A/N: Sadly, I nearly forgot that I hadn't updated yet today. :P I've been trying to find something to read while simultaneously trying to make myself do the pile of homework that has to be done for the end of Spring Break. I really hate homework. :P Anyways, here's chapter three and I hope you all like it. Don't forget to review. Thanks so much. :]

Warnings: Hermione, Ron, etc. bashing (slight). A bit of slash-y (:P) interaction between Harry and Severus.

Thankfully he had a free period first period. He got started on the potions for the hospital wing, bottling all but the Dreamless Sleep as it had to sit for ten and a half hours.

Severus then returned to his research. He hadn't really progressed as he had no idea what he was looking for exactly. He didn't know if a spell had been used or a potion or both or variations of each or either or. As he also had no idea what happened to Harry once he left the Shrieking Shack, he had no background information.

It could be an effect from whatever happened between Harry and Voldemort. Or, perhaps, Voldemort managed one final curse before he was destroyed. Or, maybe, Harry had been kidnapped by Death Eaters and tortured. Maybe those Harry had once called friends had done something. Maybe it just…happened.

There were so many possibilities and he didn't know where to begin.

Are you sure about that? A voice said and Severus furrowed his eyebrows. Did he have a starting point he was unaware of?

Infirmary, the voice said vaguely.

The infirmary? What—

Oh.

Weasley.

"Weasley," Severus said and jumped to his feet, beginning to pace. "Was it Weasley who caused Harry's condition?"

Speak, the voice said.

Severus frowned. What did that mean?

His words, the voice clarified.

"What he said. What did Weasley say?" Severus mused.

'It's not exactly rape if you agree to it, now is it?'

Severus closed his eyes at the horrid word of 'rape'. What had happened after the final battle that had landed them all where they were now, Harry being voiceless and he being alive?

When Harry had left the Shrieking Shack, he had known he was going to die. He knew there was no way he could survive Nagini's bite. However, he had woken—albeit painfully—over a week later to find himself in the hospital wing. He had no idea who had saved him, or why, or how. Poppy had told him that someone must have discovered a treatment as she, and everyone else, had been positive he wouldn't make it.

So why had he?

Why—how—was he still alive today?

"Weasley," Severus muttered and quickly left his quarters and the dungeons. He knew Granger—now Weasley— had a free period as well and he had no doubt that Weasley was staying with her for the time. He quickly headed up to the sixth floor where he knew Granger's classroom, office, and private rooms were. He stopped before a portrait of a beautiful but stern looking woman.

It was Morgan le Fey.

"Can I help you?" she drawled.

"I wish to speak with Professor Weasley. Now," Severus said.

"I believe she is currently busy," she told him.

"I must speak with her now. It is urgent," Severus said, hoping it would work.

"Very well," she sighed and disappeared from her dark frame. A few moments passed before she returned and the door swung open, revealing Professor Hermione Weasley nee Granger.

"May I help you, Professor?" she questioned politely and Severus' eyes narrowed.

"I find myself in need of your knowledge. Might I come in?" Severus said, forcing himself not to simply hex the woman.

Granger glanced over her shoulder before holding the door open wider. "Of course. Come in, Professor."

Severus inclined his head and walked past her into the quarters. He did not examine the rooms, finding his eyes immediately drawn to the man lounging on the loveseat. He instantly began glaring at Ronald Weasley who jumped to his feet.

"What the hell is he doing here, Hermione?" Weasley growled.

"He needs to speak with me, Ron. Calm down," Granger said, placing a hand on her husband's arm. "What is it you needed, Professor?"

"June sixteenth, 1998. What happened?" Severus asked.

Granger and Weasley frowned. "It was the day of the final battle. The day Voldemort was defeated and the war ended," Granger said.

"When Ha—Potter left the Shrieking Shack, what happened?" Severus specified. His eyes narrowed when Weasley gave a bark of laughter.

"You have no idea, do you? You have no idea why you're alive when you should have died," Weasley said.

"Are you able to enlighten me, Weasley?" Severus growled.

"You haven't thought to ask Potter? After all, it's because of him that you're alive, the disgusting freak," Weasley spat and Severus' eyes flared.

