A/N: I wasn't intending to write any more entries for this piece but I had an idea and it was relatively short. I set this passage in the same story line as the previous entry. A week or so has passed by, no plot to this at all just wanting to get some ideas out. Sort of a song fic, the music is more in a memory and not so much set to anything. Also some things may be outside of the original timeline. All I know is Harry is between 15 and 16 so if something doesn't line up, don't worry about it. This isn't supposed to be a well thought out story.

Chapter 2

The Hands of Understanding

Severus strode down the hallway heading towards the main entry to Hogwarts. He was planning to go sit by a very beautiful flowerbed, one that he visited frequently during the school year. It was in a hidden place that none of the students were ever able to find. It had been their special place, Severus and Lily's special place. They often went there when they had wanted to hide from Potter and his Marauders.

Severus was out the door and halfway across the grounds when raised voices caught his ear. A fight? Perhaps there was some sort of activity going on? Severus approached and stepped around a tree that lay in shadows. The sun was getting low but it still wasn't curfew so if it was just a couple of rambunctious students Severus could leave them to their own stupidity if they weren't doing anything dangerous.

To the potions master's dismay it was the golden trio and Ginny Weasley. Severus dismissed any notion of horseplay when he saw the looks on the student's faces.

The Weasley girl and Granger appeared to be halfway to tears and the older Weasley brother seemed to be gritting his teeth. Off a few feet was a rather disheveled looking Potter.

"Just get away from me!" Potter suddenly yelled.

"Harry please!" Hermione yelled.

"Don't beg Hermione… he isn't worth it." The Weasley boy said with venom.

"That's right. I'm not worth anything to anyone." Potter said turning to walk away.

"Harry!" The youngest Weasley said, "We…. I… we love you… please don't push us away any more. I know this is about Sirius…"

"You don't know anything! None of you do! You say you're here for me but I've never felt more alone. I can't eat… I haven't slept in days I am so tired and all I see is his face, my mother dying and I hear his laughter… that fucking bitter sweet laughter. He is inside my head. HE IS DRIVING ME INSANE! Just get away from me!"

Ginny rushed forward and Ron tried to stop her but he missed her by an inch.

"Ginny come back! Don't touch him! We will go get Dumbledore." Ron said as Ginny flung her arms around Harry.

"He took Sirius… he was your only family. He was all you had left and he was taken from you. But why can't we be your family?" Ginny pleaded and she held him tight.

Severus could see Harry shaking, he saw the boy's hands clutch, Potter wanted to hug her so badly but it appeared like he was restraining himself.

It seemed to take all his strength to take her gently by the arms and move her back.

"Ginny, until I can control Voldamort up here," Potter said pointing to his head with his finger, "I can't offer anything from here." He said putting his hand over his heart.

"I'm broken and unstable, I could hurt you, any of you. I just need you to give me some space until I can get him under control. He is rotting my mind from the inside out. And I have no way to stop him."

"Let us help you. We can find a way together; we've done so much already. You don't always have to do these things on your own." Hermione said slowly approaching. The elder Weasley was slowly unclenching his fist, which had been partially raised in case, Severus guessed, Potter had issues with Ginny hugging him.

"I can't take the chance of losing any more of you. I understand you want to fight this war with me but losing all of you would kill me. I've lost to many people already. I haven't been quick enough, I know I am not smart enough, with out you Hermione, Ron and I would have died a million times. I've got to be stronger, smarter I have got to beat him because for once this DOES have to be won on my own."

"Maybe it doesn't have to be all on your shoulders mate." Ron said as he moved forward too.

"What?" Potter asked.

"Go talk to Snape Harry." The Granger girl said with determination.

Severus felt his breath hitch a little. The last time the two had actually talked had been the incident with Malfoy and his lackeys. They had silently agreed to avoid each other, so why would Granger tell Potter to talk to him.

"He is the only one who can give you Occlumency lessons… and he helped you when Malfoy and his gang were bullying you. He will understand you. He can help you."

Potter was silent for a long moment and then he sighed and shook his head, "No, he won't help me. He may be able to understand but I can't face him again. Last time we tried Occlumency I did something unforgivable."

"Harry…"

"Hermione no… I can't… I can't face him. I've humiliated myself enough in front of that man."

"I thought you don't get humiliated anymore?" Hermione said tartly.

