A/N: Thanks for all of the wonderful reviews for last chapter, everyone! I hope you enjoy Chapter 19!

Severus took just one swift glance around the trophy room before quickly deciding that he had no one to blame but himself.

It had been foolish to believe, really, that passing the Golden Boy off to somebody else would be a good idea. The boy was a magnet for trouble, and it would take someone with actual competence to keep the child in line.

"What is going on here?" he asked harshly, his voice echoing throughout the room.

It was only then that he got a better look at the scene playing out before him.

Filch was standing in front of the boy, his fingertips barely an inch away from clamping down on the child's shoulder. And Potter himself was cringing back, a terror present in his eyes that quickly morphed into something like relief when he caught sight of his potions professor.

Severus frowned and raised his eyebrows at that. Why would Potter be happy to see him? And why was he practically cowering in a corner? This boy was supposed to be the epitome of Gryffindor fearlessness and bravery. Wasn't he?

The caretaker turned then, a crazed expression occupying his features. "Just look what he's done, professor! Look at what he's done!"

"I-I didn't, sir," the boy spoke up softly, still attempting to shrink away from Filch's hovering hand. "I-it was Peeves. He just...knocked the whole thing over."

"A likely story," Filch growled, turning back to the terrified boy.

"It's true, sir," Harry continued, looking directly at Snape as he spoke.

"You're a liar!" the caretaker countered. "I turn my back for five minutes and—"

"Argus," Snape intervened then, stepping further into the room, "Do you mean to say that you left Mr. Potter in here alone? Even after I warned you about the trouble the boy invites at every turn? The child cannot be left unsupervised for five seconds, let alone five minutes."

"Well, I won't be making that mistake again," Filch ground out, rounding on Harry once more, whose eyes widened even more at that statement.

"I should say not," Snape answered silkily. "Because Mr. Potter will be coming with me."

Filch's mouth opened for a moment, as though the man was going to argue, but he quickly snapped it shut again a second later when he caught sight of the dangerous gleam in Snape's eyes.

Meanwhile, Harry just eyed the professor warily, still too terrified to move from where he was pressed up against the wall.

"Have you suddenly gone deaf, Mr. Potter?" Snape snapped impatiently at the boy. "I said you are coming with me. Now let's go."

"Y-yes, sir," Harry stuttered, finally stumbling away from the wall and hurrying over to where Snape stood, waiting.

"Wait a minute," Filch called out. "Who's going to clean up this mess?"

"I would imagine that the house elves will be able to help you with that," Snape said dismissively, turning towards the exit. After all, he certainly wasn't going to waste any more of his time helping the useless fool. Even if it would only take a moment or so of waving his wand through the air to set the whole room back to rights.

With one last glance over his shoulder then, the potions master was sweeping out of the room, and Harry quickly scurried after him, leaving one very distraught caretaker behind in the trophy room.

Harry followed the professor down several corridors, still very much shaken by what had just occurred. He had been so sure that Filch was going to hurt him. So sure that he was going to get a beating for what Peeves had done to the display case. And for a moment there, when he had been flattened up against the wall with his arms up over his head, it had almost felt like he had been back home with the Dursleys. And Uncle Vernon had been the one coming for him rather than Filch.

A shiver traveled down Harry's spine at that thought, and he could suddenly feel his heart racing in his chest as old memories began to surface in his mind. It was becoming more and more difficult to breathe then, and finally, Harry was forced to stop walking as his hands flew to his chest, and his eyes began darting around the corridor, almost as though he didn't quite recognize his surroundings.

Several feet ahead, Severus Snape whirled around at the sound of the child's labored breathing, and swore softly under his breath as he hurried back to where the boy was now leaning heavily against the wall.

Harry continued to gasp for air, his entire body trembling as he slowly began to slide down the wall. He thought there might be a voice somewhere nearby, and a hand gently guiding him to the floor, but he couldn't make out any words or recognize who it was that was speaking. And then something was being pressed against his lips, and he instinctively swallowed as he felt the liquid enter his mouth.

"Potter. Look at me. Potter."

Harry blinked, and instantly, the air returned to his lungs and the corridor came back into focus. He could feel all of the tension completely draining away from his body then, and an overwhelming sense of peace suddenly overtook him.

"What happened?" Harry finally managed to say, as he gazed up at the man who was leaning over him.

Snape sighed and waved his wand to cast a privacy spell over the corridor.

"You had a panic attack, Mr. Potter," he answered at last. "And a nasty one at that."

Harry leaned his head back against the wall. "What did you give me?" he asked quietly.

"A calming draught," Snape replied. "Now be quiet for a minute, Potter. And rest."

But Harry didn't seem to hear that last part. "You just happen to carry calming draughts around with you, sir?"

"I spend my days in a classroom full of dunderheaded children who have the potential to blow the place up at any moment," Snape stated. "I have therefore developed the habit of keeping a couple vials on my person at all times."

"That's smart of you, sir," Harry whispered in somewhat of a daze. "Since you're around dunderheads so much."

Snape just rolled his eyes. "That potion is making you sound ridiculous, Potter."

"What? Why would it do that?"

"Because you needed a child's calming draught, and all I had was the adult version, which is far more potent and powerful. Now be quiet and rest for a minute."

"Okay," Harry replied, and Snape rolled his eyes again.

