.

Severus woke the next morning with a hangover and a throbbing headache. He knew he shouldn't have downed that bottle of whiskey last night but it seemed the right thing to do with impending examinations he was going to have to mark and idiotic children he was going to have to deal with. He was very much looking forward to the holidays that followed the final exams because it meant he could hide himself away and bury himself in his Potion's research.

After his shower and a potion for his headache he went into his living area to find an owl impatiently standing on the back of his couch. He frowned at it, not in the mood for whatever the Headmaster was going to put him through that morning and took the offending piece of parchment from the birds' beak. It squawked back at him disgruntled by the treatment but waited for the paper to be read, these were the conditions that were set upon it from the sender.

Severus's heart lurched into his throat and he swallowed uncomfortably at the scrawl written on the parchment, nothing good ever came from meetings with the Headmaster before breakfast commenced. He tried to think sensibly but ever since what happened at his home with a certain Gryffindor he had become very wary of any meetings that involved the Headmaster. He sighed, this situation wasn't going to get any better by him standing there like an idiot so he threw on his outer robe and swiftly left his quarters, the bird flying overhead and disappearing down the corridor in front of him.

When he reached the Headmasters office he found the door already open and the Gryffindor Head of House standing there with horror written across her face. His immediate thought was that something had happened to a student but of what he had no idea, it was just he, the Headmaster and Minerva in the office when the door closed behind him and he made his way over to the other two.

"You summoned me, Albus." He greeted stiffly and the man nodded gravely, passing another copy of the Daily Prophet his way.

Severus's world froze over when he glanced at the title. If it weren't for a rugged face that had cuts scraping across it on the front cover he would have thought his secret was out. He was lucky however, this was not an article about his illegal ways with a green-eyed teenager, it was about someone else but it still came too close to home for him.

"Durmstrang's Dirty Secret: Professor sexually assaults numerous students."

"I'll save you having to read it, Severus and cut right to the chase. Now before either of you comment, let me get the specifics out of the way." The greying older Wizard stated and offered both of his staff a seat before he continued.

"There has been an incident at Durmstrang Academy where a staff member has been… Well let's say he had been caught with a student. This doesn't only concern one student but as it happens, a few students. I will be heading over to Bulgaria in a few hours to speak with the Highmaster, Igor to sort out what will be happening."

"What do you mean, Albus? Does this involve one of our own?" Minerva asked in horror and the man nodded gravely.

"That's why the two of you are here. Now – No, Severus please let me finish, I know how you feel about your Slytherin's but let me continue," The Potion's Master knew at that moment that it wasn't his expelled Slytherin's that had been in the middle of this, "The Ministry is doing an enquiry in the school at the moment, but because of the nature of the situation they will be coming around all Wizarding Institutions to ensure everything else is in order. The students are also currently receiving counseling from St. Mungos staff as we speak."

Severus didn't particularly like the sound of this and he briefly registered that the Gryffindor Head was also voicing her disgust though she didn't know about the implications between her little lion and himself. He doubted that she would understand the situation and therefore wished that they didn't speak about it to her. Dreams were free he concluded because he was soon listening to the Headmaster asking him an important question.

"She needs to know, Severus. It will be essential in case we need, Mr. Potter to return."

Severus looked between his coworkers, the walls he had built around himself instantly fell away and he looked over at the window unable to meet their eye at the prospect of his secret getting out. He nodded anyway, he knew she would have to be told, he knew that some day this was going to get out because this was the Wizarding world and nothing remained silent forever. He cleared his throat and turned back towards the woman but the Headmaster spoke for him, he supposed he would let the man just speak because he wasn't sure what was allowed to be said.

"Minerva, bare in mind that no one was actually hurt in this," When she nodded though with her eyes narrowed, Dumbledore continued, "The reason, Mr. Potter was removed from Hogwarts… Was because he and Severus were in a relationship and without getting the Ministry involved in this affair, the Board of Governors allowed the removal of the boy so Severus could keep his job." He finished and Severus braced himself for the barrage of insults that was going to appear after the audible gasp.

"Severus Snape! What were you thinking, getting involved with a student, a Gryffindor, no less?" She raised her voice and Severus sighed looking over to his employer in exasperation.

