AN: Apologies for the long wait on the update. Hopefully it's worth the wait. Happy reading...

Severus scowled. Potter was absent. Idiot, rule-breaking boy. It was so typical of the boy to ignore the simplest of school expectations. The 8th years had been told very clearly that they must all attend dinner in the Great Hall. The boy was deliberately recalcitrant.

"Severus," Minerva spoke next to him. "What have you done to the 8th years?"

"What do you mean?" Severus asked grumpily.

"I mean, why is Mr Weasley glaring at you and stabbing his pork chop with a knife as though he wishes it were your spleen. Miss Granger looks as though she might burst with her fury at any moment. Even Mr Malfoy looks somewhat…disappointed." The wise witch observed accurately. "And where is Mr Potter?"

"No doubt causing mayhem somewhere by doing something he shouldn't." Severus replied sourly. "Probably got himself killed."

"What on earth is the matter with you?" Minerva snapped.

Severus scowled at his plate of food but did not answer.

"Whatever has happened, I suggest you fix it." McGonagall continued. "Those poor children need someone they can trust to talk with about all the horrid things they have had to face. If you cannot be that person for them, Severus, then find me someone who can."

The headmistress rose from her seat abruptly, leaving the rest of her staff at the table.

The staff table was quiet for a moment until Hestia leaned over. "Harry was absent from Potions this afternoon. Granger told me he was feeling unwell and had gone to rest."

"She told me the same thing in Herbology." Pomona added.

"And he wasn't at lunch either." Charlie noted. "Has anyone seen Harry this afternoon?"

Heads shook in the negative all the way down the table.

"I think I best go and speak to Ron then." Charlie got up from his seat and strode down to the Gryffindor table.

Ron looked up as his older brother approached.

"Alright, Professor?" Ron gave Charlie a fond smile.

"Yeah, not bad, thanks. Listen, do you lot know where Harry is?"

Ron shrugged and dropped eye contact. "Dunno."

"Do you really not know or are you just not telling me?"

The younger Weasley shrugged again. "What's the difference? Either way you're not gonna hear it from me."

Charlie sighed and turned to Hermione. "Me neither."

"Look, if you really don't know where Harry is, then he's been missing all afternoon and we should be concerned. On the other hand, if you do know where he is, and just don't want to tell me, then I will trust that you two know he is safe and will let it go for tonight."

The remaining two-thirds of the Gryffindor trio exchanged silent, meaningful looks across the table.

Finally, Hermione spoke. "We know where he is. He's in the castle ad he's safe. He just needed sometime to cool off."

Charlie nodded. "Good. When Harry returns, please remind him that my door is always open if he wishes to talk."

"Sure." Hermione agreed.

"Thank you." Charlie smiled before approaching his next question carefully. "Did something happen in your Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson today?" He asked quietly, aware they had the attention of a number of Gryffindors around.

His youngest brother glowered. "Ask Snape."

"Professor Snape, Ron. Whatever he's done, he is still your professor."

"Quirrel was our professor. Umbridge was our professor. Being a professor doesn't stop you from being a dick."

"Ron." The older Weasley said reproachfully, although he couldn't deny that his brother had a point. He looked to Hermione for a better explanation.

The girl shrugged. "It was Professor Snape who started it. He really laid into Harry. Malfoy says he's pissed about something that happened during the war." She explained. "Honestly, Professor, I think the only way it is going to be resolved is for the two of them to hash it out."

Charlie nodded. "It does look that way. When is Harry's next meeting with Professor Snape scheduled?"

"Tonight."

Charlie's eyebrows rose. "Let me know if you need me tonight. I'll stay up late." He promised the Gryffindors.

However this was resolved, there were sure to be fireworks.

8.05. Potter was late. Again.

Severus growled in annoyance and stormed from his office. Stalking through the corridors and ascending the staircase, he approached the 8th Years' dorm.

He snapped the password and swooped through the portrait hole, earning startled and then wary looks from the room's occupants.

A second later, Severus realised that barging in on these students unannounced had not been the wisest decision, as his unexpected entrance had earned him not only apprehensive looks, but drawn wands from the war-conditioned students.

