Hello All! Long time no see. Sorry about the hiatus. Life, love, issues the works. But I won't bore you with the details. As the release of the last book approaches, (( Yes I will be a nerd in a costume waiting at midnight for my copy )) it struck me that I really should work on my stories as I have them all in my head just not out on the computer. I really do appreciate reviews. It encourages me to write more and faster… much faster. So without anymore delay!

When Harry met Firewhiskey

Ch. 2

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Blinking slowly, green eyes came into focus on white that seemed to surround him. Sighing, he reached up to cover his eyes, wiling the familiarity away, only to find that his hands where spelled to his side.

"Harry? Oh dear are you awake now? Good, good. Now drink down dear, you'll be out of here soon enough." A blurry figured bustled over to him and tipped a potion down his throat that he thankfully swallowed and went back to sleep.

Madame Pomfrey capped the half empty bottle and set the dreamless sleep potion back onto the shelf. Watching the teen fall back into a peaceful rest was all that she could do for now. Who would have known the extent that the boy had gone through. Moving back the screen that hid Harry from view, Madame Pomfrey went to send word that Harry was stable.

Pacing his office, Dumbledore began to think that maybe placing him with the Dursley's had not been the best idea of his time. Sure there was the blood protection, but other people could have filled that role. Of course, Dumbledore had always been afraid of Harry growing up worshipped by the people around him and letting that fame get into his head. The only other people who could have helped were too close to Voldemort to be considered safe.

There had been Sirius of course, but he hadn't been cleared of charges until late this summer. After the whole fiasco with the ministry and the return of Voldemort, they had no choice but to clear Sirius of all charges, especially with the Veratiserum administration and the pensieve from the night of the attack. Peter Pettigrew had confided in Sirius Black after hearing the rumors that he supported the Dark Lord. Unfortunately for Sirius it was after the fact and James and Lilly had died. After he had been framed, after he had been condemned for the murder of his closest friends.

After everything was cleared and the Black fortune and name had been restored, Dumbledore offered Sirius a teaching position at Hogwarts in compromise with former Professor Lupin. They were to fill the empty DADA position. Splitting the workload between the two so that Lupin would not have to be near the students during his unfortunate time of the month.

Of course, thought Albus as he paced the length of his office, no one has actually said Vernon Dursley had done anything. Maybe it was someone else. Stroking his beard, the sparkle grew brighter in his eye as a new plan unfolded in his head. Humming to himself and grabbing a lemon drop, Dumbledore headed out of his office to the infirmary.

Walking through the doors of the infirmary, Albus Dumbledore made his way to Harry's unconscious figure. The raven haired boy seemed to be sleeping peacefully, but with a glace Dumbledore could tell that something wasn't as it appeared. With a wave of his hand he came in contact with no more than 4 different concealing spells, intricately woven together. Frowning he sought to remove the layers of spells, but only managed in succeeding with one before Harry's face screwed up in intense concentration and the charm was once again in effect. Slightly worried about the hidden appearance, Albus made careful note to question the boy when he awoke. Heading out towards the Griffindor tower, Dumbledore sent a note ahead to inquire that Harry's friends would meet him outside the common room.

As he approached the portrait of the fat lady, 6 figures came hurtling our through the portrait as fast as they could manage without tripping over each other. Ron, Hermione, Neville and Ginny ran to meet the headmaster followed closely by the Weasley twins supporting new scars and scratches covered by bandages. Bemused, Dumbledore held up his hands and gained an immediate peace.

"Harry will be just fine. Madame Pomfrey has deemed him in good health and he showed be released later tonight in time for dinner. Let me ask you a few things children…" He gazed over the rim of his glasses and looked at them straight in the eye, probing their minds. Albus had never told anyone of his knowledge and practice of Occulmency, but it was the constant use of it that had driven all powerful wizards to take up the practice. Finding no resistance, Dumbledore probed into their minds.

"Have you noticed anything strange about Harry this year? Has he been on edge since he's gotten back from summer? Anything unusual at all?" Looking back and forth between each other they all thought about since they had ran into Harry at King's Cross earlier that week. He seemed fine, a little thin but from what he said he was working outside most of the summer while the entire house was on a diet for his cousin. Hermione pondered over it, searching carefully for anything that might seem useful to Dumbledore. The other's thoughts ran along the same lines and Dumbledore smiled, a twinkle in his eye.

"That's all right children. I just want to make sure that everything was going well with Harry as well as you." He smiled and nodded to them and turned, heading towards his office humming cheerfully, the glint back in full force.

Somewhere in another part of the castle, Professors Remus Lupin and Sirius Black where adding a few finishing touches to their new living quarters.

"Sirius, I said no and I mean it." Sighing Remus sat down on the couch utterly exhausted, gazing about the room happily. It's not that he minded that the Headmaster took it upon himself to decorate the living quarters for them. It was the fact that their rooms were the exact replica of the Griffindor tower, including separate canopy beds. Smiling to himself, Remus remembered as the reaction his lover had at the sight of the bedroom.

