Shapes moved in the darkness around him, and yet Harry felt no threat. The voices were hushed and controlled, trying not to disturb his sleep.

"I'm awake," he said aloud, reaching a hand out instinctively for his glasses. They were handed to him, his fingers brushing the hands of the supplier. Harry shivered at even this small touch, even though he guessed that the hand was Severus'.

"How do you feel?" Draco said attempting to sound unconcerned and failing. He could only pretend for so long, especially around Harry.

Harry scrunched up his nose, realizing that the bones were healed. Physically he felt fine, and he verbalized this. With his glasses perched precariously on his nose, he could see the small huddle they had formed around him.

"Are you sure?" Draco was paler than usual, and looked like he had not slept for some time.

"Yeah, you're the one who looks terrible," Harry smiled weakly as Draco scowled in good humor.

"You are looking peaky, Draco. Perhaps now that you have assured yourself of Mr. Potter's welfare, you can sleep yourself," Severus drawled.

Lucius, who had been silent up until this point, rose and touched Draco's elbow gently.

"Come Draco, Harry needs to rest," he said briskly.

Draco's scowled deepened, but he immediately obeyed his father. As the door shut behind them, Harry almost wished they were back in the room. Severus was looking at him intensely. He opened his mouth to speak, but Harry interrupted.

"I know what you're going to say, but you don't need to say it. I don't want to talk about it, and I'm fine," Harry said, hoping Severus would just leave him alone.

"Harry," Severus' voice was low, like he was whispering.

Harry could not bear to look at him, and see the pity in his eyes.

There was a strange noise, a deep intake of breath. Harry had heard that noise before, issuing from his own lips. A sob. Severus was crying.

"Sir! What is it?" Harry gasped in shock.

"I'm sorry Harry. It's my fault. I should have been able to do something, and you should never have been put in that situation again,"

Harry stared at him in wonderment. The great, callous Severus Snape was weeping because he, Harry, had suffered a little pain.

"It's fine, I'm not in any pain or anything. Please," Harry said suddenly rising from the bed. "Please stop,"

He touched Severus' hand gently, and was surprised to find Severus clutch at him.

"I was so scared. I thought I had lost you,"

Harry felt a lump rise in his throat as he patted the older man's hand awkwardly.

"I'm fine," Harry said. "At least, I'll be alright," he corrected.

"How can you say that?" Severus asked, idly wiping his face.

He had not expected the boy's awakening to affect him so, and he was almost embarrassed.

"I'll be fine because I'm back with you. I'm safe with you," Harry replied simply.

If he had not already done so, Severus could have cried again.

Harry had fallen asleep again, exhausted. 'Stupid fool,' Severus thought angry with himself. 'The boy's the one who should be crying, and you had to go all weepy. That won't help him,'

He was shaken from his musings by Lucius' whisper from the door.

"Is he asleep? If so, Severus, you really should sleep yourself,"

"I'm fine," Severus replied, wincing at the similarity to Harry's assertions.

"You don't look fine. You and Draco make a fine pair, wearing yourselves too thin to be able to take care of yourselves, let alone Harry,"

Annoyed, Severus elected to let his forked tongue do the talking.

"And where am I meant to sleep? Your bed again? I don't remember you ever being this eager to get me into it before,"

Lucius glared at him, and the tension mounted.

"Whatever deviant ideas your mind has, I can assure you that was not my intent. If you collapse, who will care for the boy?" although his voice remained steady, his hands shook with anger.

"Are you saying that if for any reason, I should be unable to watch over Harry, then you would not fulfill such duties?" Severus' gaze turned back to the slumbering boy.

Lucius let his eyes linger on the slowly rising chest, the pale, pinched face and messy dark hair.

"I would…take care of him," he said finally and thoughtfully. He had always wanted more children, but after Narcissa…well, it did not bear thinking about.

"Good," Severus said watching him. "Then I will sleep while you watch him again,"

Before he could react, Severus had swept from the room, leaving him alone with Harry.

He was dreaming. Confused images of his Uncle and Aunt, Severus, Lucius and Draco all culminated in his mind to fill him with terror. His Uncle was beating him, and no one was coming to save him this time. They were gone, dead like his parents. He was alone, trapped with Vernon for eternity. The terrible pain filled his entire world, choking his breath.

Harry's hands clutched desperately at his sheets, trying to escape the nightmare of his mind. He was muttering and thrashing, but Lucius was at a loss as to what to do.

Did he wake him, save him from his dreams? Or hope that if he ignored it, Harry would somehow mentally overcome his difficulties and resume sleeping. His decision was taken away from him when Harry sat bolt upright.

"Severus?" he called immediately, fumbling for his glasses once more.

"He's asleep, Harry," Lucius said gently placing the book he had been reading on the bedside table.

"Oh," the devastated look on his face tempted Lucius to go and awaken the sleeping Potions Master.

"Don't wake him," Harry said, dispelling him once again of his notions. His lip trembled violently as Harry closed his eyes.

"Did…did you want to talk about it?" Lucius asked, unnerved.

"N…no," Harry replied weakly

'What do I do?' Lucius thought frantically. 'If it were Draco, I could just remind him of his Malfoy pride and escape this emotional distress. But it's Harry. Emotionally broken, dependent and badly abused Harry. Well, you have to DO something. Anything would be nice,'

His arms moved instinctively, gently draping around the boy's shoulders.

'If he rejects me now, I have no idea what I'll do,' he thought.

But the boy hesitantly hugged him back, dropping his head onto Lucius' shoulder.He was shaking, but seemed to slow as Lucius' hands ran gently over his shoulders.

Neither of them saw the shadowy figure of Severus at the door, watching them with a strangely sad smile on his face.

A/N- My first update in a few months, and it's full of angst. Go figure. I guess it's because I cried in the cinema on Saturday while watching the Half Blood Prince. Anyway, read and review as always, and we'll see if my muse pops up again. I have a feeling it will. Probably tomorrow. Maybe. XD Anyway, I'll definitely update soon, and we'll start getting into Harry's second year at Hogwarts soon.