Harry was still at the exact same spot he had been at when Snape had left. The only difference was that he was curled into himself on the floor with a massive headache. He had seen the entire meeting from when Snape entered to when they dispersed. He had felt like Voldemort himself. Every feeling had been the same. The only thing that confused Harry was the mistrust and suspicion. There wasn't much, but it was there, though only when speaking to the potions master.

He would need to tell Snape that when he got back. Doubting that would be anytime soon, Harry slowly made his way up the stairs. He contemplated finding himself a potion for his headache, but immediately forgot about it when he thought of Snape's reaction to Harry going through his things. Instead he decided to lie back with his eyes closed. He nodded off wondering about how the hell those death eaters got into Hogwarts in the first place. Didn't the Headmaster check the wards two days ago?

It was late afternoon when Snape returned. Honestly, the battle wasn't as easy as anticipated. Those death eaters had thought of everything. There only problem was that they were outnumbered. It was almost as though the Dark Lord had known of the attack…. He would need to speak with Dumbledore. In the mean time, however, he would need to see what the boy was up to. He opened the door to the room in time to see Potter startle awake. Perhaps he shouldn't have made so much noise. Then he noticed the boy's scar was inflamed.

"Potter, what happened?"

"Err…. nothing sir. I.. had a vision, I think."

Snape looked the boy over closely, making him slightly uncomfortable. "On what, may I ask?"

"The meeting, sir. I could feel Vo…you know who's every emotion..and… I'm…not sure… you should continue spying sir." Snape waited for the boy to go on.

"Whenever he would speak to you, I could feel a distrust. I think he's suspicious of you…"

Snape rebuked sarcastically, "Of course he's suspicious of me, do you think the Order is any better?"

Harry flinched violently at the tone. "Sorry, sir…. I just thought I should tell you."

Snape knew that the boy had only meant to warn him. Not thinking too much on what he about to say, he said, "Thank You, Potter. But I am well accustomed to the distrust held towards me."

Reluctantly, Snape forced out the next sentence. "We shall be continuing occlumency, Potter."

Harry looked like he was about to start when Snape help up a silencing hand.

"I know very well how the last attempt ended. But this is vital, there is only a matter of time before the Dark Lord realizes that you have access to his mind, perhaps when strong emotion is shown by him. We will not have a repeat of last year, will we Potter?"

Harry flinched again, cautious after everything that had happened. "No sir, we won't"

Snape almost felt bad for referring to the Department of Mysteries. Almost. He did not forget the pensieve incident, but he'd be sure that there wont be a repeat of…that. He still felt obligated to slightly reassure Potter though.

" However, things will be slightly different this year. I…..realized…that I was being slightly unfair before…that will change."

Snape continued to surprise him. Harry looked slight incredulous when Snape had said slightly unfair, but he wasn't about to complain.

The fact that Snape said anything of the sort was enough. Feeling a weight settle on his shoulders, Harry looked up.

"So when shall we start, sir?"

Snape thought for a second. He had things to do. "Tomorrow morning at ten."

"Yes sir" Harry replied.

With that done, Snape left, making his way down to the kitchen. Making himself a cup of tea, he sat down at the table. Thinking back to what Potter had said, he couldn't help but connect it to the way the attack on Hogwarts seemed so planned. Maybe his time as a spy really was coming to an end. Feeling his chest, he made sure the invisible portkey to the back of the headmaster's office was still on. Once he was found out, he would feel helpless concerning the order. Being number two on the Dark Lord's wanted list wouldn't exactly be helping.

Then there was the fact that the death eaters got through in the first place. He nearly dropped his cup when realization hit him. He had gained entrance to Dumbledore's office with neither password nor permission. If only he had been thinking straight at the time this whole thing could have been prevented. How did he miss that? But… if the whole thing was planned, maybe the capture of Cardelus had only meant to divert their attention. But it still didn't make sense.

