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Taking Away the Loneliness Chapter Six

Disclaimer: We do not own any of this so please do not sue us.

WARNING! This will be slash. If you do not like slash (A relationship between two men) then please do not read.

This is rated R for adult situations and language.

Last Chapter:

Harry refused to let go, and in that moment, all the little bits and pieces he had been trying to put together all week finally fell into place; yes he did have feelings for Severus Snape and did care for the man, perhaps too much. All his pent up emotions surged and shone in his eyes as he looked up to meet Severus' eyes; he spoke in a shaky voice.

"I don't want you to die."

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Taking Away the Loneliness

Chapter Six - "Something to Think About"

Severus snarled and tried once more to extricate himself from the Gryffindor. He had seen the emotion flood Harry's eyes and it was too much. The boy was clearly not in his right mind. He was trembling and his eyes were dilated, signs of the Cruciatus curse. He was most likely just panicking, afraid that Severus was going to be killed because of Voldemort's anger. There was no way he could know for sure that the Potions Master had been declared a traitor and was going to die tonight, and the information he was able to feed to the Order was well worth the risks.

Harry saw the determination and coldness in the other's glittering black eyes, and hissed in frustration. Didn't the man want to live? He wouldn't want anyone to suffer at the hands of that sadistic snake-faced bastard, but this man especially. He couldn't let him walk out on him now and get himself killed--not when he was just starting to sort out his own emotions.

Severus was still trying to pull away from him, so he growled, "I'm not letting you leave here to go get yourself killed, you git!" In response Severus' eyes narrowed and he reached for his wand with his free arm, but Harry was quicker. Having already come to the conclusion that if the professor wasn't going to stay on his own, then he'd have to make him stay by force, he already had his wand pointed and cried out "Stupefy!" Severus collapsed, stunned, and Harry grunted as all of the older man's weight was transferred to him.

Sighing, he muttered, "Mobilicorpus" and headed back towards the school, Severus following behind him. Pausing briefly in the Entrance Hall, he turned and headed for the infirmary. He didn't know the password to Snape's rooms, and he wouldn't leave him down there on his own in any case. If he was under Madame Pomfrey's watchful eyes, then Harry would be free to go get the Headmaster and explain what all had happened. Of course, he'd most likely be in trouble for assaulting a teacher, but hopefully the fact that he had just saved the man's life would gain him some lenience.

What he didn't count on was how quickly the Dark Lord would realize that Professor Snape wasn't showing up. As they passed the library, a blinding pain reminiscent of last night shot through his forehead and he collapsed on the floor, pressing his hands to his forehead and gritting his teeth. Trying to ignore the pain, he staggered once again to his feet and continued to the Infirmary. Once inside, he set Severus on a bed and cried out for Madame Pomfrey before collapsing once again. The last thought to enter his mind before he lost consciousness was something along the lines of "Ha, take that you slimy snake-faced bastard."

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When Harry woke up again, the first thing he was aware of was a dark, silky voice hissing dangerously. Apparently somebody had enervated the Potions Master, and he was furious. Almost immediately, a soothing voice cut him off with the words, "Harry knows what he's doing, Severus. If he said that Voldemort knew you were the traitor, then it is most likely true. Besides, I would not have you risk your life when you've had warning ahead of time, my dear boy."

Severus just growled, but remained silent, which the Headmaster apparently took as consent. When he spoke again, Harry could actually hear the twinkle in his eyes. "That's a good lad. We have another spy among the Death Eaters and he'll be able to continue feeding us information now that you no longer can." Harry heard Severus inquiring who the spy was, and he listened carefully, curious as well.

But the Headmaster was stubborn and only said, "I can't tell you who they are, Severus, you know that. Should you be captured by Death Eaters, they will not be able to uncover our spy."

Apparently Severus agreed, for there was a short stretch of silence. Then Severus spoke again. "Very well, Albus. I will refrain from going to any more meetings and will remain in Hogwarts for now. In the meantime, what do we do about Harry?"

Harry's eyes widened considerably. Had Professor Snape just called him by his first name. Him? The bane of his existence, the Boy-Who-Wouldn't-Bloody-Die? Apparently Severus realized this as well, because Harry heard a muffled curse followed by light laughter. Albus Dumbledore found his slip-up amusing, and let him know as much, his eyes twinkling more than ever with knowledge.

Severus just glared at him, daring the old wizard to say anything about it. His mentor just shook his head, still smiling, then rose and moved over to Harry's curtains, pulling them open. The ex-Death Eater saw the Boy-Who-Lived was awake and groaned again, then pulled up his masks, fixing an air of indifference and cold hostility around himself as he glared at the boy.

Harry swallowed nervously, then turned to the Headmaster. "Professor Dumbledore, Sir, I had another vision. And I'm sorry for attacking Professor Snape, Sir," he continued, glancing briefly at Severus before turning his gaze back to Dumbledore. "Bellatrix was the one who told Voldemort that he was the spy," he added bitterly, his hatred for the dark witch evident in his tone, "and he tried to leave, and I couldn't let him, so I stunned him and brought him up here. I was going to get you afterwards, but Voldemort figured it out and was furious, so I didn't get a chance to reach you, and I'm sorry Sir," he blurted out all at once.

Albus patiently waited until the teenager was done before smiling at him gently and assuring him, "You did all right, Harry. And you aren't in any trouble. You kept Severus from getting himself killed, and for that I thank you. He means a lot to me, and I don't want to lose him." Severus and Harry both blinked, stunned. The old man was never that straightforward with anybody--well, not with them at least.

