Title: Past, Present, Future

Summary: The past will come back, the present will change them, now what will the future hold?

Disclaimer: I do not own them, sad but true

A/N: Yes this is an AU fic. Reviews are welcome, flames are shared with friends for amusement.

Chapter 17

Seven hours later, the sun came up over the horizon, and Severus stirred in his chair. Looking over at Ron, he saw Remus had fallen asleep also and that Ron was not yet awake. Standing up, Severus heard his back crack and pop, and he groaned at spending yet another night in a chair. He was seriously going to have to stop doing this one day, but his son came first.

Leaning over the bed, he felt of Harry's forehead and it was cool, yet Harry had not awoken. This troubled Severus, but he knew it was now a waiting game. Seeing that he could do nothing right now, he went into the kitchens and brewed a fresh pot of coffee. When it was done, Severus made himself a cup and sat down at the table.

It was not long before the smell of the coffee dragged Remus into the kitchen. He had looked bad after his transformations, but this morning he looked awful. His eyes were puffy from lack of sleep, his face drawn from not eating for days, and his hair could rival Harry's for being a mess.

"Remus, you look like death warmed over," Severus said.

Remus did not miss the sarcasm or the subtle hint of concern in the man's voice. "It is a small price to pay to look after Harry. I'm sure you know this, as you look just short of death yourself. Oh and by the way, I sent someone to retrieve your shopkeeper. It seems he tried to bite the Aurors, claiming they would not take him from his kingdom and that they were all vicious monkeys who would cower under the watchful eye of the sacred Wee People King."

Severus spat his coffee across the table, but quickly regained his composure. "I take it he will not be returning to his shop or his master anytime soon?"

"Severus, he will not be returning from St Mungo's for a long time, if ever."

"Then the world has just become a better place. One less drone for the Dark Lord."

Remus and Severus sat in silence for a while, just enjoying the warmth of the coffee and the silence. All this was broken however when Ron scuffled out of the room. He looked like he had gone ten rounds with Draco and lost all them, but he was standing and seemed to be alright.

"How are you feeling, Mr. Weasley?" Severus asked, looking the boy up and down.

"My tongue feels like it grew hair and my throat hurts, but I'm alright I guess. How is Harry?"

"Harry has yet to wake, now come over here so I can feel your head and tell you exactly how all right you are."

Ron slowly edged his way over to Severus, who was looking at him with one of those Evil Potions' Master stares he had. By the time he finally stood before him, his body had grown suddenly cold, and he wished he had not gotten out of the warm bed.

Severus felt Ron's head, which seemed free from any fever, but the boy's shivering did not go unnoticed. "Are you cold, Mr. Weasley?"

"Not really cold, well a little," Ron stuttered out, for he did not want to admit that the sight of Severus still gave him the chills.

Severus eyed the boy up and down and after several readings from his wand and several touches of his forehead, he seemed satisfied. "Well, Mr. Weasley, you have no fever, but I do not want you to overdo it at all. Do I make myself clear?"

"Ron, would you like something to eat?" Remus asked, feeling sorry for the cowering boy.

"Maybe just a little," Ron admitted. Carefully, he pulled a chair out and sat down at the table, but when Remus conjured a plate full of eggs and bacon, Ron's stomach twisted.

Seeing the usually ravenous boy who attacked food in the Great Hall not moving toward the food, Severus spoke up. "Perhaps something a little lighter to start off with," he said, conjuring up some dry toast for the boy. Ron gave him a small smile in thanks and began chewing the toast.

Severus finished his coffee and turned to Lupin. "I am going to check on Harry. I trust you will see that Mr. Weasley here goes straight back to bed after eating?" After seeing that Remus would care for Ron, Severus walked back into the bedroom and over to Harry's bed.

Severus ran his hand through Harry's hair, brushing it away from his face. As he did this, Harry rolled over in his sleep and, for the first time in days, did not cry out in pain. "Harry, son, wake up," Severus prodded, still running his hand through the tangled mop of hair.

Harry could hear someone calling his name, but the urge to sleep was strong. Yet, the voice was so soothing that he opened his eyes just a bit. Harry saw none other than Snape. He remembered all that he had done in the past few days and the thought of the coming punishment made his stomach lurch. All he wanted was to sleep, but the prodding of Severus could not be ignored, and Harry opened his eyes all the way.

