To say that Harmony felt like a criminal while eating her stew in front of her guest would be a misunderstanding. Not having the heart to leave him alone, she had come back to the room and pulled a colorful armchair nearer the bed to sit while eating. It felt… Hard to swallow.

The scent of the food had him drooling before her eyes and she couldn't avoid but to pity him then. She would have given him it all if she could.

"Alright, I get it!" She huffed with frustration as she got up from the seat to take away the temptation from near him. There was a sound coming from the bed but she chose to ignore it at the moment. Enough was enough and she had already perceived her mistake. For the next days, she would have to eat somewhere else. She wouldn't torture him on purpose.

Upon her return she found that he was expecting her, some drool still going down his hairy chin from the corners of his mouth. The image was heartbreaking. Harmony leaned against the door frame seeking support as she sighed deeply.

" I may not know how it is for you but I sure know how it is for me, Sir. It feels as if I am keeping you from eating food. Food that you actually need right now. Ugh!"

He didn't look like he was angry with her. It was more like if he was sad. Which didn't help to lift her conscience either. Harmony crossed the space till she was by the bed once more. Using a spare cloth that she had by the nightstand, she gently cleaned the drool. His attention seemed to be glued to her, as it always was. Taking notice of her every move and gesture. Was he worried she would eventually abuse him? She hoped not, as she had every intention of showing him nothing but kindness.

"I'm so sorry. I wish I could just give it to you, you know? It's easy to see that they didn't give you enough food for the longest time. I shudder when I think of it."

She took her seat by the armchair again and glanced across the room towards the mantle clock. Forty-five minutes had passed, given or taken some. Would it be safe to try to give him some more?

"How do you feel? Is everything okay or you feel sick?" She asked concerned.

Snape eyed her but didn't answer back. It dawned on her why.

"I forgot. I have to give you fewer options of an answer. You feel alright?"

He gave her a hint of a smile and nodded.

"Are you sure?" She insisted, trying to make sure that he wasn't saying it just because he felt hungry still.

Once more, he nodded.

"Well then." Harmony waved her hand and in the next minute a bowl of fruit was entering the room, summoned from the kitchen. "Tomorrow we will try some broth and soup. Tonight… Let's settle with this and see the outcome." She suggested as she started to give it to him.

Snape ate everything and even tried to lick his lips at the end. Harmony laughed softly at it. It wasn't funny, really it wasn't. Still, her only other available option was to cry and he had no use for her tears. She would have to be the strong one for some time.

Rufus hopped onto the bed, coming in for the first time since she had given him his own food. Sniffing them both he ended up settling at Severus side and closing his eyes to sleep.

"He is going to share the bed with you. He never did it with anyone except me. Consider yourself lucky, Sir. He seems to like you enough to protect you from his own volition." She advised her guest as she gave him some water to drink.

Waiting some minutes to make sure that he would keep everything down, she finally made him lay down completely to sleep. Understanding her idea, he turned to look at her with inquiry in his eyes.

"What?"

He made a movement with his head as if pointing to something. Or in that case, her.

Then she remembered: The letter!

She quickly reached for it in her dress pocket. Having it in her hand she showed it to him.

"Is this it? What you want?"

He nodded almost eagerly. Harmony took a brief moment to wonder where was he taking his energy from. Any other man in his condition would have fallen asleep long ago.

"Let's make a deal, shall we? I will read it out loud for us and you go to sleep afterward. You need to rest, Sir."

Snape didn't look particularly happy with her but he nodded anyway.

Smiling from his antics, Harmony pulled the armchair more towards the fire and dimmed all the other lights in the room till all that remained was the warm, yellow light coming from the fireplace.

She wouldn't leave him by himself so soon, even if she trusted Rufus to keep guard. Besides, that was her room too and she had just lost her own bed for her guest. She could sleep in the armchair for a night or two, she assured herself. She had done with worse in the past.

Grabbing a blanket that rested at the foot of the bed, she used it to cover herself from the waist down.

Opening the envelope, she took out the letter and start to read out loud.

"Dear Harmony

I hope to find you well and safe with Severus by the time you receive this letter. I'm sure you will do a fantastic job with him. At any length, it shall be better than whatever he had until now.

