Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Draco Malfoy... if I did, I'd keep them all to myself.

Sometimes things get too stressful for Snape and he goes in search of comfort food, in this case eggnog.

Snape swirled his brew before sipping it, Ahh, just right, bloody hard to make a good eggnog in a cauldron.

He had to made it himself as the four Aurors guarding him strongly believed the house elves were all secret attack assassins working for the Dark Lord.

As hard as Snape tried he could not figure out why Potter would want to end his life, sure his friends were dead but he's not the only one who has to deal with that. There must be some other motive behind Potter's suicide attempt.

Snape looked into the Mirror he'd placed on his coffee table and put on his best smile.

Potter's too much of a Slytherin to not have a good reason.

Dumbledore paced his office.

He had way too much to think about, all his thoughts crowded his mind. Walking over to his pensieve cabinet he brought his wand to his temple and extracted a few more memories.

On his desk a letter addressed to him and just recently opened started to smolder.

Headmaster Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore

My son is unmarked and I would like him to stay that way, he is a true Dark wizard so cannot join the Light side however he's not compatible with The Dark Lords ways.

I am already sworn to the Dark Lord and therefore cannot change my allegiances.

Draco, means more than anything in the world to me and I have decided the way of a Death eater is not worthy of him.

There is no honor in what the Dark Lord does and I will not see my son corrupted.

In exchange for my sons freedom I shall offer you what information I can safely give away.

All I ask is that Draco be allowed to continue his studies into the Dark arts and that he be allowed to form relationships with members of the same sex.

Regards

Lucius Malfoy

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he penned his response, Draco would be a perfect distraction for Harry.

Lucius Malfoy could feel Dumbledore's twinkling radiation off the bloody parchment.

Lucius

Draco is welcome, he may continue to practice the Dark arts as long as he does it in secret, the ministry would not approve.

As for Draco's sexuality, he may be with whom ever he chooses.

Yours truly,

Albus Dumbledore

He'd woken up in this place so many times that he knew where he was before even opening his eyes. Fail… can't save my friends can't even kill myself properly.

Getting up while the infirmary was quiet Harry was intent on escaping Madam Pomfrey only to be stopped in his tracks by an unmistakable voice.

"Where are you going?"

Sitting on the edge of the bed Harry looked around in the dark Snape was in here with him he just wasn't sure where about.

'Mr Potter, I would like to have a word with you.' Snape walked out of the shadows and into the moon light shining through the windows.

Caught off guard Harry fell off the bed, Snape had a horrible grin on his face.

Snape whipped out his wand and was about to help Potter when his wand flew out his hand and was caught by Potter as he got up of the floor.

The smile slipped off Snape's face, his eyes flicked to Potters wand on the night stand, 'You did that wandlessly and silently, how.'

Harry was extremely happy that the smile was gone, 'Yes, why are you here.'

Recovering his cool Snape put on his smile again, 'I just came to check on you.' Then the smile came back.

The first thought that popped into Harry's head was: Stupefy! And that's what happened.

Not wasting anytime Harry ran out the infirmary.

What the hell was that, first that death grin - which he was sure was supposed to be a smile – then Snape showing concern.

Making use of the secret passages in Hogwarts Harry made his way to the room of requirement.

The next morning Dumbledore sent Dobby to find Harry.

When he finally walked into the office, McGonagall, Snape and Dumbledore were waiting for him.

'Ahh Harry, good to see you.' Dumbledore ignored Snape's scowl, being stupefied for a few hours with a grin like he had on couldn't of done him any harm.

Harry looked down at the carpet. 'I, ah I'm sorry if I upset anyone.'

McGonagall sat up a bit straighter, 'apology accepted Mister Potter.'

'Harry I know you've lost a lot of people you care about but you have to remember there is the whole wizarding world out there that would feel just as bad should something happen to you.' Dumbledore, gestured to an empty chair.

Harry rubbed at the bandages covering his arms as he plonked himself down into the chair, 'I checked my arms this morning, the cuts haven't healed.'

'Mr Potter, that would be because you used a knife made by powerful Dark magic, the wounds have to heal naturally, the veins and tendons you sliced through have been repaired it's just the muscle tissue that can't be healed immediately.'

Harry sucked in a sharp intake of air, he'd transfigured the knife himself, 'I, ah.'

Dumbledore gave a reassuring smile, 'Severus has been relived of his duty as spy for the Order, he will remain here at Hogwarts under our constant supervision.' Dumbledore hadn't told Harry he knew Snape was the last person he'd become magically bonded to.

Harry narrowed his eyes suspiciously, 'So then what were you doing in the infirmary last night.'

'Potter, or should I call you Harry.' Snape lifted an eyebrow and waited for a response.

'No, no call me Potter, don't change, don't do anything different, that thing you did last night with your teeth just freaked me out – your not supposed to be nice, your Snape, I'm Potter.' Harry could feel his heart beating super fast.

'Harry, please.' Dumbledore looked rather tired and just a bit frustrated. 'Snape, is here for your benefit. You will have to get used to the strange smiling and yes I'll admit it is unusual but we'll all get used to it.'

Trying again, Snape felt he understood where Potter was coming from. Everything in this boys life had changed in the past year, The Dark Lord slowly targeting his friends one by one and the wizarding world distancing themselves from him simply because your likely to get killed just because your associated with Potter. 'Potter, what I want to know is why did you try to take your own life.'

Looking Snape right in the eyes Harry spoke, his voice without emotion, 'Voldermort is getting the names of people I love straight from my mind and there's just one left and I like him the most.'

Tears came to Minerva's eyes, he'd go so far just to protect someone he loves.

Snape knew there was some sort of Slytherin type motive for Potter's suicide attempt, it may not have been self preserving but it was a cunning plan. 'Potter, I don't think he got their names like that, I believe he got most of the names during the duel in the graveyard.'

Oh, Merlin – Cedric.

Dumbledore nodded, 'The rest I believe he simply got via word of mouth.'

Feeling very stupid Harry got up, 'can I go, I want to go check on Fang.'

Dumbledore sighed ever since Hagrid died, Harry had been making sure Fang was cared for – he's a real fried through and through. 'You may go, just don't leave the school grounds and don't get yourself killed.'

Harry nodded his head as he walked towards the door.

'Oh and Potter, just a thought, if you die then the Dark Lord wins and we loose.'

Harry closed the doors behind him, Snape's words reverberated in his ears.

Back in the office Snape poured himself a shot of firewhisky, 'I don't think that person he's protecting is me.'

'Severus it has to be you who else.' Dumbledore felt very certain that he'd gotten it right. After all he had consulted his need-o-meter and it had swirled around a few times and indicated Harry needed Snape.

'One of the Students perhaps,' McGonagall, was backing Snape on his one, 'I just don't want us to find out we've been guarding the wrong person.

Please review – I've got most of this story written already just waiting for feedback (Want to know what I'm doing right and what rubs you the wrong way.)