A/N- I have realized, that some of the jumps between the chapters eliminate a lot of time, because of this I have decided to take the next week to rectify this, which means editing chapters. So if you have alerted this story don't expect a new chapter until the 18th after this one and just ignore all emails until then, unless you want to read the newly edited chapters. Also it has come to my attention that some aspects of my story are unclear. I will clarify these things, though the Azkaban scene will stay, as it was the only thing I could think of to get George out, my apologies for the window. I may need a beta soon so if anyone would like the position send me a message and I will take you under consideration. Please enjoy the chapter.


Harry opened his eyes, sticky sleep boogers pulling at the edges of his lids. Groaning he rolled over and swallowed, the fuzz of dryness flooding his mouth so suddenly it made him gag. He must have been asleep for a while then, he reasoned. A few days perhaps. The room he was in was unfamiliar, white walls, dark stained wood floors. No furniture to be seen except the bed he was in and a smart little armchair that looked recently sat in. Further investigation exposed a second door, one that presumably led to the loo, and a large painting on the far right wall. It was of a small old man, perhaps in his late hundreds if he was a wizard, standing awkwardly in a corner and a rickety end table perched next to him. The painting glared at him and turned up his nose, vanishing from the portrait with a sniff of indignation.

Rolling his eyes Harry pushed himself up into a sitting position.

Or at least he tried to. His arms, weak with neglect, refused to carry his weight. Instead of pushing himself up the action served only to have him flop back down in an undignified lump of limbs.

"Harry!" The door opened and an ecstatic Hermione rushed in, face flushed bright red. She settled delicately on the bed, careful not to jostle him and stared at him with bright eyes. He felt like he was a precious Ming vase.

"Oh, you wouldn't believe how worried I was!" She lunged forward to hug him and stopped herself mid way, settling instead for a small pat on Harry's shoulder. "I would hug you but Snape says the potion will have drained your physical body in trying to heal your magical core. I'm not to touch you. Well, not too much at least." She smiled and gave him another little pat.

They annoyed him, those pats.

"Snape? You took us to Snape's house? We're in Snape's house?" He tried once again to rush upwards only to have gravity and Hermione's hand force him back down.

"Of course," She muttered to herself casting a pitying glance at him, "You wouldn't remember. How silly of me to think you would." Pulling herself from her moment of reflection, Hermione gave Harry another small touch and began to explain.

"Well you see I was on my way to your flat, I had gone everyday to feed the cat and wait for you to come back. Anyways I went to your flat and the entire place reeked of dark magic I mean it was absolutely rotten, Harry. You are going to tell me what you did to get out of there you know." She sent him a shrewd look. "You were barely conscious and George was so still at first I thought he was dead and you kept telling me to get you somewhere safe, and of course being me I insisted on knowing the facts first, sorry about that by the way. Finally it hit me that you were probably dying and so I apparated us to the first person I could think of that was adept at healing and who would keep our secret, Snape."

Harry held up a hand to halt her in case she had anymore to add, "I'm sorry but, why Snape? You couldn't think of anyone else? I mean… its Snape!"

Hermione smacked him lightly on the forehead, "You should be grateful I did you prat. Otherwise you'd both be dead. Snape's potions saved you and George's lives. And anyway, I only thought of him because of that conversation you told me the two of you had in the pub. He wanted you to help him with the attack on gays, so we know he wouldn't betray us to the Ministry and he's a Potions Master. And anyone knows potions and healing go hand in hand. It was the most logical choice." She smiled warmly at him.

"And after that, you can't just stop at 'and then I brought you here'. Obviously he did something to us what was it?"

"You know I find it odd that you haven't even asked after George."

"It would have been the first thing you said Hermione, now please, finish the story." He shook his head in exasperation as she threw him an impish look.

"Oh, alright. Snape had me get some potions, so I wasn't in there for whatever spell he used and honestly I was too relieved you guys were alright to ask what it was. Anyways, one of the potions was kind of a… universal healer that he and his partner," Her face curled into a sneer on the word, "Invented. It healed George the rest of the way and then he gave you this magical core supplement and sent you to sleep. That reminds me." She held up one finger for him to wait and rummaged around her pockets. She pulled an indigo potion from the depths of one of them and popped open the stopper. "It's a Pepper Up potion, open wide."

