Chapter 4

Authors Note: Okay could really use some thoughts on this chapter. Not sure how it turned out. Thoughts? Liked didn't like? No new chapter till I hear reviews!

Black nothingness. That's all Harry could remember. He knew there was something important he was missing, but he couldn't quite place what it was. The term out of body experience came to mind, but he sensed nothing beyond his consciousness. He knew he wasn't dead. So, an inner body experience? Perhaps that was it then. He was inside his own head. It was an interesting experience. He imagined this must be what it was like to be in space. Black, empty, open. Everything far beyond his reach. His thoughts had a certain fluidity to them. Almost like being underwater, in a slow, exaggerated way. Harry. Wait, what was that? Harry, can you hear me? He wanted to respond, but he had no lips to respond with. Right? He felt his muscles try to tighten, even though they were already taught. Okay, he had muscles. So he had to have lips too. But where were they? He felt a light touch on his shoulder. Immediately fear enveloped him like icy water. But he couldn't remember why he was afraid. Breathe Harry. Breath. He could do that. He took a deep breathe, chilly air filling his lungs in choppy bursts. Harry, open your eyes. Every muscle in Harry's body screamed for him to keep his eyes shut. He shuddered as another wave of fear coursed through his body. He tried to focus on something else. The voice. Yes! He had been listening to the voice. Whose voice was it? It was a deep voice. He knew that much. You can open your eyes now Mr. Potter. You're safe, I can assure you. He was in school than. And the voice he had been following belonged to none other than the professor who loathed him most. It all came crashing down on him then. He could remember everything now. And he wasn't sure that was a good thing.

Severus let out a sigh of relief when he saw Harry take a deep breath. Good. He thought.He's coming out of it then. Severus got up and started a pot of tea, pouring each of them a cup before taking his seat once more. He watched as Harry's breathing evened out, face occasionally relaxing and contorting into a look of confusion before returning to its taught, pained look. Figuring from the boy's previous reaction that his words were being heard, Severus continued to try and lead him back to consciousness.

"Harry, open your eyes." He frowned as a massive shudder racked its way through the boy's thin frame. Concluding that the phrasing he had used had been received as unpleasant in Harry's past, he decided to try a new tactic. He thought for a moment as the boy shuddered again. Perhaps something more familiar to this environment then. "You can open your eyes now Mr. Potter. You're safe now I can assure you." He watched as once again Harry's face contorted in thought, then tensed, and released the breath he had apparently been holding.

"Harry?" Harry glance up at him, eyes full of questions, before his features went blank. "Yes professor?" Instead of responding Severus offered him the cup of tea. Harry eyed it warily before accepting it, giving it a careful sniff as he did. They sat in silence for a while, Severus sipping his tea while Harry simply held his.

"Professor?" Harry looked up from his tea, receiving a nod to continue as he did. "What just happened? Was that Voldemort? In my head I mean?"

"No. That was not the Dark Lord. It would appear that you just had an anxiety attack. This has not happened before I take it?" Harry shook his head no. Severus nodded slowly, considering how best to proceed.

"Given the current circumstances, I believe it is best for you to stay in my personal quarters this evening. I keep a spare bedroom for situations like these, not to worry. In the morning we will address your injuries and further discuss how to proceed." As he spoke, Severus watched as Harry's face paled to the point that it looked almost translucent. Sweat began to bead on his brow, and the teacup in his hands shook ever so slightly in the boy's tight grip. "Do you have a problem with anything I have said?" Harry opened his mouth, closed it, opened it again, then apparently gave up on the notion and shook his head no with his eyes closed. Severus raised an eyebrow in clear disbelief of the boys answer. But Harry's eyes were still closed, his head pointed down. Severus Gently probed the boys mind. Not enough for him to notice, but just enough to know what was bothering him enough to threaten a second panic attack. Spare bedroom. Spare bedroom? Foolish. Severus admonished himself. Of course the boy would assume the far worst from being sent to spend the night in a spare bedroom. The boy probably believes you're going to treat him the same way his uncle and godfather did. Not that Severus could blame him. The boy had no reason to trust him, or anyone for that matter.

