The only warning for this chaper are references to extreme violence.

Chapter 4 – Old Wounds

"Maybe our old wounds teach us remind us where we've been and what we've overcome. They teach us lessons about what to avoid in the future. That's what we like to think. But that's not the way it is, is it?" - Unknown.

Severus woke in the early hours of the morning and was not surprised to find that he had fallen asleep in his armchair, he regularly found himself in this exact same position when he had been too exhausted to make it to his bedroom. The memories of Potter's intrusion into his private space came rushing back and he snapped open his eyes. Potter is still here, he thought incredulously, as his eyes surveyed the sleeping form next to him. What on earth had he been thinking inviting a student into his private quarters and Potter of all people and why in Merlin's name had the boy not fled when he had been given the chance! He could not even begin to contemplate why he had felt comfortable enough to fall asleep in the boy's presence. He found it difficult to sleep at the best of times but apparently he had gone out like a candle at the end of its wick.

He hadn't had any time to work through the meaning of his strange thoughts and feelings about Potter since his initial realisation, a couple of days ago, that he would miss the boy. So much had happened in his mind since then and his emotions were even less clear. Now here he was sitting watching the boy sleep in his rooms and he felt at ease, if not a little perturbed by his presence. He had to admit it was pleasant having someone to share his space with.

Harry began whimpering in his sleep a few minutes later and cried out in pain clutching his head at the same precise moment a familiar burning seared through Severus's left arm. Severus jumped out his chair quickly throwing on his Death Eater robes and mask. Harry woke abruptly and his eyes flew open still holding his obviously painful head. Harry jumped up and screamed in fear and panic.

"Shh! It's just me Potter, Professor Snape, the Dark Lord is calling me, go back to sleep, there is nothing to worry about" and at that he had flooed out of his room leaving Harry standing there shaking.

I am having a nightmare Harry thought scanning his surroundings quickly wondering if there were any more Death Eaters surrounding him. He slowly remembered the events of the previous night and realised he was still in Snape's living quarters. Merlin above, he must have fallen asleep beside Snape, he realised with horror. His heart was racing, he had heard rumours that Snape had been, and still was according to some, a fully fledged Death Eater and he had always thought the man capable of it. However, Dumbledore had shown him a memory a couple of years ago of him defending Snape, when his name had been mentioned as an active Death Eater at a Wizengamot trial, he had said that Snape was no more a Death Eater than he was and was currently acting as a spy for the Order. Harry had believed the Headmaster and it was partly because of that revelation that he had started thinking more about how Snape had helped him over the years.

Having just seen Snape in full Death Eater clothes however had shaken Harry to the core and he didn't know what to think, his mind was a mess, he was tired and confused. He jumped up and ran to the door but it was firmly locked and Alohamora and a few other basic unlocking spells didn't work. He was trapped in here he thought! Dumbledore was wrong about Snape the rumours were true he was still a fully fledged Death Eater who went running at Voldemort's every whim! He ran over to the fireplace and grabbed a handful of floo powder and firecalled the Headmasters office. A few minutes later the Headmaster's face appeared in the grate and looked around "Severus?" Dumbledore asked. "Headmaster its Harry" he said as calmly as he could, whilst leaning down further so the headmaster could see him. "Goodness Harry my boy what on earth..." Dumbledore was cut off abruptly as Harry started rambling unintelligibly about Death Eaters and cloaks and masks and something to do with Snape. "Harry" Dumbledore said trying to get him to slow down. Harry was pacing around the room now and becoming obviously very agitated. "HARRY!" Dumbledore shouted in a loud booming voice. He must not realise what Severus does for the Order or what the term "spy" entails in this instance, Dumbledore realised. Harry stopped talking and looked over to the fireplace and promptly collapsed in a heap where he stood.

Harry came round a short while later tucked up in a large unfamiliar bed. He sat up slowly and looked around. The headmaster was sitting dosing in a chair beside his bed but he looked very uncomfortable.

"Headmaster" Harry said quietly. The headmaster opened his eyes as if he hadn't been sleeping and was fully alert immediately

"Ah you are awake Harry" Dumbledore said smiling "How are you feeling"

"Em not sure really em...a bit ..er .. well confused, I think" Harry said distractedly rubbing at his scar whilst wracking his brains trying to remember what had happened.

