Hey all! You won't believe the week I've had…Really don't like my junior year already…But, I love you all, which is why I'm posting this chapter a couple days early. So, I hope you enjoy this chapter!

123456789012345678901234567890

Severus looked at what Sashi had written before nodding, and yawned.

"Oh, yeah. Sure thing. I'm just going to waltz up to Potter and tell him his snake wants me to help him. He'd just love to hear that." He turned to go back to his couch that seemed to be calling his name, when he stopped and turned to look at the snake again. "Wait. You write?" Sashi nodded her head. Severus was confused. "If you understand and can write in English, why can't you speak it?"

Sashi dipped her tail in the ink again and wrote out, 'I am still a snake.'

Severus read what she wrote and turned away. "Of course. How stupid of me."

Sashi shook her head, then wrote on the paper, 'Will you help him?'

Severus shook his head. "He won't want me to help. Besides, why me? Albus, the headmaster, would be more suitable for the job."

Sashi, again, wrote, 'No. You know what he went through. I feel it.'

He nodded, then sighed. "Yes, I do. I will see what I can do. If he does not accept my help, I will not force it. If you really want me to help him, you will have to help persuade him."

Sashi nodded, spread her wings and flew to the portrait. After she hissed for the brothers to open it, she left.

Severus moved to his couch and flopped down on it. He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose, all the while asking, "What have I gotten myself into?"

123456789012345678901234567890

The first thing Harry realized when he woke in the morning was he shouldn't be up. Not only was it dark, but everyone else was asleep. He could feel Sashi curled on one side of his pillow, and could swear he heard her breathing in his ear. A quick spell told him it was only 5:30 am. He groaned and rolled over, intent on falling back asleep. After what seemed forever, but could be more than 10 minutes, he sat up, careful not to wake the sleeping snake, and slid out of bed. Going over to his open trunk, he dug to the bottom and grabbed his invisibility cloak and threw it over himself.

He left the tower and quietly moved his way to the first floor and out the giant doors leading on to the grounds. After he made sure that no one had followed him, impossible as that sounded, he walked slowly towards the lake. Sitting on rock that could fit three people comfortably, he slipped off his cloak enjoyed the silence around him, then sighed.

'It does get lonely…being quiet.' Harry sighed sadly at that thought. He looked around him, to make sure no one else was around, then sang.

"In you and I, there's a new land

Angels in flight

My sanctuary, My sanctuary

Where fears and lies melt away

Music in time

What's left of me, what's left of me now?"

Harry brethed. Then he heard from behind him, "What is that called?"

Harry smiled as he turned to see Sashi on the rock behind him, relaxed. "Good morning. Sorry if I woke you."

"No, child. You did not wake me. The red headed one said something about spiders and went back to sleep. I noticed you were no longer there, so I followed your scent." She slithered onto his lap so Harry could stroke her wings. "So, what is that called?"

"What I was doing?"

"No. I am a snake, but not stupid. What were you singing?"

"It's called Sanctuary. It's not my favorite, but it sounded right to sing it."

"Why's that?"

Harry was silent for awhile. When Sashi asked again, he replied, "This is the only place I really feel safe. It's the only home I have…" Harry looked to see that the sun was starting to rise. Harry scooped Sashi up, set her on his shoulder, and stretched.

"What are we doing?" Sashi was quite confused.

"Going inside. It's almost time for Hermoine to be getting up. She likes being up before everyone else." Harry picked up his cloak and walked slowly back to the castle. Not much was said between the snake and her boy, but that was fine. There was no need.

123456789012345678901234567890

After breakfast found Harry back in the headmaster's office. Harry knew the old wizard wasn't kidding when he said they would talk today, but he thought he would at least wait till Harry went to his classes.

Instead, he was sitting in the same chair as yesterday, with Dumbledore sitting behind his desk. Again.

"Well, Harry, from what Severus told me yesterday, sounds like you've been keeping something to yourself. Care to share?" At Harry's look, Dumbledore handed him a piece of parchment and a quill. Harry's look of somewhat anger faded to be replaced by one of question. "I will respect your wishes of not speaking, though I wish you would." Harry nodded and took the objects offered. Then, he looked at the older wizard, waiting. Dumbledore sighed, then began, "How long has this been going on?"

