Harry just didn't know how to respond to this new development. He found it very difficult to believe that one of his students would be capable of these murders, not to mention that he really was very particular about vetting them for any kind of dangerous behaviour or history.

He and Severus had gone carefully though all of his student background records over and over again but nothing had really stood out to them. They had narrowed the list down to those who had slightly shady pasts or who had slightly dodgy relatives. Harry had thrown one of them into to mix simply because he had given him a weird feeling when they first met.

Severus privately thought that was probably the one they needed to look most closely at although the rest of the team didn't all agree, particularly Bennett. She had stated that it's sometimes the case that a serial killer could be completely normal to those around them even their closest friends and that they wouldn't necessarily give off a bad feeling, in fact they were often quite charming.

This put Harry in mind of Voldemort, who as Tom Riddle was a charming well-spoken highly intelligent boy beloved by most teachers and headmaster alike. When he voiced this to Severus he had scoffed slightly.

'Harry the Dark Lord was always dark. Anyone who couldn't see that a mile away was an idiot.' He had said, then abruptly changed the subject. Harry chose not to point out that Severus had never met Tom Riddle the boy so really he couldn't say that for sure.

He was quickly learning that under no circumstances would Severus speak about Voldemort, not even in order to assist with the case. It was quite frustrating but he supposed he understood why, or at least he was trying to.

'We've been over this a million times now.' Harry sighed angrily, slamming his quill down on the table. 'I don't see what else we can do, I can't whip new information up out of thin air!'

'Do calm yourself down Potter.' Severus drawled. 'I know you're frustrated but throwing a hissy fit isn't going to help anyone.'

'We don't even know for sure that it IS one of my ex-students.' Harry snapped. 'That's just a theory!'

'Well we have to investigate all theories thoroughly so stop complaining please.' Severus snapped back, well and truly frustrated himself.

'I know I'm sorry.' Harry said softening suddenly. 'I just feel responsible.'

'Which is why you're secretly hoping it isn't one of your students?' Severus questioned. 'Because if it's not it would absolve you?'

Harry shrugged.

'You know this isn't your fault Harry. Why must you insist on feeling guilt for something that clearly isn't yours to bear?' Severus asked seriously.

'Perhaps it isn't my fault but it sure is something I should have seen coming. My background checks should have been more stringent.'

'You were teaching students not training Ministry spies. Your security checks were fine. Besides say you did have better security checks and therefore didn't take on the killer as a student he STILL would have murdered someone eventually you know. The only difference is we might not have this lead, and he may have fixated on someone else as his target rather than you.' Severus pointed out. 'Imagine that?'

Harry shook his head. 'As arrogant as this sounds, no I can't really imagine that. My whole life has been all about being the fixation of serial killers, it's unfathomable to me that someone else might be the target for a change.'

'Well at least you're used to it.' Severus said. 'And you're right.'

'Right about what?' Harry asked.

'It IS arrogant.'

'Git.' Harry said with a smile.

'Personally I'm glad it IS you. No one else could cope with it as well.' Severus said. 'Although I confess having you possibly in danger again isn't the greatest feeling in the world. Especially now.'

'Why now?' Harry asked with a smile.

'Well I can't fuck you again if you're dead Harry, and I did rather enjoy it the first time.'

Harry laughed. 'That was the last thing I expected you to say just then!'

Severus shrugged. 'I happy to surprise you.'

'For the record I am very much looking forward to fucking you again too.'

'Obviously.' Severus said. 'When two people have sex if it's good they're going to do it again sooner or later, and we both know it was good.'

Harry leaned across the table and pulled Severus to him kissing him passionately. 'Sooner rather than later please.' He said, pulling back with a smile.

Severus rose his eyebrows. 'Thank goodness we decided to work here instead of the ministry.' He said gesturing to Harry's kitchen. 'That would have raised some eyebrows.'

Harry looked back down to the student file he had been looking at. 'After your ridiculous behaviour yesterday I'm fairly certain that at least Bennett has figured it out for herself.'

'I despise that woman.' Severus said darkly. 'I also hate the way you fawn over her. She's just like any other muggle you know, she's not special.'

