Wow, it's been a long time. I've have been so busy it isn't even funny, especially with the holidays. I've had no time to write! It sucked! Believe me, writing is a lot funner than homework... But here's the chapter, and I hope you all will forgive me!

Disclaimer: I DO, I DO, I DO, I DO! (Harry Potter policemen run up and shoot her with a tranquilizer dart and then cart her off to the asylum).

It Ends Now

Part 22: "Gratitude"

It was dark. Like his cell. He was in Voldemort's lair.

The Death Eaters were coming at him again. They held a bottle. Oh no! Not again! Not more acid liquid...

"Potter, take this," a distorted voice ordered.

No, no, I won't... I refuse...

"Potter..."

Something touched his shoulder and he let out a strangled yell of fright. They were going to torture him again. Another thing touched the small of his back and he was being pulled up.

No... no more...

"NO!"

Harry couldn't take anymore and struggled wildly, using all the strength he had to fight the Death Eater pulling him up.

"LET ME GO!"

He broke free of the grip and flung himself away- and fell off a bed, hitting the floor hard. Stars erupted in front of his eyes.

Wait... a bed? Since when did Voldemort accomodate his "guests" with beds?

Someone chuckled sarcastically. Another voice, a female, said:

"Harry! Oh for goodness sake's child, I'm not going to hurt you!"

The terror finally receded and Harry focused on his surroundings. White room, white bed... He was in the Hospital Wing, not the cell.

The "Death Eater" was Madam Pomfrey, holding a vial of medicine she had been trying to give him. She looked a mixture of concerned, exasperated, and flustered.

Across from the matron and Harry's bed was Professor Snape, sitting up in bed and looking perfectly fine and back to normal. Surprisingly, a small, humorous smile danced around the corners of his mouth. It looked very out of place.

"I must say, Potter, that was quite a fight you put up. Do you always do that when people wake you up?" he asked sardonically.

Harry blushed furiously in embarassment.

"Potter, kindly get back in bed or you'll make your injuries I couldn't heal worse, if you haven't already," the nurse requested. Still red, Harry complied, pulling himself up with a wince and struggling to get himself back in bed. It cost a lot more effort than he thought it would, and so it was then that he took a second to examine himself. His chest and back were wrapped tightly in bandages, as was his arm. He poked it.

"Ouch!"

"You're not the brightest crayon in the box, are you?" Snape was still watching him, eyes gleaming in contained mirth.

"Severus," Pomfrey warned lightly.

Harry bit his lip in anger, but said nothing.

"You know, Severus, you're due to be released today, since you're perfectly healed," the nurse said nonchalantly, but her meaning was clear.

"Yes, I did know," the greasy-haired man replied smoothly; almost cheekily. He didn't move position, only folded his arms upon his chest. Madam Pomfrey turned so her back was to Snape and began undoing Harry's wrappings, ointment in hand. Therefore, Harry saw the grimace that graced her face because Snape wasn't taking the hint.

Still, she tried again. "Severus-"

"I know, I know, I'll leave now. I was merely enjoying the sight of Potter flailing around like a newborn monkey, but since that is over..."

Harry blushed again in anger. How dare he!? Was this really the man would had saved him; who Harry had entrusted his life too? Boy, if Pomfrey weren't there, there'd be hell to pay...

Snape dislodged himself from the bed and collected his things that had been sent to him over time since he first gotten here a few days ago and experienced utter boredom that consisted of watching occassional sluggish flies on the wall from the hallways and watching Potter sleep... God, it was awful...

Harry watched Snape and ignored the cold gel Pomfrey was now rubbing on his red and flaky arm. He still remembered what it had looked like while in the cell and was glad it at least resembled an arm now. He watched as Snape collected his things up and then noticed how the man seemed to walk stiffly and favor the wand as using to float his possessions rather than carry them, despite how few there were...

Then Harry realized, Snape was still in pain from the wound. That he had gotten from saving Harry. And some unexpected pity for the man began creeping up in his heart, and gratitude...

"Now Severus, you need to put that lotion on your back that I gave you every night, or-"

"Yes, yes, yes," the said man cut in, and Harry knew he was doing it so Harry wouldn't hear about his injury.

But why? Harry thought. Was Snape actually showing some form of protectiveness?

The Potions Master just became more and more of a mystery as Harry pondered about him and what had happened between the two the night Harry was rescued.

"Potter?"

A few hours later, Harry was sitting up in bed and bored. He wasn't tired, and had just woken up from a nap. He wasn't in pain either, which was a relief after it all came back once, luckily, Snape had left. But he'd been given a Pain Reliever Potion and felt vaguely close to fine, albeit very, very bored.

"Yes, Madam Pomfrey?"

"I need you to prepare yourself." She was standing at the door, hand on the knob, and quite serious.

"What?" But it was too late, she had already opened the door and an ear-shattering scream broke through the air like a whip, shrilly permeating the silence.

"HARRY!!!"

The next thing he knew, he was being smothered by bushy hair as wet tears were being cried onto his pajamas.

