A/N. I know I am a terrible author for keeping you all waiting so long! I am very sorry but it couldn't be helped. Hopefully this chapter will make up for it. It takes place on Halloween and obviously I've not stuck to canon as this AU so things happen very differently. It would have been ready last week but the sad news about Alan Rickman's passing meant that I found it quite hard to finish. He will always be one of my favourite actors, he brought Professor Snape to life in a way no one else could. Plus Die Hard is in my all time top 3 favourite films.

Thank you for all the reviews and messages telling me to hurry up with the chapter :) Especially babyvfan who has been a great supporter from the beginning. If you like Drarry check out her story Stages of Friendship, Love and Kisses.

Now on with the chapter, please review :)

Now edited, thank you to the reviewers who picked up my error :)

Chapter 25.

Over the next few weeks' life returned to normal for Harry, although he was anxious around people again for a while due to the incident with McClaggen. The Gryffindor in question had not caused any trouble lately. Stories had spread like wild fire about his detentions which had involved the worst jobs you could think of, cleaning week old cauldrons, cleaning up after all of the animals Hagrid looked after and various other cleaning jobs with Filch.

Harry still split his time between his Slytherin and Gryffindor friends although on a couple of occasions Blaise and Theo joined him and Neville to study. He also still spent his Sundays with Severus which was by far his favourite day of the week. Harry had thought long and hard about his discussion with Narcissa but had yet to work up the courage to say anything to Severus about adopting him.

It was now Halloween and Harry was sitting with Neville in an alcove on the third floor. Both were looking out of the window, pensive looks on their faces. It was the first Halloween since Harry had found out what had happened to his parents so he was finding it hard to get involved with all the fun things going on. He used to dream about going trick or treating like Dudley did instead of being in his cupboard, but now the idea held no joy for him. He sighed. Neville turned and looked at him, the Gryffindor not being a fan of this day either. He had been looking for a quiet place to sit when he had found Harry and sought to keep him company.

"You okay Harry?"

Harry looked at his friend and could see the concern shining in his eyes. "Yeah, it's just todays the first Halloween I've had knowing it's the day my mum and dad died. It almost feels like it's only just happened" replied Harry.

"That's understandable. Now you know what happened and when, it's like you're grieving for them again, it's natural" said Neville wisely.

"I know, that's what Professor Snape said too. It's just everyone else is having a good time and I just don't want to join in, except for the feast as there's no choice in that."

"I feel the same way. I lost my parents on Halloween too" confided Neville quietly.

"Really? Sorry silly thing to say. I mean I knew you lived with your Gran but I didn't realise your parents died the same day as mine" rambled Harry nervously. "Sorry if I upset you."

Neville reached out and patted the back of Harry's hand. "Don't be sorry you didn't know. This is something that I don't talk about with others but my parents aren't actually dead." Neville knew he could confide in Harry.

Harry looked at him shocked. Neville smiled sadly. "As bad as this will sound, it would be easier if they were so I could grieve properly for their loss."

"I don't understand" said Harry.

"On the same night your parents were killed death eaters attacked my parents. One of them Bellatrix Lestrange was a really vicious witch and she tortured them with the Cruciatus curse, it's one of the 3 unforgivable spells. They were stopped by Aurors and subsequently sent to Azkaban but it was too late for mum and dad. They were tortured out of their minds. They are now in a special ward in St Mungos, with no idea who they are or…" by now Neville was choking back tears.

"No idea who you are" finished Harry. He couldn't begin to imagine how Neville felt having his parents alive but not recognising him. Harry leaned over and pulled the other boy into a hug; both letting their tears fall for the ones that they had lost.

After a few minutes of silence Harry pulled back and said, "Right we are going to make some changes. On Halloween from now on we will remember what happened but then we will also do something fun to create good memories of the day. I think it's what our parents would want." Neville nodded in agreement.

"So this is where you've been hiding." Harry and Neville both jumped at the sound of Draco's voice. "I've been looking all over for you, the feast is about to start."

"Sorry we lost track of time" replied Harry.

"Well I'm just going to go and use the bathroom and then we can go down to the feast." Draco turned and went across to the boy's toilets just down the corridor.

"I think he's warming to me, no glare that time" laughed Neville.

Harry laughed too, "Draco's not so bad once you get to know him. It's just taking him a long time to come to terms with the fact that he has to get on with Gryffindor's."

Suddenly a loud bang echoed down the hallway causing the two boys to jump to their feet.

"What was that!" exclaimed Neville.

"I don't know but listen." Heavy footfalls could be heard coming closer and closer to where they were. Then an awful stench hit their noses. "Erugh that smells like week old rubbish that's been left in the sun" said Harry.

In the distance a large shape could be seen lumbering around the corner and Neville suddenly realised what it was. "Harry that's a troll! We have to get away from here and find a Professor."

Harry and Neville turned to run but Harry stopped short. "Draco! He doesn't know the trolls out here and when he comes out of the bathroom he'll be in the troll's path." He thought quickly. "Nev go and tell Professor Snape what is happening, I'll go warn Draco and we will stay in the bathroom until we're told it's safe to come out."

