Disclaimer: The characters and places and stuff belong to JKR. But for now, they are at my mercy. *evil grin* I'll return them as soon as I'm finished…maybe.

In this chapter: Talks, silk shirts, and explanations

~~~

Chapter 2

An hour later, Severus was reluctantly sitting in a chair next to Harry's bed in the hospital wing. His missing tooth had been replaced, and the bullet had been removed from his leg. Harry was asleep, lying on his stomach so as not to aggravate the wounds on his back. Poppy Pomfrey was able to heal the welts and cuts, but they wouldn't be completely healed for another several hours. There was also a lotion that needed to be rubbed on Harry's back every hour. Poppy had asked Severus to stay with Harry for a few hours, and to apply the lotion.

"Damned Potters, always getting into trouble, the lot of them," Severus muttered to himself as he leaned back in his chair and opened a book.

"But you have to admit...it makes things more...interesting..."

Severus looked up from the book and raised an eyebrow. Harry had turned his head, so that he was looking at his teacher.

"You're supposed to be sleeping," Severus told him, firmly.

"What day is it?" Harry murmured, ignoring the comment.

"Tuesday, the thirty-first of July."

Harry gave a weak chuckle, closing his eyes and then opening them again.

"Happy birthday to me..." he whispered. "Best present I could have asked for..."

"What, to be beaten and shot?" Severus snorted. Harry waved a hand at him before dropping it back to the bed.

"That was two days ago... Thanks for getting me out..."

"Two days? Damn, Potter. Were you locked in that bloody cupboard that whole time?" Harry nodded slightly.

"I've had worse... Beginning of summer...they wouldn't let me out for two weeks..."

"And you didn't tell anyone how they were treating you?"

"How could I? I was locked in a cupboard," Harry replied with a half-hearted smirk. Severus just glared at him, and Harry sighed, turning his head away from the other wizard. "I though I was going to die in there... It was like being buried alive... I couldn't breathe or think... I passed out a few times... I think I had a seizure, I remember shaking all over..."

Suddenly, Harry's body tensed, and he let out a cry of pain as he buried his face in his pillow. Severus grabbed the Pain Relieving Lotion from the bedside table and poured a small amount into his hand before gently rubbing it over Harry's back.

"Relax, and take your face out of your pillow," Severus instructed him, firmly. "I didn't bring you back here only to have you suffocate yourself."

Harry turned his face away from the pillow, but he didn't breathe any easier. He took short, rapid breaths as Severus smoothed the lotion over his back. It stung and burned for a while before it took effect.

"Oh, God, it hurts..." Harry choked out, his breathing becoming even more erratic.

"I'm finished, and you need to calm down," Severus stated, wiping his hands on a towel. "For God's sake, boy, breathe! You're hyperventilating. Try to take deep breaths." As Harry slowed his breathing, Severus asked, "It really hurt that bad?"

"Bloody stupid question..." Harry whispered, his face red and sweaty. "Nearly as bad as when they did it..."

"I think it's about time for you to take a Sleeping Potion," Severus told him, summoning a vial. He helped Harry to drink from it. "This will put you out for about six hours, hopefully. You'll be awake in time for breakfast, and I'll be off in the dungeons, catching up on the sleep I've missed tonight."

"Will you come see me tomorrow?" Harry wondered as the potion began to take effect. Severus snorted.

"Why would you want me to?" he asked. "I'm the greasy Potions Master, remember?"

"Yeah, but you're the...greasy Potions Master...who saved my life...again..." Harry mumbled, sleepily. "Will you? Please?"

"Perhaps," Severus sighed, not showing his surprise at the thought of being wanted. "I'll think about it. Good night, Mr. Potter."

Within seconds, Harry was asleep, his face still sweaty. Severus reached over to a basin of water and a cloth. He soaked the cloth in the water before pressing it against Harry's forehead and cheeks, to cool him off.

You'd think that, after Voldemort was defeated last year, the kid's problems would be over, Severus thought to himself. He'd be able to make up for what he's missed out on. He'd be able to just be normal and act his age, not forced to grow up so soon.

"I'm sorry, Potter," Severus muttered. "Everything does seem to happen to you. I suppose, in a way, I can't blame you for breaking the rules and everything for the past few years. I guess you were just trying to have the fun you've never been given a chance to have before."

"Indeed."

Severus turned to find Albus entering the infirmary. The old wizard smiled at Severus, a mischievous glint in his eyes. Severus stood to offer his chair to Albus, but Albus shook his head. He stood next to the bed, leaning over Harry and touching the boy's hair. The smile on his face turned sad as Albus let out a soft sigh.

"How is he?"

"I gave him a Sleeping Potion about twenty minutes ago," Severus replied. "Before that, he was quite coherent, we talked for a little while. He started hyperventilating when I had to put the lotion on his back. He said it hurt nearly as bad as when the Muggles did that to him."

"Oh, the poor boy," Albus murmured.

"Albus, why did we send him back to them in the first place?" Severus sighed, rubbing a hand over his face.

"You know why, Severus. There are still Death Eaters trying to get to Harry. At the time, I thought it would be best for him to go, because of the wards around the Dursleys' house. I see now that I was wrong..."

"And now? Will he stay here, or will he go to someone else?"

"He will stay here," Albus replied. "Sirius and Remus aren't home all the time, and the Weasleys can't really afford another child in the house. Poppy said she'll let Harry out in about three days, but because of his leg, he'll need to use a cane to walk. I don't want him to be on his own too much until he's healed."

Albus gave Severus a meaningful look, and the younger man groaned inwardly.

"Albus, you are thoroughly predictable," Severus sighed. "Will you at least allow me to get some sleep before you ask another favor of me?"

"Of course, Severus, of course," Albus chuckled. "In fact, I will stay with Harry until Poppy returns. Go on down to your dungeons and get some rest."

"Thank you, Albus."