"Apart from the obvious, Minerva there was actually nothing sinister going - "

"I would have been surprised if there was. Honestly, sometimes I wonder what goes through that brilliant mind of yours, Severus." She snapped, cutting the old man off before going to stand by the Potion's Master.

"Was it because he was living with you?" She asked, putting a hand on his upper arm.

"No." His voice was quiet and ashamed.

There was a deathly silence that followed this answer where no one dared to say anything and Severus wondered if the woman was plotting many ways to destroy him through Tranfiguration. He tried to humor himself in believing a matchbox would be fit enough for him, so tiny the world wouldn't find him. Suddenly however, the Gryffindor Head of House clicked onto something and she spun quickly round to face the Headmaster.

"Why are you going to Durmstrang again, Albus? This involves Mr. Potter doesn't it?" She asked alarmed but was suitably shut down by the Headmaster, she knew it had to be that; Harry was an ex-Gryffindor and she knew this extended beyond Deputy Headmistress responsibilities for her being summoned at this early hour.

"Minerva, I need to you take care of the school whilst I am gone. It shouldn't be long I hope but if anything happens I will need you to take charge and Severus, you will need to support her, understood?"

They both nodded and he released his two Professors so they could get some breakfast and hopefully do a little damage control with the students within the Great Hall. The article in the Daily Prophet was definitely going to have some turning heads and pointing fingers but he hoped that the students of his school were above the level of dirty gossip. Albus tiredly sighed, some days he really did hate his job but at the end of the day the safety of his students and staff was paramount. Harry may not be a student at Hogwarts anymore but he wanted to ensure he was happy because it was he that agreed to the arrangement of sending him away. The self-sacrifice of the boy for his Potion's Professor was surprising but it made him think that perhaps the boy needed the support that Severus gave even though he wasn't that keen on the idea of them being together.

Out in the corridor, Minerva stopped Severus and making sure no one was in earshot she spoke softly to her coworker.

"I am disappointed in your decision, Severus but I have to ask you something," Severus didn't say anything but he nodded warily wondering where she was going, "Did you make him happy?"

All it took was for the man to avert his eyes and nod once again for her to be happy and she expressed this before making her way down the staircase. She knew what her co worker was like, she had taught him back when he was Harry's age, so in her gut she had the feeling that the level at which the man and her Gryffindor student had gotten into wasn't harming either of them. It did sadden her however that once removed from the school, her lion was faced with another issue and what upset her the most was that she was convinced the boy had something to do with what was in the paper. She only prayed to Merlin and Godric Gryffindor that he wasn't implicated in this, as she knew this would destroy him especially after what he had been through.

As their Head of House was making her way the Great Hall, Hermione and the rest of the Gryffindor gang had just sat down when the front page headline caught her attention and she gasped, snagging the first available paper she could get her hands on.

"Blimey, you don't think – "

"Shh, let me read." She interrupted Ron as they sat down.

"I'll save you the trouble," Dean said and they all looked up, "A teacher from Durmstrang has been caught shagging a student. He's been fired apparently and the school has gone of a massive lockdown with aura's and healers going in to support the students. It says the Ministry are there too." He finished and went back to his pumpkin juice.

"Students? There was more than one?" Ron's eyes were nearly bulging out of their sockets.

"Yeah, apparently he's been doing this for years. That's where Harry's gone hasn't he? I hope he's okay." Dean commented, mostly to himself but of course he didn't know why his friend had left, only that he'd transferred schools.

"Hermione." Ron whispered and nudged her elbow as he saw their Head of House with the Dungeon Bat walking into the hall.

"Do you reckon they know?" He continued and she nodded when she saw the split second glance their Potion's Professor gave them.

"Yeah, I think they do, Ron." She whispered back before she got stuck into the article.

When Severus took his seat at the head table that morning he properly looked over the front page spread of this disaster. It talked about the continuous stream of students that had been groomed by the man, a Professor who taught Defense and Dark Arts classes. Something about the man's face on the front cover gave the Potion's Master a chill, whoever it was that inflicted that kind of damage was not only a strong Witch or Wizard but a dark one at that. His mind flicked back to the contents of his old Potion's textbook that was kicking around his personal library somewhere between the school and his home. It had similar curses hidden between the pages, well The Half Blood Prince's Potions textbook.