I can now assure you that St. Mungo's will no longer stay out of the Ministry's reach.

The Minister was as shocked as we were by what transpired. He already called all the elders that had retired after the war and the reports from them are just as shocking. The adjacent rooms were no better. They fear that some of them will not survive much longer.

I will do my best to keep you updated for the next days and will wait for news from you too. I wish to know how Severus is fairing so that I will be able to inform others that are equally interested. They have already contacted me with alarm as news of a massive inspection and disorder at St. Mungo's reached them. I assured them all that Severus was safe and protected now.

Best wishes for you both,

Minerva McGonagall"

Harmony exhaled slowly, her thoughts overpowering everything else around her at the moment. She had saved those people. Some of them at least. It felt good to know that. A lonely tear streamed down her cheek, in memory of the ones that would not survive. She allowed it to go. She only wished now that she had gone sooner.

From the bed behind her a sound warned her of Snape 's distress. She glanced over her shoulder to meet his eyes, reflecting the light from the fire. He seemed restless and she went for him.

Covering the left side of his face with her hand, she found it wet.

"Sir ..." She whispered with tenderness, pulling his still long hair out of his face. "It's okay. It will be okay. It's over now. You are here, with me and Rufus. It's all over."

She felt him trembling against her touch. It was only normal his reaction. Who knew how badly he had been mistreated, what had he witnessed while in the hospital. Feeling like he would appreciate it, she pulled his body against hers in an embrace of sorts. It took a while until his body relaxed and finally it went limp still clutched in her arms. She smiled as she made him lay down on the pillows once more, asleep. It had been a long day.

For the remainder of the night, Harmony did her best to find comfort in her armchair beside the fire. From time to time she would glance towards the bed, verifying if her boys were okay. Her boys, she thought while gazing distractedly at the fire. She could get used to calling them that, she imagined. With time. It had been so long since she had had anyone else in her life besides Rufus. Feeling safe and warm, Harmony sought comfort in the flames and let her shields down, her mind free to wander.

She knew Severus Snape was a Mind Reader, as her mother sometimes called them. She had read about it and remembered it during the day. Even if he wasn't, she wouldn't have let her shields down anyway. They served many purposes at once. Keeping others out, sure. But also keep memories buried deep within. Her past wasn't an easy one. She had lost everyone and everything, not once but twice. Escaping both wars alive had been nothing short of a miracle. Only she and Rufus knew the truth about how biting could a winter be amidst the wilderness. Her familiar had saved her more times than she could count. Coming back, rebuilding her childhood home from ruins, managing a fully functional life… All of it had taken its toll on her. She wasn't who she had once been. A young woman, full of perspectives, full of expectations. That one had died along with her family. Harmony wouldn't describe herself as bitter yet remembering wasn't a source of solace. With effort, she had managed to keep all of that buried in a dark corner and she hoped indeed that there it would remain.

As the clock stroked 3 in the morning, Harmony jumped on the armchair, the blanket that had covered her body now on the floor. Nightmares. For the Goddess's sake! Her heart felt like it was about to jump out of her chest.

A soft whining from the bed warned her that Rufus was awake. He usually did that. But this time, he wasn't alone.

Snape was awake too, watching her. Had he witnessed it all?

"Do you need something?" She asked.

To her surprise, he nodded.

Getting near, she noticed two things. First, the bed was wet. Second, his face was glistening with pearls of cold sweat.

"You had a nightmare too." It wasn't a question. Still, he nodded. His face giving away shame.

"Don't worry, you are not the only one."She admitted. "Have you been awake for long?"

He seemed hesitant in his answer then.

Harmony found herself smiling and reaching to touch his sweaty cheek. He flinched upon the first touch but then relaxed against her fingers.

" I will clean you up. Then, you shall try to go back to sleep."

So she did. A gesture from her hand and his clothes and the bed became dry and clean again. No need for a diaper when it was that simple. Stupid healers.

His face, however, Harmony cleaned in a common way: A wet cloth and lots of patience.

Human contact would do no harm. On contrary. It could only help him.