Chapter 9

The next few days were nerve racking for Harry who was anxious excited about the twins' punishment that would be happening. He had been meeting Professor every night who had told him that when they were alone together that Harry may start calling him Severus.

Harry was in Severus private rooms once again watching the older wizard finishing the potions he was working on. Severus turned to look at the young man who was looking so much better now but there was still something that bothered him.

So, he cast a status spell on the potion he was working on turning to the young man, "Harry?"

"Yes, Severus?" Harry said with a curious tilt of his head.

"Let us go sit in my living room there has been something I have been meaning to ask you."

"Okay." Together the two me exited the lab making their way over to the cough that sat in front of Severus' fire place.

Once they were seated Severus turned to Harry, "When I took you to the Hospital Wing after you passed out in my class Madam Pomfrey informed me that not only were you malnourished you were also anemic. "I know why you were malnourished, it's not hard to deduce. The anemia on the other hand…" Severus trailed off not wanting to really think of Harry cutting himself.

Harry sighed as he turned to consider the fire. "Its not what you think it is Severus." Harry said softly after a few minutes of silence and turned to look the other man he was beginning to trust more and more as time moved on. "As you know after the Voldemort returned I have been trying to tell as many people as I can that he's back but of course with Professor Dumbledore gone no one really wants to believe me. Well Professor Umbridge has been calling me a liar and has given me many detentions because I will not stop trying to make people believe that the man has returned. My first detention with her she told me I was to write lines. I was very confused, but as I was about to pull out my quill she told me that it wasn't necessary as she held out a quill I have never seen before."

Harry took a deep breath trying to keep calm before continuing. "I put down my bag taking the quill from her asking what she want me to write. She told me to write I must not tell lies. As I began to right I felt pain on my left hand. I want to stop but she would not allow me to stop. After that anytime she heard me talk about Voldemort she would give me detention and I would have to write the line all over again." Harry said finishing his story looking down at his lap ashamed. Harry felt the couch shift as Severus moved.

The man grabbed Harry's left hand to look at it only to inhale sharply. Gathering his courage Harry look up at Severus and was stunted to see pain etched across the other man's face as a stared at the scar that said I must not tell lies. A few minutes pass before Severus stood up from the cough. "Wait here" he said leaving Harry to stare after him as the man entered his lab only to return once again with a vial and bandages in his hands.

Severus sat down next to the young man uncorking the vial and taking his left hand again.

"This vial is a healing salve" Severus explained as he took Harry's left hand again. "It will have to be applied every other day for the next two weeks before the scar can heal completely." Without anything other to say Severus began to apply the salve gently so would not hurt the young man anymore then he needed too.

Harry watched as the man as he works realizing for the first time that over the past few days that he was falling for the older wizard. Once Severus was done he look up only to stop short at the emotions of surprise and happiness he could see on the young man's face.

"Harry?" Severus voice was questioning. After a few more moments of silence Harry smiled softly at the other man.

"Thank you so much Severus." Harry leaned forward kissing Severus on the check. "You are a truly an amazing man and I'm starting to realize you are more to me then just a teacher or a friend. You are someone I can see myself spending the rest of my life with. We have both talked about our childhoods and what we have gone through over the years. I really think that we could be good for each other. I love you." Severus could only stare in shock at Harry's confessions for a few minutes before he smiled softly at the young man he had been slowing falling for as well.

"I love you too Harry, but I think we should take things slowly. You have only recently lost people you thought loved you and you need more time to move past that or you'll never really trust anyone with your heart." Harry smiled agreeing with the other man.

For the next few hours Harry and Severus talked about anything and everything. When was time for Harry to return to his dorm the older wizard walked him to the entrance to his living area. Severus caressed Harry's cheek for leaning down kissing him lightly on the lips. "Goodnight Harry" the man said softly after pulling away.

"Goodnight Severus."

…

Serenity: Sorry about the wait on this story. I have been very busy as of late, work has been hectic with the past holiday season, but I now should be able to devote more time to this story. Hope you all enjoyed this chapter.