"Mr. Potter, can you please give us an account of what precisely happened between yourself and Professor Viktor that lead to this reporting of sexual harassment?"

Harry sat at one end of the long table that resided within the Highmaster's office. He had been giving statement after statement to healers, Ministry officials and his Highmaster for a couple of days now and he was growing tired. He kept replaying what had happened in his head, the look on Christian's face when he had run into him that night in the dorms before everything had exploded around them and the school taken over by the Ministry. Aura's were now stationed around the school, students were kept in their dorms, library or the Grand Hall to ensure their safety though the affected students were pulled out every now and then by the Headmaster and a Ministry official for questioning or counseling. Now however, Harry was being, he thought, interrogated for a better word about what had happened the day previously.

"Look, I've given you my memories of the situation so can I not just go and rest? Write to my friends to say I'm okay?" He replied in exasperation before a loud knocking on the wooden doors alerted everyone to another's presence.

"Albus!" The Highmaster cried in recognition at the same time as Harry's head whipped round to see if his ears had deceived him.

"Igor, a pity around the circumstances." Dumbledore replied before he took pride of place behind the ex-Gryffindor making sure not to touch the chair in any way.

"Mr. Dumbledore – "

"Headmaster Dumbledore, thank you and as I am the guardian of Mr. Harry Potter I am informing you that memories are enough evidence without having to traumatize him further. You are done here."

Harry raised an eyebrow at the Ministry lady who had been asking the questions and she huffed before explaining he was actually the last person she needed to speak with. She promptly left after this with an Aura following her before Harry saw familiar grey robes coming into view from his right before the Headmaster of Hogwarts came and took a seat opposite him, his Highmaster excusing himself from the room to give the two of them some privacy.

"Harry, I – "

"I don't need you pity, sir. I am quite capable of looking after myself as evident in the state I left Professor Viktor in. All you need to know is that I am staying here for exams and I won't budge on this." Harry intercepted him and after looking away he realized how rude he had sounded though quick frankly he didn't care at this point, he just wanted to be by himself.

He wanted to be with his friends as well but if he didn't sit his exams he doubted he'd get the best marks to pass through into his final year. That and the fact Hogwarts didn't cover Dark Arts in their curriculum.

"I understand. I had hoped to have allowed you back into Hogwarts after speaking with the Board but if you are set in your decision that is fine. What I was actually going to ask, was how you were fearing?" Dumbledore's tone reminded Harry that the man was fully aware of his rudeness, which made him feel a little guilty, but only a smidge.

"I… I am fine, sir." Harry stammered, his heart was beating wildly in his heart, whether it was because his old Headmaster was there to see him of the weight of the situation had finally hit him but he was suddenly feeling unhinged.

The last time I saw you was when you caught… He didn't finish off that thought as he heard the Headmaster speaking softly to him.

"I am truly sorry, my boy. Is… Is there anything that I can do for you?" The old Wizard didn't really know what else he could offer the teen; he wasn't in a position to do so without the confeerence of the school's Highmaster.

"I just want to rest." Harry replied quietly and in a defeated manner.

"I imagine that you would. Go and join your friends and make sure you keep them close," At this Harry snorted in amusement, "Or perhaps a lap on the trusty broomstick to clear your head?" He offered as he frowned at the display of behaviour in front of him.

"With all due respect, sir, I have no friends here and haven't once mounted a broom the time I have been here. To tell you the truth," He murmured as he stood, "Leaving Hogwarts was the worst thing I could have done, and what's more, I won't ever return. So please, sir, I would very much like to rest and attempt to clear my mind enough to study for my exams at the end of the week."

Dumbledore stood after this speech and nodded gravely, his twinkling blue eyes not shining like they usually would have upon seeing a Hogwarts student. It was clear to him that his student had changed, though from what he couldn't quite pin point. Was it because he was transferred? Was it because he wasn't around his Potion's Professor? Or was it because this situation had caused him emotional distraught? He obviously wasn't going to get an answer to these questions today, so obliging to the students' wishes he gave a brief farewell before meeting the Highmaster out in the corridor who was speaking with a number of people.

"Ah, Albus, off so soon? I couldn't catch you for a moment could I?" Igor asked, and with a brief nod they both re entered the man's office as Harry made his way down the corridor to find somewhere quiet.

