DISCLAIMER: ALL THEMES, CHARACTERS, QUOTES, AND SO ON FROM THE HARRY POTTER BOOKS BELONG TO J.K. ROWLING AND THE PRODUCERS AND WRITERS OF THE HARRY POTTER MOVIE. I OWN ABSOLUTLEY NOTHING EXCEPT ANY FRESH IDEAS. P.S. SOME OF THE MEMORIES IN THIS CHAPTER CONTAIN HARRY'S HOMELIFE AND THE HORRORS OF THE DURSLEYS. THERE WILL BE MENTION OF CHILD ABUSE.

By now Harry was so lost in his memories of Snape he could barely focus on the present. He knew that Death Eaters had begun a full fledge war on Hogwarts. He knew that he needed to destroy Voldemort, soon. He knew Snape broke his heart, worked for Voldemort, and was now currently waiting for him in the Shrieking Shack. Those were all things Harry was sure of, but for some reason, none of them mattered. He wanted nothing more than to live in his memories, back when he was just beginning his relationship with Severus.

_Flashback_

(Harry's POV)

Harry walked cautiously down the steps to the dungeons. He knew that after his encounter with Snape third year that their relationship had changed. By no means were they friends, but there was little to no hostility. The rest of third year and fourth year Harry was far too preoccupied to ever stop by and thank Snape again for everything he had done, but now that he had these lessons, Harry was determined to properly thank the man. But even with all these new, positive emotions he had for Snape, he was still very nervous. He hadn't been with the man one on one for longer than a few minutes in years.

Harry was now at the door of Snape's classroom. He took one long breath and knocked on the door. The door swung open almost immediately. Harry's eyes scanned the room and saw that Snape was seated at his desk, probably grading papers.

"Mr. Potter I see you made it on time." Snape said without even looking up. Harry took another step into the room, hoping he wasn't unsettling the peace and quiet of it.

It usually seemed so dark and scary during class, but now it seemed calm. No one was blowing anything up, and there was a new light in the room. Mainly caused by the bright light of the candle on Snape's desk.

"Er, yessir." Harry said, stringing his words together. God I hope I don't make a fool of myself, Harry thought to himself.

"Go take a seat in my office Mr. Potter. I will be with you shortly." Harry did as he was told. He had never been in the Professor's office before. Truthfully, it looked quite like the sitting room in Snape's house. Even though it was years ago, Harry could still vividly remember every part of Snape's house he had seen.

"Mr. Potter," Snape said smoothly as he swooped into the room, in a very Snape- like manner. "You are here to learn Occlumency under the Headmasters orders. This will be just like class, do you understand? If you have a question you shall raise your hand, and if I wish to answer I will reply. Is that clear?"

Harry nodded. None of this surprised him. He respected the man and was honoured that Snape was willing to teach him such advanced magic.

Snape went on, describing the subtle art, and explaining to Harry that he will probably fail, many times. But none of it discouraged Harry; he was eager and willing to put his best foot forward. Harry wanted to show the older man what he was capable of.

"Sir?" Harry began.

"Yes, Mr. Potter?" The man replied. Harry was nervous now. He knew his question was rather stupid, but wished to get a certain answer out of Snape.

"Why, exactly, are you doing this? I mean, I'm sure Dumbledore could teach me. But why, you specifically?" When Harry was done, he began biting his bottom lip apprehensively.

"Like I said many times before, Potter, I am teaching you this, because the headmaster wishes me to. Did you not hear me before?" Snape said, back still turned to Harry.

"Oh, right." Harry said, he heard the disappointment in his voice, but didn't even care. He had hoped there were other reasons, maybe that, Snape would possible want to spend time with Harry, seeing as he cared enough to get him out of the Dursley's.

Snape, now, turned around. He sighed then took a few steps towards Harry.

"And, I worked so very hard to get you away from those repulsive people you call relatives, that it would have been an utter waste of my time and effort, if I let the Dark Lord posses your mind." Harry wished to smile, but knew that it would be stupid to assume that Snape cared about him. But maybe, hopefully, I am wrong, Harry thought.

"Potter, why did you stand up to Black for me? He is your godfather, unless I am misinformed." Harry was surprised that Snape would even ask.

"I owe you at least that much sir. Sirius was being… unfair… and you freed me from the Dursley's." Harry said it so plainly, because, well, it just seemed so obvious to him. Snape had given him, basically a completely new home life, and for that, he owed the man.

_End Flashback_

"Easier." Severus mumbled to himself. Things would have been so much easier if he just hated Harry from the beginning. Of course he would still get the boy out of his damn relatives house, but he would have never let the boy dig a way into his heart, all those nights ago, when he taught Harry Occlumency. If only he had left his thoughts to himself, after that first lesson.

_Flashback_

(Snape's POV)

Once Severus dismissed Harry, he went to his private quarters and prepared a nice glass of wine. He sat down and let the events of the night fill his head.

