Chapter 2

"Severus!" Horace gasped. He couldn't believe it. He thought that he had to be dreaming. He had been sure that Severus was dead. What was more, he had never heard his colleague say Harry's name like he was desperate for him to be OK.

"The dark lord?" Snape asked quietly.

Horace stiffened "He is gone. Your master has fallen. Harry defeated him" Horace said with an almost smile.

Snape did smile at this and Horace couldn't quite get used to the way his face looked. It was as if it wasn't Snape at all. In fact, Horace couldn't recall ever seeing him smile. "He's gone, it worked, the plan worked" Snape said continuing to smile.

"Plan? What plan?" Horace asked perplexed.

"I will tell you Horace I promise, but right now I need to get up to the castle, I need to see Harry". Snape said, attempting to get up.

Horace noticed that he didn't look.. well dead anymore, his eyes seemed to be alight with happiness and also eagerness?

"I don't think that's a good idea Severus. Most of the death eaters have fled and I suggest you do the same if you want to survive. It's over and anyone who aligned themselves with you know who.. well I don't want to think about the repercussions that await them".

Snape finally managed to get to his feet and sighed. "You are right, there are going to be many people out for my blood so I can't just waltz into the castle, but I need to see Harry. He is the only one who knows the full story". Snape said whilst testing his legs and wobbling a bit.

Horace was utterly perplexed about what was happening. Not only was Snape somehow still alive, but he wanted desperately to see Harry of all people and he wasn't running for the hills even though is master had fallen. Horace quickly came to an awful conclusion and pulled his wand on Snape. It was clear to im that Snape had survived using some form of dark magic, and now that his master was gone e clearly thought that killing Harry would make him the next dark lord. Horace wasn't going to let that happen. It was true that his slytherin side was telling him to keep out of it, think about himself and get out the way so that no harm came to him. However, he had suffered a lot at the hands of one dark lord and he wasn't about to let it happen again. The wizarding world had suffered too much and it couldn't take anymore. Just like he made the decision to fight in the battle of Hogwarts, Horace knew that he was ready to do whatever was necessary to stop Snape.

Snape held both of his hands up in surrender.

"It seems I have to explain a few things before you will believe me" he said whilst looking into Horace's eyes and letting down his occulmency shields.

…

Harry awoke again and this time wasn't as bad as the first. He remembered everything and the pain of loss and guilt still constricted his heart. But he found that he was able to breath and he was no longer crying uncontrollably.

The hands he had felt whilst he cried himself to sleep where gone and he wondered who they had belonged to, because he felt like he needed them again.

He knew he was never going to find out if he didn't get up. So very reluctantly he sat up and put his glasses back on. He felt so sore, he couldn't decide what hurt him most at the moment. Finally he decided that the pain in his chest was the greater pain and he would have the physical pain ten fold if it would make it go away.

He noticed that kreacher had laid out fresh clothes and a towel for him on a chair not too far from his bed. He looked down at the robes he was still wearing, and seeing the dirt, blood stains and ripps in them he decided that the first step would be for him to wash.

….

Once Snape had finishes telling Slughorn about Dumbledore's plan. Horace was sat down on a broken barrel clutching at his chest. "Merlin's beard!" he gasped in disbelief. He wasn't sure if he believed the story at first. But the more it went on the more Slughorn could see that there was no way Snape had made this up. Slughorn himself knew a bit about the dark arts and he had been the one to reveal to the dark lord what Horcrux's were and how they were used. He could also recall certain things that he had witnessed for himself that fell in with the story although Snape never mentioned it whilst telling him the story.

There was a long pause after Snape had finished and Horace was battling with himself. Finally, he decided that if Snape was lying, then that would easily be proven once he saw Harry. Besides, the boy had just defeated the darkest wizard of all time, so Horace figured that if Snape was going to try and hurt Harry then Harry would certainly be able to take care of himself.

"Alright, I will walk with you back up to the castle to see Harry to confirm your story. However, there is a problem because when people see you they are either going to try to kill or capture you". Horace said.

"I know, I expect that. However I am still headmaster and I do have certain privileges that will help me evade people for the time being." Snape said with a grimace. Horace could tell from the moment he was announced as headmaster he hated the job.

They proceeded up to the castle after Snape performed a disillusionment charm on himself that was so powerful e became invisible.

…

Harry didn't know or care how long he spent in the shower. He did cry some more, but he tried to tell himself that he was crying from the physical pain of his body. The many cuts and bruises that splattered his skin made it almost unbearable to move and wash himself.

When he was clean and in fresh robes he paused before he left his dormitory. He wasn't sure if he was ready to face it all yet. However he didn't get the chance to turn back and decide not to go down before there was a tentative knock on the door and Hermione came in.

She too was freshly washed and clothed, but she also bared the unmistakable sign that she had just been in a war. In that moment Harry felt a hint of comfort, for he was not alone in his sufferings. Hermione had been right there with him and she had suffered too. Harry clung to his need to make others feel better and managed to push aside his own pain for the moment.

"Kreacher can't keep everyone away forever Harry. We need to face this" she said kindly. Harry simply nodded. He knew she was tight, she always was. Thoughts of going back to bed and hiding vanished and he walked with Hermione out of the common room.

The devistion upon the castle was clear as Harry and Hermione cautiously made their way through the rubble towards the great hall, where Hermione had told him everyone was gathered.

However, as they made their way into the entrance hall Harry stopped suddenly. The last person he thought he would ever see again was standing at an a open door leading to a small chamber that Harry had entered before his sorting.

Snape didn't say a word as he backed into the chamber and neither did harry as he made to follow him. However Hermione held onto his arm and stopped him. "He's alive! But Harry we have to tell someone! Don't go in there" she said frantically.

Harry turned to her. "Hermione do you trust me?" he asked honestly. Hermione didn't answer, but she allowed Harry to pull her into the chamber and close the door behind them.

AN: Chapter 3 will be live some time tomorrow.