Neville looked at him, his eyes wide with fright. He steeled his nerves "Okay but stay out of sight." Neville then ran down the corridor as fast as his feet would carry him while Harry ran into the bathroom to warn Draco.

X

Neville reached the Great Hall in record time. He stopped for a moment to catch his breath but then started hurrying between the tables up to the front where the staff were seated. He could see Professor Snape and had to gather his nerves together yet again. He was a Gryffindor and this wasn't potions so he wasn't going to let the stern man intimidate him. Well that was the plan he told himself. Neville had just reached the staff table when Professor Quirrell came running into the Great Hall.

"Troll in the dungeons! Thought you ought to know" he shouted and then promptly passed out. The hall erupted in screams.

Neville was confused though; the troll couldn't be in the dungeons. He heard Professor Dumbledore attempt to gain order but he was focused on the potions professor who had risen out of his seat.

Neville ran up to him. "Sir, Sir!" he cried. "I need to tell you something!"

"Not now Longbottom, can't you see there are more important things going on" snapped Severus wondering why the Gryffindor was even talking to him.

"But Sir the troll is on the third floor and so is Harry!" That got the reaction he was looking for when Snape stopped and turned to look at him.

"Say that again."

"Harry and I were on the third floor when Draco came up to find us for the feast. Draco then went into the bathroom and Harry and I saw the troll while we were waiting. Harry told me to run and get you while he went to warn Draco. He said they would hide in the bathroom until someone told them it was safe" rushed out Neville.

Severus was horrified, he had to get up to the third floor, he called out to Minerva and Fillius to come with him and he retold them the story as they hurried through the halls of Hogwarts. When they reached the third floor bathroom all three teachers were stopped in their tracks by the chaos around them. The door had been destroyed, so had most of the stalls in the bathroom. The troll was out cold on the floor, it's club by the side of its head. Severus hesitantly entered the room, there were so many scenarios going through his head at that moment, each one worse than the last. At the far end of the bathroom he could see the shaking figure of Harry huddled in the corner, his arms around Draco who was shaking just as badly.

"Harry" spoke Severus, his voice coming out barely above a whisper as he edged closer.

Harry looked over at him with tear filled eyes, "Dad?"

Dad? Severus was confused by this but now wasn't the time to question it. "Harry are you and Draco okay?"

"Draco got hit on the head by some wood, he has a big gash." At hearing his name Draco turned his head to his Godfather and Severus could see the cut.

Minerva came over to them. "Let me take Mister Malfoy to see Madame Pomfrey, she'll fix him right up." She held her hand out and Draco got shakily to his feet. Severus gave the boy a small hug as he went by and promised to come down to see him. Draco nodded, still too shaken up to speak.

Fillius then spoke up. "Take Harry back to the dungeons Severus, I will call Albus and Hagrid and we will take care of the troll."

Severus gave a sharp nod in the direction of the Charms Professor before turning his attention back to Harry. He held his arms out to the raven haired boy. "Come on Harry let's get out of here."

Harry got up and practically threw himself into Severus' arms and buried his head in his neck. "I was so scared dad."

That word again, once could have been a mistake but twice? "I know; I was scared when Mr Longbottom told me what had happened. I was very worried about you." Severus picked up Harry and carried him to the dungeons. He knew that no one would see them because all the students would be safely back in their common rooms. Once he arrived in their quarters he placed Harry on the sofa before summoning a House Elf to bring them hot chocolate, in which he placed a calming draught. Severus sat down next to Harry and the boy snuggled into his side while he drank his drink. "Can you tell me what happened Harry?"

Harry took a deep breath. "I went to warn Draco there was a troll and that we had to hide but he didn't believe me, said he couldn't see how a troll could get into the castle. He opened the door and the troll saw him and came over. We tried to hide but it smashed the door down, then it started swinging its club around breaking everything. Draco got hit and when it raised its club again I shouted the first spell I could think of at it."

"What spell was that?"

"Wingardium Leviosia. The club lifted into the air and then fell onto the trolls' head knocking him out."

"You were very lucky Harry. Trolls have very hard skin there's few spells that can hurt them. I'm just glad you are okay."

Harry put his cup down and curled into Severus again. "I think I have some bruises, Draco got the brunt of it. Will he be okay?"

"I'm sure he will. After you have gone to bed I will go down and see him." Severus paused to gather his thoughts. "There's something else I need to speak to you about."

"What is it?"

"In the bathroom you called me dad, twice."

Harry panicked. He had been thinking of him as dad for a long time but hadn't realised he had said it out loud. "Oh, ermm. Sorry it's just, I didn't realise that I had said it. Not that I didn't mean it though."

"Really?"

"I've been thinking for a long time that I want you to adopt me because I want to stay with you permanently. I spoke to Narcissa and she said that I should talk to you but I never found the right time."

"You would want me to adopt you?" Severus was speechless at the thought. He had thought about this too but didn't believe Harry would want him to.

"Yeah, but if you don't want to that's okay" said Harry fear etched in his eyes at the thought of rejection.

"Harry I would love nothing more than to adopt you. I have thought of you as my son for a long time now. When you called me dad it made me happy."

Harry wrapped his arms around Severus and said "I love you dad."

"I love you too son," was the whispered reply.