Chapter 1
Professor Severus Snape was quite comfortable by himself, or that was what he wanted everyone to think. He even tried to fool himself into thinking that. Every time he thought about… no… he couldn't think on him ever again. Severus had thrown him out, and that was for the best. No one could ever really want Severus anyway. It was all some jumbled fantasy. Every night, Severus would sit in front of the fire on their… no… now it was just his, couch. The other would never share this space again. He had made sure of that. It was one night, while Severus was again sitting in front of the fire, when his life changed, again.
Severus was staring into the fire when all of a sudden he realized that someone's head was floating in it. Not just anyone's, but Madame Pomfrey's, the official nurse of Hogwarts. Before she said anything, Severus responded, "What is required this time Poppy?"
"I'm sorry to disturb you Severus, but I'm afraid this is quite critical," she replied. "I need a blood replenishing draught and some nourishment potions right away."
"I'll have them right to you," Severus answered. Before Madame Pomfrey even disappeared from the flames, he was off to the store room to gather the required potions. He wondered who it would be this time. Was it some first year that fell down the stairs? But wait, that made no sense… Why would that require nourishment potions? Or a blood replenishing draught, for that matter? That draught was rarely needed. It was rare that someone would lose enough blood for them to be close to death, which was the only case in which the draught was used. In any other case, the person who used the draught could possibly drown, choking on their own blood.
Severus quickly gathered the potions and dashed off toward the infirmary. The minute he opened the doors he heard Poppy calling, "Hurry Severus! I'm running out of time!" He quickly dashed to the bed and handed her the potions. As she was administering the blood replenishing draught, he got a look at the patient. It was him. Severus completely froze. He couldn't believe it. What had happened? Why was his Harry dying? 'My Harry? No. He's not my Harry anymore. He's just Harry. No. He's Potter. He's Potter again remember? I threw him out.' Severus was beside himself. He couldn't make sense of what was happening. Harry, no, Potter, was so thin. He looked half starved. 'Well, there's the reason for the nourishment potions,' Severus thought. But what was he doing here, in the castle. He had left school 6 months ago. Severus just stood there, staring, thoughts racing through his head. He didn't snap out of it until Poppy called his name.
"Severus? Severus? Severus look at me!"
"What? Oh I'm sorry Poppy. I was lost in my thoughts," the Professor replied.
"Yes, well, I was just telling you that he's stable. You can leave now. I will call you if I need anything else."
"Poppy, what happened? Why is he here? Why was he dying? Why is he so thin?"
"I can only answer one of those questions and speculate on the others. He is here because he was brought here when he was found by a certain Draco Malfoy. Mr. Malfoy had gone to young Mr. Potter's house to check on him. He found him unconscious, in his bed, with his wrists cut wide open. It looks as though Mr. Potter tried to kill himself. And Mr. Malfoy affirmed that Mr. Potter has not been eating well. That was why he was at his house to begin with. He stops by each day to try to get him to eat. I'm just happy Mr. Malfoy was smart enough to bring him here instead of St. Mungo's. That would have been a disaster. This incident would have been in the Daily Prophet by the time Mr. Potter was healed. He doesn't need that. He needs quiet and he needs to get well. Anyway, Severus, you may leave now. As I said, I will call you if I need anything."
"Actually Poppy, I would rather stay here and watch over him. You look like you could use some rest."
Madame Pomfrey nodded her acquiescence and left the room. Severus sat down next to Harry's bed to keep a vigil. 'What have I done now? I shouldn't be here. He wouldn't want me here. I should just leave him alone. I threw him out. I got rid of him. Why is he still buried so deep in my heart?' Severus went on with this train of thought for a while, berating himself about still caring about someone he knew just couldn't care about him. Now, he had no proof of this, but he just couldn't comprehend or accept the possibility that Harry cared for him. He was the 'greasy git' Potions Master. No one could care for him or love him. It just couldn't happen.
Around 2 o'clock in the morning, Harry started making noises. Severus could tell he was talking. Now Severus was always very curious, and he couldn't help but try to figure out what Harry was saying. He nearly fell out of his chair when he heard his name.
"Severus… Severus why did you leave me? Please come back… Come back…"
Severus was confused beyond belief. Why would Harry be dreaming about him? Why would Harry want him back? In order to hear Harry's speech, the Professor had had to get pretty close. Severus was looking at Harry when, quite slowly, Harry opened his eyes.