It's finally finished. I despise this chapter; it was a pain-in-the-ass to write. I am, however, more or less satisfied with how it turned out. I even added a little bonus at the end to compensate for the long wait. Happy reading.

Jade spent the next week waiting for fallout. It never happened. If anything, his fellow students seemed to take his rescue of Malfoy as the final evidence that there was no way he could be Harry Potter. Apparently their rivalry was so legendary that everyone assumed he would never consider lifting a finger to help the blonde. It also seemed to have spread across the school that he had known about the accident ahead of time. Several people had spotted him charging past them before Draco fell. Everyone knows Harry Potter was pants at divination.

At least Jade was not bored anymore. Between dodging his new fan-club, extra lessons with Snape, and keeping Draco entertained_ for some reason the blonde seemed determined to spend every waking moment outside of classes with him_ he did not have a lot of time to worry about little things like keeping a secret identity. He still found time to study though, and not just for his classes. He had a dark lord to take down after all.

The lessons with Snape were quickly becoming the highlight of his week. They had advanced far past his fifth year classmates but Snape had made no mention of stopping the lessons. The man seemed happy to have an attentive audience for once, and was pouring knowledge down Jade's throat just as fast as the boy could take it in. Once Snape discovered that Jade was actually capable of multi-tasking, he began to have Jade brew as he lectured. Jade was amazed at how easily the subject was coming to him now that someone was taking the time to explain the why's and how's. The lessons had become completely casual as the two became accustomed to each other's presence. They had hit a bit of a rocky patch in the beginning; Jade had taken to wearing ridiculously scandalous outfits in an attempt to get a rise out of his new favourite professor. At one point he arrived at the man's door in skin-tight, black leather pants, knee-high dragon hide boots with a good inch-and-a-half heel, and a shirt that was essentially a tank-top with fish-net for sleeves and over the mid-drift. The man had just stared at him for a full five minutes before slamming the door in his face. After that he stuck to comfortably fitted jeans and a t-shirt. It still took him a while to get back in his professor's good graces.

The plans for Draco's mother went off without a hitch. The boys simply snuck out of Hogwarts the same night as a deatheater meeting. The whole manoeuvre took less than ten minutes with a little magic. Jade was not the least bit surprised to find out that Draco already knew how to apparate and the Malfoy wards were a non-issue with the heir at his side. Lady Malfoy came willingly with barely a word. Remus was shocked when they arrived, but he only rolled his eyes and gave his head a little shake before sending the boys back to school and showing Narcissa to her rooms.

Before Jade knew it, it was already December, with Christmas holidays just two weeks away. For the first time in his life, he was looking forward to going home for the holidays. Draco's spirits were also contagiously high. The duo managed to rope most of the fifth and sixth year Slytherin boys into an entirely undignified snow ball fight. Jade finished the afternoon aching from head to two, with some interesting new bruises and a healthy respect for just how viciously competitive Slytherins are. He had just enough time to change, inhale dinner, and then drag himself down to Snape's office.

The man opened his door with a knowing smirk. "I was not certain I would be receiving your company this evening. At dinner you could barely move."

"Please tell me you just plan on lecturing tonight and I don't actually have to brew anything."

The man gave a particularly evil smirk, which could only bode ill for the recipient, "Follow me." Snape led Jade through the hidden door to his labs and then, to Jade's surprise, straight through to the man's private quarters. They wound up in a wide, empty room. "I had this added specifically for your benefit."

Jade just gave the man a confused look.

"For some time now, I have been intending to speak with you. Your potions work has surpassed newt level. While there is still much I can and am willing to teach you, the process will be gruelling and may cause you to neglect your other studies. I have brought this matter to the headmaster's attention and we have come to a solution which will require a decision on your part. Many of your instructors have noticed a general inattentiveness in their classes. You are regularly reading other material while they lecture but your grades are excellent and you generally have the right answer when called upon. We have decided that the best course of action is to pull you out of regular classes."

"There is no way Dumbledore agreed to that."

Snape gave a smirk with a glint of, what could have been pride, in his eyes, "Your professors may have cornered him in the staffroom and forced him to give in to our demands with sheer numbers."