"Yes, yes my boy you will be. Madam Pomfrey gave you a mild sedative and it can have the effect of a little temporary memory loss"

"Where am I Professor, and how did I get here?" asked Harry

"Mhmm you really don't know where you are Harry? Interesting" said Dumbledore distractedly.

"No I really don't Headmaster. Is that a problem? Has something happened to me? Is there something wrong with me?" Harry said getting a little agitated.

"Calm down Harry and in answer to your questions, no it is not a problem, yes something has happened to you, I believe, but it was not tonight and no there is nothing wrong with you" Dumbledore said calmly.

"Ok so er will you tell me where I am then" Harry prodded. He hated how the Headmaster could be so evasive and never speak plainly!

"Yes of course my boy, you are in Professor Snape's quarters" Dumbledore said as if it was a normal everyday occurrence. Dumbledore looked over his spectacles at Harry, eyes twinkling.

Hurry quickly jumped out of bed in shock before he realised he was standing in front of the Headmaster in only his underwear! Oh my dear god Harry thought why the bloody hell was he in Professor Snape's bed with only his underwear on. He realised his shorts were a little damp and sticky as some memories of the previous evening came flooding back. He couldn't quite remember if what he was remembering had happened in a dream or in reality or a bit of both and could feel his embarrassment rising as his neck and face turned scarlet. Dumbledore chuckled before standing and directing Harry firmly back into the bed.

"Now, now, Harry there is nothing to worry about, I am sure Severus will understand when he returns and things will seem clearer as your memory returns" Dumbledore said as Harry sat back down in the bed. "You only had your robe on with nothing underneath when we found you my boy, whatever brought you down here must have been urgent to only half dress eh? We thought you would be more comfortable without a heavy outdoor robe whilst asleep, nothing to be embarrassed about my boy"

All of a sudden Harry remembered Snape standing in full Death Eater robes and mask and cried out "Snape is a Death Eater, Headmaster!" He remembered now firecalling the headmaster in a panic but not remembering much else. He must have blackout or something.

"Harry please calm down we don't want you blacking out on us again now do we" Dumbledore said soothingly. "There are some things that you and I must talk about but first I must confirm something I think I have known for some time" Dumbledore said.

Harry wished he understood even half of what the headmaster was going on about, he might not feel as completely lost and confused as he did right now! He had just told the old man that one of his trusted allies was actually nothing but an evil slave to Voldemort and all he could do was talk in riddles!

"But headmaster we must stop Snape getting back in here now we know what he truly is! Harry said getting exasperated.

"Harry, trust me" Dumbledore said quietly. "Please just sit quietly for a few minutes and relax I need to think for a moment" Dumbledore asked with authority.

Harry slumped back in the bed and tried to relax hoping the headmaster hadn't completely lost his mind! He lay quietly going through all his memories from the previous evening and pieced together what had happened, sorting out the dream from reality and how he had ended up here. He hoped the Headmaster didn't ask what he had been doing down here in Severus's rooms in the middle of the night, he wasn't sure he could come up with a believable enough story to get past the headmasters sharp mind. Harry felt completely disgusted with himself. Was he so desperate for any sign of care and affection that he had ended up fantasising about Snape who was a bloody Death Eater?

"Harry?" Dumbledore quietly said snapping Harry out of his thoughts. "Were you thinking about anything specific just now?"

"Err well of course I was! I was thinking about having a Professor at Hogwarts that's a bloody Death Eater!" Harry snapped.

"The thing is my dear boy I could not see your thoughts" Dumbledore said completely ignoring the fact that Harry had been rather rude to him.

Harry jumped up again from the bed not caring about his current state of undress. "What do you mean you couldn't see my thoughts? Why would you even be trying Sir? If there is something you would like to know, do you not think it would be polite to JUST ASK ME!" Harry was raging, was there no one he could trust!

Dumbledore gently took Harry by the arm in attempt to calm him but Harry shook him off and started pacing again, mumbling about trust and Voldemort and Snape and meddling old men. At a click of Albus's fingers Madame Pomfrey flooed into the sitting room and came rushing through.

"Yes Albus" she said as she watched Harry pacing.