"Professor Snape," Neville acknowledged with a sigh of relief as he re-stowed his wand. "Can we help you with something?" The boy spoke for all of them.

"Potter." Snape answered shortly. "He's late for his meeting."

"Oh, ah, er-" Longbottom turned to the table where Granger and Weasley were sat, surrounded by parchment and textbooks.

"He's not here. Weasley said unhelpfully.

Severus scowled. "Where is he?"

The red head shrugged rudely and Severus worked not to lose his temper.

He growled, "Then I suggest you go and find him before I have him excluded for truanting from his two lessons this afternoon." He threatened.

"There's no need." Came a voice from the open portrait hole. "I'm here."

Severus turned to where Potter stood at the entrance to the dorm, hair slightly damp and eyes tired. He said nothing as he approached the boy and walked past him. He expected Potter to follow him and he did.

At the office, neither sat, though Severus moved behind his desk as he spoke. "Why were you absent from dinner?"

Potter sighed and Severus thought he looked exhausted.

"I wasn't hungry."

"Where were you?"

"Does it matter?"

"Was I not clear at the start of the year? You are expected in the Great Hall for dinner. That rule applies to everyone," he sneered. "Even boy-heroes."

The scruffy-haired boy wizard glared weakly back. "If you've got a problem with me, why don't you just say it?" He snapped angrily.

"I have no problem with you, Potter." The Professor snarled. "I am a teacher. It is my job to educate you so that you don't get yourself killed."

"Is that what you were doing in class today?" Potter asked irritably. "Educating me?"

"You are apparently sorely in need of education in that area." Snape spat back.

Harry huffed in frustration and ran a hand through his hair, disheveling it further. "Look, I'm sorry I messed up in class today. I won't do it again, alright?"

Snape scoffed. "As if you could stop yourself, Potter."

"Argh!" Harry threw his hands up in the air. "Why does it even matter so much?"

"Because you will die!" Snape suddenly yelled. "You have absolutely no sense of self-preservation!"

The exclamation brought Harry up short.

"What are you on about? I have self-preservation."

"Then stop sacrificing yourself!" Severus slammed his hand down hard on the desk.

Harry looked like a deer caught in the headlights and suddenly the wind left Severus' sail. He let out a long breath, visibly deflating. "Sit down, Harry." He said, finally calm.

The boy did so and Severus took a seat himself.

"I have spoken with both Neville and Draco this week about their experiences in the final battle." Severus explained. "They mentioned you. How you gave yourself up to the Dark Lord."

"That's why you're pissed?" Harry asked incredulously. "Because I did what I had to to win the war?"

"I'm upset that you thought your life was an expendable price to pay." Severus countered. "That you gave yourself up to be killed without batting an eyelid!"

Potter looked genuinely confused. "But you gave me the memories. You knew I had to- that I was supposed to die."

"I didn't think you'd go voluntarily!" The Professor explained. "I thought you would fight. That you would at least try!"

Severus took a breath, working to dampen down his anger once more. He wasn't really angry at the boy. It was just that the thought of Potter dying at Voldemort's hands – at anyone's hands – made him feel sick to his stomach.

Harry struggled for words. "I- I- I don't know what to tell you." He spoke quietly. "People would have died if I hadn't."

Snape leaned forward and looked him intently in the eye. "Why is your life more expendable than anyone else's?"

"Because –" He shrugged. "That's just how it is."

If Severus still had a heart, it might have broken. Potter didn't even seem upset. His voice was matter-of-fact, as though he had long accepted the truth in the words he spoke.

"Listen to me, Harry. Your life is just as valuable as everyone else's. I don't care what any prophecy says or what Dumbledore thought. You are no pawn on a chessboard, Harry. You are not an expendable part to be sacrificed for the greater good."

The boy nodded though he looked unconvinced.

"Are you listening, Harry? You are not a sacrifice." Severus said emphatically.

"I understand, Professor." Harry said quietly.

Severus rubbed his temples and looked at his student sadly. "I'm not sure you do, Harry." The Professor spoke seriously. "You are important, Harry. Not because of what you can do or the things that are demanded of you, but just for being you."