Snape was sure that when the Headmaster had checked the wards he included the floo network. Unless… unless there was a spy at Hogwarts. It could be anyone really. What narrowed it down was that not many people returned to Hogwarts during the summer. He knew speaking to Dumbledore about the matter couldn't wait, so after telling the boy, Snape made his leave.

Meanwhile, Harry was staring unseeingly at his books. Finally over the shock of Snape admitting his cruelty, he waited in trepidation. Although he had no reason not to believe the man, he couldn't help but worry over learning occlumency again. They both knew he was rubbish at it. And he still had no idea how to clear his mind! Snape would see all of those things he had tried to keep from everyone. Oh well. There was nothing he could do but wait. He ended up reading his defense text for the next hour, as he really didn't feel up to doing homework.

The conference with Dumbledore didn't go as expected, like so many other things these days. First of all, he didn't expect that anyone but the Headmaster could be in the office. Charging in there wasn't exactly the best idea. Especially since the guest was rather paranoid, holding a wand to Snape's chest the second he burst in. Then, Snape realized, he had seen this man from somewhere.

He couldn't put his finger on it, but forced himself to push the thought aside for later, having much more important matters at hand.

"Ah, well, Mr. Sherwood, I will be in contact," Dumbledore told the man, clearly in dismissal.

"Of course, headmaster" he replied, before departing, though not before shooting a glare at Snape, however, who didn't so much as look questioningly at the headmaster when he explained who the man was.

"That, my boy, is our new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher, Broderick Sherwood."

"I am sure that I've seen that man somewhere before." Snape replied, looking suspiciously at the door Sherwood had just went through.

"I'm sure you have, he is an undercover for the order." Dumbledore said.

Of course, Snape thought. He had seen that man at headquarters, once, after he had returned from a death eater meeting once.

Snape knew he would not get along with this man but, for everyone's sake, he would just keep his distance. As if suddenly remembering what his original intentions for visiting Hogwarts were, the determined Potions master began to question Dumbledore about the people who has passed through the floo network as of late.

It became a problem as the headmaster said that all of the teachers had come back at one point or another. Snape then asked if Sherwood had been to Hogwarts before this. After conforming this, Dumbledore stated that he trusted Sherwood.

Knowing it would be fruitless to argue, Snape simply shook his head and left the headmaster to inspect the floo network, the whole time muttering about trusting old fools, fully aware that Dumbledore had heard him.

Reaching the house, Snape made his way up to his bedroom. He was about to go in when he heard a whimper. Sighing, he turned around and made his way to Potter's room. Not forgetting what Potter did the last time he tried to wake him up, Snape considered dousing him with water. He rejected the idea and decided to call out to him by his first name. That seemed to work last time.

"Harry. Harry wake up!…. It's just a dream. Come on P..Harry. Up, Potter! Harry, it's not real!" Snape sighed. He steadily moved closer, ending up sitting at the edge of the boy's bed. He could see the boy starting to wake up. Less then a minute later the boy opened his eyes. He was trembling with a cold sweat and Snape allowed himself to feel.

He had realized when he had….hurt….Potter… that he was acting so cold because, although he hated to admit it, he didn't want to see P..Harry for who he really was. He knew he had to change that if they both were to live through the summer. He would get this boy to trust him. It wouldn't be easy, though, and Snape was struggling to find something to say.

"Would….would you like a glass of water?" Wearily Harry shook his head, not trusting himself to speak without a tremor in his voice. Snape had said it wasn't real. But it was real. They were all dead. And it was all his fault.

He looked up to see Snape staring at him.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Snape asked hesitantly.

Harry shook his head no. He knew he wouldn't be able to even if he wanted to. He was still hesitant to tell Snape anything. He grew up keeping everything to himself as a necessity, and old habits died hard.

Snape gave an uncharacteristic sigh before leaving the room. Two minutes later he came back, dreamless sleep in hand.

