Author's Note: I have had several requests to write about Harry's two weeks with Severus during the Christmas break. While this had not been intended as an outtake to Potion's Protégé, I find myself interested in the challenge.

This takes place roughly 14 months post war. Harry is going through a hard time, trying to deal with his final year and also trying o come to grips with the losses suffered during the final battle. Everything comes to a head on the last day of the winter term when Harry makes the mistake of going off on Severus. What follows is two of the hardest weeks Harry has ever endured as Severus takes him in hand and turns him back into the Harry Potter that everyone once knew.

Content warning for language.

Chapter 1

Hitting Rock Bottom

Disclaimer: While I am borrowing many of the characters created by J.K. Rowling, all rights to those characters remain solely with her. I am neither receiving nor soliciting any monetary recompense for this story.

It was the day before the end of term and Harry made his way morosely into the Charms classroom. This was the last end-of-term exam for the term but Harry knew that even on Outstanding on this exam would not bring his term grade up to passing. The same thing had happened in both Transfiguration and Potions. In fact, the only classes he was going to pass this term were Defense Against the Dark Arts and Herbology, of all things.

45 minutes later, Harry walked back out of the classroom not really caring where he was going. He had been right. He had only been able to answer a few of the questions on the written exam, and those just from hearing the information over and over again in class. He had just barely squeaked through the practical but it still would do nothing for his term grade. Professor Flitwick had taken him aside after he turned in his written exam, the disappointed look on his face very clear, and asked Harry if he was sure he wanted to turn in the exam, maybe he wanted to work on it a little more? Harry had just shaken his head and walked out of the room, not bothering to acknowledge Hermione and Ron's concerned looks as he passed their desk.

An hour later, Hermione and Ron found Harry in the common room, moping in front of the fire as was his want these past weeks.

"Harry," Hermione said gently, as she sat across from her long-time friend. "What happened in Charms?"

"What do you think happened Hermione?" Harry snapped suddenly. "I failed the fucking exam. Why can't you leave me the fuck alone about all this? I told you before I wasn't going to pass the term and this exam certainly wasn't going to suddenly give me a passing grade," Harry barely registered the shocked and hurt look on Hermione's face, and Ron's equally upset expression, as he got up suddenly, shoving past the pair as he made his way out of the common room.

As Hermione and Ron watched Harry stomp out of the common room, and upset Hermione turned to Ron.

"Do you have any idea what is going on with Harry?" she asked, her face sad. "He's been like this ever since term started; angry, upset, snapping at everyone, not caring about classwork. He was the one that approached the ministry to let us return, yet, it seems this is the last place he wants to be."

Ron looked at Hermione, that sat next to her, drawing her into his arms. He kissed her forehead gently.

"I don't know. He spent some time at the Burrow this past summer when he finally got away from everyone asking him to recount the final fight. He was a little withdrawn even then but seemed OK. Mum was concerned because he wasn't eating, but then, Harry never ate much anyway. I think he just needs time to himself to get away from everyone constantly asking him questions or asking him for something. "

Hermione sighed as she snuggled in Ron's arms. "Maybe you're right," she said. "Maybe he just needs some space, but, I'm worried. He has never refused your invitation to the Burrow for Christmas so his refusal this year makes no sense."

Ron didn't say anything as he thought back to Harry's reaction to the invitation. He hadn't just refused the invitation; he had done so loudly, snarling at Ginny when she asked him. Apparently, Ginny had asked him a couple of times, in hopes of getting him to change his mind. The last time, however, Harry had snarled at Ginny to leave him the hell alone and to quit bugging him about it. Ginny had been in tears off and on the rest of the day, despite Ron and Hermione's best efforts to talk her out of them. Harry, apparently unaffected, had avoided the trio to the point they barely saw him other than in classes. Even then, he was withdrawn and sat alone. Ron was hoping it was simple stress and fatigue that had Harry all out of sorts, and that the end of the two week break would find him in a better frame of mind.

The morning of the last day of term dawned with cloudy skies and a cold, bitter wind. The Hogwart's train was scheduled to pull out of the Hogsmeade Station at 1, and everyone was hoping the threatening snow would hold off until evening. Still, there were a half day of classes to endure. The students that were not planning on staying at Hogwarts for the break were all packed; their trunks and assorted bags already on their way to the train station. For the first time in memory, the students were allowed to attend the final day of classes in their normal clothes, this for a quicker exit from the school in order to avoid the threatening weather.

They were following their normal Tuesday schedule, which meant that Harry, Ron and Hermione had double potions as their last class for the morning. Harry had shown up for Defense Against the Dark Arts and Herbology, but that was as far as his participation went. Professor Sprout had given them the next term's project information, and a long essay to complete over the break. Harry had gone ballistic.

