Title:
Twenty-one days

Prequel to:
A few days more

Author:
evil minded

Date:
November, 16th 2009

Timeframe:
Fourth year at Hogwarts

Summary:
AU / Death Eaters besiege Hogwarts. A spell from Dumbledore is going astray. A cauldron explodes during potions class. And the old castle enfolds its own magic. Can some students survive for the next twenty-one days?

Disclaimer:
Did you see Severus alive at the end of 'The deathly hallows'? no?
Do you think I would have had him died if I had written those books? no?
Then you know that 'Harry Potter' does not belong to me … nor does Severus … regrettably …

Rating:
M – Not suitable for children or teens below the age of 16

Author's Notes:
Uhm … alright … I have to admit … English is not my language by birth … so … please do not kill me while reading … neither for the – perhaps – sad language, nor for the subject of my writing …
Also, this is a story written for NaNo, a story written within thirty days only and even though I go over the chapters before uploading them – I do apologize if it might not have the same quality at one point or another than those stories of mine you are used to by now … thank you …

Warning:
Story contains bad language and swearing.
Don't ever use such, it's neither good manners nor proper use of language and never mind how 'cool' it might sound, it surely isn't a sign of intelligence. It won't get you anywhere and people will think less of you if you are unable articulating properly.
Story contains references to child neglect.
Child neglect is a really, really serious thing, and there are a lot of children in our world that are neglected, children that lack food, clothing, often love, and perhaps even a roof over their head – and closing our eyes, and pretending it does not exist – is no solution …
Story contains references to child abuse.
Child abuse is one of the most evil things, and there are a lot of children in our world that really would need help but have to live without hope – and again, closing our eyes and pretending it does not exist – is no solution … instead show sympathy, and understanding … and handle people, children as well as adults, which are showing any signs – whichever – of once having been abused … with understanding and with help …
What does not mean I am not as evil as I pretend to be … ^.~ … believe me – I am …

Breåk· … ·~†~*~*~*~*~*~†~· … ·Łine

Previously in twenty-one days
He caught the boy tightly with his hands on the too thin shoulders that were only bones covered with a thin layer of skin meanwhile and held him in place while his own heart leapt out of his chest and into his throat.
Harry!" He called out, tightening his grip on the bony shoulders. "Child, calm yourself and tell me what has happened."
"Draco!" Seemed to be the only word Harry was able to choke out in a shocked and frightened voice.

Chapter sixteen
Day ten – Wednesday, eleventh of September
I'll take a nap – if you do

"Calm down, child!" Severus said a bit sharper when he noticed that Harry was not calming down while he himself felt dread overwhelming him, but he forced himself to stay calm. He was glad to see that Harry at least tried to do as he was told. "Hush now. Tell me what happened." He continued while simply turning the boy on his shoulders and steering him into the direction of the classroom when he noticed that the child's attempts were unsuccessful.

"He fell." Harry said, his words still choked out in a strange voice. "He went pale, and he trembled, and then he fell." The boy muttered all along the way through his office. "And then he didn't answer, and I shook him, but he didn't wake and I … and he … he …"

"Hush, child." Severus gently shushed the boy, tightening his grip on the bony shoulder. He had known that Draco would be the next. Either Draco or Theodore. "Draco just fainted from lack of food." He said, trying to appease the boy. "I expected such sooner or later. He will be fine."

Quickly he followed Harry into the classroom, towards the mattresses, and to his godson where he pushed the boy down onto his own pellet before he, too, would drop, from nerves, before he turned to Draco – who just then opened his eyes and blinked at him rather stupidly for a moment.

"You are not to sit up right now, Draco." Severus said the moment he noticed the blond boy trying to do just that and he placed a hand on the boy's chest, keeping him from getting off his prone position. "How are you?"

"Uhm … fine … sir …" The boy stammered, a clear sign of how vulnerable he felt right now, of how embarrassed he was about something he, Severus, had expected for some time now and from all of them. It was a tiny miracle it hadn't happened before.

Well, he had told them all that they had to drink a lot, as much as possible, and he had told them that they were not to get up immediately in the mornings, that they were to stay flat for some more minutes after awakening, and that they were to first sit up for some more minutes before they finally got up – slowly. And he had told them that they were not to get up from sitting at the table hastily, but slowly and carefully, too.

