A/N: Thank you to my reviewers

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Tangled Relations

Chapter 12 - The next day

Harry woke the next morning to a raspy cough coming from the bed beside him. He stood up stretching his tight muscles after sleeping in a chair all night. He looked over to his uncle and was pleased to see that most of the color had returned to his face.

"Professor, can I get you anything?"

"A (cough) glass (cough) of water"

Harry quickly retrieved a glass of water and helped Severus to sit up to drink it.

"Thank you Harry. There should be a pepper up potion in the cabinet, could you get me one."

Harry found it easily and returned with that and helped him again with drinking the fluid.

"Much better. Not only does the potion help your stamina it also coats the throat to help with coughs. Were you here all night?"

Harry smiled warmly and nodded.

"Thank you Harry. How bad was I?"

Harry took his uncle's hand into his own and squeezed it gently. "I'm not sure about everything but you were bleeding badly. You had several deep gashes on your chest and back and I know you were hit with the cruciatic at least once. I was there for that first one." Harry shivered slightly.

Severus got a concerned look in his eyes and squeezed back. "Did you take the potion? I wish you wouldn't force these visions Harry. My spying should be enough."

Harry pushed the hair away from his uncle's face. "Yes, I took my potion. And no I won't stop the visions. I don't do it very often and you never know what I might see. He meets individually with people sometimes."

Just then Madam Pomphrey made her entrance. "Severus, you're awake. You should take a pepper up potion and drink some fluids. I'll get them."

"No need Poppy. Harry already took care of it. When can I get out of here?"

"Severus, you know you shouldn't be alone for a while. What if something happens?"

Harry piped up quickly, knowing that he wouldn't want to stay in here either. "I can stay with him. I'll walk him to his rooms. You won't mind will you professor?"

Snape smirked at the medi-witch and carefully got out of the bed with Harry's assistance.

"You had better be careful Severus. I don't want to have to come down there and levitate you back up here because you fainted. Harry, make sure he eats."

Harry nodded and walked the professor down to the dungeons.

The portrait of Salazar Slytherin couldn't help himself when he saw the pair approaching. ~So what has our potions master gotten himself into this time?~

~Let's just say it involves the only other parselmouth we know. Could you let us in please?~

~I see. Go on in. Take good care of him~

After the portrait swung open Harry helped Severus to into the room.

"My bedroom is the second door to the right."

Harry nodded and helped Severus to the bedroom and into the large king-size bed. After tucking him in he sat in the chair beside the bed which was much more comfortable than the one in the hospital ward.

"Thank you Harry. For everything. Could you call for Albus? The floo powder is in a brightly colored mosaic jar on the mantle."

Harry did as he was instructed and waited in the main room for the headmaster.

"Ah, Harry. I see you helped him escape from Poppy. Good work."

The pair walked back to the bedroom where Severus was laying reading a book. He lowered the book when they came in.

"Albus, does Poppy know about Harry and I being related?"

The headmaster sighed, "I don't think so Severus, but she might suspect something. She knows that the two of you are now getting along rather well. Which I am so glad to see as well."

Harry turned to the headmaster and his uncle, "Who may I tell? I know that I can't tell everyone but there are some people that should know."

"Well, Harry, you of course may tell Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger. Just be sure that they know the importance of this staying a secret for now. I also plan on telling the innermost members of the Order. Is that alright with you Severus?"

"Yes, that sounds good to me. My mother will know as well. We are going to her house for Christmas."

Harry smiled. He was glad that at least a few people would know.

"Albus, I need to tell you what happened at the meeting last night."

"No you don't Severus. Harry told me everything. Just relax. Get some food and sleep. It's only Saturday so you can rest for two days. That should be plenty of time."

"Yes sir"

Harry walked the headmaster out to the door. "Harry, thank you for helping him. I believe the recent revelations will be good for both of you."

Harry nodded. "It's no problem sir."

Harry returned to the bedroom to find his uncle asleep, so he decided to relax in the chair beside the bed. He quickly dozed off as well.

He awoke a few hours later to find that he had somehow been levitated onto the bed. He stretched for several minutes before realizing that his uncle was no longer in the bed. He got up and went searching through the rooms until he heard the shower running. Harry calmed down and went in search of food in the kitchen. He found two plates with sandwiches and two bowls of soup. It seems the house elves had been here. Harry carried the food to the table and made some tea. A couple of minutes later Severus came in and sat down. They both smiled at each other and began eating at once. They had both missed breakfast and Harry was sure that his stomach would've turned inside out if it could. When they were finished Harry put the dirty dishes back where the house elves had put them and refilled the teacups. He carried them to the sofa where Severus was sitting and had lit the fire.

"Harry, you should probably go back to your tower. Your friends are more than likely worried if they haven't already found the headmaster. Plus it's a Hogsmead weekend."

"I think I'll decline sir. I need to stay with you. If anything should happen to you it will be much harder to get Madam Pomphrey to let you go next time."

Snape smiled, "I'll be fine Harry. Go have fun in Hogsmead. I'll see you Monday in class."

"I can go tomorrow. I know you probably want to be alone but I'm not going to let you."

Snape raised an eyebrow, "Indeed. Well I suppose you could read a book or we could play chess."

"Oh! Let's play chess. I haven't lost spectacularly in a while."

Five matches later Harry was down five to nothing.

"Maybe I'll switch to reading a book now." Harry said grinning.

"Giving up so soon Mr. Potter? I think I'll read a book as well. Although, I do need to brew some potions. They can wait till tomorrow."

They both settled down on opposite sides of the sofa. Harry had found a book on shielding potions, which might be useful in the future. They both read in silence for a couple of hours. When Severus was finished with the chapter he was reading he noticed that Harry had dozed off again. Effects of the post cruciatic potion. The professor yawned and stretched, getting up from the sofa, and levitated Harry back to the bed. After tucking him in on the right side, he climbed in the left side and fell asleep himself.

Harry woke up the next morning to find himself in the same bed as this morning. He didn't want to wake up his uncle so he left a note explaining that he had went to Hogsmead and left. It would be the last Hogsmead weekend before the Christmas holidays so he would need to buy gifts.

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