Chapter one

Harry Potter was exhausted, he was in pain, and he felt sick. He was relieved that Voldemort was dead, along with a lot of his supporters, but he couldn't feel happy. He walked slowly outside onto the ground of Hogwarts and looked around at all the damage. Then for some reason he couldn't understand, he made his way under the whomping willow, and through the tunnel until he stepped into the shrieking shake. Harry stared down at Severus Snape, then he noticed some things that were not there when he left, potion bottles. Harry stared down at them and couldn't work out where they came from, but he decided it wasn't important. Finally he knelt down next to Severus Snape and stared at his pale face.

'H…help…me,' Severus croaked as his slowly opened his eyes, 'H…h…help.'

'Blimey, I thought you died. I need to go get Madame Pomfrey.'

'N…no, you…help, please.'

'How, I can't heal, I can't even lift you.'

'Just…s…stay, give…give,' Severus hand dropped to the floor, 'P…pocket.'

Harry nodded then put his hand inside Snape's robes and found more potion bottles. He held each one up to Snape so he could nod or shake his head, then gave him the potions.

'There is an old bed in the other room, I could float you in there if you want me too?'

'S…soon, need…to…heal.' Snape's fists clenched as he grimaced.

Harry saw how much pain Snape was in and how he kept clenching his fists, so even though he still didn't know how he felt about this man, Harry took his hand and let him squeeze it. He wasn't sure how long they sat on the floor together, but Harry figured he was over an hour at least, maybe two.

'Can…you help…me up?' Snape's croaky voice asked.

'Okay, I'll try not to hurt you,' Harry stood, then put his hand under his professor's arm and using the last of his strength, lifted him to his feet. He then let Snape lean on him while they walked slowly out of that room and into the other room where Harry helped Snape down on the bed, 'I really should get Madame Pomfrey to look at you.'

'Soon, for…now, I'll survive, just need…to rest,' Snape panted, 'Tell me, what's going…on out…there?'

'Well Voldemort is dead, that's the big news,' Harry saw the surprise on Snape's weak face, 'After you gave me that memory, I never intended to watch it, I went to speak with Dumbledore's portrait, but they were all empty. I had no idea what to do next, so I decided to watch the memory, I was clutching at anything that might help.'

'So…you know, but how did…you survive?'

'Not really sure about that. But I let him kill me, seems even then it didn't work. But that got destroyed, the one inside me. I pretended to be dead so he wouldn't know I was alive, then Neville killed the snake for me, she was the last one. Fighting started again, I finally let him know I was alive, we talked, then I killed him. All this could have been for nothing if I didn't watch your memory. Dumbledore might have been powerful, but that just pissed me off, he should have told me before he died.'

'Yes…he should have and…I did tell…him that a…few times. But now, what about…Bellatrix and the others?'

'Most are dead, Bellatrix got killed by Mrs. Weasley. Fred had just died, Ginny almost died and she just told everyone to stay back. The Malfoy's are all alive and under guard at the moment, some ran when they were outnumbered,' Harry sighed wearily then sat on the floor against the wall, 'A lot of luck won this fight,' Harry put his head down on his knees.

'You look tired.'

Harry lifted his head, 'Yeah, I am, been awake for, well, I'm not sure how long.'

'You're injured as well, lots of blood on you.'

Harry looked down at all the blood and dirt, 'Yeah, he decided to have some fun when he thought I was dead,' Harry opened his shirt at where the blood was worse, 'I need to get this fixed, probably will scar like my other one, but at least it won't get stared at,' Harry sighed again then closed his shirt, then looked at Snape, 'Why didn't you stop the students getting hurt?'

'Tried, but if I didn't let some of those punishments go, they would have been suspicious, then the Carrow's could have killed them. I saw you follow my patronus, did you get the sword? I couldn't stay to watch, I had to get back.'

'Yeah, almost died doing it. When I got close to it, the blasted horcrux around my neck tried to choke me. I only survived thanks to Ron pulling me out. Why did you have to leave it under water, I'm not a good swimmer and it was freezing. Was it just more punishment because I look like my father?'

'Only a worthy Gryffindor can get the sword, you had to earn it.'

'You still could have stuck it up a tree or something, but…' Harry hesitated, 'thanks.'

'You're welcome.'

Harry stared at Snape, 'I don't think I've ever heard you say that or sound like that before. Was it all part of this act you've been putting on for years?'

'Most was an act, not all of it. I still think you're arrogant, like your father.'

'Oh cut the shit Snape, I won't take that anymore, I don't need to. Too much has happened for me to take any of your snide remarks anymore,' Harry pushed himself to his feet, then groaned loudly, he held onto the wall.

'You don't look too good?'

'I feel like shit,' Harry felt dizzy and went to sit down again, but ended up collapsed unconscious onto the floor.

Snape slowly pushed himself up, then knelt at Harry. He wasn't a healer, but he could tell Potter had a lot of injures and he had lost a lot of blood. So he pulled a potion out of his pocket, poured it into Potter's mouth, then stared down at him, wondering what he should do. Help him, for Lily, or let the people at the school know he was here. Snape knew he needed a bit longer to heal before trying to lift Potter, so he sat down and just watched him. He thought since he needed time, he would decide then.