And nevertheless, he had expected such rather sooner than later.

"Are you feeling dizzy?" He asked, and Draco – a fine film of cold perspiration covering his pale face – shook his head.

"Draco!" He growled. "I have to know how you are feeling. This is important, this is not a game. Are you feeling dizzy?"

Sighing, the boy nodded – barely visible while averting his eyes, not daring to look at his classmates.

Quickly checking the boy's breathing, his pulse, and his eyes, taking in the slightly shaking form, the pale skin, and the clammy forehead, he nearly sighed with relief. It was nothing more than just fainting from lack of food. Of course, nothing to be relieved about – normally – but considering all their conditions, it could have been worse, and he knew that. Draco had lost consciousness for a moment, as he had known such would happen at one point or another, but he was still alive. He was still not really cramping, and he was still responsive.

"What happened?" He asked, not able to suppress the mixture of relief and concern showing in his voice. "What exactly were you doing before you fainted?"

"I … I didn't … I didn't faint!" The boy shook his head with a face that clearly showed horror.

"You did, Draco." He said, a scowl on his face. "Remember, you are not to keep your weakness hidden. I have known that this would happen sooner or later, and I do know that it will happen to all of you. I also know that it will not be the last time either. You have to face the truth, Draco, as startling and as frightening as it might be, and as embarrassing as you might think it is. But it is not embarrassing. Your body lacks nutrients, and your body just won't work the way you want it to work. It is a normal reaction to our situation. Your body does not like being not fed and it just complains."

"I was just getting off the chair to get the book I was reading." Draco finally murmured. "Because 'Mione said the 'point me charm' was the only locating charm, and I wanted to prove her wrong."

Severus cast a quick glance at the girl, noticing the shortcut Draco had used, 'Mione instead of Hermione, and he also noticed Ronald Weasley's face getting red with anger the moment Draco had used the girl's nickname. The boy, however, stayed silent – luckily for him, the Potions Master thought.

"Take this one, Draco." He murmured, still crouching beside the boy and he opened one of the potions bottles he meanwhile was carrying with him all the time, reaching it towards his godson, again glad that nothing worse had happened, that the boy hadn't hit his head, just for example, when he fell.

"I'm okay, uncle Severus." The blond teen whined, and Severus lifted his eyebrow, as the tightness in Draco's voice said otherwise.

"Take – this potion – Mr. Malfoy!" He repeated, more firmly this time, his black eyes fixing the pale blue ones of his godson. "Now!"

Well, at least the boy had the sense to obey this time without further complaint.

"I trust you have gotten up from your chair slowly, despite your desire to prove your point to Hermione?" He sternly asked and the boy nodded. A quick glance towards said girl and Harry told him that Draco had indeed told the truth and had been rising from his chair slowly.

"Good." He said, leaning back finally, relief showing on his face. "Stay laying here. There is, however, the 'locus spell', too, a spell with which you can locate persons as well as objects when using it as 'locus persona' or 'locus res'. This spell, however, has the disadvantage of being rather complicated. It shows you the place where the person or item is residing currently, but not the direction it lays in and if you do not recognize the place where it lays you won't find what or whom you are looking for."

He sat back, leaning his back against the wall and pulling Draco's body close while looking into the pale faces of the children that slowly but surely settled onto the mattresses, startled at how quietly and eager they were listening to his words. Why was it that they were able to concentrate on his words right now, while they had never done so in the past during lessons?

"The same goes for the 'in situ charm'." He continued, noticing that Draco had closed his eyes, and that Harry finally relaxed. Theodore, who had been startled, too, seemed to calm down as well as the others who settled themselves against the wall or underneath their blankets. "It gives you however not the picture of the place, but the word. If, however, the word 'cupboard' appears in a classroom such as this with a lot of shelves and cupboards for potions ingredients, then you will have trouble finding it nevertheless as this charm won't tell you which cupboard exactly is meant. The safest spell still is the point me charm, as it will lead you directly to the place where the person or the object you are looking for is seated."

