December 25th, 1996

Severus was just leaving the Great Hall after the Christmas breakfast when Potter caught up to him in the corridor. "Sir, may I speak with you privately? If you have time."

Severus looked at the boy closely. Potter wasn't in his sixth year potions class and both of them were happier for it. Well, at least he was. Potter had been somewhat of a recluse so far this year, as if trying to fade into the decor. He was surprisingly good at it. Right now, his face was weary and dark circles marked the skin underneath his eyes. The nervous fidgeting was increasing rapidly.

"Follow me."

They walked in silence to his office, where he offered Potter a seat. Taking another good look at the boy, he added a strong silencing spell then sat down too, waiting for him to speak. Potter took a deep breath and started.

"Sir, last night Vold..." He stopped. Looking slightly disgusted by what he was about to do, he resumed: "the Dark Lord invaded my thoughts again. It was the first time since last summer." He visibly shuddered. "I could sense him going through my mind. He was searching for information about spies or traitors."

Severus closed his eyes briefly. "And what did you do, Potter?"

"I concentrated on Wormtail with all my might."

Severus sat back in his chair and rubbed the base of his nose with his fingers, thinking. "And why", he asked after a while, "aren't you going to the Headmaster with this information instead of me?"

Potter seemed to be considering how to word his thoughts. "Because this information affects you, professor." He hesitated, then added quietly: "I wasn't sure it would make it to you if I did speak to Professor Dumbledore."

Severus was more then a little surprised, even if he displayed none of it. Obviously the events of his fifth year had affected his trust in the headmaster more than they had suspected. Then again, perhaps it was just that after five years of being used as a tool, he had developed some respect and consideration for his peers. Severus had thorough experience with being one. It was true that Dumbledore may have kept this piece of information to himself. Potter couldn't really offer him a choice, but could enable him to make informed decisions. "Did he get information on anything or anyone other than Pettigrew?"

Potter understood the real question. "No, sir. Nothing." Certainty.

He took the decision quickly. "Then we must resume occlumency lessons, for my other 'activities' cannot be compromise. Understand me well, those lessons will have to be successful."

Potter looked up at him. "Yes, sir." Determination.

Severus nodded his approval. "I'll see you tomorrow night, Potter. And for Merlin's sake, please try and clear your mind!"

Potter smiled. "Thank you professor."

---

December 23rd, 2001

He entered the London's Eastern Hospital following the pull of the spell. He was out of breath, having broken into a run down the street as soon as he saw the large sign indicating what his destination really was. In his newly transfigured muggle clothing, he roamed the corridors until he felt the spell fade, then disappear. For a second he felt a deep burning fear, thinking Harry was dead, that everything was over. Merlin, Harry was dead! Too late, his mind chanted, it's too late. He looked around in a panic to see he had arrived in a small room filled with machines, tubes and instruments. And in the middle of it all a cot, on which was an unconscious, but nevertheless breathing Harry Potter.

Severus just stood there in shock, watching the bundle of cuts and bruises on the hospital bed. Magical attacks were ruthless and painful, but rarely left visible external damage. This was no magical attack. And those loud machines and numerous tubes weren't helping ameliorate the visual aspect of his condition.

He didn't know how long he had been there staring when he felt a hand grab his shoulder. On instinct, he pivoted and seized the attacker's arm firmly, twisting it. He stopped when he saw it was one of those muggle healers, and let his own arm dropped beside him limply. He opened his mouth to offer an apology but nothing came out.

"Who are you? Do you know who this man is?" she asked him, stepping back quickly.

He managed to nod.

"Do you know who did this to him?" she continued, suspicious.

"No. Harry is... How is he?"

The doctor seemed to understand his distress once she heard the concern in his cracking voice. "You saw his picture in the newspaper, didn't you? Thank God someone finally recognised him."

Slightly recovered, Severus nodded again, recognising the opportunity to explain his presence. "I did. His name is Harry Potter. Do you know what happened to him?"

The next hour was spent answering questions and filling out forms about Potter and his medical history. He had to improvise quite a bit as he couldn't very well tell them that the long term nerve damage they had detected was due to numerous exposures to the Cruciatus curse over the years. After the medical staff, it was the muggle policemen's turn to ask aggravating questions - no, Potter was not involved with drug dealers and had no connections to terrorist groups, whatever those were - and expose their own theories - muggle street gang or thieves, apparently armed with bats or something similar - for another hour.

When he was finally left alone with Harry in the room after making it clear that visiting hours did not apply to him, he opened the window. Just as he had suspected, Hedwig was in the tree nearby, and flew in quickly. He wrote the letter directly to Poppy instead of the headmaster, still feeling vindictive. Harry had NOT been 'enjoying his free time'. The owl promptly took off.

