Thank you Zeugma412 and PadmeG!

Elatinde: Aww, this makes me really happy! And honestly, same! LOL!

BlueWater5: Many parallels and history re-emerging in this story. A chance for Severus to make his own choices governed by his experiences and learned lessons.

A5mia: Severus and Dawn have a wonderful duality that is fun to explore, and each drawing into qualities of the other in which they seek. I can't wait for you to find out more about her. Severus with Teddy is hilarious because he doesn't want to be seen as 'soft'. That's like a parent showing up to your workplace, LOL! And with Lily, well…there's a very significant resolve coming up that will be absolutely worthwhile and satisfying.

PearlM21: I love writing Teddy – he's such a cute little addition! And is teaching Severus a lot of unexpected lessons. Severus' anger get's the better of him, sometimes, still.

"Sometimes that's all you need. Someone who gets it. A little light in the darkness. Some empathy in a cold world. A little understanding of the chaos inside."

– JmStorm

CHAPTER 33: On Hallowed Paths

March 21st, 2003

[Dawn Rheingold]

Since the arrival of the remaining Potters to Hogwarts several weeks prior, Dawn had been so enamored with the young child that she allowed her emotions to get the better of her. She could feel Severus' eyes upon her at times, but she tried desperately to sidestep his concerns after that incident. She knew he had noticed. Seen something.

Did he notice the stretchmarks across her abdomen when she was injured those months ago? Surely not? But he couldn't stop staring at her in apprehension…

No, he couldn't have seen. Surely not. The last thing she desired to share with him was her painful loss. Perhaps he knew or somehow figured it out. The thought alone made her ashamed of herself, for allowing any ounce of her grief to bleed through. She didn't want anyone to know because that loss was her own heartache to bear.

But seeing Teddy brought about emotions she thought were long buried. Something about that child caused her to feel aggrieved again and it left her upset for weeks. Severus had been cautious in interacting with her since that day and she had noticed the way he gave her the space she needed. She was frustrated, impatient, and extra snappy toward her colleagues. But regardless of the dullness in her mood, he still gave her space. For that, she was relieved. Only she could deal with her emotions, and as much as Severus had been a welcome company in recent months, he could not help her through this pain.

This was the path she needed to overcome on her own, even though that loss was not a recent one. But it still felt as if it was.

To make her feel far worse about the things in her life at that moment, there had been another Muggleborn death – a teenage wizard with the bleeding Dark Mark etched across his left forearm. Word of this devastation had reached Hogwarts via The Daily Prophet, and she knew it was only a matter of time before an uproar would explode within the community. People were no longer blinded by the random disappearances and emergence of those victims now slaughtered.

They were beginning to have ideas about what was happening, and the rumors would as be vile as the next. Her stomach churned at the thought.

Dawn had skipped lunch that Friday, giving Harry notice to instruct the next class. She felt overwhelmed and she needed a place to gather her thoughts. Through Harry's worry, he must have contacted Severus who had apparently spent some time finding her that day. Perhaps her unusual disappearance in the Great Hall raised some concerns, but her mind was too clouded to appreciate the gesture. She was never one to be visibly stressed, often masking her worry behind a smile, but truthfully, she was very unsure of herself.

Scared, even.

He had found her wandering the grounds in her bid to clear her head, and with a slight exasperation, she took a seat beside the elegant fountain in the courtyard. She was thankful to be outside whilst the students were in lessons, so the moment outside provided her with some well-needed clarity.

Eventually, he found her. Severus had stopped and watched her gingerly take a seat. He looked around – equally as relieved for the privacy – and planted himself beside her.

"If you so desire a Calming Drought, I can provide one, " Severus finally asked, breaking the silence that was becoming a little too much for her to bear.

"No, it's alright. I'll be fine, " Dawn offered a small smile, but it felt forced and insincere, "I'm sorry for breaking our little after lunch tradition…I have a lot on my mind."

"That is painfully obvious, " Severus responded, rather deadpan. She could feel his eyes upon her, but she did not desire to look at him, focusing her gaze on the gentle ripples of the water in arm's reach. Taking note of her silence, Severus continued lowering his tone, "This case of yours is running you to the ground. Minerva has also taken notice…She is not oblivious."

She ran a few fingers through her windswept blonde locks, untangling the waves that had become knotted and unkempt in her disarray, "My team is handling it. I input and assist when I am required to."

"And yet it seems as if you are running into dead ends."

Dawn shot a hopeless look at Severus, "I – we have this. I – "

He shook his head, rendering her silent, "I do not believe you do."

Dawn heaved a defeated sigh, "Severus, I know what you are trying to do."

