Disclaimer: All JR's –as always, she deserved the credit, not me. ^^

Rating: Pffft, no idea. It's slash-ish. I'm just gonna say mature, just in case!

A.N: My favourite thing about this fiction is exploring the relationship between Severus & Harry. This shall be quite a slow paced fic.

Warnings: Slash. Depression. Un-betaed work, haha! Just, generally not for easily offended eyes.

Beta: Recently beta-ed by the wonderful moonlight—kiss (tumblr name) Thank you!

2.

Severus decided on one large plate between them. It would take the pressure away from Harry to attempt to feed himself. Severus was worried that with too much pressure to involve himself or openly face his lack of interaction, Harry would just retract back into himself.

It was difficult, this constantly thinking about the wellbeing of another. Severus had always been a very insular person. It wasn't selfish if there was no one to lend his care to, so he just resided to keep his life that way; alone. He ate what, when and however he liked to, and the same went with sleeping, reading and the amount of time he devoted to his potions work. Since his ward had returned, Severus constantly surprised himself at his ability to think of others… Or at least, think of Harry. He would function perfectly normally until he was struck with an idea that would benefit Harry or make the boy happier, and then there was little he could do other than oblige. Now, if he knew of something he could do to could help heal the young saviour, it would be.. Ugly. That was the only word Severus had managed to articulate, so far, about what had happened to the boy. Ugly. Ugly truth.

Harry had kept his eyes shut through Severus' wondering, his mouth closing delicately over the fork that Severus gently nudged his lips with. It was ironic, how ugly the memories Harry would now have. Ironic because he was beautiful. He wasn't beautiful like Lily was beautiful, and definitely wasn't like his father. He hardly resembled the man. James was roguish and overly masculine. He was handsome and smooth; details Severus had memorized when pondering why he'd inevitably lost Lily to the man… But Harry was beautiful. Beautiful like the soil beneath your knees would be in a sunset. His skin was pale, mottled, and wonderful; sun kissed freckles blessing his nose, and his eyes... Eyes that were cited as emerald. Avada Kedavra green. The killing curse, eternally eclipsed in the only eyes that had witnessed it and lived to blink open again. But there was more there. When Harry had opened the emotive portals to Severus, he saw something more organic. A rich overwhelming green, like a canopy of forest trees, breathing and beating. Grown from the earth and all the wonders humans… Muggles... And wizards alike... Could not touch. They say eyes are the windows to someone's soul. Harry's eyes were windows to his true legacy... To be struck, but to still be.

It was an evening when Severus noticed Harry hadn't done any magic since he had returned. In the final battle, Harry had lost his wand. Obliterated in the last stance against the Dark Lord. The three weeks Harry had stayed at Severus before the trial, he had done magic wandlessly with an inspiring ease. Severus had told Harry that it may because of the limits Harry had stretched his magic to; that now a wand was useless to him when it came to focusing his magic. Severus wished they had spoken more about it before, when words still came easily to the boy.

"Harry…" he began. Harry's eyes slowly opened to meet Severus's. "I know I said it may no longer be necessary... But would you like me to get you a wand? A temporary one until you can pick out your own?"

There was a silence, but Severus had expected that. "No." Severus hadn't expected that though.

"Oh... Would you like to try mine?"

"No."

Severus just nodded; Harry was like a tangled chain. You can see the edges so perfectly, even the ends can be found but the large knot in the middle concealed its true form.

"I see. Then perhaps you would like me to begin reading... Byron, I assume?"

"Yes... Yes, please."

Perhaps not all was lost.

Harry listened to the enigmatic words canter from Severus's mouth. It was peaceful. Calm. The words were elegant and Severus was a dignified reader; never once spoiled the content, always in character. It didn't matter that Harry had been away from the muggle world too long to understand the meaning; the context, of much of the man's work... Having Severus read it was enough.

Harry seemed to always be so cold. There was no warmth in his body and he relied upon Severus's heating charms and thick cloaks. It worried Severus incredibly. At least it was spring now, and warmer days laden with summer gently peeked their heads up around noon. Severus had yet dared to take Harry outside, but the new routine brought Harry out of their joint bedroom every day. They began with a warm bath; Harry still blushed as his dignity was revealed to Severus each day, but it was a comforting blush. Harry was still there, and seemed to notice and appreciate Severus obvious attempts to look away.

Harry would sit in the kitchen while Severus made their breakfast before they moved into the conservatory to eat. It seemed like Harry enjoyed being there. Severus allowed the few plants that he favoured to be grown in that room and Harry stared at them pleasantly as they ate.

"Do you enjoy gardening, Harry?"

"No." Severus sighed slightly, he was yet to find much other than Severus reading to him that Harry would admit he 'enjoyed'.

"Well, it isn't for everyone. I've been growing plants since I was quite young..."

"I like plants." Severus smiled; it was always nice when Harry answered without the need of a direct question.

"Ah... So you like the plants, just not the work."

Harry nodded, his eyes passing to the Walking Ivy that was living in a small strawberry bush that day.

"Perhaps you could come with me to the green houses sometime, I promise to be the only one who gardens."

"Yes, please."

Severus had learnt not to push conversation too far; Harry responded better to casual words than interrogation. Progress was slow, but if he added up all the little moments when Harry let himself just... Be… He couldn't help but smile.