Chapter 10

Harry sat under a large tree, he didn't know what tree it was, and he didn't much care to know. The sun burned over head and the air was toying with his hair, all in all it felt rather nice. Idly his hands pulled up a few strands of grass and let them fall on his lap. He felt his eyes begin to close as the serenity lulled him into sleep.

He was grateful to whoever sent him the hangover potion. Otherwise he would be missing this wonderful day, throwing up inside. Harry had fully intended to use this day to plan his training regime, but he was feeling rather lazy at the moment. A bird cheeped over head and he could hear the lake not to far away.

Was this what a world without Voldemort would be like? Was this what was worth fighting for? A place safe for Hermione and Ron? For their children that they had together or separately.

A noise alerted him that something was out of place here.

Someone was moving not to far from where he was sat, and suddenly he was alert and on his feet instantly. It could have been Snape following him once again. The damn man had started following him and appearing everywhere Harry didn't want him to.

"Not like you to be on your own Potter." A rich voice floated to him. It was a Slytherin but he couldn't tell who it was. All Slytherin's spoke as if they were Gods. Their words always quiet and to the point, they couldn't help it, if your head was stuck up your own arse it tended to come out muffled.

Harry pulled his wand from his pocket. A wand was always needed when dealing with Slytherin's. No matter how big they were.

Malfoy and a bunch of his stooges appeared before him. Harry suddenly wished it had been Snape once again sneaking up on him. The idea distressed him; did he want Snape to come to his rescue or something?

"A horde of baby Death eaters. Now this shall be easy. I've already beaten most of your parents in battle why do you think you stand a chance?" Harry taunted him.

Malfoy coolly pulled his own wand out as did his comrades. "Cause we unlike our parents work together. We do not via for the Dark lord's attention and try to pick you off ourselves. We will bring you in together." Malfoy smirked.

The blonde boy waited a few moments before casting the first spell. That gave Harry enough time to see in the older boys face.

He didn't want to fight Harry. He was afraid. But of him? Or of the Dark lord?

Harry felt the first spell shoot past his ear, a warning shot intending to make him fight. Harry's eyes met Malfoy's grey ones. Oh Malfoy wanted to kill someone alright, but it wasn't him.

He only had a few seconds as he had Malfoy held each others gaze, before a barrage of spells were upon him.

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It was late evening and Severus was enjoying his meal, however something felt very wrong. He couldn't put his finger on it. He had avoided seeing the Potter child all day, after his confusing feelings had made themselves known. He only came to the great hall this evening because he did not want to cook for himself. There had to be some perks to being a Professor and this was one of them.

To his relief Harry was not present at dinner, which Severus had concluded was due to his hangover. The first hangover was often the worst and Severus did feel slightly sorry for the boy, considering he had probably pushed him into it. He refused to acknowledge his annoyance at the boy not taking his potion. But if Harry had not known who it was from he might have suspected poison. Which was actually showing some form of intelligence from the boy?

Although Severus was sure he signed his name, so Harry was just being stubborn and refused to take it because it came from him. Angrily Severus stabbed his food with his fork. Stupid immature child. He looked up again at the great hall in case he had somehow over looked the boy.

The Granger girl and her boyfriend were eating dinner, but even they seemed quite concerned. Granger's eyes kept darting towards the doors and then up towards Dumbledore. Very peculiar. Still Severus had no interest in what Harry was doing; he was seeing him on Monday that was enough for him. It gave him enough time to sort out just whatever was wrong with him.

Dumbledore finished his meal and had left the table, with Granger at his heels. The Weasel child left the great hall with worry on his face.

Severus put down his fork. That explained the wrong feeling then. Something was wrong with Harry. But Severus didn't care did he? No he did not, so he reassumed eating his mashed up food.

He became more concerned as Dumbledore flew from the great hall in the same direction as the weasel had gone. Some other teachers shared his concern and rose in confusion. A few moments later there was a summons for the nurse and a staff meeting was called. A few students looked on in fear, but Dumbledore assured them that it was just school business.

Severus listened as did the other teachers in the staff room about Harry Potters attack. What seemed to have started out as a bullying fight had turned sinister and Potter was in the hospital wing. It was nothing serious a few minor hexes, but he was being held overnight to make sure his boy healed properly.

Dumbledore went on to explain that it was not a Death Eater attack upon their golden boy, and some teachers had already expressed that concern. Death Eaters would not have left Harry alive on the ground. He would have been taken captive. However children of Death Eaters may have been closer to what happened.

Severus tuned out the rest of the speech. He knew what children could have attacked Harry. His mind first jumped to Draco, but Draco had a bigger task ahead of him. Subconsciously he looked back at Dumbledore. Draco may have led the attack but he would not have cast any spells.

He would look into the matter as a way of appeasing his guilt.

He knew something was wrong when Potter was not at dinner. But instead chose to ignore it as he battled with his own emotions. Severus left the staff room and walked down to his own quarters. He had failed Lily's son once again, as once again he placed himself above the well being of someone else.

Entering his home, he settled in an armchair. These emotions towards the boy had to be kept in check. What if Harry had died? The thought made something cold settle in his stomach, and he automatically leaned towards his bottle of wine.

Another death because of him. Another person that he felt something towards. Oh it was not love or even lust. Hell it wasn't even affection, but it was something, and he had not felt something towards any living person.

Said person was harmed because he wasn't doing his job.

Severus sighed and tapped his nails against the glass bottle. No this would not do. He made an oath to protect Harry because he was Lily's son. He promised Dumbledore he would help the boy because he needed help. He needed to save Harry because it appeased that wrong decision he made years ago, bringing Voldemort that damn prophecy. The fact that he wanted to? Well that was Severus just being selfish.

He looked at the wine bottle in his hand. This wasn't going to help anyone. He threw it into the fire in anger and whisked out the door, fully intent on visiting the hospital quarters.

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Harry felt stupid. Not pain at his injuries, not anger that he was attacked, just plain old stupid. He couldn't take out baby Death Eaters. How could he manage adult ones, or even for that matter their bloody leader? Malfoy had been right. Death Eaters fought against each other, trying to win Harry for their master. These students had worked as a collective unit.

Harry could just not find it within himself to hurt people. He knew he could kill every one there, but instead he had run like a coward. The thought of being able to actually win a battle scared him. The thought that he was so confident in his abilities scared him.

Maybe he was as arrogant as people thought him, so safe in his abilities that only Voldemort could hurt him? He looked at his bandaged hand; he was what Snape thought him to be. He was truly James's son. An arrogant prick who thought he was better then those around him.

His hand fell to the bed with a dull thump. The evening was rapidly darkening and it was gloomy in this room. Here on his own, he felt lonely.

"You are not the same as Potter." A voice cut across his thoughts.

Harry looked up in surprise and tried to make out where the voice was coming from. He saw someone standing near the doorway and he tried to find his wand. A sudden light from a candle illuminated Snapes features. Harry slumped in relief.

Snape flowed out from the shadows and looked down at him. "It seems you have been in the wars."

A silence stretched between them.

"Not quite yet." Harry finally answered. He gestured Snape to sit, which to his surprise he did. "It's not polite to listen to people thoughts." He said grumpily.

"It is not arrogance to be confident it ones abilities." Snape told him curtly. "You did not start the fight. Between us, it takes more guts to walk away from a fight then it does to fight one. You may have really hurt someone." Snape smirked when Harry's eyes looked up at him surprised. "You may have fooled the Headmaster into thinking you were overwhelmed and so you ran and hid, but I know you Mister Potter, you could have handled yourself."

Harry shifted on the bed angrily. "I didn't want to hurt anyone."

Snape nodded thoughtfully. "Hence my earlier statement. I have seen you in battle Potter, with men twice your size and with double the spell knowledge you have. Tell me who attacked you?" He placed his hands knitted together on his lap waiting for his answer.

Harry shook his head refusing to tell on Malfoy. Something was happening with him and Harry wanted to work out what it was. He completely forgot Snape could read minds until he made a confirming noise.

"I had suspected it was young Malfoy who led the attack." Snape looked angry, and Harry was perplexed as to why. It was no great secret that Snape had a fondness for the boy.

"He only does what he is told to do. For some reason I don't blame him. People on the light side must have made mistakes when they thought they were doing the right thing. Malfoy seems to be doing what he thinks is right." Harry commented thoughtfully.

"True, but Malfoy has more intelligence then that. I'm afraid this attack might have been bred out of rivalry." Snape looked up at him.

"Sounds like you and my father." Harry counteracted.

"Possibly. Do not look so surprised Potter; I am adult enough to admit when mistakes have been made."

Harry sat up and looked at the man sitting across from him. They studied each other for a few moments. "And I am adult enough to admit when I need help. I ask you Professor will you help me?" He held out his bandaged hand.

Snape looked at it for a few moments and grasped it gently, shaking it. "Yes Potter I will assist you." He released it quickly, almost acting like he had been burned. Harry's eyes narrowed in question, and suspicion. "I apologize I do not like seeing you harmed."

Harry felt something shift in his chest as he looked into the beetle eyes of the man. He decided to test the waters just a little bit. "That might be something you have to get used to."

"Potter when I'm finished with you, I expect to see you unharmed, and that will be after your fight with the Dark lord. I expect to see you Monday at seven." And with that he left, leaving Harry staring after him.

Just what was going on here? Harry thought to himself settling back down into his bed. He looked around the empty hospital wing. He needed Snapes help no doubt about that, but why was he being almost friendly to him? He yawned and snuggled into his pillow. Maybe hitting him and helped Snape see him as an actual Human being.

Sleepily Harry smiled. He should have done that a long time ago.

A stray thought suddenly popped into his brain and he sat up groggily. It could have been Snape to send him that potion. After all Hermione wouldn't have sent him one, and there was no one else who would have done. What was Snape doing? Harry thought suspicion creeping up on him again.

Harry shrugged; he was tired and wanted to sleep. He could figure this out tomorrow. Oh to live in a world free of suspicion. Was his last thought before he fell into sleep.

TBC