Disclaimer: *checks self* Darn it. I still don't own Harry Potter.

Chapter 101

The next afternoon found Harry doing his homework at Snape's bedside when the Headmaster strolled into the private room.

"Afternoon, Harry."

"Afternoon, sir," replied Harry as he glanced up.

"This evening we'll finish reviewing the memory of your time in Tom's Headquarters. Madam Pomphrey told me that she reversed two of the curses on him from yesterdays discoveries."

Harry nodded. The medi-witch had told him the same thing that morning.

"I also convinced her to fully quit drugging you - which means no more calming draughts unless you ask for them."

"Finally."

The Headmaster chuckled. "You'll want to keep a close eye on your temper and magic though. She's concerned you might blow up the hospital wing."

He groaned but nodded that he understood.

"While removing the curses that were placed on Severus will certainly help him. I fear that it may not be enough."

"What do you mean?"

"Whenever a witch or wizard becomes injured, often potions and spells help them get well again. However, their innate magic often speeds the process along. That's why when you get hurt, you're never in here for more than a couple of days."

Harry looked intrigued, but confused.

"What does that have to do with him not getting better?"

"From the limited understanding I have of the Dark Mark, I know that Tom has access to Severus' power. That is how he is able to torture him through it. My belief is that if we could block Tom's access, then Severus' own magic can begin to help himself heal."

Harry nodded. That made sense to him. "How were you going to block it?"

"I have an idea that involves silver warding, but I wanted to know if you've ever read anything that deals with what I've described?"

"No, but I've not read everything on the subject yet. I suppose there could be books on it but I don't know for sure."

"Couldn't you just ask ...?"

Knowing to whom the Headmaster was referring, he shook his head no. "Normally, they don't interfere with current affairs. I'd have to physically go look. I also imagine they're a bit peeved at me too for breaking the wards and having to reapply them."

"The wards would be a reason I get a headache and can't speak nor write about what I saw?"

Harry nodded.

"Fascinating."

He snorted then asked, "Can we try your idea? I have to go back to class eventually."

"It's a bit complicated, so I need to do some more research. However, I was wondering if you would do something for me in the mean time?"

Harry nodded as Dumbledore produced some books from his robe.

"I want you to read these two books. Since the Dark Mark was placed using parseltongue, I believe the warding would best be done in parseltongue as well."

He glanced down at the books.

'Combining Spells and Its Consequences'

'Magic Combined'

"I'm confused ..."

"When you place the ward, I also want you to combine what I come up with and the return to sender spell. Combining spells is not something you would learn until your seventh year, and only then if you take advanced charms and advanced transfiguration. I need you to read up on it since it can be dangerous. I'll answer any questions you have about what you'll have read so far after we finish reviewing the memory this evening."

Harry nodded and sat the books on top of his homework.

"I need to go. I'll see you this evening. Remember, keep an eye on your temper."

"Alright."

After the Headmaster left, Harry very quietly got up and knelt beside of Snape's bed. He then placed both hands over the man's swollen Dark Mark.

Dumbledore was right. Voldemort was actively draining Snape's magic. Why hadn't he realized that before? It seemed so obvious now.

Shaking his head slightly, he released his hands and sat back down in his chair.

With another glance at Snape, he picked up one of the books the Headmaster had brought and began to read.

Dumbledore sat in his office stroking his beard.

It was well after midnight and he should be sleeping, but sleep eluded him - as it seemed to do a lot as of late.

He and Harry had finished viewing the pensieved memory earlier that night.

The cunning and quick thinking the boy - no - young man had shown was incredible. His eyes had widened when Harry had done an elemental spell, correctly. Elemental magic wasn't something that was taught anymore because most students never get a handle on it and end up in the infirmary, or worse, St. Mungo's.

Maybe that was something he could teach to Harry. If it gives him an edge over Tom, then it couldn't hurt. At any rate, it would even the playing field a bit because Tom knew elemental magic and could wield it as well.