After thanking Snape profusely, Harry took the potion and was fast asleep a few minutes later. Snape continued to look at him. He looked so young and helpless, curled into himself like that.

Snape reached out to push away the hair from the boy's face. He froze when he realized what he did. Shaking his head, he blamed it on how tired he was. After changing and lying in his bed, Snape silently wondered about how Potter….no…Harry… was changing him. He wasn't sure if it was for the better, and he wasn't sure he was going to like it. But it was the way things were going, and he wasn't going to interfere with it.

When Harry got up the next morning, he was immediately assaulted with memories of the night before and audibly groaned. Snape had been surprisingly comforting about it. Harry still wasn't sure those comforting words hadn't been a dream. Not bothering to look at the time, he realized it was still early, he also knew he wouldn't be able to sleep again.

After finishing with his morning routine, he laid down on his stomach after taking some parchment out of his trunk. He use to draw all the time before, but needing to stay, and keep everyone else, alive, got in the way, and he stopped. It use to be the only thing he could do when he was younger. He would find small pieces of crayon thrown out by Dudley and use it to color. He had soon learned to love drawing. It gave him something to do, something that required concentration when he needed a distraction from it all.

All he had with him now was his quill. He didn't really wish to draw anything in particular. He decided to draw Hogwarts, his home. He had tried once, back in his first year, but that didn't turn out so well. Before he knew it two hours passed, and he jumped when Snape knocked on his door. Putting the parchment onto the desk, he stood as Snape entered. He told Harry that breakfast was in half an hour. Harry nodded, putting away his things and making up the bed before he went downstairs.

Looking at the set up table, he hesitantly took his place and, when Snape looked at him expectantly, he took some toast and a strip of bacon onto his plate. He jumped as the silence was shattered. He seemed to be rather jumpy that morning. "You need to eat more then that…Harry….they'll think I'm starving you at this rate." Snape said, piling some more food onto the boy's plate. "I'm sure you can manage that much, but do not force yourself if you can't." Harry refused to let his jaw drop open at the use of his first name, and he could feel his cheeks redden as he thought of the last time he tried forcing himself. As if suddenly remembering something himself, Snape asked, "Potter when was the last time you ate?"

"Err…I think…. I had some lunch yesterday, sir." Snape cursed himself. He had never given much thought to the three meals a day thing. He ate when he was hungry and there were elves back at the manor to take care of Draco when he visited. Unknown to Harry, a Hogwarts elf had brought over all of there meals upon Snape's request. Knowing he would not go to the manor this summer, Snape thought about starting to fix up the magical half of the house. Once that was done he would get an elf or two to make life easier.

Maybe he would start this afternoon, but right now he had a charge to teach occlumency to. Merlin help him if these lessons went as badly as last time. Seeing Potter finish the last of his orange juice, the two of them moved to the training room. It was different though. It now had a sofa at one corner and a water fountain next to it. For some reason Harry felt like he was at some sort of shrink's office.Why a water fountain when they could use magic? He turned to Snape, who was looking at him closely. He seemed to be doing a lot of that lately.

"Do you trust me Pot….Harry?" Harry looked down. He wasn't sure about the answer to that himself. Did he trust the Potions master? Honestly, he did. Yes, it was hard for him to confide in the man, but that could be said for anyone else he trusted.

"Yes, sir."

"Are you sure? This won't work if you aren't able to trust me boy," Snape rebutted.

Harry's flinch at this statement wrongfully gave Snape the idea that the boy wasn't telling the truth. But Harry hated when people called him boy.

"I'm sure, sir. I trust you." Snape nodded his head in acceptance.

"Ok Pot…Harry, try to clear your mind."

"Err… I'm still not quite sure how I am to do that, sir."

"Clearing your mind is different for everyone, only you will know what will work."

Harry wasn't sure if it was a good idea to ask Snape what he did, but decided to anyways.

"How do you do it?"