Breåk· … ·~†~*~*~*~*~*~†~· … ·Łine

It hadn't taken much time and nearly all the children had been asleep. Harry and Long- … Neville had been the only two left awake and he had deposited Draco onto his mattress, had tucked the blanket around the thin shoulders. He had still remained beside the boy however, watching him, while listening to the quiet conversation between Harry and Neville, while at the same time thinking about this particular boy. As much as he was irritated by Neville's incompetence when it came to potions – or nearly anything at all – the boy was Harry's friend. And Harry was becoming his son, so whether he liked it or not, he would have to accept the boy in his son's life.

And honestly, somehow, he had the strange feeling that Neville Longbottom made a far better friend for Harry than Ronald Weasley did. It was a more … quiet friendship, not as boisterous as the one Harry had with Ronald, but nevertheless, he felt that Neville might be a more trustworthy friend.

At one point or another during the night he had fallen asleep, despite his desire to stay awake, just to monitor Draco's condition – not to mention that he wanted to have an eye on Harry who had been sitting on his pallet, watching Draco.

And right now, he glanced down to see said boy, still sitting on his mattress, Indian style, his upper body bent forwards in an awkward angle, his head on Draco's sleeping place, asleep, a position that made the teen looking even smaller and thinner than he had ever seen him. The boy looked exhausted and pale, paler than he normally looked, and immediately he knew that he had been sitting beside Draco's sleeping form for the most part of night.

"Harry." He quietly said before placing his hand on the bony shoulder so he wouldn't startle the boy too badly. But he wanted him in a different position than this one. The teenager surely would already suffer from an aching back when he woke.

Slowly Harry blinked a few times before opening his eyes completely, and for a moment he sighed, realizing that he was still tired. He heard Snape moving beside him, and with a suddenly warm feeling in his chest he noticed that he had heard the man calling his name, what actually had woken him in the first place. He felt the man's hand on his shoulder, and he tried to sit up but hissed at the pain that immediately shot through his spine.

"Don't move." Severus said, shaking his head. "Relax your muscles, Harry. It will be easier if I get you into a more upright position as you apparently are not able to without aggravating your strained muscles."

Watching the boy obeying with a nearly content sigh, he gently reached out and sneaked one arm in front of the boy's chest, while he laid his other hand atop the teen's lower back for comfort, and then he slowly pulled the startling thin body upright, pausing for a short moment whenever the boy hissed in pain.

Harry had lost weight at a rapid speed now and the Potions Master was more than worried. He could feel each rib sticking out painfully beneath his right hand, as well as each backbone beneath his left one. He … Merlin, it felt as if there was nothing between the boy's bones and his hands, absolutely nothing.

Harry looked up into the dark eyes of the man that so suddenly had become the focus of his life, that was to become his father even. Today. Snape had said today the potion could be given. Would he really … his eyes went to Draco, and immediately he knew that no, most likely not today. The blond boy definitely was more important right now than he was, and his childish desire to have – Snape, of all persons, as his father.

Focusing back on the dark eyes of that man, he saw his own worries and concerns reflected back at him.

"Do not think that you or your needs are less important than Draco or anyone else in this classroom, Harry." The man said, startling him and not for the first time he had the distinct impression that Snape could read his thoughts. "We will do the adoption today, if you are ready to."

He quietly nodded, and upon Snape placing his hand on his shoulder he quickly moved off the mattress, making space for the dark man to kneel beside his godson who had awakened upon their quiet words, and who right now blinked at them both sleepily.

"How do you feel?" Severus asked, placing his hand on the boy's forehead, not able to keep the concern out of his voice. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes." Draco sleepily said. "And I feel better."

"Do you still feel dizzy?" Severus inquired, watching the teen closely.

"No." The boy answered, slowly shaking his head, and the Potions Master nearly smirked. As it seemed, Draco did not trust his own words completely.

"Any other discomfort?" Severus asked, and again Draco slowly shook his head.

"No, I just could devour a complete … never mind." He quickly added at the guilty look on his godfather's pale face.

"I am sorry." The man quietly said, his dark eyes steady on his godson, but Draco nevertheless could see the guilt in them, the pain – and the fear.

"It's not your fault, uncle Severus." Draco quietly said.

"Perhaps not." Severus sight. "Perhaps it is. It should not have happened in the first place, and if I had watched more closely, then no cauldron would have exploded."

"We don't know if that's really the reason for this mess." Harry's quiet voice beside him startled him, and he looked over at the teen that reached out a glass of water from the sink.