"You cannot do this on one's own, Dawn, " Severus said, finally. He looked a little unsure of himself; eyes hooded, and almost conflicted, "Those murders are no longer much a secret. Something is amiss, and yet these culprits are covering their tracks well."

"Then why kill some Muggleborns, and kidnap others?" She didn't mean for her tone to grow angry, but the entire situation left her feeling incredibly lost.

Severus paused for a moment, "Perhaps they offered for them to join them in exchange for their lives. It appears to me as some of them refused the offer."

Dawn tilted her head towards him, with a sudden interest in his words, "You feel the similarities with this, don't you, Severus?"

He at first, hesitated. Dawn noticed that he instinctively reached for a spot in his forearm, when eventually he nodded, distastefully, "It appears to be a typical Death Eater recruitment tactic. That is if this group are actual Death Eaters or have modeled themselves similarly. Regardless, someone in that group continues to be a Death Eater….And that deeply concerns me."

"I suppose that explains why the Dark Mark was etched within the skin of the deceased. As a warning to anyone else refusing their offer. Very brutal, " Dawn responded thoughtfully, taking in the man's words which now seemed to make so much sense.

"Precisely, " Severus steepled his fingers together, "This problem may be far more serious than originally presumed, especially if this continues to escalate."

"I figured as much. Do you – " Dawn paused, to gather her thoughts. She wasn't even sure how to word this, " – We discovered they are using a type of illusion magic, masking these crimes, and throwing us off this trail. Magic I've never seen before in all of my years on the job. Ring any bells?"

Severus appeared confused, but it was apparent to her that it was also new to him, too, "Surely not a concept I am aware of, or versed in."

"It shrouds the witnesses, clouding their sight, giving them false images, " Dawn continued, feeling more exasperated by the minute the more the case appeared to further stress her.

He shook his head, "Charms are not my forte. I'll have to observe such magic in order to decipher it. Until then, I have no suggestion for you in that regard."

"We – I – are all at a loss, " Dawn bit her lip, before turning to Severus almost pleadingly. Asking for help was the last thing she wished to do, but she was desperate, "We could really use your expertise here. And, well, take you up on your offer. If it still stands."

"I said I've advise only. I decline any further physical involvement with Death Eaters or anything else pertaining to them, " Severus appeared stricken, his eyes flickered in what looked like fear, "Those days are far behind me, and I wish to keep it that way."

"As a liaison, Severus. I'm not asking you to spy within their ranks as you did. I won't make you do such a thing, " Dawn paused for a moment, soon drawing in a soft breath, "Your knowledge, your experience, could help us find them and put an end to all of this. Please consider. Your assistance is well-valued."

"I'll do what I can to assist, but my involvement will remain limited for obvious reasons. I refuse to put myself through that again."

"I understand, " Dawn said, appreciatively, "It will bring me much relief, regardless."

"Just do not put so much faith in my word. I merely enforce speculation, nothing more, " Severus said, bluntly.

Dawn raised her chin to eye him directly, glancing into the cautious, flickering eyes that were boring into her own, "I know people, Severus. In my line of work, we need to be able to read people. Occlumens, or not, you're one of the very few people who don't send off my Auror alarm bells."

Severus quizzically raised an eyebrow, clearly immune to that attempt at humor, "All the more reason to stay alert."

Dawn allowed her worries to subside, exuding a small smile in relief, "You can also put a little more trust in me, too."

"Ah, yes. The Death Eater working alongside an Auror. How rewarding, " He clicked his tongue, with sarcasm dripping from his lips.

The woman tilted her head amusingly, "Oh, come on, now. Ex-Death Eater, Severus. How many times do I need to drum it into that head of yours? You're not one of them anymore. When are you going to accept that?"

Severus initially frowned in disbelief, but his face once rigid and tense from the idea of it, began to soften.

His eyes flickered in defeat.

You're not one of them, Severus. I promise you…you are far better than they.

March 28th, 2003

[Severus Snape]

Why does healing have to hurt so much?

It never runs on one simple course, and within it, contains loops and dead ends enough to make one's head spin. Backtracking when you feel like you're not heading where you want it to and making turns beyond your control. Healing is unpredictable and sometimes the pain just won't leave when you thought it was gone forever. It lingers as if the fire still burns at its surface with no end to the searing agony. Sometimes it's all but a dull ache, but it is always there. It's always testing your resolve, but instead of it making you stronger, it all but weakens every fiber of your being until you cannot take anymore.

Until it feels as if there is nothing left.

