DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE CHARACTERS ORIGINALLY CREATED BY J.K. ROWLING

ALL RIGHTS GO TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS AND I CAN ONLY OWN THE PLOT AND THE CHARACTERS MADE BY ME. NO MONETARY GAIN IS MADE OF THIS STORY AND IS NOT INTENDED TO!

Author's Note: Here it is the second chapter. Thank you all of you for reading.

I hope that I would point out right the title "us against the world" because every time we choose to defend someone, every time we choose a side it's us against the world.


2. How to save a life

"Yes Harry, the man who I am in love with is Severus Snape…"

Iris confessed with no fear in her heart. She felt delighted actually. Admission of our feeling towards the other people is such a great thing. Admission was relief for Iris too.

Harry Potter could not believe his ears. "Iris is in love with Snape? How can it be possible?" his mind was going crazy right now. Harry needed to ask Iris if he heard correctly.

"What did you said Iris?" his question came with great wonder.

"You heard what I said Harry, but right now is not the right moment to discuss that. I have to brew the potion for Severus. He has to take it immediately in case to be safe…in case to have hopes to survive" Iris eyes filled with tears as she was saying her last sentence.

Harry understood that. He realised that this moment Iris had one purpose in her mind. She wanted to save Severus. She needed to save a life... Harry realised that now that only thing he could do was to offer his help to Iris.

"Ok Iris, I understand you. Please tell me how I can help you?"

"If you really mean that I will need the ingredients for the potion. Here you can find all that I need for it." Iris said to him and with a movement of her hand, a piece of parchment appeared in Harry's hands.

"Harry one more thing. If you cannot recognise the ingredients, please use the Summoning Charm. We must lose no time."

Harry nodded positively to her and lest the room leaving Iris all alone with Severus.

Iris laid beside him and whispered to him:

"Do not worry my friend, my love. You will manage through this. I will give this fight for your life but I need you to fight back. I want you to survive Severus; I want you to defeat the poison, which flows in your veins." Teardrops where falling from her green eyes. Teardrops for the only family she ever had. Teardrops for the only man who, until now, had reached her heart.

Iris stopped thinking. A slow movement of Severus hand gave her hopes for his life again.

"Severus do you hear me? I will protect you. I will fight them all if it necessary. I will be against them all if I need to protect you if I need to defend the truth. I swear it! I have the power to do that. I would be me against the world for you… " Iris said sure for her feelings but most of all sure for his actions.

Iris had the chance to know the true Severus Snape. That was her true and she was determined to protect and restore Severus's reputation.

The door opened again and Harry entered once more into the room. Iris was lost deep inside of her thoughts.

"Is he doing any better?" asked Harry to bring her back to the reality while he was giving Iris the ingredients she had asked for.

Iris did not answer him. She took the ingredients in her hands and started brewing the potion for Severus. Before she made the last turn of the potion she took out from her robe a small box. She searched for a while and she finally pulled out another box. Iris took some oak leafs out of the box and then she placed it back to the original box.

"The undetectable extension charm! It is the first time I saw someone who had casted in such tiny area. A small box! Merlin!" Harry thought. That moment realised one more time the last days how powerful witch was Iris. Well she had the name, but the name is not always enough.

Iris was feeling her strength to abandon her. Only few turns had left when she lost her balance and almost fell down. Thankfully, Harry was there to hold her.

"Iris please stop. You are exhausted. Your colour is even paler than before. Please rest yourself for a while. " Harry advised her.

"No Harry, I won't! There are only few turns left. Only few turns to save a life Harry. I do not waste that life because I am exhausted."

Harry surrendered to Iris's argumentation. "Alright Iris. I understand…but please have a seat. I will bring you some water or pumpkin juice".

Iris sat down and finished the potion. Madame Pomfrey provided it to Severus Snape immediately.

A soft whisper came from his lips…

Iris had no more strength left. She collapsed next to Severus's bed she need it to rest but the only thing she could think was Severus.

