Title:
A few days more

Sequel to:
Twenty-one days

Author:
evil minded

Date:
November, 2nd 2010

Timeframe:
Fourth year at Hogwarts

Summary:
"A few days more" is the sequel to "Twenty-one days" – read and review this first or you wouldn't understand all that happens in this story.
The fourth year Slytherins and Gryffindor have survived their imprisonment in the potions classroom situated in the dungeons. How will they go on in all-day life after their survival? How will they manage to reintegrate into the castle's routine and their classes? How will they be able to go back to life at all? Watch how those who survived fight for their lives and for their peace.

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 …
But Hereweald Hrothgar does …

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 A few days more
"You are not going to go away while I am asleep, are you?" Harry asked, his voice small, and again Severus frowned. Of course, he would be here, silly child! A bloody Gryffindor at some times, ready to face the Dark Lord, basilisks and dragons, but like a small child at other times, afraid that he would be left alone by him, Snape.
"I will be here the moment you wake up." He promised, unable of keeping himself from cupping the boy's face with his hand and pulling him closer even.
"Thank you ..." The imbecile murmured sleepily while again leaning into the touch. "'M sorry 'm so much trouble."
"Hush, you foolish child!" He gently chided. "You are nothing I cannot handle. And now rest, close your eyes and sleep."

A few days more
Chapter two
Day two – twenty-fourth of September – Tuesday night
Or – twins and other children

It really was time to have a word with two particularly identical Weasley boys and seeing that the children were asleep, especially Harry, it was the perfect opportunity, even if it was in the middle of the night.

For a moment he frowned.

A month ago, he would surely never have considered going into the lion's den, and definitely not in the middle of the night. The students had to sleep during the night, and they were not to be disturbed. And yet – he had to talk to those two, and he had to do so without any other student noticing, as the headmaster had kept their survival secret so far. And understandably so, he couldn't help thinking.

He could very well imagine what would happen the moment the students and parents learned of their survival and of them being free right now. Not only would hell break loose amongst them, but they would also storm the hospital wing, startling, and most likely even frightening the seventeen students that were his, unsettling them. And perhaps even getting some of them into a panic, and that was the last thing the children in here needed. They needed their peace for a bit longer, and they needed to be returned to the crowd slowly, especially Harry and Theodore. They needed to be prepared for the onslaught of students wishing to visit them, and he had even considered keeping Harry and Theodore in his quarters for a few days more after the others had returned to their houses and classes, to allow them a few days more of peace before he got them to classes one by one.

Casting an alarm over the hospital wing that would alert him the moment one of the students woke he, quietly, opened the door and slipped out into the corridor, a black shadow that soundlessly glided along the stone walls, unseen and unheard. He glided up the stairs that led to Minerva's tower and then along another corridor that would lead to the Gryffindor common room. Wordlessly he held his hand at the door, ignoring the fat lady, and asking the castle instead for information about anyone inside awake still.

He was a head of a house after all, and not unlike the headmaster, he, too, was able communicating with the castle. Not to the extent the headmaster could, but to some extent, after all, and immediately he knew that the common room was empty except for two students that were sleeping in front of the fire, the Weasley twins, and quietly he entered, satisfied with the fact that he would not have to go up to the sixth year dormitory what surely would have alerted Minerva.

He, Severus Snape, head of Slytherin, he was after all alerted if anyone attempted entering the Slytherin dormitories during the night, and he could only guess that Minerva had placed similar alarms on the dormitories of her lions.

Closing the door he looked around the offending red and golden room before slipping over to the large sofa that stood in front of the fireplace. He stood there for another moment, looking down at the two idiot boys which were sleeping with their limbs entangled into each other's and for a moment he wondered how it was, being a twin, being so close to each other that they didn't mind sleeping entangled like this, and he could be just glad that it had not been them being separated for those three weeks.

Quietly he knelt down in front of the sofa and placed a hand on Frederic Weasley's shoulder. He was sure that it was Frederic Weasley, even though the boy was sleeping with his back to him, because the other boy who had his face turned towards him had a small scar just in front of his ear and therefore was George Weasley. Barely anyone noticed that small scar and so most people were played with by them, but he had soon noticed that tiny scar and – well, they couldn't mess around with him.