The pain is often accompanied by sadness - a longing for a reprieve, grieving for a life before the pain. If that ever existed and he didn't know what that was meant to feel like. What does a pain-free life suppose to feel like? He longed for it. He grieved for something he never had and the strong desire to be free of such tiresome constraints haunted every second of every day. He just wanted to breathe free without that heavy anguish of his life weighing him down.

But grief isn't always when you lose someone. Grief is also for a life he could have led had his choices been different. Grief for a man who he could have been if he only learned to allow love to touch him, rather than hatred. Grief for ambitions that never stood a chance. Grief for wishes long since lost in the either. Grief for eternal companionship he may never find. Grief for someone he wished he was.

There had to be more to this life. His life. There had to be more than the unfulfilling existence he led, and the worthlessness he felt. If he couldn't change his own life, he hoped he could at least, change someone else's. What good would a miserable fool like him be? He was no good to anyone, whether it was true or not, but it was simply how it felt.

His mood was declining again, which was obvious, and it always seemed to happen in frustrating waves. He was sick of it. Sick of feeling so worthless and a waste of oxygen. He didn't feel like he was truly living, and merely existing hurt him more than enough these days. He was no better than the Hogwarts ghosts floating aimlessly down the halls in their endless loop of a dead life.

No matter how much he tried to do better, he never felt like he did.

Some moments he'd feel nothing, sitting in the Great Hall with a blank stare, wishing for the day to be over just so he could do it again tomorrow. Some moments were just the agonising wait for the time he arrived back in his private quarters, until the dam burst, the tears flowed, and he wondered why he ever chose to live in the first place.

Every day was a different battle in his mind, and he only silently begged for consistency. Waking up and not knowing how cooperative his mind would be, was his own personal hell. His mind screamed so loudly, and yet no one had the capacity to listen to it. He was sick of hearing his own self-deprecating voice and someone else's would have been a welcoming reprieve.

Recently he had been thinking about Lily and he wasn't sure why. The constant nagging in the back of his mind by his own demeaning voice always seemed to be at war with Lily's. What on earth would she make of him now? She'd pity him, surely. Possibly scold him for not even trying hard enough. He didn't know what she would think if she was still alive. Would she have even cared? What would she think? What would she say?

Why am I seeking approval from a damn dead woman?! What wretched madness has taken hold of me?!

But he could sense something different as the weeks went on. He wasn't sure what it was, or why, but he could feel a change within him that still proved quite unfamiliar. Perhaps it was the times he spent with Dawn, that made him realise certain things within himself. Or perhaps it was her who seemed to knock some semblance of sense into him. That of which he clearly needed, but to his begrudging admittance.

His inner voice was the worst part of himself, but Dawn's voice…That was something else he couldn't fathom. The way her tone gently burst through his own inner cries, comforting a part of him that he never knew needed comforting. Her voice had a strange effect, that of which exuded kindness and patience. She wasn't needlessly harsh, or demeaning. She was soft with her words, and each one was filled with so much genuine sincerity and honesty that she didn't even seem real.

She listened. No matter what he said, she listened. And she cared about the words he spoke.

She didn't lie to make him feel better, as much as his own inner voice tried to convince him otherwise. But her voice…

…Her voice had far more of a profound effect than he ever deemed it possible. And it was a strange feeling because during the moments he felt so low, he craved to hear it.

To hear her.

Oh, he was confused. Bewildered.

Severus' mind had been drifting strangely that day in constant pondering of the recent months he spent in his return to Hogwarts. Life had taken such an odd turn, that being back had ignited a new pathway for him. One of hope, despite how little or non-existent it felt at times. But it was purposeful. And he needed purpose.

The accepting offer of his assistance with Dawn and the gruesome investigation she was working on, was not what he ever expected to be doing. Dawn, an Auror, working alongside him, an ex-Death Eater. Admittingly, the case did fire off a sense of sickening unease within himself, feeling the familiarity of the events already taken place. Of course, being a liaison, he wasn't privy to the details, but Dawn had told him enough for him to provide any help where he could. He didn't like the sound of what was happening, but things were getting worse and whispers in the community made it difficult to remain unbothered by the startling events.

But the way she described the cult-like features of her experiences, gave Severus a sense of familiarity. Despite her explanation, she refused to describe her own attack which left her bleeding in the Hospital Wing. But regardless of that, Severus had not stopped thinking about what was going on without them knowing.

Muggleborn deaths and kidnappings. Women being used and abused. Broken Death Eater masks. Etched Dark Marks into the skins of their victims. Hooded figures. Illusion charms. Slytherins accused. Manic creatures with unusual deaths…

…What the bloody hell was going on?

