Chapter 29 – Progression of Sorts

"Draco, Ron, what brings you here so early?" Severus asked as he opened his door to find the two standing there. He stepped aside and let them in, Draco saying,

"Have you seen the papers this morning?"

"No, we've only just woken up," he said, glancing over to Harry, who was emerging from the bedroom to see what was going on. "What's wrong?" he asked Draco.

"This," Draco said, handing over a newspaper. Severus took it and scanned the headlines, letting out a deep breath as he read 'Hundreds Killed in Death Eater Rampage'. Harry came to stand beside him and Severus placed his arm around the boy's shoulders, lowering the paper for him to look at.

"When did it happen?" he asked, looking up at the boys.

"In the early hours of the morning apparently," Ron replied, grimly. "They stormed through the town, killing men, women and children, muggle and magic-folk alike. They've taken a few prisoners according to the report, and they've left the town completely devastated. It's a total mess."

"Merlin's teeth," Severus cursed. "Who else have you spoken to about this?"

"No one, we came straight here as soon as we saw the paper," Draco replied.

"Ron if you could please go to Professor Dumbledore and ask him if I can be seen as soon as possible and Draco, please get word to your father and ask him to come here as quickly as may be arranged, though be as discreet as you can of course." The two boys nodded and set off on their separate tasks.

"This is bad," Harry said, chucking down the paper and looking up at Severus, whose arm was still around his shoulders. "It means they're working up to something doesn't it?"

Severus nodded, his expression grave. "It means they're getting more confident, that they think they can get away with something like this. It worries me too that they seem to be taking prisoners once again. They haven't done that since Voldemort's first rise to power, before..."

"Before I got this thing," Harry said, indicating to his scar, Severus nodding in response. "That's not good then. But why take prisoners?"

Severus was silent for a moment before replying, "Fun", his lip curling at the word, his eyes unfocused, and Harry suspected that the man could well remember that particular brand of fun and his painful involvement in it. Harry slipped and arm around his waist and gave it a gentle squeeze. Severus looked down at him and he offered the man a gentle smile, Severus returning a watery version of his own. "Go and get dressed," he told Harry, "and we can go and see what Dumbledore has to say about all of this."


"It's a bad business, no question of that," Dumbledore pronounced grimly. Severus, Harry, Ron, Draco and Lucius were all gathered in his office and the atmosphere was tense and nervous, each concerned and worried. Lucius had arrived just before midday after receiving the missive from his son, and he had managed to grab a quick word with Severus before they had all been summoned to the headmaster's office. Harry didn't know what had been said, but both men had looked grave and sombre as they all made their way to see Dumbledore.

"It concerns me as well that we had no intelligence to forewarn us about this latest attack, and I cannot believe that it is because our sources are not doing their jobs well enough."

"You think it was random, unplanned?" Severus asked.

"I do, and what is more, I think it was a celebration."

"A celebration?" Harry echoed, sickened by the thought.

"The vigour with which it was carried out, the sheer force behind it...not to mention the fact that they took prisoners...yes I'm afraid it feels very much like a celebration."

Harry unconsciously shifted a little closer to Severus, whom he was sitting next to on the sofa, and asked quietly, "What would they have been celebrating?"

Dumbledore removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. He shook his head and said, "I dread to think my boy, but a Death Eater celebration bodes very badly for us." He replaced his glasses and stood from behind the desk, moving to look out of the window. "We must try not to let this latest tragedy affect us too greatly, we must bolster ourselves against it and carry on much the same."

"Tell that to those people who lost their families, their homes, their livelihoods," Severus said bitterly. Harry looked across at him; the man looked pained and troubled and at that moment, all Harry wanted to do was take all that away from him, to fix it so that the man would not be bowed down by such troubled feelings.

He reached out and took his hand, linking his fingers with Severus' own. Severus looked down at their intertwined hands, then at Harry, who offered him a small smile. He gave Harry's hand a grateful squeeze and seemed to calm himself, saying more levelly, "I trust that efforts are being made to recover the prisoners?"

"Remus and his team are doing all they can to do so," Albus replied, not missing the fact that Severus had hold of Harry's hand and was slowly moving his thumb back and forth across Harry's skin. "But without the slightest inclination of where they are it will be hard. In the meantime, we must be on our guard more than ever. It is likely that whatever gave them cause for celebration will directly affect us so we must be vigilant. Until then my friends, we shall just have to cope as best we can."