He managed to find himself in his dorm room where a couple of boys were hunched over a desk studying, another walking out from the bathrooms and another flopped on their bed reading a Quidditch magazine. He made his way over to opposite wall where his bed was located and sat on the edge, his eyes glued to the cobbled floor as he thought about what was going on. Whilst talking to the counselors had been slightly comforting, he still had a lot to think about but he didn't feel threatened at this stage, the Aura's stationed on every corner you went around made sure of that. He hadn't seen Christian at all on this day either, he was most likely trying to lick his wounds but then again he had had the worst treatment out of all of the students that had been caught up in all this drama.

The problem for Harry, and it wasn't something that he shared with the St. Mungos staff, was that he was confused around his feelings. The only reason why he had cursed the man was because he didn't feel like he had any control over the situation, he was simply pushing himself onto the teen and he didn't like it. The fondling on the other hand was something he couldn't pin an emotion to, whilst it was true he hadn't even jerked off the whole time he'd been at the Academy, he didn't think the dirty hands of his Professor were anything to get excited about. The confusing part, was imagining it was Severus's hands on him, not Viktor's.

This was playing on his mind the most, that, and the naïve nature in which he still behaved. He was nearly of legal age and was letting his Professor's use him as their sex slaves, and yes that included Severus. He growled in frustration before throwing himself backwards onto his bed, tears welling gently in the corners of his eyes and a single tear rolling down his face when he closed them. There was a dull ache in his heart and he knew who he was yearning for, but he didn't want to acknowledge it.

As Harry lay there, he remembered a time where he was equally depressed where he passed out in Severus's lounge when he essentially skulled a part bottle of whiskey. However, the feeling soon turned to anger when he realized that that had been the man's plan, to groom him so they could get together. I'm such a fool, he groaned and put his head in his hands, he wanted all this to end, he wanted a family and his friends… And Severus.

"Harry?" A shaken voice made him open his eyes and he looked up to find a grey eyed teen standing by his bed.

He wiped the tear that had streaked down his face hastily before sitting up and going over to the boy, he didn't really want to talk about what was happening around the other boys so he motioned towards the bathroom. Once they were in there and had checked that there was no one but them in the room, Harry turned to regard his crushed looking friend and found himself desperately wanting to hug the boy.

"How are you holding up?" Harry asked, the boy looked terrible but he wasn't surprised, it reminded him of when Dumbledore had caught him and Severus at the man's house.

"I'm being sent home tonight… I just thought I'd come and say goodbye." He said softly and Harry nodded.

"What he did was wrong, I mean I know I tried to stop you but I had no idea he was that kind of person and had gone on for so long." Harry apologized but it only seemed to set the boy off and the ex-Gryffindor felt terrible for saying anything.

Moments later Harry found himself with am armful of a teary eyed boy and he slowly put his arms around the shaking shoulders. He tried to sooth Christian by talking to him but nothing really seemed to be working, that's when he pushed himself away and locked eyes with his friend to see if just holding him there would help. It seemed to, for a moment and Christian wiped his nose before standing on his own and gazing sadly at Harry.

"I don't know if I'll come back next year… This whole thing has really screwed up my mind."

"Don't force it, Christian. Just do what you want to do when you're ready, and make sure you have your friends close. I know when I'm sad my friends always made me feel better." Harry explained, not that he currently had his two best friends with him but over the years they had been really good.

"Thanks." Was the only response Harry got before the teen turned away and walked back towards the dorm.

Great, middle of exams and I'm losing my only friend, he thought sadly before turning his gaze to the floor, his mind a scattered mess.

Hermione and Ron were sitting in the Gryffindor common room, Hermione clutching the latest edition of the Daily Prophet re-reading everything in case there was some minuet detail she had missed. She kept wondering if this had something to do with their friend, it was only because he had done something similar with their Potion's Professor that she had this nervous gut feeling happening.

"Look, 'Mione, he'll be okay." Ron tried to placate her but she wasn't having any of it.

"I wonder who fired this curse, I doubt it would have been an Aura or another Professor." She finally spoke and looked at her friend.

"He isn't involved, okay. Just, give me the paper and go study or something." He tried as he pried the paper out of her hands.