"He's different okay! My father tormented that man! I can't just… I don't deserve his help. After all these years I finally understand why he hates me and I honestly can't say I don't deserve it. It's not like he ever got to have a go at my father."

"You are not your father!" Ginny yelled.

"Every time someone talks to you about your father you take it so personal. Even though you have almost nothing in common with the man it's like you feel you have no choice but to believe them. You never even knew him mate." Ron said.

"That's how it is. Potter is the chosen one, Potter is just like his father, Potter is the heir of Slytherine, Potter is lying about Voldemort's return, Potter is evil, POTTER IS A LOON! POTTER IS CRAZY!" Harry started to yell again.

"Harry calm down!" Hermione begged as she reached for him and in the moment of Potter's anger he suddenly let out a yell of pain and all his muscles tensed and pitched back falling onto the ground and squirming like a worm under a magnifying glass.

"GODS HARRY!" Ginny said and she jumped to his side and tried to shake him out of it.

"Go get Dumbledore!" Ron yelled at the two girls but before anyone could move Severus was running from his hidden position. He was down into the small valley and beside Potter on the ground before anyone could say anything.

"Back up you three." He said quickly as he hauled Potter onto his lap and touched the thumb and middle finger of his left hand to Potter's temples.

He started to chant as the boy continued to squirm, "Mr. Weasley will you please try to help me hold Potter still." Ron jumped forward and did his best to hold Harry still as Severus started to chant again. He closed his eyes and focused his energy and poured it into Potter. He forced his mind into Potter's and hid his own mental traces in the darker corners of the boy's mind. The images that were being pressed into his mind were disgustingly cruel. Sirius was dying, Lupin was being tortured and Dumbledore was screaming in agony.

Focus Harry, I can only give you so much strength before I will be recognized. Press through it. Think of your mother, think of Lily. Let her give you strength!

Severus felt Harry's presence pass by his mental aura and he gently wrapped around it and poured more of his energy to help Harry fight off the images being forced into his mind's eye.

Harry's strength grew and he drew from Severus and pushed hard against the foreign entity.

I have to go Harry, fight him… don't give in… it's not what it seems. Be strong.

Severus withdrew and knew it was up to Harry now; if he had any kind of strength of will at all he could beat Voldemort.

Harry twisted and contorted and it was apparent he was fighting very hard.

"You two come over here. Take a hand; give him some of your essence. Help him get through this. Voldemort is really trying to get in. We must help him."

Harry gave a shriek of a yell and his back arched.

"Stop…" Harry said through clenched teeth, "STOP!" His voice echoed across the grounds as he clenched his friend's hands.

"Come on Harry…." Severus said not noticing Ginny, Ron and Hermione glancing at him in surprise.

"Harry, come out of it!" Severus said and he placed his thumb and middle finger back on the boy's temple, "Professor you can't!" Hermione said.

"Don't tell me what I can and can not do Granger." Severus snapped.

Hermione grabbed his wrist and locked eyes with him, "If your mind is picked up inside his head you could be exposed… Voldemort could find out you're a spy."

"I am aware of the repercussions of my actions but I can't take the chance of losing Harry!"

Severus knew this would have to be fast, faster than anything he has ever done before. He couldn't be seen in the boy's psyche. Severus focused hard and dived in to the boy's mind and flew through quicker then he had ever done before. He found the core of Harry's mind and stopped dead when he saw an image of Harry being skinned. What the hell was Voldemort trying to accomplish with this? This attack was random and didn't seem to have a point; it was not in Voldemort's usual style.

Severus moved quick sending his mind out and wrapping again around Harry's aura and taking hold. He didn't hesitate and he pulled as hard as he could to free Harry's mind from the force and pressure of the foreign mind that was invading his thoughts.

Severus opened his eyes and removed his hand making sure to snip the last traces of his presence from the boy's mind so that no one could trace it back to him.

Harry was staring up at him breathing heavy, his hands released their iron grip on the girls and he reached a hand up that was shaking like a rattle snake tail. Severus reluctantly took it and moved to stand and help the weak boy up. The instant Harry was on his feet he wrapped his arm around Severus's body and hugged him in earnest.

"Thank you… the things I was seeing Gods help me." Harry said just loud enough for Severus to hear, but the man made no move to hug the boy back as the other students were watching and trying to comprehend this emotional display towards the dark potions master.

