Disclaimer: I don't own HP or much of anything for that matter. *pout*

Chapter 103

Later that morning found Severus slowly blinking as he looked around the room. He scowled when he realized where he was. 'That's right, I'm in the hospital wing.' He very carefully reached over to the table where his wand should have been and frowned. It wasn't there. He looked under his pillow. It wasn't there either.

"I have it, Severus. I didn't want you to disable my bed alarms. Besides, you are too weak to do any type of magic at the moment."

"Return my wand, Poppy. I wish to go to my quarter's."

Madam Pomphrey sighed. "Severus, I know you hate the hospital wing, but you really are going to need to be here at least until the weekend. I'm still healing the damage done to your leg, arm, and back."

"You can come to my quarter's then to do so."

"I can't Severus. I need you here where the hospital wing can monitor you. You literally died twice. Albus and I both believed that you would not wake up. Remus kept insisting that you would and Harry kept telling you that you better." She quickly performed three different types of diagnostic scans. "Your magical core isn't as exhausted as it was and your bones are now mended. I'll return in two hours to put some burn salve on your back. If you get bored, call for a house elf to bring you some books. And just so you aren't tempted, the door is spelled to not let you out unless I'm with you." That said, she strode out of the room.

Severus sighed. 'That woman is so stubborn.'

Perhaps 10 minutes later, just as he had started to drift back to sleep, he looked up to see an elf staring at him. "Yes?"

"Professor Snape, I be asked to give this to you."

"Who is it from?"

"Harry Potter, sir."

Severus took it from the wide-eyed elf. "Thank you."

"You is being welcome." The elf then snapped his finger's and vanished.

Professor,

I hope you're feeling better today. I asked Dobby to bring this to you and leave it on your table in case you were sleeping. I won't be down today. I need some time to think and I don't believe Madam Pomphrey would appreciate me blowing up half of the hospital wing. My temper isn't the best right now.

You and Professor Dumbledore can go ahead and view the memory of your rescue without me. I'm not quite ready to relive it again. Just the thought of all the Dark Magic that was in the house makes me queasy.

Once you're feeling better and I don't feel the need to blow up everything around me, I'll be back down to talk to you. I have a lot of questions.

-Harry

Severus sighed as he read the letter. He carefully folded it and placed it under his pillow. He then fell into a restless sleep - the conversation that had taken place in the early dawn being the source of his nightmare.

"We'll have to view it above the pensieve, Severus. You aren't well enough yet to actually dive into the memory."

"Fine. Just play it already."

The Headmaster rolled his eyes and tapped his wand against the pensieve - making the memory that it currently held play above the device.

It started off with Harry running through Hogwarts. He was under his invisibility cloak, but since it was his memory, they could both tell where he was.

"He saw me apparate away? I didn't even realize he was there."

The next second showed why. "He has silencing charms on himself," said the Headmaster.

The memory darkened as he apparated away. When he bounced, they could tell. They watched as he hung around on the outside of the property. About three minutes later, Severus blinked in disbelief. "He just walked through the wards?"

"He did. He told me he could tell they were there, but not that there was anything special about them. I suspect that Tom used his blood for one of the wards' layer's - and if you'll remember, he has some of Harry's blood running through his veins."

"Which is why he was able to walk through them," said Severus with understanding.

It was perhaps 15 minutes into the memory when Severus frowned. "How did the Dark Lord not know that he was there? It clear that Harry can tell He was on the property."

"That, I can only speculate about," replied the Headmaster with a frown.

They watched as Harry made his way through the house, hiding in whatever dark corners he could. He had almost been discovered three times by various wandering Death Eater's. Severus was beside himself with anger. It seemed that the boy had heard all of his tortures. It was one thing for Albus to see and hear this, but something entirely different for his son to bare witness to his humiliation.

During some of the slower parts when Harry had not moved from a corner, Albus had sped the memory up a tad. Otherwise, it would take a full day to view the entire thing. Severus had protested at first because that meant he wouldn't hear what was being done to him but a glare from Albus had silenced him.

"I wonder where Nagini was during this. If she had been at the house, Harry would have been discovered right away."

"I'm not sure. Maybe Tom had her out doing something. You've got to admit that Harry has good luck in regards to some things."

"If that's what you want to call it," muttered Severus.

Around 10pm, they took a break to eat something and discuss what they had seen thus far. "We'll finish viewing it tomorrow, Severus. I need to get some sleep and so do you."

To Severus frustration, the Headmaster took the pensieve with him. Sighing, he rolled over and went to sleep.

The next evening, the Headmaster walked in to see Severus taking notes from a book. "I thought Poppy said to take it easy this week?"

"She did. I needed something to do, so I'm currently researching a way to improve the Reprimere Memoria potion."

"Any particular reason why?"

"Because the current version does not work for me since I've used it so much."

"Severus, your mind represses things for a reason. You should not tamper with what your body does not want you to remember."

As a response, Severus only sneered.

"Do you feel up to viewing the rest of the memory today?"

Severus nodded.

Four hours into the memory (with some parts sped up again), they watched in fascination as Harry moved throughout the manor, skillfully dodging Death Eater's as he placed various spells on doors, chairs, walls, and even an entire section of the floor.