That had to be all connected somehow. It just had to be. And everything was happening at once, so it can't just be a simple coincidence. Things were far more severe than even Severus presumed, and the worry upon a usually composed woman such as Dawn was enough to spark concern within himself. If these horrors had affected this Auror as much as they did, then these odd findings should not be ignored.

But as if that wasn't enough to ignite chaos, there was another incident several days later in Severus' seventh-year Potions class which also left him in mere disbelief, and he knew very well that the universe was testing him.

"Miss Dean, I said the yellow wings, not the red ones, " Severus rounded the corner of one of the workbenches during an afternoon class, with the Gryffindor working on her assignment with obvious beads of sweat down her neck. From his towered view of the students, he noticed several of them working feverishly over their cauldrons in their mad scramble to procure a decent brew in the allocated time they had left. "Ten minutes remaining – "

He could have sworn one of the students let loose an expletive under their breath, earning a sharp glance of warning from the Professor himself before the student quickly refocused on their task. The anti-emetic elixir wasn't a particularly complicated brew, but the simple ingredients however basic required absolute care and precise timing of methods and administration. Of course, teaching the sixth years wasn't exactly on par with those more adult and more qualified. But Severus had placed them under pressure, cutting down the initial time and testing their perseverance and willpower.

That would either make or break a student.

"You should, at this point, be ready to add the dragon's blood. Four drops, and only four – "

Instead of the expected groans of panicked students, something else happened.

There was a small bang that sounded, almost like the crackle of fireworks followed by a scream, before the scent of singed hair gave way to heavy dark fumes pooling from the cauldron like a mist in the swamp.

"Out! Get – out - now!" Severus barked orders in between coughs and watery eyes, fumbling within his sleeve to retrieve his wand.

The room quickly filled with thick black smoke with a flurry of students gasping for clean air. Coughs and splutters sounded as they scurried to the door. Severus had thrown the edge of his cloak over his nose and mouth and swiped the air with his wand on the other hand in his desperate bid to clear the poisonous fumes as he went. Some of the students tripped over chairs and tables that they could not see.

The students began to pile into the corridor one by one, with Severus the last to leave. In a mad scramble of his wand, he finally shut the door and ushered an incantation, dousing the door in a glow of light. Breathless and smoke-affected, he turned sharply to the students, absolutely lividly.

"When I find out who sabotaged – !"

Immediately, a chorus of protested voices sounded and echoed through the corridor, in a mixture of denial and shakes of the head. Severus eyed each student one by one, but neither of them showed any ounce of guilt.

But…they were shaking, afraid.

When the voices became all too much for his rising headache, he raised his palm up to silence them, "That is quite enough! When I get to the bottom of this – "

There was a loud thump, followed by another, and several students screamed when Severus realised in horror a few of the students had collapsed to the floor.

What - on earth - is happening?!

Severus dropped to the floor of the nearest student, frantically feeling for a pulse. To his relief, he found one, albeit faint. But it was there. His own heart racing, he pointed commandingly to the student close to the other fallen one, "Mr Hennessey, hold their head steady and do not move from that position."

To his own sickening realisation, he could feel a few trickles of blood from the student he was holding. She must have hit her head on the way down. With his wand, he conjured two stretchers and lowered both students onto each one. To his unsuspecting surprise, the remaining students rallied around instantly to help amongst their own ailments and clearly panicked state.

Once the unconscious students were secured, he turned to face the others, "Those who require further medical attention, follow me. Everyone else, return to your dormitories immediately! And under no circumstances, should anyone enter this classroom until further cleared by me, understood?"

The responses were met with scared, tearful nods at the accident that took place. Severus himself failed to fathom what had happened. Pushing his deep ponderings aside, he quickly led the injured to the Hospital Wing, meeting the shocked Healers as they arrived. Immediately, the students were tended to once the team of Healers worked immediately. Severus assisted to transfer the unconscious students to the empty beds, mumbling incoherently at what had happened. The Healers tried to ask, and to his own disappointment, was unable to give an answer.

Because he really didn't know.

The other injured students who had accompanied him were treated for smoke inhalation with some ending up in severe coughing fits and chest pain.

The Hospital Wing quickly became a site of chaos.

It didn't take long for Minerva to show up in a hurry. Severus pulled back once the Healers took full control and he merely watched on, helpless, as they worked to revive them. He didn't realise he was covered in charcoal and the charred scent of the potion covering his robes amidst the scorch marks.

"What ha – "

"I do not know, Minerva!" Frustrated with the situation, Severus snapped. He was frantic and his heart was still racing. Once he saw Minerva's shocked expression as his quick outburst, he appeared defeated, "…I do not know what happened. The ingredients were safe and should not have resulted in this…It was a simple elixir, for Merlin's sake!"

