I have finally returned everybody! I am not sure how long the writing bug intends to stay but I'm gonna go with it for as long as I can. As you can see I have removed the authors not that was chapter 7 and this here is the real chapter 8. NO BETA. But I figured you guys have waited long enough so it's fresh off the laptop. ENJOY!

Disclaimer: I have never owned the characters of Harry Potter and the Image for this story is not mine either, I saved it from Google.

A Little Honesty

Poppy Pomfrey was nearly in tears herself as she watched father and son. To see Harry curled up in the arms of his father, one the boy himself didn't even know he had, was a sight to melt her heart. The medi-witch stood leaning against the doorway to her office just enjoying her two favorite wizards finally have what they were meant to have.

She was jarred from her daze as she heard footsteps along the corridor coming towards her hospital wing. She quickly took out her wand and cast a spell over the slumbering family so they would not be seen as they were. Poppy backed up slightly as, just like she thought, the headmaster came through the doors. She watch silently as he stopped and looked towards Harry's bed, knowing that he could see was a sleeping and bruised Harry Potter. The old man stood there, just watching the child until he finally spoke.

"Poppy" The headmaster demanded.

"Yes Headmaster?" Poppy intoned coldly as she slipped out of hiding.

She kept one eye on Severus and Harry, knowing full well that the Potions Master had been wide awake since the old man had set foot in through the doors. She made sure not to let Dumbledore know anything as she face him.

"What is Mr. Potter doing here, my dear? You know he is to be at his aunt's home in Surrey. He is not safe here?" Dumbledore informed the medi-witch. He spoke as if he was informing a small child of something that was obviously very simple.

Poppy wanted nothing more than to hex the man where he stood...or just smack him.

"He is here for the same reason as every year Headmaster." she let out icily. "As for Harry being safe at his so called relatives' home, you are bloody lucky that young man is still breathing!" she threw at him.

'Always the dramatic', Albus thought, 'all of them, so dramatic.'

" How is he now Poppy", he asked her kindly, curiosly.

The nurse let out a simple "He'll live" as she regarded the old wizard coldly.

He nodded at her sagely and replied "Good then when he is sufficiently healed he will return to Surrey." before turning and leaving the infirmary without another word.

She was so stunned, she never noticed that her charge had woken until she heard him speak in a tone she had never heard from him before.

" Like bloody hell I will." Harry said, in an almost deadly tone.

Madam Pomfrey turned on her heel as he spoke and when she caught the seething hatred in his green eye, it caused shivers down her spine.. She wasn't sure who that look reminded her of more...

Severus or Lily.

While Severus had been awake and had heard the whole exchange, he didn't realize that Harry had as well. As he looked down he also notice that his son hadn't moved an inch, even as he spoke.

"How are you feeling Harry?" Severus asked,

Harry moved at this to look his father in the eye.

"Honestly?" he inquired, receiving a nod as an answer. "I'm running on nothing but pain, anger, and a whole hell of a lot of hatred at the moment." As he answered he lowered his head to rest on Severus's shoulder. He closed his eyes and with a deep breath took a moment to relax again.

He could finally remember what it felt like to be loved and held, something he had been envious of Ron for for years, but it just didn't seem enough. It had been so long and the memory of recent years with this man were waging war with his heart. Although it seemed highly ill-logical, Harry took comfort in the sturdy arms holding him, and the steady heartbeat that was helping to finally ease his own.

Severus, for his part, just watched. And held his son for as long as the boy would allow it. It felt so right to have his child in his arms again and he was terrified of having to let him go all over again. He would should Harry wish it, but that didn't mean his heart wouldn't be destroyed once more in the process. Harry needed him though, as much as Severus needed Harry. He had to try and although most didn't think him capable of it, he knew one place to start.

"I'm sorry, Harry." The Potions Master whispered into his son's hair. Severus closed his eyes and let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding when he felt Harry cuddle closer to him in response.

"You re many things, sir, but you are not a liar. You have been the only one to not treat me as some hero to the world since the day I got here. Right now I don't care how you went about it...just don't...don't leave...please?" Harry nearly begged.

The last words were spoken so softly Severus barely heard them. He wasn't sure if Poppy had but he did and he had to close his eyes again as the pain he heard in his son's voice was almost too much to handle. In all the years he had known Harry Potter, he had never heard the young man beg for anything. To hear it now mad Severus want to hunt down both the Headmaster as well as Lily's sister more than he had a couple hours ago. That would have to wait. He knew Harry was expecting him to turn him away, that had to be rectified immediately.

"Never, Harry. You are my son. They will all pay for taking and keeping you from me. I will never leave you again, my child." Severus promised him

He spoke gently but firmly while looking into his son's bright green eyes. So like his mothers they were, except that they were wet with tears that Harry was desperately trying to prevent. He ran a hand over his son's hair and down his cheek before getting comfortable again with his child's head resting once again against his heart.

Neither had noticed Poppy still standing close by enough to hear the entire conversation. Neither noticed her bright, happy smile adorning her face. Neither noticed her back herself to her office, darkening the ward as she went.

Father and son slipped back into sleep. Both were blissfully unaware yet for probably the first time, at peace. Even if it was only in their sleep.