Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and settings belong to J.K. Rowling.

A/N: Thank you to all who reviewed, added and/or followed this story! Enjoy!

Snape stood in the Headmaster's office, standing by the window and staring out at the view of the castle grounds.

"Severus."

Snape turned and sighed when Dumbledore gestured to the chair in front of his desk. He walked over and sat down, arms folded.

"I do wish you would stop what you are doing," Dumbledore said, his voice tinged with sadness.

"And what am I doing?"

"Internally beating yourself up about the last couple of days," Dumbledore entwined his fingers and gazed knowingly at Snape. He didn't need legilimency to know what was upsetting his potion's master.

Snape gazed back evenly. "Can you blame me? Do you know the things I said to Harry? I told him I didn't want to remember being his father in fact I told him that I didn't want him around at all. I told him I was kicking him out of our quarters and our home and that I would give custody of him to Black!" He was practically shouting by the end.

"Severus, it was not your fault. You wake up and you are missing your memories and then find out that you adopted a Gryffindor, the son of man you disliked immensely. It was understandable that you would be upset," Dumbledore said patiently.

"Understandable? Upset? I was downright vicious to him!" Snape snapped. "And do you want to know what his response to my behavior was? He wanted to start over, even if I didn't get my memories back." The kindness, the love and loyalty that Harry had overwhelmed him.

Dumbledore smiled gently. "Harry has always been very forgiving and compassionate. He takes after his mother in that regard."

"I don't deserve it," Snape said hoarsely.

"I think you do," Dumbledore retorted. "And more important, Harry thinks that you do. Severus, this attitude will help no one. Harry needs you."

Snape closed his eyes for a moment. "I know." He opened his eyes. "I take it there is still no idea who hexed me?"

"No," Dumbledore said slowly. "It would make sense though, that whoever is helping Voldemort is behind it. However, it could be anyone who is death eater and wants revenge on you for changing sides. Or someone with a different type of grudge against you as well as Harry."

"I wouldn't rule out any of the Zabini's," Snape mused. "Or the Parkinson's."

"Or Cornelius Fudge," Dumbledore said thoughtfully.

Snape looked at him doubtfully. "You really think he could be behind it?"

"It's possible that he arranged it," Dumbledore said as he popped a lemon drop into his mouth. "He wanted Harry distracted and this certainly provided that. However, he is not at the top of my list but is certainly worth looking into." He held out his little dish of sweets.

"I would think it would be a Death Eater who views me as a traitor and would delight in hurting Harry," Snape said, shaking his head to decline a lemon drop. "Blaise Zabini attempted to manipulate my lapse of memories; nothing he or his family would do would surprise me."

"Perhaps," Dumbledore nodded slowly. "However, it could have been anyone. We will have to try and be more careful."

HP

"I hope you know what a great honor it is to meet the Dark Lord," A deep voice said.

"Yes, of course," Another voice, slightly nervous yet excited voice answered.

"You made the right decision to join us, hopefully others will realize this as well," The deep voice snickered. "Of course, those that don't will be dealt with harshly."

"I only regret not joining earlier; it is clearly the only way to get power and respect. The wizarding world is becoming quite a joke with people like Albus Dumbledore influencing it."

"The Dark Lord will take care of that," The voice said darkly. He then chuckled. "He was amused by your little stunt against our traitor."

"I am pleased that he was. I had hoped it would last longer."

"Mm, anything that causes him and the Potter brat pain is considered a plus." The man opened a door, revealing the strange looking creature that was Voldemort seated on a chair by the fire, Nagini curled up next to him on the floor.

"Ah, my new servant," Voldemort hissed. "I trust you are ready to prove your loyalty?"

"Yes my Master."

"Hold out your left arm."

"Master, are you sure you are strong enough for this?"

"Do you doubt me?" Voldemort hissed angrily.

"No, no," The Death Eater stammered. "Forgive me."

"I am getting stronger every day and soon I will be restored to my full strength," Voldemort said. "I can certainly brand a new follower." He reached out with his wand, touching it to the newcomer's left arm.

The man screamed in pain as the mark burned into his skin, Voldemort's hissing laugh echoing throughout the room.

HP

Harry gasped as a flare of pain woke him up from a disturbing sleep. He sat up, breathing fast and shaking slightly. The pain in his scar faded a little and he rubbed it absently. His dream…it couldn't have been real…could it? He glanced at the clock on his desk and saw it was just after two in the morning. He had chosen to sleep in his room in his quarters, as he and his dad had talked until it was past curfew. With a sigh, he decided he dad would want to know about his dream despite the hour. He slipped on his slippers and crept down the hall to his dad's room, knocking softly before slowly opening the door. "Dad?"

Snape instantly became alert. "Harry?" He got up quickly, wand in hand. "What's wrong?"

