Author's note: the dates on Harry's tombstone were wrong by a year that has been changed. I've also been asked about Harry's markings. In the T.V show Eric Draven only has the marking when he is very angry, you know as in a killing mood, so Harry will only have the markings then, that will be explained to those that don't have a clue what I'm talking about. Thanks to lord-shinta for pointing out the markings thing. If you see any mistakes or something that's in the Crow that I've forgotten like the markings point it out so I can fix it or add it in.

Thanks for the reviews I'm amazed I've received so many. This chapter like the last is a little slow but the next has some action and a few surprises. Let's just say that there is a reason Harry hasn't gone after Voldemort yet. On with the story, enjoy.

Chapter 3 A lover lost. A friend found

Harry spent the day in Severus's rooms as the man tortured, correction taught, his students. He'd made up his mind a while ago that he would turn up at the Great Hall for diner. He was dieing to find out how every one was going to react to Harry Potter being alive. Ron and Hermione and the rest of his year were in their last year of school so their reactions should be priceless.

Harry glazed around the room in boredom from his place at Severus front door. A bookcase was to his right held neatly laid tomes of what Harry suspected were potions and dark arts books. To his left stood a large fireplace with one large black armchair and the lounge, Harry fondly called his bed, positioned around the merry blaze. Looking at the untidy mess of blankets he'd left on the lounge he had the sudden compulsion to clean it up. He noticed his lounge was the only thing in the whole room that was slightly untidy. Holding off the temptation to fold up the blanket he suddenly smirked. Severus no doubt was an obsessive-compulsive cleaner. If the state of the room was anything to go by.

Harry sprawled out on the armchair as he looked around the well furnished room. Three doors were spread out around the room. Harry knew for a fact that one led to Severus's bedroom and the other led to his bathroom. The third door Harry assumed led to the man's lab. An archway at the back of the room, opposite the front door, led to a kitchen/dining room which held a small dinning table done in dark wood tones. The kitchen looked very much like a muggle kitchen complete with muggle fridge and other appliances, which Harry guessed ran off magic.

All in all the room felt cozy. A little too neat for Harry's tastes, but it had a worn in feel about it. Harry smirked as he looked around; nothing stood out of place. He couldn't help what he did next. Walking into the kitchen he rearranged everything in the room, Tea bags went in the opposite cupboard, the kettle went on the other side of the sink and the milk was placed in the back of the fridge. Harry took his time rearranging everything in sight, things he believed Severus used most often were placed in the most unlikely places. Looking over his handy work with satisfaction to anyone the room still looked neat but to Severus's eye everything would be out of place. Harry knew that people with obsessive compulsive behavior would notice right away that everything was out of place. They then will spend however long it took to get every thing back into place again. The thought that Severus would probably kill him when he found out just made his smile widen. His mischief done for the moment he skipped back into the main room, moving objects as he went.

Wandering over to the bookshelf, running his fingers over the book spines. Not really looking at the book titles under his fingertips. He could feel the presence of the man that lived in the room on the books covers. There were seven shelves in the bookcase along the wall all filled with book. However on the middle shelf there was a break in book that held a few items. They were the first personal effects besides the books, which in Harry's opinion didn't count, around the room. He also noticed there were no pictures around the room and only a few items on the shelf. He picked up a small flat stone that was resting on the shelf.

"Skip the stone Severus," a young man of eighteen called to a young version of Severus. "See you tilt it like this then you let it go with a spin and it skips along the water."

The young man let the rock go which skipped four times along the lake's surface before sinking. The young man turned to Severus with large brown eyes. He smiled as Severus picked up his own stone. Severus pulled back and let it go, instead of skipping the rock sunk with a splash.

The other man laughed, "Good try Sev," the man called.

"Stop laughing Luke I was never good at games," Severus sulked.

Luke laughed again and covered the distance to his lover, he took the other man in his arms and turned him so Severus was facing away from him and towards the lake.

"Here," Luke placed a small flat stone in Severus hand and tilted it just right. "Now pulled back and spin it from your hand." Luke guided it from his lover's hand, the stone skipped across the lake five times before sinking. "See I knew you could do it," Luke said pulling Severus into a kiss.

Harry placed the stone back on the shelf, as the images faded from his mind. He didn't understand why he was receiving images of Severus's life. However he was delighted to know more about the other man he was sharing a room with. He moved onto the next item, a golden ring. He picked it up in one hand.

"Severus what's this?" Luke called out, looking down at a ring secured in its case.

"What's what, love?" Severus voice called back form another room. Luke looked up as Severus head appeared at the kitchen door.

