1.

"Boy, get back here now. You're not getting away with this!"—Wham!—Slam!—Snape saw a younger Harry duck behind a kitchen counter as a frying pan was thrown at him, it landed with a clash against the wall behind him. "You little freak, it's impossible to grow out a haircut over night! Get back here so Petunia can chop it off again."

Snape exited the memory and was pulling out of Harry's mind when, "Luna…" Snape quickly subsided to another memory, which was not a memory he wanted to see again.

"Sirius!"—Snape now witnessed Sirius Black fall through a veil to his death as Harry reached for him. Inconsolably, he was stopped by Remus Lupin.

"Crucio!" Snape then watched Harry point his wand a Bellatrix Lestrange.

That was enough, Severus Snape then pulled himself out of Harry Potter's mind, for he couldn't bear watching him perform an unforgivable curse. Harry sunk into a nearby chair, exhausted for having his mind invaded; this was nothing Harry had ever felt before.

Severus looked down at Harry, guilt crept over him. He began to wish he hadn't neglected the boy for so long; he could have prevented this, or at least he could have helped Harry through it. Harry did seek Snape for help before they went to the ministry. If only he had went back to Harry. Responsibility surged through Severus like electricity as he realized he hadn't just let down Harry, but Lily. Snape always believed he was protecting Harry to the point where he was out of harm. Severus's mind stopped running rapidly when Harry looked up into his face.

"Could you see all that?"

Hesitantly Severus nodded and he then opened his mouth to justify what he had done, for Severus had no idea the memories would be such a rush of particularly personal ones, but before he could get a word in edgewise Harry interrupted him.

"Okay."

Harry did feel a sense of invasion, but he didn't feel resentment like what he would have felt if Severus Snape was still the heartless man that he had known for so many years. This was a new Snape and Harry didn't mind sharing her personal past; Severus already knew the worst. Looking at the astounded Severus, Harry nodded his head as to assure him again that everything was fine.

"Alright," Severus still began cautiously. "Now that you know what it feels like, I'm going to try again. This time you will try to block me."

Harry nodded and Severus entered his mind once again.

"I killed Sirius Black!"

"Crucio!"

Instantly, he exited his mind, baffled by seeing this memory again. "Potter did you really?" Severus asked softly as Harry sunk into the chair again, mentally exhausted.

Harry nodded. "She had just killed Sirius. I wanted to hurt her. I wanted her to feel the worst pain I could inflict. That was what she had just done to me and she deserved it."

Severus felt a twinge in his stomach; this wasn't something he wanted to hear Harry say, although he understood his reasons. All the years Severus had known Harry, he had known that Harry was a compassionate boy, this was a new side—his more personal side. Severus nodded as he continued to ponder over his new observation, but Harry soon interrupted him.

"I never told anybody because I thought it was my punishment for what happened to him."

"What?" Severus said as he looked directly at Harry, completely unsure of what Harry was talking about.

"It was my fault Sirius died, then I went to the Dursley's for the summer and my uncle started to—"

Severus Sharply inhaled a breath, "How could he really blame himself."

Harry sunk lower in the chair, putting his thumb and forefinger over his eyes in mental exhaustion. Severus looked at Harry, part of him wanted to rush to the boy and comfort him, but what would Harry think of that? Hermione was a girl, and no matter how cliché it is, she was much easier to bear during emotions situations; however, this was the first time Harry even embarked on one with Severus.

But something stirred deep inside Severus. He soon found himself kneeling in front of Harry. Harry looked up at Severus, whose face was close to his, both a bit shocked. It was a good thing Snape was kneeling, because he felt his knees go weak the second he saw Harry's eyes. It had been years since he was so close to Lily's eyes, his heart melted.

"He is not dead because of you." Severus spoke softly as Harry shook his head in disagreement.

"No," Harry said defiantly. "I didn't tell anyone about Uncle Vernon because I deserved everything he put my through over the summer."

Severus gaped at Harry, astounded that this is what he believed for so long.

"Harry, if it is anyone's fault it is mine. I should have told you your godfather was safe after I checked on him. You approached me for help when you were trapped in Dolores Umbridge's office that evening. I let you down. You did nothing wrong. I could have prevented the events that happened that night."

Harry looked at Severus as he seemed to be analyzing this new proposition.

Then defiantly Harry spoke again, "it is my fault. I know it, you don't have to try and take that away, Professor. I fed right into Voldemort's plan."

"Harry, you did nothing wrong." Severus spoke more loudly now. "There was nothing you could have done to prevent this."

"I could have been smarter. I could have not fallen for Voldemort's trap!" Harry sat up straighter in his chair now.

In a somewhat loud tone, "Harry! Wizards twice your age fall for the Dark Lord's tricks. He can outsmart anyone. You can't keep this all inside you."

"Stop it!" Harry now stood up from his chair and was looking down at Severus. "Stop it!" Harry's voice began to quiver. "You can't take the blame away from me. I am entirely at fault. He would still be here if it wasn't for me! They all died because of me!"

Harry ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.

"Cedric, Sirius, my parents, they all died because of me!" He could feel warm tears forming in his eyes; he looked to the side of the room, avoiding Severus's eyes. He could feel Severus's gaze upon him. Harry wished he would look away.

Standing up, Severus looked down to Harry; he placed his hands on Harry's shoulders. Harry still avoided his gaze, and Severus could see the water building in Harry's eyes now. "They all died because of the Dark Lord, not because of you."

Harry shook his head. As he blinked tears began to flow over down his cheeks. He turned his head further away embarrassed to be showing such emotions, especially in front of Severus Snape. But Severus stopped him.

Placing a pale cold finger on Harry's cheek, he turned Harry's face to look at him. Gazing into Severus's cold, dark eyes Harry somehow felt warmth. Something about Severus comforted him at that moment. Harry sighed as more tears fell and Severus pulled him towards his chest. As he did Severus heard him mutter, "I miss him." And Harry began to lose control in Severus's arms.