Jade laughed.

"Should you agree, you will be given a mock-NEWT in every subject to assess what level you are currently at and we will arrange a schedule for you to either join a more advanced class or receive private tutelage accordingly. With a great deal of work we believe you may be ready to take your NEWTs by this summer."

"Why me, professor? I mean, I am grateful for all the work that has already gone into this, but surely there have been students that were a bit ahead of their classmates before. I've never heard of something like this happening."

The expression on Snape's face was one Jade had never seen before, certainly not directed at him. It was a half-smile that fell somewhere between fond and wistful. The man's hand reached toward Jade for a second before he seemed to catch himself. His expression closed and his hand clenched into a fist at his side. "It was once a common practice. Three centuries ago, before education was required and regulated, students were placed according to their skill level in whatever they chose to study. I have decided to renew the practice because I wish to take you as my apprentice."

"Wait, what?" Oh yes, very articulate, way to impress the man. Wait, why am I trying to impress him. Oh, that's right, because I've got the hots for my greasy git of a potions professor. Maybe this is why none of the adults in my life trust me to make my own decisions. "Why would you want me? I mean, sure I've improved since you started giving me private lessons, but it's not like I'm anything special. Potions isn't even my best subject. I'm sure you've had better students before."

"I have taught students with a higher natural aptitude in the past. I have even given referrals to other masters of the art that resulted in apprenticeships but I have never been tempted to take an apprentice myself before now. Surely you have noticed that I have a less than favourable relationship with most of my students. I have told you that I find your presence tolerable. So long as you continue to apply yourself as you have, I believe such a relationship would prove mutually beneficial."

"What's in it for you then? "

Snape smirked, "I was the youngest Potions Master in three hundred years. It seems fitting that I might educate the next to hold that title. You are the first I have found with both the potential and the tenacity to succeed me."

Jade blushed.

"You need to consider this offer carefully. My rather precarious position in society will draw a certain amount of unwelcome attention. While I do not believe the stigma attached to my name will affect your future in this field of study and I will do my utmost to keep you from the upcoming war, you will unfortunately be expected to socialize in the same circles as I do, both of them. Should I be killed before the conflict is resolved, you will likely be approached by both sides to take my place. Granted it is a worst case scenario, but that does not equate improbable. Take some time to think it over. I expect your answer before you leave for the holidays."

I'll be right in the thick of things; this is too perfect. "Can you tell me, honestly, that you can keep me out of the fighting?"

"I might die trying." his eyes blazed.

"I believe you," the words were whispered.

"I cannot protect you from the politics, however much I might wish to."

"Your reasons don't add up. This alliance you propose will probably screw us both sideways; you know that."

The man's face went blank.

Jade chuckled, "I don't need to know your reasoning. I trust that you are not about to throw me to the wolves and that's enough. My own reasons aren't up for discussion either, but I don't need to think about this. Count me in."

The man looked floored. "Be certain."

Jade grinned and gave an exaggerated bow, "I'm yours to command, Master." Jade could not quite place the look in the Potions Master's eyes. Possessive maybe? No, that's ridiculous. In any case, it was an expression he was eager to see more of. "You still haven't explained the purpose of this room."

Snape had finally recovered himself. "Were you under the impression that Potions is my only field of expertise? Allow me to correct this misconception. Defend yourself." The man was fast; Jade had barely seen him draw his wand.

It was then that Jade remembered just how sore he was, "Shit!"

"You are an evil_ gasp_ sadistic_ wheeze_ bastard. I hope you know that."

"I am well aware, thank you," Snape had not even broken a sweat. "I expect you here before breakfast tomorrow to receive your new timetable."

"Yes Sir."

Snape closed the door behind the boy and leaned against it. I refuse to feel guilty about this. I gave him a choice. He agreed.

And you were holding his education for ransom.

I was not. He would have been given the new schedule even without agreeing.

That is not how it would have appeared to him. And while we are at it, let us talk about your intentions.

I never claimed to be a bloody saint. With the way this war is heading I am unlikely to survive to see the end of it. My position is tenuous at best. And where the hell am I going to find another man like THAT?