Albus removed his glasses and rubbed at his temples as he thought about how Harry was able to do things while holding onto a Dark Mark that he wouldn't normally be able to do.

What little bit of doubt that had remained was dwindling away.

With an audible sigh, he put his glasses back on and picked up the book he was reading. He doubted he would get much sleep until he found the answer he was so desperately looking for.

"Yeah, I feel better," replied Harry as he glanced at Hermione. She and Ron had brought him the past two days worth of homework.

"What about Snape?" questioned Ron, curiously.

"There's not been any change. Dumbledore had me read two books on combining spells."

"Did you finish reading them?" asked Hermione.

"Yeah. I have a few questions for him about it, but if he thinks I have a good grip on it, we're going to test it tomorrow."

"When are you going to do it on Snape?" asked Ron as he helped himself to a handful of Berties Every Flavor Beans.

"If the practice runs go okay, then hopefully tomorrow night."

Hermione placed the two books back down. She had picked them up to read a couple of chapters. "That is really advanced magic, Harry."

Harry grimaced. "I know. More than once I had to re-read a chapter."

"Good luck. I hope it works," said Ron through a mouthful of flavored beans.

"We need to go. There's someone out there asleep with a broken leg. We don't want him to wake up and become suspicious as to why I can come in here without the fear of your Dragon Pox being contagious."

Harry nodded. "I'll see you two later."

After watching them leave, he sighed and picked up his Ancient Runes homework.

Harry was finishing up reading some notes the Headmaster had made regarding the warding when Madam Pomphrey appeared at his bedside.

"There still isn't any change."

His face fell. He and the Headmaster had done some trial warding on a few golems the night before. Toward the end of the evening, he had came close to combining the spells properly. If the trial run went well this evening, he was going to actually place the ward on Snape.

However, he had hoped that Snape would improve some on his own.

"I know it seems hard, but you need to start preparing yourself for the possibility that he might not make it. I'm doing all that I can and you heard the Order member that works at St. Mungos say that there isn't anything she could do that I'm not already doing."

"No! He isn't allowed to die," protested Harry. "I won't let him. I have questions that demand answers."

"You keep saying that, but if it really is his time, then you need to realize he's going to pass on regardless," she said gently.

Harry scowled and shook his head. "I don't believe its his time. He would already be gone if it was."

Madam Pomphrey paused then nodded her head in agreement. "You should know that I do believe he loves you. During your many hospital stays the past couple of years, he would often stay by your bed as you slept. He often calmed your nightmares without the need for a dreamless sleep draught."

Harry startled. "He did?"

Madam Pomphrey nodded and closed the private room doors as she left to go check on her other patients, effectively leaving Harry to his thoughts.

"You're ready Harry," stated Dumbledore.

He had managed to do the spell right on the second golem without it exploding or the spell backfiring in some weird way.

"Are you sure? I don't want to hurt him."

"I am. You rest for a few minutes while I go get more supplies and you a Pepper-Up potion."

Harry nodded and sat back down in a chair by the bedside.

Ten minutes later the Headmaster returned.

"Why does that silver wire look different?"

"You can tell?" asked the Headmaster, surprised.

"That one has ... I dunno ... more of a glittery appearance and looks heavier."

Dumbledore smiled. "You're right on both accounts. It looks different because I've added my own protection spells to it already."

Harry became alarmed. "Won't that interfere with what I'm about to do?"

The Headmaster smiled. "Not at all. I was very careful with what I added and as long as the translation of the return to sender spell you gave me was correct, then they will not counteract the other magic."

Harry still looked a little pensive, but nodded.

After everything was set up, Harry picked up his wand and the silver warding wire and began incanting in parseltongue.

"Malashistapul dahtein ohistafe-ohh, Terrinkshtay-ahee kasah eessahhast, leenescee solhayliie eelitapithsah, ahsheshmetshtol Tiah Eahlent eeshnah.

Shixs-hai-thay shou-fholp-ahno, Tuoees-tahl nistaheet, sohl-fholkee kasah eessahhast eeiss kasah eesstay-ahhtay-hai aiecth-sah.