~~~

Harry moaned quietly when he awoke in the morning. The light in the infirmary was bright, and his muscles screamed out in pain no matter how he moved. His back felt much better, but his muscles ached from not being able to move much as he slept. After a moment, Harry felt a presence next to him. He turned his head and found Poppy standing over him, examining his back.

"How are you feeling, Potter?" Poppy asked. "Your back has healed nicely."

"Feels better, but I ache all over," Harry sighed. "I don't think I can stand laying like this much longer, but I don't think I can move, either..."

"Here, drink this," Poppy told him, holding a vial to his lips. "It will relax your muscles and get rid of the pain. Then you can have some lunch. You slept a lot longer than we thought you would."

After the potion took effect, Poppy helped Harry to slowly turn over and sit up. He winced a little, but he wasn't in nearly as much pain.

"There, how's that?" Poppy asked, helping him put a shirt on.

"Better, thank you."

"Poppy."

The two looked up as Severus entered the room, wearing surprisingly Muggle clothes: black slacks and a black silk button-down shirt. Harry stared at him for a moment before blinking his eyes and shaking himself out of his daze.

Damn, but he looks good, Harry said to himself. Hey, where did that come from?!

"Yes, Severus?" Poppy said, raising an eyebrow.

"Albus asks that the two of you join the rest of us in the staff room for lunch," Severus told her. "If Potter is able, of course." He looked at Harry, who was still looking intently at the man. Harry felt himself blush a little.

"Potter, do you feel well enough to go down to the staff room?" Poppy asked. Harry nodded. "Severus, I trust you can help him and keep an eye on him? I have things to attend to here."

"Of course, Poppy," Severus complied.

He took Harry by an arm and helped him to stand. Poppy handed Harry a wooden cane to walk with, and he and Severus slowly made their way to the staff room. Harry limped slightly, and his leg was a little sore, but they made it all right. Severus pulled out a chair for Harry, next to Albus, and then sat on the boy's other side.

"Harry, my boy, delighted to see you!" Albus greeted him, cheerfully. "Professor McGonagall retrieved your things for you, and they have been taken to Professor Snape's rooms. After Madam Pomfrey releases you from the hospital wing, you will be staying with him for the rest of the summer, if that's all right?"

"That's fine," Harry told him. "As long as Professor Snape doesn't mind." And as long as he dresses like that everyday.

"I don't mind," Severus told Harry.

"Good, good," Albus continued. "Now, Harry, Sirius and Remus are due to return today from Italy, where I sent them on a mission for me. They'll be here to visit with you tonight. And after you get settled into Professor Snape's quarters, he will accompany you to Diagon Alley to buy new robes, supplies, and anything else you might have...lost."

"Where's Hedwig?" Harry asked, suddenly, his eyes wide.

"She's in the Owlery, don't worry," Minerva McGonagall assured him from her seat across from Albus. Harry let out a sigh of relief.

At that moment, lunch appeared on the table in the form of bread, salad, and pasta. The sight and smell of the food made Harry feel a little nauseous, so he didn't take anything. Instead, he sat back in his chair, folded his arms across his stomach, and looked around the room at all of his teachers. Aside from Albus, Severus, and Minerva, there were about ten other teachers, including Filius Flitwick, Ceres Sprout, Selena Sinistra, and Valerie Vector.

After a moment, Harry felt a hand on his arm, and he inhaled sharply when Severus leaned over to his ear.

"If you don't eat, Poppy will ask for my head on a silver platter," he murmured, silkily.

"If you hadn't eaten in nearly a month, then you wouldn't want to suddenly stuff yourself with pasta, either," Harry replied, firmly.

"Understandable, but I never said you had to stuff yourself. Just take a bite or two. You'll feel better."

"Doubtful," Harry muttered. But he gave in and reached for a piece of bread, ripping small bits off and nibbling at them. "Happy now?"

"Ecstatic." Severus's tone was dripping with sarcasm as he smirked. "Be glad Albus asked you to come down here for lunch. Poppy would have tried to force you to eat everything."

After a moment, Harry put his half-eaten piece of bread on his plate and resumed his former position, sitting back in his chair. Severus glanced at him and saw that the boy's face had become a little pale.

"Do you need to go back upstairs?" Severus asked, quietly. Harry hesitated, then nodded slightly. "All right, then. Let's go."

"Why are you being so nice to me?" Harry asked once he was back in bed. He lay on his side, facing Severus, who was standing next to the bed. "I mean, I'm not complaining. It's just...weird."

"I've been wondering the same thing, myself," Severus replied, chuckling. "Let's call it 'temporary insanity,' shall we?"

"Then I like you when you're insane," Harry sighed. "I wish you'd be insane more often."

"Maybe I've just decided that you're not the kind of person I thought you were, and you're not half-bad?" Severus suggested. You don't look half-bad, either. Damn it, stop that! He's a kid! A student!

"If you say so," Harry yawned. "I think I'll go back to sleep. See you later, Professor..."