Harry's mouth opened obediently before he could think about it and he felt the cool potion slide its way down his throat. Grimacing at the taste and gagging a little as some of it went down his windpipe, he tried once again to sit up. The movement was difficult and strained muscles he didn't know he used let alone had, but he managed it. Hermione was watching him with thoughtful eyes.

"Feeling better?"

"Loads." Hermione nodded, adjusted her position on the bed and then punched him in the arm. Harry cried out in a mixture of surprise and pain and gave her a bewildered look.

"That is for being one of the biggest arseholes on the planet. What were you thinking trying to take on those dementors by yourself? Why not simply apparate out the way you had me do? Are you a closet nihilist? Do you think there is no point to anything so you might as well kill yourself off now! I was ripping myself to pieces on the inside and then of course I still had to go to work because it would look suspicious if I didn't all the while trying to keep myself from falling apart and then! Then I ended up crying in front of Malfoy, MALFOY! If you ever do something so unbelievably stupid and irresponsible again Harry James Potter, you will wish those dementors had got you." Her eyes blazed and she leaned forward into his face, forcing him to lean back into the pillows.

"Alright, I'm sorry Hermione, really. And I don't quite know what I was thinking not apparating out okay? It was stupid and it won't happen again." He ducked his head to avoid the wrath of her gaze and then blew out a breath of relief when she moved away.

"Yes well anyway-" Her sentence was cut short when an explosion rocked the manor. She jumped and turned to face the door.

"What the bloody hell was that?" Harry asked scrambling to get into a better position to defend himself. Hermione waved a hand at him to sit back down and kept watching the door.

"George and Snape, they've been experimenting on potions with each other since George woke up three days ago."

"Three days-?"

George burst through the door a triumphant grin on his face. He was covered nearly from head to toe in a powdery yellow substance. It trailed in through the door after him and scattered about the room as he twirled around.

"Why are you so happy? Your potion just exploded." Hermione asked, cocking one eyebrow. George swept across the room and lifted her off of the bed spinning her around once before setting her back down.

"Because that was what was supposed to happen!" He clapped once, sending more of the powder spiraling through the air. Hermione crossed her arms over her chest, now both eyebrows crawling towards her hairline.

"Somehow I don't believe that."

"Well, not exactly but the powder! Merlin Hermione the powder, I told Severus that we needed to focus on a solid solution, not liquid. And I was right! Now all we need to do is control the reaction level of the mountain beetle in comparison to the lizard skin and we'll- Oh hi Harry. Didn't notice you'd woken up." He beamed at the raven haired man, who was sitting in the bed, puzzled look etched into his features. "You have to pee?"

Harry jerked at the off the cuff question, "No of course…" But like a child who didn't know he was hurt until he saw the wound, Harry was unaware of his desperate need to use the facilities until he thought about them, "Yes, I have to pee, I have to pee now." George laughed and helped haul him out of bed. Much to the protest of Hermione who twittered about advising George to be gentle.

"He isn't a doll Hermione; a bit of rough handling will do him good. Besides, how else do you suggest I take him to the loo? Severus said not to use any magic besides potions on him. The physical way is the way it's got to be." He dragged Harry into the bathroom and shut the door on Hermione's reply that Snape had said nothing about levitating something else with Harry on it, and to be more careful.

"Thank Merlin," George sighed when her voice cut off, "She's been at it this whole time. 'Be careful George! Don't strain yourself George! Are you alright George! Let me take that George!'" He faked a falsetto as he imitated Hermione and Harry snorted, "I know she's concerned but it's getting on my bloody nerves!" He released his hold on the younger man and Harry immediately began to wobble and fall over.

"Whoa there," George fumbled to get a hold of him before his head hit the sink and guided him to the toilet. "Guess I'll have to hold you up. You don't need me to unzip you or… hold your-"

"No!" Harry yelped, "N-no, I'm fine. I can handle that myself thanks." They went about the awkward business of Harry taking a piss and cleaning himself up silently but for the few snickers that either one would utter once and a while to ease the uncomfortable atmosphere. When he was finished George sniggered and half pulled half carried him back to the bedroom. He deposited him back onto the bed where Harry collapsed with the exertion going to the bathroom had placed on him.

"Well, I'll go tell Severus you're awake." The redhead winked and slipped from the room, leaving way for another person to enter.

"Donald." Hermione murmured. Her voice tight and coiled. The man, Donald, bowed mockingly at her, bending stiffly at the waist and shooting her a brutal look and flicking his gaze over to Harry. His face instantly changed from harsh lines to the softer curves of concern. He stepped towards the bed, only to be blocked by the looming form of Hermione. Harry had never seen Hermione loom before.

He didn't know she was capable of it.

"Is there something you need, Donald?" Her voice oozed false sweetness, and though he couldn't see since her as her back was turned away from him, Harry assumed her eyes were narrowed into catlike slits. Donald fell back a step and sneered, the action warping the planes of his mouth to something almost grotesque. The feat didn't look right on him, Harry decided.

"Only to meet the Savior of the Wizarding World. Is that a problem?" His voice was a tad nasally and there was a hint of a contrived lisp underneath it all and it surprised Harry with its American twang. It wormed into his skin. There was something off about it, though every time Harry thought he knew what it was his mind slid away from it. He placed himself in a more formal position on the bed and inclined his head.

"Hello, Donald is it? Am I right in presuming you're Snape's… boyfriend? Sorry I'm not sure about the title you prefer." Hermione's back tensed as Harry spoke and she didn't relinquish her position as his body guard.

Donald smiled, revealing perfectly white teeth, "Boyfriend is fine."

"It is not." Snape's sleek tone cut through the space. Harry didn't know when he had arrived, but there he was. Filling the doorway with his length. His black eyes tracked a path between Harry and Donald, narrowing when his… friend turned to flash a sheepish grin. He pushed his long greasy hair from his forehead as he walked fluidly into the room.

Or then again, maybe it wasn't so greasy. Now that Harry looked closely at it the locks were clean and silky, like Ginny's. He supposed he had never had the opportunity to truly examine his professor before and found, as he looked at him, that many of his allusions had been, incorrect.

To say the least.

Snape had a skinny frame, too skinny. If he turned sideways Harry was sure he'd disappear. But he was strong as well, muscular, if only because there was no fat to block the muscles from showing. His skin was pale, paler than he remembered Malfoy's being. But his hands were what captivated Harry the most; they were large, long fingered and slim.

"Hasn't anyone ever told you that staring is rude Potter?" His sharp voice cut through the fog in Harry's mind. Donald and Hermione were gone; he must have missed some important conversation that dismissed them.

"Not recently no."

"It's good that you're awake now you can explain what happened since George was unconscious throughout everything after he cast the Patronus Charm."

"On a first name basis are you?" Harry snapped.

"Keep your mind on the question Potter."

"I-" Harry blinked, "I don't remember."

Well that wasn't good.


Draco watched the door to Granger's office with calculating eyes. She had been happier these past four days, coming into the department with a smile on her face and a literal bounce in her step.

It was disgusting. No one should be that annoyingly happy. She was even humming when she came in today. It made his plan harder to put into action. Draco had been counting on her being upset and vulnerable and therefore more open to his request. But now she was happy again. He fiddled with his quill and tapped his foot against the leg of the table before remembering that he was in the partial public and that Malfoy's didn't conduct themselves in such a manner.

The door opened and Granger walked out. Her hair was finally clean and her nails which had been shredded to the quick were neat and manicured again. The light was back in her eyes and she even taunted him again.

Yes this defiantly made things harder.

"Do you have the Magic Carpet permits the Ministry wanted?" She extended her hand when she reached his desk. And Draco glanced at it pointedly.

"You don't even wait to see if I have them finished before shoving your palm under my nose? That's horribly rude Miss Granger."

She shrugged, her collar bone looking delicate as it shifted in the movement, "You obviously have them."

"Be that as it may," Draco sneered as he reached into his desk drawer and pulled out the particular set of files, "It's still impolite. You should break yourself of the habit, lest you offend someone higher up then you."

"Why Draco, so nice of you to be thinking of my occupational security." She took the files and turned to return to her office. Before talking himself out of it Draco stood up and grabbed the meaty part of her arm.

"Wait Granger,"

"Malfoy, wouldn't you say it was impolite to grab your superior so?" She cocked her head to the side, but the laughter in her eyes let Draco know that she wasn't serious.

"Come to dinner with me and some friends?" The words rushed out in a quick stream. Granger stared at him for long moments. Too long. He could feel the sweat build up inbetween his toes and behind his ears. She stared at him for so long that Draco considered that she may have been hit with a stray Stupefy.

He had all but given up when she shook her head and blinked up at him.

"Sure."

Oh.


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