Chapter Twenty-Three

The Intimacy of a Name

ONE

Severus' hands were shaking. He stood by Harry's bed, debating whether he should tell Albus about his discovery. He didn't wish to be taken advantage of, but he also knew that having a Spellweaver on the staff would greatly increase the safety of the school. His first order of business should be to tell Albus the truth about his power, and then to strengthen the wards around the school. As a Spellweaver, such a task should not prove to be much of a challenge.

"Draco!" Severus called as he exited Harry's room. Draco had gone back to his room to wait, unable to deal with Severus' surprise.

"Sir?" Draco asked, tentatively coming out of his room.

"Stay with Harry," Severus told the blonde. "I'm going to see the headmaster."

"Yes sir," Draco replied, moving into Harry's room without further comment.

Severus walked briskly to the headmaster's office, his robes billowing behind him in an irritated manner. Students parted before him like the Red Sea, unwilling to become victim to the Potion Master's vengeful wrath. Severus snapped at a Hufflepuff who dared to remain in his path, deducting points for the student's 'slothfulness' in moving. He entered Albus' office without knocking.

"I need to speak with you," he said, pacing the room, attempting to stop the movement of his still shaking hands. "Something's happened."

"Sit down, dear boy," Albus replied with worry. "Tell me. Has something gone wrong with Harry?"

"No, it's not about Potter," Severus said sharply. "It's about me. I have something I must tell you." Severus sat heavily in an overstuffed chair in blue with hideous stars adorning it.

"Would you like some tea?" Albus asked.

"What?" Severus responded sharply, caught off guard by the offer. "I bloody well would not! Are you not listening to me? This is important!"

"Go on," Albus said, popping a sherbet lemon into his mouth. "I am listening, dear boy."

Severus gritted his teeth in irritation. "Potter had another vision this afternoon," he began, wringing his hands in his lap. "I held him close to prevent him from harming himself. He couldn't scream because his voice has been so heavily damaged already. After a few moments, his scar began to bleed so I… covered it. I was trying to help. To comfort him somehow, no matter how futile the attempt seemed. When my hand touched the scar, I could feel the magic and the hurt, as though I was the one causing it. I closed my eyes, surprised to find that I could see the threads of magic, the Dark Lord's a glowing, pulsating red surrounding Harry's soft, comforting violet, choking it; manipulating it. I wanted to help; to stop the pain, the torture. I pushed with my magic, seeing it as it… attacked the Dark Lord's. I deconstructed the strain. I believe… I know I severed the bond. Harry stopped struggling immediately."

"Is he awake?" Albus asked.

"No, he was under a healing sleep spell when it started."

"Then he shall be very well rested indeed."

"Have you heard a word I've said to you? I manipulated the Dark Lord's magic! I broke a bond that was supposed to be unbreakable! Don't you understand what this means?"

"Of course I do, Severus. Are you sure you wouldn't like some tea? It may calm your nerves."

"Damn it, you barmy old man! I do not want tea! How can you think of tea when I'm telling you that I am a Spellweaver!"

"It was merely a thought. Calm yourself, Severus, before you have an aneurysm."

Severus took several deep breaths, willing his temper down, knowing that Albus never responded well to bad tempers.

"I am surprised at this revelation," Albus stated. "It is strange for such an ability to show up so late in life. How did this happen?"

"I took the Mark when I was sixteen. Ha – Potter believes that it was blocking my magic somehow. I think… I must have been close to my majority when I took the Mark. This would have shown up sooner if I had never joined the Death Eaters."

"An interesting theory. You realize, of course, what this means."

"How could I not? I am telling you so that we can strengthen the wards on this school. I hate feeling useless, and now I find that I have an ability that could make all the difference in the world. It would be wrong not to use it. I must help where I can. It is important to the outcome of this war." He fell silent as a terrible thought occurred to him. "Do you think that I did the right thing in severing the bond?"

"Why wouldn't it be?"

"What if… what if I weakened him somehow? What if he's not as powerful as he was because of the loss of that link?"

"Severus, my boy, you took the only choice available to you at the time. If you had not severed the bond, Harry would most definitely have died from the amount of torture he was being forced to endure. A weakened Harry is more desirable than having him dead. We all care for his safety, you more so than others, I think."

Severus nodded, feeling relieved that Albus thought he'd done the right thing by Harry. He stood to leave, wanting to be there when Harry woke.

"Where are you off to?" Albus asked.

"To return to my vigil," Severus replied.

"You remember what I told you, do you not?"

Severus turned to level a glare on the headmaster. "How could I forget?" he spat.

"You realize that I am only thinking of Harry's well-being."

"How dare you presume that I would ever hurt that child? I am a man of honor! I care nothing for your opinion on the matter! I will stay by him and make certain that he returns to perfect health!"

"You know the rules of this school. They are in place for the student's safety, as well as the integrity of the staff."

Severus gave one last fierce glare before leaving the office, feeling the rift forming between the headmaster and him. It was worse now, because he was doing just what Albus was telling him not to, but he couldn't bring himself to care. Harry needed him, and damn it all, Severus needed Harry just as much.