"Mr. Weasley." He softly said, gently shaking the boy awake, and just like his younger brother whom he'd had down in the dungeons for three weeks, the teen tried to turn around and go on sleeping. "Wake up, Mr. Weasley." He said. "I would like to have a word with you."

Breåk· … ·~†~*~*~*~*~*~†~· … ·Łine

Fred could feel someone shaking his shoulder and he could hear a deep and velvet voice calling him awake but Merlin! It had been late last night – again – and he hadn't slept really well lately. In fact, he had slept really miserably lately, as had George, and the last thing he right now, now that he was sleeping for once, wanted – was to wake up.

But the hand on his shoulder didn't stop shaking him, and the voice that tried calling him awake got more insisting, and slowly he got awake, aware that he should know that voice. Taking a deep breath, he listened while forcing his eyes open – something that worked just very slowly.

Merlin, it surely couldn't be already time for classes, could it now? It surely had to be in the middle of the night, because there was absolutely no one else around aside from that deep and velvet voice, no happy chatter, no laughing or screaming, nor any objects hitting a wall or the floor and last but not least – it still was dark except for the fire in the mantelpiece.

"If you do not wish detention for the remainder of this term you better get fully awake, Mr. Weasley, now."

He heard Snape's voice – and by now he was sure that it was, indeed, Snape. Because no one could use that tone with that threat in that voice in a way like Snape did and quickly he sat up, rubbing his eyes.

"Professor Snape!" He called out the moment the black flurry ball became clearer and turned into a thin and pale face surrounded by black hair.

"Quiet, Mr. Weasley." Snape said, holding his finger at his lips to signal him – he should be silent.

What in Merlin's name was going on? What was Snape ... and did this mean that ... but no one had ... and ...

"Calm down, Mr. Weasley." Snape said and he looked up into the dark eyes of the Potions Master, noticing them laying deeper in the pale and thin face than they should, the professor clearly not looking well.

"Is it really you, sir?" He couldn't help asking, nearly extending his hand to touch the teacher, to make sure that he was real and not a ghost, because if he was a ghost, if he ... that surely meant that Ron, too ...

What was Snape doing here anyway? If Snape came up here, and in the middle of the night no less, then surely that meant ... but why would not McGonagall inform them of Ron being ... how ...

His fingertips brushed lightly over the dark Professor's face, and he nearly hitched a breath ...

It was the Potions Master, it was Professor Snape – but the man didn't kill him for touching him ...

Breåk· … ·~†~*~*~*~*~*~†~· … ·Łine

He was alone. Alone in someplace he didn't know where it was, and it was dark and silent. Fear engulfed him, rising from moment to moment, overwhelming him, swallowing him.

Sitting up in his bed he tried to look around in the darkness, noticing that at least, he wasn't in the dungeons anymore, he knew that. It smelled different and it wasn't cold enough for that. He also thought he remembered Professor Snape telling him that they were free. He wasn't really sure about that however.

But where was he now, if he wasn't in the dungeons anymore? And where were the others? Where was Professor Snape? And Draco? Neville? Theodore? Where was everyone else?

Snape had promised that he wouldn't leave him alone and that he would ... and now he wasn't here, he wasn't ...

Determined to figure out where exactly he was, Harry swung his legs out of his bed and then slipped down the side of the mattress until his feet touched the cold floor, noticing that the floor didn't feel like the stony floor down there in the dungeons either, and upon shaky legs he started walking along the length of the ward. It wasn't long but in Harry's weak state, he felt like he was running miles, gritting his teeth at the cold beneath his bare feet.

If only he could find Snape! If only Snape was alright! Why wasn't Snape here with them?

Breåk· … ·~†~*~*~*~*~*~†~· … ·Łine

"Yes, it is me, Mr. Weasley and no, I am not here because of your brother." He growled, knowing what the boy believed the moment his eyes went large with panic, and he allowed theshaking fingers to lightly brush over his face – he knew that the child needed this one reassurance of his liveliness. "Your brother is in the hospital wing, and except for feeling weak and tired – rather well and very much alive. I am however here to have a word with the two of you. If you were so kind as to waking your brother."