Severus sat down on the wooden chair near the bed, took Harry's hand in his, and waited. They had told him he could wake from his coma anytime, but were not hopeful. He couldn't help remembering when it had been Harry waiting for him.

---

September 7th, 2000

Everything was black and he couldn't feel his body. Well, he thought, death is a bit of a disappointment. At least he was sure they had won. He remembered opening his eyes while he was lying on the ground under Malfoy's still warm body to see Harry and Voldemort, standing next to the derailed Hogwarts Express. Their surveillance mission had been successful and the information was true. The train was attacked on September 1st. But they were ready, with wagons filled with Polyjuiced Order members and aurors instead of students.

It had been unnerving to see the two immobile figures, without their wands drawn, simply looking the other in the eyes while a fully fledged battle was taking place around them. But Voldemort had fallen under Harry's mind attack after only a few moments. Severus' mark suddenly didn't hurt anymore. Content, he had closed his eyes and let go.

Something moved beside him. Well, he was certainly feeling his body now. A bit too much, actually. He began to reconsider the dead theory and moved on the hospital wing one once he opened his eyes. There was no way his afterlife could be filled with so much white.

"Welcome back, Severus", said Harry's voice.

That took a minute to process. "How long?"

"It's been a week. But don't worry, you can sleep through another one. We won."

"Good job, Potter", he murmured before taking the sound advice. He vaguely heard Poppy scolding Harry for being out of bed.

---

December 24rd, 2001

He jumped when he heard the same scolding voice in the hospital room, now filled with morning light.

"Honestly, I don't know what is wrong with this boy. Managing to get away from megalomaniacs with wands just to jump in front in front of muggle thieves with large wooden bats. Ah Severus, you're up. Please get the yellow vial in my bag."

A bit dazed, Severus got up to get the muscle relaxant. "Why does he need this? Was he under the Cruciatus?"

"No dear, it's for you. Your back must be killing you from sleeping in that chair all night."

He glared at her, but discreetly took the remedy anyway. He watched her give Harry a mix of energy potions through a needle in his arm. "Potions are meant to be taken orally. Those are the only ones that can be safely injected directly in the bloodstream. This device," she added pointing to the respirator, "prevents me from giving him everything he needs, but I thought best not to remove something muggle I know next to nothing about. Plus the muggles would get suspicious. He should wake up in a day or two with those anyway."

"I agree. Let's not do anything that would require memory charms and alert the ministry. The healers here told me they would remove the thing once he is awake and stable enough."

"They will see this as a fast recovery, but still possible. When he's better, we'll tell them we we're transferring him to another hospital and bring him to Hogwarts."

Severus thought of all the guests, honourees and journalists staying at the castle for the new wing inauguration and cringed. "Let's keep him away from the entire journalistic population. He'll want his privacy."

"Then where?"

He thought a few moments. "I am well versed in basic medi-wizardry and reporters all but run away from me ever since that Skeeter incident. He can come with me to my home. I'll give him his old room until he recovers."

---

July 31st, 1998

On the last day of July, at two thirty in the morning, Severus was woken by a loud knock on the front door of the Snape house.

Since such a sound hadn't been heard there in over two decades, Severus quickly got out of bed, taking his wand from under his pillow. He cast every protection spell, defensive shield and revealing charm he could think of. Reassured that whoever or whatever was behind the door was relatively non-threatening, he opened it.

Harry Potter was standing on the porch in the rain, soaked from head to toe and shivering. He had his owl's cage in one hand and a large trunk was hovering behind him.

Severus clenched his teeth to prevent his jaw from dropping. He cast legilimens on the young man and sensed him letting go of his mind's defences. After reassuring himself that this was indeed Potter, he stepped aside and gestured him in.

"What on earth are you doing here Potter?" He cast a heating and drying charm on him, and guided him quickly to a chair.

"Hogwarts' wards are still being reconstructed after the attack at the end of the year. Dumbledore is abroad negotiating our collaboration with Dumstrang for the summer and Grimmauld place is compromised has long as Kreacher cannot be found. And you stressed how dangerous it would be if I ran off to see my friends this summer. I didn't know where else to go", Harry said, sounding defeated.

"What was wrong with where you were?"

Harry looked away for a moment. "I'm eighteen now."

"And?"

"I'm legally an adult in the muggle world. My aunt is no longer my guardian by law."

Severus just raised an eyebrow. Harry turned his eyes down.

"They sort of threw me out. Gave me an hour to pack and leave. No magic can be done at Privet Drive because of the protective wards Dumbledore added last year." He looked into Severus' eyes. "I had no choice but to leave, professor. I took the Knight bus."

Severus sighed. Minerva had warned them the muggles were a bad idea this summer. Well, there were surely enough wards here. Keeping Death Eaters from getting their now very well known traitor certainly required strong ones. "Very well Potter, let's find you a room so you can warm up before you die of hypothermia."