Everyone took this as cue for dismissal and quietly rose from their seats, the atmosphere tense and serious. As they filed out, Dumbledore said, "Severus, we must talk soon, there are a few things we need to discuss." Harry didn't like the sound of that, nor the tone of Dumbledore's voice, but Severus merely gave a slight nod and said,

"Of course headmaster."


Harry and Severus returned to their quarters, and it was clear to Harry that Severus was agitated and upset, his mind preoccupied with the recent events. He was lost in his own thoughts and Harry knew that the terse manner he adopted was nothing to do with him, though he wished the man would just talk to him.

After a while, Severus retreated to his Potions lab, telling Harry that he would most likely be in there for the rest of the morning. He was wound up and tense and he had no wish to inflict his bad mood on Harry. His mind and emotions were all jumbled; this latest attack had him worried, he knew what it meant when Death Eaters took prisoners and he knew exactly what would be happening to them. It made him sick to his stomach. Trouble was on the horizon, he could feel it building and brewing and it worried him more than it had ever done before, for now he worried for Harry too.

Oh he'd always worried about Harry, that much was true, but it had been in a professional capacity; the boy had been his annoying responsibility, and he had to keep him safe or Dumbledore would have had his head. Now he worried because the thought of anything happening to Harry actually hurt him physically, and it was one he couldn't bear to entertain. He would rather die than see Harry hurt.

He was sitting with his head bent over the workbench, his hope of working long gone, when he felt a pair of arms slide round his waist and a head lean against his back. He allowed himself a small smile; although Harry was always happy to receive physical contact, he was never really one to initiate it. He placed a hand on top of Harry's and Harry said softly, "Are you going to tell me what's wrong?"

Severus sighed and ran his hand over Harry's saying, "I'm just a little preoccupied, I have a few things on my mind."

"Anything you want to tell me about?"

"It's nothing Harry, you shouldn't concern yourself."

Harry removed his arms from around the man's waist and moved to stand in front of him, saying gently, "It concerns me to see you so troubled. Are you thinking about the attack?"

Severus nodded, not wishing to burden Harry with his thoughts, but knowing that Harry was unlikely to let the matter lie. "It just...brings back things I would rather forget," he said quietly. "My past is not one that I'm proud of and to be confronted with it is not something I relish."

"You shouldn't be ashamed of the past Severus," he said gently, laying a hand on the man's shoulder. "You've done a lot of good, whatever happened before doesn't cancel that out," he insisted.

Severus shook his head and said, "You don't know what I did back then, what I was capable of. You don't know what kind of man I was."

Harry moved his hand from Severus' shoulder to the man's cheek, causing him to look up and meet Harry's eyes. "I know what kind of man you are," Harry said softly. "I know your goodness, your kindness, your strength; I know the sacrifices you've made and the risks you've taken for people. I don't care what you did in the past, all know is that you're a good man, and you have nothing but my deepest respect and admiration," he said strongly, holding Severus' gaze.

Severus swallowed hard, Harry's heartfelt words having affected him greatly. He placed a hand over Harry's own and gripped it tightly, his jaw set firm and his pulse quick. Harry's opinion mattered more to him than anyone else's on the face of the earth, and to know it was thus filled him with such pride and warmth he could barely contain it. He offered the boy a small smile and said quietly, "I sometimes wonder how I'd manage without you."

Harry gave him a bright smile and moved forward to wrap his arms around the man's neck, saying, "You'll never have to find out."

Severus closed his eyes and pulled Harry closer to him, breathing him in, never tiring of the feeling of having the boy in his arms. He sighed and brought a hand up to cradle Harry's head and Harry murmured softly, "Don't dwell on it, what's done is done, and whatever's waiting for us, we'll face it."

They were pulled from their moment by a knock at the door and Harry disentangled himself from Severus, rolling his eyes and saying, "I thought the inappropriately timed knock only happened in films."

"What are 'films'?" Severus asked as they walked out of the lab towards the door.

Harry grinned and said, "I'll show you sometime." He opened the door to reveal Ron and Draco and he stepped aside, saying, "What are you two doing back here?"

"What a charming welcome," Draco replied as he and Ron stepped into the living room. "We just missed the two of you so much we had to come back and see you," he said with a smirk, collapsing onto the sofa. "We wanted to see what you both thought about the meeting with Dumbledore, what you made of it."