A full five seconds passed then before Harry opened his mouth once more. "I didn't knock over the display case, sir. It really was Peeves."

"I don't doubt it," Snape said absently, glancing down the corridor to ensure that they were still alone. "Now be quiet. I think I hear someone."

Harry looked down the corridor too, and broke out into a smile a second later when he saw a small shape move out of the shadows. "Mrs. Norris! You're okay. You must have been so scared..."

"Get out of here you mangy little—" Snape began in a growl.

"No, professor. It's okay. We're friends now. Aren't we, Mrs. Norris?"

"Now I know the potion was too strong," Snape grumbled as he watched Harry extend a hand out towards the no doubt disease-ridden creature. Nobody became friends with Filch's pet, after all. There was nothing friendly about the beast.

But then in the next moment, the scrawny feline was leaping forward, landing right in Harry's lap, and all Snape could do was stare down in shock as the boy began to stroke the cat's fur and speak softly in her ear.

Snape just raised his eyes towards the ceiling then, as though he was praying for strength. But eventually, he spoke again.

"Nothing can ever just be normal with you, can it Potter?"

Harry frowned at that, suddenly feeling ashamed. His aunt and uncle didn't think he was normal either. To them he was nothing more than a strange, abnormal, freak.

"I'm sorry, sir," Harry finally whispered, ducking his head.

"Oh for the love of...Your emotions are all over the place because of that potion, Potter," Snape sounded annoyed. "Do you think you can stand now?"

"I-think so," the boy answered, gathering Mrs. Norris up in his arms as he attempted to push to his feet.

"Foolish child, put the cat down," Snape growled, moving forward to assist the boy.

Harry gently set the feline down on the floor, and then Snape was pulling him to his feet and leading him down the hallway once more, Mrs. Norris following close on their heels.

They stopped at the doorway to an empty classroom, and the professor threw it open and ushered the boy inside.

"Away with you now," the man spoke harshly to the cat at his feet. "Go find your master. Go on."

Mrs. Norris simply let out a hiss towards the potions master in response before reluctantly turning away and slinking off back down the corridor.

Snape just shook his head before stepping into the classroom after Harry, and closing the door behind him.

"What are we doing here, sir?" Harry asked, standing awkwardly in the middle of the room.

"I need to decide whether or not you need to be taken to the hospital wing," Snape answered, taking in Harry's appearance with a critical eye.

"I feel fine," Harry responded, suddenly uncomfortable.

"Largely due to the calming draught, I would expect," the man replied. "It was a rather strong dose, as I said. Now tell me, Potter. Do you suffer from panic attacks often?"

"No, sir. Never."

"Would you be able to explain what brought this one on?" Snape pressed.

Harry shrugged, and mumbled something unintelligible.

"I cannot hear you, Mr. Potter."

"Well, Peeves just came out of nowhere...And then Filch...He was going to cane me—"

"You surprise me, Potter," Snape interrupted, and Harry frowned in confusion.

"Sir?"

"The cane has not been used as a form of punishment at Hogwarts for the better part of a century. You mean to tell me you did not know this?"

Harry shook his head, looking down at his hands.

Snape sighed before continuing. "Mr. Filch may seem threatening at times, Mr. Potter. But he is, for the most part, completely harmless. He wouldn't dare inflict an unauthorized form of discipline on a student."

"Oh," Harry answered simply.

"Indeed."

"I really had no good reason to panic then, did I?" Harry whispered into the silence of the room.

Snape watched Harry carefully for a moment before replying with the faintest trace of a sneer in his voice. "Well, for a child who has never before experienced corporal punishment, I suppose I can see where you would be...less than enthused at the prospect."

Harry shifted uncomfortably where he stood, carefully avoiding Snape's eyes as he quickly changed the subject.

"What about my detentions, sir? Will I still be serving them with Filch?"

"No," Snape suddenly sounded irritated and extremely put-upon. "Your detentions will resume again with me, Potter. Down in the dungeons."

Harry really hoped that the relief he suddenly felt at that news was not evident on his face.

"Okay, sir," he said in reply.

Snape sighed then. "If there is nothing else, Mr. Potter, you will return to Gryffindor tower immediately. Unless of course you think you need to see Madam Pomfrey."

Harry shook his head. "No, sir. I feel fine."

"Somehow I doubt that you would tell me if you didn't feel fine."

"But I do. Honest."

Snape paused for a moment before giving an answer, making sure to give the child one final look-over before responding.

"Then let's be on our way, Mr. Potter."

Harry frowned. "You're not escorting me back, are you? I'm not going to collapse in a corridor, you know."

"Believe me, Mr. Potter. I have no desire to escort you anywhere. However, as I stated back in the trophy room, I believe it would be unwise to leave you unsupervised in this castle for even a moment, and so we will simply have to put up with each other's company for the next few minutes."

Harry huffed in annoyance, although the calming draught kept him from getting too upset. "I can walk by myself," he grumbled out, although Snape seemed to ignore that statement completely.

"Shall we, Mr. Potter?" the man drawled out, as he strode over to the exit and opened the door.

Knowing that it would be pointless to argue or protest any further then, Harry just let out a soft sigh, and proceeded to follow his potions professor out into the empty corridor.

A/N: Harry/Snape interactions are my favorite :) They're so much fun to write! As always, thanks for reading!

-Ailee17