I will allow her access to you no longer. I have ways to deal with her that will not lead to my discovery."

Harry met his eyes for a long moment before nodding again, following it up with a yawn.

"You should be in bed," Severus said again, brushing back Harry's messy bangs as the boy blinked tiredly.

"Can I stay here?" Harry asked. "Just for a little bit?"

Recognizing the subtle request for comfort and company in the wake of trauma, Severus gave him a gentle smile. He silently summoned the pillow and blanket from Harry's bed-vaguely recognizing that, apparently, not only did the boys have a room, but also their own beds at this point-and handed the blanket to Harry while putting the pillow in his lap.

"Lay down," Severus said quietly.

Harry tried not to let his surprise show, but Severus still spotted it. Knowing the child had never gotten anything he asked for, especially not comfort, in his childhood made his heart ache. 

"Are...are you sure?" Harry asked hesitantly.

"You need to rest, child," Severus said, keeping to himself how he also wanted the child nearby, especially while he couldn't have both of them. 

After a few more seconds of hesitation, Harry slowly laid down, arranging himself until he was stretched across the sofa and comfortable. Severus helped drape the blanket over him and began rhythmically carding his fingers through the dark hair, a part of him momentarily awed that they'd gotten to this point.

"Professor?" Harry said after several silent minutes. Severus hummed his acknowledgement. "Can we go back to Prince Manor for Christmas?"

Severus looked down at the child, finding the green eyes closed and the body relaxing despite the residual tremours and smiled lightly. "You wish to go back?"

Harry nodded into the pillow. "I miss it. So does Draco. It feels like home."

He wasn't sure Harry was completely aware of what he was saying, clearly halfway asleep. Heart beating hard with emotion he had yet to fully identify, Severus nodded even though Harry's eyes were closed and didn't see the gesture.

"We can go back," he said quietly and thickly, and watched Harry drift off to sleep.

As the Hospital Wing doors closed behind them, Severus guided Harry over to Draco's bed with a gentle hand on the boy's back. He gave a small smile as Harry carefully sat on the side of the bed, immediately falling into a quiet conversation with Draco. He swore the two became more like family-more like brothers-every day rather than just friends. He smiled again as the two boys laughed together despite Draco's obvious exhaustion and residual pain that even the Pain Relievers couldn't fully ease, and walked over to join Alexei who was at the potions cabinet at the end of the infirmary. 

"Poppy is allowing you to handle the potions?" Severus said, raising an eyebrow.

"Just Draco's," Alexei said. "He hasn't let her near him while he's been awake."

Severus looked over his shoulder at his Slytherin, spotting the bandages, the tremours, and the still-healing injuries. He sighed.

"How is he?" he asked.

Alexei closed the cabinet doors and turned to lean against it, crossing his arms over his chest as they both gazed at the teenagers.

"He'll be okay. No lasting physical damage except something appears to be blocking his magic slightly."

Severus frowned at the vampire. "How is that possible?"

"Draco said one of them had a kind of crystal that stopped him from using his Aether Magic," Alexei said. "It could be lingering effects. It sounds like something from the Department of Mysteries, but I need to talk to Leif to know for sure."

"You haven't seen or spoken to him?" Severus said, puzzled and surprised.

Alexei shook his head. "He's not home, he's not answering his mirror, and I can't get into the Archives."

Severus' frown deepened. "It's been almost three days."

Alexei's face tightened. "I know, but he said he'd be back when he dealt with whatever was going on. It's probably been more complicated than he expected."

"Except we know Lucius has been waiting to attack," Severus said, glancing at Harry and Draco to ensure the boys weren't overhearing. He didn't want them worrying about Leif while they were still healing.

"I know, but I have to believe that hasn't happened," Alexei said. "Leif is strong."

"And Lucius is mad," Severus said, releasing a stressed sigh as he became concerned about his other friend. 

"Let me worry about Leif," Alexei said. "You need to focus on them."

They looked at the boys again, watching them quietly converse, completely at ease and content with each other. It had bene quite the challenge for Severus to keep Harry away from the infirmary for the last two days. The Gryffindor had so desperately wanted to see Draco, to confirm his friend was alright and even provide his magic to help despite Severus telling him he needed to recover himself still.

"I need Leif to keep them safe from this happening again," Severus said.

"How so?" Alexei asked.

Severus turned to a nearby bed with its curtains drawn and pulled one back, revealing an unconscious Umbridge. "Dumbledore won't have her removed, so I will, but I need Leif. He knows Kingsley Shacklebolt better than I do and Kingsley can help get her removed."

"And the Slytherins?" Alexei asked. "Some are gone, but..."

"Which ones?"

"Theodore Nott, Ivan MacNair, William Avery, and Pansy Parkinson," Alexei said. "They could easily return, though, and many still remain that threaten him. He cannot return to that common room."

Severus nodded. "I know. I'd already intended to move him into my rooms."

"And Voldemort when he learns you've moved the traitors into your rooms?" Alexei said. "You're no good to them, to us, dead."

"I will come up with something," Severus said, "but he cannot stay there. They won't leave him alive next time."

"I don't think next time is going to be just an attack, not based on what Draco told me they said to him," Alexei said. "I think they plan on trying to take Draco at Christmas."

Severus massaged his furrowed brow. "I can't keep him locked away. He'll despise me and it'll only encourage sneaking around."

"So, we don't let him go anywhere alone," Alexei said.

Severus sighed and nodded. "He'll still hate it and we need Leif." He turned back to Umbridge. "Until he's back, she needs to stay like this. How are you keeping her unconscious?"

Alexei gave him an odd look. "I'm not. There is magic over her, keeping her comatose."

"Will it hold?" Severus asked.

"Yes," Alexei said. "Severus, you don't understand. It's your-"

"Professor?"