This justifies pursuing a fifteen-year-old?

I never asked; he may already be sixteen. 20 years is not so large a gap amongst wizards.

Above the age of consent, so long you are not his professor. I applaud you on accelerating the process. If you plan on becoming a pedophile anyway, you may as well make sure your ass is covered. You even failed to inform him about the change in living arrangements.

Snape snarled. I refuse to stand here arguing with myself.

Especially when you are losing.

Jade slept like the dead. He cracked one eyelid and cast a Tempus spell. Then he dove out of bed, wide awake. Twenty minutes later he was dressed, showered and sprinting through the dungeons. He arrived slightly flushed and out of breath and dishevelled but on time.

Snape stood at the door smirking at him, "Overslept?"

"Oh no Professor, I was so early that I decided to take a quick jog through the halls before coming down."

The man stood aside, "Wiseass."

Jade smirked and stepped into the office.

"This is your new timetable. All of your professors have given up a portion of their free time to arrange this, so I expect you to follow it religiously."

"Of course, sir."

"And this is our apprenticeship agreement. It requires your signature. Read it over carefully and if you have any questions, ask now."

Jade settled into a chair to read. He was surprised to find he would be living with Snape, but it made sense if he was no longer a Hogwarts student. They had a small disagreement about the lack of fee; apprenticeships were usually ridiculously expensive, but eventually they settled on a moderate fee to replace the sheer amount of ingredients Jade was likely to destroy. Thus satisfied, Jade signed his life over to a man who had thrown a jar of cockroaches at his head only seven months prior.

The next week was spent settling into his new rooms and sitting exams at odd hours. It was established that he was well beyond NEWT level in DADA, Charms, CoMC, and Potions; he was average in History and Astronomy; and Transfiguration, Herbology, Runes, and Arithmancy were beyond OWL level but still needed a little work. He could not help feeling a bit smug at his results. It was nice to see his hard work pay off. Plus if he sat his NEWTs tomorrow he was certain he could at least pass all but two.

Snape gave a little smirk after examining the results. "I see I chose wisely. It looks like you will be ready to take your NEWTs with the seventh years in the spring."

Jade blushed at the praise, "Thank you professor."

Snape frowned, "It seems we must do something about your mode of address. I am no longer your professor after all."

"You want me to call you Master?" Jade plastered on a wide-eyed, too-innocent expression.

Snape shuddered, "Merlin forbid. I was pondering the possibility of your calling me Severus."

"Severus," Jade half hissed the word, liking the way it rolled off his tongue. "I can handle that. You'll have to call me Jade though, fair's fair and you've always been a bit formal with me."

The man had THAT look in his eyes again, the one Jade could not quite place, "I suppose when it is just the two of us we can do away with formalities altogether."

"Works for me. I suppose we ought to turn in." Jade rose from his place on the sofa and headed to his room. "Goodnight, Severus."

The man poured himself a glass of brandy, wondering how exactly to proceed from here. He did not have long to wonder before a jolt of pure agony shot up his arm. With a quiet curse, he rushed out the door. He could not afford to be late again.

Jade's first thought as he was pulled into the graveyard was that he had forgotten to occlude again. He would be kicking himself harder if he was not absolutely certain that whatever powers-that-be created this sort of circumstances themselves just to mess with him.

Wary of being discovered, Harry adjusted the pulse and current of his magic until it matched that of the body he was in. Ever since the wyvern incident he had been able to feel the inherent magic of anything he touched. Normally changing his own magical signature would be impossible but since he only had a small portion of his core with him at the moment it was relatively easy to manipulate. It did, however, leave him feeling disgusting, like he had rolled in something foul, and more than a little queasy.

The Dark Lord stood in a small circle of his followers. Jade noted that there were a lot less than last time and he recognised most of them, even with the masks. Just the inner circle then.

"Severusss, report," Voldemort hissed.

The man in question stalked forward and knelt before his lord. Voldemort took no small amount of pleasure in making this particular man submit to his will. Severus would always be a favourite of his, not to be trusted of course, but then no true snake was.

