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Severus worked as fast as he could to gather the information he would need. The Elixir Of Life was hidden in his bedroom at Snape Manor. The wards were layered thick to protect the precious bottle of potion. It took him nearly an hour to finally get his hands it.

On his way out, he stopped in the library to gather several rare books that might help in his research. He shrunk the tomes down and pocketed them before heading out for one more stop.

He was not looking forward to revisiting the summer cottage he and Harry had been held captive in. But, if Vespa had researched The Elixir Of Life, then her notes would be kept at the last place she had been living.

The cottage was shrouded in a heavy fog when Severus apparated onto the edge of the property. Horrible memories of torture plagued his mind at the sight of the opulent cottage.

The dwelling looked to be empty with only a few left over wards still in place. He broke through those with little effort before pushing open the heavy wooden door. He caught his breath when the scent of lavender stuck him like a physical blow. He was suddenly reminded of the first time Vespa had kidnapped Harry. It had taken days before the smell of lavender stopped clinging to the boy once he was finally home.

He ransacked the library and study first before he made his way down to the dungeons. His stomach clenched with anger when passed the row of cells that he and Harry had been held in. The cells were left untouched since he had last been here. There was still dried blood on the floor and the stones on the wall were melted from Harry's blasting spell.

He could almost hear his son's screams coming from down the hall. The memory of Death Eaters coming into the cell and forcibly taking his son away, the fear he felt when he heard his son's frantic screams of pain, the despair he felt when the boy was brought back broken and abused, all those memories caused him to catch his breath as a deep sorrow overtook him.

How had Vespa Snape and Tom Riddle managed to ruin his life so thoroughly?

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Harry sat by Dumbledore's side on this cold winter night on the edge of the Quidditch pitch. He felt comforted by the great man's presence. He watched his friends and classmates fly above them. He saw Draco take a sudden dive as his friend spotted the practice snitch and chased after it.

Draco rolled and dived, almost touching the stands before the snitch fluttered away from his outstretched hand. Harry watched as Sirius, in his new coaching position, swooped in close to the Slytherin and offered a few helpful tips. He felt green with envy that it wasn't him up there in the sky with his godfather by his side.

He grabbed up a clump of frozen grass and threw it. A gentle hand settled upon his shoulder.

"Envy is never edifying," Dumbledore quietly admonished. Harry almost didn't catch the tiny flick of the headmaster's wand.

Sirius abruptly turned in their direction as he seemed to sense they were there. He flew over with a giant grin on his face.

"Kiddo!" Sirius yelled as he jumped from his broom before it even came to a full stop.

Harry stood up and hugged his godfather. "Hi, Sirius."

Sirius nodded to the headmaster, "Is everything okay, Albus?"

"Harry and I were just enjoying this lovely evening," Albus said as he slowly stood up. Harry took hold of his arm as the headmaster wobbled a bit. "I should get back to work though. Harry, I have enjoyed your company."

With a swish of his wand, the blue chair disappeared. Harry watched as Dumbledore slowly made his way off the pitch.

"He's getting old," Harry commented, feeling anxious at the thought of anything happening to Dumbledore.

"He's lived a long life," Sirius said in agreement. "Longer than a man is supposed to live."

"I think he's waiting for Voldemort to die before he lets himself die," Harry said. That thought had been nagging him. There was no other reason why the man should still be alive. "He looks tired … tired of living."

Sirius looked at him for a long moment, "Don't let that push you into doing anything before you are ready, pup."

Harry rubbed his cold hands together and stomped his frozen feet. He caught sight of someone with long red hair swooping overhead and watched her until Sirius spoke.

"Hey, why are you down here? You should be up there with your gal," Sirius asked, giving Harry a shove on the shoulder.

"Can't fly anymore." Harry said as he caught his balance. He didn't want Sirius to hear it from anyone else. Sirius would know, more than anyone else just how much it would hurt to have flying taken away.

Sirius could hear the anguish in that statement, "That bastard's attacking you, isn't he?".

"Yeah, Voldemort's bent on making me miserable. He's practically made me a squib," Harry turned away. He waved a hand as if he didn't want to talk about it.

Sirius could see how deeply this was affecting his godson.

Harry shrugged and gave a forced chuckle, "Doesn't matter much anymore. It's not like I'm going to need magic."

"Don't talk like that! Severus will come up with something."

"Maybe." Harry looked back up at the sky. He wouldn't let himself forget how it felt to be up there.

Sirius slung an arm over his shoulder, "There are other ways to fly than on a broom, Pup."

Harry could tell that Sirius was up to something… He could see the mischievous smile his godfather wore.

Sirius stuck two fingers in his mouth and gave two sharp whistles. A few moments later, they spotted a large white bird flying towards them. As it flew closer Harry recognized Buckbeak. Oh Merlin, his father would kill him if he saw him flying on the back of a hippogriff!

Buckbeak landed by Sirius with ice flying as his sharp talons skid upon the frozen earth. Several people stopped flying to watch the hippogriff. It wasn't long before most all the Quidditch players were circling above to see why a hippogriff was on the pitch.

'Good boy, Buckbeak," Sirius patted the bird and scratched his head.