"Oh, Harry, Harry, Harry, Harry, Harry!"

"Hermione," Harry laughed. "I can't breathe."

Hermione shot up, watery eyes wide. "What? Oh, I'm sorry... OH MY GOD! Did I hurt you? Oh Harry, I'm so sorry; I didn't realize, God, I feel awful, are you OK? Did I hurt you-"

"Hermione, I'm fine!" Harry cut in to her rambling panic attack. "Seriously. I just had Pain Reliever Potion and feel perfectly normal, aside from some aches."

"Oh, I'm glad," the bushy-haired brain child sighed in relief. Beside her, Rom was laughing hysterically.

"Alright, mate?"

"As good as Harry Potter can be," Harry replied. Ron knocked him upside the head, foregoing the arm that he normally would have punched but was now covered in bandages. Harry flinched at the unexpected act, but laughed right after as Ron turned stern.

"Don't you ever pull that stunt again, or I swear to Merlin, will kill you before Voldemort does!"

Harry laughed until tears came to his eyes, imaginging the sight of a livid Ron marching up to Voldemort's hideout, and then the face of Voldemort as Ron killed his ultimate arch-nemesis he was destined to kill. It felt like so long since he'd laughed like that, but Harry knew he'd missed it; missed them so bad. It felt good to be with his friends again.

oOo

They talked for half an hour, keeping the conversation as far away from Voldemort and Harry's absence as possible, until Harry himself brought it up.

"You guys... probably already know that Snape saved me, right?" Harry said quietly.

"Yah..." the two responded, wondering where this was headed.

"Yes, well, I have something I need to do... related to that..."

The other two friends were confused, and exchanged a glance. They got the feeling Harry was uncomfortable with this and was trying to stay as far away from saying exactly what he wanted to do as possible.

"Harry, what're you trying to say?" Hermione prompted.

"Er... um... I wanted... I need... I need you to to get my invisiblity cloak for me," Harry said at last, still dancing around the direct question.

"What!? Why?" Ron cried.

"Harry, you know we won't do that! You're not supposed to be walking around, much less sneaking around!" Hermione cried.

"It's not sneaking!" Harry exclaimed affrontedly.

"Then what is it?" Ron interrogated, giving Harry a penetrating look that threatened doom if he didn't answer the question.

"I... I want to thank Snape." Harry blushed, fumbling with a loose string off the bedsheet as he looked everywhere but at them.

"What!?"

"Harry Potter, are you feverish?" Ron asked, feeling his forehead. "I never thought I'd hear the word 'thank' and 'Snape' in the same sentence!"

"Ron, he saved my life! I wouldn't be here if it weren't for him! You understand, right? This is something I have to do..."

Ron gave him a speculate, searching look, then at last nodded. "You're right."

"We'll do it Harry, but you swear to us that you won't do anything else! Just thank Snape, and come back. It isn't good for you to be walking so much in your condition..." Hermione prattled.

"I swear, Hermione," Harry said, looking her in the eye and meaning it.

"Tonight, then. We'll come under it and give it to you," Ron planned, using his tactical brain to sort it out. "How about 7:00?"

"No, it has to be when Pomfrey's asleep. From the many times spent in here, I know it's 10:00, after a last check-up," Harry explained.

"Done."

oOo

It was a few minutes before ten, and Harry was alone in the dark Hospital Wing, awaiting his friends with some anticipation and a lot of nervousness. He kept his eyes situated on the door, waiting for it to open. Any second now...

The big hand reached twelve and chimes dung out. At that moment, the ward's doors creaked open, and Harry heard a faint rustling, like that of the wind. Next thing he knew, Ron and Hermione had appeared by his bedside. They handed the cloak to him.

"Here. Remember your promise. Just Snape's," Hermione reminded, a touch of worry in her voice.

"I know, 'Mione. I'll be OK."

"Good luck getting him to listen," Ron snorted darkly. "I still have my doubts. He's just going to rat you out and then you'll be in trouble. Why are you doing this at this time of night, anyways? What if he's asleep?"

"I need to get him at a time when he's alone, and Pomfrey can't catch me. It's the only way," Harry replied. "I'll take my chances."

"Well, good luck Harry. Don't get caught," Hermione wished. "We've got to get back Ron, before Madame Pomfrey hears us." Ron nodded and with a last wave, he and Hermione snuck out the door.

Harry took a deep breath and looked down at his father's cloak, feeling its silkiness, and thinking, 'This is it. It's now or never'. He pulled it on over his head and watched as his body slowly disappeared, as if into thin air. Then he threw back the covers and got out of bed.

His legs weren't ready to hold him yet, especially since he hadn't walked since in Voldemort's lair. His sore leg muscles shuddered with the weight and before Harry knew it, he was tumbling to the ground with a humungous crash. His invisibility cloak crumpled around him and the boy nervously pushed it under the bed for fear Pomfrey would see half a Harry if she came running out.

He spent a few tense moments just laying there, waiting for the nurse's light to go on and her to come bustling out, scolding, but nothing happened and finally the Boy-Who-Lived got the courage to fish out the cloak and softly throw it back on over his body.