Malashistapul, Terrinkshtay-ahee, Leenescee, Ahseshmetshtol."

By the time Harry had said the last word, he had placed the warding wire to coil around the Dark Mark and had traced his wand along it three times, placing the spells.

"Excellent job, Harry," exclaimed Dumbledore when the young man had stood up.

After a minute had passed and he felt he could speak again, he slowly turned to the Headmaster. "What ... was that?"

"What do you mean?"

"As I did that, I felt a wave of magic go through me that I've never felt before. It almost took the wind out of me."

Dumbledore frowned. "Was it different than your trial runs?"

"Very different."

The Headmaster quickly scanned Severus. "You applied it correctly."

"So it's working?"

"Touch it and see for yourself."

Harry gently touched the silver coil. "It's hot! Won't it burn him?"

"No. That means it's working."

"Is it permanent?"

"Most likely not. I will keep an eye on it. We may have to reapply it again."

Harry nodded that he understood.

"As for the extra power you felt, maybe it was caused by the magic that was already on the coil."

"Maybe ..." replied Harry.

"You get some sleep. I'll check on you both later tonight. Remus should also be up here soon."

"Yes, sir."

As Harry put his pajamas on, it suddenly occurred to him where the boost of power came from. He placed his hand on the castle wall, again comforted by the magic he felt coming from it, and said a soft "thank you".

It was two days before Madam Pomphrey said that there was a little improvement in Snapes condition.

"Don't get your hopes completely up though," she said gently. "He may still never wake up."

Harry frowned but nodded.

That evening, he questioned Dumbledore about something that had been bothering him for quite a while.

"Sir, in my memory, you heard and saw the Death Eaters training. When am I going to get training like that?"

Dumbledore sighed, looking suddenly his age. "I ... am hesitant to teach you advanced magic. Not because I don't think you could do it, but more so because I would feel as if I am training a weapon. And you are not a weapon."

"But I'm no match for them. You saw them in the memory, what all they can do."

"You done well against Severus' guards."

"That's because I had the element of surprise and invisibility. I was lucky and know it. I don't even know what any of those training spells did that I heard them practicing."

The Headmaster frowned. "I am still hesitant, but I agree that you could use some advanced training in defense. After we see what is going to happen with your father (Harry inadvertently startled at the term), I'll see about expanding your knowledge in Elemental Magic."

Harry's eyes lit up for the first time in weeks. "Really?"

"Really." The Headmaster smiled. "I'll also see about having the other Order members teach you as well. It's best to learn different styles of fighting."

Harry grinned. "Thank you, sir."

The Headmaster nodded and watched in silence as Harry alternately worked on his homework and stared at Severus.

On the morning of the 14th, Madam Pomphrey came in the room and after scanning Snape told Harry what she found. "The scans are getting better, but there is still no change in his mental status."

Harry sighed with frustration. Maybe Snape didn't want to come back. Maybe Madam Pomphrey was right. He looked back up in time to hear her say, "and you'll be returning to classes tomorrow as well."

"What?" Harry was slightly stunned by that revelation. "What if he needs me while I'm in class? What if the warding fails?"

"It has been holding up just fine and the required quarantine time for Dragon Pox is over. You need to resume your studies and what little bit of normalcy that you can."

Harry scowled. "Okay, but I'll be back to sit with him after classes are over."

The medi-witch nodded as if she suspected as much.

The next morning, Ron and Hermione met Harry at the infirmary door.

"You going to come back to the dorm tonight, mate?"

Harry shook his head. "No. I need to be here in case I'm needed."

"Did you get all of your homework done?"

"Yeah. Where does the school think Snape is again?"

"The Headmaster announced a couple of weeks ago that he was gone on a family emergency. He's been teaching potions."

"Yeah. Neville's only exploded one cauldron in two weeks," interjected Ron.

Harry chuckled softly.

When he reached the Great Hall, everyone watched his progress to the Gryffindor table.