The woman's brow crinkled in worry, "Do you have an inkling?"

He ran his blackened fingers through his hair and could only subdue his panic for so long, "I have yet to investigate the classroom…I've sealed it off…Only then will I be able to formulate some sort of explanation."

"Severus, calm yourself – " Minerva's hand reached for his shoulder, "Are you injured?"

He didn't really care if he was or not, but the sight of the students collapsing in front of his eyes was not something he could easily erase from his mind, "Not that I am aware of."

"I am having none of that. I will have a Healer administer their care to you accordingly, no exceptions! In the meantime, take a moment here. Recover. When you are ready, we will sort this out, " Minerva tilted her head, unable to meet his scattered gaze. Her hand upon his shoulder squeezed gently, prodding him back to the present, "Alright?"

Weary and anxious, he could only nod with no intention or energy to argue with the Headmistress. Words could not form enough for him to speak, because his mind was too busy replaying the last fifteen minutes and the unfathomable nature of the incident.

How could this happen? Under his watch?

He knew it wasn't his fault, but he couldn't help but feel responsible. That was his job to manage the ingredients…Perhaps a student decided to mess around?

But they denied it. The look on their faces…No, they were frightened. He scanned their faces looking for any morsel of guilt or amusement, but there was none.

It couldn't have been just an accident. No, something was wrong.

Severus stayed at the Hospital Wing, and aside from his bickering and complaining about being tended to by a Healer, he downed the potion that would clear the remainder of the smoke from his lungs. When he felt like his assistance was no longer needed and the students were stable, he took himself directly back to the sealed classroom to deal with the rest of the mess. He cast an assortment of charms to protect himself before he entered the toxic zone of his classroom. The fumes still hung thick in the air, oddly suspended. Slowly and carefully, he was able to clear the fumes and purify the air deeming it safe enough. Potions ingredients, vials, cauldrons, and the remnants of the students' textbooks were still littered all over the floor. Broken glass scattered, with a strong scent of burnt wood filling his nostrils.

He wandered to the cauldron that exploded – Miss Dean's. He knew this student to be careful and precise and yet this disaster happened and even he was unable to ascertain why.

Severus didn't emerge from the classroom for hours, determined to figure out how this had happened. Neither of the ingredients should have resulted in that effect, no matter what extra sliver of a feather may have accidentally been added. The brewed elixir was generally safe, and yet it resulted in the collapse of two students and respiratory compromises from multiple others.

He had spent the next few hours trying to replicate the potion in order to get to the bottom of it and he was so immersed, that he didn't hear Dawn approach him from the doorway.

"What on earth is that?" Dawn wrinkled her nose in disgust. The room soon filled with a scent of vinegar and moss, "On second thought, I'd rather not know. I heard what had happened…Are you alright?"

Severus said nothing, not wanting to answer her last question. His attention remained at the caldron in front of him.

"Can I help with anything?"

He paused in his tracks; his eyes flickering to the mess within his reach. He considered sending her away so he could focus on the task without interference, but perhaps he needed another opinion. A measured, logical one. Finally, he took a single hardened glance at Dawn, nudging in the direction of the glass bowl of something transparent, "Crush those doxy wings finely and set them aside. Something is amiss with these ingredients."

Without question and a single nod, she moved towards the wings and began to pull them gently into the mortar, grinding them with the pestle as frowned, "…How so?"

"The composition and magical qualities of some of them are...different."

Dawn gave a quizzical expression. "I don't think I quite understand."

He picked up a small dropper and dipped it into a jar of a dark red liquid, holding it up for Dawn to see as if he was instructing a class, "The dropper contains dragon blood. When added to this potion, it should turn a dark, murky aqua hue, but instead, it emits black smoke. Watch closely, " Severus proceeds to show her, by adding four drops of dragon blood to the cauldron in front of him. As stated, the cauldron contents instantly turned black, with billowing smoke emitting and cascading over its edge like a waterfall. "Almost like it's...tainted. But I find it's mostly the flora which appears..."

"...Tampered with?"

As grim as the situation was, Severus' lips twitched into a satisfactory smug, relieved to know that she was on the same wavelength, "…Precisely."

She lowered the pestle back against the mortar and eyed Severus' cauldron with an intense, gaze as if the mere sight would make it bubble. Her attention flickered from the cauldron to Severus, "Do you think someone is messing with the ingredients? I guess that explains Miss Deans' catastrophe, and the Wiggenweld potion mishaps a while back. And Neville's encounter with the now flesh-eating plant."

"My thoughts exactly. Her brew was close to perfection, but neither of the ingredients should have resulted in that effect."

