It had been two days since Snape had collected him from the Dursley's. So far, their time together had been almost unbearable. In large part, this was because Harry had yet to find relief from his pain. Granted, this was as much his fault as it was Snape's, but it was just easier to lay blame with the Greasy Git. It wasn't as if the prick had made a point of even trying to relieve him of his pain. Hell, the man barely spoke to him, never mind touching him. They weren't even in the same room together most of the time. Snape spent all his time in his laboratory in the basement, and Harry spent his days in the living room, studying. Snape only made a point of spending a couple hours in the same room with him in the afternoons. The only good so far was that Harry was almost assured of having his homework done, properly, well before the new term.

"Potter."

Harry started violently, almost upending his homework laid out on the dining room table. He turned to see an evil smirk on Snape's face, and had to turn away again when he realized the man was only wearing black sleep pants and nothing else. He cleared his throat and set about collecting the scrolls of parchment that had gone slightly askew across the table.

"What are you doing awake?" Snape growled, going to the refrigerator.

Harry shrugged as he heard the cooler door open behind him. "Homework. I couldn't sleep."

"Hm," Snape grunted.

Harry glanced back to see the man bent before the fridge. He withdrew with the milk carton in hand and went next to a cupboard for a glass.

"Nightmares?" Snape asked as he poured a glass of milk and replaced the carton in the cooler.

"No," Harry answered. Since when did Snape care this much about his well-being?

"The pain?" Snape tried again.

Harry frowned. "Yes, actually. But I'll get used to it."

There came the sound of a glass being set down in the empty sink, and then Snape was at his side. Fingers under Harry's chin forced his gaze up to meet black, and Snape's eyes flickered over his face.

"When was the last time you slept, Potter?"

Harry's frown deepened. "The school," He answered honestly.

Snape scowled. "You should have come to me."

"And said what?" Harry scoffed.

Snape released his hold on Harry's chin. "Never mind," He growled. "I am too tired to argue. Come."

Harry looked back up to argue, but when stubborn emeralds met even more stubborn onyx, his resolve crumbled. He was too tired to argue, too.

"Okay," He said mildly.

Homework forgotten, Harry stood and followed Snape out of the kitchen. Feeling incredibly awkward, he followed closely as Snape led him through the sitting room, and up the stairs hidden behind a bookcase. However, rather than take him to his own room, Snape led Harry further down the hall to the master. He gestured Harry inside without meeting his eye, and Harry went in cautiously. What the hell was Snape up to?

"You'll sleep here until we find some way of relieving your pain," Snape said coldly.

Harry gaped, rounding on the man. "You can't mean…you don't expect me to sleep here…with you?"

Snape curled his lip. "You have some better idea? Or would you prefer collapsing from exhaustion, along with all of the not-inconsiderable side effects?" He demanded. "I won't have your magic firing off at random, destroying my home. And I can guarantee it would after a few more days of no sleep."

Harry wanted to argue. He wanted to refuse and tell the man to go fuck himself. But he really was tired. And he knew his magic was already under a tenuous hold. Besides, what other options did he have? His pain was constant. Finally, he sighed.

"Fine," He bit out distastefully.

"You'll sleep on the right," Snape said. "And you'll keep to your side, or so help me I will expel you violently from my bed without a second's thought."

Harry, afraid of what snide comment might slip out if he opened his mouth, nodded reluctantly and moved to the side of the bed he'd been given. Snape followed and slid smoothly under the covers on his side. Harry clambered in on his side and immediately lay down with his back to Snape. The Potions Master grunted and pressed backward until their backs were touching. As it always was, Harry's relief was immediate. He was asleep even before Snape had turned off the lights.