Harry sat silently for a moment, frowning as though he were really thinking through the Professor's words. Severus could only hope the boy was taking them to heart.

"Well, I don't suppose it matters. I don't think there are any more prophecies out there about me fighting evil wizards to the death. At least that's what Luna tells me." Harry joked.

"It's more than just the prophecy, Harry. You are maintaining that mentality into your current life. You still think that your life is less important than others. This morning you sacrificed yourself for a stuffed cat!"

Potter had the grace to look sheepish.

"I guess."

Severus thought he might be starting to get through to the boy.

"What about the people who care for you? Your life means something to them surely? How would your relatives feel if you died? Or Mr Weasley and Miss Granger?"

There was a flicker of something behind Potter's eyes that Severus didn't quite catch before the boy spoke.

"It would be hard for them I know, but they'd have each other. They'd be alright in the end."

"And your Godson? Would you have him grow up like you did, without his Godfather?"

Bringing up the Lupin child had been a last ditch attempt on Severus' part, but Potter's expression hardened almost instantly.

"No, I wouldn't have that."

"Good." Severus said. There was a pause as neither knew where to take the conversation from there. "Would you like a drink, Potter?"

Harry looked with interest at the Professor's tea set.

"Tea?"

"If you wish." Severus fetched the tray from the side table. "This is a magical pot. It will pour whatever you desire to drink. Within reason."

"Alright then, thank you." Potter agreed.

Severus poured into Potter's cup first, half-expecting pumpkin juice to appear. It was with a start that Severus realised the pot had poured his own favoured Moroccan mint tea into the Gryffindor's cup. He looked up at Potter, bewildered.

"You like mint tea?"

"Is that what this is? I don't know, I've never had it before." Potter shrugged.

Severus realised that the boy must have seen him drink mint tea at their last meeting and had been curious about what it was and how it might taste. The thought brought a subtle smile to his lips.

"Well now is your chance." Severus offered as he poured his own cup of the translucent green liquid. The boy took a sip and Severus watched his reaction with interest.

Harry scrunched up his nose and moved his tongue around his mouth.

"Well?" Severus inquired.

"It tastes like toothpaste." Severus laughed aloud. "I kinda like it though." The boy concluded with a shrug.

It made Severus laugh again and Harry looked at him strangely.

Severus drank from his own cup before speaking again.

"I apologize for my behaviour today." He offered. "I was frustrated by your actions, but my reaction was inappropriate. I should have taken the opportunity to speak with you about it properly."

"S'alright." Harry shrugged forgivingly. "Everyone gets pissed sometimes."

Severus rolled his eyes at the boy's phrasing but nodded his acceptance of the sentiment.

"What were you doing this afternoon?" He asked.

"Just cooling off."

"Where were you?"

"Just around the castle." The boy shrugged and Severus suspected he was brushing him off, avoiding the question. He rose an eyebrow at the Gryffindor to show that he knew the boy was holding something back, but didn't comment further.

Instead he said, "May I ask you something?"

Potter shrugged, "You can ask."

"What happened in the forest that night? With the Dark Lord?"

Harry sighed, though more in contemplation than exasperation, Severus thought.

Almost absentmindedly the boy said, "You really need to stop calling him that you know. He was no 'Lord'. Call him Voldemort. Or better yet, call him Riddle. That was his name."

"I know." Snape admitted dejectedly. "Old habits die hard."

"I will tell you." Harry said after some further silent contemplation. "But it's hard to tell just that part of the story. And if I were to tell you everything, we'd need longer than we have tonight."

"I understand."

"So, I will tell you, but you might have to accept that there are some things I can't answer yet. You okay with that?"

"I accept your terms." Severus agreed.

"Right." Harry started. "So it happened during the ceasefire. You had just given me your memories so I went up to Dumbledore's office 'cause I knew there was a Pensieve there." He recalled. "I knew then what I had to do, what Dumbledore wanted me to do. Though I think I'd known for a while really."

The boy exited his reverie to look at the Professor. "You knew that I was supposed to die, but did Dumbledore ever tell you why?"