Harry could see the tiredness in his dad's eyes and felt bad for waking him. "Nothing really, I don't think. I had a dream and then my scar-"

"Is it hurting?" Snape guided Harry further into the room, gently pushing him to sit on his bed. With a flick of his wand the candles in the room lit so that he could examine the scar. It looked red but not as bad as it usually did. "Do you need your potion?"

"No, it only throbs a bit right now. The pain didn't last long," Harry said, rubbing his tired eyes.

Snape summoned a numbing salve and began to apply it to Harry's forehead. "Does that help?"

"Yeah, thanks," Harry said as the throbbing sensation went away.

Snape sat next to him. "What was your dream? Do you remember it?"

"It wasn't clear exactly," Harry said slowly. "Voldemort was there but I couldn't see the two people he was talking to. But he…gave one of them the Dark Mark and there was screaming and Voldemort was laughing…" He trailed off. "Do you think it was real?"

Snape was silent for a moment. "It wouldn't surprise me," He said at last. "Voldemort is clearly getting stronger and will waste no time in recruiting more followers. He can't be sure who will still follow him once he returns." He rubbed his left arm.

Harry noticed and frowned in concern. "Has your mark been bothering you?"

"No but I have noticed that it has gotten a little darker," Snape admitted.

Harry swallowed. "What will happen when he is fully back? Will he be able to hurt you through your mark?" He asked nervously.

"Yes," Snape answered honestly. He smiled ruefully at Harry's horrified look. "Do not worry about me Harry. Madam Pomfrey will be ready to help me block Voldemort's call once it starts. After the treatment, I shouldn't have any further problems with my mark, but we have to wait until the mark is fully working before we can attempt to block it."

Harry relaxed. "Oh, good. Is there a potion for that then?"

"It will take several strong ones, as well as some advanced spells," Snape said. "When it happens I will likely be in the infirmary for a small amount of time."

Harry felt himself tense at that. "Merlin, I hate this," He muttered. "Why can't we just go find him now and kill him?"

Snape didn't tell him he had wondered the same thing and had even brought it up with Albus. However, as the Headmaster pointed out, they didn't know where Voldemort was and how many he had working with him.

"We need to wait Severus, I believe the right opportunity will present itself when it is time for Harry to face Voldemort," Dumbledore had said in his calm way.

"Harry shouldn't have to face him, he is still a child," Severus had said in frustration.

"Voldemort will make sure he faces Harry," Dumbledore pointed out. "You remember what you heard in the prophecy."

"Yes, the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…" Snape had huffed in exasperation. "It doesn't make sense to me why it has to be Harry."

Dumbledore had looked away. "I'm sure it will all make sense when it is supposed to," He had said vaguely.

Snape had given Dumbledore a suspicious look, starting to feel that something was being kept from him. But before he could say anything, the Headmaster had begun speaking again.

"Harry is a remarkable young man and we will make sure he is ready when the time is right," Dumbledore had given Snape a reassuring smile, though his eyes were a bit distant.

Snape refocused his attention on his son and put his arm around Harry. "Are you feeling better?"

"Yes, thanks," Harry said. "Sorry I woke you up."

"Harry," Snape admonished. "Do not be sorry. I am pleased that you came and got me." He patted Harry on the shoulder. "Never be worried about disturbing me. There is nothing more important to me than you." He said quietly. His guilt was still eating at him for the way he had treated Harry the past couple of days.

"I know that," Harry assured him with a smile before yawning.

Snape stood up. "Back to bed with you. Do you want some Dreamless Sleep?"

Harry hesitated. He didn't want to seem like a big baby but he really didn't want to dream of Voldemort giving the mark again. "Yes please." He answered finally.

Once Harry was in bed Snape appeared to hand him a vial. "Take one swallow." After Harry did, Snape took back the vial and sent it back to his private lab.

Harry's eyes immediately began to close and as he drifted off to sleep and he was vaguely aware of Snape tucking him in. "Not…child," He mumbled as sleep claimed him.

"Of course not," Snape said soothingly as smoothed the boy's duvet over him. "Sleep well son."

HP

"This is so embarrassing," Harry muttered as he and Daphne walked hand in hand down the main street in Hogsmeade.

"No its not. It's fine Harry," Daphne said, giving his hand a gentle squeeze.

"No one else has bloody babysitters," Harry said. He heard someone clear their voice in back of him.

"Um, we can hear you," Remus spoke up mildly. He and Tonks were trailing a few steps behind them.

"Sorry," Harry said over his shoulder, looking a little sheepish. After everything that had happened with his dad, he was lucky that he had still been allowed to attend Hogsmeade and knew he should be grateful for that. But it was still embarrassing.

"Poor kid, I don't blame him," Tonks commented with a chuckle.

