Harry Potter woke up with a start, his hands going straight to his ears, normal, his dream had seemed so real; his ears went to a point like an elf. Getting out of bed, Harry walked over to the mirror and sighed with relief when he checked his ears, normal. He laughed to himself. Why would his ears go to a point? He wasn't an elf; he was Harry, just Harry. The war was over; it had ended with Albus Dumbledore's death at the end of his sixth year.

He turned around and looked at the clock and saw it just tick over to thirty minutes past eight, looking to the digits next to the time he saw the date. 31st July. 'Happy birthday Harry', he sighed as he turned and went into the bathroom to take care of his morning routine.

Thirty minutes later he was sat at the table in the kitchen at Grimmauld place eating a slice of toast when Kreacher appeared in front of him.

'This mornings paper Master Harry', he said before disappearing once more.

Harry picked up the paper and unfolding it he saw Severs Snape covering the front page, he was laying in a hospital bed, you couldn't see his neck for bandages, his face looked deathly pale. Above the picture the headline stated:

Severus Snape Survives!

By Rita Skeeter:

Potions master and former death eater Severus Snape is now out of the woods. Severus Snape (pictured above) had suffered the bite of the snake that lunged itself at Harry Potter to kill the boy who lived but Severus Snape had jumped in to protect Harry and took the bite instead. Hogwarts Poppy Pomfrey has told us that upon Severus arriving at the hospital wing, she had found instructions in the mans roes that she has followed and it is believed that it is only because of those notes that he now lives and is going to make a complete recovery. This reporter can confirm that Harry Potter is yet to visit Severus Snape. I personally would have thought he would have done so by now, he did save his life after all. It is Harry Potter's seventeenth birthday today, maybe he thinks he has more important things to do on this day then thank the man who risked his life to save him.

'Stupid woman!' Harry mumbled as he looked at the picture of Severus lying in the hospital bed, he ran his finger over the picture. 'He will need a safe place to recuperate. I will get everything ready for him' Harry whispered before standing up and heading up to the room Severus stayed in when he had to sleep over during order meetings.

'Insolent woman' Severus huffed snapping the paper shut and slapping it down on the bedside cabinet Only she could take something a twist it into an unfathomable mess he thought indignantly crossing his arms over his chest and leaning back against the pillow behind his back.

Poppy bustled into the room and proceeded to fuss with his bandages waving her wand here and there around his neck. The matron who was phenomenally adept at multitasking handed Severus vials of potions without word or explanation.

He expected nothing less as he had clearly stated what was to be done in the event something like this occurred. Swallowing the contents without argument, he placed the empty vials on the cabinet and closed his eyes.

'They are coming along nicely' Poppy remarked banishing the old bandages and collecting the empty vials. 'How do you feel?'

'Uncomfortable' Severus grumbled shifting potions slightly

'I imagine you are, but the important thing is you're alive' Poppy gave him a knowing look, and then swiftly left the room.

Severus huffed out a breath, carefully reaching over and picking up a copy of the Daily Prophet, and opening it on his lap. The figure in the picture stared out at him, the face a mask of frustration and relief. The headline above screaming the world was safe once more; there was nothing to be feared. Something burned deep within Severus and it had nothing to do with the sea of Potions Poppy had just given him.

Glancing at the form of Harry Potter Saviour of the Wizarding world hands shielding his eyes from the myriad of camera flashes in his face, the Professor folded the paper and set it back on the cabinet. Drifting off to sleep Severus wondered when and if Harry would ever come to see him.

'Perfect' Harry breathed a smile crossing his lips, taking in the now sparkling room, every surface glimmering in the morning light, a gentle breeze blowing the curtain inward causing it to billow. Harry chuckled lightly it wasn't unlike the way Severus' robes used to billow when he was taking long strides through the castle hallways. Next on the agenda was the bathroom; it hadn't been used since before the battle, when most of the order had sought refuge here. Scratching his ears, Harry set off for the bathroom.

Harry had scrubbed everywhere clean and filled the cabinet on the bathroom wall with potions and salves. He stood in the middle of the bathroom and smiled. 'Perfect' he sighed as he absently scratched his right ear.

Kreacher poked his head round the door. 'If master Harry will not let me help clean will he at least let me make food for him to eat?'

Harry tilted his head to the side to rub his ear on his left shoulder. 'Yes, thank you Kreacher, sorry, I didn't mean to snap when you offered to help, I just need it to be perfect and if it isn't to his satisfaction then I am to blame as I did it, not you'

Kreacher looked closely at Harry to see him turning in circles, checking everything around him. 'Who Master?'

'Severus' Harry mumbled. Harry blinked. 'Um, Will dinner take long? I need to get a start on the lab'

'One hour master Harry'

While waiting for food, Harry decided to make a list of what stock Severus kept in the lab, as he looked at the shelves he saw a lot empty, but he had no idea what was kept there. Taking a deep breath, Harry realised what he needed to do.

Informing Kreacher he wouldn't be long, he set out to Diagon Alley but was only gone a few minutes, walking down the streets he had to block his face as cameras flashed in his eyes, apparating straight to Grimmauld place, Harry dropped down on the settee, only lifting his head when a full plate of shepherds pie came into view.

'Might Kreacher may be bold in suggesting Master Harry eat before using the floo instead?'

Harry actually smiled and accepted the plate from Kreacher. 'Yes. Thank you Kreacher'

Harry stepped out of the floo into Severus' quarters at Hogwarts; throwing his cloak over him he left the rooms. He was only here to check the storerooms, but to be this close, he could feel something inside him, and something was pulling at him, giving him a want, a need, to see Severus. He made his way up to the hospital wing and silently sat down in the chair beside Severus and watched the older man sleep.

