Disclaimer – Tisn't mine.

Chapter 8 – Then you come to me

Snape almost sliced off the end of his own finger, such was his shock at that statement. 'I beg your pardon.'

'Nothing.' Harry said quickly, easily reading the cold anger and disbelief that was present in each of those four words.

'Harry.' Snape said darkly turning to face him.

'It's nothing.' Harry retorted, his own anger surfacing. 'It doesn't matter, alright. Just leave it alone.'

'You really think that? That you've failed her?' Snape's voice was now incredulous. 'Have you completely lost your mind?'

'I told you, Severus. It doesn't matter!' Harry yelled, the stress of the past twenty fours hours coming to a head as he slammed the knife down on the bench, scattering shrivelfigs all over the counter and onto the floor.

'Oh, but I think it does.' Severus snapped in return. 'This complex you have about others has got to stop. You cannot help everyone. You must learn to live with that. Merlin, you're as bad as bloody Albus was.'

Harry's eyes dulled and he his face paled except for a tinge of red on each cheek. 'Don't you ever, ever, talk about him like that.' He whispered harshly before apparating away with barely a sound.

Snape dropped his head into his hands and sighed. Harry's mood swings were becoming even more disturbing. When Albus had died the young man had been devastated, and he'd stayed that way for some time. As he slowly got over the death of his mentor and father he had more moments of happiness; or comfort at the very least. But he also swung to an almost polar opposite with alarming regularity. One minute he was serious, the next in tears, then angry and then playful. Snape knew he had to do something before Harry ended up in St Mungos.

Deciding that this really couldn't wait he extinguished the flames under both cauldrons and headed out of the room. He only got about ten feet from his rooms however when he felt his chest burn. He stumbled heavily, reaching out to brace himself against the wall as his struggled to breathe.

'Harry!' He pleaded in his mind as he fell to his knees. Darkness crept in on the edge of his vision and he knew no more.

Harry paced before the fireplace in his rooms, his mind warring between fuming and distress. Albus tried talking to him but Harry wasn't listening. Eventually he stopped and faced the portrait.

'Albus, I don't want to get into it, alright.' He snapped.

'Dear boy, you never want to get into it. That is your problem. You bottle everything up inside and it continues eating away at you. You will talk about it, I can assure you. I may only be a portrait but I'm still your father and you will talk to me.' Albus said sternly.

Harry sighed and rolled his eyes, flopping into the armchair behind him. 'Fine.'

'Now, tell me what happened.' Albus said cheerfully. 'And don't leave anything out like you usually to do.'

Harry stared at the twinkling blue eyes in the portrait for several moments. 'I miss you, Albus.' He whispered softly.

Dumbledore smiled sadly. 'And I you, dear boy. I particularly miss how you try to change the subject every time knowing you have no hope of success. Now get on with it.'

Harry allowed the corner of his mouth to quirk but explained what had happened and what Snape had said. Albus shook his head and laughed.

'You must understand, my boy, Severus didn't mean anything by the words. He was always exasperated by my sense of duty.'

'That's because he doesn't have one.' Harry muttered.

Dumbledore smiled and his eyes twinkled brightly. 'Oh he has one alright. He wouldn't have remained after my death otherwise.'

'He owed you a debt, Albus. He wasn't going anywhere.'

Dumbledore frowned. 'Harry, Severus owed me nothing. He stayed because I asked him to.'

'Then it was a favour. It's still the same thing.'

Dumbledore's frown deepened. 'I'm not sure I've done you any favours, my dear boy, by keeping you in such seclusion for so many years.'

Harry scowled. 'You didn't keep me there, Albus. That was where I wanted to be. I didn't want to come back.'

'Yes, but perhaps some contact with others as well as myself may have been good for you. You interaction with others and your understanding of their behaviour is underdeveloped.'

'You make it sound as if I've got stunted growth.' Harry growled.

'You do.' Albus said bluntly, causing Harry's eyes to widen.

'Well, thank you very much.' He snapped.

'No, dear boy, please listen to me.' Albus pleaded. 'You've had no contact with anyone but me for almost ten years and the contact in the years before that was very limited. You've never really learnt to relate to others past normal schoolyard friendships and it scares you.'

'It does not.' Harry protested sharply.

Dumbledore eyed him carefully. 'Don't lie to me, Harry. Don't lie to yourself.' He said softly.

Harry flushed and looked away.

'Talk to me, son.'

Harry felt the all familiar prickle behind his eyes and brought a hand up to rub at them furiously. 'I...I don't know what I'm doing.' He whispered. 'Sometimes I feel so safe with him. Almost like being with you, and then my head tells me that in all truth I barely know him and that I should be more careful. When that happens my defences go up and I pick a fight with him as an excuse to leave.'