"I need you three to go up to the castle and report this to Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall. I will bring Mr. Potter up momentarily. There is something I must show him before he returns to the castle. And please make sure Madame Pomfrey has an open bed ready for the boy."

Whether it was the fact that Severus had just helped their friend or because they were still too shocked to argue, the three students obediently ran off across the grounds with out a second thought.

"I finally get Minerva's Gryffindors to listen to me and it isn't even in a classroom setting." Severus said with annoyance.

"Maybe if you show some more compassion like you did tonight more students would listen to you Professor."

Severus said nothing as he watched Potter try to stand on his own, "I wouldn't have to be so nasty to you all if you would just listen…" Severus started but he had to stop when Potter's knees locked and the boy toppled forward. Severus caught him and picked him up and started to walk away from where the horrible incident had occurred.

"Where are we going Professor?" Harry asked as his head lulled against the man's arm.

"I have to show you something important if you feel like you can hold off on seeing Albus and Madam Pomfrey."

"I can always hold off on seeing Madame Pomfrey."

"That's what I thought. I'm surprised she hasn't given you a medal for being the most present student in her wing. She must have your file completely updated each year you arrive and every time you leave for the summer."

Potter actually laughed and said softly, "You know Professor, you're secretly funny."

"And you are secretly smart. I wish you'd apply even a quarter of your brain in my class. You wouldn't get so much bloody trouble from me if you just tried."

"How do you know I am smart? For all you know Hermione gives me all the answers." Potter said as his eyes slowly begun to close.

"You will not fall asleep in my arms, carrying you like a baby is strange enough with out you trying to cuddle me in your sleep. And to answer your question, I have been inside your head to many times to admit and I've seen your intelligence. It is not with out its problems but you have a rather strong learning curve in there. You just need to exercise it more."

"I don't have time for classes. I've got to save the world. Aren't I lucky."

"I thought we already talked about self pity." Severus said as he set Harry down on a hillside and started to shift some rock and tree branches.

"Last time you and I talked I had the shit kicked out of me and was publicly humiliated in front of an eighth of the school. Self-pity was unavoidable. Now it isn't self pity so much as a cruel irony."

"I don't get your meaning." Severus said as he finally cleared away the rubbish to reveal a tunnel entrance about five feet tall and four feet wide.

"I don't think I do either. What's this?" Harry asked motioning to the entrance with his head.

"Something that I think will help. Can you walk long enough to get through?"

"Should be fine." Harry said pushing himself up and walking slowly over to his professor.

"Just follow behind me and try to keep your voice down, the walls of this tunnel aren't as strong as they used to be."

Harry nodded and they started down into the darkness.

"Professor, can I ask you something?" Harry asked very softly.

"If you must." Severus said using his wand to light the way.

"I know you are supposed to protect me… and I know you don't always want to. I know you don't like me for multiple reasons and that is okay… but I wouldn't have survived if you hadn't pulled me out of his grasp tonight… but you could have exposed yourself to him if he had felt you… why would you risk it? For me?"

"There are some things that you may never understand Potter, why I would risk my life for a brat like you may be one of them."

But Severus could hear how much he hadn't meant the insult in his voice, and he knew Harry didn't believe it either, "I know you risked everything for me tonight. I just want to say thank you Professor… you were the only one who could have saved me tonight and you chose to do it. I owe you my life… I would have been driven to insanity."

"I don't know about that… you can't be driven somewhere you have been all your life Potter."

Severus felt a shiver run up his spine when he heard Harry laugh rather happily at that last comment.

"Wow, you're funnier then Sirius was. He always was telling jokes but never quite had the punch lines you do."

"Humor takes wit Potter… Black was clever but he and Lupin had no wit between them. Having wit was a gift of your fathers honestly. I picked it up from him most of the time, he liked to take jabs at me and I got rather good at snapping him back."

"I know all about my father making jabs at you… I am sorry… for what he did. I don't know if he was just insecure or if his jealousy of your intelligence really pissed him off but he had no right to treat you like that. He treated you the way Malfoy treats me. It's almost uncanny and it bothers me sometimes to think that Malfoy and my dad probably could have hit it off."

"You father wasn't jealous of my mind Potter… he was jealous because I had something he wanted." Severus said as they finally reached the end of the tunnel.

