Disclaimer: Harry Potter is not mine (neither is Severus Snape, Albus Dumbledore...you get the picture)

Chapter Seven: Promise

Severus opened his eyes slowly. The first thing he noticed was that he wasn't cold. In fact, he was warm... Severus turned his head to the side and saw...Potter? The boy was curled up on his side, snuggled into the crook of Severus's arm, his mouth slightly open and his black hair tousled.

Severus froze. He didn't know what to do. He had never been in such an absurd position before. Slowly, he tried to extricate himself from the boy, but as he slipped his arm away, Potter sat up and rubbed his eyes.

Harry looked around and last night came rushing back to him. Horrified, he scrambled away from Snape.

"P-Professor! I'm sorry—I didn't mean—I fell asleep—"

Severus held up a hand and Potter flinched away from him. Realizing his mistake, Severus lowered his hand slowly.

"I am not going to hit you, Harry," he said. "Calm down."

Maybe it was the use of his first name, but Harry relaxed slightly and took a tentative step toward his professor.

"I—er—how are you feeling?" said Harry.

"Better," said Severus, surprised to find that he really did feel better. Much better.

He pulled the blankets off of himself and swung his legs over the side of the bed.

"What are you doing?" said Harry hurrying forwards.

Severus cocked an eyebrow at him. "I am going to stretch my legs, something I have been unable to do for the past several days."

Severus got up and walked to the door of his office. It felt unbelievably good to be walking again. Looking into his office, he had to do a double-take. All of the potions that he had left half organized when Potter had fallen ill were now neatly put away.

"My—my potions," he stuttered.

"I—er—" Harry mumbled nervously. "I finished all my homework and—I know I shouldn't have touched them sir..."

Severus turned around and looked at the boy. "Harry, you just saved me a lot of work. You didn't break anything?"

Harry shook his head.

"Good," said Severus, patting the boy's shoulder.

"Professor, was that supposed to be a thank you?" said Harry, smiling slightly.

"I supposed it was." Severus's grumble was missing its usual acidity. "Don't get used to it."

"I won't," Harry assured him.

Severus waked over to the couch and sat down. Harry sat down beside him.

"Er—" said Harry awkwardly. "Do you mind?" he held his hand out toward Severus's forehead.

"There's an easier and much more precise way," said Severus, pulling out his wand. "It's called a temperature check charm."

He waved his wand over himself and then glanced at it before showing it to Potter.

"See?" said Severus. "Better."

"Your fever's broken," said Harry.

"Yes, it has," said Severus.

They sat there for a moment, unsure of what to do.

"I guess this means you won't be needing me anymore," said Harry. "Seeing as you're better and all."

"I guess so, Potter," said Severus, almost reluctantly. "You are—free to go."

Harry fidgeted.

"What's troubling you, Potter?"

Harry wrung his hands for a moment and then whispered, "Do you still hate me, Professor?"

Severus stared at the child sitting on the edge of his couch for a moment.

"No," he said, surprising even himself. "No, Harry, I do not hate you." He moved closer to Harry and put his arm around the boy's thin shoulders and then turned so he and Harry were facing each other. He looked into the boy's brilliant green eyes.

"Harry...you look horribly like your father. But your personality's really a lot more like your mother's." He ran his fingers through his hair. "She would be proud of you."

Harry felt his eyes brimming with tears and hastily blinked them back. "Th-thanks, Professor."

Quickly, before he could think about it and lose his nerve, Harry leaned forward and hugged the Potions Master around the middle.

Severus stiffened. Was Potter hugging him? He hadn't been hugged since...well, since Lily.

Severus swallowed and patted the boy awkwardly on the back.

"Potter, this is—unnecessary."

Harry drew back, biting his lip. "I'm sorry—I don't know why I—"

Severus touched the boy's hair gently. "Hush."

Harry looked up and gave him a hesitant smile.

"Don't think this is going to get you any special treatment during Potions," said Severus, some of the old sarcasm back in his voice.

Harry shook his head vigorously.

"Well," said Severus, standing up, "you'd better go, Potter, I'm sure your friends want to make sure that you are, indeed, alive. Though I'm not sure they'll be as happy to hear that I am."

Harry stood up too. "I'm glad you're still alive," he said quietly.

Severus stared at him, a funny feeling constricting his heart.

"Go on, Potter, get going."

"Bye, Professor," said Harry, walking over to the door. "See you in class."

"Goodbye, Potter," said Severus.

Harry turned the doorknob and stepped into the hall.

"Oh, and Potter,"—Harry looked back at his Professor— "I won't let you go back to those abusive relatives of yours. At least not without some serious intervention. I promise."

Harry climbed the stairs out of the dungeon feeling confused but happy.

Severus stood in his office long after Harry had left the room, staring at the door. As he felt the last vestiges of the illness finally drain out of him, Severus vowed that from now on he'd do better than make sure Harry stayed alive; he'd do his best to ensure the boy's happiness and well-being. Because somehow, inexplicably, Severus Snape had come to care for Harry Potter.

AN: And that is the end. I know it wasn't particularly well-organized or complex or anything. It was just something that came into my head and I wrote most of it down before I ever thought of posting it. I have and am working on some other stuff right now that I've put a little more thought into, but really I don't come up with these things, they come up with themselves, I just write them down and iron out the details. Sorry this chapter was so short, but the story was over.

There is a sequel up now, or partially up, it's still in progress.