'Jealousy really is an issue for you isn't it?' Harry said thoughtfully. 'You know there's really no need right? I don't want to be with anyone else.'

Severus' expression lightened slightly but he didn't say anything. 'You have such little experience Harry, you probably have no real idea what you want. Or who. People change their minds quickly.'

Harry put his file and quill down again and looked closely at Severus. 'Don't presume to know what I'm feeling and thinking.' He said firmly. 'You know I'm an honest person and I'm not going to tell you anything that isn't true. I may not have the same level of physical experience as you do however I probably have more emotional experience. I know when I have feelings for someone and I know when I don't. I also know when I never will. I don't have feelings for Bennett and never will, I DO have feelings for you and I intend to continue acting on them until you tell me otherwise which I personally hope don't ever do. Now can we stop all this and get back to the task at hand? We have to provide this report to the ministry tonight and I want to get back to your place in time to spend hours exploring your body and still get a good night's sleep!'

Severus shook his head. 'You're impossible.' He said with a smirk.

'Impossibly attractive.'

'Indeed.' Severus agreed. 'Among other things.'

…

A week later they still didn't have much more to go on.

Their list of names consisted of just five people. Two of which they quickly discovered had alibi's for at least three of the murders which counted them out immediately. The other three simply hadn't responded yet (all five had been summoned to the ministry for questioning). The remaining three were foreigners so it could take some time to locate them and there were some delicate diplomatic issues to work through first. Two of the three had violent incidents in their pasts, both had volatile personalities that could fit Bennett's profile. The third one was the one who had given Harry a slightly bad feeling when he had first met him. Joshua Andrews was from Bulgaria (born in London and then raised in Bulgaria) and had attended Durmstrang. He had been Harry's student three years ago and in their first meeting Harry had just felt that there was something slightly wrong, although he couldn't seem to pin point why.

What he did know was that Joshua had actually been a model student, hardworking, thoughtful and appreciative. Harry knew what Bennett had said about serial killers appearing completely normal on the outside but he just couldn't possibly see how Joshua would have been capable of these sorts of crimes. He would have happily removed him from the list except Severus had refused.

'Harry you need to trust your instincts. If this guy gave you a bad feeling for even a second he needs to be on the list.'

'Since when have you ever trusted my instincts?' Harry asked, eyebrows raised.

Severus glared at him. 'I've always trusted them, unless of course it was in regards to a potions class. In which case never.'

'Never?' Harry protested, slightly hurt. 'I got quite good at potions by the end.'

'Yes you did. When you were following MY instincts.' Severus growled.

'Whatever.' Harry said. 'Fine. Joshua stays on the list.'

And so their completed list of five names was all they had to go on. Thankfully Bennett had been fairly pleased with only five people to check out. She had stated quickly that the less they had to search through the quicker it would be. It was unfortunate that three of them were international but that's all there was to it. They now just had to jump through hoops to get them checked out.

Severus was concerned that this would be another dead end and that these leads wouldn't amount to anything. As the first three suspects were eliminated this feeling grew stronger and Bennett assured him that these things took time but that something always shook out.

Severus had simply grunted in response; despite their conversation the week earlier Severus seemed determined to hate Bennett no matter what. It infuriated Harry but that's all there was to it. He knew by now that Severus was as stubborn as a mule.

They were still staying at Severus' place, as they both deemed Harry's as too risky. While Harry just wanted to increase the wards and security so he could have his home back to himself he did also see the reasoning behind leaving an avenue open for more contact with the killer. However much it despised and terrified him he could see that the more contact they had the more likely they were to actually catch the fucker.

And so every few days Harry would return to his home to pick up some more of his things (always with Severus who refused point blank to let him go anywhere alone anymore) and to see if there was anything amiss.

This particular evening was after a long day at the ministry where very little had been accomplished. In fact the only news they had received was the preliminary results of Ron and Hermione's toxicology reports. Both had shown trace amounts of scopolamine. So that was something at least.

Harry was cold and wet through with the rain that had been pouring down all day and all he wanted was to quickly grab a couple of sets of dry clothes and run his eyes over his place. He wanted to be in and out within ten minutes before heading home to curl up in bed with Severus.