"Do you have a problem with anything I have said?" Harry knew Snape had noticed his reaction to the proposed overnight stay. Well it's not like I can refuse him. Harry opened his mouth to reply but he couldn't speak. He wanted so badly to tell his professor that he did have a problem with staying. That if he stayed he wouldn't sleep. But his throat had tightened. He tried again, only to end up closing his mouth and shaking his head no. Closing his eyes against the onslaught of images the conversation had brought on as he did so.

"Harry," Harry sighed and looked up. Snape's expression was soft, something Harry was not expecting. "Harry, you needn't do anything you do not wish to do." Snape's eyes seemed to be boring into Harry, similar to the way Dumbledore's twinkling ones did. "I-" Harry had no idea what to say. Snape looked at him a moment longer, then raised his wand, two silver does springing from it and galloping out of the room. Harry stared at the spot in the wall they had vanished through. Snape however, simply sipped his tea as if nothing had happened. Eventually Harry managed to tear his gaze from the wall and place it instead on his professor.

"What just happened?"

"As I recall, you sought lessons with one Remus Lupin on the subject of the patronus charm correct?" Confused Harry nodded his head. "Pity his teachings were incomplete. The charm can be used for more than just deflecting dementors. It is also a way of fast communication." They lapsed back into silence as Harry contemplated who the patronuses were headed to. He assumed they were going to Mcgonagal and Dumbledore, but then why would they be meeting here in Snape's office? Harry was always taken to the headmaster's office when his say was needed. Harry's thoughts were interrupted by a light knock on the door.

"Come in." Following Snape's command, in came the last two people Harry had expected to see. Still wearing their pajamas, Ron and Hermione crept into the office; shooting Harry worried glances as they did.

"Professor, what is this about?" Hermione said, her gaze darting quickly back and forth from Harry to Snape, and back again. Harry averted his eyes, unable to look either of his friends in the eye. He had been ready to leave them behind earlier. When they had been across the castle in Gryffindor tower. But having them here, in front of him, it was much harder to let go. Then it hit him why Snape would summon them. "No!" He said, his head snapping up to attempt a glare at his professor. He knew they could probably see the panic written on his face but he didn't care. He was not going to let this happen. Snape raised one dark eyebrow.

"I have yet to actually do anything, Mr. Potter."

"Harry, what's going on?"

"Yea mate, what's all this about?" Harry looked back and forth between his two best friends, mouth once again attempting wordless speech. He turned to Snape. "There is no problem professor. There is no reason for them to be here." Snape eyed him carefully, before turning to Ron and Hermione.

"The reason I have called you both down here, is because I need your assistance with young Mr. Potter here. However, the content of anything to do with your assistance is to be kept strictly between us, do you understand?" Still looking slightly worried, they both nodded. Snape explained his wishes for them to observe Harry while he slept, then gave them instructions to collect the things they (and Harry) would need for the night, and come back. Harry paled as Snape gave his instructions. They were surely to have questions in the morning. Questions he wasn't ready to answer. But he didn't have long to dwell on that. As soon as the door closed behind Ron, Snape sat back down next to Harry, causing an involuntary flinch as he did so.

"I know you think I'm betraying your privacy, but I assure you, I plan to keep them in the dark as much as I can. For as long as you wish. So far all they know is that you were in lesson with me, and now I need your sleep pattern observed. Do you understand?" Harry contemplated his words for a moment. It occurred to him that having Ron and Hermione watch him sleep was a good way to keep Harry here without making him too uncomfortable, but he wasn't that keen on the idea of allowing his friends to see him suffer through a nightmare either. Particularly Hermione, who he knew would take in every detail. Too late now. He thought. But still. It was nice that his professor had provided him with this alternative. Even if was only for one night. He looked up and gave his professor a small smile.

"I understand professor. Thank you for this." Snape nodded and gestured that they should stand and proceed through the other door.