Authors note: If anyone would like to leave a review that would be great. Even if your just telling me how much you hate it or how much it sucks I would still like to know! I do hope you enjoy though a lot of blood, sweat and tears went into this story! :)

As Harry started to regain consciousness he tried to piece together what had happened before he had fallen asleep. All Harry could remember was feeling scared, then warm and then comfortable. Not exactly what had happened, it was all a blur. Although he did remember, the smell of cinnamon and spices close to him. Odd, he never remembered smelling those exact scents together before...except in potions when his potions master was hovering over him. Could he have been in potions class? He was always scared when Snape stood behind him looking over his shoulder, but then why did he vaguely remember the great hall...and Umbridge?

As he feigned sleep, if he was asleep no one could bother him, he tried to figure out what had happened. Slowly, but surly it all came back. The great hall, the book, Umbridge, running fast as he could, and then someone holding him. Who was it holding him, who was it that spoke those words that he could vaguely recall...that he was safe...that no one could hurt him here... That voice sounded so familiar, but it was so much softer then he had ever heard it before...it couldn't be...it just couldn't be Snape...

Snape being nice to him, he almost laughed outright, yeah right the overgrown bat of the dungeons being nice to "The Golden Boy". Ron and Hermione would get a big kick out of that one, if they were still talking to him after all that had happened yesterday. He was outed, everyone knew he was a freak now. Would they send him back? That voice last night told him he would never go back, but could he believe it? No, how could it be true. He was a freak who deserved no better.

Now that he knew that he was going back to the Dursleys, after all who would want him here now? All he had to figure out was why he was in a comfortable bed and why did he barley hurt from his last beating? Could it be that someone had healed him? Not possible, why would anyone heal a dirty freak? Unless they wanted him untouched so they could beat him up again. Uncle Vernon liked to do that sometimes, let him heal for a few days and then renew the hurt.

Severus saw when Harry woke, it was easy to tell. His eyes began to move rapidly and his breathing began to get shorter and shorter. He presumed that Harry was trying to sort out everything that had happened the day before and where he was so he let him be for a few moments. When he felt that Harry might be working himself into a panic attack thought, he gently moved his chair right next to the edge of the bed and started to talk slowly and softly trying to calm the child. He knew that his touch would likely frighten the child so before he gently placed Harry's glasses on his face he told him what he was about to do.

Harry looked up at him and recoiled back into the bed getting as far away from his hated Potions Professor as he could.

"Harry, I will not hurt you in any way. I will not allow anyone else to hurt you." gently soothed Severus "you are safe here in my rooms and you will never go back to your relatives again"

When Harry didn't reply he pulled a pain relief potion from his pocket and asked if he was in any pain at all. Harry shook his head no, but it was obvious that his back still pained him. Sighing Severus realized that Harry had probably been taught to hide injuries for so long and that he was not going to be forthcoming to any hurt he had or what he was feeling.

"It is ok Harry to feel pain, you can tell me if you hurt I will not hold it against you. I want to help you. Please let me help you and tell me what hurts."

Seeing his strong, proud Potions Professor plead to let him help hit hard. Snape wanted to help him? He really didn't want to mock him and make fun of him? That was a first, wasn't he always comparing him to his father? Nothing was making sense any more. Why was he being nice to a freak? Maybe he wanted to trick him, Uncle Vernon had done that once. Inviting him on the couch and then giving him a beating so that he "would learn his place". Would his Professor do that too?

The temptation of reliving a little pain was too great though and he figured he had nothing much to lose,, he has had worse after all, he finally nodded his head and whispered "my back hurts sir".

Severus passed Harry the pain relief potion and sat on the edge of the bed hoping that Harry would start to relax at least a little.

After Harry gulped down the nasty potion, Severus gently placed his hand on Harry's not pulling back when he felt the flinch and gently told him "I know everything your Uncle has done to you, no don't panic only I know the extent of the damage. I had to tell Madam Pomfrey and the Headmaster most of what was done to you, but they do not know how he violated you. That is something that must be told to others when you are ready. No one else knows anything after we left the hall Professor Dumbledore took the books and locked them up somewhere safe and apparently your head of house had to be held back from giving Umbridge a black eye."

Seeing a slight smile from Harry at the mention of Minerva's actions Severus continued "People care about you Harry and you're going to need their help through this. You can come to me or any of the teachers to talk about anything. It would help you to talk, to get things off your chest. Let us help you Harry, you no longer have to hide."

During Severus's mini speech Harry's head ascended downwards so he could study the quilt that was placed on him. When Severus saw Harry looking down he took his hand off Harry's and carefully placed it on Harry's chin gently forcing Harry to look into his eyes.

"Harry can you try to talk to someone about what has happened?"