'Why do you think you feel so safe with him?' Albus asked curiously.

Harry looked down at his hands. 'I think...because he reminds me of you.' He said softly.

'How?'

'He's always there. Whenever I need him.' Harry wrapped his arms tightly around his waist and Dumbledore's eyes dulled at the defensive action. 'He knows just what I need to get me through those dark times. He's stayed my hand many times, without even knowing he was doing it, just as you did, and he lets me be exactly who I am without question or comment. He has no illusions as to who or what I am and he accepts all the baggage that comes with me.' Harry's voice trailed off as he closed his eyes.

'Dear boy look at me.' Albus said softly and Harry's eyes opened once again. 'Severus cares more for you than I could ever have imagined. I would even go so far as to say he loves you, although he may not even know it yet. He too is unused to relating to other in such a way and it will take him some time to understand what he feels, but he will always be honest with you, even if you have to read between the lines to see what it is that he means. His anger and frustration about Hermione and Draco and your resulting guilt for what they have lost, stems from his feelings for you. That he cannot make you understand that you did nothing wrong. You have to understand that while your reaction to something you don't like is to ignore it, turn in on yourself and hope it goes away, Severus' is to get angry. You should just be thankful that the anger is not directed towards you, but is actually on your behalf.'

'I...I know.' Harry sighed.

'Do you trust him, Harry?'

'Yes.' Harry answered without thought.

Dumbledore hesitated. 'Do you love him?'

Harry's vivid eyes sparkled like emeralds as he thought about what had just been asked. 'I...I don't know.' he whispered.

Dumbledore smiled. 'I think you do, dear boy.' he said knowingly. 'And I think you're just as afraid as Severus.'

Suddenly Harry heard a voice crying out and he leapt from the armchair. 'What the...?'

'Harry?'

'Didn't you hear that?' Harry asked looking around. It had sounded like Severus but there was no way the man could have made it up from the dungeons that quickly.

'Harry, what is it?'

'Severus. I think he just called for me. But I don't know how.'

'I didn't hear anything.'

'Albus, what...?' Harry trailed off uncertainly.

'Go and find him, Harry. If you heard him call out to you then there is something between you. Something very strong.'

At that moment a shrill alarm sounded from the headmaster's office. 'The wards.' Harry breathed.

'Go, Harry. Quickly.' Albus urged and Harry needed no further, quickly disappearing with a pop to arrive moments later in Snape's empty lab.

'Severus?' Harry called out redundantly as it was clear the room was unoccupied. He quickly moved through the classroom and all but ran out the door, only stopping when he tripped over the still form of the potions master bare yards from his own door.

'Oh god, Severus.' Harry breathed, grasping the man's arm and turning him to lie on his back. 'Ennervate!' Harry cried, taking in the deathly pale skin and blue lips. It didn't work. Without thinking he wrapped his arms around Snape's shoulders and apparated them both to the hospital wing, placing the older man down on the bed as he hollered for Poppy.

'Harry, what is it?' The Medi-witch asked sleepily as she stumbled uncharacteristically from her office. 'I felt the Life Wards go off.'

'Poppy, please, help him. He's not breathing or anything. I tried ennevating him but he didn't respond.' Harry said frantically and Poppy allowed herself a moments shock before leaping into action.

Harry stood like stone at the end of the bed as Poppy rushed around casting spells and summoning potions; the only sign of his distress, the white knuckled fists at his side. Poppy continued to work but it was almost ten minutes before she managed to stabilise the potions master enough and she dropped her wand to her side and ran a hand over her sweat covered forehead.

'That is all I can do, Harry. I'm not sure how long he went without oxygen so I can't tell if there is any damage to his brain until he wakes up.'

'He will wake up then?' Harry asked hesitantly.

The medi-witch paused. 'I hope so.' Was all she could offer.

Harry glanced back at the potions master. 'What happened?'

'His heart stopped.' Poppy said bluntly.

Harry frowned. 'I didn't realise he was under such stress. I've been such a burden.' He added in a whisper.

'You misunderstand me, Harry.' Poppy's expression was strangely tense. 'He wasn't under stress, well, no more than usual. He was attacked. His heart was stopped on purpose.'

Harry stared between the medi-witch and the figure on the bed. 'What?'

'Viscus Quiesco.'

Harry continued his staring as if unable to comprehend what she was saying. 'A heart stopping spell?' Poppy nodded. 'On purpose?' Another nod. 'Someone stopped his heart on purpose?' Yet another. 'Someone tried to kill him? Someone in the school?'