TWO

"Severus, Molly is starting to wonder," Albus said, laying a gentle hand on Severus' shoulder. "She wishes to see him."

"Let her wonder," Severus replied. "I am not leaving him."

"Severus, it is unwise for you carry on like this over a student. It may suggest favoritism on your part."

"Yes, Albus. It is favoritism to stand vigil at the side of a student who was placed under my care as he lies in a coma of unknown origin." Severus turned a cold look on the headmaster. "I am not leaving him."

"Severus, it is not your fault that he is in this condition. Surely you understand that?"

"Yes, Albus. I understand perfectly. Now will you leave me be?"

Albus sighed heavily, patting Severus' shoulder. "I'll tell Molly to be patient."

Severus grunted his reply, only half-listening as Albus made a slow retreat. Once the door was closed, Severus took Harry's hand into his own, willing the youth to wake. Harry had not awakened since the night Severus had severed the bond a week before. Severus was worried that he had damaged Harry irreparably. Suddenly he felt a soft squeezing on his fingers, causing him to look up into beautiful albeit tired green eyes.

"Hey," Harry murmured, his voice husky but working.

"Hey yourself," Severus replied. "You've certainly given all of us quite a scare. How do you feel?"

"Light," Harry said softly.

"What do you mean?"

"Like I had something dark, and heavy invading my space all this time, only I didn't notice it until it was gone."

"Any pain?"

Harry shook his head, blinking his eyes sleepily. "No, just a bit tired. Lie with me?"

Severus nodded, warding the door before stripping and climbing into bed, wrapping himself around Harry. He manipulated the wards slightly to allow Draco entrance in case something should come up.

THREE

"I want to see him," Granger said sadly. "Why won't they let us see him?"

"I can ask Snape," Draco responded, trying to console his girlfriend.

"Would you?" she responded hopefully, looking up to Draco's eyes.

"Sure," he replied, leading Granger and Weasley to the rooms he shared with Potter and Snape. He led them to Potter's sitting room, telling them he'd only be a moment. He gently pushed open the bedroom door to find Snape and Potter wrapped around each other on the bed, sleeping deeply. He crept inside, gently closing the door before making his way to Snape's side of the bed. He shook the man's shoulder. "Sir?"

Snape opened one bleary obsidian eye and then the other to fix Draco with a curious look. "What is it, Draco?" he asked quietly.

"Granger and Weasley are here," Draco whispered. "They insist on seeing him. What should I tell them?"

Snape considered for a moment before coming to a decision. "Very well. Tell them he's in the shower and will be about ten more minutes."

"Yes, sir," Draco replied, creeping back out of the room. "He's in the shower," he told the two anxious Gryffindors. "Give him a few minutes. Professor Snape will tell us when he's ready."

"Snape's in there with him?" Weasley gaped.

"No, you idiot," Draco replied. "He's in the room listening to make sure Potter doesn't need any help in the shower. Potter's still weak you know."

"Yeah," Weasley muttered, looking embarrassed. "Right."

Granger rolled her eyes. "Honestly, Ron," she said fondly. "You would think you'd learn."

"Yeah, but I do wonder if he's all right. They haven't let us see him for a week! Why won't they tell us what's wrong?"

"I expect they don't want us to worry," Draco replied, sitting next to Granger, placing his arm around her shoulders.

"Don't they know that this silence worries us more?" Granger asked. "I can't stand not knowing!"

"Well, we'll see him soon," Draco comforted.

FOUR

Hermione didn't know what to think anymore. What could have possibly happened to Harry to make the professors keep his condition a total secret? The true worry had started when Mrs. Weasley had arrived at the school to temporarily cover Snape's potions classes because Snape was tied up in something important. It hadn't escaped her notice that Harry disappeared around the same time. She hadn't seen him since that terrible night in the dorm room, when Madame Pomfrey and Snape had performed CPR on her friend for nearly five minutes. She had been certain that night that Harry would never see the light of another day, and was surprised at how upset she had been by that thought. Harry was as close as she'd ever get to having a brother, and losing him was the worst thing imaginable.

She was pulled from her depressing thoughts when Snape came out of Harry's bedroom with a sour look on his pale face. "He is still very weak," he said sharply. "You may stay for a few minutes, but not longer."

"Yes, sir," Malfoy replied, helping Hermione to her feet. Snape stood aside as the three friends entered the room to find Harry in bed, his hair damp from his shower. Hermione sat as near to Harry as she could get, surprised to find three chairs at the side of the bed.

"Hi, Harry," she said gently, taking Harry's hand in hers. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," Harry replied, "but still tired. I think I'm recovering my magic still."

"Why does your magic need to recover?" Ron asked from his seat next to Hermione. Malfoy had sat at the end, having had access to Harry before this.

Harry shrugged. "I don't know," he said, his eyes drifting closed as he lounged against his huge pile of pillows. "I just feel really drained."

"It is because he is healing," Snape said from his spot in the doorway. He was leaning against the frame in an almost lazy manner, his arms folding over his chest carelessly. "His magic is strained from the amount of injury it has had to overcome. Rest assured, he will be fine shortly."