Severus took a seat in the armchair opposite and Harry perched on the arm, leaning slightly against Severus' shoulder. "Something tells me, Uncle Sev, that you weren't exactly satisfied with what Dumbledore said," Draco said, eyeing the man closely.

Severus inclined his head in acknowledgement and replied, "When is one ever satisfied with the answers Dumbledore gives?"

"Father seemed to think he was holding something back. He told me before he left that he wasn't happy with the way Dumbledore conducted the meeting. He thinks he's not to be trusted."

"I'm sure the headmaster has his reasons," Severus replied diplomatically, trying very hard to ignore the fact that Harry was absent-mindedly running a hand up and down his upper arm.

Draco snorted and said, "Bollocks Sev, you don't believe that any more than I do. You know the old man always has his own agenda, there'll always be something behind his actions and I don't trust him anymore on this latest attack than I do about anything else."

"Drake wind your neck in a bit," Ron said gently. "Dumbledore may go about things in strange ways but we have to believe that ultimately his motives are good."

Draco made a derisive sound and said, "You believe that if you like but I don't trust the old coot, he's up to something, you mark my words. I'll bet he knows exactly what the Death Eaters were celebrating."

"Be that as it may," Severus said levelly, "it's of no use to us now. We must simply try to do as best we can in the wake of this recent disaster, and we must be on our guard. It feels like...like something's building and that can only mean bad news for us."

There was a moment's silence as all present contemplated Severus' words, each entertaining somewhat less than pleasant thoughts. "Right," Harry soon said firmly, "that's enough moping for one day, there'll be plenty of opportunity for that in time to come. So, who's for some lunch?"


"Severus?"

"Mm?"

"Can you read this through for me and tell me if it means what I think it means?" Harry said, reaching up behind him to hand Severus the book he had been reading. They were lying in bed; Severus sitting propped up against the headboard, Harry lying at an angle, resting his head against the lower part of the man's chest. Severus was immersed in his lesson plans and Harry was perusing a theoretical text on the finer points of Air Magic that Lars had hunted down for him. For the most part it was fascinating, but when it came to the more technical parts of the text, Harry had to admit he struggled, and he was glad to able to consult Severus.

"It's about the connection Air Magic has to the mind and how a link can be developed between two people if Air Magic is used properly," Severus said, handing the book back to Harry.

Harry frowned and said, "Is that not Legilemency though?"

"No, Legilemency is an invasion of someone's mind, either forced or allowed, it's a one-way act and it relies on one person's magic. This use of Air Magic needs there to be a link between two people so it can exploit it and make the link stronger, enabling a connection between the two minds."

"Mm," said Harry thoughtfully as Severus went back to his work. He flipped a little further through the pages, propping the book up on his knees. He was fascinated by Elemental Magic and all the possibilities it held, and he was also encouraged by the fact that everything he had tried or been taught so far, he had seemed to excel at. Everything he'd ever learnt, apart from quidditch or the odd defence spell, he'd been, at best, mediocre at. But this, this was different, this felt like it had been made for him, and he wanted to learn more, to do more.

"You've been very quiet today," he told Severus, as he continued to flick through the pages. "Is everything alright?"

"Fine, I'm just tired," Severus replied with a sigh, not convincing Harry at all with his answer.

"It wouldn't have anything to do with the meeting you have scheduled with Dumbledore in a couple of days would it?" he asked carefully. There was a slight pause then Harry felt the man's hand come to twine in his hair and he replied softly,

"You're a dreadful little know-it-all"

Harry smiled and said, "It's your fault if I am, and stop trying to avoid the question. Are you worried about the meeting? You've been distant and quiet all day, there's something wrong."

Severus sighed and continued to rake his fingers through Harry's hair, the action always seeming to calm and soothe him. "I just have a lot to think about at the moment, there's a lot going on. I suppose I've just been dwelling on it all too much."

"Do I take it you're not planning on giving me a straight answer at all?" Harry asked.

Severus smiled and said, "You're learning."

"And you're a pain," Harry groused, but was nevertheless content to let the matter lie; there was never any point in pressing Severus to speak about things he had no wish to, it was an exercise in futility. "Are you going to at least tell me what you and Dumbledore talk about?"

"That depends on what it is we discuss."

Harry emitted a sigh of frustration and asked, "What if it concerns me?"