"This," Luke held up the ring.

Severus smiled, "I thought that would have been clear, it's a wedding ring." Severus laughed crossing the room and taking the ring from Luke's fingers then dropped to one knee. "Your wedding ring."

Luke's jaw dropped, "Sev are you sure?"

"Yes, love. I want to be with you forever," Severus whispered.

"I wish to be with you forever too," Luke whispered back. Severus took the other man's hand and slipped the ring on. Luke pulled Severus into his arms.

"Forever," Luke breathed.

"Forever," Severus agreed, sealing their promise with a kiss.

Harry smiled softly; he could feel the love in the scene before him. He then remembered Severus didn't wear a wedding ring. In fact he'd never seen Luke at the school or in Severus rooms. Wouldn't a lover stay in the same rooms as Severus? What happened to the other man? Harry went to put the ring down, but before he could another image played out in his mind.

Lighting broke the dark sky as the rain poured down around Severus. He wore the black cloak of a death eater in one hand he held his white mask. The sky lit up and the rumble of thunder rolled in the sky. Severus looked up at the house in front of him, the dark mark filled his sight, the green glow mocking him. Severus staggered towards the house he had seen many times before, the green light seemed to draw him in like a moth to the flame. Silent tears slid down his face as the rain pounded down around him. A sob escaped his throat as his eyes took in the broken door of the house.

Severus stumbled through the door as the wind howled at his back, he left the door open. Everything around him was broken, his finger tips traveled over a vase he had brought for his love the year before, the sharp glass cut into his palm but he paid no mind to the pain, for the pain in his heart was too great.

He raced up the stairs and into the bedroom. He froze in the room's doorway with a sob. The sheets from the bed where torn and broken furniture littered the room. Severus dropped to his knees when he spotted the body covered in blood on the bed. He sobbed and crawled across the floor ignoring the glass and wood that cut and dung into his hands and knees.

Luke Stevens lay still and silent on the bed as the storm raged outside and his lover sobbed into his hands. Severus placed two fingers to his lover's throat hoping that the sightless eyes were only a trick of the light.

Nothing.

Severus sat back on his heels, tears running down his cheeks, he leaned over and closed his lover's eyelids, covering the sightless brown eyes for the last time.

His eye caught the sight of the gold band on the man's finger he slipped his hand into Luke's one last time. He had to do something, Luke didn't deserve to die because his parents were muggle and he was born a wizard. Severus slid the engagement ring off Luke's finger and held it in his fist.

He stood with new determination in his hard black eyes. It was time he had a chat with Dumbledore. He pulled himself to his feet took one more look at his broken and blooded body of his lover and stumbled from the room. The ring in his hand cutting into the skin of his palm. He was done with being a servant.

Harry opened his eyes, whipping away his tears. Poor Severus he's been through so much in his lifetime, Harry vowed he would kill the bastard that hurt the other man so deeply. Replacing the ring he glanced up at the cloak. Surprisingly enough the man had a muggle clock. Then again now that Harry thought about it Severus had many muggle appliances in his kitchen and in other rooms. Must have been Luke's influence, Harry thought sadly

Harry then smirked in what could be called a very evil way as he looked at the time. It was time to meet the rest of the school. Harry could see it now fainting Harry Potter worshipers, Colin and Dennis where doomed to that fate. While others would look upon their once dead hero and fall off their chairs, and the ultimate reaction of some one drinking at the time they see Harry and spiting it out all over the person in front of them. Harry could see it now he was going to shock a nation when they found out he was back from the dead. Harry only wished he could see Voldemort's ugly mug when he found out.

Xxx

Severus seated at his usual place at the head table, over looking the sea of children. The Gryffindor were as loud as usual. Severus looked at them with disgust, then interest when he spotted the group of seventh year at the end of the table, closest to the head table. They were more subdued then the rest of their table, he wondered how they will react to Harry's return. The Hufflepuffs were quiet almost whispering and would look a little startled when the Gryffindors laughed loudly. The Ravenclaws held a number of books along their table and seemed to be oblivious to the happenings around them. The Slytherins as usual were sneering and smirking at the other tables, but Severus knew they were making notes of what was going on at the other tables and catching up on the gossip. Everything was normal, well almost.

BANG

Every eye looked up as the Great doors flew open to admit a large black crow. The bird flew through the doors all eyes trained on it. Severus held out an arm for the bird land, it then hopped onto his shoulder. Crowing loudly to the near silent hall. Severus stroked the birds black feathers waiting for the bird's owner to appear. Whispers flew as the bird continued to crow loudly. A figure appeared in the doorway dressed in black robes the strangers chin length untamable black hair tucked back behind his ears. Brilliant green eyes looked out over the hall.