He was almost caught by Wormtail once, but that was mostly due to Harry's own stupidity. Pettigrew had passed within arms' reach at one point. While Harry was under his invisibility cloak, they could still see that he was itching to get his hands on the man. They both could tell that he was having an internal debate with himself. Eventually the rat like man had walked away, unaware of the danger that he had just been in, because Severus had no doubt that if Harry had gotten his hands on him, while he wouldn't have killed him, he would have come very close.

In the memory, as Harry was finishing up his distraction, they heard Severus screaming from torture. It was unnerving. As the boy made his way back to the basement, they watched as he almost set the trap off on himself.

"That would have been about right. Setting up the elaborate trap only to get caught in it himself," muttered Severus.

They then listened and watched as the screams from the Death Eater's upstairs drew the Dark Lord away from Severus. "He had been about to kill me," murmured Severus. "Harry really did save my life."

Albus nodded.

Five minutes later they watched in shock as Harry broke through the wards in the basement. "How ... How did he do that?"

"Harry said that he could tell there were wards up, but not that they were anything special."

Severus could only stare.

The memory ended a few minutes later.

"My ... my. It's one thing to be told about this, but it's something else all together to see it, especially a second time through. You have an extraordinary son, Severus." When the man didn't even make a noise regarding that statement, Albus turned around to look at him. He was deep in thought. "Severus? Severus!"

"What?" he asked quietly.

"What are you thinking about?"

"How is he that powerful? I don't understand. I still can't wrap my head around the fact that he can see magical signatures."

Albus smiled. "I think it's wonderful. And you're clearly underestimating your own power. Lily was also quite powerful. I remember her hexes being unblockable."

Severus winced. He had learned that from first hand experience when he made her upset at him. They couldn't be dodged, evaded, or blocked against. They also shattered any shield. "But to be almost as powerful at you?"

"Severus," Albus said as gently as he could, "I believe Harry has already passed me up, and if not, then he will soon."

Severus merely looked at the Headmaster as if he had sprouted three heads.

Harry stormed out of the castle. He needed to be alone and he needed to be alone now.

At the door, he scanned the grounds and took off in the direction of the lake.

It was Friday. Four days since Snape had woken up, four days since the world knew the truth that Snape didn't even want him to know.

Four days since he had last seen him.

The past week was a nightmare. The teasing, taunting, and the lewd insinuations were merciless. Years with the Dursley's had taught him a great deal of self control but it was seriously being tried now.

He found a spot near the lake, and using a nifty charm Flitwick had taught them their second year, melted the snow around a rock, and plopped down on it.

The cold air made him feel numb, which was good right now.

He thought back to dinner and what a 6th year had said.

"Bet the reason Snape isn't around anymore is because he doesn't want you, Potter. I mean, who would? You're nothing but an attention seeking liar."

He would have expected that from the Slytherins, but that had come from his own housemate.

Surprisingly, the Slytherin's were being really quiet on the subject. He had even caught Gabriella giving him a look he couldn't interpret.

The liar comment had come because he had been over heard having a conversation with Ron and Hermione on Tuesday.

"I'm sorry, Harry. I've been passing on what I hear to McGonagall to be punished."

"Don't worry about it. It only makes it worse. Honestly, just because the prophet said Snape is a Death Eater and my father doesn't mean I'm going to turn into a Death Eater. That's like saying that because Malfoy's dad is a Death Eater, he's going to be one too."

"Uh ... Harry," said Ron carefully. "Malfoy will probably become a Death Eater."

Harry rolled his eyes. "There's still hope for the ferret. He isn't all bad."

Of course, a Hufflepuff had heard their conversation and spread it around before he could be stopped. As a result, the liar comment was now being directed toward him. Evidently some still respected the Malfoy name. Ron figured the boy's dad worked for Mr. Malfoy in some capacity or another.

He took in a deep breath and idly wondered if he could just disappear.

He was utterly exhausted. His friends thought he was sleeping in the infirmary, which he hadn't been back to. He had been spending his time in the Room of Requirement. The Founder's Library was still denying him entrance, which meant he was, yet again, holding onto too much anger.

But could anyone blame him?

He had been lied too!

First, evidently his mother had lied to Snape about him. Remus had lied to everyone - not outright but by omission. Dumbledore had told him that he had always suspected that Snape was his father, but never checked until his second year.

He knew about the paternity test and such now, but he still couldn't help but be angry.

When Sirius had died, he thought for sure he was alone again. He knew that Remus and Dumbledore both would have made good guardians but he doubted it would have been the same.

They both swore up and down that Snape wanted him but where was the proof? For all he knew, what Snape had been going to tell him was that they would never be a family - that serving Voldemort and spying came first.

In his mind, family should always come first, but maybe that was because he never had a proper one. Maybe it was simply different in the Wizarding World.

He furiously rubbed his eyes. He would not cry. It was a sign of weakness.

"Why does my life have to be so damn complicated?" he asked himself out loud.

A few minutes later Harry felt another presence. Without turning around he closed his eyes and tried to sense who it was.

