Title:
Twenty-one days

Prequel to:
A few days more

Author:
evil minded

Date:
November, 30th 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 guided Harry to the table and seated the boy beside Theodore, while he himself sat on Harry's other side. Most of them had their arms laying on the table and their heads resting on their arms, their eyes closed, ready to sleep and never ever wake again, and he actually was glad for the moment the bowls with the broth appeared.
"Eat!" He softly ordered, his voice however not allowing contradictions. "And eat slowly. Use the spoons." He knew how tired they were and that most of them probably wouldn't bother eating anything, but he also knew how important it was. "You do not have to finish it, but I want you to at least try it." Not only was it important that they ate something at all, but that they ate together right now. They had survived together, and they should end this together. "And if you feel sick, then just say so and I will give you a stomach potion."
He watched them eating, spooning their soup, broth only, but it was good to know that they were able to eat anything, that they actually had anything to eat.
Not everyone was out of the woods yet, he knew, and his dark eyes wandered over Harry and Theodore, brushed even Draco, Tracy, and Parvati, but they actually had real chances now. They would survive, he just had to believe in it, just like he had believed that they would make it out of the dungeons alive.

Twenty-one days
Several days – unknown
Preview to the sequel – A few days more

They all had been released from Poppy's claws just two days ago, after they had – enjoyed – her hospitality so very much, and now, this very Monday morning they all were to go back to classes – Severus teaching potions and Harry together with the other fourth years that had been locked down in the potions classroom for 21 days going back to their own classes.

Well, at least it was potions they would have first thing this morning and for a moment Severus wondered – what would it be like? Would they even be able to concentrate in his class or would they rather be afraid that such an accident like four weeks ago could happen once again? He himself didn't feel too well, he had to admit that. They had been through hell because of spells and a potion – and he knew that, what happened once, could happen a second time. They were working with spells and potions after all, they were wizards after all.

While at the same time he knew that he couldn't allow his fear to take the upper hand and start ruling over his life. He would have to resign his job if he did that. But those children were just that – children, unable controlling their fears as well as he did, and he knew that they were – anxious a bit.

Harry hectically scooping up a bit of eggs onto a slice of toast caused him to frown at the boy.

"What exactly are you doing, Mr. Snape?" He asked, scowling at his son. It wasn't as if he hadn't told all of them how important not only regular meals were but calm meals they held in peace, too, and now the child already started spreading chaos and hectic on their very first morning of regular classes. He could understand that the child was anxious, that he was nervous, and that he was even scared – and most likely not only because of the potions class but because of him, Snape, being back to his normal spiteful behaviour as well, but they had already talked …

"Uhm … well, we don't have much time, and I'm always so slow with eating, and this way I can eat on my way to the dungeons." The child explained, already getting up with his – breakfast.

"Sit down, Harry." Snape ordered, still scowling at the child. "First – seeing as it is potions that will be your first class this morning, we won't start before not all of you have finished their breakfast. Second – even if it were any other class, you will keep sitting here until you have finished your meals – calmly and without hectic. I will repeat it – it is imperative that you hold your meals slowly and without any stress, that you hold your meals at the table and that you hold your meals together and in peace. And that is final, Harry, and now sit down and start your breakfast – including your nutrient potion and the cup of hot chocolate."

Breåk· … ·~†~*~*~*~*~*~†~· … ·Łine

Harry was actively partaking in all of their meals, breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as the snacks between. He was sleeping a lot, and he was doing the exercises in the gym he especially for them had installed in the dungeon. He also had the children walking through the grounds once a day, around the lake even, if they had enough time at the weekends and if the weather allowed it, and he had them talking and playing games in the evenings, making sure that they did other things aside from just studying, as many of them were afraid that they wouldn't catch up due to their imprisonment and four weeks of classes they had missed, and would then disappoint him.

While at the same time, Harry was often very quiet now.

While he had kept all their spirits up during those twenty-one days down in the potions classroom, it was now as if he had spent all energy of keeping up anything back then and now he was just empty. The still so very small portions the boy barely managed eating were worrying as well, but it had to be expected, knowing how long this particular child had been starved actually. It would take time for him to get used to eating regular and – halfway – full meals again.

All of that, the good and the bad was promising for Harry's recovery, and he knew that, knew that even the bad – it was necessary so that in the long run it would be alright. What wasn't promising however, was his trembling. Harry was still unable keeping up his own body warmth, relying on charms and warm clothes to keep at a reasonable temperature … and even then, Severus could see the small body shaking from the cold every so often. At first it had been worrying, then it had become concerning, and now it was just terrifying, and Severus had little choice than to face what was in front of him – Harry had survived, yes, but it would take him months to recover from hell – if he ever would.