"Thank you." Severus said, taking the glass from Harry's slightly shaking hand and reached it towards Draco. "I am, however, well aware that as the resident Potions Master, it is in my responsibility that no accidents happen during my lessons to begin with."

"There always are cauldrons exploding during potions, sir." Harry quietly murmured. "It can always happen, it isn't as if we were able to go through a lesson without exploding or melting one. And you had the shield in place nicely quick. You can't prevent seventeen idiots like us from exploding a cauldron all at the same time."

"You might be an idiot, Harry." Draco murmured, trying to lighten the mood. "I am however not. I am quite adapt at potions. However, uncle Severus is right. You are just as important, and you should drink the potion today. I'm quite fine, and I'm sure I won't faint while watching you drinking a potion. I have seen you drinking before, you know, and that has never been a pleasant sight."

"None of you are idiots." The older wizard growled. "But you all are insufferable imbeciles!"

Breåk· … ·~†~*~*~*~*~*~†~· … ·Łine

Draco dropping unconscious last night, and Harry's rapid loss of weight, his hands on the boy's bony body this morning, had startled him more than he was ready to admit, and if he was honest with himself, then he had to admit that he was scared.

He had always been a man who was in control of every situation, never mind if it was with his potions, with his classes, with exploding cauldrons, with any of his spying and 'death eater allies' or the Dark Lord himself. He had always been in control. But this – knowing that seventeen children would die down here, that seventeen children would suffer a slow and not so pleasant death, knowing that he would have to watch them die one by one, knowing that he would not be able to prevent their deaths, that was nothing that indicated he was in control.

And he could tell that Harry felt the same way.

Not for the first time, a part of him wanted to pull that boy close to him, to still those meanwhile constantly trembling limbs, wanted to say that everything was going to be alright but at the same time he knew that he, of all people, didn't have that right. He had never given himself that right to begin with, and he knew, no matter how much he wanted to, it would be forever beyond his reach. Because it was his fault alone that Harry had lost his parents in the first place.

He might have the right to comfort the boy when he came to him, seeking comfort, it might even be his duty then, but he had no right to comfort the boy for his own, Severus', comfort. He had no right doing so, just because he wanted to at that precise moment, just because it would comfort himself as well. He had screwed his right to comfort the boy for his own sake the moment he had brought that blasted prophecy to the Dark Lord so many years ago.

Harry could tell that Snape was brooding – again, that he was blaming himself for their situation. But it wasn't his fault! It wasn't Snape's fault! Cauldrons exploded all the time in potions and … it just wasn't Snape's fault! The man had cast a shielding charm quickly enough to prevent anyone from getting hurt. He always did. Most of the time he, Harry, didn't even realize that there was an exploding cauldron until the shield was already up, muffling the explosion to a soft bang.

Watching the man groaning softly and placing his head into his hands he quietly got up and went over to the desk Snape was sitting at, timidly reaching out and he very softly touched the man on his shoulder, carefully placing his hand on the shirt the man was wearing. At first, he was ready to snatch his hand back at any sign of danger, but then Snape looked up, startled at first, his dark eyes nearly blazing dangerously, and he was about to retreat a step when he felt the man's arm sneak around his waist and Snape pulling him close.

And just then, for the first time in his life, Harry felt safe around an adult and something inside of Harry was starting to come to life, to awaken. It was a gesture so much alike a scene that was displayed in front of him when watching other families, fathers interacting with their sons … he was not really sure what exactly the feeling at the moment was, but he simply knew – he felt safe.

And he knew, it was something to fight for – he had to survive.

Severus was startled out of his musings when a small and trembling hand hesitantly touched his shoulder, and startled he looked up into the pale face and into the frightened green eyes of Harry, and for a split second he felt the need to hiss dangerously at the boy that dared to touch him.

But the moment passed so quickly he barely recognized it, and all that was left was a deep feeling of comfort. Harry had come to comfort him. Him! Severus Snape, dark and cold dungeons bastard! Him!

Looking into the frightened green eyes that quickly changed into something akin to panic, seeing the boy starting to retreat from him he reached out and sneaked his arm around the thin waist of the child, pulling him close, until he stood beside him, proud at the child that he had reached out to touch him on his own, something he was sure he had dreaded, something he was sure the child had not done for a very, very long time, most probably for his entire life.

