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

"Get back!" Remus shouted, pushing the teenagers behind him and Tonks.

One of the robed men saw them and began casting spells, which Remus and Tonks began blocking. "Go back into the shop!" Remus shouted to the teenagers over his shoulder.

Harry bit his lip, wanting to help but Daphne grabbed his hand and began pulling him away when suddenly one of the men that was battling disapparated and apparated in front of the teens. He cast a blasting curse which hit the strong shield Harry quickly put up. The death eater laughed and returned to battling the adults, who were now trying to get to Harry and Daphne.

"Run you two!" Tonks yelled as she blocked a nasty hex sent her way.

Harry and Daphne were about to enter a shop to hide when another death eater appeared before them and cast a Cruciatus curse. With no time to try and block the unforgivable, Harry pushed Daphne down and threw himself on top of her, taking the full brunt of the curse. The pain was unbelievable, so intense it was like white-hot knives were piercing every inch of his skin. He began to scream.

The death eater laughed nastily and reached out to grab him when a big black dog raced up and jumped on him, growling and biting.

"Harry," Daphne whispered as she sat up, holding Harry who appeared to be having spasms from the curse.

"I'm okay," Harry gasped, looking up to see the death eater hit Sirius with a curse. Sirius howled in pain and fell over. "No!" He cried.

Remus and Tonks were still battling three death eaters though Remus must have seen Sirius, still in his dog form, hit with a spell. He tried to get past the death eaters but was thrown back by a spell. Tonks quickly began battling the three death eaters while also trying to protect Remus, who soon got to his feet and joined back in the battle.

The fourth death eater stared down at Harry and Daphne. "I'm here for one thing," A low voice said. "Apparently I have to take it the hard way, which is fine with me. Sectumsempra!"

It was as if Harry's chest and arms had been slashed with a knife, blood began pouring down him as Harry struggled to get up. Daphne quickly cast a stunning spell but the death eater laughed as he blocked it. He took a vial out of his pocket and scooped up some of Harry's blood which had formed into a puddle on the ground. "Thank you for your donation," he said nastily.

"Expelliarmus!" Harry yelled, pleased when the death eater's wand was thrown far away from him. His pleased feeling didn't last as he finally succumbed to his injuries and passed out.

The death eater growled in frustration, immediately apparating to retrieve his wand before disapparating for good, along with the other three death eaters.

"Harry!" Remus hurried over and dropped down beside him. "Oh Merlin!" He exclaimed when saw the wounds on Harry. "We need to get him to Poppy or St. Mungo's."

Tonks knelt down next to Sirius. "He's out cold but alive." She said with relief.

Shacklebolt Kingsley ran up to them, followed by two other Aurors. "Is everyone all right?"

"No," Remus snapped. "Where were you?"

"The death eaters had put up spells to block us from getting to you," Kingsley explained regretfully. "We only just got past them."

Remus had been trying several different healing spells but couldn't stop the bleeding on Harry.

"Why isn't it working?" Daphne asked with tears falling down her cheeks. She didn't even bother to wipe them away, as she was still holding Harry's head in her lap. The cuts were so deep and bleeding heavily and he was pale, his body still convulsing despite being unconscious.

"What was cast at him?"

"He was hit with a Crucio and then a curse I've never heard of," Daphne said in a choked voice as she gently ran her hand through Harry's hair. "Semp…no, Sectum…something."

"Sectumsempra," Snape had arrived with McGonagall and Dumbledore in tow. He immediately knelt down next to his son and began waving his wand over him. He began muttering an incantation that was almost song-like. "Vulnera Sanentur," he murmured three times and the flow of blood stopped and Harry's wounds began to heal.

"How did you know that?" Tonks asked.

"I invented it," Snape answered shortly as he lifted Harry into his arms.

"The curse or the healing spell?" Tonks asked curiously.

"Both."

HP

Sirius had been changed back to his human form by Dumbledore and woke up in the castle infirmary a little groggy. "What happened?"