Hermione stared at the man she had always associated with uncomfortable foreboding, amazed at how normal he looked, leaning against the doorframe like any other might when trying to appear relaxed. "Do you know when he might be able to go back to classes?" she asked meekly.

"I can't say," Snape replied. "Surely, Granger, you know how unpredictable the healing process can be?"

Hermione nodded silently, turning her gaze back to Harry to find him smiling at the Potions Master fondly.

"Stop teasing them, Professor Snape," he said. "I trust they've had enough to worry about without you being all enigmatic about everything."

"I assure you that I am not doing it on purpose," Snape replied. "Would you rather that I sugar coat the truth to make it sound as though you were merely skipping classes rather than having a valid excuse?"

"Of course not, sir," Harry replied. "I wouldn't dream of endangering your reputation in such a manner."

"And what reputation might that be?" Snape asked, a glint of amusement in his eyes.

"Why your 'I'm such a scary, greasy git so get out of my way' persona, sir," Harry replied cheekily.

Hermione turned to look at her professor with wide, frightened eyes only to find him chuckling lightly.

"Touché, Potter," he said.

Hermione's mind went into overdrive as she turned to Malfoy only to see him shaking his head in obvious exasperation. What was happening here? Snape was exchanging playful banter with Harry as though they had been friends all their lives. She was certain that if any other student had said such a thing to Snape, they would have found themselves in detention so fast they wouldn't have known what happened, but with Harry, Snape just chuckled. He chuckled for Christ's sake! Hermione hadn't even known the man could chuckle!

"Er," she said hesitantly, looking between Snape and Harry. "We have a lot of homework this week, and I'm sure you want to get back to sleep. We'll come to see you again tomorrow, and I'll bring the assignments you've missed."

"Okay," Harry agreed. "Thanks for stopping by."

"No problem, Harry," Ron said, sounding just as confused as Hermione felt. "See you tomorrow."

"Bye," Harry replied, closing his eyes again.

FIVE

Severus closed the door gently after letting Harry's friends out.

"No more visitors today, Draco," he told the blonde firmly. "Harry's had quite enough."

"Yes, sir," Draco replied, looking for all the world as though he had something on his mind.

"What is it, Draco?" Severus asked, knowing the boy wouldn't just let it go. He was a Slytherin, after all.

"Well," Draco started hesitantly. "I, well, I really don't think you should be so… open with Potter when his friends are around. What if they figure you out? I think Granger already suspects something."

"It's a fine thing for you, of all people, to give me advice about my relationships," Severus said coldly, silently agreeing that perhaps he was just a tad careless.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Draco asked, his anger flashing in his gray eyes.

"Please," Severus drawled. "You still call your girlfriend by her surname. I can't help but wonder why that is."

"I… it's just comfortable," Draco stammered.

"Perhaps it keeps things from seeming too real, hm?" Severus said.

Draco stared at him for a moment before lowering his eyes. "Whatever. Do what you like, then. I'm just trying to keep your little secret for you, but if you're going to flaunt it around like yesterday's news then I won't bother."

Severus hoped that he would knock some sense into the boy, knowing that one cannot achieve true intimacy with one's loved one, if one couldn't even say said loved one's first name. For the life of him, Severus couldn't understand the odd relationship between Draco and the Gryffindor Trio.

Severus returned to Harry's room, pleased to see that Harry was waiting for him.

"Come back to bed," Harry requested. "We can pick up where we left off."

"And where is that?" Severus asked, already slipping out of his robes.

"Sleeping, wrapped up in each other's warmth," Harry replied before yawning widely. His voice was sounding better each time Severus heard him speak.

"That sounds acceptable," he murmured, climbing under the covers and scooping Harry into his arms. Harry nuzzled into Severus' chest, his slow breathing lulling Harry back to sleep. Severus knew that it would be nearly impossible to keep their relationship secret when all he wanted to do was shout to the world that Harry was his, but he knew he had to try; if not for his sake then for Harry's, because they wouldn't be as well protected anywhere as they were at Hogwarts.

'I love you, Harry,' he thought, holding onto his lover tightly. 'I'll be damned if I'm going to let anything else harm you. It is my honor to protect you.'

Author's Note: Many thanks to Victoria Ennis for her hard work on this fic. Thanks also to…

Ktoddhim

Monica85

Jujube 15: Hehehehe

Rosalia: It would if it could, but then no one else would be able to enjoy it.

Sh'arra Rie

LeeLeePotter: It makes people more interested in going to the NC-17 sites if they think they're missing something big. I'm just evil that way, I guess.

Sliver of Melody

EmeraldEyed

Chibi-Kaisie: You're making me blush! Thank you!

Shiemi Shimabukuro

CogniDi: Not a problem, love. The colors are Harry and Severus' auras.

Shadow Eclipse

Dracosbaby08: That's exactly what it means.

DestinyEntwinements

Hikari-Aoi: I'm blushing because I keep getting all these undeserved compliments. It makes me feel all fuzzy inside.