Guess I should continue this. Seems kinda popular. And it's sorta fun to write. So here's chapter 2. Enjoy!

Chapter 2 - First Offering

Harry went back to his dorm. Madame Pomfrey had given him the day off after the Professor had brought him back to the school. He expected Dumbledore to come to talk to him soon enough, whenever he got done with interrogating Snape. But Harry knew that Snape wouldn't tell the old man what he wanted. Dumbledore would just have to ask him himself. Until then, Harry simply wanted to rest.

A hesitant knock on the door put paid to that wish, for a moment anyway. Ron put his head cautiously round the door. "Harry, mate? You alright? What happened? Did Snape do anything to you? You hurt? Did ..."

Hermione cut him off, putting her own head round his to look at Harry too. "Leave off a minute, will you Ron. Give him a moment to breathe, eh?" She stepped in, shoving Ron ahead of her. "Sorry about that, Harry. But seriously, are you okay?" She looked at him earnestly. Harry sighed.

"I'm fine. I just ... needed some time alone. Completely alone. I ... I had to escape, for a little while. And no, Snape didn't 'do anything'. He just brought me back. That's all." He didn't feel like talking about his truce with the older man just yet. It was still too new to him, and he had no idea how his friends would take it. The idea of Harry Potter having a decent conversation with the greasy git of Hogwarts was frankly ludricious. If it hadn't been him, he wouldn't have believed it.

Hermione looked at him suspiciously, concern obvious. Harry wished she wouldn't do that. There was very little she could do to help him, with anything, and he wished she wouldn't worry so much. It didn't help either of them. It was his job to protect her, so she and Ron could be happy, not the other way round. So he had to calm her down.

"Hermione, really, I'm fine," he smiled. "I just need to rest a bit, and I'll be back to normal. I promise. Okay?" And he would be back to normal. On the outside, anyway. He was good at hiding his feelings, mostly. He just had these little short-circuits from time to time. Maybe, now that he had an ally, they wouldn't happen so often. It was ... comforting to know that at least one person actually understood.

His friends nodded. "We'll just leave you to it then, mate," Ron grinned galantly. It didn't disguise his worry, but Harry let it go. They left him alone then, Hermione muttering about not being allowed to stay long in the boys' dorms anyway. Harry sighed, and lay down. Just a short nap, that was all he asked. Just a short ...

"Harry, my boy? Do you have a moment?" Harry groaned. Just two minutes more, and he would have been asleep. Just another couple of minutes, and he could have safely ignored this interuption. No hope for it now. He rolled out of bed, grumbling in the privacy of his own thoughts.

"Yes, sir. How can I help you, sir?"

Dumbledore came in, smiling gently, that annoying everpresent twinkle in his eye. "Now, Harry, no need to stand on ceremony. I was just concerned. You gave us all quite a scare, you know. Severus has just been telling me how he found you in the Forbidden Forest. I'm sure you realise the danger you could have put yourself in. What happened, my boy?" He sat down on the end of Harry's bed, and simply looked at him.

Harry sighed. "Sir, I'm sorry. I didn't think. I just had to get away for a few hours. I really had to get away. I'm sorry for worrying everyone. I just ... needed time." he glanced sideways to see how this was going down. Dumbledore was twinkling as usual.

"I know, Harry. I can't blame you for feeling pressurised. I know how much what you have to do weighs on you. Believe me, my boy, I know. I only wish you could have chosen some safer way to relieve it. You know the Order and myself are always there for you to talk to, don't you?" Harry nodded. Oh yes. There to talk, and nothing else. He stayed silent. After a few moments, Dumbledore squeezed his hand, and left.

Finally! Time to sleep.

"Mr Potter?"

"NO! No I don't have a moment! Yes I'm fine! I only want to GET SOME SLEEP! GO AWAY!" He roared. Whoever it was could damn well bugger off!

"Kindly do not take that tone with me, Mr Potter," Snape growled silkily. "Or I will be forced to take points. You can get your much needed beauty sleep later. Come with me." Harry groaned. "Now, if you please." Grumbling, this time out loud, he followed the other man.

Snape led him out through the dorm. Harry saw no-one else. He supposed there must be a class on. He wondered why Snape didn't have one. Then again, maybe he had the day off too. Harry put it out of his head as he concentrated on following the other man. Snape was leading him on ways he didn't know. Unfamiliar passages. Harry remembered seeing them on the Marauders Map, but had never travelled them. Snape walked ahead with utter confidence.

