Hi all! Just wanted to let you know that I might not be able to update tomorrow. I have a programming final on Thursday and more then likely I won't have any time to write.
Also Ron and Hermione will make their appearance soon. All in good time. Don't worry they know Harry is ok, they trust their head of house.

When Remus and Sirius came back through the floo to number 12 Grimmauld place the first thing Sirius did was collapse in a chair dramatically . "Why did it have to be Snivellus?"

Remus gave the animagus a stern look. "Didn't Minerva ask you to stop using that name?"

Sirius shrugged his shoulders. "She's not here to hear me."

Remus threw his hands up in the air. "I can't believe you Sirius. Didn't you hear what I said back there? Were you not paying attention to anything that happened back there? Did you not see how Harry depends on Severus?"

Shrugging his shoulders again he nodded. "Yes, he depended on him when we were not there, but now he has us to lean on. Snivellus can take the back seat again."

"Sirius Orion Black! Do you not think of anyone, but yourself? Severus has feelings too you know. Do you know who it was who wiped his tears after all your pranks and begged not to tell a teacher what you had done to him? Did you even know he cried?"

Sirius was now looking at Remus with curiosity. "Snivellus cried after our pranks? They were just that though, pranks. We never purposely hurt him."

Remus sighed and sat down with his head in his hands. "Merlin Sirius, there is more than just physical pain. You humiliated him almost every day for seven years, don't you think that hurt? How would you have felt?"

"This is still Snivellus were talking about right? He always retorted right back at us, he couldn't be hurting that much."

Looking up at Sirius Remus was starting to think he was never going to get through that thick head. "Have you ever heard of a defense mechanism?" Sirius shook his head. Remus sighed and continued. "A Defense mechanism is an unconscious psychological strategy used when someone is being attacked verbally or physically. It allows that person to act a certain way that they would not normally in order to cope with what is happening to them." Remus paused to see if Sirius was still listening and, then continued. "In other words Severus doesn't let people in, he remains cold and detached from the world so he can't get hurt. Those "retorts" as you call them is a way to protect himself from further hurt. He felt that he could show no weakness in front of you or you would turn that into something else to hurt him. You were hurting him Sirius."

Remus was surprised, Sirius actually looked ashamed for what he had done. "You said someone was there for him. Who was it?"

Looking at Sirius Remus had a spark of compassion in his eyes. "Did you ever wonder where I went after you left Severus? I would always pull him somewhere private so he could cry on my shoulder. I think besides Lily I was his only friend. After he found out I was a werewolf our fifth year, he came to the hospital wing the next day to make sure I was alright. He didn't run or hide from me like most people would, he came to comfort me. Severus is a good person and I always thought it was a shame you or James could never see it."

Feeling guilt weigh down on his shoulders Sirius looked down and just barely whispered to Remus. "Do you think he will ever forgive me?"

Remus gave Sirius a soft, warm look. "Severus once confided in me when we were still at Hogwarts that he would do anything for you to forgive him. Do you know he blames himself for all you did to him? No matter what I said or continue to say he still thinks he deserved all of it because of something he did. It doesn't matter that he still doesn't know what he supposedly did, he still thinks it's all his fault."

Sirius looked down into his lap with tears in his eyes. "Did I do that too? Make him take the blame for things that were out of his control."

Reaching out Remus patted Sirius on the hand. "That is purely his father's fault. Did you hear when Minerva said that Harry and Severus share a similar past? Well, it's true. Severus did not have a good home life and neither Lily nor I could get him to tell anyone when we were still in school. I finally got him to tell Albus and Minerva a couple of years ago when I taught at Hogwarts."

"Remus is there anything I can do to make this right?"

Sirius sounded so sad and hurt it hurt Remus, but he had to lay these truths out for him. Remus knew if he didn't Sirius would never truly get along with Severus. "I do think an apology would help him heal. I only ask that I am there with you to help pick up the pieces. He picked me up after Lily and James died and you went to Azkaban. It's the least I can do for him."

Sirius nodded. Remus took pity on him and went over and pulled his friend up into an embrace. "You can make this right Sirius."