At last Harry just nodded his own thanks, at which point Professor Dumbledore smiled and rose, stating on his way out, "You two should be out of here by dinnertime. For now, try not to kill each other, all right?" With that, he walked out, not giving the two younger wizards time to react.

Sighing in irritated resignation, Severus threw himself down on his bed. He had only been stunned, there was no need for him to stay in the Infirmary, so why the hell was he in here. Har--Potter he could understand, if what he had heard about the boy's visions were true, but still, that didn't mean he had to be in here. So why was he?

"I think you're in here so that Professor Dumbledore can keep an eye on you, Professor," murmured Potter from the bed next to him, startling him out of his thoughts. When he glared at the teenage menace, the boy bit his lower lip and dropped his eyes, but persisted as only a Gryffindor could. "He's afraid that you might try to go to the meeting anyhow, and is probably keeping you in here so that you don't run off and get yourself killed."

Severus blinked, then snarled at Potter, "What makes you think I am foolish enough to go to a meeting with the Dark Lord when my death is assured?" Harry snorted, but didn't say anything, until Severus grew impatient and snapped, "Well?" Then Harry lifted his head and glared at him, those emerald eyes flashing with determination and other emotions that the older wizard really didn't want to try and interpret.

"Your death isn't assured, remember? I know you didn't believe me before, and I doubt you believe me now. But I know it was real, and I also know that you would have tried to go to the meeting anyhow, to get more information for the old crowd," he continued, using Dumbledore's phrase for the Order. "He says he already has a spy in place, and I'm not letting you die by torture, so you can just forget it now!" he finished venomously, spitting the words out in his anger.

Severus felt his eyes widen and his jaw drop as the surprise overtook him, but he couldn't do anything about it at the moment. How did the boy know what he hadn't even figured out yet? Thinking about it, he realized that he would have tried to go to the meeting as soon as he left the hospital wing, regardless of what he had told Albus. Dammit!

Seeing his reaction, Harry's face softened and the anger left his eyes, replaced by sorrow and a type of longing. "I just don't want to see you hurt or dead so soon, Professor. I'm only now starting to figure things out, and I can't lose you now. Please listen to Professor Dumbledore and stay here, where it's safe."

His words brought Snape back to himself and he mustered a weak glare for the Gryffindor. "What do you mean you're just starting to figure things out? What things?" Harry bit his lip, debating with himself, then sighed and slid off the bed, making his way on wobbling legs towards Severus. He had only taken about two steps when his legs gave out under him and he went crashing towards the floor. Moving quickly, Severus grabbed him and prevented him from hitting the floor. When Harry gazed up at him through a fringe of hair, he realized with a startling intimacy just how close they were to each other.

Before he could push the dratted Potter boy away, leaving him to his own devices, the boy had the gall to grab him, wrapping his arms around his neck and tangling his hands in his hair. "Hmmm...it's not greasy at all," he murmured distractedly. Severus held his breath, not daring to move, not certain where this was going, not sure what he wanted. Part of him wanted Harry to come to his senses and pull away, but he was chagrined to find that the larger part wanted the younger boy to kiss him.

All of a sudden Harry looked into his eyes and seemed to realize what he was doing, and who he was doing it with. Pulling back with a stammered, "I-I'm sorry, Pro-professor," he pushed out of Severus' arms. Unfortunately, he still hadn't caught his balance and was unsteady from the effects of Voldemort's rage, so instead of moving back to his bed, he fell on his ass on the floor and sprawled there, wincing as he tried to control his breathing.

That was way too close. Harry couldn't believe it. He had almost kissed his professor--not only that, but it was the one person who hated him without reserve, his snarky potions professor who was always criticizing and humiliating him every chance he got. And here he was, the Boy-Who-Asked-for-Trouble, playing with his hair and commenting on its silkiness. Dammit all to hell.

He flushed, eyes averted as he climbed to his feet slowly, waiting for the scathing remarks and the loss of House points that were sure to come from this. His fellow Gryffindors were going to be furious with how many points he had probably just lost them thanks to his stunt. Even if Snape did find him aesthetically pleasing, he still hated him. Slowly, when no scathing remarks were forthcoming, he raised his eyes.

Severus didn't know what to think. Harry had been so close to him, pressed up against him, running his hands through his hair. Now he was on the floor after realizing just whose hair he had been playing with. He didn't know what to do. Harry had seemed to actually care for him when they were outside, right before he stunned him, but now he was pushing away. Perhaps he had only cared about him dying. Surely he'd do the same for anyone else if he could. He was selfless like that.

The raven-haired man watched numbly as Harry started to pick himself up off the floor, head bowed in concentration. He was still drained of energy and needed rest. As he rose unsteadily to his feet, he raised his face and Severus was once again entranced by those expressive green eyes. They looked hurt and embarrassed, and Severus couldn't help but react. Bending down, he grabbed hold of Harry and helped him over to his bed, neither of them saying anything.

Once Harry was safely tucked into his bed, Severus moved back over to his and lay down. If he wasn't getting out of the hospital wing for another couple of hours yet, he might as well get some sleep. Harry was doing the same. Before he drifted off to sleep, he heard a softly murmured, "Thank you, professor, and I'm glad you're okay."

He waited a few minutes until he was sure the Gryffindor was asleep before replying, just as softly, "You're quite welcome, Harry."

~~End Chapter~~

Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. ~~Savage Damsel~~

Goldenpaw has started a Round Robin community on Live Journal if anyone is interested in joining. We just began a fic and want as many people as we can get to participate. The link is on our profile page (Phantoms of the fiction.) Thanks! sev1970 and Nymphadora Tonks1