Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns all of the characters in this story. I don't own any of them.

A/N: Yet another chapter has arrived. Thank you to the growing number of followers and all of those who review. I appreciate and cherish each one of them that you give me.

Chapter 20

Severus stared down at the Boy Who Lived, in a conundrum. He had let the boy come into his private chambers that were adjoined to his potions classroom in hopes that he would calm down and they could perhaps talk more about his treatment and what they were to do now. Then he had left the boy to go get him some tea and slip a little calming draught into the tea for both of them. And he had come back to find Harry asleep on the very sofa he had left him on.

He didn't want to think it, but Harry was rather cute when he slept. His hands were folded angelically underneath his head, his dark eyelashes Severus was sure he had inherited from his mother sending dark shadows across his high cheek bones. He looked young and innocent, and the dark purple of his bruises seemed out of place, like a dark curse word imbedded into child's bedtime fairytale.

Despite how innocent he looked, Severus still did not want him here. Sure he was asleep, but at one point he would wake up and then Severus was sure that he would wreak havoc on his small but homey place. It was Severus' safe haven from the snotty children and no one besides Draco, Draco's closest friends on the special occasion, and Dumbledore had ever been in Severus' home. He did not want Potter to do something to ruin his home.

Severus took a breath and then reminded himself that he was trying to not judge the boy on the way he had thought he was. He would let the boy make his own impressions instead of judging him by his father.

But that meant that he would have to let the boy stay.

After all, it only the logical thing to do. The boy was tired and, judging by the dark purple bruises underneath his eyes that were not from harm, had not gotten a good sleep in a while. And if he had finally found slumber at this moment, who was Severus to make him leave it? Besides, if it was any other students that he had found to be abused, he would have let them stay without a single thought.

So Severus was going to have a slumber party with Harry Potter.

Harry twitched on the couch, shifting and attempting to stretch out his legs. This made his hips fall off of the couch and he balanced precariously under Severus' eye. The couch was a simple sitting couch, clearly not made for comfort. To be honest, it was the one that Severus always invited Dumbledore to sit on for that very reason. He knew that the headmaster would get tired of the lumps beneath him and leave quicker than if Severus had allowed him to take the comfortable chair that was next to it.

Harry shifted again, increasing the amount of his body not on the couch. Severus knew that it was only a matter of time before he fell and even if he tried to readjust him on the couch it would just happen again.

With a sigh he leaned down and scooped up Harry, cradling him against his chest. It was slightly awkward, given the fact that the boy was incredibly gangly and the nature of their relationship, but Severus managed to get back to his feet without dropping him. Despite the awkward pointiness of the boy's body, he was actually rather easy to carry. He was way too light for a sixteen year old and Severus vowed to stuff the boy with as many nutrition potions that was healthy when he woke up in the morning. He was struck by the fact that it was amazing that no one had ever realized the boy's predicament. There were so many signs, now that Severus knew to be looking, enough that it made him ashamed to have missed them all. His promise to protect Lily's son had not been upheld and it made his heart clench with grief.

"But I will," He promised up to the heavens. "I will protect him now, Lily. With my life, I'll make sure that he finds what he deserves. I will keep my promise to you."

Severus walked to the guest bedroom and pushed the door open with his shoulder. The room was warm and clean, the walls and curtains the typical Slytherin colors, although there was a bit of gold added in. The bed itself was plush and warm, and Severus maneuvered awkwardly in order to get the boy onto it with dropping him and jostling him awake.

Once he got the boy down he stared at him for a moment. What was he supposed to do now? He was far too old to be learning how to be a parent. Finally he decided on making sure the boy was comfortable. He pulled off the boy's shoes and tossed them into the corner and then took out his wand. With a single wave and a quiet mutter he transfigured the boy's baggy clothes into a pair of warm but loose pajamas that would allow him to move without harming his bruised ribs. Then he reached forward and plucked off the boy's glasses, folding them and putting them on the bedside table.

Severus pulled the blanket up over the boy, tucking it gently around Harry's chin. Harry fussed, making a low keening noise that resembled an unhappy kitten, and Severus paused his movements. Harry continued to toss slightly, and finally he put his hands on Harry's dark hair, combing his slender fingers through the ebony stands. Harry calmed instantly, leaning into the touch in the way a deprived flower leant towards the sun, and Severus sighed.

He really was far too old for this.

But that didn't mean that for Lily he wouldn't try to make Harry happy.