"You were hit with a strong stunning spell," Remus answered tiredly from where he sat near Sirius.

Sirius turned his head and saw Daphne asleep in a cot and in the next cot was Harry, who looked very pale and was being treated by Poppy, who was applying Dittany to chest and arms. Snape sat next to him, holding his hand and looking paler than usual himself.

Sirius tried to get out of bed but was stopped by Remus. "Harry will be all right," he assured his friend. "You need to rest."

Sirius sighed and lied back down. "What happened to Daphne?"

"She needed a calming draught," Poppy announced as she turned away from Harry, having finished addressing his cuts. "She was rather distraught, though I don't blame her." She said. "Do we know who the death eaters were?"

"The ones Tonks and I were fighting didn't say anything, just kept casting curses," Remus sighed. "I don't know who they were."

"Miss. Greengrass did not know who it was that hurt Harry, only that he took some of his blood," Snape said in a hollow voice.

"Why did they want Harry's blood?" Sirius asked.

"Albus believes it could be for a dark potion, Regeneration potion, to restore Voldemort's body." Snape said, not taking his eyes off Harry who was still unconscious.

"Merlin," Sirius breathed in horror.

"There is to be an Order meeting tonight," Remus said and Sirius nodded his understanding.

Snape ignored the two men as they began discussing the events. His focus was on Harry. He wished the child would wake so that he could confirm that his son was okay but he also knew the more rest he got, the faster Harry would heal. He had been terrified when word had gotten to the castle that death eaters had been spotted in Hogsmeade. When he had seen Harry unconscious on the street it was like a nightmare coming to life. Thankfully he hadn't been under the Cruciatus curse too long for it to do permanent damage, although it hurt Snape deep inside that Harry had been subjected to such pain. And for Harry to have been hit with that particular cutting curse…

"Dad?"

"Harry," Snape said in relief. "How are you feeling?"

Harry propped himself up a bit, blinking as he looked around. "Where are my glasses?"

Snape handed them to him and once Harry slipped them on he noticed the other patients in the infirmary. "Daphne!"

"She's all right Harry," Snape assured him, holding him down to prevent him from jumping out of bed.

"Sirius?" Harry struggled; wanting to get up but finally gave in and slumped back against his pillow. "My friends?"

"I'm fine pup," Sirius called from across the room. "I just got hit by a strong stunning spell. You're the only one who really got hurt," he said unhappily.

"No one else was injured," Remus told him.

"I feel fine," Harry said as he began to remember what happened. "I was it with a Crucio, it was pain like I had never even imagined possible," he said slowly. He looked up when Snape grabbed his hand and gave a gentle squeeze. "Then I was struck by something, it caused gashes in me, there was a lot of blood. The death eater took some of my blood," he suddenly remembered. "Why?"

"We are not sure yet," Remus replied hesitantly.

Harry wasn't fooled. "What's your best guess?" He asked.

"The Headmaster thinks it could be for a potion to bring Voldemort back," Snape answered after a moment.

Harry felt sick. "Oh."

Poppy entered the room and immediately approached Harry. "How are you doing Mr. Potter?" She began running scans on him, nodding to herself as she read the results.

"I feel fine," Harry said softly. "Tired, but fine."

"Your father treated your wounds well and I applied dittany to them so they shouldn't scar," Poppy informed him. "You were under the Cruciatus but not for long enough to do any real damage and I spelled a potion into you to help with the spasms."

"Spasms?" Harry asked in alarm, glancing down at his hands. They looked steady.

"The spasms faded while you slept," Poppy assured him.

Harry sighed in relief and then glanced over at Daphne. "Are you sure she's okay?"

"She was upset," Snape spoke up. "And extremely worried about you. Poppy gave her a strong calming draught. Once she wakes and sees that you are okay, she will be fine."

Harry's gaze lingered on her for a moment, thankful that she hadn't been hurt. He took a deep breath. "So what do we do now?"