"Now?" The idiot boy asked, and he sighed.

"Surely I have not come up here in the middle of the night to watch you sleeping." He said while getting to his feet and sitting down into one of the armchairs near the sofa, pointing at George Weasley and Frederic Weasley nodded while extending his hand and shaking his brother awake, immediately signaling the other boy that he, too, should stay silent while he nearly snickered at the large eyes his twin made. Well, perhaps he should inform him about the little fact that the other boy, too, had looked just as idiotic.

Well, a moment later he finally had both boys' full attention and he gave a nod of approval.

"Very well, Misters Weasley." He said. "Would you be as kind as getting your third-year potions notebooks?" He could see them exchanging worried looks and he guessed he knew why exactly they were so worried. A moment later both of them shook their heads.

"We've only the notebooks ..."

"From this year with us ..."

"Very well then, would you please be as kind as getting your potions notebooks from this year?" He asked lifting his eyebrow and Frederic Weasley got off the sofa and quickly but quietly went up the stairs to his dormitory.

"Is Ron alright?" George asked and he inclined his head.

"Yes, Mr. Weasley." He answered this twin as well as he had answered the unspoken question from the other twin just moments before. "Your brother is in the hospital wing and except of being weak and tired – rather well and very much alive."

"Thank you." Weasley said, taking a deep breath and he actually could see some of the strain and tiredness falling off the boy, as if a heavy load had been taken off his shoulders.

"You are welcome." He softly said. "It is, however, important that you do not storm off to the infirmary first thing tomorrow. They all still need rest and peace, they have to come back to the routine of the castle slowly, and I expect you to not tell everyone – anyone – about our survival. I will allow the both of you down to the infirmary tomorrow morning, but you won't tell anyone else. Your parents will be notified by Professor McGonagall soon, as will your sister, and then they can visit your brother as well – until then, I expect you to keep this information secret."

The boy nodded, surely satisfied with at least having gotten this bit of information.

A moment later Frederic Weasley was back, handing him both of their potions notebooks and he took them, casting a quick glance at them and then reaching Frederic's notebook back. It was George's potions notebook he needed. Opening it and skimming through the few – through the very few – entries, through the few entries that even were only random thoughts of the boy about one potion or another and not any notes he could have taken in class, he went to the last one.

He lifted his eyebrow at the twins.

"Is this all you have covered in potions since the start of term?" He then asked, his voice clearly a growl, and he was glad that he was still able giving away one. As it seemed – Harry had not made an entirely soft fool out of him yet.

Both twins nodded at him, looking worried and with another growl he looked back down at the notebook, reading that last entry George Weasley had done.

'Potions – imagine it being a class, and no one attends.

Couldn't be any different than it's now as it's potions, but Snape's not here and no one's paying attention anymore. 'Cause Slug's not Snape. Snape's been unfair, always preferring his snakes, yes, but he'd never given unfair grades and the marks we've gotten from Snape's been ones we'd deserved.

But not the marks Slug gives. They, whose parents have been in the order, who're famous or have money – they get good marks, and the others get bad marks. It's disgusting, that entire man is disgusting with his display of favoritism towards fame and prominence or good looks and money!

Even the Slytherins say so, they too want Snape back. As do I and as does Gred!

Well, I guess the saying applies – you only know what you have, the moment you've lost it.

Merlin! Just take the outstanding Gred got from Slug yesterday. It's not even been an exceed expectations but a rather poor acceptable and that's the mark he'd gotten from Snape for his draught of peace, an acceptable, but definitely not an outstanding and surely not an exceed expectations even.

At least Snape's been intelligent, and he's had a sense of humor, even if a rotten one – where Slug's just a stupid idiot without any sense of humor at all. And Snape had at least cared about us where Slug never comes close a cauldron that's about to explode, even if there's a student beside that cauldron. Jordan's been in the infirmary because of Slug being too cowardice to pull him away like Snape would've done – even if taking points and giving detention afterwards.

Snape's been harsher than Slug, but fairer and definitely the better teacher! He's kept us safe!'

Without commenting what he had just read he cast a quick glance at George Weasley, his dark eyes nearly piercing the boy who started squirming while his face blushed under his stare, before he got out his wand, pointed it at the page he had open right now.