Throwing a blanket, he had brought with them, over the bony form that was sitting in one of the more cozy chairs he settled down into one of the chairs himself while the others scattered around them on the benches or in the grass. He would manage, somehow, he swore to himself, he would manage to bring Harry back to health.

Harry was grateful for the blanket Snape – his father – always brought with him, as well as for other things, like a cardigan or a bag with potions, or other things the older wizard thought he might need. It was more than two weeks now since their '21 days' as many of them called it, but still he was always so damn cold and weak and tired, and Severus always tried his best to make it easier for him. The man was definitely the pure opposite from what he had been the past three years, he was caring, and he was helping, and he was … sighing he had to admit that he didn't know what exactly, and looking over at the man he couldn't help but smile at the strange picture of Snape who was enjoying the sun.

It looked to him like a man who was enjoying the last sun he ever would see in his life, or the first sun he never before had seen – and Harry swallowed thickly for a moment, hitched a breath, because he knew – he wasn't so far from the truth. Severus, as much of a dungeon person as he might be, he had not seen the sun for 21 days, and surely he must have missed it, feeling the warm rays of sunlight on his face that was still paler than it used to be since he knew that man.

"Do not set yourself apart, Mr. Snape." He heard his father's soft voice, and suddenly the man was leaning towards him, his hand softly touching his chin and lifting his head. "Do not forget that you have been through the same than the rest of us, if not worse." The man's dark eyes upon him were so piercing suddenly, he could feel them slicing through his body and through his mind, through his soul … as if he could read his thoughts, again!

Breåk· … ·~†~*~*~*~*~*~†~· … ·Łine

A hand grabbing him from behind had him squealing startled for a moment and he clutched the pear he was holding close to his chest, or he would have lost it, and for a moment he was sure that it was Creighton again.

"Unhand that boy, Filch!" A harsh voice suddenly ordered from behind and – again, just like a few days ago – Harry couldn't help sighing with relief. Again, his father was here to safe his sorry behind.

"Not this time, Professor!" Filch hissed, smirking and tightening the grip he had on his upper arm so that Harry nearly cried out. "Caught him red handed stealing food from the kitchens. He'll pay this time."

"As far as I am aware, Filch, it is not yet illegal for the students to carry food with them, nor going to the kitchens for a snack." Snape growled darkly, and Harry knew immediately that the Professor tried to keep his voice calm. "And now … unhand him!"

Well, Filch did, even if reluctantly only, and even if he did with an accusing, betrayed stare at Snape, who up to now had always overtaken the students he had caught for punishments, and the Potions Master threw a furious glance at him upon which the caretaker quickly strolled away, down the corridor, Miss Norris running behind him with her tail straight in the air as if to say – next time.

"Do you have to get in constant trouble, Mr. Snape?" The Potions Master demanded a moment later when the caretaker was out of ear shot.

"I'm trying, Professor." The boy said and Snape at once knew – he was desperate and scared. There was no 'dad' or 'Severus' not even a 'sir' but a 'Professor'. The boy had used the term 'dad' more often lately, aside from 'Severus' and only rarely did he call him 'sir' anymore, only if he knew that the situation was serious or that he was in trouble. But for the boy to call him by his title – 'Professor' – it was one very huge step backwards – one he didn't like.

"I do know that, Harry." The Potions Master sighed, watching the boy rubbing his upper arm where Filch had held him. "Come, child." He said, leading the boy into his office. "I would like to have a look at your arm."

Breåk· … ·~†~*~*~*~*~*~†~· … ·Łine

Leaving his room and stepping into the parlour Harry gasped in pure shock the moment his eyes fell onto the large tree. Not that he had not seen this tree the evening before, he had decorated it together with Severus after all. But what was beneath the tree shocked him to the very core and for a moment he just stood there, not able to move.

Severus watched the boy who hadn't noticed him sitting in the parlour, remembering the child's comment the evening before.

'I like it, even if there won't be much beneath it.'

He had waited until Harry had snuck out of his room, two small packages in his hand that he had placed beneath the tree, and he had known that they were for Theodore, and him, Snape.

He had been touched by the gesture, the boy having thought of him at Christmas. He then had waited until Theodore as well had crept out of his own room and had placed two small packages as well beneath the tree. After that he had waited a bit longer until he could be sure that both boys were finally sleeping, and then he had waved his wand to place his own boxes he had prepared beneath the tree, knowing that by morning at least Albus and Minerva as well as Filius, and the Weasleys would have done the same – aside from who else would use his floo tonight as a chimney for playing Santa Claus.