Snape shook his head. "He showed me the prophecy, but I never really knew why you would have to die."

Harry nodded understandingly. "Well, that's a story for another day." He responded cryptically.

"I snuck out of the castle." Harry continued his story. "I didn't want anyone to stop me. It'd be too easy to give in if they tried." He admitted sadly. "I ran into Neville though and I knew I had to tell him about the snake. Someone had to kill Nagini."

"Why?"

"Er – another day, yeah?"

Severus narrowed his eyes slightly but nodded nonetheless. "Very well."

"I had my invisibility cloak so I was able to get down to the forest without anyone else seeing me. Don't remember much about the walk down there to be honest. Suddenly, I was entering the trees and heading towards my death." Potter said it flatly, with little emotion, though Severus could see the feeling in his eyes.

"You walked all that way alone?" Severus asked, secretly devastated by the thought of it.

With an unexplained wistfulness in his eye, Potter answered, "Yes, but I wasn't alone. Not really."

"I don't understand."

Potter looked at him with sad eyes and a wry smile. "Another day."

Severus frowned and sighed in frustration, but he encouraged the boy-saviour to continue his story with a short, "Go on."

"I heard them as I got closer." Harry recalled. "Riddle was starting to doubt I'd show. I took off my invisibility cloak and stuffed it inside my jacket. And then I just sort of stepped out and announced my presence."

Severus looked at him, stunned. "Merlin." He breathed.

Harry didn't acknowledge the comment. He was too lost in his own recollection.

"Hagrid was there. All chained up. I didn't know they'd got him." For the first time Severus could hear a tightness in the boy's throat. "I didn't draw my wand. I didn't even say anything. I just wanted it to be over with quick, before I had the chance to chicken out." He swallowed. "I never heard him say the words. But I saw the spell. That iconic green flash from my nightmares."

Severus felt sick. He stared at Potter in horror. The boy didn't notice. He was still lost in the memory, eyes unseeing.

"So it's true? You survived the Killing Curse again?"

The question brought Harry back to the office.

"Yeah, sort of."

"Sort of?"

Harry scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Well, I did kinda die, but then I didn't, so yeah." He shrugged.

Severus was dumb-struck.

"Don't tell anyone though, yeah?" Harry added. "If it gets out, you can guarantee someone's gonna want to have a pop at me, and I'm 99.9% sure that I couldn't survive the Killing Curse a third time." He half-joked.

The Professor gave him a stern look, unamused. "What happened next?"

"Not sure how long I was out, but Voldemort was unconscious as well. "When I woke up I stayed absolutely still and I listened as Riddle came around too. He was too scared to come and look at me himself so he sent Narcissa Malfoy over." He explained. "Just another occasion where Riddle underestimated love. Narcissa couldn't care less about power and blood purity by that point. She just wanted Draco to be safe."

Severus nodded, this he had heard from Draco.

"They made Hagrid carry me up to the castle. If I could have been sure that the Death Eaters wouldn't notice, I would have told him then that I was still alive. It was hard seeing him so upset. He was my first true friend." Harry said sadly.

"Riddle couldn't wait to taunt everyone with my death. But everyone remained loyal to the light. And Neville was bloody brilliant!" The Gryffindor remembered more cheerfully. "While everyone was distracted I pulled on my invisibility cloak and disappeared. You probably know the rest."

"I have heard some accounts of it, yes." Severus acknowledged, though he hoped Potter would add his own retelling of events.

"It all came kind of full circle in the end, I guess. The fighting broke out again but none of the Death Eaters were hitting their targets. I did for everyone what my mother did for me." Harry explained. "My sacrifice, my love, protected them."

"That is quite astounding." Severus breathed.

"Yeah." Harry sounded just as shocked, though he had known for months.

"You are quite astounding, Mr Potter."

Harry shrugged. "Not really. I just did what anyone would do in the circumstances."

"No, Harry." The Professor disagreed. "Unfortunately, there are few people in this world, magical or otherwise, who are quite as brave as you."

AN: Expect the next chapter within the month. All the best x