It worked for a split second before she stood and started pacing in front of the fire, she just knew something was up but now that she thought about it, those marks on the man's face didn't look like any spell she had heard of. That's when she decided to hit the library to see if she could find something on the vicious looking spell. Ron, for the moment looked happy that it had taken her mind off what was in the paper, little did he know she was off to see what she could dig up.

Just as she was about to enter the library, on the cusp of curfew, she heard even footsteps coming towards her so she ducked into an alcove to wait until the person had passed. She didn't fancy getting caught though the circumstances as to why she was out made her feel bolder in her disregard for the rules. As it happened, Professor Snape was striding past and she swallowed a lump in her throat, he was the last person she wanted to bump into at this time of night. She wondered if he knew anything about their friend, she supposed he wouldn't though given the nature of what had happened but she couldn't say for sure.

She let out the breath she had been holding when the footsteps died down and crept silently into the library, after this she was going to send her friend an urgent letter to see if he was okay. Ron may have thought everything was alright but given the grave faces of their Professors around this news she wasn't so sure.

Severus was on his way to the Headmasters office again for the second time that day. All four Heads of House were required to be present at this meeting and he knew that this meant something was gravely wrong. The thought made him sick to his stomach, the prospect of the other two Professor's finding out his secret but he supposed they didn't really need to know about that… Did they?

"Severus, I was about to come and get you." Dumbledore spoke relieved before taking a seat behind his desk.

Severus muttered an apology, catching the critical eye of the Gryffindor Head before he came to stand behind her chair she was sitting in, whilst the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff Heads of House were on the other chairs.

"I simply wished to update you on the matters at Durmstrang Academy."

"Are there any ex-Hogwarts students involved in this?" Flitwick's scratchy voice called from his seat, it was a question all four Heads wanted to ask but were somewhat afraid of the answer.

There was a deep sigh from the old Wizard as he leaned back in his chair and rested his head on his supports arm. He nodded ever so slightly gasps were heard from Sprout and McGonagall at the same time as Flitwick started spluttering, asking who it was.

"Unfortunately, for the safety of all students at Durmstrang, I cannot disclose specific information however I will say that former Hogwarts students were involved, yes."

Severus felt like vomiting, this was all his fault. If he had only restrained himself, told Harry that nothing could happen then they wouldn't be in this position. He wondered how long it had been going on, if this vile Professor had had more than one student at a time, whether he had essentially raped them through penetration. His head started to swim with the idea of Harry being wrapped up in this and his legs started to go weak, the only thing holding him up was the death grip he had on the back of Minerva's chair. He had no doubt he was going to double over any minute or pass out if the black spots in front of his eyes were anything to go by.

"This is awful." Sprout commented and whilst the other three adults hummed in agreement or nodded, Severus wanted to cry and he was not a man for displaying ugly water works.

"All students affected by this horrific indecency are receiving treatment and I have been reassured that all measures are being put in place so that every student will be safe. Now more specific to Hogwarts, there will be Ministry officials on the premises over the next couple of days for meetings with myself and the Board of Governors and whilst I have been assured their presence will not affect daily activities, please be aware that students will be curious. Under no circumstances are they to know Hogwarts students have been involved, this is out of respect for those students affected."

Everyone nodded at the old man's words before they were freed for the remainder of the evening. Severus however, stayed behind and kept up the pretense that he had Slytherin related matters. He was not left along though as Dumbledore called out to the Gryffindor Head for her to stay as well. Both Heads of House knew why they were asked to stay behind, it only confirmed what Severus had concluded earlier on and he now had to sit, the bile rising steadily in his throat ready to make an appearance. It was all his fault.

"I know what you both want to hear, and I regret to inform you that yes, Harry was involved."

"Bastard." Severus ground out and fisted his hands, the sharp pain of his nails digging into the flesh of his palms did nothing but allow him to revel in the anger he felt towards the situation.

The other two occupants covered their heads when glass on the other side of the room exploded, shards flying everywhere and scaring Fawkes off his perch.

"Severus, please do not make any rash decisions. I have spoken to him and even though he seems… Strong… Coming out of this, he doesn't need you to go off your rocker."

"Are you going to bring him back, Albus?" Minerva asked, her voice wavering with unshed tears and a little shock.