"The Order continues to move at a snail's pace milord. Dumbledore is their only truly powerful link to the ministry and their attempts to sever your connections are pathetic at best."

"Good I ssee no reason not to move up the ssschedule a bit. What of Potter?"

"The brat is still missing and somehow managing to hide himself from all manner of finder spells."

"You do not believe the old coot isss hiding him?"

"No milord, I find it much more likely that the ungrateful little wretch found our society a bit violent for his taste and ran like the coward he is," Snape sneered.

Oh no, don't hold back. Tell me what you really think. Jade scoffed mentally, If only you knew.

"While I am not certain how he might be concealing himself, the brat does have a habit of making interesting friends. One of them is most likely to be helping him."

"And what of the potion I requested," the Dark Lord was practically giddy with anticipation. He loved assigning near impossible tasks to the potions master. Either he would have an excuse to hear the man scream_ Gods what a voice! Pity it's wasted on such an ugly creature_ or said man would produce a miracle. Tonight Voldemort was hoping for failure.

"My apologies milord, I am still unable to find the right combination of ingredients for your elixir," The man touched his forehead to the ground and awaited punishment. He did not have to wait long.

"Crucio," the word was filled with malicious glee.

Jade woke screaming. He leaped out of bed, nearly collapsing in the process as his still quivering muscles were ill prepared to support his weight. He hastily hissed the password to his trunk and pulled out his map. Then he sprinted for the school gates.

Severus nearly splinched himself apparating. His body gave out just inside the gates. As his vision dimmed he held a vague hope that it would be Hagrid or Filch that found him in the morning instead of one of his students.

He drifted into awareness with a hand massaging his throat and the taste of several healing potions in his mouth. The current one being a powerful analgesic. He swallowed reflexively and forced himself back to consciousness. He was pleasantly surprised to discover himself to be lying on his own bed staring into the worried green eyes of his apprentice.

"I heard you leave and decided to wait up."

Severus took in the boy's state of undress; all he was wearing was his school-robes over a pair of boxers. Somehow this made that explanation seemed unlikely, but he set his suspicions aside as he was enjoying the view too much to complain. Every time the youth moved the robe would shift, allowing glimpses of more tantalising flesh. "How did you know which potions to administer?"

"You taught me most of them and the others I have come in contact with before or watched you brew. This combination seemed the most appropriate. Give me some credit; I'm best with healing potions and know enough now to be pretty sure I wasn't poisoning you."

Severus' eyes narrowed. The boy was lying. There was no way he would have chosen the correct combination with his current skill level. Most potions masters would have noticed the mugwort in the anti-cruciatus and chosen a standard healing potion to go with it, thus causing his muscles to retract enough to tear themselves from his bones. It was for this very reason that he had not chosen to make the anti-cruciatus public knowledge like he had for wolfsbane. The only way for the boy to know, unless he had been hiding his incredible genius all this time, was if he had seen these potions administered together before. Since Severus was the only known brewer of said potion that seemed a bit suspicious. "I fail to appreciate your deceit. I have long known that you have something to hide but as it has had little effect on our dealings thus far I have been willing to let the matter slide. Do not lie to me. If you do not wish to respond to my queries simply say so or answer with as much truth as you dare and I will endeavour not to press the issue."

The boy flushed, "Sorry Sir, old habits die hard I guess."

"Very well, let us try again. How did you know which potions were necessary?"

"I've seen them administered before in that exact combination."

Severus waited for a moment but the boy did not seem inclined to explain, "Why were you the one to discover me?"

"I'd rather not say."

Severus decided he was far too tired to continue this conversation, "I require rest. I recommend that you retire to your own chamber." He settled his head back on his pillows and closed his eyes. Silence. "That was your cue to leave."

"Er, Sir? There's, um, one more thing."

Severus opened his eyes. His apprentice was blushing furiously and holding out a muscle relaxant. That particular salve was designed to be rubbed in. Well this should be interesting. Hmm, I wonder how far down that blush goes. "Did it escape your attention that I lack the energy to even disrobe for bed? How on earth am I meant to apply a salve? Unless of course you are offering to relieve me of that task?" One last chance to back out Brat.