---

December 24th-26th, 2001

Severus looked up from his book to see Harry, eyes wide open in panic, trying to assess his surroundings. He stood quickly and hurried next to the cot. Harry focused on him and relaxed slightly.

"It's all right Harry. The place is empty", he said using their usual mission slang for indicating a location was secure, thinking it might be helpful in reassuring the confused man. It worked, for Harry went back to sleep immediately. Severus went to inform the staff that their patient was no longer in a coma.

The next few times Harry woke were similar. He would stay awake a few moments, and go back to sleep only after seeing the other man in the room.

It was two days before he was fully conscious. Severus was awoken by Harry's hand squeezing his. He sat on the cot beside him. "Harry, can you understand me?" Another squeeze. "You are in a muggle hospital. The muggles told me you were found unconscious in a London park. Do you remember what happened?" No squeeze. Eyes closing tightly.

"It doesn't matter, Harry. The doctor said you might need a few days to remember anything. She also told me that this tube down your throat is helping you breathe. I am going to get her to see if she can take it out. I'll be right back."

When they came back, Harry was still awake. "Well Mr Potter, I am very glad you are doing so well. I am Dr. Benson, and I've been taking care of you since you were brought here last week." The doctor examined him thoroughly before continuing. "I believe it is now safe to remove the respirator," she said while disconnecting the tube from the machine. "Take a deep breath, then blow hard, like you are blowing your candles from a birthday cake." She pulled the tube out at the same time and Harry started coughing. He opened his mouth to say something but she cut him: "Now wait a couple of hours before talking so you won't irritate your trachea. You've had this tube in for a long time." Harry closed his mouth and nodded.

"I understand your friend here wants to take you to a private facility. I see no problem with that as you are recovering quickly. Almost a miracle, if you ask me. I would still like to keep you here at least for the night. You need surveillance for this concussion of yours. We'll see tomorrow if your condition is still stable enough for a transfer." Both men nodded this time. "Well, call me if there is any change, or if you have questions for me."

Once she was gone, Severus opened his bag and took out some potion vials. He sat on the bed next to Harry to help him raise his head and drink. "Some of them could not be injected. This one is for your throat, so you can whisper if you want."

"Thank you," said Harry, letting himself fall back down on the bed. His voice was more a breath than a whisper.

"You're welcome. Now sleep."

"No, please tell me what happened."

"I have no idea what happened Harry," Severus said slowly, pushing some strands of hair out of the sick man's eyes. He suddenly felt very tired. With all the anxiety of the past few days suddenly gone, relief was crashing on him, tension draining from tense muscles and leaving him with a strange empty feeling.

"How did you find me? And what day is it? My classes?"

Severus shook his head to quiet him, stroking his cheek. He worked hard to suppress the tightening of his throat, gulping a few times.

"Severus? Are you okay?" Harry reached tiredly to press his palm on the other man's chest. Severus took the hand in his own and held it tightly. He examined the yellowing bruise on the small wrist for a long time, tracing its edges gently with his thumb.

"Severus?" Harry waited until the black eyes were locked with his. "I'm okay."

A quiet sob mixed with laugher of relief overtook him. Severus leaned over, squeezed his eyes shut and pressed his mouth to Harry's for a tender kiss, lingering for just a moment, nibbling gently on the moist bottom lip. He pulled back to stared into those beautiful green orbs, which were filled with a confused surprise that turned rapidly to wonderment, only to morphed into amazed realisation.

"I've got to say it's a great idea you've had, Severus," Harry whispered, pushing back a loose strand of long black hair behind an ear, brushing his fingertips on the pale cheek. "Definitely have a lot of potential, I'm sure," he added, giving the man a sleepy smile.

"All my ideas are great, Harry. Now rest, we'll talk later."

---

December 28th, 2001

Moving to Snape's house the next morning proved more difficult than planned. Harry was unable to apparate safely in his weakened state and Severus vetoed travelling by portkey or floo, claiming that with his now legendary graceful landings, he might just crack his skull on the floor right now to save them the trouble. Finally, they simply took a muggle taxi.

Severus did give Harry his old room. After helping him to bed, he pushed a chair beside the bed and sat down.

"Time for our debriefing, I see."

"Yes it is. Do you remember more of what happened?"

"A bit. It's coming back in flashes."

"Those police people told me you were probably attacked by muggle thieves or something similar. That it is not so uncommon."

"Yeah. Or something."

"What is it?"

Harry said nothing for a while. He hesitated, then made the decision. "I'm not sure, but I think I recognised my cousin and a few of his old friends."

Severus' eyes turned hard. Over the years, he had heard about the rumours and seen some disturbing memories. "I see."

"Oh no you don't," Harry said, recognising the look. "You won't go around cursing muggles. Remember what happened last time?"