Harry bowed before the bird, "Hey Buckbeak, good to see you again." The bird bowed back, scraping his beak to the ground.

"All right then," Sirius shouted, "Get on up, Harry! Go take the sky!"

Harry knew better than to risk flying. If Voldemort chose to attack him while he was on the back of a hippogriff, he would fall to his death. His greatly weakened physical condition would put him in further danger.

But … the draw to be up there flying in the sky was just so strong! Impulsively, ignoring all sense of reasoning he stepped closer to the bird. He barely had one leg over Buckbeak before Draco came hurdling towards them on his broom. The Slytherin landed so quickly that he slid on the icy grass and fell to his knees.

"Don't you even think about it, Potter! Merlin's balls, if Severus sees you up on that-that thing, he'll bloody well kill me!" Draco narrowed his eyes at the bird then took several steps back, "That's the same creature that attacked me! Get the bloody hell off it, Potter!"

Sirius found this to be very funny. He laughed at the way Malfoy was backing away from the hippogriff in fear, "There's nothing wrong with Bucky. He's as friendly as a kitten."

"Right, a rabid kitten!" Draco argued, pointing his finger at Harry. "I mean it, Potter, get down now!"

Ron landed behind Draco, causing the bird to rear up on its hind legs and paw the air before settling back down. Harry hung on for dear life.

"What's going on?" Ron asked, eyeing the bird warily as he stepped further behind Malfoy.

"Potter's lost his head, that's what's going on. He wants to ride that-that thing!" Draco angrily replied.

"Relax, Draco. Buckbeak and I go back a long way. He's cool," Harry scratched the back of the bird's head, causing the bird to trill like Fawkes did when he was content. "I'm just going to take a quick ride around the pitch. My dad doesn't even have to know."

"Severus will find out," Draco argued. "He knows everything that happens where you're concerned. And I for one do not want to be murdered by a raving mad potions master!"

"Uh, Malfoy? I think it's too late," Ron hissed out.

All four turned to watch as a dark figure with robes billowing out was fast approaching them.

"Oh shit!" Sirius and Draco said at the same time.

"I gotta get back to practice," Ron quickly said, mounting his broom and kicking off in one swift move.

In a flash, Severus was upon them, bearing a fierce glower, "Harry, get down from there this instant!"

Sirius stood between Buckbeak and Snape, "Don't get your wand in a knot, Snape!"

"Dad, it's my fault!" Harry shot out as he scrambled off of Buckbeak.

"Severus, I swear I didn't have anything to do with this!" Draco quickly said as he stepped away from the menacing man.

"Silence!" Severus snapped. He pointed to Draco, "You were responsible for him! You had no business taking him outside!"

"He insisted!" Draco complained.

"He's sixteen, Snape! He can decide for himself!" Sirius added.

"HE is standing right here!" Harry yelled out. "Bloody hell, I just wanted to fly!"

Severus raised an eyebrow, "I will not argue over this!"

"Then let him ride, Snape!" Sirius growled out, shoving Harry back towards Buckbeak. Harry stumbled but caught himself before he fell into the bird.

Severus turned his glower back to Black, "I should have known you would concoct such a dim-witted plan!"

"Dad, it's not his fault!" Harry argued.

Severus faced his son, "Get to your room immediately."

"Dad, come on!" Harry complained, suddenly aware that there were several people witnessing this little exchange.

"Go now, before I hex you with a body bind and hover you to the castle!" Severus snapped, losing the small bit of control he had after seeing his son doing something so obtuse.

"Don't you dare threaten my godson like that!" Sirius yelled.

Harry didn't want this to escalate into a bigger spectacle than it already was. He also knew his dad never made hollow threats.

"Okay! Okay, I'll go!" Harry snapped. He scowled at his dad, "Bloody hell, I just wanted to fly!"

"Five points from Gryffindor for foul language," Severus crossly retorted. He turned back to face Black. "Do you have any idea what could have happened to him?"

"Do you have any idea what a horse's arse you are?" Sirius yelled back.

Harry could hear them arguing as he stalked off the pitch. He couldn't help the deep disappointment he felt at being stopped. It would have felt so good to be up there in the sky once more. Just one more time!

When he was almost to the castle he noticed a smaller set of footprints crunching in the snow next to his own footprints. He stopped and looked around.

"Dobby, is that you?"

Dobby didn't appear but he did call out, "Yes, Master Harry Potter, sir. I's here."

"Well then show yourself!" He should have known better than to think his dad would let him walk anywhere alone! "Did my dad tell you to follow me?"

Dobby pulled on his ears then punched himself on the head, "Dobby is a bad elf! Master Snape says to not let Harry Potter knows he is being followed."

Harry grabbed the house elf's hand before he could inflict anymore damage. "Stop it, Dobby! It's okay. I won't tell my dad."

Dobby bowed low, "You's is a great wizard, Harry Potter." In a flash the house elf disappeared again. Harry could still see the footprints next to his own though. He wondered what other precautions were being taken to protect him?