And he – he, Severus Snape, he had been the reason!

"You do not know what you are getting yourself into, Potter." He couldn't help growling darkly for a moment. "I am not a pleasant man to begin with, but I have done things … I have committed crimes during the first wizarding war, you would turn your back on me if you knew them. I am not the person you think …"

"No!" The boy interrupted him, his pale face startled, frightened, scared, and desperate. "You … just don't! I don't know everything, but I have a good idea … and … and you did what you had to do in order to survive … as everyone else … please … don't … don't push me aside because … I mean, lesser man than you would have … you … just please … I don't care … I …"

"Hush, child." He sighed, pulling the boy even closer. "I will not push you away. I just say that you do not know what you are getting yourself into."

"I don't care." The boy stubbornly repeated, pressing his face into his, Snape's, shoulder, nearly giving a sob away, and he could feel the ever present trembling of the skeletal form increase. "I … I only want … I mean, I trust you … I feel safe with you … and … well … I mean … that is … if you still … I … Ijustlikeyouand … and … andIdlikehavingyouasmyfather." The insufferable brat said quietly and quickly, closing his eyes and burying his head even more within the folds of his shirt.

"Harry." He heard Snape's deep voice and felt the man's hands on his shoulder, pushing him away until he was standing straight beside the Potions Master again, the older wizard's fingertips on his chin, lifting his head, and he had to look at the man. "Take a deep breath, calm down and repeat what you just said, slower this time so that I actually can understand you."

Snape's dark eyes were shining with slight amusement, and he couldn't help blushing, shaking his head in a desperate way. He surely would die if he repeated his words, and he was occupying himself looking at his hands when he felt an arm sliding around his shoulders and he was pulled to rest once more against Snape's chest.

He closed his eyes and let out a deep breath, not entirely sure exactly what he had just confessed to the older wizard, but glad nevertheless that he had said it. He let himself be held tightly, happy to stay as he was, for as long as the Potions Master would let him.

"I have already offered it to you, child, and if it is what you want, then be it." The man softly said while running his hand up and down his back. "If this is what you want, then I will be a lucky man indeed to have you as my son."

'As long as we're alive.' He couldn't help thinking.

Severus Snape, with elegant fingers beneath his chin, again lifted the face of the Gryffindor so he could see the teenager's frightened eyes and immediately he knew what the boy had been thinking. There was no trained legillimens needed to know the boy's thoughts.

"You know that I will do all to get you out of there as soon as possible and to keep you alive as long as possible until we have found a way out of here, don't you?" He asked, trying to sound reassuring. "We will survive this, never mind how, but we will."

Breåk· … ·~†~*~*~*~*~*~†~· … ·Łine

Draco had been laying on his makeshift bed for the most part of the day, sometimes sleeping, sometimes reading, or chatting with the others and he had once again been startled at how quickly they had become friends. Hermione definitely was not so bad, honestly, and neither were Lavender or Parvati. And Harry? Harry and Neville definitely were more than acceptable. Neville was a bit left handed, honestly, but the boy was definitely not stupid, and he was brave and loyal.

And Harry? Well, he had learned a lot about the other boy during the past days and honestly, neither did he envy him for what he had been through, nor was he jealous that uncle Severus adopted Harry. He had been alone since … since always … he had no siblings or other relative his age, and somehow that was it, what Harry had become for him, some kind of sibling. He wasn't sure to what extent, or what exactly it meant, he wasn't even sure what exactly it felt like. But he felt something.

Seamus and Dean? He wasn't sure about them. They were just a bit too close to Weasley. Somehow, they seemed to be the new golden trio. Not that Seamus and Dean were mean in any kind, nor had they done anything. They were just – a bit too close to Weasley.

But Harry? Harry and him, they had come quite close, he had to admit, Gryffindor or not, and somehow, he couldn't help worrying while at the same time he was glad that finally someone was going to take care of him, even if it was a bit too late now. But he had seen the condition the other boy was in. He had seen the cuts and the welts that still had been there days after term had started and he had seen all the scars. He had seen how thin Potter was, and how pale.

But well – at least Harry had someone now. And he vowed that he would not only have uncle Severus, but him, Draco, too.

Breåk· … ·~†~*~*~*~*~*~†~· … ·Łine

He knew that the potion would not harm Harry. He had checked, and he had double checked. The potion wouldn't even harm him in the weak state he was in.