Minerva and Harry had just arrived in Hogsmead when they were surrounded by reporters. Apparently they had been waiting outside the gates to Hogwarts so they could "talk" to the boy who lived. Minerva did her best to shield Harry from their questions as she backed them into an alley they could escape through. When they had almost backed all the way in Minerva turned her head slightly and whispered in Harry's ear. "I'll hold them off for a little longer. I want you to run back into the alley and meet me in Honeydukes. Once you get inside don't come out until I come for you. Understand?"

All Harry did was give a quick nod and he was off through the back of the alley . Harry ran as fast as he could to Honeydukes and once he was inside he asked the store owner if he could wait in the back for Minerva. Seeing the panicked expression on Harry's face he readily agreed. It was the least he could do for his best customer, Remus. Protect his cub.

Harry waited there for over an hour. He was beginning to worry. Where was Minerva? What had happened? When waiting had become too much for Harry he fished the coin Severus had given him and held it with all his might. He needed someone right now, anyone.

Ten minutes later Severus entered the sweet shop looking for Harry. It didn't matter that he was in the middle of a class when Harry had called, Harry needed him. Frantically he asked the store owner where Harry was and was pointed to the back room. Spotting Harry he scooped the child up in his arms.

"Professor, I don't know where Minerva is. Reporters came as soon as we arrived and she told me to run here and not leave until she came to get me. It's been at least an hour and she's not here. Something must have happened. Please help!" By the end of his explanation Harry was in tears and Severus was trying to calm him.

"Harry I need you to look at me." Harry looked up from where his head was resting on Severus's shoulder. "I need to go find Minerva and make sure she is alright. The charm I placed on the coins works the other way as well. If you feel your coin start to heat up I want you to ask the owner of this store to contact Dumbledore right away. Can you do that for me?" Harry nodded. "I'm going to put you down now. Just stay calm until I get back or you feel your coin heat up. Everything will be fine." The next moment Severus was gone and Harry was left to worry again.

Severus cast a point me spell to find Minerva and rushed through the streets to get to her. The good news was that she was only two blocks away in an alley way. The bad news was that she was unconscious and injured, badly. It looked like the reporters had gotten angry when their target had fled and had taken it out on Minerva. As quickly as Severus could, he cast healing charms on the some of the deeper wounds caused by a cutting curse. Healing her just enough to make her stable to move Severus cast a patronus charm asking for help.

The rest of the day went by in a blur for all involved. Albus and Filius came to move Minerva back to the hospital wing for further treatment. When Severus was reassured that she was in good hands went to fetch Harry. When Severus had brought Harry to the hospital wing to see Minerva they had found that she had been moved to St. Mungo's. Her injures had been too much for Poppy to handle on her own. The two then flooed to the hospital to await news of how Minerva was doing.

Severus was frustrated to say the least. No matter how much he asked, threatened, or pleaded (yes pleaded) for news of Minerva no one would tell him anything. He was not family and by law they were not allowed to tell anyone about a patient unless they were related by blood or marriage. After another one of Severus's shouting matches with the staff, he looked at Harry to see how he was doing. All he saw was the frightened face of a little boy who thought he might lose someone dear before he found himself embracing the child.

"Harry, everything will be ok. I promise you they are giving Minerva the best care they can and she will be fine." Hugging the boy even tighter he rocked him back and forth and gently rubbed his back. "You can cry if you need to. I'm right here for you."

Hearing Severus tell him it was ok to cry was Harry's cue. He cried brokenheartedly into Severus robes until the tears could come no more. All the while Severus was holding him and whispering soothing words into his ear. Severus couldn't care less about his reputation right now. He had a crying boy on his lap and Minerva had been hurt. All he cared about was Minerva being all right and soothing the boy. Everything else was thrown out of the window.

When he felt his own tears trickle down his own face he thought it might be time to call in reinforcements. With his wand he cast a quick patronus charm to Remus. He knew he could have called Albus, but he figured that he was too busy finding who did this to his friend. Plus he needed a long time friend, someone who would understand and not pity him.

Less than twenty minutes had passed when Severus felt a gentle hand on his back. Severus was glad to feel that gentle hand, it meant that Remus was here. He closed his eyes and felt the relief flow through him. Remus came in front of Severus and gently picked Harry off his lap setting him comfortably on a bench so he could continue to sleep. He then came and sat next to Severus and wrapped his arms around him in a side long hug. Not saying anything just providing the much needed comfort.

Remus knew his friend well, even though the tears had stopped long ago despair still lingered. When he had felt Severus had calmed down a bit he pulled back from the hug and gave Severus a good look. Seeing the dried tear tracks on his face Remus took out a handkerchief and cast a spell to dampen it a little. Remus handed it to Severus to clean his face and received a grateful nod in return.

When Severus had cleaned himself up Remus gave him a searching look. "Speak to me Severus. All your patronus said was that you and Harry were here waiting for Minerva. What happened?"

Wiping the new tears away with the handkerchief Severus took a deep breath to steady himself. "Minerva and Harry went to Hogsmead to get some new things for Harry. Everything he owns is threadbare and so worn they are barley wearable. When they arrived they were hounded with reporters wanting to ask Harry "questions". Minerva backed them into an alley way and told Harry to run to the sweet shop and wait for her there. Harry then called me in a panic. I don't know what actually happened to Minerva, but I'm assuming some reporter was upset at her for letting Harry get away." Severus paused to catch his breath and to calm himself a little. He then looked at Remus with tears in his eyes. "How can someone do that just because they didn't get there gossip they wanted?"

Remus pulled Severus back into a sidelong hug. "I don't know Severus. I just don't know."

Just then a kind looking nurse with red hair and a smile came out calling for Severus. He went up to the nurse with Remus right by his side. "Minerva, is she ok?"

The nurse gave him a warm smile. "Minerva is going to be just fine. She's asking for you. Would you like to see her?"

Severus didn't hesitate for a moment. "Yes, very much so." He then turned to Remus. "Would you mind watching Harry for me?" Remus nodded and the nurse led Severus back to see Minerva.

When Severus first saw his former Professor he was shocked at how fragile she looked. She had the covers pulled up beneath her armpits, but he could still see where the bandages were. When he saw her eyes rest on him he immediately went to her side. He sat down in the chair next to her bed and gently grabbed her hand. Faintly he heard the nurse's call of "fifteen minutes", but he didn't care. Minerva was ok.

"How are you feeling Minerva?"

Minerva gave Severus one of her sly smiles she was famous for. "I'm better, thanks to you. They said if you hadn't found me when you did I would have bled out. How is Harry?"

"Harry is as upset that you were hurt as I am. He cried himself out in my arms and is now with Remus. I know he will be ok, but right now I'm worried about you." Severus gave her a concerned look and gave a gentle squeeze to her hand.

"I'll be fine Severus. There releasing me tomorrow, but I have to rest for a few weeks. That means that I'm going to be confined to a damn wheelchair. I hope you and Harry don't mind putting up with a grumpy old lady for a few weeks because I fear that I'm going to be complaining a lot." With that she gave Severus a smile full of mischief.

"So you're going to play the grumpy old lady card, eh? You have no shame do you?" Severus couldn't help but crack a small smile. Even when she was in the hospital all beat up she still managed to cheer him up. Severus had to stop himself from shaking his head at her antics. He didn't know how she did it.

"You know I lost my shame long ago. I fear it was when you were still a student and I had green goo dumped on my head by a boy in your year. It took weeks to get that out of my hair." Minerva had tried with all her might to keep a straight deadpan look, but failed miserably and broke out into a grin.

Laughing Severus remembered that incident. James Potter had just played a particularity mean prank on him and Remus was trying to cheer him up. He had dumped an entire bucket on her head and had gotten two weeks of detention for his effort. It did cheer Severus up though and he had laughed for weeks.

A soft pat on his shoulder broke him out of his thought. He turned around and saw the same nurse who had led him in here. "I'm sorry sir, but you have to go now. Mrs. Mcgonagall here has to get her rest if she is going to be released tomorrow. You can come and pick her up around three pm."

Severus nodded and gave Minerva's hand one final squeeze. "I'll see you tomorrow Minerva." He then bent down and gave her forehead a gentle kiss. "Rest well and don't cause too much trouble for the poor staff."

"Don't worry I'm just an old lady." Nobody was fooled though when she gave a troublesome smile.

As Severus left through the door he turned to the nurse. "Watch that one. Or by tomorrow morning she'll have this whole place turned upside down." He was rewarded by soft chuckles from behind him.