"Reveal the words written in this notebook during third year." He said, willing the words on the pages to change and a moment later the parchments seemed much older and crumpled, stained and the notebook was nearly filled to the last page. Knowing what to look for he again skimmed through the notebook until he had found the entry and then reached the book at George Weasley, not leaving an eye from the boy.

"Read what is written there, Mr. Weasley." He calmly said.

Well, the sixth year Gryffindor looked at him for a moment before looking down at the notebook, his eyes growing large before casting another quick glance at him, and he signaled the boy to – yes, go ahead and read what is written there.

"This won't work, Mr. Weasley, as the aconite would not react with the asphodel." The boy read and he gave an encouraging nod so the teen might go on reading. "No, but with the erumpent horn." He went on and he lifted his eyebrow at the boy when he cast another quick glance at him.

"Go on, Mr. Weasley." He said, calmly, and the boy took a deep breath before looking back down at the notebook he still held in his hand.

"Dare to get caught by me brewing an exploding fluid while being at Hogwarts and you will serve detention for the remainder of this school year, loosing body parts one by one each detention for being used as potions ingredients. I am in need of a few fingers right now, just to begin with." The boy finally finished the entry concerning an exploding fluid.

"Any information you would like to share with your Potions Master, Misters Weasley?" He then asked, knowing exactly what kind of exploding fluid they had brewed to try and get the dungeons exploded – and successfully so, or at least Harry would not be alive anymore at the present time.

"Uhm ... sir, we ..." The teen started, looking over at his brother for a moment.

"Yes, Mr. Weasley?" He asked, lifting his eyebrow at the boy.

"Well, we have brewed exactly this kind of exploding fluid, sir." The boy then said.

"By using aconite with the erumpent horn." His brother then added, perhaps just out of loyally.

"Despite my explicit warning two years ago." He stated while glaring at the twins. "Very well, Misters Weasley. Despite the little fact that you have managed saving not only your classmates' lives, but mine as well – and most importantly – my son's life, for what you have my sincere thanks and for what I will stand in both your depths with my life – you both will now suffer the consequences of your actions. You both will serve your time until your graduation down in my laboratory twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for your apprenticeship I already last year have offered to you. You have reached your NEWTs by now and so I expect you in my laboratory Thursday evening – do not be late!"

"But ..."

"Your son ...? ..."

"Surely you don't ..."

"What do you mean with ..."

"Your son's life ..."

"Sure you can handle us tomorrow already?"

"You don't look so well ..."

"If I can handle one of your intolerable, insufferable and infuriating housemates becoming my son – just so to answer your question – and living with him and seven more of you Gryffindors together with nine of my Slytherins for three weeks locked down in the dungeons classroom ... and without killing either of them – then I surely will be able managing the two of you for two hours tomorrow evening. Seven o'clock sharp. And do not be late."

"You really ..."

"But that's ..."

"Thank you ..."

"Just go back to sleep, Misters Weasley." He said, reaching into the pocket of his cloak and pulling out two vials which he reached over to the twins, at the same time feeling the slight tingling crawling over his skin that told him – the wards he had set on the infirmary were breached, meaning that one of his students had woken. "And as I already knew that you would not find yourself being able to go back to sleep after this particular talk, I have brought you dreamless sleep – the infirmary luckily is stacked to my satisfaction after all. Go back to sleep, I will see you tomorrow morning after breakfast in front of the infirmary."

And with those words he left the Gryffindor common room, leaving behind two stunned lions while he hurried down to the infirmary to have a look on another lion, one that has become his son and that was out of bed by now.

Breåk· … ·~†~*~*~*~*~*~†~· … ·Łine

He couldn't help his breath coming out as a sob every now and then, he just couldn't help it!

He knew meanwhile that he was definitely in the hospital wing. All the other beds told him enough, but he didn't understand why they were empty, why he was alone here. The others had been with him and now he was alone! They had been there just a moment ago, just before he'd fallen asleep, just before he'd gone to bed an hour or so ago! He was sure of that! They had been there!

