Professor Snape walked toward the Headmaster's Office quickly. The Gargoyle noticing his mood simply moved out of the way as he approached. He ascended the staircase and walked in. Minerva was sitting at one chair and Albus at his desk. Severus walked over and sat in another chair. 'Pepermint' the headmaster offered. Severus shook his head. "I hope you don't mind if Minerva stays. We were discussing something rather important, and it has to do with Harry." Snape just nodded. The headmaster popped a peppermint into his mouth and asked "Severus, if it is possible, can you tell me what happened?" asked Dumbledore gently, laying a hand on the Professors sholder comfortingly and broke the Professor's train of thought. He watched calmly and listened as the Professor told him about the first dream, and then with the mirrors. When he got to the part where he witnessed a beating he turned away from the Headmaster. Albus muttered some soothing words and waited for him to continue. He didn't tell him that Harry had looked up and called him dad.
"Albus, He moved so he would take the bullet for me." He said as calmly as he could. "but then his whole body lit up, and there was a magic barrer around us. I have never seen anything like it. The bullet, it melted on impact with it, and dropped to the floor. And then it seemed small projections of the aura went out and pinned the beast. I couldn't see much though, everything was filled with a bright light" Albus knew about the aura before Severus told him, but was interested to hear what had happened to the muggles Albus smiled softly as looked over at Snape. A plan began to form as he looked down at the Potions Master. "I can't let him get hurt again…" he whispered as he looked into the twinkiling eyes of the headmaster. 'so he finally sees what we all do…. Yes I definitely think this is the plan.' Thought Dumbledore. When Severus was finished he looked up at the Headmaster.
"Thank you." He said, for once unsure how to comfort. "You may have to testify at the trial" he continued looking at the distraught man. It was the first time he had looked this shaken since the day he came to the headmaster and confessed to being a Death Eater "I'll be holding a couple of meetings this week, and I am sure Sirius and Remus will be returning in two days time, and I'm sure they will insist on being here to check on him as well." He continued.
"Yes I think he should have people he loves around him" said the Potions Master. "It may help" Albus was taken aback, normally any mention of the childhood enemies caused Severus to start protesting. Then again the potions master was acting differently since he saved Harry, before his actions had merely been a façade, covering his lack of self worth. Could it be that saving Harry would actually save them both? He almost pushed it out of his mind, but when he looked at Severus he was simply sitting placid. 'Yes, they will be good for one another' thought Albus. Severus quickly left the office for the second time that day.
"Minerva, do you remember why we made James a prefect?" Albus asked. "Or at least the special provisions we made for prefects those years?" Minerva nodded slightly.
"Is Harry going to experience something similar?" she asked, almost casually. The headmaster nodded.
"As soon as he's better we'll start to notice it. Only it will stronger." She nearly fell off of her chair. "I think, perhaps, we will be needing three Gryffindor prefects this year." He stated, and she simply nodded. 'Well then I guess we should start to make some arrangements." He said, and she took this as her dismissal. She got up and walked out of the office, and down the stairs. Albus looked at an orb that was glowing on his desk, and watched as Severus talked to the comatose boy. He couldn't hear what was being said, but got the feeling that it was helpful to both of them.
Minerva would spend time in the Hospital wing looking over the child whenever Snape had fallen asleep. On the second day she gently woke him up. "Severus, I'll stay here with him. You should go shower, and change your robes, maybe get a proper sleep, you look terrible. I think if he wakes up and sees you as you are..." She said as she conjured a mirror and handed it to the professor. After quite a long time he stood silently and walked down the hallway toward his chambers. It was the first time he could remember in the past what, decade? that he had actually given a damn about how he looked. He spent a long time in front of the mirror. His normally greasy, dull hair was now shiny, and he pulled it back with a cord. This had several beneficial effects and it made him look less severe, tidier, and younger. He smiled into the mirror, and saw the state of his teeth. Using several, somewhat painful, charms, one of which Hermione was familiar with, he straightened them and made them even. He walked out of the bathroom to grabbed a potion off his shelf. Something left over from when Lockheart had asked him to make it. It was a tooth whitening potion. When he looked into the mirror again he was satisfied. He looked drastically different, almost handsome (if it weren't for the nose), and yet there had not been many significant changes. He could simply say that his hair was getting in the way, and would deny any comments about his teeth. As he looked back into the mirror he was pleased, hopefully Minerva wouldn't think he was too scary for Harry to see, though he resented her for actually pointing it out. He then walked over to his closet. He had several shirts he only wore back at his house, but decided that a white one would probably help to lighten things up in his attire. He put it on and buttoned it before putting on his billowing robes. He looked at his bed, but did not have an urge to sleep, he went back up to the Hospital wing to continue his vigil.
Minerva didn't comment when she saw his new appearance. She just nodded and stood up, to leave. "Its alright if you want to say" he said to her, and she sat back down. As he looked back at the boy. He straightened his sheets, ran a hand through the wild hair, and sat in the chair. Several hours later Snape had fallen asleep to the echoing song that Fawks continued to sing for Harry. Harry's eyes fluttered open. Fawks let out a more joyous note. The brilliant green first surveying the blur of the all to familiar room 'Great, term hasn't started yet and I'm in the hospital wing' he thought and then wondered how he had gotten there. As the memories came flooding back he caught a glimpse of the potions master, sleeping at his bedside, holding onto one of his hands. "I didn't know Professor Snape had a brother" he thought
"I don't. But don't talk." Harry looked at him quizzically he had answered in his sleep as if hearing Harry think. Harry was a little disturbed. Surely this wasn't the same man he had suffered through potions with, but it had to be, most of the signs were there, but then again Harry wasn't wearing his glasses.