"Why the fuck are you giving us homework over the break?" he had shouted at the stunned professor, before snatching his bag off the greenhouse floor. "Maybe you need a dictionary to understand the meaning of the word 'break'" he finished, before stomping angrily out of the greenhouse. Stunned silence followed him. Professor Sprout was the first to recover and quietly dismissed her students 15 minutes early after wishing them a good holiday.

Ron and Hermione had caught up with Harry and Hermione had laid into him about his attitude and general disrespect towards Professor Sprout, who had never been anything other than kind to Harry. Ginny, unfortunately, had come around the corner on her way to the greenhouses just as Harry exploded.

"Dammit Hermione will you get off of me?" Harry shouted. "I am sick to death of you, Ron and Ginny always on my back. It's the last day of term, we have a two week break finally and Sprout decides to give us an essay that is going to take hours to complete. We are almost guaranteed at least that much homework again from Snape as his idea of a break is only reading four references instead of the normal ten to complete his essays. This place is driving me mad and I don't need you three to add to it. At least with you three gone the next two weeks I might get a breather from your constant nagging. Just leave me the hell alone!" he yelled as he turned on his heel, making his way to the Potion's classroom. If Harry had looked back, he would have noticed the tears on the faces of Hermione and Ginny, and Ron's pale face and tight lipped disapproval.

Walking in to the Potion's classroom, Ron and Hermione took a table away from where Harry was sitting, not even acknowledging he was there and leaving him alone to brood. Looking up, Harry felt a lump form in his throat as Ron and Hermione passed him without speaking to him. He was cringing inside at what he had said to them and he wanted desperately to apologize. He made an effort to stand up and go over to them, but, Professor Snape walked in at that same moment and Harry lost his chance.

Potions hadn't gone well. The base they were required to brew was easy enough; a 6th year base and Harry should have been able to brew it easily. This time however, his emotions in a jumble and upset over his confrontation with Ron, Hermione and Ginny, he couldn't concentrate and inevitably, he missed a step, completely ruining the base. To top that off, Professor Snape, true to his teaching self, had given them an essay that Harry knew he had no hopes to actually complete given that he had more or less mentally slept through the entire term. Professor Snape had not been kind in his assessment of Harry's efforts, berating him roundly for failing an easy potion, the scathing words finally snapping what little control Harry still possessed. Not knowing quite why, Harry had swept the still full cauldron to the floor, splashing the ruined potion everywhere, barely avoiding hitting any of the other students. Silence had reined in the room while everyone held their breath, looking expectantly at Professor Snape and waiting for the explosion. Maybe not so much of a surprise to the class, Professor Snape had been too angry to actually explode. He had very visibly kept a hold of his temper and told Harry through tightly clenched teeth that since he was staying for the break, he could spend his first night in detention. Still feeling angry but allowing his teenage self-preservation instinct to kick in, Harry had not bothered to acknowledge the order, but had simply sat back down until class ended.

Now, Harry watched sadly as Ron, Hermione and Ginny left for Hogsmeade to board the train to go home for the Christmas break. He deeply regretted his outburst from that morning, and the fact that he hadn't apologized or tried to patch things over before they left. Now, it would hang over all four of them over the next two weeks until they were all back together for the new term. Harry didn't know what was wrong. He felt like he had back in 5th year when Voldemort had been growing stronger and had invaded Harry's dreams. Back then, he had been like a constantly burning short fuse; ready to blow at almost anything. He had been so angry, all the time. Despite the fact the war had effectively ended 14 months ago, the anger was back and Harry, for the life of him, couldn't understand why. He could tell that Ginny had been hurt when Harry refused her's and Ron's invitation to spend Christmas at the Burrow. He hadn't just refused either, no, he had yelled at Ginny and told her to just leave him the hell alone. The memory of the look on Ginny's face still cut him to the quick. He knew Ron had wanted to go off on him afterwards but he and Hermione had just given him the cold shoulder. Immediately after, Harry had told himself he didn't care what they thought but now…..

Turning around and wiping at a tear that had somehow found its way down his cheek, Harry wanted to make his way back to Gryffindor tower. The castle was all but deserted now, most of the students had gone and the few remaining students and a handful of staff were all that remained. Harry knew that no other Gryffindors had stayed behind so he had the tower literally to himself, to brood in for the next two weeks. Problem was, it was now just 15 minutes before the start of his detention and Harry had a feeling it wouldn't be a detention spent just writing lines or cleaning cauldrons. Somehow, the very fact that Snape had acted almost unSnapelike in not blowing a fuse, made it that much harder to actually walk to what Harry thought was to be his doom.

Wiping his suddenly sweaty palms on the side of his trousers, Harry knocked on the hard wooden door.

"Get in here Potter," Snape's muffled snarl came through the door.