"Finally! How do you feel Harry?"

Harry tried to reply, but days of having nothing to drink had left his throat parched, and so all that came out was a tiny squeak. Severus, seeing the problem, waved a glass of water from the table over to them and lifted Harry's head to take a drink. Harry choked on the first sip, but then the water felt cool, and he tried to gulp it down.

"Slow down. Drinking too much too fast might cause you to be sick," Severus said, laying Harry back down on the bed. Harry's eyes showed fear and then pain. He did not know whether to admit what he had done or to wait for Severus to start the conversation. His dilemma was soon resolved as Severus looked at him.

"Why, Harry? Why would you almost kill yourself, and Ron, too? What purpose did it serve?"

Harry did not want to reveal to his father his reason for doing it, but he felt remorseful that Ron had fallen ill. "Is Ron all right?"

"Mr. Weasley is better now, but that still does not explain why you would have me pacing the floors day and night wondering if you were going to die. Professor Lupin looks like death warmed over and he has not left here for days on end. We both spent countless hours trying to figure out what was wrong, only to discover you had taken something from Knockturn Alley."

Harry's eyes grew ever larger the more Severus spoke, until finally he swallowed the lump in the back of his throat. "I did not mean to make you angry," he muttered.

Severus' heart clutched in his chest. "Angry... Harry, I have been sick with worry that I would lose you after only just finding you. Do you not know how it felt watching you lying there and knowing there was nothing I could do to take the pain away? I'm am not angry, Harry. I was scared because I love you."

Harry was shocked. Had Severus Snape just said he loved him? A great weight flew from his shoulders, and Harry reached up and wrapped his arms around Severus' neck. This was the scene Remus and Ron saw as they entered the room.

Ron crawled into his bed, never taking his eyes off Severus, still not trusting him completely. Maybe Harry was still delirious and didn't know what he was doing, but then why would Snape let Harry hug him? Ron had no answers, so he waited for Snape to do something.

Severus returned Harry's embrace and let the boy cry out the few tears he could. He knew this was only the beginning of Harry opening up to him, but at least it was a start. When Harry could finally cry no more, his body spent from the little movement, Severus lay him down on his pillow again. "Rest now, you have both been through a great ordeal and you are not recovered yet. If you wake and need anything, call for me or Professor Lupin."

Harry nodded his head and then rolled over. It was only a second before he had fallen back to sleep. Severus took one more glance at Harry and pulled the covers up, before following Lupin out the door. Ron was astounded by what he had just witnessed, but sleep soon claimed him also. Neither noticed the smile on Severus' face as he exited the room.

Severus began pacing the kitchen, much to Remus' dismay. "Severus, sit down, before you wear a hole in the floor."

"How can I sit down? My son almost died and I have no clue as to why he did it."

Remus sighed. "Severus, sit down. I believe I can help you there."

Severus sat down and stared at Remus. When Lupin didn't start explaining right away, he became agitated. "Well, are you going to tell me or not?"

"Severus, you must not reveal that you know; I was told in the strictest confidence by Ron."

After making sure Severus agreed not to fly off the handle at the news, Remus began his explanation. "You see Harry overheard you speaking to Lucius and thought you did not love him at all. The only way he could think of to prove whether you loved him or not was the potion. Ron admitted that neither of them knew just how powerful it was when they took it, and now Harry still doesn't know how you truly feel. Severus, they made a mistake, but it was one made for a good cause."

Severus sat in the chair. His mouth had fallen open half way through the conversation. How could Harry not know he loved him? "How could he not know I cared for him? I told him so in the Gryffindor common room when I explained his mother."

"Perhaps it is be because you have not really treated him or Ron with anything but malice since the day you laid eyes on them."

Severus hung his head in shame. "I let my jealousy over James rule my actions. I know it was wrong of me, but my hatred for him was too strong. Ron I have nothing against personally, he just irritates me to no end with his bad decisions, and his friendship with Harry only intensified that. My actions could have cost me my son, Lupin. I have wasted enough time lost in the darkness of hate. I want to now get to know my son."

Standing up from his chair and wiping the tear from his face, Severus went back to Harry's bedside. He would be there should he wake, and then Harry would know he was not alone anymore.