"Please calm him Poppy, he isn't thinking clearly, which is no wonder but it is imperative that I speak with him before Severus returns"

Poppy went over to the boy and gently guided him back to the bed and instructed him to take a mild calming draft, which he complied with, apparently unthinkingly. He was too worked up and in a state of confusion to resist, he really did feel as if he had lost his mind and was a bit worried he was going mad.

As the potion began to have an effect Harry stopped pacing and sat down with a thump on the edge of Snape's bed.

"Please Harry, I know this is difficult for you but will you at least give an opportunity to explain?"

Harry nodded he was too drained to argue now.

"I am sorry I tried a nonverbal legilimens on you Harry, you are correct, in normal circumstances that would be most unforgivable of me. However, as you are aware these are not normal times and there was something I needed to make sure of before I told you something that is now imperative that you understand, but Harry, there is one more test I would like to perform before we have a chat"

"What test is that" Harry asked warily.

"When I tried some moments ago to see your thoughts I found that I could not, there has only ever been one other person that has managed to erect such strong defences to their mind that even I cannot normally penetrate them. I would like to try a stronger verbal leigilmens on you Harry to just test how strong your defences really are, if you are agreeable, of course"

Harry scowled "But headmaster I am useless at Occlumency, I have only ever once managed to keep Snape out and that was by bouncing the spell straight back at him! I have no defences!"

"I am not sure about that Harry, I think we might find the opposite to be true. May I?" Dumbledore asked as he stood and withdrew his wand. Taking a deep breath Harry got to his feet and nodded. "Prepare yourself Harry, this will not be gentle" Harry focused his mind and tried with all his might to implement all the strategies of Occlumency that Snape had taught him the previous year.

"Legilimens!" shouted Dumbledore

Harry felt the spell slam into him and he pushed back as hard as he could. He fell backwards and there was an almighty clatter as he smashed into a dresser full of potions in Snape's room.

Harry was aware of Pomfrey rushing into the room from where she had been sitting, in Snape's sitting room.

"Harry! Albus! Merlin what on earth do you think the pair of you are doing!" Pomfrey shouted.

Harry sat up and looked over to see Dumbledore, who was also trying to sit, lying surrounded by a number of books from the bookshelf he had smashed into.

Dumbledore started giggling and brushed Pomfrey off with a "Stop fussing woman! I am fine!"

Harry started laughing too but wasn't entirely sure what he was laughing at! He had no idea what had just happened.

"What just happened Professor?" he asked through his laughter

"You my boy, are the first person to ever knock me of my feet with the power of your mind shields that is what happened Harry. No need for such force the next time" Dumbledore gasped as he started laughing almost uncontrollably now.

"What is the meaning of this scene of utter disregard and destruction in my PRIVATE quarters" the very irritated voice of Snape was heard from the doorway to the bedroom where he was currently standing behind Madame Pomfrey.

Harry jumped to his feet and looked at Snape who was staring at him in with an evil scowl. Nothing nice about that look he thought with a shiver. Harry realised he was still only dressed in his stained shorts and grabbed a towel that was lying on the dresser near him and wrapped it round his waist.

"Ah Severus, glad you are home and safe" Dumbledore said still laughing and started getting to his feet.

"Maybe Severus you should have a shower before joining Harry and I for a long overdue chat" Dumbledore instructed as he stopped laughing as he took in the sight of Snape.

Harry looked back at Snape and realised his Death Eater robes looked wet and there were pools or red appearing at his feet in the doorway. Oh My God Harry thought as he noticed the blood all over Snape's hands and face. Snape was a murdering raving lunatic of a Death Eater why the hell was the Headmaster just standing there he thought.

"Are you hurt Severus" Albus asked, face now completely serious.

"I will survive Albus, but Poppy, since you are here may I ask you to fetch a blood replenishing potion from your stores since mine have apparently been smashed." Snape said quietly.

He looks deathly white thought Harry who was starting to worry when he realised it was obviously Snape's blood that was now collecting at an alarming rate at his feet.

Albus stood when he saw Snape stagger slightly and both he and Harry moved toward the injured Professor just in time to catch him as he collapsed.

"Get him onto the bed quickly" Pomfrey instructed and both Dumbledore and Harry carried Snape gently over to the bed. "Albus please go and find healing salves for deep lacerations and at least 5 blood replenishing potions. Oh and also bring a strong painkiller and a phial of dreamless sleep" Poppy continued.