After the lesson with Harry, Severus was not very surprised. Harry had been rather bad at preventing Severus from penetrating his thoughts. If the situation weren't so dire Severus wouldn't have been stressed. He wouldn't expect anything less from a boy. No, he thought, Harry isn't just a boy anymore. He had noticed how… different the young man was. He was no longer that scrawny, scrap of boy, Severus found a few years ago. He was taller, and fuller, not close to the size of Mr. Weasley, but much better than would have been if he had stayed with those terrible relatives.

Harry's hair no longer bothered him. It actually fit the boys face structure very nicely, outlining his relatively, nice cheekbones. And those eyes…

"No!" Severus shouted. He wouldn't let himself go any farther. This was Harry freaking Potter, his student! His best friend's son. His childhood enemy's son. No, Severus thought, he would never let these thoughts continue. Not only were these thoughts vastly inappropriate, but also illegal. But only for another year, the boy is sixteen…

It's only because he stood up from you against Black that you are thinking these things. It reminds you of Arturo. Severus's mind was plagued the rest of the night by his continuous inner monologue rant. But he was clear of one thing: he couldn't let his relationship with Potter be anything more that student and teacher, no matter how much may have changed.

"Potter!" Severus snapped, unnecessarily. It was their second Occlumency lesson, and Severus was determined to get it over with. He could only stand his thoughts of the young man for so long. Pervert, he thought to himself… Black was right, and Black's never right.

"Yes sir?" Harry asked eagerly. Severus had to look away, as to not get lost in the boys beautiful eyes. Severus really didn't have anything to say to the young man, he just wanted to snap at him for making him feel such things. So Snape just fixed the boy with a good glare and crossed his arms.

"Take a seat in my office, and don't move from your seat until I have come back." Severus didn't even allow Harry to answer. He flew from the room, and down the hallway. He wasn't very sure where he was headed. All he knew was that he felt like a complete and utter fool.

He had just fled from the room, for no reason, because he couldn't stand the way he felt when the boy… no, young man, was in the room with him. After Severus walked up to Dumbledore's office, he made his way back down. He was almost wishing Harry had gotten out of his seat so he could yell at the young man. When he got back Harry was obediently sitting in his seat. Severus, deciding to be exceedingly cruel, delve into the boys mind the second he sat the chair opposite him. Harry had no warning and was unable to block Severus out. The images, and memories ran through Snape's mind, as if he were living them along side the boy.

There were many memories flashing from the Tri Wizard Tournament. He stood with Harry while he was stumbling through the terrifying maze. Then he was next to the boy while he watched his classmate being murdered by Peter Pettigrew. He saw bits and pieces of the great tales of Harry Potter. The fight against Quirell and the Dark Lord, who had found a home on the back of the old Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor's head. He flew through Harry's memories while he was trapped with the Weasley girl in the Chamber of Secrets when he was forced to fight a basilisk to stay alive. Then the memories changed. Harry was no longer facing the horrors he was thrown into, being the Boy Who Lived. Severus was watching the terrors of the boy's home life.

"FREAK!" A fat man spat into the face of a little boy, who looked scared out of his whits. Then a hand came flying down at the same little boys face.

"You should have died with your wretched parents!" Petunia Dursley shouted at a younger Harry, while her husband physically abused the child.

"STOP!" Harry shouted. Severus now stood directly opposite an older version of the abused little boy. The younger man was now also standing, and sweating. "Please, that was private."

Severus took a deep breath. He had to calm himself. What he had seen enraged him. He knew that this had gone on, but he just never pictured it.

"Potter," Severus began softly, all the edge and anger he had before was gone. "I…" Severus tried to think of the right thing to say but nothing came up. Harry's eyes wee moist with unshed tears.

"Professor, please, you don't need to say anything. I deserved that beating. But when you found out what was happening, you got me out." The younger man was breathing heavily. Severus was mentally beating himself for thinking thoughts about the boy who was abused as a child. He wished to lock the boy in a room and never let him out, so he never had to see those eyes, but he knew Harry needed comforting. Severus knew he was no good at comforting people, but this young man had been through so much in his short life. And he in no way ever deserved to be hit.

"Potter, look at me." The young man obeyed. "You deserve so much better, in every aspect of life. You deserved your real parents. You deserved a better home life. You deserved to be looked at as other than The Boy Who Bloody Lived. And I apologize for the way I have treated you." What the hell are you saying Snape? Have you lost your bloody damn mind? Severus thought to himself. But he didn't stop talking. "I looked at you as if you were just Harry Potter, the boy who does no wrong, even though you brake every bloody rule. But you do it to help people, innocent people who you owe nothing to. You did and will never deserve to be hit, by anyone." Severus almost regretted his little monologue, because he was not that type of man. But then he saw the look the young man gave him. His eyes were sparkling with… happiness. The boy had just relieved some terrible memories and after a few words from the old Dungeon bat he smiled again. The boy was also… blushing?

SORRY THE WAIT WAS SO LONG! I'VE BEEN SUPER BUSY AND HAVEN'T FOUND THE BEST TIME TO WRITE/ UPLOAD. Hope you like it so far

Next Chapter: Many more memories, and many more questions answered.