Disclaimer: I don't own it. Severus has his way with Harry, eventually. If you don't likeit don't read it.

Special thanks to my beta Rachel. Worship her guys because as you've seen my grammar and spelling suck.

Chapter 14

For the second time that day, Harry fell forward, but before he could hit the ground, strong arms caught him. Blinking, Harry looked up to find himself wrapped in his professor's arms and pressed against the man's strong chest.

"Thanks," he whispered softly leaning into the warmth, the smell faint of cinnamon and sand wood soothing him. He felt safe and wanted, tucked within the safe haven of the older man's arms.

Much to his surprise, instead of releasing him, the Slytherin pulled him closer, gently rubbing the teen's back in small, comforting circles. "You're welcome, brat," Severus murmured, sighing he released the younger man. "That was a rather reckless stunt you just pulled. I can't believe you called him Voldie to his face."

Harry chuckled, causing the Slytherin to unbend enough to smile.

"How are you feeling?" Severus asked, concerned. It had, after all, only been a few days since the boy had been bed ridden, and now this stunt with the Dark Lord, not to mention they had been out and about earlier. Harry must be exhausted, he thought.

Harry turned his head away as pain flickered across his face and his shoulders slumped tiredly.

Severus frowned at the younger man's expression, but, forcing down his worry, he waited expectantly.

Harry sighed, rubbing his eyes. "To be honest that whole thing was rather nerve wracking and..." The Gryffindor hesitated for a second before continuing, unable to deny telling the older man the truth. "And the deeper I dig into all this, the more used and fucked over and alone I feel," Harry whispered, shoulders slumping.

"You're not alone," Severus declared, forcing the younger man to meet his eyes by grabbing his chin. "I'll be right here to clean up your mess."

Much to the older man's relief, the teen smiled and his eyes lost their haunted look. He could remember far too well the pain and self doubt he had suffered as a child. Seeing Harry going through the same thing, Severus couldn't help but want to ease some of his suffering. Not that he was going to admit it. Not out loud, at least.

Severus smirked, pushing the Gryffindor towards his room. "Now, off to bed with you."

Harry chuckled as he started toward the room, shoes tapping lightly on the stone floor, but he stopped before he'd gone more than a few feet and looked over his shoulder at the older man. "Thanks," Harry said again.

Severus nodded and made his way toward his own his room. It had, after all, been a long, long day.

----

Screams echoed throughout the room, tearing Severus from his sleep. He swore loudly. In all the excitement, he had forgotten about his plans to give the teen a Dreamless Sleep potion. After pausing to grab a vial out of a small cabinet, he dashed to Harry's room. As he pushed the door open, he winced at the sight before him.

Harry was curled up in a ball on the bed, cowering from some unseen force. Tears were running down his face as he begged and pleaded for his uncle to stop.

Severus' heart felt torn in two at the pathetic sight. He approached the bed warily, then placed a hand on the teen's shoulder.

Harry jerked away.

"Harry, wake up. Harry!" Severus commanded.

Wide, panic-filled eyes met his, and Harry scrambled away, plainly terrified.

Severus stared at the shivering form on the edge of the bed, wrapped in the emerald comforter.

"Please don't hurt me, Uncle," Harry whimpered, looking far too young and helpless for someone who had met a Dark Lord that day. When Severus moved towards him, he shrank back even farther, covering his face with his arms.

"Harry, it's me, Severus. I'm not going to hurt you, I swear it," Severus murmured, reaching out to wrap his arms around the terrified teen. He held on, even as the younger man struggled desperately to escape, limbs flailing. "Hush, Harry, you're safe here. I've got you," Severus whispered into the younger man's ear and continued to hold the younger man close.

"Professor?" Harry asked eventually, voice trembling.

Severus pulled away slightly to look into tear-filled eyes, and was relieved to find the fear retreating from the younger man's face. Bringing a finger up he brushed away a tear from Harry's cheek. "We really need to stop meeting like this," Severus murmured softly.

Harry managed a wet chuckle.

Severus dug into his robes and pulled out the vial he had grabbed from his room. "Here, I want you to drink this." He sighed. "I should have given it to you earlier. It's a Dreamless Sleep potion. I want you to start taking it every night," Severus explained.

Hesitantly, Harry reached for the potion, and his slender fingers wrapped around the narrow glass vial.

Into the quiet, Severus asked, "If I may, were you dreaming about your uncle?"

Harry nodded as he uncorked the potion and brought it to his lips.

Severus watched in fascination as the younger man swallowed the pale blue liquid. A pink tongue slid out and licked the last drops of potion from his lips. As he swallowed the last of it, Harry made a face, and Severus almost smirked, knowing the stuff tasted awful.

"Do all the potions you brew taste like crap?" Harry asked groggily, as the potion kicked in.