"Um, sir? Where are we going?"

Snape turned. "Somewhere safe. The safest place I know. Trust me. That may be a tall order, for the son of James Potter, but it will be necessary." Harry blinked, then nodded. Whatever.

Twenty minutes later, he was glad of it. They stood in a vaulted room, filled to the brim with books. A bibliophile's dream. But that wasn't what impressed Harry. No. What caught his interest was the security on the room. The wards Snape had woven his way through were the most complex and frankly impressive Harry had ever seen. He turned on the spot, staring in amazement, before turning back to Snape, who was watching him with a strange smile on his face.

"Where are we, sir?"

"The only completely safe place I have ever known. You thought your father and his friends knew Hogwarts? They never even came close to this place. I was quite a talented explorer myself, what with hiding form them all the time. This is Ravenclaw's personal study. Her sanctuary from the other Founders. Only someone who either knows of its location already, or has the same aims as Rowena herself can find it, and only those knowledgable enough to translate her wards may enter." He turned to catch Harry's gaze, and stare steadily. "Not even Albus can enter here."

Harry stared. Impossible! No-one could be as knowledgable as the Headmaster, about magic anyway. Harry knew how little Dumbledore knew of people and feelings. But how could Snape say that he could get in, while Dumbledore, supposedly the most powerful wizard of their times, could not.

"These wards are more complex than mere magic, Harry. They are woven in part with Leglimancy. With mind-magic. Only someone with the correct intentions, the right way of thinking, and the thirst for understanding that characterised Ravenclaw can enter. The Headmaster, for all his talents, hasn't the same desire to learn, the same need for a place of solitude. He actually likes being around the dunderheads! You and I, we need this place of privacy. We need to learn, so we can survive. I entered with an understanding like Rowena's and a deviousness like Salazar's, her closest companion and mental sparring partner. The combination of the two, and the patience to negotiate the wards, allowed me to enter. And now, you can too."

Harry shook his head. "I couldn't even begin to understand what you were doing, sir. I didn't even see half of it!"

"Rowena left a protocol. The one who translates the wards can have them allow entry to one other. Rowena used it sometimes to let Salazar in. Normally I simply walk in here. The reason I was fiddling with the wards was to let them know that I acknowledged you as that person. Now you may come here any time, without me, but only alone. It is now our secret."

Harry felt striken. Of all the people Snape could choose to grant this secret to, he chose him? Alright, they'd had a certain ... trust ... last night. They'd finally actually seen each other for what they were. But this was far too great a gesture of trust, far too soon. Snape couldn't trust him that much! Not so soon.

"Sir ... It's too much. You can't offer me this! This is ... this is your sanctuary! You can't just offer it to me!"

Snape shook his head, smiling. "I thought you said you'd take my help, if I offered? I'm offering. Freely. I made this choice, and the wards accept you now. It is already given. And anyway, I'd rather find you here the next time you need time alone, than have to risk my cover searching for the Boy-Who-Lived in the Forbidden Forest. It's slightly safer, for both of us, don't you think?"

Harry swallowed. It was such a gift ... This was the greatest illustration of the other man's seriousness about their truce, his trust, his willingness to offer something real to Harry. It struck him harder than he could have thought. After the Dursleys, after his years of fighting for everyone else with nothing for himself, after so many people failing to see what he needed ... Harry felt tears welling, and brushed them away hurriedly. He didn't want to seem weak.

"It's also the only place I ever let myself cry properly," Snape whispered softly. "Nowhere else was safe. All those prying eyes to see your weakness. I wish I could thank Ravenclaw somehow. She gave me my sanity, really."

Harry gave a watery smile. "You think you're sane?" Snape laughed, a long, low chuckle. Harry'd never heard him laugh before. It was ... pleasant.

"Thank you, sir," he whispered.

"In here, Harry, it's Severus. But only in here, understand! I ever hear you use that name outside, and Gryffindor will be in the minus for the next decade!"

This time, Harry joined in the laughter.

Well? I thought this would be a oneshot, but I think I can continue it. What do you think? Or should I stop now, while I'm ahead? R&R and tell me. Please?