"Explain," Severus said through clenched teeth.

"I am not repeating what he told us. It's disgusting to even think about. Just know that it cost the freak his voice to save you," Weasley said, curling his lip.

"To think he ever called you a friend," Severus said, staring at Weasley in disdain.

"I prefer to forget that I was ever friends with the fag," Weasley said.

Severus pulled his wand. "You have insulted him far too many times for my tastes."

"I think it is time for you to leave, Professor," Granger said, opening the door.

"Get him to tell you what happened. You'll realize it's best to get away from him," Weasley said and Severus glared at him before stalking from the rooms.

What in Merlin's name happened to Harry? He thought as he went back to the dungeons.

"Is someone here, Lileen?" Harry asked, looking up from some files on his desk when Lileen meowed from the doorway. He got to his feet and walked out into the infirmary to see a sixth year Slytherin helping a first year Slytherin onto a bed.

"Mr. Potter," the older Slytherin said, "Mya had an accident in Flying class."

Harry walked over to the girl on the bed and immediately saw that her left arm was broken. "Thank you, Miss Sender, for bringing her," his voice box said and he saw their eyes widen. "You may return to class now."

The Slytherin prefect nodded and left after looking at the voice box again.

"Well, it is clear that you have a broken arm," Harry told the girl. "Fall off the broom?"

Mya Keithers blushed and nodded, muttering, "Yeah."

Harry chuckled. "Don't be embarrassed. It happens every year. I had a friend who ended up in the same position as you except it was a broken wrist instead of an arm," Harry said, opening the potions cabinet. He pulled out the Skele-Gro and poured some into a goblet. "I warn you, it tastes horrible," he said as she took the cup.

Mya threw the potion back, coughing and gagging. "I think that needs to be changed to taste better."

Harry laughed and handed her a glass of water that she took gratefully. Using his wand to summon bandages, he wrapped her arm and put it in a sling. "You'll have to stay here for a couple hours, I'm afraid."

Mya sighed. "Okay."

Harry easily noticed that the girl's eyes kept flickering to his voice box no matter how hard she tried to resist. "You can ask. I promise I won't get angry."

Mya jumped slightly and looked down, blushing. "Sorry, sir."

Harry waved it off. "It's fine. It's my voice box. I can no longer speak so it speaks for me."

"It sounds so normal, not robotic or anything," she said.

"That would be my doing. It was robotic when I got it. One day I was bored and kind of fed up with it, so I began fiddling with it. Eventually I got it to sound almost identical to my actual voice," Harry explained.

"That's so cool," the Slytherin said. "If you don't mind me asking, why are you so nice?"

"Should I be anything but?" Harry frowned slightly.

"Well, it's just that I'm a Slytherin. Lots of people have said that you hate anyone who's not a Gryffindor, especially Slytherins," Mya said shyly.

Harry sighed. He knew this would happen. He hadn't it expected it on the first day though. "They're just rumours. Yes, I was a Gryffindor when I attended school but it means nothing. I do not hate anyone just because of what House they're in. I actually have a very small hate list. I am not going to discriminate based on House. I'll help anyone who comes into my infirmary. I learned that anyone can be evil, not just Slytherins like everyone thinks. A Gryffindor betrayed my parents. Many of my Gryffindor friends hate me now. I'm friends with a Slytherin. I have friends that were in Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. I don't care what House a person is in," he told her firmly.

Mya smiled. "Yes, sir. I believe you."

"Good. Now you rest for a bit. Your arm will probably begin aching. Let me know when it does and I'll give you a potion for it," Harry said and she nodded.

"Yes, sir."

"I'll leave Lileen with you," Harry said and the large cat jumped onto Mya's bed. Harry smiled at his familiar before returning to his office.

Harry smiled as he released Mya just in time for lunch. He quickly cleaned up before heading for the Great Hall, Lileen trotting along beside him. Walking into the Hall using the teacher's entrance, Harry sat in the unoccupied seat next to Severus.

"Good afternoon, Harry," Severus said. "How was your morning?"

"It was good. I already had my first patient. Flying accident," Harry told him, filling his plate.