Now the hard part, getting up again.

Harry grabbed the corner of his nightstand and with both hands and shaking legs, pulled himself up. He began breathing deeper and more strainedly, thinking perhaps he should wait until he was better to thank Snape, because it just wasn't worth the effort. But a little voice in the back of his head reprimanded himself, saying he would lose his nerve far before then.

I've got to do this, I've got to do this... c'mon Harry, walk! the boy shouted in his mind, using all his willpower to put one foot in front of the other and using beds as support. It took a few minutes, but he was finally out of the Hospital Wing and looking down the great expanse of dark, creepy hallway with only the light of torches high above, casting shadows that danced on the wall like gypsies in night.

This is it...

oOo

Almost half an hour later, a panting and sweaty Harry reached the dungeons with a great sigh of happiness. It had taken so long to get there, and he had had to use to walls to cling to. Luckily, no encounter with certain tiger cats or grizzly caretakers had been made, and Harry hoped there wouldn't be any time soon.

The door to Snape's office came into view, a flickering light under the door, and the boy gulped, suddenly having regrets and wanting to take back the mission. Did he really want to face Snape right now, and do the impossible- thank the ill-tempered man? I mean, he was just going to get in trouble!

Memories of earlier that day flooded Harry's mind.

"You're not the brightest crayon in the box, are you?"

"I know, I know, I'll leave now. I was merely enjoying the sight of Potter flailing around like a newborn monkey, but since that is over..."

Anger bit at Harry's insides. Why thank the man? He did enough to Harry that the greasy bat should be thanking Harry for coping with him all these years!

But then, visions of Voldemort's mansion and Snape helping him came to the boy.

"I'm here to get you away myself. Don't get too hopeful, we cannot escape until beyond the barrier."

"...It's a numbing potion, laced with pain-killing solution and rejeuvination brew. This will work for one hour and one hour only. Escape. Find the exit as stealthily as possible. I am unaware of its location, but it's on the floor above, as that is the first floor. We're in the basement. You must hurry."

He had saved Harry's life, and had got him out when no one else could. He could have denied the job, but he did it, risking his own life in the process.

The least I can do is thank him, Harry told himself. He coughed lightly and almost immediately, the door was flung open and a furious Snape towered in the entrance.

"Who is it!? Show yourself!"

Harry froze in terror. The man looked ready to murder someone.

"I said show yourself!" he withdrew his wand in a smooth flick and pointed it directly where Harry stood. Harry threw off his invisibility cloak for fear of being cursed into oblivion by the sour wizard.

"It's me, professor!"

"Potter! What the hell are you doing out of the Hospital Wing in your condition!" he cried angrily, taking in Harry's palor and slight wheezing.

"Professor, I wanted to... to..." Harry seemed to be struggling to find the right words, and he thanked god it was dark enough that Snape couldn't see him turning pink in embarassment.

"Say it, boy! I've half a mind to curse you into a baboon, then you would at least look the way you sound!"

"Thank you!"

"What?"

"I said, thank you. For-for saving me. I'd...I'd probably be dead if it weren't for you. So... so... thanks." And then Harry pulled the cloak hurriedly over his head and fleed away on a hobble, not stopping till, almost hyperventilating and shaking, he reached his warm, comfortable bed in the Hospital Wing. Before pulling the covers back over his head, the boy stuffed his secret invisibility cloak under the pillow so Pomfrey wouldn't see it in the morning. Then he closed his eyes and tried not to think of what he had just done, still blushing profusely.

Perhaps if he had looked back, he would have seen the astonished and incredulous look gracing the man's features, so out of place it looked like a pink rabbit in a desert. But then the expression was gone, hidden beneath the mask of nothingness as the black bat swooped back into his cave, with nothing but the light of the fire burning beneath the cauldron to flicker off the walls. Then there was nothing as the door closed with a light snap! behind him.

A/N: At last, I've posted the chapter! Again, I'm sorry for the wait but midterms are coming and each new chapter proves harder and harder to post as schoolwork burdens me more. But I'm not stopping till this story is done and so you can count on me! Please review, you wouldn't believe how much it makes me want to write!

Next chapter- "Aftereffects". More with Harry's trauma coming! He won't escape from this completely unscarred emotionally.

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL MY REVIEWERS! You all are the absolute best and rock my world, every time I read a new one! I don't have time to write replies to reviews, but I refuse to go without recognizing those who did. Thank you soooooooooooo much to:

Malaika Pyralis, darkmarkgirl, shannyauburn, Haunted (Thanks for the PM; love getting those almost as much as reviews!), Gabwr, TwilightsCalling (keep those emails coming, I looooooove reading them!), lilacBookstar, C K Brook, jayley, Dumbledore Prince, crazy person (lol), IrishEyesAreSmiling, BlackHalliwell, Iniysa, Naquadria, and SushiZ.

Thank you all so much and I will update ASAP!

Yours truely,

AngelMoon Girl