The professor stepped in. "RIDDIKULUS!"

Severus ran to Harry's side, along with Hermione and Ron. Severus, who'd been near the front, got there first and pulled the terrified boy into his lap. "Harry, it's okay, it wasn't real."

"Please, form a line in front of the door." Malum said softly. "I'm going to obliviate you, for Harry's privacy."

The students nodded as they quietly formed a line. The teacher obliviated them one by one, sending each out the door, until only Hermione, Ron, Severus and Harry were left. Harry looked at Ron and Hermione. "I'm sorry.... I can't let you know just yet....." Hermione and Ron nodded, looking slightly hurt as Harry wouldn't yet trust them with this information. The professor obliviated them and sent them on their way, leaving a crying Harry and a comforting Severus left.

"Harry...does the headmaster know about...that man?" Malum questioned softly. Harry nodded. "Who was he?"

Severus' head snapped up. "He's his uncle."

Malum looked at Severus. "You knew about this?"

Severus nodded as he absently stroked Harry's head. "I saved him, he was going to die..... The older me, anyway...." Severus looked away. "We should be going, Harry needs a calming draught and Madame Pomfrey should probably see him, and check for shock."

The teacher nodded and rose to his feet. "I'll escort you."

A quick disillusioning spell was placed on Harry and Severus just in case as they left the empty classroom.

"Oh dear," Poppy chided as she looked at the shaking Harry. "A relapse, do you know what brought it on?"

"A boggart," Malum provided simply. "Well, since I have no business being here, I will take my leave."

Poppy placed Harry in a privet room, and gave him various potions (all of which, Severus 'discreetly' checked). "I am NOT trying to poison him, you made most these potions anyway! Stop being so paranoid!"

Severus shrugged and went back to stroking Harry's limp hand. "Whatever, you can never be too careful."

"Ahg...close the window..." Harry blinked at the bright lights that glared in his eyes.

"Harry, you're awake, good." A voice drawled.

Harry opened his eyes, blinking against the light until they focused on the voice and it's owner, Severus. Harry smiled. "Why am I here?"

"The boggart in DADA....." The memory of the classroom and it's happenings flooded back to Harry.

"Oh... yeah..." Harry looked away.

"I guess, Ron and Herm' are worried now, since I didn't show up for any of my classes." Harry glanced out the window and guessed it was probably the next day, the sun was shinning brightly high in the sky.

Severus shrugged. "I don't know."

"Ah, Harry, you're awake and feeling better, I hope." Dumbledore's head popped out from behind the door.

Harry nodded as the headmaster walked into the room. "There is something I want to ask you Harry."

The old man quickly conjured a squishy, overstuffed seat, as Severus occupied the single chair in the room. He sat down and sighed, all the happiness dropped away for a moment, revealing an old, tired man; one that should be long dead by now. "Rita Skeeter has requested an interview with you. I want...I want you to have her write an article about your bond." Harry blinked. "Tell everyone you want to first, she's coming tomorrow."

"I already told my friends, and Lavender, most of the school should know the basic outline by then." Harry replied thoughtfully. "Severus will be allowed to be present at the interview?"

Dumbledore nodded. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

Harry smiled and nodded. "Thanks."

"Of course. I do hope you're feeling better, Harry. I really hate to leave so soon, but I have some other things to attend to." Dumbledore smiled as he walked to the door. "I'll leave you two. I do believe, though, that Mr. Weasley and Ms Granger are just getting through with their classes and should be up here soon enough."

The door clicked shut behind Dumbledore. Harry's head instantly flicked to Severus', though he kinda regretted doing that; his head throbbed with a sharp pain. After he'd pushed away the pain, he spoke. "So, your afraid most of me... rejecting you?"

Severus blushed. "And what's with ME in that pink dress?!?"

"You're defiantly better."

"Shut up," Harry glared. "and, tell me why THOSE particular things...are funny and frightening."

Severus opened his mouth but was quickly interrupted by Harry. "And, YES, I am fully aware I told you to 'shut up' AND keep talking in the same sentence."

"Oh...ah well...."

"There are a few people here to see you while you eat,Harry." Poppy smiled as she popped her head into the room, interrupting Severus. She quickly motioned for whoever was visiting to enter, Hermione and Ron walked in holding a tray piled with food.

"Harry, your all right! Ron smiled as Hermione placed the tray in his lap.

"It's right to bed, as soon as you finish eating!" Poppy warned as she closed the door.

"You didn't show up for any of your classes. We've been so worried!" Hermione whined. Everyone ignored the matron's comment.

"They even canceled Potions." Ron chirped, earning a smack from Hermione, and Harry. "WHAT?"

Severus rolled his eyes. "I have been here, incompetent-half-brained-nit-witted-idiotic-moron, watching over Harry."

Ron blushed slightly and nodded. "Oh...Didn't think about that..."

"Obliviously, it's not a common thing for you to do." Severus muttered, this time earning a smack from Harry and a glare from Ron. Hermione laughed.

"You guys are so priceless." Hermione laughed as she clutched her sides.

The boys all turned and glared at her while she laughed, causing her to laugh more. All this noise caused Poppy to come in and shoo the two visitors off to their dorms, leaving Harry alone with Severus (once again).

"You should head back to our rooms, I'm feeling better and I want you to be up if I'm heading to classes tomorrow." Harry commented after a long, comfortable silence.

Severus stood and walked to the door, no goodbye or look back. Harry knew it shouldn't bug him so much but it did; it hurt.

"Madame Pomfrey?" Severus asked as he knocked on her open office door.

"Yes, Severus?"