'Yes.' Poppy finally spoke.

Harry's eyes locked on hers and she could see the fire in them. 'Who?' He breathed, leaving Poppy under no impression of the fate of the person who had cast the curse.

'I don't know.' She replied honestly.

Harry's eyes drew back to Snape as he moved around the bed to look down at the sleeping figure. 'I will find out, Severus.' He whispered. 'I'll not rest until they have paid.' He swore, startling Poppy at the utter certainty ringing clearly through the words. His next action startled her even further as he sat gently on the edge of the bed and lifted Snape's hand in his own, clasping it to his cheek.

'Don't leave me, Severus.' he whispered, leaning down to place at gentlest of kisses on Snape's still lips even as his other hand caressed the potions master's cheek. 'Please don't leave me too. I don't think I could stand it. Fight for me, Severus. Fight for me as I will be fighting for you.'

There was no response from Snape and Harry bent his head, resting it on their clasped hands for just a moment before laying Snape's gently down on the bed and without looking at Poppy quickly stood and swept from the room.

Poppy stared at the now empty doorway before her eyes landed back on Snape. 'Oh my word.' she whispered fearfully.

This was bad.

This was very bad.

And with that thought she all but ran for the floo.

'You must have been mistaken.' Minerva said tiredly, having been woken from a sound sleep but Poppy's frantic calls.

Poppy shook her head. 'I'm not. I saw it with my own eyes. He kissed him.'

Minerva sighed. 'I'll be down in a moment, just let me get on a robe.'

Poppy nodded and her head disappeared from the fireplace as Minerva summoned a robe, through in some floo powder and stepped into the flames.

Harry stalked through the darkened corridors back to the dungeons where he had found Snape and looked around. He could see the innate magic of Hogwarts lingering on the walls and closed his eyes, allowing his own magic out to search for some that shouldn't be there.

There, at the far end of the hall, he could feel a faint signature that was vaguely familiar. He racked his brain trying to connect the signature with those he knew but it was just too faint. It wasn't a student, of that he was sure. The signature was more mature, it was twisted, warped almost, and no student would have managed to develop that at their age.

The familiarity of the signature continued to niggle at him as he returned to the hospital wing, sending silent prayers that Severus would wake with every step he took.

'What if he doesn't wake?' Minerva asked hesitantly as both she and Poppy stared down at the pale, still figure lying in the bed.

The medi-witch paused. 'Then I think our world as we know it may very well be over.' she murmured. 'Harry won't cope with another loss as significant as this. He will walk away, wards or no, I would guarantee it.'

'How can this have happened? All the Death Eaters are dead. The war's been over for a decade. Who would want to hurt him?'

Poppy shrugged. 'I have no idea. But I might actually feel sorry for them when Harry finds them.'

'How was he?'

'Angry.' Poppy shuddered, remembering the look in Harry's eyes.

Minerva glanced down at Severus again. 'Merlin, Poppy, what are we going to do if he doesn't wake?'

'He will.' Harry voice, was cold, harsh and full of conviction and he all but ignored the two witches, both of whom had leapt sky high at his sudden appearance at the door to the hospital wing, as his attention turned to Snape.

'Harry...' Minerva started.

'I'm fine.' Harry replied curtly, knowing what was coming next, as he stopped beside them, his eyes never leaving the prone figure.

'Did you find anything?' Poppy asked hesitantly.

'Just a trace. I'm not sure who it is yet. It's familiar, but not.' He said cryptically. Poppy and Minerva exchanged glances. 'And no, it wasn't a student.' Harry added, knowing what they were thinking.

Poppy placed a hand on Harry's arm. 'Harry, dear, why don't you go and try and get some rest. With all that's happened it's been a very long day.'

Harry shook his head. 'No, thank you, Poppy. I'd rather stay here if it's all the same to you.' he said, his voice suddenly very weary.

Poppy hesitated a moment before patting his arm gently. 'Alright, but try and rest a bit if you can, please.'

Harry nodded and wandlessly summoned a hard wooden chair beside Snape's bed and sat down. Making it quite clear that in spite of his agreement only moments ago, the likelihood of his actually sleeping was almost nonexistent.

Minerva also patted his shoulder before grasping Poppy's elbow and tugging the medi-witch back into her office, leaving Harry alone with Snape.