Harry was about to say something but stopped when he saw what lay in the opening. It was a large clearing surrounded by flowering trees. The ground had a path that lead through a rainbow of flowers and tall grasses. Vines hung here and there and filled the air with the sweetest scents.

"Wh-what is this… this place… it smells like… my mum it smells like mum!" Harry pushed forward and stumbled a little looking around quickly, he lost his balance and stumbled and went head first into a near by creek.

Yanking his drenched head and shoulders out of the water he looked to see Severus watching him. The man wasn't making fun or him or sneering he was just staring with a blank face.

"Sorry." Harry said coming to stand next to the dark man.

Severus sighed lightly and used his wand to dry Harry and his clothes and fix the boy's all but shattered glasses.

"It's alright I understand. I am surprised you recognize the smell. We used these flowers to create a couple vials of perfume for her. She loved the smell of the flowering trees the best. Made some each year until we stopped talking."

"Wait… you and mum?" Harry asked looking at Severus with a calm surprise.

"Since we were nine or so. You mother grew up living by me in Spinners end. We were friends until around 5th year. But you saw that…." Severus said as he moved passed Harry.

"I'm sorry sir?" Harry said in a questioning tone.

"The memory you saw during your Occlumency training… that was the day I lost your mothers friendship. The worst day of my life, I betrayed her in the worst possible way…" Severus trailed off and even though Harry wanted to he didn't press the matter.

"This place Potter was made entirely by your mother. Her essence of magic is filling this place and I come to keep it young and healthy. If you are ever having a hard time with anything, school, friends or even Voldemort… you may come here if you promise to respect it and use your time here to reflect on how to fix your problems."

Harry nodded and slowly crossed to his potions professor and looked him in the eyes, "Did you love my mother Professor?"

Severus stared down at the boy and finally after a moment said, "Everyone loved your mother. I was not immune to her beauty." Severus turned to head to the exit but Harry gently placed his hand on the man's arm and Severus turned to look at him again.

"You loved her like my father loved her. You wanted to be with her… like I want to be with Ginny. Why didn't you…"

"Your mother was the only person in my life who understood me, who gave me a friend when I didn't have one. She was so gentle and perfect and any man with common sense would want to be with her. Don't think I was some exception, your mother was the love of my life but a man like me would never have been good enough for her. I was too dark for her; sometimes I thought her soul was made completely of the purest light. I wish you could have known her." Severus said putting his hand on the boy's shoulder.

"Come on we need to get back before they come looking for you." Severus said.

When they reached the end of the tunnel and started to cover the entrance with all the rubbish and rocks Harry spoke softly.

"Thank you Professor. C-can I ask you something… please…"

"If you feel you must." Severus said as he moved the last big rock into place.

"The night that I saw your memories… there was an image. You were in a kitchen… on the floor holding your knees to your chest- was that at your parents house?"

"Why do you wish to know Potter?" Severus asked eyeing Harry carefully.

"Was it your father?" Harry asked taking a step closer to the man. Severus was a little confused by this line of questioning but more so by the bizarre look of hope in the boy's eyes. Did Harry Potter hope that Severus was beaten as a child? Was the boy in such a great state of hatred for him that he was hoping that Severus's childhood really had been miserable?

"I don't understand why you are asking." Severus said letting some of his discomfort and flashes of his anger show.

"Because I've been there too." Harry said softly turning to walk away.

Severus watched the boy move away from him and back towards the castle, the professors insides grew cold and small pieces in his mind that had always struggled to find a place in the puzzle that was Potter started to slowly find spots to fit into.

Several hours later there was a knock at Severus's office door and he bid the person enter. He felt his eyebrows rise when Potter moved in slowly.

"I see Madame Pomfrey finally let you go." Severus said placing his quill down. He motioned for the lights to dim a little when he saw Potter wincing at the light.

"No, are you kidding. I snuck out… I just… I had to say thanks again and I wanted to… wanted to… uhm…" Harry seemed very nervous though he wasn't sweating and the light shake seemed to be more from anxiety then fear.

"What is it Potter…"

"Earlier… when I asked you that question… by my mom's special place… I have to show you… you and I… we aren't… we aren't… I want to show you something."