"Headmaster maybe I should go, you will be of more assistance here than me" Harry said panicking; he had no idea how he could help, they had only covered basic healing spell in class.

"No Harry, Severus needs you here and besides you may not return in time if Mr. Filch or Professor McGonagall catches you running about the school in nothing but your underwear at 4am in the morning!" Albus chuckled then shouted "Infirmary" as he disappeared into the fireplace.

"I could have flooed" Harry mumbled still not sure how he could help here and why the headmaster thought Snape would need him!

"No time for moaning Mr Potter, as well you know the floo network is locked to student transport. Now get to work and help me get these awful robes off Professor Snape and be gentle, we have no idea the extent of his injuries this time" Pomfrey instructed sternly.

"This time!"

"Yes! This time Mr. Potter now be quiet and get to work"

By the time they had managed to rid Snape of all his clothing both Harry and Madam Pomfrey were covered in what indeed was Snape's blood, but there was no time to worry about that. Harry was shocked by the amount of deep cuts that were all over Snape's body. It looked like someone had taken a whip of knives to him and as they both started gently cleaning and closing the wounds with a spell that Madam Pomfrey taught him. He was horrified by the number of old scars he could see under the fresh one and realised this indeed was not the first time this had happened.

"Why on earth does he still follow this madman!" Harry exclaimed to himself not expecting an answer. "For you my dear boy" Albus quietly whispered as he walked into the room with an armful of potions. Harry opened his mouth to respond but the headmaster looked at him gravely and said "Not now Harry. Now is not the time and it really is not my story to tell."

Harry's mind was spinning with a million unanswered questions and confusing emotions and he was utterly exhausted by the time they had finished healing all of the deepest wounds. Snape had woken briefly once during the time they spent cleaning him up. Apparently a sleeping potion could kill someone if they are unconscious from blood loss or other injury and Pomfrey had wanted to make sure he had regained consciousness sufficiently to tolerate it. Harry had been washing the remaining dried blood from Snape's hair and face when he had opened his eyes and looked deep into Harry's own.

"Thank you" The tired, drugged Professor muttered. Harry was taken aback by the amount of feeling that was conveyed in these two words.

Pomfrey instructed Snape to not waste energy talking and gave him a very small dose of dreamless sleep after which he had fell asleep almost instantly.

"He should be awake at about 10 o'clock in the morning so should give him about 5 hours sleep." Madame Pomfrey informed.

"Albus are you sure it is more important that he makes it to his classes tomorrow, surely there must be someone who can stand in for him" Pomfrey pleaded with Dumbledore in exasperation. "I always put up with not treating him in the infirmary, for obvious reasons but he needs his rest, there were obvious signs of recent damage from the cruciatus there too!"

"Yes he suffered an extended time under the cruciatus the night before returning to Hogwarts I believe" Albus said.

"The night before returning to Hogwarts? But Albus that was less than 24 hrs ago!" Pomfrey exclaimed.

"I know Poppy very unfortunate, very unfortunate indeed but Severus will be more upset if he has to miss classes" Albus said sadly.

Harry dosed off whilst listening to the Headmaster and the Medi-witch continue to argue. He had leant forward in the chair beside Snape's bed and had only meant to rest his head on the Snapes bed for a moment to stop it spinning but had fallen fast asleep.

"We must let young Harry rest now I will speak with him in the morning" Dumbledore said as he looked sadly at the sleeping boy "but he cannot go back to his dormitory in his current state. If he were still awake I would suggest we took him down to the infirmary, but as it is, I am reluctant to waken him." He proceeded to transfigure a small bed from a bedside table and moved it close to Severus's own. Dumbledore then eased Harry under a soft blanket and left him and Severus sound asleep.

"Do you think that is wise Albus" Poppy said as they both turned to leave "They may kill each other in the morning when Severus is back to his usual self!"

"I am sure they will work it out Poppy, but if anyone asks, Mr Potter spent the night in the infirmary suffering from the after-effects of a poorly repaired break to his nose." Albus said with smirk and a twinkle in his eyes.

Poppy did not dare to ask about the broken nose or the crazy rationale of leaving a student and a Professor who loathe each other asleep in the same room, she was used to his craziness after all these years but thought this was beyond craziness it was completley mad.

A/N I hope you are enjoying it so far and thank you AlmondWithUnicornHair for the encouragement to continue! x