"Harry said he's feeling much better...so I was wondering.... if he could sleep in our normal rooms tonight...." Severus stuttered.

Poppy smiled. It was really cute as to how much Severus tried to hide that he like Harry. "I guess, as long as he comes back for a check-up sometime tomorrow."

Severus smiled. "Thank you."

"Keep him away from Boggarts for a while." Poppy called as he turned on his heel and raced to the private room.

Harry sighed as he laid down in the now lonely and cold bed. He shifted a little, trying to get comfortable; nothing worked.

Silence and darkness. He hated them both with a passion; but loved them for the peace they brought. Today, he hated them. They took away all the life, made everything so real, made him remember the Dursleys.

The door was suddenly flung open, causing Harry to flinch as the quiet was broken. His back was turned to the door, and he didn't move to fix that; he was feeling particularly rejected right now.

"Harry?" Severus purred, placing a hand on Harry's shoulder. "come on, I know you're awake."

"Why?" Harry sighed. "I'm not allowed to leave, I need permission."

"And you have it, I already asked." Severus smiled as Harry turned to look at him. "Come one, lets get you into bed."

Harry smiled, and quickly jumped out of the bed. A cold wave hit him, a shiver ran down his back. Severus noticed and wrapped his cloak around Harry, adding his arm for extra support. "Cold are we?"

Harry chuckled and leaned on Severus' shoulder, suddenly tired. "Whatever."

"You never did answer my question, Sev." Harry said as he poked him.

"What?" Severus asked. Harry just looked at him, you-know-EXACTLY-what-I'm-talking-about-so-stop-avoiding-it-or-else-I-will-resort-to-violence look. "Oh....ah..."

"Well?"

"Where to start...." Severus mumbled.

"The beginning is preferred." Harry smiled.

"I was rejected all my life....My parents, for being an 'accident'. They told me, too...every single day." Severus' expression hardened into a look of pure detachment. "At school, I was hated by your... father, and my house. I was different. All my life, I've been rejected and used. Why wouldn't it be my greatest fear?" He ended the short nut-shell speech with a harsh, hateful tone.

Harry looked at Severus, fear and sadness mingled in his eyes. "I...I'm sorry, for bringing it up."

Severus' expression softened. "No, you needed to know. Oh, and the pink dress thing? Well, it's kinda an inside joke."

Harry frowned. "And just WHO are you sharing this joke with?"

"The voices in my head." Severus answered calmly.

"An inside joke, Sev, is when a joke is shared and know by people, OTHER than yourself." Severus shrugged.

"There's a difference?"

"....Sad...."

"So, Harry." Severus began as they were playing chess. Severus took one of Harry's knights.

"Yeah?"

"Who's surname are we taking?" Severus asked.

"Yours."

"But- what?" Severus had been getting all ready to argue about using his name instead of Harry's. "Why?"

"Because I'm sick of everyone always getting hyped up about my name, and I know you don't want to let your line die." Harry didn't move his gaze from the board, Severus was winning.

"Oh....You know, we could compromise; Potter-Snape or Snape-Potter." Severus added.

Harry nodded. "I know. I don't want to. Plus, you do, technically, have seniority."

Severus nodded. "If you change your mind..."

"Uh huh, I know where to find you."

Severus quickly check mated Harry and smiled smugly. "Too easy."

Harry leaned over and punch him in the arm. "We could always have you walking around with school laughing at you because they get to call YOU, 'Mr. Potter'.

Severus' expression quickly went blank. Harry laughed.

"Sir?" Harry poked his head around into the office. Fudge, Dumbledore and Minerva were standing quietly in the room.

Severus poked Harry sharply on the back and pushed him into the room. Harry yelped and tried to rub the wound.

"Ah, Harry, Severus. Lemon drop?" Albus held out a small box of the vile yellow candies.

Severus cringed as Harry politely declined. "Vile things."

Fudge coughed. "Well, we should be getting on with these papers then?"

Severus raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Oh, well you need to register your bonding. Minerva and I are witnesses, and Mr. Fudge, the minister, is here to make sure we do everything the proper way to make it official. okay?" Dumbledore smiled reassuringly.

Harry nodded slightly. "Okay, sure, so what do we have to do?"

Fudge pulled out a small folder and laid it out on Dumbledore's desk. "Are you both doing this of your free will?"

"Yes."

"You are Harry Potter, and Severus Snape?"

"Yes."

"Of course."

"Okay, what will your surname be changed to?"

"Snape." Harry stated.

Fudge looked at Harry with a questioning look but wrote that down, anyway. "Okay, I need both of your signatures, please use the name printed on your birth certificate. Sign on the 'X' please."

Severus took the quill, his neat scrawl flashing in the wet, black ink. Harry nodded and took the quill, sighing as he signed his name, 'Harry Potter' for the very last time.

"Okay, witnesses, sign just below."

Minerva and Albus both signed their names. Fudge looked the whole form over before signing his name in the last line. The folder snapped shut and disappeared in a flash of green light. "Your form has been approved and filed. Hopefully, discreetly."

Fudge held his hand out to Severus, who reluctantly took it. "You take good care of him!" The process was repeated with Harry.

"Well, I must be off." Fudge saluted them. "Lots of things to do, so little time." With that, he left.

"This is weird." Harry stated numbly.

"Is anything wrong, my child?" Dumbledore asked.

"I'm no longer 'Harry Potter'." Harry stated simply. "I'm Harry Snape."

Severus laughed. "Yeah, no more answering to 'Potter.'"

Albus smiled. "Come on, I think I hear our dinner calling us."