They closed the curtains around Umbridge and turned to the boys. Draco looked completely exhausted, but clearly wanted to stay awake and spend time with Harry. Even Harry was looking worn and in need of rest, but was clearly trying to hide it so he could stay with Draco longer. Severus couldn't help but think it again: they were far more like brothers than friends. He began to walk over to them, but stopped briefly and turned back to Alexei.

"Keep her like this," Severus said, pointing at Umbridge, "and find Leif."

Alexei just nodded at him and he continued over to the boys.

Harry rubbed his chest with a wince at the strange, fuzzy-like ache that had been there since the day he woke up. It had been three days since he and Draco were attacked and, while Draco would be unable to leave the infirmary until the end of the week, Snape had sent Harry away to return to classes. He'd protested, not wanting to leave Draco alone, but the professor had been adamant. So, despite wanting to stay with Draco, Harry had allowed himself to be guided to the Great Hall by Alexei and was now heading to Gryffindor table while glaring at the remaining Death Eater kids that had attacked Draco and were smirking at him.

"Harry!"

He looked away from the Slytherins and joined Ron and Hermione. He slid into the table with them and they immediately leaned in close to him.

"Where have you been?" Hermione whispered.

"I was in the Hospital Wing," Harry said. "Umbridge found out about my magic and attacked me on Friday."

"Bloody hell, mate!" Ron said. "We knew Malfoy had been attacked, but you too?"

"How did you know about Draco?" Harry asked.

"Heard the Slytherins bragging about ‘giving him an early Christmas gift' and Zabini also mentioned it yesterday," Ron said.

"Plus, we saw Malfoy in the infirmary which is how we know you're lying," Hermione said. "You weren't there all weekend."

Harry sighed. "Okay, I wasn't, I was somewhere else. Draco and I couldn't be in the same room for a while. His magic was trying to heal him and was draining my magic because of how badly he was hurt."

"So, where were you?" Hermione said. "And don't say with your trainers. We saw Mr. Romanov in the infirmary with Malfoy and Mr. Marcus hasn't been here in days."

Harry frowned slightly at the mention of Leif not being around, a part of him wondering, not for the first time, where the immortal was. What could be happening that would have kept Leif from him and Draco in the wake of their attacks? It wasn't like Leif.

"I was with someone that helped," Harry said vaguely.

"What aren't you telling us?" Hermione said, her eyes narrowing.

"Yeah, mate, just tell us who you were with," Ron said.

"I can't," Harry said, already annoyed that he was about to have this argument yet again.

"Why not?" Ron said, almost demandingly.

"I thought you were done keeping secrets from us," Hermione said, sounding angry.

Harry scowled slightly. "And I thought you were done prying."

"Harry, you were attacked by a teacher and then disappeared all weekend," Hermione said. "We're worried."

"You don't have to be," Harry said. "He helped me."

"He?" Hermione said. "Harry, tell us what's going on."

"I can't," Harry said again.

"You can tell us anything," Hermione said.

Harry shook his head. "If anyone knows, he'll be in danger."

"Why?" Ron asked.

Harry rubbed his chest again as the ache increased slightly, feeling his magic swirling almost aggressively inside. 

"Harry-" Hermione started.

"Just leave it alone," Harry said, getting frustrated.

"No, tell us who it is," Ron said, also beginning to sound angry.

"If they're helping you, we should be able to know who they are," Hermione said.

Harry shook his head, just wanting them to stop.

"Harry-" Hermione said again.

"It's Snape, okay?" he finally snapped only to freeze as he realized just what he'd revealed. He hadn't meant to say anything, knowing the danger it could put Snape in and knowing the reaction he'd get, but he couldn't take their pushing. He needed them to stop, to understand.

"You're joking, right?" Ron said and Harry just looked at him. "Snape? Are you mad?"

"You don't understand," Harry said.

"Harry, you need to tell us what's going on. Snape is dangerous," Hermione said. "You can't possibly trust him."

"Well, I do, okay?"

"Why? How?" Ron said. 

"Because he saved my life!" Harry said loudly, drawing some eyes.

"What are you talking about?" Ron said, frowning.

"This summer, that safe house Draco and I were at," Harry said. "It was Snape's house. He's the one that healed me after my uncle almost killed me and helped discover my magic and took care of me."

"Harry..." Hermione said.

"Took care of you?" Ron repeated. "There's no way! Man's a sadist that hates you."

"Not anymore," Harry said. "He's helped me, helped Draco. He's taken care of both of us. He cares about us. He's...he's my guardian."

"Harry, is he coercing you somehow?" Hermione said. "This isn't normal."

"This is bloody insane!" Ron said.

"He's not doing anything to me," Harry said. "He's the only person to care."

"What about Sirius?" Ron said. "I doubt he'd approve of this."

Harry paused at the mention of Sirius, feeling a pit in his stomach. Sirius was his godfather, had asked Harry to come with him when they first met back in third year, was the one Harry had been waiting to be with since then, yet he'd readily accepted the guardianship of Snape, a man he'd hated until just a few months earlier. Was he betraying Sirius somehow? Or even his parents?

"Hey, Potter."

Their conversation was interrupted by the Slytherins that had attacked Draco coming up behind Harry. He tensed and glowered at them.

"Haven't seen Marcus for a few days," Perrot said.

"He had to go to the Ministry the other day, didn't he?" Hestia said and Harry's eyes narrowed.

"You know, Lucius has been waiting for a chance to...chat with Marcus," Flora said. "Maybe he got it."

Sneering and smirking, the Slytherins walked away and Harry watched them go, his stomach twisting at the veiled threat against Leif. Once again, he couldn't help but worry, becoming more and more desperate to know just where Leif was.