Unfortunately this plan changed when he noticed the large envelope sitting just out of the rain on his doorstep.

'Are you expecting anything?' Severus asked slowly pulling Harry to a stop by his elbow.

'Of course not.' Harry said. 'And if I were it wouldn't be to my actual home.'

'So we can assume?'

'I'd say so.' Harry said nervously. 'I hate this.'

'I do too.' Severus replied softly, running his hand through Harry's wet hair and smoothing it back slightly from his forehead. 'Do you want me to get it?'

'No it's okay I'll do it. We should get inside anyway.' Harry said quickly heading to the door and hurriedly opening it. He pulled out his wand and levitated the envelope into the kitchen.

Both he and Severus followed the envelope to the table, and Severus quickly cast a drying spell on their clothes so they stopped dripping all over the floor.

'Better just get it over with.' Severus said tersely.

'As long as it's not another fucking deadline.' Harry said, and waved his wand over the envelope to open it.

Out floated a note and several muggle photographs. Harry supposed he should have read the note first but the photographs were far more disturbing and neither he nor Severus could tear their eyes from them as they floated through the air in front of them.

'Oh my god.' Harry whispered, covering his mouth with both his hands tears threatening to leak out of his eyes.

The photographs were of himself and Severus that depicted their fledging relationship in horrifying detail. The killer had clearly been watching them for some time now. The most disturbing of the photos were from inside Severus' bedroom and were terribly graphic. Harry could barely begin to wonder how they could have been taken without their knowledge.

Severus seemed to be frozen on the spot as his eyes roamed over the hideous photographs. For one moment he felt thankful that they were not wizard photos and therefore weren't moving, but even so they were still completely confronting and awful to look at. He couldn't move as a sick feeling spread throughout his entire body.

Harry had a rather more physical reaction and darted to the sink where he doubled over and vomited, emptying his stomach completely until he was just retching over and over. After a time he felt a warm hand rubbing circles on his back and felt Severus pulling his messy hair away from his sweat drenched face.

Eventually the retching subsided and he let himself drop to the floor in front of the sink, exhausted. Severus sank down with him and pulled Harry into his arms. 'I'd say it's going to be okay but we both know that would be a lie.' He said flatly.

'We have to get out of here. I can't come here again. I can't ever be here again.' Harry mumbled.

'Let's go.' Severus said.

'We can't ever go back to your place either Severus.' Harry said desperately, clutching the front of Severus' robes and wondering if the killer was watching them right at this moment.

'I know.' Severus said quietly, and stood up, hoisting Harry with him.

Severus shielded Harry from the mess pf photographs that had landed haphazardly on the kitchen table with his body, but Harry pushed him away. 'The note. We need to get the note.' He said breathlessly.

Severus plucked the note from the table with deft fingers and then lifted his wand waving it over the photographs incinerating them.

'Severus you can't. That's evidence! You can't destroy evidence!' Harry said in horror.

'There is no way in hell that those photographs will ever end up on the fucking conference room wall as evidence.' Severus spat angrily. 'What's done is done. Let's go.' He pulled Harry close to him and ushered him out the door. Harry locked it and then cast a series of charms and wards. 'He's never coming back Severus.' He said slowly. 'No one is.'

Severus simply nodded before Harry took his hand and they turned on the spot.

…

'Where are we?' Severus asked with a frown.

'It's the first place I thought of.' Harry confessed.

'And where is that?' Severus asked again. They were standing in the middle of a road running through what appeared to be the most boring street in all of England.

'Privet Drive.' Harry said dully.

'It's changed.' Severus said slowly. 'I didn't recognise it. What on earth made you think of here?'

'Well honestly it's the last place anyone would expect to find us isn't it?' Harry asked.

'I suppose so.' Severus didn't really know what else to say, he felt oddly uncomfortable. 'Where is our final destination can I ask? I assume you don't intend for us to stay at your relative's home?'

'Merlin no.' Harry said. 'Lets find a hotel.'

'A hotel in Privet Drive?'

'Obviously not, but there is one a few streets away. I suggest we move out of the middle of the road yes?' Harry said pulling Severus by the arm to the pavement.