At his professor's question, Harry leaned over the piece of parchment and began to scratch his answer. When he finished, he passed to Dumbledore. Just he was about to read it, the door to his office opened.

"Sorry I'm late, Albus." There in the doorway stood none other than Severus Snape.

Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, yes, Severus. Completely understandable. Please come in and sit down. Harry and I were just beginning." He looked over at Harry who looked angry. "Severus has a right to be here, Harry. He is now apart of this, whether you want him to be or not." Harry leaned back in his chair, obviously still angry, but no longer objecting. Severus took the other seat in front of the headmaster's desk, while Dumbledore read what Harry had written, then look at him over his half-moon glasses. "So. This abuse has been going on for quite a while. Why have you not told anyone?" He handed the paper back to Harry who scribbled down another answer.

When Harry handed it back, Dumbledore took it and read it aloud, so Severus could know as well.

"'No one believed me.' Harry, where did you get an idea like that?" Harry wrote more on the paper when it was handed back, then gave it back to Dumbledore. "You've told before. To a teacher in middle school. She didn't believe you." He glanced over at Severus. Severus looked apprehensive. Looking back at the small boy, he gasped, softly, in shock. The pain in his eyes was very clear. Then he realized he had seen that look before. In fact, he saw it every day. Sighing, he said, "Harry, I am terrible sorry. I should have known. I saw it everyday, yet didn't see. That look. I've seen it in many students. But only one other like you." He watched as Harry lowered his head, and wrote on the paper, 'Sorry…' Dumbledore shook his head. "My boy, you have nothing to be sorry about." He then turned his attention to Severus, who had been very silent. "Severus, what do you think?"

Severus looked at the boy, who, with out his snake, was rubbing his arm. He saw at the spot Harry was rubbing was a scar and some bruising. He then remembered last night with Sashi and what he agreed to do. He forced himself to look at the small boy and said, "Headmaster, I would like to help him. If he will accept help from me." Harry looked up at the man, surprised.

"Well Harry, what do you think?" Harry couldn't take his eyes off the man who was supposed to hate him. Why would he be offering to help him? Staring into the dark eyes of the man, he saw no emotion, as usual. "Harry?" He looked at Dumbledore, who was looking at him, somewhat worriedly. "Will you let Severus help you?"

Harry sat, weighing his options. Severus hated, no, loathed him. So why he was offering to help him, was under darkness. Taking one last look at the two men, he slowly nodded his head.

The tension in the room seemed to ease as Harry nodded. Dumbledore sighed and slumped back in his seat. Though not noticeable, Severus relaxed and breathed. He was afraid Harry would have said no. But saying yes, Severus never felt more relived.

Harry watched as Dumbledore relaxed. He grabbed the parchment he had been writing on. He wrote, 'I will accept his help if I can know why.'

Dumbledore read what he wrote and looked at Severus. "Well, Severus, this is for you to answer."

Severus stood quickly, and moved to be in front of Harry. "You want to know why I am willing to help you. You did not deserve the abuse. It seems to me you think you do." Severus sighed. "And, as much as I hate to tell you this, I know what it is like."

Harry's eyes widened. Severus was abuse too? And how did he know what Harry thought? About deserving it? But, Severus was abused? Maybe that's why he was cold-hearted…

Harry stood and held out his hand. Staring at it in confusion, Severus ask, "What do you think your doing, Potter?"

Dropping his hand, Harry wrote on the paper, 'Starting over. And it's Harry.' After Severus had read it, he looked up to see Harry, looking at him, hand extended once more. Slowly, Severus took a step towards him and grabbed his hand. That sealed the deal.

123456789012345678901234567890

So, how was that? Hope you enjoyed it!

After five people responding to the poll, I've made a decision! So no more poll! And, beta? Anyone?

Oops! I forgot to mention that the song in Sanctuary by Utada Hikaru. Until next time.