Harry awoke slowly, listening for what had woken him. He could hear the muffled clink of the ghoul in the attic above Ron's room, but otherwise nothing stirred this high up. He opened his eyes, sitting up, and looking around hopefully. His enthusiasm was rewarded, and a grin split his face as he saw the Potions Master silhouetted in front of the window nearest his bed.

"Severus!" He launched from his bed into the man's arms, which circled his waist encouragingly. "I missed you."

"Sh," Snape said, mindful of Ron snoring in the other bed. "I've missed you, too, Harry. I wasn't sure you would want me to come here, though."

"Why wouldn't I?" Harry asked, honestly befuddled as he pulled away.

Severus ran his thumb gently over Harry's prominent cheekbone. "Nevermind that; how is your summer going, now that you're away from your relatives?"

Harry shrugged. "Is it too corny for me to say its better now that you're here?"

Severus chuckled. "A bit. I will assume your friends have been accommodating?"

"More so than usual," Harry groused. "They've been walking on eggshells around me, and Ginny's gone back to being too in awe of me to speak to me. I wish I knew what happened in the Final Battle. Whatever it was has to be less interesting than whatever they've made up in their heads."

Snape's fingers carded through Harry's hair warmly. "Still nothing?" He asked in concern.

Harry shook his head. "No, just flashes. Lots of different colored lights, which I can assume were spells. And I remember someone shouting my name, but, when I try to focus on who, it slips away. I wish the Ministry still had control of the Dementors. Surely the Final Battle has become my worst memory."

"You would still only see the worst moment," Severus explained.

Harry pulled away to sit on his bed. "I know," He murmured. "But…Maybe if I could remember the worst, the rest would come with it. I suppose it doesn't matter, the Dementors are in the wind, so to speak."

Severus sat on the edge of the bed beside him. "It will come in time, Harry. You shouldn't let yourself be consumed by it. All things in their own time." He laid a gentle hand on the back of Harry's neck. "You should sleep."

Harry looked up into the unfathomable black gaze. "You'll stay?"

Snape smirked. "Always."

With a grin, Harry hugged the man again before crawling under the blankets of his bed. Even in the summer, Ron's room was so high up that there was a slight chill in the air. Once he was situated comfortably on his side, Severus lay down beside him, his arm wrapping securely over Harry's middle.

"Alright?" Snape asked quietly.

Harry nodded.

"What shall I speak of tonight?"

Harry couldn't help a chuckle. "Potions, definitely Potions."

He felt Severus lean over him. "Dare I ask what is funny about Potions?"

"Not Potions, per se," Harry chuckled. "It's just something that happened at breakfast yesterday. Hermione and the twins were arguing about a new potion for their shop, and thanks to your lectures about Potions, I wound up ending the argument by making a suggestion that was actually useful. Surprised the hell out of my friends."

Severus chuckled, and Harry felt it rumble against his back. Cool lips touched his ear. "It is good to know I still have some uses."

Harry twisted under his bed clothes so that he was facing the man again. "You're very useful," He murmured, touching the man's gaunt cheek. "Even without the war, there are still people who need you."

"You are kind to say so," Snape said, his hand shifting on Harry's back. "But I fear my usefulness has nearly run it's course."

"Don't say that," Harry moaned. "Please…even if no one else can admit they need you, you must know that I need you."

Severus pressed his forehead against Harry's. "I do know that, Harry. It is why I am here. Sleep now, there will be time for discussion later, I promise."

Harry settled himself in his new position, curled into Snape's lightly heaving chest. He listened to the heartbeat, slow and deliberate, and allowed the man's voice to lull him into peaceful slumber.

-Break-

A little more than a week later, Severus came again. Harry awoke as soon as the bed dipped near his feet. He sat up, stretching, and smiled at the man.

"You're here," He murmured quietly. He leaned over and wrapped his arms around the slim neck. "It seems an age since I saw you last."

Severus returned the hug willingly. "Are you well, Harry?"

The Gryffindor grinned. "As can be expected. Ginny's talking to me again, at least. What about you?"