And nevertheless, he was nervous.

"I need a drop of blood from you, Harry." He quietly said, trying to keep his nervousness out of his voice. He had never before done such a thing. He knew how to brew the potion, and he knew what was required, what to do during the adoption to make it valid, but he had never before done it. Nor had he ever witnessed such an event before. "Our both blood is the last ingredient to the potion, and it has to be added directly before the adoption takes place."

Harry nodded at him, his eyes fixed on the small silver dagger he was holding, his body stiff and trembling, and he knew exactly what the boy's fears were. He had seen the scars, Merlin – the cuts, on the boy's back and he knew what had caused some of them.

"I would allow you to do this by yourself, if it were possible." Severus said, placing a reassuring hand onto the boy's shoulder while locking his dark eyes with the green ones that looked so scared right now, knowing that most likely flashbacks were running through the boy's mind upon seeing the dagger – as small as it looked – in his hands, trying to reassure the boy with his eyes. "But for the adoption being valid, the adult that is about to take care of the child has to do this as a sign of not only trust from the part of the child, but of how careful the adult will be."

"That's ok." Harry softly replied, his eyes still on the dagger, not able to get them off the small weapon. "I do trust you."

"I know." The Potions Master said. "And nevertheless, I would like to give you this small act of control by doing it for yourself. I promise that I will be as careful as possible. It is a cut, and therefore it will sting a bit, and it will bleed, and I do acknowledge your fears due to your past experiences with knives in the hands of adults. The choice is still yours. Are you still sure that you wish to do this?"

"Yes." The boy simply said, his eyes still glued to the dagger he held in his hand, and it was clear that the boy did not want his fear being in the way of the adoption.

"Come here, Harry." He quietly said, waving the boy closer to where he stood, and Harry did. He cast a quick and scared look at him, at his face, into his eyes, before his own eyes went back to the dagger he was holding, but then he took that last one step and came closer. Wrapping his arms around the smaller form he turned the boy in his arms so Harry stood with his back leaning against him, and he took the boy's left hand into his own left hand, in front of the boy's chest so he could see what he was doing.

"Alright?" He asked, feeling the child's breathing speeding up, feeling the small body in front of him tensing, feeling the slight trembling increase, and he didn't have to crone his neck to look at the boy's face to know that it was pale and held a fine film of perspiration, that the green eyes were still on the dagger he held. Harry, this time, didn't answer, just nodded his head, not able to actually voice anything right now.

Without further delay he tightened the hold he had on Harry's left hand, took the boy's forefinger between his own fingers, and quickly made a small cut over the tip, careful to scratch the skin only, without cutting deeper than necessary. He shoved the dagger into the sleeves of his robes immediately, out of the teen's line of view, noticing that Harry still stood in front of him, tense and stiff like a board, but had taken a deep breath, holding it there as if it was his last breath of air he would ever take.

"Breathe." He softly whispered into the child's ear, while at the same time he squeezed the small finger, letting a drop of blood falling into the vial of adoption potion that was destined for him. "It is over. Everything is quite fine. You are quite fine. Just take a deep breath."

And Harry did, he actually could feel him closing his eyes and releasing his breath, taking a deep breath again.

"That's it, child." He whispered. "Just continue breathing. In and out." He directed while pressing a swab over the small cut, directing the boy's thumb over the swab until he held it in place by himself.

Harry heard the deep and velvet voice behind him, felt the strong arms of the Potions Master encircling him with, holding him, but nevertheless he wasn't able to control his breathing, wasn't able to keep his trembling from worsening, wasn't able to keep from shuddering. He could feel the nausea washing over him in waves, could feel the slight film of perspiration all over his body, and the dark spots that clotted his eyesight made it just worse, made him feeling weak, but not once did the arms release their hold. Instead they tightened, as if ensuring him that even if he should fall, they would hold him, even if he should fall, the man holding him would stand tall for him, and he leaned back against the strong figure of the older wizard, closing his eyes for a moment while he tried to get himself back under control, listening to the soft murmur of the deep and velvet voice while imagining the dark eyes that belonged to that voice.

If only that situation would have happened three years ago, if only the strong and caring presence of the Potions Master had been there for him three years ago, when he had started Hogwarts. If only there had not been so much animosity between them from the start. He could have had all of this earlier.