"I'll do my best to keep you informed."

"Well that'll make a change," Harry replied, shutting his book and chucking it to one side, lifting himself off Severus' chest.

"Hey," said Severus, grabbing Harry's shoulder gently, "I'm on your side."

Harry sighed and said, "I know, I know I'm sorry. It's just...I can't help but feel that Draco has a point, that we're not getting the full story from Dumbledore and it makes me nervous. I just don't want to be kept in the dark about my own life."

Severus wrapped an arm around him and pulled him to his side, Harry resting his head on the man's chest. "I understand that Harry and I can understand your frustration, but I'm sure the headmaster has your best interests at heart."

"You're a bad liar Severus," Harry said grimly. "He's up to something and you know it."

"Perhaps, but until we know for sure I see no reason to speculate."

"My we are becoming sedate in our old age," Harry said, earning himself a swat on the head. He sighed and said, "I suppose you're right, no point worrying until we know there's something to worry about."

"As if that'll stop you."

Harry emitted a soft laugh and settled himself further into Severus' hold, saying, "I'm learning from you."

"On no, your dramatic tendencies are all your own," he told Harry, slowly running his fingers along the boy's arm, enjoying the comforting weight on his chest. "Now go to sleep and stop being such a pest."


Harry was standing in front of the mirror, trying to flatten down his hair, but to no avail, the mop of blackness would respond to no treatment and sat, almost mockingly, atop his scalp, an utter mess. He finally gave up and settled for simply running his hands through it a couple of times, hoping it would be enough.

"Where in the name of Merlin is that stupid thing?" he heard Severus say and he turned to see the man emerge from the bathroom, dressed only in trousers. He allowed his eyes to rake over the man's body as he moved about the room, apparently looking for something. His skin was pale, very pale, but it looked perfect to Harry, despite the ugly scars that marred it. His shoulders were not broad but they were strong, the muscles strongly defined. His chest was smooth and his stomach flat and toned. It was a sight Harry very much enjoyed taking in and he continued to watch as Severus moved about the room, searching for whatever it was he needed.

"There it is," he growled and Harry followed the man's line of sight to see a white dress shirt stuffed down the side of the armchair. He smirked and waited until Severus' hand was almost upon it, then inclined his head, making the shirt fly up into the air and out of Severus' reach. "Harry!" Severus admonished, turning to look at the boy. He made a grab for the elusive shirt but Harry flew it out his grasp once again. "Potter," he growled.

"Ah ah ah, Potter-Snape," Harry corrected with a smirk, laughing as once again Severus made an unsuccessful attempt at retrieving his shirt. Severus fixed him with a hard glare, though his eyes were glittering and Harry fought to keep the grin from his face.

"If you don't give me my shirt back I'll be making sure it says 'Potter-Snape' on your gravestone," Severus said, his voice low and dangerous. Harry waggled his eyebrows at the man, inviting him to do his worst. He sent the shirt flying into the air then behind his back into his hands and at the same moment Severus lunged for it and Harry ended up in Severus' arms, his hands pinned behind his back, and his body pressed against Severus' chest. "I believe I win," Severus said, looking down into Harry's eyes.

Harry smirked, taking stock of the situation and replied, "I believe that depends on your point of view." Severus tightened his hold on Harry's hands and pulled him even closer, his eyes dark and dilated and said,

"You're an insufferable brat Mr Potter-Snape."

Harry grinned, arching up slightly to meet Severus' body better, the contact absolutely delicious, and said, "You wouldn't have me any other way."

Severus leant in close to him and said just above a whisper, "Oh, there are a several ways I would have you," and the insinuation lay for about half a second before Harry closed the space between them and pressed his lips against Severus'. The man groaned at the contact and released Harry's hands so he could wrap his arms around the lithe young body, and Harry in turn brought his hands up to grip Severus' shoulders tightly, never letting his lips leave Severus'. His dream from the other night was turning into a wonderful reality and he moved his lips against Severus', relishing in the feel of being pressed against Severus' strong body. He moved his hands across Severus' bare shoulders, the skin firm and smooth beneath his fingers and he felt the man shiver slightly, his grip on Harry tightening, pulling him closer.