"You recover and then attend classes as normal," Snape said in a level tone.

Harry's mouth dropped open. "Voldemort is preparing to come back and I'm supposed to do nothing? He's going to want to finish what he started which means he's going to come after me himself."

"You are safe here in the castle," Snape said. "And we don't know what he is planning to do yet. We don't even know if he has all he needs to complete the potion to restore himself to power. In fact, we don't even know for sure that that is what he is doing." Although it is likely, Snape thought with pain.

"I can't just not do nothing," Harry said stubbornly.

"Of course not, that is why you have been training with Defence and Occlumency," Snape said patiently. "That is why you will continue to do so."

Harry nodded reluctantly and shut his eyes, trying to process all that had happened. Apparently he had dozed off because the next time he woke, Remus was gone and Sirius was asleep. His dad was still sitting beside him, looking exhausted. "You should sleep," he said.

Snape gave him a pained smile. "I'm afraid of what I would dream," he admitted. "Seeing you lying on the ground with those cuts…"

"What was that spell? I've never heard of it before." Harry said.

"Sectumsempra," Snape whispered. "When I was younger, I invented it. I even showed it off when I became a junior death eater. I was trying to impress them, to be important. That spell could have killed you and it would have been my own invention."

"Dad," Harry trailed off. He knew Snape had a dark past, he had told him about before adopting him. "It's not your fault that I got hurt today," he finally said. "It doesn't matter where the death eater learned it; you didn't make him use it. You turned away from all that. Don't feel guilty. I'm the one who should feel guilty."

Snape looked surprised. "For what?"

"For going to Hogsmeade in the first place," Harry sighed. "I even fought having Remus and Tonks go with me. If they hadn't been there, I don't know what would have happened. Two teenagers against four death eaters would not have gone well."

"Harry, you couldn't know what would happen," Snape patted Harry on the hand. "But I am afraid there will be no more Hogsmeade weekends until we can ensure your safety."

Harry nodded; already having figured that would have been the case. "I didn't even get to have a Butterbeer or go to Zonko's," He sighed.

"Zonko's," Snape sneered. "Yes, that is a shame."

Harry couldn't help but laugh. He stopped when he saw Daphne stir and open her eyes. "Daphne?" Quickly, before his dad could stop him, he hopped off the bed and went over to her.

"Harry? You're all right," Daphne said in relief. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. "How long have I been out?"

"A few hours," Snape answered, standing up. "Harry, you need to rest," he admonished.

Harry grabbed Daphne's hand. "Are you okay?"

"I wasn't hurt," Daphne assured him. "I was just so worried about you and upset over seeing those death eaters…you saved me you know," she said. "When that one cast the Crucio, you threw yourself over me." Her voice broke at the last few words. "I can't believe you did that."

"I couldn't let you be hurt," Harry said softly, noting that Snape had nonchalantly stepped over to the other side of the room, inspecting Pomfrey's ingredient cupboard. He appreciated the moment of privacy. "I couldn't take it if you were hurt."

"That's how I feel about you," Daphne said insistently. "Merlin Harry, my heart broke seeing and hearing you in pain." She blinked back tears. She hugged him tight. "Don't let it happen again." She sniffed.

Harry chuckled. "Yes Ma'am." He held her, breathing in the flowery smell of her hair.

A throat cleared and Harry and Daphne broke a part, both flushing as they looked at Snape. "Harry, you really need to rest. Miss. Greengrass, I believe you are free to leave but let me get Madam Pomfrey to clear you."

Harry reluctantly got back into bed and when Snape opened the door, he was met with a gaggle of teenagers waiting outside.

"Can we see Harry and Daphne?" Hermione asked immediately.

"Five minutes," Snape said exasperatedly. "Harry really needs to rest."

Hermione rushed over to her friend and threw her arms around Harry, mindful to be gentle. "We've been so worried about you guys!"