"Ah, yes. Miss Keithers," Severus nodded.

"And how was your morning?" Harry asked him.

"Decent," Severus said. "I used my free period to begin your potions and do some research. My first class was my Ravenclaw/Hufflepuff NEWT class."

"Research? What are you working on?" Harry asked and Severus sighed internally. Leave it to Harry to latch onto that part of the sentence.

"Just a new experiment," Severus said vaguely.

Harry raised an eyebrow. "What kind of experiment?"

Must I be friends with such a curious person? "I am attempting to…improve…"

Harry's eyes narrowed as Severus fought for an explanation. "You're researching for me, aren't you?"

Severus sighed. "Yes."

"I told you to leave it alone, Severus," Harry said stiffly.

"Harry, I can't. I want to help you."

"I don't need help because there's nothing to help me with."

"I know you miss your voice."

"No, I don't and even if I did, it doesn't matter because it's not coming back."

"Harry, I know something happened to you."

"Nothing happened to me."

"Yes, something did. How did you lose your voice?"

"It just happened."

Severus sighed at Harry's stubbornness. "I know you're the one who saved me."

Harry's eyes snapped to him. "How do you know that?"

"I spoke with Granger and Weasley," Severus said.

"Of course," Harry muttered and then breathed deeply. "Yes, it was me."

"How?"

"I did research," Harry shrugged.

"Harry, I know you lost your voice because you saved me. What I don't know is how or why it happened," Severus said.

"It doesn't matter. You're alive and I've learned to live with this, just like everything else," Harry shrugged again.

"You ran from everything else," Severus said and Harry instantly tensed.

"I didn't run," Harry said.

"Then why did you leave?"

"I already told you. No one wanted me here and I thought you were going to die so I left."

"I know you didn't think I was going to die because you knew how to save me."

"Just forget about all of it."

"Harry, I heard what you and Weasley said in the infirmary."

"Pretend you didn't."

"I can't."

"Well, try!" Harry said loudly. "Just leave it alone! I'm fine the way I am and it's not important what happened! I don't need help!" He pushed away from the table and walked swiftly from the Great Hall, Lileen following.

Severus pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath. He looked up in confusion as Minerva sat next to him.

"It's best to leave it alone, Severus. As he said, he's learned to live without his voice and quite contently," she said.

"He wants his voice back, Minerva," Severus said.

"I think anyone in his position would wish the same. However, he's made his peace. It's best to let him be," Minerva told him.

"If I can help him, I want to."

"I don't doubt it but this is not something that can be fixed and he knows it."

"I think it can be, Minerva. If I knew what happened, I could possibly figure out how," Severus said.

"You are only pushing him away, dear."

Severus sighed and shook his head. Suddenly he got an idea. "Minerva, who did he stay in contact with while he was gone?" he asked.

The headmistress gave him a searching look but answered anyways. "I believe he spoke to Bill Weasley, Luna Lovegood, Fred and George Weasley, Dean Thomas, and Kingsley Shacklebolt."

"Kingsley?" Severus repeated.

"Yes. They became quite close," Minerva said.

"Thank you, Minerva," Severus said and left the Great Hall. He quickly made his way through the corridors until he stood before Harry's rooms. The little boy looked at him.

"I dunno if Harry wants to talk to you," Connor said, petting Sally who arched her back and purred.

"Go away, Severus!" Harry said from inside.

Connor shrugged. "Told you so."

"Harry, please let me in," Severus said.

"I said go away."

"Please, Harry."

The door opened a crack. "If you're here to talk about my voice, Ron and Hermione, what you heard, the final battle, or what happened to me, go away," Harry said angrily.

"And if I wish to apologize?"

"I'm listening," Harry said after a pause but didn't open the door any further.

"I apologize for pushing the issue. While I know something happened, it is not for me to know unless you choose to let me know. I do not apologize, however, for wishing to help you even if you say you don't need it," Severus said.

Harry stared at him for a long while, clearly trying to decide if he was sincere. Finally Harry sighed and opened the door wider, stepping aside. "I accept your apology. I'm sorry too. I overreacted back there at lunch."