The Boy-Who-Lived continued staring at the older man, his eyes riveted to the slight rise and fall of the man's chest as if will alone would keep it going. 'God, Severus.' He whispered, gently lifting the pale hand in his own. 'I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. I should never have come back. You've not had a spell sent at you in anger in almost ten years. I'm here less than a month and look what happens.' Tears filled Harry's eyes and fell unheeded down his cheeks but he didn't lift a finger to wipe them away. 'Please Severus, you have to wake up, you can't leave me now, not after everything. I...please…please just wake up.' Harry begged, leaning forward and grasping Snape's hand again and bringing it to his cheek. He had no idea if the older man could hear him and he didn't care; but he spent the next six hours talking softly, telling the older man about his time with Albus, all of the things they did together, and how sad he was every time the elderly wizard left to return to a world Harry had hoped he would never see again.

Every so often Minerva or Poppy would stick their heads into the room to see if Harry had drifted off so that they could levitate him to the bed next to Severus but it was fruitless; Harry didn't sleep, and neither did they. Eventually Harry stopped talking and the next time Minerva popped her head in Harry beckoned her over.

'Minerva, if you're not going to sleep either, can I ask you to send out letters to the parents. Tell them the Hogwarts Express will be arriving at Kings Cross with their children tomorrow night at nine o'clock. Tell them that with the incapacitation of two of their professors that it is in the best interests of the students that the year be finished early.'

Minerva stared intently at him for several moments, taking in the dull eyes and distress expression before nodding. 'I'll get onto it immediately, Harry.' she said gently.

Harry gave her a wane smile. 'Thank you.' he whispered before turning back to the figure in the bed. Minerva gave him a final glance before hurrying away to do as he asked.

Harry gave the older man one final longing glance before sighing heavily. 'I'll be back.' He promised softly before standing and walking silently from the room. He had an entire staff to tell and students to speak with.

Harry watched as the mail owls dropped hundreds of copies of the Daily Prophet, its headline screaming Malfoy's guilt. He allowed the students several minutes reading or gossiping time before he stood.

It took only moments before the student body was silent, all staring up at him in anticipation and Harry also saw awe. Obviously the entire trial had been reported and his status as a Mage was no longer a secret. 'Good morning.' He said quietly. 'As you can see Professor Malfoy is indisposed, and I would garner that she will remain that way for some time. Professor Snape is also currently unavailable for what will be an indeterminate amount of time and as a result your parents have been alerted to your arrival in London this evening. I ask you all to go and pack, be ready for the carriages to take you to Hogsmeade in one hour. That will be all, thank you.'

The student body looked stunned at his announcement; it certainly had not been what they were expecting but Harry just ignored it and swept back up the aisle and out the door, returning to the hospital wing, leaving a silence that lasted several minutes before the room exploded.

'Is there any change?' Harry asked hopefully when he returned to fain Poppy standing over Severus, her wand at the ready.

Poppy looked up and sighed. 'No, nothing yet I'm afraid. I'm thinking maybe St Mungos could help.'

Harry stared at Severus before shaking his head. 'No Poppy, you are quite capable. If you need a specialist then bring one here but don't move him. Hogwarts can't help him if he isn't within her walls.' He added cryptically causing Poppy to look at him quizzically.

Harry ignored her too, he was getting rather good at it, and stepped up to Snape's side, leaning down and gently pushing the silky black hair off the man's sleeping face. 'You're not leaving me, you bastard. Do you hear me?' He whispered. 'I refuse to let you.' He added, his voice cracking slightly. Poppy moved away, quickly realising she had no business listening in to such a private moment. 'Not at least until we find out what is really going on between us. Fight, Severus. Fight the darkness and come back, please.'

The final plea undid him and he quickly stood and disappeared as Poppy, who had been standing several yards, away moved back to check on her patient. She raised her wand to continue the tests she had been doing minutes ago and almost fell over when she saw the tears trickling from the potions master's closed lids.

'Merlin, Severus, can you hear me?' she cried, dropping her wand and grasping his hand tightly in her own. 'Severus, squeeze my hand if you can hear me.' she pleaded, her eyes locked on the hand clasped in her own.

There.

It was just a touch but it was definitely there. Poppy almost leapt off the bed with a yell but quickly restrained herself, instead leaning over and repeating the action Harry had only minutes ago. 'Just relax, Severus, you're safe here. Just relax, I'm going to get Harry. Just hold on.'

'Harry, my boy, what is it? I've been waiting for you to return.' Albus said worriedly as Harry burst into the room.

Harry shook his head, unable to speak.

'Sit down, my boy. Take a deep breath.' Albus said soothingly, trying to calm the Boy-Who-Lived who was clearly in distress. Harry sat and let his mentor's calming voice wash over him.

'Albus...' Harry whispered.

'What is it? What happened?'

Harry frowned as if in pain. 'It's Severus, he..he..'