"It's for his safety," Remus said. Sirius was in Hogsmeade as well, in his Animagus form so that he could check the area out unnoticed. Well, hopefully he's remaining unnoticed, he thought ruefully.

"Yes, but think about when you were fifteen," Tonks said. "How would you have felt going to Hogsmeade with a date and having to have two adults follow you around?"

Remus glanced at the pretty young woman next to him, her hair a violent shade of violet due to her Metamorphmagus abilities. "I probably wouldn't have appreciated it but it's different for Harry. His life is in danger, his safety is paramount."

"It is, but he needs to have fun and enjoy his childhood. What's left of it anyway," Tonks said, with a sympathetic look towards the young Gryffindor.

Remus looked ahead where Harry and Daphne were laughing as they walked and he smiled. It was good to see him happy. "You're right Nymphadora." He said casually.

Tonks shot him a glare, her hair turning a fierce red. "Do not call me that, call me Tonks!"

Remus grinned to himself. "My apologies Tonks."

Up ahead, Harry and Daphne were deciding which shop to visit before meeting their friends at the Three Broomsticks for lunch. "Merlin, look at that," Daphne giggled as she pointed to a shop.

Harry looked through the window of Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop and grinned. There sat Lavender, happily chatting over a pink cup of tea to an uncomfortable looking Ron, who was holding his own pink cup awkwardly. Peering in, you could see the frilly curtains and lace napkins on the tables. There were many couples in there, holding hands and kissing over their cups of tea. The place could only be described as tacky with too much lace and frills decorating such a little shop.

"I wish I had a camera," Harry said gleefully as he and Daphne tried to control their laughter. At that moment, Ron glanced out the window and saw them, his face flushing. Harry gave a cheerful wave and chuckled when Ron glared at him.

"You know, the tea and coffee in there is supposed to be very good," Daphne said nonchalantly.

Harry blinked. "Oh, um, did you want to…" He made a face when it was clear by Daphne's laughter that she had been joking. "Very funny, that shop reminds me of Umbridge's office." He shuddered.

Daphne's face sobered. "Let's move on." She didn't like thinking about what Umbridge had done to Harry. In her opinion, Azkaban was too good for that toad.

"Let's make sure my guards are still following us," Harry said, peering over his shoulder. "Yup, there they are."

Daphne rolled her eyes. "Don't be childish," She admonished him, kissing him on the cheek. She glanced over at her professor and the young Auror. "Hmm. They look like they are having a good time together," She commented thoughtfully.

Harry looked to see the adults laughing together. "Yeah they do," he responded.

"There are Hermione and Draco," Daphne said as she and Harry passed Tomes and Scrolls, a bookshop. They waved at their friends through the window.

Draco waved them in. "Help me convince her not to buy out the shop." He pleaded.

Hermione gave a huff. "I'm not buying out the shop," She insisted. She looked down at the pile of books she was carrying. "Well…"

Harry scanned some titles and pulled a book off the shelf that dealt with counter spells. He had several books from his dad on them but this one he had not seen before. He flipped through the book.

"Are Professor Lupin and Tonks your bodyguards for the day?" Draco asked as he noticed the adults standing just outside the door.

"Yeah," Harry said with a hint of irritation. "Seems ridiculous to me."

"I'll say," Draco nodded. "Hermione and I are more than able to protect you, being that we are so much superior."

"Ignore him Harry," Hermione said absently as she flipped through the pages of a book.

"Shall we head over to the Three Broomsticks?" Daphne asked after they had looked around the bookshop. "Everyone else should be there soon for lunch."

Hermione shrunk the books she had bought and put them into her pocket. "I want to stop by Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop first."

"You can get quills at Zonko's," Harry said with a grin.

"I don't want a joke quill Harry," Hermione said with an eye roll.

"I need a new quill as well," Draco said. "We'll meet you guys at the Three Broomsticks."

"Hey, do you think there is another exit?" Harry asked, looking around the small shop.

"Don't even think about it Harry," Daphne scolded. "Unless you are looking to be restricted from Hogsmeade trips for the rest of your life."

"I was kidding, of course," Harry held his hands in surrender.

Daphne tried to remain stern looking but at Harry's adorable lopsided grin, she felt her resolve melt away. "You're too much," She shook her head.

Harry grinned. "Let's go, I'm getting hungry," He said after they left, putting the book he had been looking at back. He stepped outside with Daphne. "We're going to the Three Broomsticks now." He told Lupin and Tonks.

"Great, I'm starved," Tonks said cheerfully.

They had just begun walking down the street when they heard screams and saw people running past them in fear. Harry frantically looked around to see what was going on when he saw four people dressed in dark robes and black hoods wearing strange silver masks. Harry knew exactly what they were…death eaters.

TBC: