AN: Hey everyone! Finally updating *Yay* Haha sorry it took so long, but like i said it's school and exams and stress and excuses and excuses...

A big thank you to *Godiva9* for wishing me good luck with school (I'm gonna need it!)

Hope you enjoy the chapter :)
~GreenEyes


Severus helped himself to the Firewhiskey Draco had gotten him; as thanks for saving him from taking the mark. The burn at the back of his throat helped him to focus. He settled into the armchair behind his desk in his personal office.

"Okay, Snape," he said out loud to himself, "So Har- Potter is now living with you and believes you are his master, no big deal."

The reassurances sounded hollow even to Severus, but he continued his pep-talk.

"You just need a plan," he muttered, sipping more Firewhiskey, "Yes, that's it, a plan!"

Severus pulled the notebook with Poppy's grandmother's transcribed noted in front of him, and opened it to a blank page. He dipped his raven-feather quill into a pot of pitch-black ink and began planning.

"The boy has surely forgotten his basic muggle education," muttered Severus as he scratched in the notebook with his quill, "I will have to re-educate him before reintroducing him to his magical education."

But Severus hadn't gotten very far in his planning before he interrupted. Someone was tapping timidly at his office door.

"Enter!" Severus called.

The door opened slowly. It was Harry.

Severus immediately noticed that Harry's face was pink and his eyes were red-rimmed and still damp; Harry had been crying. Severus was immediately at the young man's side.

"Harry!" Severus said frantically, his eyes roaming the boy's body searching for injuries, "What is it? What's wrong?"

"I-I had a bad dream," Harry's voice shook a bit.

Severus might have found the situation funny –a seventeen-year-old wizard crying over a nightmare and seeking comfort from his most hated professor– had he not been worrying about what Harry's dream had been about. Had Harry seen some of his forgotten memories? The Dark Lord murdering his parents? The death of his godfather? Perhaps even him (Severus) when he had been forced to pretend to despise the boy?

But Severus knew better than to ask Harry what his nightmare was about, it had obviously frightened the poor boy badly. Severus pulled Harry into a hug; Harry clung to him tightly as a few more tears leaked onto Severus' robes. Severus scooped him up –noting how thin and light the seventeen-year-old was– and carried him back to his bedroom.

"There there, Harry," Severus said as he sat down on the bed, still holding Harry, "It'll be okay."

Harry nodded into Snape's chest, but didn't say anything. Severus set Harry down on the bed and looked at the boy's face carefully.

"Do you think you will be able to go back to sleep?" Severus asked cautiously, stilling gripping the boy's shoulders.

Harry stiffened under Severus' hands. He shook his head quickly, eyes wide and panicked.

Severus nodded. He had expected as much, the boy was now on edge and sleep would be a long time coming. Harry needed to calm down… Maybe a warm bath would help him relax?

"You should take a bath, Harry," Severus suggested, "It'll help you to relax."

Harry stared at him blankly.

"What's a bath?" He asked curiously.

Severus didn't answer for a minute. Surely the boy was joking! But Harry just kept looking at him, waiting.

I'm going to kill Albus! Severus thought furiously, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Let me get this straight," Severus said through gritted teeth, still pinching the bridge of his nose, "You. Don't. Know. What. A. Bath. Is."

Harry nodded hesitantly, he looked worried.

"Is that... Bad?" He asked slowly.

Severus swallowed his anger at the Headmaster and his embarrassment at what he was about to do. It wouldn't help to make Harry feel bad about something that wasn't his fault.

"No, Harry," he tried for a reassuring tone, "I'll just have to... Help you."

"Okay," Harry agreed easily, obviously he had no problem with that; Severus envied his naivety in that instance.

"Okay," Severus echoed, standing up, "I'll run the bath, you wait here."

Harry nodded from his seat on the bed, his hands folded onto his lap and his legs swinging back and forth. He resembled a five-year-old child that had been told to stay put, Severus had to remind himself that this was a seventeen-year-old young man.

Severus entered the on-suite bathroom and knelt in front of the bathtub. He fiddled with the taps and soon the tub was filling with warm water. He added some bubble-bath to the filling tub –both to appeal to the now child-like Harry and to preserve what was left of his privacy. When the tub was full –and Severus had assessed that the temperature and the amount of bubbles were sufficient– he left the bathroom to fetch Harry.

The young man was exactly where he had left him. Harry still looked curious about what a bath was. Severus led Harry into the bathroom.

He only hoped that, when Harry regained his memories, he would remember the apprehension in his Potions Master's actions and the faint pink that tinged his cheeks.

Oh Merlin help me, Severus thought as he explained to Harry exactly what he would be doing. Harry seemed to understand.

"So I have to take off all my clothes, and get in the water?" Harry summarized.

"Yes," Severus answered, trying not to think about it.

Harry nodded, and pulled off his shirt. Severus immediately averted his eyes and turned slightly away from the boy. Severus heard him pause in his actions.

"Master?" Harry sounded confused, "What are you doing?"

"Continue undressing, Harry," Severus addressed the wall.

Harry hesitated for a moment, then continued to strip.

"I'm done," Harry announced not long after.

"Get into the water," Severus instructed him, but he didn't hear Harry make any move to obey.

"Harry?" Severus continued to address the wall.

"Ummm," Harry sounded uncertain, "It looks kinda deep…"

"It's fine, Harry," Severus insisted.

"Could you help me?" Harry asked innocently.

Severus swore under his breath and cursed Albus to the depths of hell.

"Sure," He said out loud to Harry.

Severus turned to face Harry and kept his gaze firmly fixed on Harry's face. He lifted the young man up and eased him into the bathwater. Harry gasped at the feeling of the warm water caressing his body.

Severus groaned inwardly. It was going to be a long, awkward night!


AN: Hahaha Poor Sev! Sorry this chapter's so short. Let me know what you think! I'll try to update soon :)