Chapter fifteen

Harry's eyes flew open and he sat bolt upright, only to knock his head against something hard.

"Ow," the Gryffindor whined as he touched the rapidly growing knot on his forehead.

As Harry lay rubbing his head he began to realize things. For one, his mattress was awfully lumpy and…moving!

"Damn, Potter! I always knew you were hard headed but this is ridiculous!"

That was Snape's voice. Suddenly Harry's memory came back. He was in Snape's chambers on his couch. The young man began to blush as he felt himself being shifted. 'I am still in Severus' arms, hmmm … so very warm.'

"Potter, Harry, what's wrong? Tell me what the nightmare was about? And don't try lying and telling me it was nothing. You're still shaking and you're crying… Harry, tell me," Severus almost pleaded.

"Not now Sev. I, I just ... h-hold me please?" The normally brave Gryffindor shook with fear as he asked this of Snape.

Normally Severus would just demand the answers he wanted but he could tell Harry was in need of patience and understanding. So he enveloped his love within his strong warm embrace. Severus simply held his Harry until the sea of tears had ebbed into dry hiccupping sobs.

"Shhh, Harry can you tell me of your nightmare now?"

Harry nodded weakly as he started to tell the potions master of his nightmare. When he had finished, he was still lying within Severus' arms very much worn out from both crying and reliving his dream.

"Harry, I must speak with the headmaster and it is imperative that I do so now," Severus explained while moving to stand up.

"Sev please don't leave me here alone I'm scared," Harry begged.

"Would you like to come with me, Harry? Perhaps you should, after all you'll be the topic of our discussion," the potions master explained to the tired boy.

"Sev, I don't think I have enough energy to even stand… Hey, hey what are you doing, Severus!" Harry yelped in a panicked voice.

"Relax, Harry, I am simply taking you with me to Albus' office," Sev said as he lifted the young man into his arms.

Harry smiled to himself and he snuggled deeper into the Slytherin's arms. He soon fell back to sleep feeling totally safe with Sev, his Severus. The potions master let out a sigh of relief when he saw Harry was once again sleeping comfortably. He walked over to his fireplace and casting an anti nausea spell over himself and the boy who lived he reached for the floo powder. Leaning Harry's head into his chest, William stepped into the fire.

Now standing in the headmaster's office Severus sat Harry's sleeping form carefully in a fluffy looking armchair. 'Well I see Albus still likes to sleep in armchairs rather then beds.' Severus sensed rather than saw the Headmaster's presence.

Dumbledore watched the scene unfold before him, unseen as he was invisible, at the moment, behind his desk. The older wizard smiled as Severus reached his hand out and brushed a stray lock of hair from Harry's face. Albus saw his potions master stiffen as Harry began to shiver in his sleep.

"S-s-so c-cold Sev."

Without a seconds hesitation William turned and walked over beside Fawkes' perch. The phoenix trilled as Severus passed him to open a hidden closet within the wall. He quickly removed one of his cloaks from inside and closed the door.

'I am glad Albus brought this back from the last order meeting.' Severus thought as he gazed at the still shivering Harry Potter. Sev returned to the boys' side and draped him with the said cloak. The man then seated himself before Dumbledore's desk.

"You can show yourself Albus, I know you are here." A chuckle was all that was heard before the headmaster appeared once again behind his desk.

"Might I inquire as to why you are in my office barely clad at two a.m.?" Albus asked the man sitting across from him.

"I would have thought that would have been obvious by the state Harry is in, headmaster," Snape finished tiredly.

"Yes, well I had hoped my eyes were deceiving me due to the lateness of the hour," Albus sighed heavily.

"Well it is most certainly not a trick of your eyes, Dumbledore. Harry's bloodlust dreams have started. We have less then two weeks to complete the ceremony. I fear it may be even worse than that though. I hope I am wrong about this but it looks as though the fledgling fever has started. If it has, that gives us less then a week!" Severus ranted.

As Albus listened to his potions master he was keeping a close eye on the last surviving Potter.

At that moment Harry began thrashing about whimpering in pain. The Gryffindor then said something too low for human ears to catch. Severus heard it though and it was enough to make his breath hitch and his heart race.

The words Harry had mumbled were, "Sev, please don't leave me… I love you."