Severus waited until he was sure that Harry would not drop before he loosened his grip on the child somewhat and slipped the dagger back into his right, making a quick cut over his own forefinger of his left hand before slipping the dagger back into the folds of his sleeves and squeezing a drop of blood into the second vial he had prepared, all the while maintaining his hold on the boy before he finally turned the child in his arms, so that Harry could lean against him more comfortably. Placing one hand onto the boy's neck and the other at the child's back he could feel the perspiration dampening the boy's shirt, covering the child's neck and still he waited, trying to give what comfort he had while a scene came to his mind, a scene he should have regarded years ago.

Flashback

"Care to explain exactly what you are doing, Potter?" Snape asked, his eyes resting coldly on the boy in front of him. "If I am correct, then you are to cut the flobberworms into fine slices, not the taddenworms. They are meant to be cut into cubes, you imbecile. Did anyone ever teach you reading, or do you not care to clean your ridiculous glasses so you actually might see what is written on the board?"

With an impatient growl he took the potions knife from the first year's trembling fingers and leaned down, ignoring the startled flinch the brat gave away, ignoring the nearly panicked expression on the boy's paling face, trying to show the stupid brat how to cut the potions ingredients correctly.

End flashback

Just now he realized in how many ways he had not only startled and scared the child back then, but in how many ways he had wronged him, too. He had surely startled and frightened the child out of his wits by taking the knife in such a harsh way from his fingers, and he didn't dare imagining the boy's first thoughts upon his actions, being sure that the boy had feared he would be punished with the knife. He also realized just now that the boy had been able to read, yes, but he had been far behind the others in reading and writing when he had started Hogwarts, having not attended primary school, and his remark had been unnecessarily cruel.

But there was more he had not thought about until right now, that he remembered this particular potions lesson. But right now, he also realized that perhaps – closing his eyes for a moment he nearly groaned – that perhaps the boy had not even been able to difference between the words flobberworms and taddenworms. Both words looked similar when written on the board and if …

He definitely would have to check the boy's eyesight as soon as they were out of this. Perhaps the boy so often had problems in his classes because he just wasn't able to see the board clearly. Considering the fact that the boy was definitely neglected, and given the last memory, he barely believed that Petunia had taken the child to an oculist.

"Are you alright, Harry?" He asked, forcing himself back to the present and upon feeling the boy's nod against his chest he pushed the teenager away a bit, looking down into the pale face.

"I'm ok." The boy quietly said. "I was just startled a bit, sor…"

"Do not even think of apologizing, Harry." Severus growled gently, his dark eyes blazing. "This is your last chance to back out of this, Harry." He then said, unable to keep the corner of his lips from twitching upwards traitorously upon the boy's startled headshaking, and he reached the vial that held a now slightly red liquid towards the boy, the one that contained his, Severus' drop of blood, and Harry took it with slightly shaking fingers.

Well, the boy's fingers always shook nowadays, and again he regarded the teen with worried eyes. If only this precise situation had happened three years ago. If only …

Knowing that it was futile now, he took his own vial, the one that contained a drop of blood from Harry, and placing his hand on the boy's shoulder he downed its contents without grimacing at the coppery taste of the blood, watching Harry doing the same.

"I take you into the Snape family, as small as this family is." He quietly said, taking the vial from the boy's hand and slipping them both into the pocket of his robe while at the same time he enfolded the boy's slight form into the robe in a way of protection. "I will protect you with my life and I will care for you with all I own, physically as well as mentally. I shall never harm you in any way, shape or form, and I shall never forget that you are mine. You are mine, Harry." He said, a smile this time tugging at his lips for real, and as startling as it was – he didn't even mind.

Breåk· … ·~†~*~*~*~*~*~†~· … ·Łine

He didn't feel different. Absolutely not. He still felt like being Harry Potter, but he could feel the warmth spreading through him when Snape wrapped his cloak around him, when the man held him close, and he could feel the comfort washing over him while listening to the older wizard's words.

The only thing he noticed was tiredness. A tiredness so deep he felt exhausted, as if he had been running for miles, as if he had been working for hours, as if he had not slept for days. But it wasn't an unpleasant tiredness, like after working for hours or not sleeping for days. It was a rather warm tiredness, a tiredness that made him wanting to stay there in Snape's arms forever, and he sighed a content sigh of relief. He had a father now. He wasn't alone anymore. He belonged to someone. There was someone who actually cared.