Severus stared at the boy with his eye furrowed, "I've never shown anyone, but I think you will understand. Just like you understood what I needed earlier tonight. In a weird way… I trust you now more then I did…. And before the next class period… when you have to treat me like dirt to keep up appearances… I just need you to know that you and I are… we are the same."

"Potter, what on Earth are you talking about?"

"Look into my mind professor…"

"Potter I don't think-"

"Please Professor… I need you to understand." Potter said as he came and kneeled before Severus.

Severus was shocked by the boy's behavior, they had never talked with out yelling at each other but ever since that incident in the hallway the respect between them had started to grow and now the boy was treating him like Severus was his most trusted friend.

Pulling his wand from it's spot in his robes he knew he would have to be gentle, Harry's mind would still be sore from Voldemort's intrusion. He entered and felt Potter's mind gently wrap around his and guide him to one particular spot, the one area of Harry's mind that had always been blocked. Severus had always left it alone when he had penetrated the boy's mind before because it felt like a very twisted and aggressive area.

That part of the mind opened and Severus was greeted by a familiar sight, little Harry one the floor covering his head as a figure, whose image was blocked, rained down blows from a belt onto the boy. Harry was then sent to the cupboard and locked in. Another slow flash and then an image of Harry running down the street with a small group of older boys chasing after him.

Another flash showed Harry in the kitchen with his legs to his chest in a corner, a frying pan spilled on the floor and a single figure with no image yelling profanities and verbal abuse in Harry's direction.

Severus felt Harry give a small push and Severus quickly withdrew. The boy seemed a little disoriented and Severus reached out to help steady him.

"So… are we… are we the same?" Harry asked softly.

"Yes." was all Severus could bring himself to say.

Lunging forward Harry desperately wrapped his arms around Severus's torso and in that moment Severus saw a completely different Harry. No rebellion or anger, no smart mouth comments, no defiant eyes or a set jaw. He looked relieved and at peace "I felt so alone, no one understood anything. Even when I tried to tell Ron and Hermione, they urged me to tell Dumbledore or McGonagall but they just didn't understand. I couldn't. Please don't tell anyone Professor." Harry said as he pulled away, "It's been a long time since they've had the bravery to try me. All the stuff that happened as a kid hasn't happened now that I have magic and I don't want anyone who wouldn't understand to know. I don't want pity and I don't want people to think I am more of a freak then they already do. I am the chosen one and I need people to believe in me if I am to believe in myself. If they found out that I am damaged… that may not think I have the power to defeat Voldemort."

"I won't say anything but Harry you've got to understand something… just because we've both suffered doesn't mean we can't have normal lives. Once all of this is over you will have your chance to be a normal person. A husband and father if you so chose, maybe an Auror, the Headmaster of a school or maybe the head of the Mystery of Magic. You will be able to do anything you want so don't dwell on your past too much. It doesn't decide our future for us."

Harry just nodded and turned to go. As Harry got to the door he turned to look at Severus and said sadly, "I wish my dad and Black could have seen you as a friend instead of an enemy. I think you would have done my dad some good in the end."

Harry walked out the door and closed it gently behind him, the last time the boy had walked through that door to leave Harry had been so mad he had slammed it and kicked it for good measure.

Things were different now. The two had an understanding, they had respect for each other and hopefully they would be able to keep it that way. Severus looked at the picture hidden behind many jars of ingredients. Because Potter was one of his students he had had to hide this picture for the last few years. But now that Harry was aware of the situation Severus could finally place the picture on the desk where it belonged.

It showed a fourteen year old Severus and Lily hanging from a tree branch, Lily by her hands and Severus by his knees. They were laughing and waiving and Severus could hear her words still to this day.

Come on Sev! Just because you're a snake doesn't mean you can't act like a monkey!

If I do this I better get a kiss.

For sure!

There see? By my knees just like a monkey.

SMILE SEV!

What? Oh Lily no don't-

I bet that picture turns out nice, thank you, MWHA!

THUD!

Oh Sev, you okay?

Yeah, fine, what kind of perfume is that?

Supposed to be flower but it doesn't smell that good.

Hey Lily, I got an idea, bet I could make you the best perfume you've ever tried.

Oh I can't wait to see this….

Severus sighed and a small smile escaped his lips, he would have been Lily's monkey any day of the week.

A/N: There you go, another random one shot to add to your many collections if you liked it. Thanks for reading.