Every one went silent, even the headmaster made no noise. The boy of no more then seventeen years took an echoing step into the silent hall. All eyes watching as the stranger made his way to the head table.

The Ravenclaws were the first to figure out who the man was as he passed their table. Whispering traveled down the table and soon the whole school was looking at Harry with disbelief in their too large eyes.

Harry gracefully walked between the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables, heading for the head table. Severus could see the smirk on the boys face as those around him shrunk away and some of the Hufflepuffs fainted onto the table and into the food they had been eating moments before.

Severus eyes flickered to the Gryffindor table. All the seven years sat mouths gaping and eyes wide. Ron Weasley however looked murderous while Hermione Granger leaped to her feet and dashed around the table then straight towards Harry at top speed.

Harry opened his arms as Hermione crashed into him almost sending both of them to ground.

"Hermione can't breathe," Severus could hear Harry choke, Severus smirked.

Whispers sounded in the room as Harry placed a lock of Hermione's hair behind her ear as the girl sobbed into his chest. Ron stormed his way towards the two, rage on his face. Harry saw this and disentangled himself from Hermione. Ron stopped two feet away and stared at his once dead best friend murderously. Then he threw a punch, which Harry made no move to counter or avoid.

Harry's head whipped to the side with the impact. He wiped the blood of his lip as he turned back to Ron, blanked faced. "Finished letting out your frustration, Ron?" Harry asked softly.

Ron seemed to deflate with those words, "Is it really you, mate?"

"Yes Ron, it's me," Harry said softly. Ron grabbed him in a manly hug. Hermione joining them wrapping her arms around her two best friends.

"Can't breathe," Harry choked again, but unwilling to let his friends go. "Still do need to breathe!"

"Harry?" the headmaster asked standing wand in his hand and hope in his eyes. Harry looked up.

"'Death is but the next great adventure,'" Harry quoted looking into the eyes of Albus Dumbledore.

Albus smiled, "Every one welcome back Harry Potter." Albus announced to the silent hall.

Harry stood in the middle of the hall warped in the arms of his two best friends, he felt like he was home again. The hall was silent for a few more minutes before clapping and cheering starting from the Gryffindor table set off the rest of the hall. Yes Harry Potter was home.

Xxx

Severus relaxed in front of the roaring fire reading a new book on potions when some one knocked at his door. Placing the book faced down as he rose to his feet. He stormed to the door and pulled it open to see Harry Potter on the other side.

"What do you want Potter?" Severus growled. Harry looked at him hard for a second then reached out one hand and laid it on his cheek. Harry's eyes grew distant, Severus went to pull back but found himself unable too.

They stood there for a minute before Harry's eyes refocused and he swayed on his feet. Without thinking Severus pulled Harry to himself and shut the door behind them.

"You loved him didn't you?" Harry asked softly.

Severus pulled back, "What?"

"Luke Stevens," Severus paled at the name. "You loved him right?"

"How do you know about him?" Sev­erus whispered.

Harry stepped away from Severus and crossed the room. Picked up the ring from the shelf he handed it to Severus.

"Some times when I touch a person or an object I get flashes of memory," Harry explained as he sunk down onto his lounge. "You started spying because of him," Harry looked up his green eyes boring into Severus daring him to say he was wrong. Severus looked anywhere but at Harry.

"Did you love him?"

"Yes," Severus breathed.

"I will kill him this time Severus," Harry vowed. "He's caused too much death and suffering to too many people."

Severus looked into Harry's determined eyes and a part of him went out to him, "I will help."

Harry smiled, looking into Severus deep eyes, "I know."

The two sat in silence, after a minute Severus picked up his book and started reading again. Later when he looked back up Harry had curled himself up on the lounge, fast asleep. Severus smiled softly and placed the book face down on the table. He picked up the blanket off the floor and draped it over the other man. He knelt down and kissed Harry on the forehead.

"When you saved me that night, one year ago, you made me face up to the fact that you weren't your father. You did something that no one but Luke has ever done. You cared enough to save me from death when I did nothing to make you like me. That tore a hole deep inside my heart and I started to look at you in a different light. I regret the way I treated you and it took your death to see what I was doing. I am sorry. When I saw you the other night I felt a piece of myself come back to me that you took with you to the grave. I finally realized some thing Harry Potter. I think I'm in love with you and I don't know what I'm going to do," Severus whispered to the sleeping young man, before going back to his book.