When Snape's only answer was silence, Harry decided that he shouldn't have spoken, and stared at his shoes, ready to apologize. But then Snape did reply, albeit belatedly.

"I actually learned occlumency at a really young age, from my mother…. She would sing... a song…and this particular song seemed to have... a supernatural tendency... to separate the pains of life... into another realm. It gave me... a sense of peace that allowed me to concentrate on building a shield within my mind…" Abruptly Snape stopped, realizing that he had said too much while in that trance-like state.

After seeing the look on the boy's face though, he wasn't too worried. He was about to see Potter's thoughts, after all. If Potter dared to repeat a word of it to anyone, the scrawny boy's life could easily be turned to misery. But maybe the Potter…the Harry… he had yet to see, could be trusted. Looking again at the boy, Snape saw that is was now he who was in a deep trance.

Deciding it best not to disturb him, Snape kept quiet until the boy opened his eyes.

"Ok, I'm ready, sir." Harry said serenely.

Trying his best to throw a weak attempt, Snape shouted "Legilimens!"

If Snape hadn't been looking for it, he wouldn't have seen it, but there was something there. A shield. It was fragile, and nearly see through, like murky water, but a shield nevertheless.

He was going to retreat, but then he realize he should wait and see if Harry would be able to push him out. Then a single memory captured his attention. He could feel the fear coming off from it. It was when Potter was in his private lab, where he had almost hit the boy. Snape had forgotten about that one detail, and now he felt rather guilty, especially since he now knew how Harry had felt that day. After he retreated, he saw the boy shakily standing on his feet, and realized he should've stopped earlier, but he was rather caught up in the memory.

"That was… not bad, Harry" Harry couldn't help but grin at the rare praise from the potions master. It took all Snape had not to scowl and take it back.

"Keep doing what your doing, but you need it to be much stronger then that."

Harry nodded, and again Snape casted the spell. There was no noticeable barriers this time. All Snape saw was flashes of memory. A young Harry making breakfast, Harry riding buckbeak, Harry running on a seemingly endless track. Snape ended it there. This time Potter was on his knees and breathing as though he had just ran a marathon.

When the boy was finally coherent, Snape said "Your first attempt had shown much more promise then your second. I don't know if it's because you were tired out or because you switched tactics but it's important we find out before continuing."

Looking at the boy more closely, he saw that …Harry was clearly in pain. "Are you alright Potter?", he asked.

"Yes sir…it's just… my head hurts a little." By the look on the boy's face Snape could see that the pain was a little more then a little.

After getting him the necessary potion, Snape asked "Is this a normal occurrence after every time you attempt to occlude, Harry?"

"Yes sir" he replied.

After the headache receded a bit, Harry voiced his thoughts. "Sir, is there no book that can help me?" T

here and then, Snape decided it was time to rid the library of anything dark.

"Ok Potter…Harry….I think that is enough for today. I assume you hadn't remembered how difficult it had been last time we tried to do this. I will attempt to search out a book you may read on the subject. Therefore, I will be in the magic half of the house for the rest of the day. "

Harry nodded, wondering what he was going to do for the rest of the day. Snape was wondering the same thing when he remembered something.

"When did you make use of the track?" Snape asked. As much as Harry hated to remind Snape of that day, Harry replied,

"err… the day I was late for breakfast…sir…. was I not allowed in there? I'm sorry, I didn't know I just thought you said I could go anywhere….but I should've realized you probably didn't mean it literally." As Harry continued to babble, Snape was outwardly groaning.

No no no no no no NO! Snape silently berated himself. But if Potter had been in there why hadn't he said something?

Or maybe he was just too used to a guardian berating him for nothing, but then he remembered how the boy had told him he shouldn't have been late….Potter thought Snape had gotten so angry because he was late? Was he really that mean to the boy that he would think that?

Snape suddenly knew that he screwed up. Badly. And then his reaction to it. The boy had only apologized, not even trying to defend himself.