"As well as can be expected," Severus answered, pulling out of the hug. "Have you had any dreams lately?"

Harry scoffed a laugh. "Dozens. But nothing I can remember, at least not about the Final Battle, which I know is what you're asking about. I've missed you, you know. Why have you stayed away so long?"

"Do you need me to come more often?"

"No," Harry said, rolling his eyes at the concern in Severus' tone. "Not need, per se, I just want you to come more often. Do I need a motive now to want to see you?"

Severus smirked. "Cheeky brat. Are you sure nothing has happened?"

Harry frowned, hesitating. "Well, there was one thing," He said softly. "I suppose there's no point keeping it from you. Ron and I got in a fight the other day. I told you that Ginny has started treating me normal, right? Well, her first act as a return to normal was to try to kiss me. I-I pulled away, and when I tried to explain that I just didn't feel that way about her anymore, she sort of flew off the handle. Started crying and screaming about me leading her on. That's when Ron got involved. As soon as he heard her side of the story, he punched me."

"I see," Severus said. "So you meant that you fought literally."

"Yeah," Harry agreed. "I'm not a very good fighter. I'm better at dodging than hitting, and eventually I got so fed up that I cast Levicorpus on him."

Severus smirked. "Ah, one of my better inventions."

Harry blushed. "Yeah, I sort of figured it was you I'd become so enamored with in that book. Why else would you ask for my Potions text, if you didn't know firsthand what was in it? Anyway, I finally got Ron to calm down enough to hear my side of the story. He's still pissed at me, same as Ginny is, but at least now he doesn't think I was deliberately leading on his baby sister. I really thought I was attracted to her last year. Now, well…I don't know why, but I just don't feel the same anymore. Maybe it's because, remember all of it or not, I've survived a war, and she will never understand what I went through the last six years."

Severus cupped his cheek gently, and Harry leaned into the warmth. "There are very few who would understand fully, Harry."

"You do," Harry pointed out. He blushed when he realized what he'd said. "I-I mean…oh, I don't know what I mean. I just…I'm really glad you're here, is all. Now come on, it's your turn. Why have you stayed away for so long?"

Severus drew back. "I've been afraid to come," He admitted softly.

Harry frowned and pulled away slightly to look into the glistening onyx gaze. "Why? It-it isn't something I've done-"

"No, Harry."

"Then, what-?"

"Something I've been struggling with," Severus answered gently. "You need not concern yourself."

Harry scowled. "And what if I want to concern myself?" He asked hotly. "I told you, I want you to trust me. Part of that is sharing things like what's bothering you at any given time."

Severus hesitated visibly, and Harry frowned.

"It is me, isn't it?" Snape nodded. "What have I done? Whatever it is, I'll fix it!"

"No, Harry, that isn't it. You haven't done anything," Severus insisted.

Harry's frown deepened. "Then why-?"

"I'm sorry, Harry. I cannot tell you," Severus interrupted. "It is far too personal."

"So you don't trust me," Harry accused.

"I do, Harry," Severus swore.

Harry scowled and lay on his bed, curled into a tight ball as tears leaked from his startling green eyes to soak his pillow. He was angry, but more than that, he was hurt. All this time he had foolishly convinced himself that the trust and friendship he'd felt between them was mutual. To learn now that that was not the case…

"You should go," Harry murmured, refusing to look at the man sitting at the foot of his bed.

He heard Snape sigh noisily. "Harry-"

"I don't want to hear anything you have to say, Snape," Harry growled, still refusing to look.

The weight on his bed shifted. "I'm sorry, Harry."

Harry sniffled silently as he felt the weight on his bed vanish completely. After a moment, he chanced a look around. Snape had gone. Burrowing his face into his pillow, Harry wept. It almost didn't matter that the man apparently didn't care to come here, almost didn't matter that their friendship wasn't as real as Harry had thought. He'd just sent away the one thing that kept the nightmares at bay, the one person he'd convinced himself to fully trust. He'd lost the one person he cared for the most, probably forever. The man's betrayal felt less painful than the idea that Harry would never share a late night with him again.