"Good grief, surely they are not all connected?" Dawn was quite obviously aghast at the new revelation, "I feel like it might be wise to investigate the greenhouses."

"I'll question Pomona as soon as I am able, though she may very well be in bed at this hour. She's an early bird. Once we've investigated the greenhouses, we must confront Minerva about what we know. She, too, is awaiting my verdict on the latest catastrophe."

Dawn nodded sternly, appearing more Auror and heavy with curiosity than ever, "Until we have sufficient evidence, we're to refrain from making it obvious that we have our suspicions. The offender is out there somewhere. If the culprit realises we know this, then we ruin our chances of catching them. That is if there truly is someone responsible and not just a terrible misfortunate coincidence."

He hadn't realised he had been staring at her as she spoke, with a measure of awe and resolution. Dawn was determined to get to the bottom of it as he was, and for a strange feeling, he felt a surge of excitement within him to be pursuing this with her. He favored that quizzical quality of her, and he could see how she made such an efficient Auror. She didn't overlook things, and everything was considered right down to the possibilities awaiting to be discovered. But the idea of working with her in this way invoked a rare excitement and surge of adrenaline. Her train of thought mirrored his own, and with her, he never felt like he had to explain.

She just…knew.

There was a long, heavy pause before Dawn spoke again, relief flooding Severus that she didn't notice him staring a little more acutely at her, "…This isn't your fault, Severus."

Blinking back into the present, he clenched his jaw, "I should have known."

"You're good, but you're not that good. No one could have seen that coming. You're lucky the injuries weren't severe."

Severus vanished the remnants of the potion, turning back to lean against the table. He could feel her eyes boring into his skin, watching. Observing. He sighed, "This has never happened before. Not with a potion as simple as this, no matter how amateur and imperceptive the students are."

"Whatever is going on and whoever is causing this…We'll find out, " Dawn's words were, yet again, soft and reassuring. How on earth did she do that? His heart fluttered by the tone of her voice, and despite him blaming himself yet again for the incident, her words were enough to convince him otherwise. She had a way of speaking, melting his train of thought, wrapping it with calmness and security. The gentleness of her tone was intuitive and hearing her voice was welcoming to the crevices of his heart.

Her friendship – as much as Severus despised that word and didn't use it lightly – she was willing to be there for him. More than Lily ever could.

And that fact alone left a hole in his heart for something that never came to be.

Until now.

Perhaps Dawn wasn't so bad, after all.

April 2nd, 2003

[Harry Potter]

The incident in Severus' class was quick to ignite throughout the school, filling the corridors with whispers of speculations and accusations.

No one had any clue how it happened. But the worry that rippled caused Harry to feel anxious and fill with dread. Since that day, he knew it had affected Severus to some degree. Even Minerva claimed he appeared panicked.

But he knew something. Severus was hush about it, and when he tried to confront him for details, he would dismiss him.

Odd.

He had since brought this up with Neville, both suggesting the possibilities, but came to none they could settle upon. It had also become a bit of a time-passer and it had gotten to the point where their suggestions were so ridiculous, it was at least a bit of an icebreaker in terms of the recent peculiar events.

But not only that, he could see Severus and Dawn interacting more as the days rolled by, both with expressions of deep concern. They rarely sat closely during mealtimes, but he knew they had a habit of walking together once they left the Great Hall away from nosey students. Sometimes he'd even catch Severus eyeing the empty chair beside her and selecting one further away as if not to arouse suspicion.

Severus Snape – the bitter, grumpy dungeon bat – choosing to interact with a Gryffindor female at his age who was also an Auror?

Harry couldn't help but smile.

He knew eventually Severus would learn to feel comfortable with others again and knowing that he was letting his guard down slowly with Dawn, was something he never thought he'd ever see. Dawn was patient and kind with him – something he knew Severus would always need. She was immune to his bitterness, although stubborn, but she had a constant instinctual need to reach out. She took on his troubles as her own, and she never tried to coax it out of him.

Patience Harry wished he had.

He was glad he wasn't the only one since Severus would never willingly be open about his struggles until someone could see through his façade. Minerva didn't always know how to do that, but Harry and Dawn could. And for Severus, that was enough.

Harry liked Dawn – her confidence rubbed off on those around her. She wasn't boastful or bigheaded, but she could see the silver lining. Positives, despite the grim negatives. More than Harry or Severus ever could. She was pragmatic but inquisitive. Traits that he knew Severus would find particular interest in. So, it made sense for a new allyship – or even friendship – to form between them.

Friendship? Could it be so?

They were spending more time together as the days went on and there were moments where Harry could have sworn, he noticed the contentment in Severus' demeanor when she was around. He was still a little anxious, but when she was there, Harry noticed his nervous tremors had become more sparse. He was calm in her presence and with that, he drew in his own confidence and drive.