With tears in his eyes and choking down a sob Harry whispered "who would care what a freak like me has had to deal with? I'm only a burden who has to be taught his place" Getting slightly louder he asked "why do you care sir, you hate me." and then he broke down in tears and heaving deep sobs.

Seeing Harry break down like that broke Severus's heart. Contrary to popular belief Severus did not have a black, unfeeling heart, he had always cared deeply for his students and to see one that was in such pain devastated him. Carefully removing his hand from Harry's cheek he gently pulled Harry around so that he was cradling the fifteen year old in his lap with Harry's head buried deep into Severus's shoulder.

Ensured that the boy was comfortable on his lap he started speaking softly to Harry trying to calm him down. "It's ok Harry, I'm here and I do not hate you. I never have. I was a foolish man for thinking you were just like your father. I never really saw you, but James and for that I am truly sorry. If I could take back these last four years I would. I fear your mother if here would be throwing so many curses at me that I wouldn't know up from down."

Severus could tell that even through all the tears that were falling Harry was listening so he continued. "As for you being a freak that is far from the truth. You are no more a freak then, I am and I assure you I am no freak. So I will hear no more of that from you alright? I want you to forget everything your horrible relative have told you. They are all lies. You are no burden in my eyes or anyone else's here. Just to attest that since some of the less atrocious facts came to light during the reading of those books half the teachers here have gone to Albus demanding custody of you. You are much loved Harry. Even I have asked for custody."

That last part was spoken so softly that Harry had to strain his ears to hear it. His head was spinning. Snape didn't hate him? Never did, thought he was his father? Don't listen to his relatives? Not a freak? Not a burden? He was so confused. He wanted desperately to believe the soothing voice from above, the one who was holding him like a child. Snape was holding him like a child...and rubbing his back...trying to calm him?

Harry was conflicted. His whole life he was told that he was a freak, a no good burden and just not normal, but now he was being told that people cared and he was no burden. Should he listen to Professor Snape when he said that he cared and that he was never going back or should he be preparing to be sent back to Pivot Drive?

So finally the question he really wanted to ask came out between sobs "If I don't go back to the Dursleys then where do I go during the summer?"

In a gentle and reassuring tone his Professor said, "There are many people who want to take care of you Harry, myself included. You can choose though if you wish to stay with someone or not. Whoever it is though they have to be in the order though and cannot be Remus because of his condition. Everyone in the order is very fond of you, but I fear that they may not understand what you are going through right now as none of them have gone through the same experience. I have though and I will help you as much as I possibly can even if you do not choose me for a guardian."

To say the least Harry was shocked. Here, he was curled up in Snape's arms, who he thought hated him for the last four years, ready to say yes to his offer of taking over his guardianship. Was he under the influence of some kind of potion? No, that nasty concoction earlier was definitely a pain potion. So why did he want to say yes so badly?

Severus knew that that particular question was going to come out of the boy sooner or later. He had been musing on how to answer that question ever since he had asked Albus for the papers. With a sigh he finally answered Harry's question and gave him his options. He really hoped that Harry would choose him, but he was scared that he would not considering how he had treated him these last four years. He would never admit it, but Severus was growing quite fond of the boy in his lap over the last few hours and he desperately wanted to get him through the tough roads ahead.

When Severus saw that Harry was calming down and his sobs were subsiding he decided that it was time to address the issue of Harry getting some food in him.

Gently he ran his fingers through Harry's hair and asked "Harry, do you think you could manage some soup and pumpkin juice? It would be good if you did, you have to put on at least twenty pounds to be a healthy weight."

Harry hesitated, but then weakly nodded worn out from his tremendous cry. Surprisingly he was hungry, he had not really eaten much since his arrival here. He didn't really have an appetite, being starved all summer did that to you. It was back though and he hoped it was to stay.

Severus laid Harry back down onto the pillows in a sitting position and then retrieved the soup and told Harry to eat as much as he could and if he wanted more there was plenty.

When Harry was finished he only managed half the bowl and only a bit of the pumpkin juice. Looking down he mumbled: "I'm sorry Sir I can't eat any more"

Severus sighed "It's ok Harry. There is no need to be sorry, let me get a nutrition potion though to help your appetite grow. Is that ok?"

Harry nodded and Severus got up taking the tray. He took the pumpkin juice from the tray and set it beside the bed for Harry to drink when he wanted and went to go get the potion he had promised.

Severus smirked when he got back with the potion, it seemed that Harry was fighting sleep and was losing the battle. Moving to the bed he placed a hand on Harry's cheek and helped him drink the nasty potion. Then, he gently lowered Harry down onto his back in the bed and whispered "Sleep well Harry, I'll always be here for you."

When Severus was tucking the blankets around him Harry sleepily asked his Professor "Will you...be...my..."

Even though Harry trailed off Severus knew what he was asking him in his sleepy haze. He smiled and softly said, "yes Harry, I will always be here."