He did. But really, shutting up that horrible singer ought to be consider public service, not improper use of magic. The trouble with the Ministry had been considerable, however. "Fine, I won't curse him," he backed down. For now. "How many were there?"

Harry blushed, looked away and mumbled something.

"Come again?"

"I said four."

Severus was stunned. He had personally seen Harry win in a five on one fight while in training, and without his wand! "But you had your wand! And they were muggles!"

"Muggles with baseball bats! Big wooden bats that kind of weaken you when they collide with your head before the fight."

"What happened to being aware of your surroundings?"

"I was scanning for magical energies! I always am."

Severus just continued to stare.

"And I was distracted."

It always works. "By what?"

Harry looked away and mumbled something. Again.

"What was that?"

"I said I was re-reading my school's potions books. So you wouldn't see me as a hopeless idiot when we collaborated on that class. I like reading in that park. It's peaceful and relaxing. Used to be, anyway."

Severus reflected on this. "You are wasting your time trying to impress me. I have, over the years, acquired exhaustive knowledge of everything you are hopeless at. Often by personal and somewhat painful experience."

Harry grinned. "Likewise."

---

December 31st, 2001

The heated looks and detailed conversations about their possible future together were getting to them.

That is why, on New Year's eve, Severus found himself pressed between his bedroom wall and Harry's body. Idle thoughts of a rock and a hard place ran through his mind, giving the old saying a new and improved meaning. Thinking that this couldn't be very comfortable for the injured man who still had trouble moving around, he led them both to the bed and fell back, Harry on top of him.

Upon hearing his partner hiss in a sharp intake of breath, he rolled them gently so Harry could lie on his back and propped himself up on an elbow. "Are you all right?" he asked, concerned.

"Very much so", said Harry before slipping his sweater and tee shirt over his head at once. Severus helped him get rid of the rest of the clothes, then they moved on to his own. Harry's hands stroked firmly down his torso, mapping every inch with his fingers and leaving Severus feeling like the hot trails they left in their wake would permanently marred his skin.

He leaned over Harry, trying to get closer to that phenomenal warmth irradiating from his lover. Supporting his weight on his forearms, he mouthed kisses on Harry's neck. He pulled back for a moment and looked in the green, now almost black, eyes. "You'll tell me if you are not." It wasn't a question. When Harry nodded, he resumed working on the offered skin. He grinned when he found a spot that made his silent partner moan loudly and start talking.

"I'm just a bit sore, really. Oh Merlin Severus! I just don't want - oh - don't think I can be even more sore. Not that I don't like - your mouth - being sore on occasion. Your mouth is amazing. In fact, I would love, love getting sore with you. That's good sore. But the attack - oh, so good - just left me bad sore. The good stuff, it doesn't usually involves men with bats."

Harry paused his babbling, then blushed bright red as what he just said registered. Severus laughed out loud. "Don't worry Harry. I'll do all the work and you won't get sore."

He felt Harry's fingers tangling in his hair, then his hands exploring every inch of his back. He mouthed kisses down Harry's neck and chest, sucking on the spot between his nipples leaving a dark red mark. He caressed it, kissed it gently then slowly moved down, stroking his hands down the sides to the hips, then cupping the firm ass for just a moment when Harry thrusted his hips up.

With his hands now on the trembling thighs, Severus looked up to see Harry staring at him, face flushed, hair sticking everywhere, eyes glazed. He looked delicious. Severus ran his tongue underneath the hard shaft, smirking when he heard the loud thump of Harry falling back on the mattress as a result. He sucked the head lightly and licked the tip, tasting the bitter sweet precome. After a while, he sensed Harry pulling him up roughly by an arm, making him sit against the headboard and straddling his lap. Well, so much for passivity.

They took each other in a tight embrace, hands roaming, tongues dancing, eyes locking. They each wrapped a hand around their joined lengths, stroking together, their hips moving in sync. They never stopped kissing, gentle sweet nibbles followed by passionate deep exploring, even when orgasm came, where they each watched one after the other as their partner's eyes filled with ecstasy. They stayed there for a long time panting, pressed against each other, limbs entangled.

Later, with Harry's head safely tucked in the hollow of his shoulder and his arms around the thin waist, Severus ran his fingers through the unruly hair. "So, not too sore?" He blocked the pillow flying towards his face with an arm, chuckling.

"I swear to you Severus, sometimes my brain actually works. Just don't expect it to happen when you're nibbling on my ear lobe."

"I'll remember that for when we have our first argument."

"See that you do."

---

TBC - a small epilogue will be uploaded in a few days

Thanks a lot to everyone who reviewed. This is the first time I try to write something in English (I am not a native speaker) and I'm very greatful for the feedback. And by the way, thanks again to my incredible beta Laura, since without her this fic would be riddle with pathetic mistakes.