Harry's smile broadened.

If I ever say I told you so, you'll hex me into next year.

With Harry's mood currently on a positive high, he spent the afternoon with Neville having a quick butterbeer at Hogsmeade, discussing the newly proposed end of school year ball.

"Yes, this will happen. I want to liven up this school and promote inter-house cooperation. I think we can all agree that this will benefit us all, " Minerva was quick to address the doubts amongst the colleagues when the idea was brought to light, and Harry didn't know how to feel about that.

A ball? Well, the idea wasn't overly terrible, but he wasn't sure that would be wise so soon. Perhaps it would make a great icebreaker with the houses and uplift their spirits, but with the strange happenings in Hogwarts in recent months, it seemed like an odd occasion. They were allowed to bring someone along and the idea of inviting Ginny again surely uplifted his own spirits. But as much as the grunt of disapproval not so subtly emanated from Severus, maybe it won't be such a bad idea after all.

With that thought floating within his mind, a letter materialised in a purple spark the moment Harry stepped into his private quarters for a quick break before class. Recognising the familiar scrawl, he peered closely.

Harry,

Occlumency lesson. 7pm. Astronomy Tower.

Be prompt.

Severus S.

Occlumency.

It has been a fair while. He was thankful Severus was able to recommence them with both taking a well-needed break from the delicate mind arts. Harry most definitely could feel a difference from the moment they resumed the lessons, feeling better in headspace than he had in years. His mind was clearer and although the nightmares and panic attacks were less frequent, he could feel more control of his mental fortitude as the weeks went on. He no longer felt like he was forgetting many important things as he was before and knowing Severus still desired to help him in this way, pleased him and set his mind ironically at ease. The fog in his mind was beginning to lift, and he felt lighter and more himself.

He still had a fair way to go, but the journey to recovery was a long, tedious one.

Severus knew very well of that.

That Wednesday evening, Harry arrived at the Astronomy Tower to find Severus Snape already waiting for him by the railing overlooking the lake highlighting a magnificent array of the colors of dusk. The stillness of the evening breeze felt melancholy, and the stars above began to litter the sky.

Harry approached the man but began to notice something rather odd. Odd to him, at least.

The man's personal upkeep threw Harry off guard – He appeared less unkempt and fresh-faced. The dullness under his eyes was lighter than he last remembered, almost as if for a rare moment, he was well-rested. His hair neatly parted and rested lightly on his shoulders. They were absurdly small things, but to Harry, they didn't seem that minor. Thinking back, he hadn't seen the man in his usual grumpy tirade in recent days as if his anger had finally begun to simmer. And he couldn't fathom why.

Harry stopped beside him, tilting his head at the man, "…Everything okay?"

Well, yes Harry, that was dumb.

Severus glared, almost irritably, "Why do you ask?"

"I dunno, you look….different."

Severus' lips curled. His eyes flickered in doubt, "Nothing has changed. Although strangely enough, I have been getting some surprising, slumbered hours in the last few nights. A rarity since I stopped drinking myself into a stupor."

"That's great!" Harry beamed, like a proud son to his father, "That's really great! I'm glad to hear it."

"Don't ask me how it came about all of a sudden. I can't fathom it, myself."

Harry snorted, "It's fine, I won't."

Severus stared hard at Harry as if he was looking for consolation or further questioning. Deterred from the strange direction of the conversation, his expression grew more serious, "Ready for another lesson?"

Harry nodded, "Yeah, sure. I am glad you asked me. The lessons have been doing me wonders, too. I feel less brain fog now."

Looking satisfied, Severus gave a pleased nod, "Good. That was the intention."

Harry paused to stare at the man again, "Are you sure everything is okay?"

The man bared his teeth, "Yes. Now stop pestering me about it. Take a seat. Let's begin."

Harry remained rooted to the spot, watching as Severus wandered to the bench. Retrieving his wand and a few swishes later, small golden orbs materialised all around them, casting a comforting glow of light, illuminating the tower's interior. Not knowing what to make of Severus' strange behavior, he took a seat beside him and wasted no time in beginning those lessons again. Harry was dying to know what had happened for Severus' mood to shift, not that he was complaining about it. The change was good.

But it was still a strange sight to behold.

Barely seconds later, he could feel Severus invading his mind, continuing to chip away at the wall of ice Harry had built unwillingly over time. Memories uncovered began to flood his mind again, floating past his view like fluttering dried autumn leaves.

Several memories later, Severus was able to uncover the quest for the locket Horcrux at the Ministry. Flashes of a familiar pink-clad woman flooded his mind, causing a strange anger to bubble within him. He could have sworn he heard Severus growl.