"He has requested his continuation at Durmstrang for the duration of examinations. I do however, plan to bring him back for the few days Durmstrang closes early before he will be spending the Summer with Molly and Arthur Weasley." Dumbledore explained, but it didn't make the Potion's Master feel any better.

I've lost him forever, he thought sadly before looking into his employers eyes, pleading for him to do something.

"I shouldn't really divulge this information, no one apart from Aura's and Durmstrang's Highmaster are aware."

"What is it, Albus?" McGonagall asked keenly but Dumbledore was looking right at Severus.

"This is what he did." Dumbledore replied vaguely, holding up the front cover of the news paper to reveal the photo and both Professor's knew who he had meant.

"Harry?" Minerva was gob smacked.

The next morning, Harry was at the main gates sending his friend off, probably forever. He had intended to only give the teen a quick hug but it seemed that he wasn't going to be let go any time soon and he relished the comfort it brought him to know there was something in common between them. Something that brought them together but was also tearing them apart.

"I wish you weren't going, Christian." Harry said softly, he had had a lot of time to think about this over the course of the night as he hadn't been able to get to sleep.

Christian smiled at Harry sadly before moving forwards and kissing the ex-Gryffindor on the cheek. The feeling sent shivers down Harry's spine and he looked into the sad grey eyes only to find them sparkling, the sun that had only just made an appearance caught them and it was a magical feeling he was experiencing. He smiled back as he thought back to the fact that only hours before he and Christian were huddled on the boys' bed, trying to give each other comfort through cuddles but for completely different reasons. Christian because he didn't feel safe and Harry because he now felt extremely lonely with the thought of a certain Potion's Master circling his mind.

"Thanks for last night and good luck with your exams. I… I know Viktor said that he made me be friends with you… But I-I actually, you know… You were my friend." He managed to finish his sentence before renewed tears sprung into steely eyes and it made Harry a little watery as well.

"I hope you're going to be okay." It's all Harry could come up with at the moment.

"It's going to take a while, I think. He'd been… Well we were…"

"It's okay you don't have to tell me." Harry said, not wanting to set the boy off again.

"No, it's fine. My healer says I'll need to speak about it someday… He'd – We'd been having s-sex since last year," His face blushed furiously and Harry saw shame starting to creep across the pale skin, "He'd b-been toying me bef-before then."

"Oh, Christian." Harry was starting to get wound up and the tell tale sound of thunder began to close in on them.

"It's all right, Harry but the thing that hurt the most was knowing he was doing it with other guys too, not just him and I. That's what makes me the most upset."

"Come here." Harry said rushing forwards and giving the teen a crushing hug, hoping that he wouldn't get too upset with this action.

"Thanks, guess I'll be seeing ya." He tried for casual but the shaking in the boy's shoulders and the biting of the lower lip showed to Harry that he was about to start crying, and not just sobbing.

He waved his friend off and when he couldn't see him anymore started back towards the castle so he could focus on the study he had to do rather than the emptiness in his soul. However, before he could get into his dorm he saw a scene in front of him he wished he hadn't, it was Malfoy, the disheveled blonde hair gave that away but what he wasn't used to seeing was that roles had been reversed and it was now the ex-Slytherin and bully of Hogwarts who was getting the beating. Harry couldn't let this slide, as much as he wanted to, he just couldn't bring himself to walk the other way now that he had stumbled across this.

Without hesitation he pulled his wand and pointed it at the scene before sound a warning shot just by the feet of the attackers. Crawdon, the one Harry had sent the heart curse at was one that spun round and scowled at the green eyed teen before the others pulled their wands out too.

"Didn't think you wanted to have another go so quickly, Crawdon. How's the ticker?" Harry's voice was thick and deep, his anger bubbling to the surface as well as excitement with his wand pulled on someone.

"I've never even heard of that spell you used on me, Potter. Where did you find it?" The boy spat but Harry simply shrugged before stepping forwards, a spell on the tip of his tongue before the boys high tailed it down the corridor and out of sight.

Harry slipped his wand back into the holster and regarded the Malfoy boy before continuing on his way, he didn't really want to look at that ugly mug right now, his mind spinning with everything that was going on. What he missed however was the look of gratitude mixed with surprise when he had his back turned, nor the somewhat knowing look that came later.