Some things, apparently, never change. Of course, no one had really seen him since before break began either, other than the first evening back.

Plus, he wasn't wearing his glasses now. So that gave them another reason to stare.

Thankfully, as he took his seat, Ron and Hermione sat on each side of him. He had no sooner put food on his plate when Hedwig flew in with a Daily Prophet, which was odd since there were no other post owls behind her. Surely she didn't out fly them all?

She landed in front of him, dropping the paper in his hands.

"Hey girl, I've missed you." He fed her a piece of his bacon. As she ate it, she pointedly looked at the paper. He frowned and slowly opened it. What he saw caused him to swear under his breath.

Death Eater is Boy-Who-Lived Biological Father

"Thanks for the warning, Hedwig." He quickly gathered his belongings and bolted for the door with Ron and Hermione on his heels.

"How did they find out?" demanded Hermione.

"Voldemort told all of his followers. No doubt they knew what day I'd return to class and held onto this until now."

From where they stood in the Entrance Hall, they heard a collective gasp from the Great Hall, indicating that everyone else had just received their Daily Prophet.

"I wonder if my Dragon Pox can suddenly come back."

"Harry, you can't miss any more classes. This is our O.W.L. year."

"Yeah, I know Hermione. Let's get to Binns' classroom."

Once there, Harry fully read the article. By the time he was done, he was furious. It indicated all sorts of things about him, his mother, his dad, and Snape. 'Honestly, how could the prophet be allowed to print this rubbish?' he wondered.

When he looked up, his classmates had arrived and were all looking at him as if he had the plague.

If he made it through this day without blowing anyone up, it would be an absolute miracle.

Severus was in Lily's arms. Their reunion had been blissful.

Yet, he couldn't help feeling as if something was wrong.

"What is it, Sev?"

"I'm not sure. I feel like something is missing."

"I felt like that for a long time, until you showed up."

"Do you not have the same feeling then?"

Lily humored him and closed her eyes. "It could be that Harry isn't here with us yet."

"Harry?" asked Severus.

"Our son, silly," said Lily as she kissed him again.

"Our son ... my son," he said around the kiss.

With a sudden start, a clear picture of Harry entered his mind.

"No, Sev. You can't leave. You've only just arrived."

"He'll be left alone, Lily. I need to go back to him."

She kissed him again. "Go on. Be the father I have always known you could be. I'll be waiting for you when it is your time to be with me again."

In the infirmary, Severus was tossing and turning, plus groaning. Madam Pomphrey was trying to get him to calm down.

"Son ..." he muttered hoarsely.

Poppy's eyes widened. He appeared to be waking up. She quickly sent her patronus to Albus.

"Son, where ...?" he groaned again.

The medi-witch quickly spelled a calming draught into his stomach.

The result was instantaneous.

Severus sat straight up in the bed.

"Where is my son?"

A/N: I willingly accept the flogging that I'm going to get because I was so late in posting this. RL has been nuts. I'm currently moving in with my dad and little brother, even though I'm still taking care of the other half of my family that's another state away.

Anyway, at first this chapter was like 1000 words long and I was like, that won't do! So, I parked myself in one of the libraries near my dad's house and I worked on this chapter for a solid week. My dad thinks I'm abnormal now b/c I like to go to the library instead of going out. hehe I hope it made sense.

As for Poppy noticing Snape at Harry's bedside, I mean c'mon, the woman practically knows when her patients eyes open. How could she not know this? She just figured it was him looking out for Lily's son, as opposed to him looking out for his son. She just never let on to Severus that she knew he was there.

As for the next chapter, well, it desperately needs reworked too. I took some of it and moved it up into this chapter without even realizing it. So I'm not sure what all it contains at the moment. I have another car load of stuff to unpack, so once I get it unpacked and put up, I'll be going back to the library to work on the next chapter. (I work better there, it forces me to focus lol.) Hopefully it'll be up before too long.

*sneaks and places food out for reviews amidst my flogging*