"How are you feeling mate?" Ron asked in concern.

"I'm okay, just a little tired," Harry assured his friends.

Tracey was hugging Daphne. "We were so scared when we heard death eaters were in the village," she said. "We couldn't find you and the professors' who were around were herding us back to the castle and wouldn't tell us anything."

Hermione went to hug Daphne next and Draco thumped Harry on the back softly. "Glad you are okay," he said softly.

"We all are," Theo breathed out. He shook his head. "That was close. I can't believe death eaters just showed up like that…"

"Merlin, can you imagine if Professor Snape hadn't insisted on you having guards with you?" Hermione asked, her eyes wide with fear.

"Believe me, I've already thought of that," Harry said quietly. "I can't believe how stupid I was being, putting up such a fuss about it."

"You couldn't know Harry," Daphne said. She was about to say more when the door burst open and her sister ran to her, grabbing her in a tight hug.

"Daffy!" Astoria sobbed into her shoulder.

"Oh Tori. It's okay. I'm okay," Daphne whispered, rubbing her sisters back soothingly.

"They wouldn't let me in and then Tabitha and Neville tried to distract me by telling me silly stories but I couldn't stop worrying and then Professor Snape just came to tell me you were awake…"

"Calm down Tori," Daphne said with a gentle laugh. "I wasn't hurt."

"But you could have been," Astoria said with her pale blue eyes wide. "Daffy, you could have been killed. And Harry!" She whirled around and threw her arms around him. "You were hurt, weren't you?"

"I was, but I'm feeling loads better now," Harry assured her.

Astoria pulled back. "I can't believe death eaters were in Hogsmeade," She said in a shaky voice.

Daphne reached out and grabbed her hand in comfort.

"It's really happening, isn't it? V-Voldemort trying to come back and then more death eaters will show themselves," Astoria continued, biting her lip. "Like Father."

"Oh, Tori," Daphne sighed sadly. She noticed Hermione and Ron giving her a curious look and realized they didn't know her history. "Our biological father was a death eater and a very horrible man," She said softly. "He tried to take over where Voldemort left off and got killed in the process."

"I'm sorry," Hermione said and gave Astoria a hug.

"This is why we've been training," Harry said softly. "We know a fight is coming and we have to make sure we are ready for it."

"This is why we have to be extra careful," Hermione added. "We should have all stayed together in Hogsmeade, and then we could have helped to protect you." She said guiltily.

"You guys can't stay by my side every second of the day," Harry said mildly.

"We can try pup."

The teens turned to see Sirius sitting up on his bed.

"Sirius, are you feeling okay?" Harry asked, starting to get out of bed. He frowned when he found he couldn't pull himself up. He was stuck to the bed!

"I believe I have told you that you are to rest," Snape said as he and Poppy walked into the infirmary. He smirked at Harry.

"Hey!" Harry complained. "Somebody Finite Incantatem me."

"Uh," Ron looked uneasily at the warning look on Snape's face. "I don't think so mate."

Harry huffed in frustration and crossed his arms as Poppy looked over Daphne and Sirius. He glared at his dad, who just looked at him evenly.

"Miss. Greengrass and Mr. Black, you are free to go," Poppy said after she ran her diagnostics. "If you feel you need a calming draught or dreamless sleep before bed, let me know." She told Daphne. She glanced at Sirius. "You too Mr. Black."

"I'm not a student anymore Madame Pomfrey," Sirius said with a slightly insulted look.

"No but you are my patient," Poppy told him sternly. She glanced at the teenagers in the room. "The rest of you need to leave now, Mr. Potter needs to eat and sleep."

Harry opened his mouth to protest but Snape interrupted him before he could. "I am happy to demonstrate the silencing charm," he threatened.

Harry slumped back against his pillow, defeated. He was tired and hungry. He gave a weak wave as his friends left; looking amused at his expense and slowly felt himself drift on back to sleep.

TBC: