Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and settings belong to J.K. Rowling.

A/N: Enjoy! Any reviews are appreciated! =)

Severus entered the sitting room, still seething from the wolf's idiocy when he heard a cry of pain coming from the library. He ran into the room and found Harry on the floor, clutching his forehead. "Harry?" He knelt down beside him.

"My scar started burning," Harry gasped. He rubbed his scar and Severus pulled his hand down so that he could examine it. "It's lessoning now." He said in relief.

"Here, sit on the chair." Severus helped him up.

"I'm fine," Harry insisted as Cora popped into the room.

"Cora heard a yell! Is young master okay?" She asked worriedly.

"I'm fine," Harry repeated.

"How is your scar feeling now?" Severus asked in concern as he examined the reddened scar.

"It just twinges slightly now, but it burned at first," Harry said. "It took me by surprise, is all."

Severus cast a patronus and then summoned a pain reliever and a cream that would help soothe the scar. "Drink," He ordered as he handed the vial to Harry.

"Is theres anyting Cora can do?"

"Perhaps some tea is in order," Severus told her. He was pulling the lid off of the cream when Albus arrived.

"Harry, are you all right?" Dumbledore asked anxiously. "Did you have a vision?"

Harry shook his head. "No sir, it was more like a feeling of anger or irritation," He answered. "I haven't felt anything in my scar in awhile. What does it mean?"

Severus regarded Harry's scar. It was vivid red and he could still see pain in Harry's eyes. "The Dark Lord has been laying low. It could be you simply felt his frustration or anger over things not going his way. The Occlumency lessons may make you more vulnerable until you are able to fully occlude. Try occluding now." Severus instructed. He exchanged a look with Albus.

"You could also be vulnerable if you were feeling upset," Dumbledore said softly. "I understand Remus talked with you?"

Harry looked away. "Yeah," He said with a shrug.

Severus felt anger boiling to the surface. What I should do to his Wolfsbane is…

"Harry, please do not take anything Remus says right now to heart." Dumbledore said sympathetically.

Cora returned and began putting together a cup of tea for Harry.

Severus pulled Albus to the side as Cora fussed over Harry. "This also may mean the Dark Lord is getting stronger and will be summoning me soon." He said quietly. He had hoped he would have the summer free from the dark lord, especially now that Harry was in his care.

Albus nodded regretfully. "It may be. However, it could be that Harry just more susceptible to Tom's emotions because of occlumency as well as being upset."

"Yes, perhaps we should make sure the wolf has no contact with Harry until he comes to his senses," Severus said angrily. He sighed and rubbed his temples. "The sooner Harry learns to block him the better." If the Dark Lord was getting stronger then he may start trying to hurt Harry through his mind again.

Albus nodded, his eyes twinkling a bit. "Keep me informed if anything else happens Severus."

"I will." Severus turned back to Harry.

"Feel better my boy," Dumbledore said to Harry before making his departure.

Severus took his own cup of tea from Cora and sat across from Harry. "Any better?"

Harry nodded. He hardly felt any pain now. "Loads. Thank you sir."

Severus nodded. "Do not worry, in time you will master occlumency and this won't happen anymore." He said with determination.

Harry hoped so.

"You didn't need to come back here just because Remus said to." Severus said suddenly.

"Well, he thought that hoping to visit my friends was pretty unimportant as I am Voldemort's main target." Harry said in a listless voice. "He's right, of course."

"No he isn't!" Severus snapped. "You have been working hard Harry and should be very proud of yourself. He has no right to make you feel otherwise." Severus leaned forward. "Look at me."

Harry's sad green eyes met Severus's serious black ones.

"You should be proud of yourself and I can tell you honestly that I am very pleased with you," Severus said. "You are showing much improvement. And there is nothing wrong with wanting to see your friends. There is a reason the schedule I made you has plenty of free time as well as training and study time. You need a balance of both. And although the wolf does not know this, you are still healing from living with your relatives."

Harry nodded his understanding. "We have Occlumency tonight right?"

Severus regarded him, noticing his tired eyes. "We can skip a night," He said after a moment.

"No! I want to try and get the hang of this." He said almost desperately.

Severus had a feeling it was more of because of Remus than worrying about possible future pain in his scar. "On one condition. You take a calming draught and have a rest first."

Harry made a face. "You mean a nap," He said accusingly.

Severus rolled his eyes. "I mean a rest. If you do sleep, then that is obviously what your body needs and you will be better prepared to for our session tonight."

Harry wanted to argue but a rest sounded good to him. He really did need to finally master Occlumency and he honestly felt too unsettled right now to try. He finished his tea and took the calming draught that Snape gave him. He was feeling drowsy as he made his way upstairs. As he stumbled to his bed he thought he saw something sticking out from under his bed but was too sleepy to check. He fell onto his bed and immediately fell asleep

/

A couple of weeks passed and Harry did not experience any more issues with his scar, which he was grateful for. He was all around feeling better and stronger. His weight was up to where it should be and his summer homework was almost done. He loved dueling practice and though he still had a ways to go, he could tell he was improving more every day. The biggest shock of all was that he had grown quite fond of his professor and though he couldn't verbalize it yet, he felt like he finally had a parent of his own.

Harry bounded down the stairs after straightening his room, it was the only chore required of him, and was surprised to see that his place wasn't set for lunch like it usually was, although Snape was eating. He stood a few feet away from the table uncertainly.

"Mrs. Weasley floo called me to ask if you could go to the burrow for lunch," Severus said as he set down the potions journal he was reading. "Your friend Mr. Weasley has been complaining that I am keeping you here chained to a desk doing homework nonstop."

Harry's eyes widened. "He said that to you?"

"No, he was saying that to his mother when she was trying to speak to me," Severus smirked. "I must admit that Mrs. Weasley's ability to scold her son so fiercely for his rudeness rather warmed my heart."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Of course it did." His face brightened. "So I can go? Wait, what about you?"

Severus raised an eyebrow. "Although I would suffer from the peace and quiet, I actually need to go to an apothecary to get some ingredients I am out of, so this arrangement works out."

Harry grinned. "Can I go now?"

Severus frowned. "Of course. I'll floo you over-"

"I have used the floo by myself before," Harry said indignantly.

"Yes, only once." Severus said. "And thankfully you made it here unscathed, considering you struggle with the floo even when you are with someone." His eyes narrowed at Harry's expression. "Is there another time you have flooed by yourself?" He asked suspiciously.

"Before second year," Harry said casually. He met Snape's eyes and stared at him innocently.

Severus got up and moved to the fireplace, grabbing his jar of floo powder. "I'll call out the destination."

"I can do it. I'll be sixteen soon!" Harry protested. "And like you said, I flooed here from Grimmauld Place without any problems!"

Severus hesitated and was just about to nod when the floo lit up and Mrs. Weasley's face appeared. "Are you ready Harry? Come on dear, I thought it would be better if I helped you through so you don't end up in Knockturn Alley again," She chuckled.

Uh oh, Harry thought when his guardian's eyes darkened and leveled him with a glare. "See you later!" Harry said hastily as he practically dove into the floo.

"When should I send him back Severus?"

"Before six, if you would." Severus nodded to her, his arms crossed. Knockturn Alley, he thought with a rueful shake of his head.

/

Mrs. Weasley had fixed a big lunch and Harry and Ron happily ate their fill. "Where is everyone else?" Harry asked.

"Dad's at work, the twins are at their joke shop and Ginny is at a friend's house." Ron said as he started on another sandwich.

"When is Hermione coming?" Harry asked, anxious to see his other best friend. He still remembered how he had felt when he had seen her unconscious at the Department of Ministries. The guilt over his friends almost getting killed ate at him every day.

"August first," Ron said slowly.

Harry brightened. "The day after my birthday!" He said happily.

Ron drummed his fingers on the table. "Yeah," He said shortly.