Severus chuckled outright as he helped the other man settle himself back down on to the bed. "If it tasted good, trouble-makers like you would have no reason to stay out of trouble," he answered, pulling the blanket up around the Gryffindor's frail form and tucking in it.

"I should have known you'd say something like that, damn Slyth..." Harry trailed off mid-word as the potion sent him into a deep slumber.

Leaning down, Severus brushed his lips to the Gryffindor's head. "Good night, brat," he whispered, then stood and left the bedroom.

Instead of returning to his own bed, he retrieved a bottle of rum from a cabinet in the kitchen. After pulling down a shot glass as well, he made his way to the living room and sat in his favorite chair. Once he had poured himself a shot, he swirled it thoughtfully, enjoying the way the liquid glowed like gold in the firelight.

The day had been full of surprises. He certainly hadn't expected Harry to demand to see Voldemort, though one would think he would have moved past shocked after the way things had been going for him lately.

Then, of course, there had been the earlier shock of discovering that the brat was the heir of the house of Slytherin, though how Harry had managed that was still uncertain. There was a lineage potion he could brew; it took a while to prepare, however. Perhaps he could get Harry to help him; it would be the perfect opportunity to find out what the teen was capable of in the lab.

He sighed, taking a sip of the rum, letting the liquid burn its way down his throat. The day's current events weren't the only thing weighing on his mind. Both earlier, when he had caught the younger man, and tonight, he had reacted physically to Harry, and it wasn't the first time. Far too often, he found his gaze following the younger man's movements, admiring the way he looked.

The teen was just too bloody good looking.

Frustrated suddenly, he slammed the glass down on the table. The amber liquid splattered. Severus stared at it blankly as it dribbled over the side of the table. Sighing, he leaned back in his chair. He seemed, lately, to be losing control of things, such as his growing attraction to Harry, a student half his age. He felt like a bloody hormonal teen again. Not to mention the fact that he had been acting out of character around Harry. He had hugged the brat, for crying out loud. A few weeks ago, he would have laughed himself silly if someone said he would end up comforting the bloody-Boy-Who-Lived after a nightmare . . . after hexing them to oblivion, of course.

Of course, much of this oddness was because he had recently discovered that the teen was nothing like his father, and in fact had endured a childhood quite similar to his own. But still, it was like he couldn't help himself. He couldn't seem to bear to watch the teen suffer, especially when he could prevent it. These feelings were down right frustrating.

To make matters worse, he was starting to like the little brat.

It was hard not to. Severus was starting to see why the sorting hat had wanted to put Harry in Slytherin. Harry was smart, cunning and full of secrets. He continuously shocked Severus with insights, and he could certainly hold his own in a conversation. Some of their debates had been downright riveting.

Perhaps that was part of the problem; the teen didn't act his age at all. He challenged Severus intellectually, making it difficult for Severus to see him as a child. He had to admit, he found the teen's mind as attractive as he found his physical features.

Oh shit.

Severus' eyes widened in shock as realization dawned. His hands tightened around the glass in his hand. This was just bloody wonderful. He could deal with being physically attracted to the teen, just barely -- after all, any one with eyes could see Harry was gorgeous, with his dark hair, brilliant green eyes and delicate frame -- but for it to be anything more than that was just too much.

"I can't handle this," Severus muttered, rubbing his temples. Grabbing up his drink, he drained the glass.

No. Wait. He was blowing this out of portion. He could acknowledge his attraction; all it proved was that Harry was a handsome and bright young man. Nothing more than that. The prospect was only shocking because Severus had never had any interest in one of his students prior to this. He had no interest in children at all.

However, Harry was not a child, had likely never been. That privilege had been ripped away from him by Voldemort and his relatives. As such, it was impossible to think of him as one.

Hourly chimes cut through Severus' thoughts. Startled, he glanced at the clock, catching sight of the long hand pointing at the one. He sighed. With a quick spell, he vanished his glass to the kitchen. This was utterly ridiculous. Freshly determined, Severus headed toward his room. Time to stop dwelling on this stupidly.

Upon entering his room, he made his way to his bed, without bothering to turn on the lights. He lay down, slipping between crisp, black sheets. Today had been rather strenuous, and he was tired. Sleep came quickly in the end.

Crash. Bang. Clang.

Severus? What's with the author?

Harry: She's throwing things.

Severus: (sighs at Harry) I CAN see that.

Harry: Oh!(blushes) Its because she feel in love with this fanfic then the author stopped writing it.

Severus:...I see. (shakes his head sadly)

STOMP,STOMP,STOMP

Author: I hearby swear that this fanfic will be completed. Unless of course I die, then you're just out of luck.

Severus:(rolls eyes) You raided the cookie jar again didn't you?

Author: Yup, which reminds me. If you review I'll give you a cookie.