"What does that man think we're celibate?! He of anyone should have remembered our relationship…" growling he waved his wand and the two beds were forcefully pushed together until they became one giant comfortable bed. Smiling Sirius grabbed Remus and pulled him to the bed where they lay there for a few minutes. Remus waved his wand and their things began to unpack themselves, folding themselves neatly before sliding into the drawers. Laughing Sirius rolled over on his side and lay his head on the werewolves' shoulder. "You always were the neat one, Moony." Grabbing his own wand he set about changing the colors in the room to browns and blacks. Getting up, Remus moved to the other side of the room and transfigured one of the ornate chairs into a beautiful book case and began to set the books in a seemingly particular order by hand. Sirius headed out of the room and Remus could tell that the shaggy man was going about setting the rest of the rooms to more of their style. Smiling Remus finished setting his books and came out into the living room. Sirius had apparently called the house elves and ordered lunch for the both of them. Sitting down on the couch Sirius looked up at him with begging eyes. "Sirius for the last time, I will not add a doggy door anywhere."

Waking up in his head of houses' personal room was not something Draco was quite experienced with but remembering why he was there made him all the more grateful for his potion master. Sitting up slowly, he saw said teacher bent over a large glowing basin, a sliver wisp slowly floating from his head into the basin. As the wisp disappeared into the basin, Severus Snape regained his composure and looked at the other occupant of the room. Staring back at him was his favorite pupil, Draco Malfoy an intense look of concentration on his face.

"Is that was I think it is Professor?" nodding to the basin, the blonde slowly stood and made his way over to the dark-haired teacher. Sighing and brushing back his dark locks, Severus put on a half-hearted smile for his godson. Yes Draco Malfoy, was the only child Severus would admit to caring for, however many thought it just favoritism because he and the Malfoy's were long time friends. Moving the basin to the corner of his room, the potions professor moved over towards the blonde and sat them both down on the sofa in his private quarters.

"Draco, I must ask you something and you must answer me honestly. I will send you out at this very moment and you'll never know anything that happened if I don't like your answer or I think you're lying. What are your feelings towards Harry Potter and the Dark Lord?" Looking at him intently, Severus judged his reaction.

Thinking quietly for a moment, Draco thought carefully on how to word his response.

"You know as well as I Severus what I've been raised to believe, however this cruelty and abomination for humanity in general is against what I want. I don't want to chose sides. I don't particularly like Muggles, but I don't see the reason for their death. There's also the issue of what I told you second year. You've risked your life spying for the light, but I'll only risk mine for one reason." Nodding Severus moved and rested a hand on Draco's shoulder.

"You must be on your guard from now on Draco. Also, you must convince Potter that you're on his side. Draco, he's going to need people close to him more than ever right now."

Nodding, Draco moved to leave and paused when his hand touched the doorknob.

"Professor? Why…, What made Po-Harry do that?" Lowering his head, Snape took a deep breath. "Draco, remember why I taught you those muggle fighting techniques even though you father didn't approve." Nodding Draco, shuddered at the memory of the first time Severus had told him he was almost raped as a child.

"Harry it turns out, was never as lucky as you or I." For a moment, Draco seemed to have shut down but the next moment he was outside the door running as fast as he could. Down the halls, out of the dungeons and out of the castle until he reached the lake. In the most undignified display of Un-Malfoyish behavior, Draco proceeded to loose the contents of his stomach on the shore of the lake.

Draco sat there for what seemed like eternity, mulling over his thoughts while trying to make himself look as dignified as he could. It just wasn't possible that something as horrible as that could of happened to Harry. Oh Harry, why did this happen to you? You, out of all of us, should have been spared something as horrible as that. Not you… my angel, my poor broken angel. Sighing, he stood and made his way to the castle as the sun began setting over the area. Formulating a plan, Draco hurried to his dorms in anticipation of nightfall.

As soon as curfew had been put into place, Draco grabbed a small bag of vials that Severus had given to him. Shrinking it, he slipped on his invisibility cloak and made his way out the dorms towards the hospital wing. (really now we can't have Potter outdoing him in everything .)

Making his way through the hallways and up the stairs, Draco soon arrived in the hospital wing. Slipping in he made his way over to the sole occupant. Harry tossed and turned in his sleep, nightmares plaguing him enough to make him whimper but nothing louder escaped his lips. Draco's heart clenched in his chest at the sight and pulled a vial out from his bag. Parting Harry's lips, Draco gently poured the Dreamless sleep potion into his mouth and massaging it down his throat. He shrank the bag and carefully tucked it under Harry's pillow before leaving.

The next morning, Harry awoke feeling slightly more refreshed and much less on edge, though he hated the fact that he remained in the hospital wing. Turning over on his side, he tried to get in a more comfortable position when his hand hit something under his pillow. Pulling it out, Harry found the bag and quickly enlarged it back. When he opened it, he came face to face with a number of vials and a note.

Dear Harry,

I don't know what's happened to you, nor do I think I ever will. I only hope that in someway this brings you a little peace to your nights. Dreamless sleep is the most I can give you for now. Just know that I will always be watching over you and protecting you when I can.

Ever your watcher,

Me

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Okay I think I'll leave it there for now. I know this is just getting started but I really am liking where this is headed. Please review! I love criticism. I'm hoping I get enough to keep me encourage about writing this story!