The boy's large green eyes straying over to him, Severus, he could see the changes running over the pale face – the small smile vanishing, the longing changing into sadness and the eyes growing startled, the boy taking a step backwards before turning towards the kitchen with a murmured "I'll go and make breakfast", most likely scared that he would consider him greedy if he watched the presents beneath the tree any longer.

"Stop, Harry." He called the boy back who turned unsurely back towards him. "Come here."

"I … I'm sorry … I just …" The boy said, looking at the floor, and slowly – slower than he would have liked – coming closer, stopping a few steps before the armchair, and he himself stood.

"There is no need for you to make breakfast, son." He said, trying to sound calm and casual. "And surely not today. Zilly will prepare something soon, and until then we are meant to – enjoy – this infuriating holiday." Yet, he could clearly see that the teen was still so unsure and so confused – he realized that they would still have to go a very long way, each new situation bringing back bad memories to the boy, memories of being neglected and abused, and calmly he crossed the space between them.

"It is alright child." He said, taking the young teenager by his arm and leading him over to the sofa, seated them both on the furniture. "Those presents, Harry, a lot of them are for you. You still do not see your own value, and you still think that you do not deserve them, but you do, child, and so much more than what you have gotten before. You are a good child, despite what I always tell you, being an imbecile. You do deserve a happy Christmas for once in your life, you foolish child, and I do intend giving it to you."

"I'm sorry …" The blasted boy again apologized just the moment Theo came into the hall. "It's just that … there are so many of them and … I just didn't know what to do …"

Yes, he could imagine that, could hear the desperation in the boy's voice.

"Perhaps you just start with one small package." He quietly said, summoning the smallest of the ones that were addressed to the boy. "And we will see where we get from there. You have all day for unpacking them if you so wish, you do not have to unpack them all at once if they are too much for you to handle." He said, realizing that it was the same situation as it was with the child's eating troubles – a simple slice of toast being too large for the boy to handle so that he had to cut it in half before he was able eating it.

Breåk· … ·~†~*~*~*~*~*~†~· … ·Łine

"Dumbledore said he would reinvestigate my case in front of the Wizengamot." Sirius said excitedly. "You know what that means, don't you? You can live with me! I'll be your legal guardian as soon as I'm free."

"But we don't know each other …" Harry said. He did not want to appear ungrateful, he liked Sirius, but he did not really know how to balance another adult in his life. Not to mention that he did have Severus and he did not want to have another guardian. Severus was his father, he didn't need another guardian.

"Harry." The man said, reaching out to touch Harry and he pulled back a little. He averted his eyes when Sirius' face fell. "We'll get to know each other, and you'll live with me, don't worry, really. Your parents made me your godfather and I'll adopt you the moment I'm finally free."

Well, the only thing Harry right now was feeling – was the panic building up in him.

He liked Sirius, the man was alright to be around him for an hour or two, but to live with him? That would mean leaving his father, leaving the one person who had kept him not only alive but sane as well during the past few months now, the one person that looked out for him, the one person who kept him going, the one person who … no, he couldn't do that, wouldn't do that.

"I … I have Severus …"

"Snape isn't the father you need, Harry!" Sirius seriously said. "Anyone could do better than that git! And he is too harsh with you anyway! He punishes you ways too often!"

"He loves me and … and I love him." He protested, not knowing why Sirius was so persistent on this, and why he denunciated the Potions Master so much. "He is good for me, Sirius … you know how my life was before him … my relatives … I was only a burden to them … but Severus cares for me, and for what I do, and that I'm happy. He just wants me to be safe and to be healthy and … and to learn. He is a good father. Even if he punishes me sometimes."

"Harry, you don't have any experience with having a father …" Sirius protested.

"No, but I talk with my friends, you know?" He shook his head. He wanted to go home now, and away from Sirius. He was scared, and his stomach hurt. "I know that Mr. Weasley punishes Ron too sometimes … as does Hermione's father or any other father … I like what I have."

"But … I'll treat you better." The man promised and Harry's stomach aches grew. "I'll never tell you when to go to bed or take your broom away or punish you … I'll always make you happy … you'll see! You'll live with me soon, and then you'll see."

The moment Sirius smiled at him dismissingly Harry ran out of the classroom, his fists gripping the shirt over his stomach that hurt more and more and straight to the dungeons, nearly crying, desperately. His worst fear had come true – he would lose Severus. Sirius would take him away, and he would lose Severus!

He could barely breathe with fear the moment he ran into their quarters and when he caught sight of the Potions Master he actually thought he would suffocate, grabbed the shirt over his chest in an attempt to get a breath into his lungs – one way or another.

"You are early, any problems at the meeting with Black?" He heard the man asking, and he was glad to hear the calmness and worry in his voice instead of the usual sarcasm he had expected, but at the same time this was his undoing. After Sirius had said that Snape wouldn't care about Harry … well he just wasn't able to keep his blasted tears from falling at the man's always so calm voice.

Breåk· … ·~†~*~*~*~*~*~†~· … ·Łine

Severus left the kitchen the moment he heard the door to his quarters banging open violently and with a scowl on his face he went into the parlour, ready to scold Harry for the racket he was causing, but when his eyes fell on the boy who was barely able to breathe, pulling his T-Shirt in an attempt to take a breath, the face pale and a mask of distress – he quickly started walking towards the teen, crossed his arms in front of his chest so that the boy would not be scared of his hands, and he looked at Harry, looking for an answer to his unspoken question to what had happened on his face.

"You are early, any problems at the meeting with Black?" He asked, and a moment later the blasted boy actually started crying, worrying him nearly out of his wits. The boy had nearly died just two months ago and even back then he had not cried. They had been locked into the potions classroom with barely anything edible and for three entire weeks, and even back then the boy had barely cried. So – what horrifying thing had happened right now that the child lost it and actually choked on his sobs?

Slowly taking the teen by his shoulders he steered him to the sofa to sit him down there, the boy allowing him doing so without a fuss for a moment but before he had the boy sitting on the sofa Harry leaned against him, his face smearing snot, and tears at the shirt over his chest and he folded his own arms around the shaking shoulders, holding the child until the sobs subsided, only running calming circles over the still so bony back.

"What happened, son?" He asked when he thought that Harry was getting himself back under control.

"Sirius is going to take me away!" The boy cried out, fear and desperation clearly audible in his voice, and he was nearly back to gasping for breath. "The adoption … it's permanent, isn't it? He can't take me away … can he?"

"He wants to take you away?" Severus asked startled, his brows furrowed. He had expected many things when he had agreed to the boy visiting that blasted mutt for tea once a fortnight but surely not that! Of course, Harry would panic upon such a comment from the mutt – and his face darkened.

"He said that … that my parents named him my godfather and that once his name is cleared he could adopt me and take me away with him … that he would take me away from you …" The boy hitched out and Severus finally took Harry to the sofa and sat him down before he went back into the kitchen to fetch a cup of tea and added half a vial of a calming draught to it. He took it back to Harry and made him drink it in slow sips.

"Do not worry, child." He said, simply keeping his hand laying on the boy's shoulder blade while thinking of all the most evil things he would like to bestow upon that blasted mangy mutt. "The adoption is valid, and Black can do nothing to get you away against your wish."

Breåk· … ·~†~*~*~*~*~*~†~· … ·Łine

It was Saturday and Harry had just had his latest check-up with Madam Pomfrey and right now he was almost skipping on his way to tell Severus that he was allowed to use his entire magic once again. Of course, he knew that it wouldn't be the last checkup he'd have, but right now he didn't mind, because he'd had to hold back in his magic for the past few weeks and the fact that he was allowed to use it completely again now, it was as if he had found a part of him that he had lost. Never before had he noticed how much his magic was a part of him until the first of September this year and it had startled him – as well as the knowledge that barely a wizard was so deeply aware of their own magic as were he and the others now, after they had been locked in the potions classroom without their magic for three weeks.

He didn't find Severus in their quarters, and with a smirk on his face that – without his notice – looked startling alike the one his father so often wore, he placed his wand at his palm and whispered a quiet "point me Severus", again smiling at the spinning the wand did. Following the wand, the moment it became still, he ran through the corridors, upstairs, through the entrance hall and then outside and over to the older wizard who stood beside Hereweald on the large lawn to the left of the front yard and not for the first time he wondered about the similarity of the two dark men.

He ran over the lawn and launched himself at Severus who looked up, startled for a moment at the sight of the boy who was flinging himself towards him, and he thanked Merlin for his quick reflexes, or he wouldn't have managed catching the little imp.

"Severus! Severus! Dad!" The boy squealed into his ear while nearly choking him with his thin arms that wound themselves around his neck in a startling strong grip. "Madam Pomfrey said I can use all my magic again! I don't have to hold back anymore!"

Severus nearly smiled at the boy, too flabbergasted at the outburst to watch his own facial muscles. Even after all those weeks he now lived with the boy – it was still amazing at how old Harry acted sometimes, while at other times, he could revert to behaving like a small, little child in situations that he had never experienced before. And this situation here, throwing himself at an adult to tell him great news, being caught and then held by said adult, and being listened to said excited news – this was one of those situations the boy had never before experienced as there had never before been an adult in the child's life who had cared enough for doing so.

There just seemed to be no normal fourteen year old boy – Harry was either four or he was forty. And the fact that the boy still had the build of a skinny ten year old child didn't help the strange image he so often displayed either.

Before he was able to stop himself in his own excitement, the Potions Master grabbed the boy around the waist, lowered him to the lawn and started tickling the little imp, for once not caring about the audience he had in his old friend.

A moment later however he himself went pale when the boy screamed and curled into a tight ball, his arms thrown over his head in a clear way of self-protection, his thin body shaking uncontrollably, the little muscles locking in that position so that nothing and no one would be able to draw him out of that tight little ball he had become while holding his breath as if he even wanted to tighten the muscles around his lungs – clearly having flashbacks about that blasted uncle of his and the Potions Master immediately let go of the child, crouching down on the lawn next to his son and gently placing his hand onto the child's bent back, softly talking to him and trying to get him out of the panic attack he clearly was trapped in.

"Hush, child. It's me, Severus." He said with a calmness he didn't feel, and he cast a quick, helpless look towards Hereweald before he concentrated back onto his son. "I am sorry, child, I did not mean to frighten you. It is alright, calm down, Harry. Your uncle is not here, and he won't be able to hurt you ever again. It is just you, Hereweald and me, and none of us will hurt you, just release your breath and calm down, concentrate onto my voice, and try to calm down. Come now, release your breath, Harry, you can do that. You are safe here with me."

It took him a few minutes of over and over again trying to tell the boy that he was there and that he wouldn't allow anyone to hurt him, minutes during which the boy only every now and then had released his breath before taking one long and shuddering breath again, holding it again, but then he finally started to breath more and more normal, to take calmer breaths and started to slowly uncurl, as if slowly relaxing muscle for muscle.

Carefully starting to run his hand over the child's back in small circles, ignoring the frightened boy's terrified shudders, he slowly pulled his son closer until he held him in his arms, noticing that slowly but surely the child's breathing evened out a bit, became regular at least, noticing that even if they were still shuddered breathes the child finally started to relax into his arms, and even if the boy started to cling to him as if his life depended on this grip, still was as white as chalk – but at least Harry was calming down.

"I am sorry, Harry." He said, taking a deep breath himself. "It has not been my intention to startle you and next time you play a human arrow aimed at me, I will try to keep my own excitement under control."

"No, I'm sorry." The boy finally answered, his voice still trembling. "I'm sorry, I was just startled. It wasn't your fault … I just … please don't …"

"It is alright, child." The Potions Master said when Harry drifted off and he gently ran his fingers through the unruly black mop of hair while still holding the child in a tight and protective embrace. "It is alright. Next time I will just start slower so that you can see my face before I start attacking you. I am sure it will be alright if you have the chance to read my face first, and therefore see that I am not angry at you."

Breåk· … ·~†~*~*~*~*~*~†~· … ·Łine

Harry was still clinging to him while Draco had his face hidden in the crook of Neville's neck who was softly crying himself. Hermione was clinging to Ronald and the red haired boy definitely looked shocked, too. The others were either sitting there, staring ahead, calmly meanwhile, or still crying silently.

For a moment Severus watched Harry and the other children with a tight feeling in his chest, but he did not have the time to do much right now. They had been together for the past hour, and he had tried to comfort all of them as good as possible, but now he had a floo call to make, one he dreaded and hoped he would never have to make again – a floo call to tell parents about the loss of a child, what was one of the hardest things Severus had ever done.

He would be back to comfort them in an hour or two, but now he had to go down this path – never mind how hard it was for himself.

Breåk· … ·~†~*~*~*~*~*~†~· … ·Łine

To be continued

Next time in "twenty-one days"
the start of 'a few days more'

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 on ff, I'll install the house cup – with each review, please state your house, so that your house can get a point. There won't be loss of points, only gains … may the best house with the most reviews win …

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

Slytherin 89
Gryffindor 51
Ravenclaw 27
Hufflepuff 14
Hogwarts 21
Durmstrang 04
Tennessee Institute of Magic & Technomancy 01