"Er, well you'll be dead sore tomorrow, won't you? If it's not applied now, I mean?"

"I imagine I will be incapable of more than basic movement, yes."

"Then wouldn't you rather if I..."

"If you intend to give me a massage, then by all means do so, but please make up your mind quickly so that we might both get some sleep."

It was as though someone had flipped a switch in the boys mind. Jade awkwardly clambered onto the bed and began to nimbly work the buttons on Severus' robe. The boy appeared to be trying to get this part over with as quickly as possible. Well I did not expect flowers and poetry, but this is a bit abrupt. Severus bit back a chuckle. At least the boy is gentle. He could not help but laugh aloud at that thought, earning an odd look from his companion. Once Severus was clad in nothing but his crimson silk boxers the boy froze and stared unabashedly.

"Griffindor colors Severus?" Jade smirked once he tore his gaze away.

The man smirked in reply, "Guilty pleasure."

That seemed to break the ice. The tension slid from the boy as though it had never existed and suddenly those hands were on him, carefully turning him.

"On your stomach, let's start with your back."

Sweet Merlin, those hands! The teen worked him over with the same firm but gentle efficiency that he seemed to apply to everything, even duelling. Severus was completely lost in sensation and probably moaning like a whore; he could not bring himself to care. The youth was straddling his hips, bare thighs brushing his waist, a distinct reminder that the boy was not clad in much more than himself. The salve was slick and warm against his skin, worked in by those marvellous hands. This particular salve became heated when contacting bare skin. The muscles, which had been knotted from prolonged convulsions, released and relaxed beneath the ministrations. The hands worked their way all the way down Severus' body before dipping beneath his boxers to attend a muscle that had the potions master's eyes snapping open in shock. He was unashamed to admit that he let out a noise that sounded suspiciously like a squeak to his own ears and he could have sworn he heard an appreciative chuckle from behind him. Points for being thorough Mister Lefey. The boy massaged his way to Severus' toes before flipping the man to his back. Stronger than he looks. Severus' eyes remained closed. He was only too aware of the massive erection he was sporting and had no desire to see the youth's reaction. It is far too soon; I had not planned for this. He forced back a mild panic attack long enough to note that the hand had not even paused, nor had the boy made a sound to indicate being startled, not even a catch in his breathing. He was expecting as much then. It is not uncommon to become aroused during a massage after all. The hands started from the toes up this time. When they reached his hips they skirted his erection, falling just close enough to drag a rather unbecoming moan from his throat and continuing upward. This time the hands finished with the tips of his fingers before leaving altogether. The comforter was pulled from beneath him and tucked firmly around his body. Merlin, he is tucking me in.

Jade muttered a quiet "Nox."

Another panic attack set in as Severus realised that he could not take any dreamless sleep tonight without conflicting with the other potions to create some nasty side effects. The deatheater meeting returned to his mind with gruesome clarity. He was suddenly terrified to be left alone with his thoughts. He latched on to the boy's wrist. "Stay," there was no hiding the desperation in his voice.

The wrist was gently pulled from his grip and his eyes stung from the rejection at his most vulnerable. Then he heard the sound of heavy fabric falling to the ground and felt the bed dip beside him. A short gust of cold air later and there was bare flesh pressed against his own. He wrapped his arms firmly around the warm body and sank into a dreamless sleep.

Jade was kicking himself, not literally as that would disturb his bed partner. How the hell did I get myself into this? The massage was a bad idea from the start, but his hero complex would not allow him to leave the man to his pain. Severus really did make the most delightful noises when Jade groped his arse. Not that the other noises he was making were not just as pleasant. Jade could not exactly say no when the man had begged him to stay. Begged! So here he was, lying all but naked in Severus' arms, painfully aroused, and trying not to move for fear of waking his bed-mate. It is going to be a long night.

Well that was painful. I had the worst case of writer's block. The reviews were the only thing keeping me going. Now I get to spend a couple hours editing my last few chapters. I spotted a few technical mistakes that nobody thought to inform me of. Hint, hint. Don't forget to review. Love you all!