"What do you want Malfoy?"

"How did you know it was me?"

"I have my ways. What do you want? I'm not in the best of moods."

"So I noticed, though I have to say that I was disappointed you didn't curse your housemate."

Harry rolled his eyes.

Without asking, Malfoy sat down next to him on the rock.

"Oh, do feel free to join me," said Harry sarcastically.

"Really Potter. Sarcasm doesn't suit you. How's Snape?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I know he's in the hospital wing and not away on some trip. You'd have to be an idiot not to realize this."

"So everyone knows?"

"No, but most people are idiots. How is he?"

"Why do you care?"

"Because he's my Head of House."

"That can't be the only reason."

"It's not."

Harry glanced at Malfoy.

"Look. I know he only just tolerates me, but I've always thought of him as a godfather to me."

Harry raised an eyebrow.

"When I was younger, he saved me from my father's wrath more than once, and I began to look up to him."

Harry sighed. "He's awake now, but I've not seen him since he woke up."

"So you really didn't know?"

"No. I didn't know."

"Why haven't you seen him?"

"I have my reasons."

"Potter, the entire castle can see that you're upset. The only way you are going to calm down and get answers is if you talk to him."

"Why do you care, Malfoy?" asked Harry listlessly.

"I once heard my father ask Snape why he hadn't settled down and married. His response was that he had no time for a wife and child."

Harry stiffened.

"I heard my father talking to my mother later that night, saying that Snape appeared to still be hung up on the mudblood."

Harry turned to glare at Malfoy.

"His words, not mine," protested the blonde quickly.

Clearly Malfoy didn't want to be on the receiving end of Harry's temper.

"It's clear you want a family. Well, now you have one."

"He doesn't want me, otherwise he'd have told me as soon as he learned it himself."

"Maybe he has legitimate reasons to have kept this from you. You won't know until you ask him. You have a good thing here Potter, whether you know it or not."

Malfoy stood up.

"Before you leave, do most Wizarding families consider family or duty to be more important?"

"Most of the time, there is no difference."

The blonde started to walk away but halted when Harry called his name.

"Whose side are you on anyway?"

Malfoy smirked. "My own Potter. And Potter ... thanks for thinking I'm not a hopeless case but really, enough with the ferret name calling."

Harry grinned. "I dunno. Ferret boy suits you pretty well."

"Right. And Scar Head, next time, curse your house mate. It will amuse me."

"Because we all know the world revolves around you," added Harry blandly.

He watched as Malfoy walked away and turned to think about the conversation he had just had.

"Still not been to see you?"

"No and Poppy won't release me so I can track him down."

"He's held onto his temper quite well this week. What's confusing me is that the Slytherin's are just staring at him. It's his own housemates that are being rude."

"I imagine most of the Slytherin's assume I'm dead from their Death Eater father's. I can only imagine the chaos all this is going to cause when they realize I'm not. Harry's not hiding his emotion's behind his occlumency shields again is he?"

"No. I've been watching him very closely."

Severus nodded.

"How is your arm? Any pain going through it?"

"It is no longer numb but the pain is tolerable. It feels like it's a residual pain from what it's been through."

"I can always ask Harry to reapply it. He knows that it might have to be reapplied."

"I won't ask him to do that."

"You don't have a choice, sir," said Harry as he came around the corner. "If it's hurting, I want to reapply it. Voldemort might have found a way around it. I'm sure he knows you're still alive."

"Harry," started Severus. "I do not want you to feel obligated to help me." The boy was becoming a little too good with his stealthing abilities.

"But I want to help. Even if you weren't my f-father, I'd still want to help. It's the Gryffindor in me."

"We could do it now Severus, if you wish. Then I can leave you and Harry to talk."

"I ... need more time. Let me help you now, sir, and I promise ... that if you want to, we can talk tomorrow."

Severus nodded and watched in fascination as Albus and Harry worked together to remove the silver warding wire and add the new one.

As soon as it was set in place, his left arm felt a new kind of relief.

"How does it feel, sir?" asked Harry hesitantly.

"Much better. Thank you both."

Harry nodded and made to leave.

"Potter."

Harry paused and turned around.

"I'm sorry for not telling you sooner. I really do want this to work between us."

Harry nodded and left the private room.

"What are you smiling about?" demanded Severus of Albus a few seconds later.

"You'll make a fine father, Severus. Just be patient through his anger. Now I need to go oversee a detention. If you need anything, have Poppy call for me."

"You are over seeing a detention? Why?"

"That is not something you need to concern yourself with."

The Headmaster then swept out of the room.

A/N: I actually had a good time writing this chapter, especially the Malfoy conversation part. I'm sorry it took longer than a week to post it, but I made a trip back to WV sooner than I planned. All of my cousins came in for a funeral, and they decided that since they were there, they'd throw my papaw an early birthday party, which of course, meant I had to go in to help him celebrate. =)

I never got around to fixing the line breaks in the previous chapters that FF stole. So, if it causes any updates to appear now, I apologize. I'm just fixing the line breaks.

Up next, Harry and Severus finally sit down to talk ... at least a little bit. ;-)