"You had a right to," Severus said as he took the offer and sat on one side of the sofa.

"Maybe but I was a little harsh. You mean well," Harry said, curling up on the opposite end of the sofa.

"I do," Severus inclined his head and Harry gave a small smile. He was about to speak when Lileen jumped onto the back of the sofa and bumped her nose against Severus' cheek.

"She'll be pining for attention from you now for the rest of your life, I hope you know," Harry said with a grin, watching his familiar pester Severus until he gave in and pet her.

"I'm sure I'll find a way to make it through," Severus said, smirking as he ran his fingers through Lileen's black and white fur.

"You'll have to. Merlin only knows what she'll do if she never got to see you again," Harry said, still smiling and Severus was inwardly happy to see the smile again.

"We will hopefully never have to find out," Severus said, looking up at the young Gryffindor and gracing him with a true smile. "Harry, I don't want to anger you, but why won't you tell me what happened?"

Harry sighed. "I don't want you to know," he said quietly.

"Why not?"

"I don't want to lose you."

"I will never willingly leave you."

"Lots of people have said that to me before."

"I will always be one of the few to mean it."

Harry looked up from where he had been staring at the floor and was startled slightly to see that Severus had moved and was now sitting right beside him.

"I haven't known who to trust for years," Harry whispered.

"You can always trust me," Severus told him.

Harry looked into Severus' eyes. "Why do you want to know?"

"I want to help."

"Why?"

"I care for you."

Harry opened his mouth and glanced up. "I should get back to the infirmary. Lunch is nearly over."

Severus inclined his head and got to his feet, walking over to the door with Harry behind him. He hesitated and turned around to face Harry again. The young man had grown over the years he had been gone.

He was taller. Not as tall as he should be given his parentage but taller than he had been the last he had seen. Harry now came up to a bit higher than his nose rather than his shoulders like when he was seventeen. Gone were the hideous glasses Harry had adorned for over three-quarters of his life, allowing the green eyes to glimmer freely without being hidden. The dark hair was as messy as ever but seemed oddly tame at the same time. Perhaps it simply fit better on the older body.

The young Gryffindor was still thin but not overly thin. He had muscle and weight now. His skin had a healthy glow to it and it seemed to have a permanent tan now. He wasn't as brown as people who go down to the Caribbean for vacation become. He was simply not as pale as he used to be.

He looked lively and healthy.

He was absolutely gorgeous in Severus' eyes and possibly completely unattainable.

"I truly care for you, Harry, perhaps more than I should," Severus said in a whisper.

"You shouldn't," Harry said just as quietly, very much aware of their close proximity to each other.

"I'm finding that neither of us have much choice in the matter," Severus said, his voice dropping lower as he and Harry leaned closer and closer to each other.

"You shouldn't get involved," Harry muttered almost inaudibly.

"That's where choice comes back in," Severus said before closing the distance and pressing their lips together. It was neither a rushed kiss nor a passionate one. It was not much more than a chaste kiss but it was enticing to them both all the same. Severus' hands were resting lightly on Harry's waist. One of Harry's hands was on Severus' forearm while the other was on Severus' cheek.

They both pulled back, startled, when the bell signalling the end of lunch rang throughout the school.

"You have class," Harry said quietly.

"I will never hurt you or leave you," Severus said and, after giving Harry another brief kiss, left for his next class.

Harry closed the door behind the man and leaned his back against it. He slid down slowly until he was seated on the floor and he let the tears stream down his cheeks, sobbing silently.

A/N: Hope you liked it. Had a bit of Snarry at the end. :P I realize that it might be out of character for Harry to just start crying but, really, think about everything that's already been mentioned about what's happened to him. :P Also, Severus and Harry, mostly Severus, will probably be quite OOC but keep in mind that they were friends during Harry's seventh year and with the war over, Severus would be (in my head :P) a bit better. :P And, last, things will seem like they are moving fast between Harry and Severus, but keep in mind that I do a lot of time skips and some of them are large, like "Four Months Later" and things like that. Also, they had been close during the final year of the war. So, hope you liked it and don't forget to review. Thanks :]