Severus was just starting to nod off when he heard the door open, looking towards it he saw no one, he looked to the chair at side of his bed and closed his eyes, he let himself relax, to listen to the sounds around him, to inhale the scents around him.

He could hear footsteps on the floor, despite no one but him being in the room, inhaling, he smelt a lemon citrus fragrance beside him.

Harry waited until he heard Severus' breathing even out and standing, he placed his hand on top of the older mans. 'I will have everything ready for you Severus...' he whispered, raising his hand to tuck a strand of hair behind the Slytherins ear before turning to leave.

Severus cursed himself for falling asleep, opening his eyes he looked straight at the chair, it had moved slightly.

'Ah Severus you have woken, just in time for your next potion'

'Poppy who has been here today?'

'No one'

'Poppy, someone has been to see me, that chair has moved'

Poppy looked at the chair and then at Severus. 'It's in the same place. I have been here all day, I have seen no one come or go', she said and placing a vial down, she turned and walked away.

'You won't see if they are wearing a cloak." Severus mumbled before taking his potion. Just as he placed the vial down he felt is ears tingle, raising his hands to touch them he felt them turn hot. 'No! It can't be!'

Severus quickly conjured a mirror that allowed him to see his ears, fearing the worse but at the same time wanting confirmation the Professor tentatively looked at his left ear, a small point had started to form, as fast as it had appeared it was gone. Letting the mirror fall onto the bed he scrubbed his hands over his face, the tingle, the burning could only mean one thing and it filled Severus with more trepidation than he would ever admit.

Almost to the steps leading to the dungeons, Harry stopped and thought for a moment, then changing direction he walked with purpose to the second floor girls bathroom, fleeting glance told him no one was about, resident ghost included, there wasn't time to answer Myrtles questions.

Muttering to the sink in front of him in parseltongue, Harry deftly slid down the pipe, coming to land with a bump at the bottom. Removing his cloak and tucking it away, the young wizard headed for the exact place another monster had fallen to its knees what seemed like a lifetime ago. Serpent statues greeted him as he stepped into the heart of the chamber of secrets.

Salazar Slytherins stone mouth opens wide, where once the now skeletal frame of the Basilisk had slithered out. Waving his wand, Harry took stock of the serpent's scales, fangs, heart and remnants of an eye that lay on the damp stone floor of the chamber. From his pocket he took a small metal box and in it he placed his findings.

To a Potions Master like Severus these items would be gold, making him richer then even the Malfoys. Hurrying out of the chamber, Harry made his way back to Severus' quarters and took note of what was needed and before the feeling that he needed to be by the Potion Masters side again, stepped into the hearth and was gone.

The remainder of the day was spent organising the lab how Severus liked it, all vials were stored according to their value, Potions that had been left put into their respective spots. Basilisk ingredients were stored carefully. Cauldrons and brewing equipment took pride of place on one side of the room. Benches had been scrubbed and now sparkled. A cupboard on the far side of the room housed the Potions books Severus had brought with him on occasion, Harry opened the door and all came tumbling out. Within minutes the cupboard was reordered, books resting in neat rows.

Kreacher stood just outside the door watching with baffled fascination as his master tidied and organised, something that Kreacher was sure he himself should be doing, but knowing it was useless to argue with Master Harry he resigned that he'd have to stick to other chores instead. The small elf was worried about his Master, he was acting very peculiar and Kreacher could feel the change in him, almost as if something was trying to make itself known to his Master.

'Stop it' Severus chided himself for the hundredth time setting the mirror on the bed. For the last hour the Professor had checked his ears every five minutes to see if the points had returned, the tingling and burning had subsided, but continued to be a dull ache.

He had resigned himself long ago that nothing would come of this affliction as he'd come to call it, punishment he supposed for taking the Dark Mark for vowing to follow a sadistic megalomaniac, who would want someone that had led a life revolved around pain and suffering, surely he wasn't worthy of such things. Then why in the deep recess of his mind was something screaming and insisting that he was worthy, that it was destined to be, a life of happiness and light was within reach?

Hermione stepped through the floo with a card and present. "Harry!" she called out. She looked around the room and was about to walk into the kitchen when Kreacher appeared in front of her making her jump and drop the card and present only for Kreacher to catch it. "Kreacher. You made me jump."

'I is being sorry Miss Hermione, Kreacher is glad someone is coming today and ignoring Master Harry's letter when he said he was busy needing to sort things out being his birthday. Kreacher be hoping if anyone come it would be you Miss Hermione'

Hermione frowned as she accepted the gift and card back from Kreacher. 'Thank you what is wrong Kreacher?'

'Kreacher be worrying about his master Harry'

'Why? Is he hurt?'

'No nothing like that, Master Harry not be letting Kreacher clean! He is cleaning bedroom and bathroom and potions lab himself, he not be letting me nowhere near! Master be mumbling under his breath that all must be perfect'

'Perfect? For what?'

'Not what, who. For master Severus Master Harry be saying it all needs to be perfect, he is cleaning away, mumbling to self and scratching his ears'

'Take me to him Kreacher please'

Hermione followed Kreacher through the house until they reached the door Hermione knew lead to the lab where Severus made his potions, she opened the door and saw Harry looking at a list in his hand and then checking the ingredients on the shelf, she watched as he scratched his ears and mumbling to himself. She raised her wand and whispered. 'Stupefy!'

Kreacher gasped as Harry dropped to the floor. 'What is Miss Hermione doing? Kreacher thought you is friend!' he said as he ran to Harry.

'Harry is fine Kreacher, I need you to tell me everything that has happened with Harry today and even your thoughts on what is going on and I need to know now'