"I hope that ghastly pink cretin is rotting in Azkaban. A shame dementors have since been decommissioned."

Harry snorted, ignoring the itch of scarring at his hand with her dark quill which had carved into his skin all those years ago, "Yeah, she was a nasty piece of work."

Images of Harry's time on the run with Ron and Hermione encompassed his mind, with quick flashes of the Forest of Dean fading away to nothing. Flickers of their days spent camping and hiding were not the welcoming nostalgia that Harry wanted. Suddenly, Harry was pulled out of the memory. When the Occlumency haze dissipated, he found himself staring into Severus' apprehensive gaze.

They stared at each other for a moment, with the man's expression peering at Harry's own as if he didn't quite believe what he had seen. Harry found the scrutiny a little uncomfortable, before he gave a little careless shrug, breaking away from the gaze.

"Why do you look so worried?" Harry prodded.

Severus' corner of his lip twitched, "No one knew where you had fled to."

"We had to lay low."

"I wouldn't qualify breaking into the Ministry as laying low."

Harry half-heartedly laughed, "Yeah I know…it was stupid of us. We would have been completely done for if it weren't for Hermione."

"She kept you dunderheads in line. At least one of you were somewhat responsible, " Severus responded, with a small smirk upon the corners of his lips. The concern in his eyes said something vastly different.

"Very funny, " Harry rolled his eyes, "Okay, let's go again."

With Severus' wand raised, Harry's mind melted back into his Occlumency haze, seeing more memories floating by like wisps of smoke from a single candle. Most of the memories uncovered here were ones he already remembered. Some rather fondly, some not so much. Christmases with the Weasleys. Sneaking around the Hogwarts grounds. Nights, and even days, spent in his cupboard under the stairs…Moments in time that felt so far away. It was fleeting, yet it reminded him of how far he had come and how much had happened since.

But the memory which flooded his mind again overwhelmed Harry so much that he could feel tears burning at his eyes.

He saw his mother. And his father. Sirius. Remus.

It was the forest on the way to what he thought was certain death.

The Patronus-like figures of his family lead him through the darkness of that night, comforting him in his last terror-filled moments. He could almost feel Lily's ghostly touch upon his hand, guiding him. Soothing him.

Harry shut his eyes tightly and when he opened them, Severus quickly pulled him out of the memory. He was back in the present. Blinking heavily, tears fell down his face overwhelmed with emotions burning at his chest. Suddenly a culmination of all those broken emotions he felt on that very night, flooded his heart once again, raw, and heavy.

How could he forget that night? How could he forget seeing his parents again?

Afraid to look through his blurred haze of tears, he noticed how quickly Severus' face fell, almost heartbrokenly. Harry brushed away fallen tears with the back of his sleeve, willing himself not to weep. He could tell by the way Severus was carefully watching him, speechless, as if he simply didn't know how to comfort him. He forgave him for that, though. Severus was still learning. He stared at Severus, noticing his eyes glaze over, but he said not a word as if he was still processing what he had just seen.

What they saw, was difficult for both of them. In such very different ways.

Harry shifted uncomfortably in his seat, averting his gaze from the obsidian orbs staring him down in bewilderment, "…I forgot about that."

It took several moments for Severus to finally gather the right words to respond, "When did that occur?"

"Not long after I viewed your memories. When I headed to the Forest to – "

Severus gently raised a hand to stop him from going further, "I need no further explanation."

Harry breathed a heavy sigh of relief. He was afraid of any word that may slip out of his lips and break him completely. He hung his head, almost shamefully. His chest was still tight with fresh grief.

"That is enough for tonight, it seems, " Severus responded quietly, but he couldn't help but notice how lost he was behind those eyes. A shadowed heaviness of deep regret. A potent reminder of his past once again.

After a brief pause and catching more fallen tears, he shakily nodded, "Thank you, Severus. Really, for helping me with this."

"Mind arts are a delicate branch of magic, one which can either empower or hinder. For those who have suffered greatly in their past, the mind is slow to heal…" Severus' voice trailed off, but when he continued, his tone dropped almost to a whisper, "…I didn't want to see you suffer any more than you already have."

Harry was touched by that sentiment, feeling his chest tug with emotion, "Oh, Severus – "

Severus shook his head, noticeably refusing the protest, "It's the very least I can do."

But Harry spent the rest of the night thinking and pondering back on that grim memory. Bittersweet and poignant.

But what if he had that chance again? He still had the Resurrection Stone.

…But he could not do it alone.

No.

He wasn't strong enough to go alone anymore.