'You know we can't hide forever Harry. We have to go back to the ministry tomorrow.' Severus said casually flicking his wand replacing his wizard robes with muggle clothing.

'I know.' Harry said. 'If I'm being honest we probably should go right now but I can't. I can't wipe those images from my head Severus. I can't deal with this right now…'

Severus reached out and touched his arm gently. 'I know. It's alright.'

Harry looked at him. Severus was wearing black pants, a black fitted shirt and black coat. 'Muggle clothes suit you.' He said. 'Although it wouldn't kill you to introduce some colour into your wardrobe.

'I'm going to pretend you didn't say that.' Severus grit his teeth. 'I do NOT look good dressed as a bloody muggle.'

Harry just shrugged. He preferred muggle clothing and almost never wore wizard robes but knew not to push Severus. Especially after the night they'd had.

The hotel they had checked into (after confounding the desk clerk as they didn't exactly have any muggle money on them) was simple but clean. Harry closed the door behind the two of them and immediately cast a series of spells on the door and the surrounding walls.

'I think that's probably enough warding Harry. I doubt that anyone will find us here.' Severus said seriously. 'Unless of course there's a tracking spell on us or something.'

Harry looked at him in alarm. He hadn't considered that.

'Relax there isn't one, I scanned us both when we arrived in Privet Drive.' Severus said.

'You could have told me!' Harry said. 'I didn't even think of a tracking spell.'

'Honestly I don't think these wards are even all that needed, but at this point its good to take precautions.'

'Yeah well I learned long ago to always assume that the people looking for you WILLfind you if they want to. History has certainly proved that in my case.'

Severus didn't say anything. Instead he removed his coat and sat gingerly on the edge of the bed. He could not have looked more out of place.

Harry finished the warding and sat next to him. 'I haven't cast wards like these since the war.' He said.

'Did Hermione teach you?' Severus asked quietly.

'You know that she did.' Harry replied. 'Both Ron and I were far below her standard and there's no way we would have survived that year without her.'

Severus nodded. 'She truly is exceptional. She always was.'

'It's nice for you to actually acknowledge that. I'm impressed.'

'Don't be.'

Harry sighed. 'Where's the note? We have to read it. You know we do.'

'Are you sure?' Severus asked.

'Yeah. Lets get it over with.'

Severus pulled out the note and unfolded it onto the bed. They both leaned forward to read it.

I bet you thought no one knew didn't you?

I must say I've enjoyed watching you Harry, you put on quite a show.

It's nearly your turn Harry.

I wonder; will you be ready for me?

'I think I might throw up again.' Harry said, the blood running cold through his veins. 'How long do you think he's been watching us for?'

'Probably a long time, this whole thing feels very well planned to me. I can't believe how foolish and reckless we were in not suspecting he was watching us.'

'What do you think he means it's nearly my turn?' Harry asked in a small voice. To Severus he almost sounded like he was eleven years old again.

'It means you're most definitely in danger, and you have to be ready for him. Whatever the fuck that means.' Severus said bitterly.

'I'm scared.' Harry said softly.

'I'd be worried if you weren't.'

Harry leaned into Severus and put his head on his shoulder. 'I'm not going to let him take this away from us.' He said softly. 'You're mine. I've never felt more alive than the way I feel with you and even though those photos made me feel so sick and so violated, I won't let him beat me. I won't let him take this away from us.'

Severus pulled Harry close to him and kissed him deeply. 'No one can take this from us.' He whispered. 'No one.'

Much later, when they were both pretending to sleep, their naked bodies pressed close to each other under the blankets, Severus leaned forward and kissed the back of Harry's head. 'I promise I will NEVER let anyone hurt you.' He whispered. 'I won't fail you this time.'

Harry kept his breathing even despite having heard Severus clearly. There was so much he wanted to say to the man laying next to him, but not like this. Not in this situation. That was a conversation for when this was all over. That was a conversation for the future.

One he vowed to have.

A/N – Thanks for reading! We are getting closer to the end. Only five or six chapters to go (brace yourself for the next few they're gonna be rough).