"I can't wait to see her," Harry said as he reached for biscuit. He didn't notice the suspicious look on Ron's face.

They ate in silence for a couple of minutes when Ron suddenly stopped eating. "Is it Ginny?" He asked, an expectant look on his face.

"Is what Ginny?" Harry asked in confusion.

"The girl you like," Ron said. "You can tell me, it's not like I would disapprove or anything."

Harry put down his cup of pumpkin juice. "No, it's not Ginny. She's great and all but I don't see her that way." He said honestly.

"Oh," Ron looked at him thoughtfully.

Harry sighed. "Will you stop staring at me already?"

"I'm curious!" Ron shrugged.

"It's not something I want to talk about, because there is nothing to talk about," Harry said. "She probably only sees me as a friend anyway." He continued as he thought of her long white blonde hair and crystal blue eyes.

"But you consider her a good friend?" Ron persisted.

Harry thought of how Luna had gone to the ministry with them to help, and how after losing Sirius she had been the only one who had been able to comfort him.

Harry was walking aimlessly through the hallways when he came upon Luna putting fliers up on the walls. "Hi Luna."

Luna turned to him and tilted her head to the side. "Hello Harry. Why are you not at the feast?"

Harry shrugged. "I'm not really hungry." He looked curiously at the fliers. "What are you doing?"

"Oh, I'm putting up signs to try and get my possessions back," Luna answered. "People like to hide them, you know. But as it is the last night I really would like them back."

Harry frowned, and for the first time since Sirius's death he felt something other than grief and anger. He felt sorry for Luna. "That's awful."

Luna shrugged slightly. "Oh, it's all in good fun I'm sure." She said. "Although, I think they think I'm a little odd. Some even call me Loony Lovegood, actually." She said thoughtfully.

Harry glanced at the fliers. "That's no excuse for taking your belongings. Do you want help finding them?"

"I'm sure they will come back, they usually do," Luna looked at him for a moment before reaching over and gently holding his hand. "I'm sorry about your Godfather." She gave his hand a squeeze and then let go.

Harry sort of wished she hadn't let go of his hand. "Remember when I found you feeding the Thestrals? You talked about losing your mum and that even though you were sad, you would see her again."

"Yes. I believe that you will see your loved ones again." Luna said, looking him directly in the eyes. "You heard them, behind the veil didn't you?"

Harry stared at her in surprise. So…that had been real after all?

"It was in that room with the archway," Luna said somewhat dreamily. "They lurk just out of sight, that's all. You heard them."

Harry slowly nodded. "Are you sure you don't want me to help you find your things?" He asked finally.

Luna shook her head. "No, that's okay. Besides, the things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end, if not always in the way we expect." Her gaze suddenly went up to the ceiling.

Harry looked up and saw several pairs of shoes hanging from the ceiling arch. He glanced back at Luna and found she was smiling and he couldn't help but smile back.

"Actually, I think I'll go to the feast and get some pudding." Luna said, turning and practically skipped down the hallway.

Harry watched her go and realized he felt that the terrible weight that had been in his stomach had lessoned quite a bit. Pudding does sound good, he thought as he began to follow.

"Yeah," Harry said as he focused back on Ron. "She is a good friend. She's really insightful, in her own way, and sees things more deeply than most people, I think."

"Hmm," Ron said with a slight frown that Harry didn't notice. "So you just suddenly find yourself liking her? Whoever she is?"

Harry smiled a little as he thought of when Luna had told him that she and her dad had believed him about Voldemort. At first, he didn't know how comforting that could be considering she believed a lot of strange things but it really had made him feel better. Especially when she had pointed out to him that Voldemort's goal probably was to get him feel alone. "It surprised me too but I find myself thinking about her a lot." He pushed his empty plate away. "So what do you want to do?"

"Chess?" Ron said as he got up.

They began playing and Ron was surprised to see improvement in Harry's game. "You've been practicing alone? It must be awful at Snape's house, so I guess you would need something to do."

"I've played chess with him." Harry said as he made a move. "And it's not awful at all."

Ron dropped his chess piece. "What? How can it not be awful?" He asked incredulously. "It's Snape and he's a horrible git!"

"No, he isn't." Harry said with a frown. "Trust me okay? He's been real decent to me. I, well, I like having him as my guardian."

Ron stared at him. "He's confunded you, hasn't he?" He said. "I knew he wasn't a real member of the order, he's on You-Know-Who's side!"

"Don't be stupid," Harry said with a glare. "I'm not confunded and he is on our side."

"All right then," Ron leaned back in his chair. "So the bat of the dungeons at Hogwarts is really an easy going guy who plays chess, jokes with you and cooks you your meals." He said sarcastically.

"No," Harry said irritably. "He has played chess with me a few times and his humor is…more snarky but can be funny. He doesn't cook, Cora does."

Ron's mouth dropped open. "That bat has a girlfriend?"

"She's a house-elf." Harry said tensely. "And don't call him that. Snape is strict about homework, rules and respect but he also makes sure I've eaten enough, he got me new clothes, and he listens if I need to talk."

"Talk about what?" Ron narrowed his eyes. "Does he give you advice on your new feelings for your friend?" He scoffed. "What else would you talk about?"

"Gee, let's think," Harry said in mock thoughtfulness. "There's the death of my godfather, the fact I grew up with no parents and instead with people who hate me, and then there's Voldemort who has been causing me some problems."

Ron took a deep breath. "Okay mate, here's the thing. Snape hated Sirius and is happy he is dead. And I know the Dursley's are annoying but even they would be better than Snape, who is a death eater and for all we know, has never actually changed sides!"

"You don't know anything," Harry said hoarsely, stung by the comment of the Dursley's. There was no way he would confide in Ron about them, his friend just wouldn't understand. "Snape is like a parent to me, he –"

"What!" Ron began laughing. "You're loonier than Lovegood if you believe that!"

That did it. Harry was in his friend's face in an instant, causing Ron to back up a few steps. "You shut your mouth," He hissed.

"What is your problem?" Ron shoved Harry. Hard.

Thanks to his dueling practice, Harry managed not to fall and instead quickly steadied himself and started for Ron, his fists clenched.

"What in Merlin's name is going on?" Mrs. Weasley asked in shock, with a surprised Ginny right behind her as they entered the room.

"Are you two fighting?" Ginny asked, her brown eyes wide.

Ron pointed at Harry. "He's insane, or being confunded or something. He likes Snape being his guardian and even referred to him as a parent!"

Harry flushed and looked away.

"Enough Ronald," Mrs. Weasley said firmly. "Professor Snape has been very good in taking care of Harry and there is nothing wrong with him thinking of the professor in a parental way. Is this why you shoved Harry?" She demanded.

"He's also acting all secretive!" Ron exclaimed, throwing up his hands. "He likes someone but won't tell me who she is. I'm supposed to be his best friend!"

Ginny's eyes brightened and she looked at Harry hopefully. Unfortunately for her, Ron noticed.

"Sorry Gin, it's not you." Ron said tactlessly.

Ginny's face turned red with embarrassment. "You're a git!" She ran up the stairs.

"Ronald Weasley!" Mrs. Weasley yelled. "Stop acting so inconsiderate this instant! If this is going to be your attitude this summer, then perhaps I will inform the Grangers that Hermione shouldn't come here!"

Ron's eyes widened. "No, don't do that!"

Mrs. Weasley just gave her a son a glare and then turned to Harry. "I'm sorry dear, but perhaps you should go back home." She said gently. She gave Ron a stern look. "It would appear that someone needs a nap!"

That was fine with Harry. He turned and began walking to the kitchen, where their fireplace was.

"Wait!" Ron called after him, an flicker of regret on his face.

Harry didn't see that however, as he didn't turn around and instead used some floo powder to return to the one place where he felt safe and understood.

TBC: