It was Sunday, April 6th in the year 1997. Today, students were making their way back to Hogwarts via the train. Except for a small handful who had to floo directly to the school for safety reasons. It was already 4:00 pm, and Harry knew Severus said they'd be getting to the school earlier than the students to make sure teachers could prepare for the influx, also finish up any work they had not over the break.

This was going to give Harry time to get settled in since Severus did work out that Harry would be moving into his personal quarters for the sake of them working through Harry's depression by having sessions a few times a week, plus training, and Severus needing to monitor Harry's sleeping habits. Albus agreed it was for the best, and Harry would now be staying with Severus the rest of the year.

This was discussed on Friday while Harry was with Dobby to get to his properties and make sure the families he was housing got settled in okay. All was well now, the Zabini's, Parkinson's, and Nott's were set up in Harry's homes and working on just getting used to it. The rules were simple, they were not to leave the houses unless it was flooing to other secure places. The locations also had hired house elves with them, the ones they had at their original residences.

The elves were in charge of getting them whatever they needed like food or supplies. Harry had also been told that the Crabbes and Goyles were squared away too in Sirius's properties with Narcissa as their secret keeper. Hermione was living with the Weasley's now, and would be until the war was over. Neville and Luna were safe in their homes once they passed the information onto their guardians. In this case, Neville's grandmother, Augusta, and Xenophilius, who was Luna's father.

Harry was in his old room, Severus said he could keep it as an office or personal library when they were home. Harry used it for storage of his school things, and a place to do summer work even though he only had one more summer left between sixth and seventh year. Right now, Harry was finishing up his packing to get through the next two months of the term. There was a knock on the door as Harry had just placed his invisibility cloak and the Marauder's map inside his trunk.

"You know you don't have to knock, Sev," Harry told his husband gently.

"It's out of respect, Harry. I would expect the same from you with my potions lab. I wouldn't want to interrupt you doing any work." Severus said once he pushed the door open and leaned against the frame. Harry closed his trunk and locked it.

"I told you I would be packing." Harry reminded with a smile.

"All finished? You know we're not coming back here until mid-June." The man informed.

"All set." Replied Harry, smiling at the potions master. "When are we going?"

"Right now." Severus revealed. "We need time to get our space set up before the students come, and I also have to be present to see my snakes come through safely."

"Alright, well, I'm ready." The teenager responded.

"Excellent, then let's be on our way. We're going right to our quarters," Severus said. "The others can't go there, but Albus allowed for you and I to have direct access between the house and our room." He added. "For emergencies, say Voldemort attempting to attack the school and we don't have the Horcruxes yet. The house's protection will keep you safe." Harry nodded.

The two made their way downstairs into the main room after Harry shrunk down his trunk and made sure Ivy was with him. Hedwig had flown ahead. Stepping into the fireplace, Severus grabbed the powder and called their destination, then tossed it down and they were wrapped up in the green flames.

. . .

Arriving at Hogwarts inside their quarters. It was taking Harry some getting used to that this was Severus's room as a teacher, but when they were in their together; it was their room. Just like Severus began calling the master bedroom of Spinner's End was now their room and it was their house.

To Harry, it felt amazing that things were going so well for them that it wasn't Harry's or Severus's, but it was theirs. In true married fashion of them sharing everything. Harry was moved by it and it warmed his heart, his feelings for Severus were growing at such an alarming rate that it kind of scared him. As Harry and Severus stepped out of the fire, the teenager noticed it was just a little different.

"Did some rearranging and redecorating?" Harry turned to his husband.

"Perhaps a little." Severus shrugged a bit. "I did add a second room for you."

"I thought we were sharing?" Harry arched a brow.

"We are. Relax," The man chuckled. "This room here is for you to do whatever in. A space just for Harry. Let me explain," He paused. "You and I both know that you are still depressed and it outweighs your joy, severely. As I told you, being able to live everyday life with the illness is completely doable. But it takes time to get there, and in that time…There will be a lot of lows while we work through it." He went on.

"I suspect with the task of these Horcruxes on you, and the impending final battle…You will be stressed out and that will affect your recovery. The same can be said about knowing that Albus is going to die. I felt your pain when it was revealed. Overall, when you suffer from depression, it never truly goes away. It is manageable, but it will always be there and can spark depending on the situation."

"Okay…" Harry said.

"I made it quite clear, Harry…I do not want you vanishing again. I don't want you wandering the halls under the cloak, going near the Astronomy tower and for the love of God, I don't want you escaping to the chamber again…" Severus paused. "This room is for you to escape into when you go through an episode."

"If something happens that upsets you, and you need a place to go for some peace and quiet to think, you need a little time alone. This room is for that. If you need a place to escape and cry, scream, blast walls to let out frustration…This room is built for that. If you just need a place to be alone, this room is for that. This room is for you. Okay. With conditions…"

"What conditions?" Inquired Harry.

"No sneaking potions. If you feel you can't handle it on your own, I expect you to come and tell me so I can monitor what you take. Whether that be something to help you sleep, calm down, affected enough that it's making you feel sick…You come to me and I will give you something. I don't want you doing it on your own." Severus began. "No drinking. I know you are considered an adult and you can drink…But I do not want you drinking alone."

"You and me, fine to have a couple drinks together if it's casual. You will not use it to escape the pain or drown your sadness and anger." He paused. "You take Ivy with you inside. Obvious reasons, I don't want you completely alone. It is precautionary that if you fall apart like you did down in the chamber, Ivy can escape the room to come out here and get me and she knows how because I now have a frame for Salazar in my office both down here in the dungeon, and the Defense classroom."

There was a small pause. "And Ivy knows where in the room to set off a silent alarm that I can feel anywhere in the castle. I do still expect that you will not close off the bond on your side. I promise that I will give you your space and not hound unless I feel you're slipping too deep, that is when I'll interfere. If not for that, I will leave you until you're ready to confront things." Severus informed. "You don't even have to tell me you're in there. If the door is closed and locked, I'll assume you need time."

"But I don't want you locking away and not eating? Okay? If you don't want to come out, that's fine…But call Dobby for something to eat if you don't come to meals. I don't want you skipping meals unless you're ill, and if you are, I want you to let me know so I can take care of you. And don't go radio silent. If you choose not to come to meals, I will be coming to the door to knock and just ask that you've eaten. All I need is a yes or no." He stated.

"Alright…I can do that," Harry agreed.

"Aside all that being the main purpose for the room…There's also a bed and desk, if you end up tired and falling asleep. Or want to do your school work. Okay, that is your space in our quarters. It was built for you." The man remarked. "And it's not just for the time you're residing in here…Anytime you need it, while still a student in this school. Even if I'm not here. I gave you access to this room for a reason, and this is now one of the reasons. If you're upset and need a break or time, I prefer you come here and use your room for it. Is that agreeable?" Severus asked.

Harry nodded to his husband and then Harry hugged him tightly. "Thank you," Severus smiled and hugged the teen back, then Harry got on his toes and gave Severus a kiss.

"What was that for?" Severus asked.

"Because you're amazing." Harry smiled lightly.

"I just wanted you to have a safe space to escape to that lets you have time, but also keeping me aware of where you are. I meant what I said two weeks ago Harry…You don't know how scared I was when Draco came to the head table to report you having been missing since the night before, then to learn with the map you wandered the castle all night and even went outside the Astronomy tower's railing again. If it wasn't for Ronald, we never would have gotten into the chamber…" Severus stated.

"I've sat in the dark lord's presence under the farce of following him. I've watched him torture and kill his own followers for failing him. I've been tortured by him. Not even all that was more frightening than believing I might lose you." He mentioned. "So, I'm happy to give you your space when you need it, your time to be upset and try to cope on your own. This room is for you to do that. I've even titled the door as Harry's Safe Haven or Safe Room. Maybe Harry's Space. I can't remember which."

"I appreciate it," Harry kissed the man's cheek. "But other than that room being set for me to have my moments in, we get to share the bedroom?"

"Yes, Harry," Severus promised. "I've ensured there were renovations made to accommodate us sharing the room. And of course, I did a little rearranging here in the main space. The master bathroom is in our room, but there is a half bathroom over there," He pointed.

"It's like a flat," Harry realized.

"That was the point," Severus chuckled. "Now, go on and get settled. The rest of the snakes will be coming through starting at 6:30 pm. It's been set up for five minute intervals that they come through. I believe Minerva is doing the same with her Gryffindors, and Miss. Lovegood." He added.

"I…Can still spend time in Slytherin common room with the guys and Pansy, right?" Harry wondered.

"Yes, of course." Severus nodded. "You residing here is mainly for the nights, so I can help you manage your nightmares and sleeping habits." He reminded. "But between classes, after classes until curfew…You're free to return to your common room to see your friends. Do your little study groups and hang out. Obviously, you can still go to Hogsmeade with them and venture to the common room on the weekends."

"Alright." Harry smiled before he headed off to the bedroom to start getting unpacked for the remaining two and a half months of his sixth year.

. . .

It didn't take Harry long to get his things put away as far as clothes and toiletries and then he went into his extra room to set up the work area with parchments, ink, quills, and books on the shelves. Harry also made sure that Ivy's space was up and running too, her heated little cove.

Severus had already left the room to ensure his offices and classroom were set up, then he had something else to do, but Harry couldn't remember. The teenager did use Sal's portrait in the main room to get down to the chamber to grab a couple things and come right back up after an hour.

Though, Harry left a note for Severus letting him know where he was and what he was doing. By 7:00, Harry was just wandering the castle with Ivy on his shoulders; he knew his friends had already arrived via floo because he was with Severus when the Slytherins came through. Pansy and the boys were sent right to their common room to get settled. Luna, Neville, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny were here too, getting set up in Gryffindor Tower.

Somehow, Harry made it to the great hall. It was weird to see it empty. It wouldn't be in about thirty minutes. Harry's guess was that the train would be arriving at Hogsmeade in fifteen minutes, then by 7:30 pm, the students would come right to the hall for dinner. Still, this peace was kind of nice. Harry just stood in the middle of the room, staring up at the enchanted ceiling; the gorgeous night sky.

The teenager's mind was replaying over what Severus said earlier, how he made that room for Harry because he anticipated that things were going to get hard and his battle with depression would be going up and down with everything going on. The search for the Horcruxes. The final battle. Dumbledore was cursed and going to die soon, there was just no telling when. Just knowing it all was bringing him down. Harry sighed out with his eyes closed, hand automatically going to his neck where the cross was hidden away under his robes.

"Are you okay, Master?" Ivy questioned.

"I'm alright for the moment, my friend. Don't worry." Harry responded.

"There is much happening in your mind, isn't there?" The snake wondered.

"Always." Harry gave half of a laugh at the fact it was true. Ever since he came to Hogwarts, his mind never slowed down because something was always happening that he had to figure out and put a stop to.

First year, it was the Sorcerer's Stone. Second year was the Chamber of Secrets. Third year was Peter Pettigrew. Fourth year was the Tournament and Voldemort returning. Fifth year was Umbridge and Voldemort. This year was figuring out the dark mark, which he'd successfully done for not just his husband, but others who wanted to get away from Voldemort too. Now there were these Horcruxes, the only way to destroy Voldemort was by destroying the containers holding pieces of his soul.

There was an impending final battle, which could be this year, or next. And there was the reality that Albus Dumbledore was cursed by a protected Horcrux, and now, the man was going to die. Lord only knew what next year would bring, Harry sincerely hoped it would be the final battle. Let it be after he graduated, so he could just get on with his life afterwards. Knowing his luck, that is not how things would go. Oh, yes. The rest of this year and next were going to be hard.

"It will be alright, Master. I will be with you. So will your mate, and friends." Ivy promised. "We won't abandon you."

"That means a lot to me, Ivy." Harry used his hand to stroke her scales under her mouth, and the top of her head. "I'm glad I have you and everyone else too."

"Master, please don't hurt yourself anymore…" Ivy asked.

Harry opened his eyes now. "I hadn't wanted to, Ivy. I've…Been good at controlling it for years, but what happened last time. I just couldn't take it anymore. You know? I've…Always put on a strong mask. Hidden how I felt from others. I didn't think anyone would understand, and I didn't want people treating me differently if they knew just how awful my life had been."

"I wanted…My normal, I guess. I would have lost that if people knew what I'd been through. I've craved normal for years, Ivy…Just wanted to be a regular kid with some really good friends, learn magic. But when people know your real life, they don't see you as they did before. My life is already messed up from the past, and being Voldemort's target…Just a little normalcy is all I want."

"When everyone learned, it changed?" Ivy said.

"It was about what I expected, but for some reason…I couldn't hold the mask. I couldn't fight the pain. I tried, I really did. I've resisted it so many times. But I just couldn't and I gave in." Harry told his friend.

"Maybe that was the point, Master…" Ivy suggested. "To stop hiding so everyone could see how much you were hurting, break down the walls so you'd let them in and they could help you. Your mate said the same. You aren't alone anymore, stop acting like you are. You don't have to be strong all the time, no one can."

"But you have to know when to be strong, and when to let yourself fall. Because when you fall, the others will be there to catch you and keep you going. Being strong all the time is tiring, you have to know when to stop and take a break, trust that your mate and friends will be strong for you."

Harry thought about it. What Ivy said made so much sense and…It was helpful, in its own way. "Thank you, Ivy." Harry pressed his cheek to her face and she flicked her tongue at him. "No one has ever said it to me like that before and…It makes sense. It…Helps."

"It is my job to be there for my master, for whatever they need. Protector, guidance, friend. It is my job to aid you in everything." Ivy revealed as she brought her tail around to swipe away a falling tear from her master's eyes and then nosed his forehead gently. "Now, buck up and spend time with your friends. They've located you." She stated as Harry turned around to see his friends entering the hall, everyone dressed in their robes and ready to enjoy dinner. Tomorrow, term resumed. It was going to be okay, Harry kept telling himself. It would all work out, and it would all be worth it.