Up at the castle, Hermione and Ron were looking for Harry. They searched everywhere and found no sign of him. They raced into the damaged great hall because they knew some of the order had found death eaters hiding, waiting so they could escape. They didn't know if one of them might have got hold of Harry.

'Kingsley,' Ron said panting heavily.

'What's wrong?'

'We can't find Harry anywhere, we were told he was seen heading outside, that was hours ago. We've looked everywhere, no sign of him. What if someone took him, he was injured and tired, he might not have been able to fight.'

'Let me organise people to search, stay here so I can find you,' Kingsley walked away and started talking to different people.

Arthur hurried to his son, 'Ron, what is it?'

'We can't find Harry, no one has seen him for over an hour. Kingsley's organising a search.'

'Let me get the boys,' Arthur headed back down to his family, 'Bill, Charlie, Percy, George, Harry's missing, Kingsley's organising to search, we could use the help.'

'I'll help,' Ginny said looking worried.

'I'll help too Arthur, I can do more looking than sitting here.'

'If you want Molly, Ginny, go down to Ron, I'll see Minerva,' Arthur hurried over to her, 'Minerva, we're going to help search for Harry. Could you put Fred somewhere until it's time to take him away?'

'I'll take care of it Arthur and the staff are going to help look for Harry as well. He must be here somewhere.'

'Let's hope he is.'

Ron and Hermione stood with their arms around each other watching everyone get organised into groups by Kingsley. They all went to different areas of Hogwarts, some inside, some outside and they started searching, but kept alert for any danger. Ron and Hermione were with their friends. Neville organising the DA the moment they heard Harry was missing.

Even though everyone was exhausted, they searched for hours and found no trace of Harry. No one knew what to do or where else to look. Kingsley did organise the order and the last couple of aurors that had survived to work on some plans in case Harry had been taken. Hagrid had told everyone that he'd seen Harry walking around the back of the castle, he was limping and moving slowly, like he was injured. But that search brought no sign of Harry Potter and even though no one voiced their concerned, they were worried, extremely worried that a death eater had taken him in his weakened state. Now they hoped they found him and more importantly, he was alive.

Even though Ron and Hermione were exhausted from no sleep over the last two days, they both refused to sleep, they kept searching for Harry, even leaving Hogwarts to search anywhere and everywhere. Finally tiredness won out and they both fell asleep on mats in the great hall. The rest of the Weasley's had gone home, but after some sleep, they boys did return to keep searching, but like before, they never found a sign of Harry Potter.

Harry Potter woke slowly and looked around, but without his glasses, everything was blurred and out of focus. He groaned as he tried to reach beside him to find his glasses, when they were placed in his hand. He put them on and stared up at Severus Snape.

'Where am I?'

'My home, you passed out, that was three days ago. I've been giving you potions to help heal all your injuries.'

'Thanks, but I still feel like shit.'

'You have a lot of healing to do, so stay still. Are you hungry? I can bring you in something to eat, but you are not to move from that bed.'

'I need the bathroom Snape, give me a break.'

'Then I will assist you, if you try to walk yourself, you'll probably fall on your arse again,' Snape moved the blankets off Harry, then held his hand out to him.

'Blimey, where are my clothes?' Harry tugged the blankets back over his naked body.

'I removed them to heal you Potter, stop complaining. Now you said something about the bathroom.'

'I need some clothes Snape.'

'Fine, I will get you one of my robes for now. You cannot put those disgusting things back on,' Snape whirled around and left the room but was back within a minute, 'Now I will have to help put this on you and since I have already see your naked body Potter, you will have to let me see it again.'

Harry growled softly under his breath, then threw the blankets off and let Snape put the robe on him which was of course, way too big. Then Snape moved his wand over the robes, shrinking them.

'Thanks,' Harry said grudgingly, then let the grumpy old teacher help him up and into the bathroom, 'You can leave me so I can go about my business.'

'If I leave you, I'll find you on the floor. I will turn my head, just please do what you have to.'

'Fine,' Harry grumbled, then waited until Snape turned his head before taking hold of his member. But he sighed with relief when he finished. Then hands helped him over to the sink where he washed his own hands and was instantly placed back on the bed, 'Why didn't you take me to Madame Pomfrey?'

'I was not ready to answer questions, or for them to know I am alive. You needed help, so I brought you here.'

'My friends are probably wondering where I am, especially Hermione and Ron, not to mention the Weasley's.'

'They probably think you've gone off on your own, on another little adventure, more excitement, that's your style Potter.'

'Oh fuck off Snape,' Harry growled, 'You know perfectly well that is not me. So either stop with the snarly comments or take me back to Hogwarts?'

'You cannot move yet, you've already started bleeding again just from that small trip to the bathroom. So here, take the potion and I'll get you some food, and never swear at me again.'

Harry smirked up at him as he took the potion, 'And what will you say if I do fucking swear Snape, whip me, hit me, throw some more snide comments my way, become your obnoxious self?' Harry glared until Snape left him alone, 'Git,' he grumbled then felt the aches and pain all over his body, so he got himself more comfortable until he saw Snape walk back in with a tray. He never said anything, just placed the tray on the bed beside him, then left the room. Harry looked down at the tray and even though he really didn't want to eat something Snape made, he was starving, so he had no choice.