"Are you alright, Harry?" Severus asked once more upon feeling the small form of the child he held in his arms relaxing against him tiredly, and he could actually feel the exhaustion the boy radiated.

"Yes." The boy answered. "I'm just tired."

"I know." The Potions Master softly answered, running one hand through the unruly mop of dark hair on the back of the boy's head. "It is a normal feeling. The potion we used is an old potion with very strong magical ingredients, our blood being the strongest of them, and it will take a few hours until it has settled completely in your system. Perhaps it will be best if you sleep through the event."

"Is it real?" The teen asked, looking up at him with eyes so unsure and yet full of hope he nearly missed a breath. "Is it actually real? Did this really happen?"

"Yes, it is real." Severus seriously answered. "This really happened."

"So … so … I'm … so I'm really your son?" Harry asked, still needing this reassurance. "I mean, it really worked?"

"Yes, you are my son now." Severus answered, his dark eyes still fixed on the pale face, and he himself, could feel the unbelievable shock of being a father so suddenly, of having a son so suddenly, could feel the warmth the boy he held in his arms radiated, could feel the tiredness the potion running through his own system caused. "Not by ministry laws, but by wizarding traditional laws. You are rightfully my son, and no one can deny that, not even the minister of magic, as the ancient magic of social traditions are much stronger than ministry laws that had been installed hundreds of years later. And nevertheless, we can make this valid in front of the ministry as well, if you so wish, just so that Fudge cannot deny you your now rightful name."

"I'd like that." The boy whispered tiredly, settling back against his chest and he couldn't help chuckling lightly, feeling lighthearted for the first time in many years despite the tiredness and exhaustion he felt.

"Then this is what shall happen." He answered, pulling the cloak off his own shoulders, and wrapping the teen in the dark fabric, steering the boy back into the classroom where the others waited, all of them looking up expectantly when he opened the door and led Harry out. "I suggest you go to sleep, Harry. The potion will have settled in the morning when you awaken."

"Are you tired, too?" The boy asked, suppressing a yawn.

"Actually, I am, yes." The Potions Master admitted, his eyebrow lifted at the suppressed yawn.

"Will you lay down, too?" Harry asked and he couldn't help sighing at the display of childish curiosity, knowing that right now the potion caused this childish behaviour, allowing the boy – and most likely for the first time since long – to feel, for once, like the child he was, while it ran its course through the boy's system until it had settled.

"Impertinent whelp." He growled, startling the other students wile chuckling lightly. "I will take a – nap – if you do."

"Ok." The boy simply sighed, slumping down onto the mattress that was his, while he, Severus Snape, settled down with a bit more display of dignity. He wouldn't sleep, but he would lay down for his son's sake. "And now go to sleep." He said while cradling the boy close. "You look like a ghost rather than a fourteen year old boy. You soon will rival the bloody baron."

"You, too, you would break a mirror if you looked into one, sir." The boy said, smiling while leaning against him, closing his eyes, and Severus emitted a soft chuckle while running his hand over Harry's face lightly.

"Just go to sleep, brat." He softly replied, but Harry already had his eyes closed and there was no response from the relaxed form other than even breathing.

Breåk· … ·~†~*~*~*~*~*~†~· … ·Łine

To be continued

Next time in "twenty-one days"
the wards have fallen

Added author's note
thank you for reading - and yes, I would be glad if you took the time to review this chapter, thank you
also, like in the past, I have installed the house cup – with each review, please state your house, so that your house can get points. There won't be loss of points, only gains … may the best house with the most reviews win …

Please also note that I have done a 'go over' concerning the house points as I have lost track over the years. I have them now saved in a chart where I can keep them easily updated – I have also installed a new category: Hogwarts, as one reader or another (Jostanos, just for example) prefers to review for Hogwarts itself instead of one of her houses … and who knows, perhaps one day a reader might come from another wizarding school to add their review … thanks to all of you for reading and reviewing …

House Cup:
At the present time it looks like this:

Slytherin 59
Gryffindor 32
Ravenclaw 25
Hufflepuff 07
Hogwarts 18