If everything went well Severus should have many chances to survive and transfer to St. Mangus hospital for further medication. Iris was please by herself. The potion was excellent and Madame Pomfrey praised her too.

Harry was with her. Oliver Wood had left some minutes ago from Hogwart's. Iris sent him away. She could not talk to him; she had to save Severus's life not talking with Oliver. Severus was her family; she could do anything for him.

Harry helped her with Oliver. He walked out with him and he said that they would keep in touch. Harry said to Oliver to be patient, everything has it's time to happen. everything has its time and now was not the right time.

Harry returned to the hospital wing. He was thinking intensively all the things he had said with Iris and Oliver. He was thinking all the facts, which he knew, of Snape's life.

"Iris how are you feeling?"

"I'm fine Harry. As long as I can save him, I am fine. "

"Yes, Iris, I want to talk you about that…" Harry told her hesitatingly

Iris knew that was coming "You wonder how I can be in love with Severus Snape."

Harry was socked that was exactly his question.

"Yes. I wonder why you love him. How you fell in love with him"

Iris was annoyed by his first question. "Why I love him? Everyone in this world deserve to be loved Harry. Everyone! However, for you Harry it is easy to say that. You may lose your parents young but you have the love that your friends give you. This man never had a true friend…only once, he had your mother. I love this man. He is my friend, my only family..."

Iris looked Harry straight away to Harry's eyes.

"Do you know Harry how does it feel to love someone who does not even know that you have feelings for him? Have you ever loved somebody so much it makes you cry every single night?" tears were falling from her eyes.

Harry remained in silence.

"You are asking me why I fell in love with Severus. I do not know Harry. That happened gradually. Day after day, my feelings for him were deeper and deeper. I know his bright side Harry."

"The bright side of Severus Snape…" said Harry ironically.

"Oh yes! He has one trust me. He is severe but he has a nice side too. He gave his life to protect you. Severus was bittern to you because you are the proof that the woman he once loved preferred somebody else. I have nothing more to say. You were prejudiced against him so it would take time not to like him, but to see his points. To understand his actions better."

"He made my school life a hell..." finally Harry admitted.

"Well, you gave him the right to do it. You know that you were breaking the rules frequently so he punished you, as he would have done with any other student. Sometimes he was mean with the Gryffindors but you are his house main rival."

"You are not making me to like him Iris, if that is what you are trying to do" Harry said to Iris firmly.

"I have no intention to do that. I am not asking you to like him but to understand him. Understand his reasons. Harry, you two have the same stubbornness. " Iris said with a smile in her lips.

Harry should know anything more. Harry told her only what they had said with Oliver and then he left. Iris stayed to Severus's forehead without sleeping or eating anything for days. She wanted to be sure that he would be better day by day.

A week after the final battle they transferred to St. Mangus hospital. Iris now was fully healed but Snape still needed medication and protection.

Iris was more than willing to have Severus under her protection until he fully recover his wounds. She gladly accepted minister's suggestion about Snape's protection.

The Dark Lord maybe was gone but some of his followers were still out there. Revenge against Severus Snape would be probable and given the fact that the last three days he was in comma, his protection was obligatory.

Severus was in comma for a month. While he was in comma, Harry Potter and Iris restored his name to the wizarding world.

Oliver Wood had visited them twice and was writing almost everyday to Iris.

It was the start of Julie when Severus woke up. That was the brightest day in Iris life. Severus was better from day to day. Their bond had become bigger and deeper.

Severus spent the whole summer in the hospital. By the middle of September, he was healthy again. He could move with no pain, he could cast again his spells perfectly. He was the same person as before the Second War.

Well not exactly, the same person… Something inside him had changed…

Finally, the day he could leave the hospital was approaching…

Iris was the happiest people in the world.

She had saved his life. She had saved her life by admitting that she was in love with him.

Yes, admission of our feelings is the greatest thing we can do...


Author's Note: Tell me your thoughts.

In the next chapter, Severus returns home and we are going to see what he said to Iris that day. We just know a small part of them from the end of the previous story.