Snape's thoughts were running wild. He was turning into his father, his sick excuse for a father. He couldn't let that happen, no way in hell. He would no long jump to the worst conclusion, not if the result could really be this detrimental.

"Potter, you thought I was angry because you were late?"

Harry swallowed, trying to remember anything else he had done wrong that day. Numbly Harry shrugged, wondering if it might set Snape off.

Sighing, Snape asked, "Have I really been that cruel to you that you believed me to react like that for you being late?"

Harry was staring holes into his feet, unsure of what to say.

"I'm so... sorry... Potter….Harry." Snape said.

Harry's sudden reaction nearly gave him whiplash. He saw in the professor's eyes the genuineness of the apology, the rare bout of emotion he had never before witnessed from Snape. His head started to spin, and Snape practically had to lift him to the sofa. Snape had just apologized to him! He didn't simply hint at it, he actually apologized! And for what?

Curiosity got the better of him and he had to ask. "For what, sir?"

"For reacting that way! Potter…Harry…. I thought you had left the house! Even if you had, look at the way I reacted! I am as bad as your relatives."

Now Harry knew that wasn't true. Compared to his relatives Snape was a saint.

"No your not. If you thought I left, I deserved that. It's ok I should've told you where I was going."

That simple sentence had shown how much the child had endured at his relative's hands. It angered him greatly that the boy had dealt with that.

"NO ONE deserves that Potter…"

It may have been the confusion Harry had already been going through, but it sounded as Snape was trying to convince himself of that as well as Harry. Harry was starting to find it annoying how Snape would alternate from his first to last name, but he said nothing. He rather liked it that the professor called him Harry and he didn't really want it to stop. It made it seem as though the potions master might actually like him…or not hate him at least.

Taking a deep breath, Snape stood up, emotionless mask back in place. Well, while I indeed regret my overreacting, there's nothing to be done about it now. Snape was going to the magic half and, knowing he needed to do something to help settle his conscience, Snape asked him,

"Would you like to go outside? You may get your clothes and other things if you so desire….but you must be back by seven, and, not that I believe you would, no going further then five miles."

Not stretching his luck, Harry agreed right away. He jumped to get what he needed from his room and left right after. Silently Snape wondered if he should have done that. It made no difference to his conscience, but he would live, seeing the boy content gave him some impression that he could make up for what he'd done.

XxXxXxXxXx Meanwhile, outside XxXxXxXxXx

"I saw Nate yesterday."

Dylan was speaking to his younger brother, Nick. The whole group was there at Dylan's house, watching TV and raiding the fridge. It was David that replied though.

"You .never. see the kid leave that house. Sometimes I wonder if Snape has him chained down somewhere or something. From what your mom told us, I wouldn't be surprised if that was true. Like father like son after all." Right after saying these words tough, he regretted it, and looked towards Danny, who was looking at them with a face void of emotion.

"It's alright. I don't consider that man my father." he said.

Danny had always looked and acted too old for his age. It was from the stress of taking care of his little sister and keeping them away from their father…before he had left anyways.

Dylan continued, "Yeah, well, I think I'm gonna invite him over for lunch tomorrow." Nick snorted.

"If Snape lets him outta the house." he said.

They all nodded in agreement at that.

"Well it wouldn't hurt to try" Nick said hopefully.

Unknown to any of them, they were all thinking the same thing. It wouldn't hurt them to try. Looking out the front window, Mat saw Harry coming out of the house and told the others. All of them were outside within the minute.

"Hey!" Sam said, the first to reach Harry.

"Hello…err… sorry about the other day Dylan…. I was sort of buzy.", Harry replied.

"Hey, no worries.", Dylan replied.

After a few more minutes of idle chatter, a group of them started a basketball game. And, of course, Harry was once again coerced into playing.

Great… another sport to make an idiot out of myself with. Harry thought, before following the others.

Thanks for reading, review Please! :)