As Severus' lips continued their delicious attack, Harry felt himself melt into the man, hardly able to believe what was happening. There was no one they had to impress, no pretence they had to uphold and no one's life was at stake, there was only themselves. "You insufferable brat," Severus murmured, moving his lips to Harry's neck, pressing firm kisses to the column of flesh, a hand holding Harry's head. He smirked slightly as he felt Harry emit a shaky breath and he felt the boy's fingers dig into his shoulders. He was in heaven, utter heaven, and Merlin only knows what would have happened had there not have been a very loud knock on the door. "You have got to be joking," he groaned, letting his head fall onto Harry's shoulder.

Harry emitted a soft laugh and pulled back slightly, saying, "It'll be Ron and Draco, we're spending the day in Hogsmeade." He gave the man an apologetic smile and said, "I'm going to have to go...but I'll try not to stay too long."

Severus' eyes glittered as he looked down at Harry, his cheeks flushed and his breathing ragged. "Go, before I take steps to keep you here forever," he said with a smirk.

Harry smiled and pressed a quick kiss to the man's lips, then disentangled himself, grinning stupidly as he went to answer the door.

Severus picked up the shirt that had originally caused all the trouble, deciding that it was his new favourite piece of clothing, shrugging it on as he heard Draco say, "My my Potter, you're looking flushed this morning. Did we call at a bad time?"

"Shut up you prat and get out," Harry replied, the smile evident in his voice.


"Are you going to wipe that insipid grin off your face any time soon?" Draco asked, as he, Harry and Ron walked about Hogsmeade, enjoying a well-earned break from revision. "You've been walking around all morning looking like a cherub on acid so either tell us what's making you so insanely happy or get rid of the manic smile."

Harry laughed and swung an arm around Draco's shoulders, then did the same to Ron on his other side, saying, "Ah my friends, my dear, dear friends, I just think it's a perfect day. The sun is shining, the air is warm, the birds are singing. It's a good day to be alive."

Ron glanced over Harry's head at Draco and whispered conspiratorially, "Has he been drinking?"

"Hey! Can't I just be happy?" Harry said with a laugh.

"Not when that happiness borders on insanity," Draco replied. "So are you going to tell us why you're this delirious? It wouldn't have anything to do with a mutual acquaintance by the name of Severus Snape would it?"

Harry grinned and said, "Now that would be telling, a boy's got to have some secrets! All I will say is – " but Harry never managed to finish his sentence. He, Ron and Draco were thrown to the ground as one of the buildings on the street exploded, glass shattering and clouds of dust and brick flying off at all angles. Harry shielded his face as the debris came crashing down around him, narrowly escaping a large piece of wood that came flying his way. All around, people had been flung to the floor and were trying to protect themselves from the fallout of the explosion, and through the deafening noise, he could hear the screams and shouts of those who'd been injured.

His vision was blurred and his ears were ringing, his throat burned from the brick dust he was inhaling and he could feel a warm trickle of blood making its way down his forehead from a stinging cut in his scalp. "Ron? Draco?" he called, coughing and choking on the smoke. He rose shakily to his feet and looked around at the chaos. He was vaguely aware of a fire somewhere off to his right and he could hear muffled sounds coming from all over. He felt like he was walking through a dream, or possibly a nightmare, and he just wanted the ringing in his ears to stop.

"Harry!" he heard, and he spun round to see Ron pointing to something. "Death Eaters!"

He understood the warning but he couldn't really process it. He frowned and tried to clear his mind to assess the situation better and he suddenly became aware of a presence behind him. He turned to find himself face to face with Aldrington, a cruel smile on the man's face. Everything in his body was telling him to move, to run, but he couldn't get his legs to work. "Where's your minder Potter? Oh dear, it looks like he's not here to save you this time," he snarled, and the last thing Harry saw was the man's fist hurling towards his face.


AN: Don't kill me! It's all to serve a purpose I promise and judging by the amount of pure SMUT I've been writing over the last few days, I'm fairly confident you'll forgive me for it ; )

I cannot believe this fic is at 1 053 reviews, I'm floored! 72 reviews for the last chapter, I just can't believe it. Thank you all so much for your continued support and appreciation of this fic, I'm thrilled that so many of you are enjoying it so much! And thank you to all my anonymous reviewers, who of course I can't thank personally.

I'm saying nothing about chapter 30, you'll all just have to find out for yourselves ; ) Everything happens for a reason though, be assured.

As always, thank you to my lovely beta Adaptive, especially as she got this one back to me so quickly.