'Just tell me dear boy.'

Harry looked up into the concerned blue eyes. 'Someone attacked him.'

'I beg your pardon?'

'Some cast a heart stopping spell at him. Someone tried to kill him.'

Albus' brows shot skywards. 'No!'

Harry nodded. 'Yes. He's in a coma, Albus. He won't wake up.' he whispered fearfully. 'I can't lose him too, Albus. I just can't.'

Dumbledore lent forward in his chair. 'You won't, dear boy. I promise you you won't. If you heard him before the wards went off then there is something special between you, something that ties you together and that will hold him to this world until it is fulfilled. You must have faith, Harry.'

'I'm trying but I'm just so scared.' Harry admitted in a small whisper. 'What if he never wakes? What if I'm left all alone again. I don't want to be alone again.'

Albus stared at Harry for several moments. 'If something does happen, and I don't think it will.' The elderly wizard added quickly. 'Then you are to come to me.'

'What good will that do?' Harry snapped, suddenly angry. 'How can you help me? You're dead, Albus. You left me, and now Severus will too.'

'Harry!' Albus growled startling the young man. 'You will stop this nonsense and listen to me. Severus is not leaving you. He will be by your side for many years. And when and if the time comes that you are alone then you will come to me and I will help you.'

'How?' Harry said sullenly.

Albus' eyes narrowed. 'There is something that will help you move on, Harry. Even before your time.' He said obtusely. 'Something I had Nicolas Flamel make up many years ago.'

Harry raised an eyebrow. 'Flamel made the Philosophers Stone, Albus. He worked on prolonging life, not taking it.' He drawled.

'One must burn both ends of the candle to reach the middle.' Albus said cryptically.

Harry stared at him for several moments before comprehension dawned in his eyes. 'You have something that will take life.' He breathed. 'You've had something for years.'

Albus nodded.

'Bastard.' Harry hissed, his eyes bright with anger as he stood. 'You've had something that would take away everything. All the pain, the nightmares, everything, and you've hidden it from me.'

'Death is not a release, Harry. It is a coward's way out.'

Harry flinched at the statement, remembering all the times he tried. Had this been how Albus had really felt? That he had been a coward?

'Harry.' Albus said softly but Harry shook his head.

'Don't, Albus.'

'Dear boy, please. That didn't come out the way it should have.' Dumbledore pleaded.

Harry looked away. 'Is that how you really felt, Albus?' Harry asked quietly. 'Do you think me a coward?'

'No, dear boy, no.' Albus said at once. 'You've had so much to deal with in your short life. I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am of you. All I want is for you to be happy. I want for you to live, and to love and to be loved in return. I only meant that choosing death over life is not a means of release. You have to have the courage to change the things you can, the patience to live with the things you can't and the wisdom to know the difference. You have so much courage and wisdom, dear boy, you just need to learn the patience. You cannot change everything and certainly not overnight. You're life will be better, Harry. I promise you that.'

Harry stared up into the tear filled blue eyes. 'And if Severus d..dies?' He stammered softly.

Albus closed his eyes for a moment as if unable to even contemplate the notion. It was another moment before he answered and his blue eyes suddenly burned just as brightly as Harry's had. 'Then you come to me.'

Severus returned to vague consciousness overnight, hearing Harry's soothing voice talking to him. His chest ached with even the smallest breath but he listened for as long as he could before the soft voice lulled him back to sleep.

When he woke next he felt the gentle hand push the hair back off his face. He heard the words. The strong, powerful, emotion filled words and wanted nothing more than to wake up. He wanted to hold the young man in his arms and soothe away the enormous distress and pain that was evident in every word. He heard Harry beg him to fight and he tried. Tried desperately just to open his eyes but he couldn't. He heard the choke in the young man's voice and tried to open his mouth to scream but it was fruitless and his eyes filled automatically with tears as he heard Harry leave.

He heard what could only be Poppy move closer to the bed and gasp. Moments later he felt her grasp his hand and start talking to him. Severus could hear the words, feel the hand in his but couldn't open his eyes, no matter how hard he tried. It took all of his effort to get his fingers to do as he asked and squeeze the hand holding his the barest amount. He heard the voice telling him to relax, that he was safe. Why wouldn't he be safe? He questioned idly as he felt her release his hand and go rushing off and then there was silence.

It was in that silence he heard the faint rustle of clothing and his mind immediately told his hand to reach for his wand. Not that his hand listened of course.

'You were supposed to die, Snape.' An unknown voice whispered harshly. 'It was supposed to look like an accident and then he'd be free to come to me. Well, we'll make sure of that this time, won't we.'