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By the time Severus made it back down to the dungeons, his mind was fully focused on the Elixir Of Life. Earlier, while he had been at the cottage, he had taken the time to study Vespa's notes. As it turned out, she had done extensive research on the potion. Her research had included an ancient spell, long forgotten, that was meant to bring someone back from the dead! It would take meticulous analysis but at least it offered a chance!

When he had returned to the school to find his son risking his life on the back of a hippogriff, he had barely controlled the anger he felt over the boy's stupidity. It would have been truly ironic to lose his son to an accident when he was so close to finding a cure to this whole disaster!

He spelled open the door and stepped into the dungeon when he spotted Harry. The boy looked up from his spot on the sofa with what could only be conveyed as anger.

Severus huffed out in exasperation, "I suggest you rethink whatever you plan on saying before you incur further punishment," Severus stated, before the boy said something he would be forced to punish him for.

The teen seemed to deflate before his eyes as his angry resolution dissolved.

With shoulders slumped, Harry turned away and stared back into the fire. He already knew his father would not understand just how much that flight on Buckbeak would have meant to him.

"Sorry," Harry grumbled, ignoring his wounded pride in favor of avoiding a quarrel.

Severus waved his hand in dismissal, "I've work to do. I expect you to remain in the apartment so I will not have to expend any energy distressing over what thickheaded antics you may be up to. I will be in my laboratory, should you need me."

Harry dropped his head into his hands. He growled in frustration, "So, I'm supposed to spend my last days sitting down here by myself… doing nothing?"

Although Severus had a strong suspicion that the Elixir of Life would work, he did not want to convey anything to Harry until he could be sure. It would be cruel to get the boy's hopes up until he knew with all certainty that the potion would work. Even so, he found it inconsiderate to leave the boy up here all alone.

Severus snapped his fingers, "Dobby!"

The house elf popped into view, "Yes, Master Snape?"

"Convey a message to Harry's friends; tell them to come down to the dungeon to keep him company." Dobby disappeared.

Harry's head snapped up and he looked at his father. The first thought to run through his mind was that he must be really close to meeting his doom if his father was willing to open his home up to a bunch of Gryffindor!

Severus stepped closer to his son. He tilted Harry's face up with two fingers under the boy's chin. It was obvious the teen's health was quickly failing. It wouldn't be long before Voldemort would be strong enough to repel the killing curse once it rebounded off Harry. It was imperative that Harry have enough magical energy left for that spell to work.

Harry pulled away and leaned back against the sofa, "Do I really look that bad?"

Severus stood up straighter, feeling an urgency he hadn't known before to get started on that potion. It suddenly struck him that he was the only person alive who had access to this potion. Had Dumbledore known what an important role he would play in the boy's life? Was that perhaps the reason he had so ardently tried to push him and Harry into forming a bond?

Severus thought back to last year when Dumbledore had been so insistent that he teach Harry Occlumency, when the headmaster himself had really been much more suited for the task. He wouldn't put it past the old omniscient wizard to have known all along that he would be Harry's only hope of survival.

The boy would need all his strength to endure what lie ahead. He pointed to the plate of food on the table, "Eat that before your friends arrive."

"I'm not hungry," Harry said, still annoyed.

"You will eat, Harry."

Harry scowled at his father as the man disappeared into the laboratory. He didn't think he'd ever figure the man out. He begrudgingly sat down at the table and pulled the plate of magically warmed food in front of him. All his favorites. He barely had a chance to take a bite of the peanut butter jelly sandwich before the doorbell rang. He was shocked to find half the former DA standing in the dungeon corridor.

"Dobby said to come down and keep you company," Ron said, pushing his way past Harry. He cautiously looked around for Snape before coming fully into the apartment and making himself at home on the sofa with feet on the coffee table.

"Thanks for inviting us, Harry" Seamus said, walking into the room and looking around, as if something might jump out and bite him.

"Are you sure it's okay with Professor Snape?" Neville asked, staying next to the door.

Harry stepped aside to allow everyone to enter, "Yeah, he was the one who suggested it."

"Are you sure he meant to invite so many?" Hermione asked as she pulled Harry into a hug. She stepped back and gave him a scrutinizing stare.

Harry shrugged.

It would serve the man right for not giving Dobby specific guidelines on how many friends he should ask down to keep him company. A smile broke out across his face at the thought of his dad walking in on a Gryffindor party in his own home!

With that thought in mind, he called out, "Dobby!"

Dobby popped into view and asked, "Did Dobby forget to ask any of Harry Potter's friends?"

Harry looked around at all the people. He didn't see Ginny, but figured she was probably still angry at him. When he spotted Lavender he realized that Draco was not here.

"Get Draco for me, Dobby. Then you might as well bring up some food and drinks for everyone." Yeah, this might as well be a real party!

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Hi All,

Severus understands for the first time why he was chosen to become Harry's father. He knows that if Harry hadn't become his son, he never would have gone this far to try to find a way to bring him back.

Since the beginning of Harry's Last Hope, I have always known that the Elixir Of Life was an iatrical part of the story. It was the reason Vespa tried to kill Severus and then Harry. It was also the reason Charlet came into the story, (and yes, she will be back).

I think the story will be slightly longer than I once thought.