But they weren't there anymore. He was alone now. None of them was there, not Draco, not Neville, not Theodore and not Hermione, not even Ron was here. They all were gone. But the worst was that Snape, too, was gone. Snape, too, had been there just before he had fallen asleep and he had promised that – no, that had been the night before, he remembered, or at least he thought so. It had been the night before, Snape promising him that he would be there when he woke, that he would go nowhere while he was sleeping. But he'd been there tonight, too, and now … now ...

Seeing a black clad figure laying in one of the beds near the double winged doors of the infirmary he stopped mid-step for a moment, barely daring to breathe. He knew this figure. There was just one wizard within this castle who was as black clad and dark, with long black hair, and ... there was just one Severus here, and this Severus was laying in this bed over there! And he was laying still, and he was looking so pale and ...

Horrified Harry dived forwards, his knees nearly buckling beneath him while he stared at the body of the one man he had come to care for most in the world, of the only one who cared about him, Harry, and his head was reeling. He wasn't dead, was he? He wouldn't be breathing if he were dead, would he? But why didn't he wake up then? What ... was he trapped in a coma maybe? Would he ever wake up? Would he be alright? But why would he even be in a coma to begin with? What might have happened since he last had seen the man?

If he didn't ... if he now died ... Harry shook his head. He had to be alive! Because he wouldn't be able surviving either if Snape had died! How could he survive if the only person who kept him sane was gone?

And so soon after he had become his father no less? So soon after he had ... how could he ... he knew that he wouldn't be able to go on without Severus. He had survived only because of Severus, and he wouldn't be able going on without him now ... he wouldn't ...

"Take a deep breath, Harry, and calm down." The calm voice of the man that had become so important to him echoed within his mind and he closed his eyes, concentrating. He could nearly feel the man standing behind him, pulling him close until he rested against his father's strong chest, feeling Severus' hand on his forehead and pulling his head close until it rested on the older wizard's shoulder, and hitching another breath he couldn't help the tears running down his face. Another moment later he could feel Severus' thumb running over his face and wiping them away.

"What are you doing awake, Harry?" Severus softly asked, turning the boy in his grip after realizing that they were standing in front of the bed Hereweald had chosen to claim for himself until he had his own quarters and slowly, he began to understand. "You have been asleep – or halfway asleep – whenever this blasted idiot over there has shown up his ugly face, and no one has introduced him to you so far." He started explaining. "Therefore, you do not know Mr. Hereweald Hrothgar, a close and old friend of mine who has decided to claim this bed as his until he has been supplied with a set of rooms for his own here at Hogwarts as he is overtaking some potions classes for the time being. He might look like me, but he is not me. I am very much alive, luckily so, as is Hereweald. This imbecile is indestructible."

"I thought ..." The boy gasped, looking up at him with those large green eyes of his in a face that looked like death itself, looking back at the still sleeping form of Hereweald before looking up at him again.

"And everyone's gone and ..."

"There is no reason for you to feel alone, Harry." He calmly said, understanding the remainder of the situation as well now. "No one is dead, and no one has left. I take it that you have been confused upon waking and have left the room we originally have been in. You are in the part of the infirmary that is well-known to you, seeing that you practically have booked a bed with your name on it in here each school year. We have been, however, placed in the private room behind this one. Come." He then said, his hand still on his son's shoulder and leading him along the aisle and through another door, the one that would lead to the chamber they occupied at the present time.

He led the boy to his own bed, feeling the relief the boy felt upon seeing all his classmates laying in their respective beds and then he gently pushed him down until he laid on his own mattress, shaking his head at the boy wearing neither shoes nor socks. Merlin – the boy was already cold enough all the time and he already shivered enough all the time. He didn't need the boy even colder because he was wearing neither socks nor shoes. He would have to have a word with the child about such things. Quickly he pulled the blanket over his son, covering the boy before reaching out and brushing strands of black hair from the pale face.

"I do not approve of you wearing neither shoes nor socks while being out of bed, Harry." He quietly said. "You are far from being healthy, child. You have been so close to death – I do not wish to lose you now, after all of this is over and we all actually have a chance."

"But I'm better." The boy said, his voice clearly showing that he did not understand why he, Severus, was so worried – of course he couldn't understand, because no one was ever worried, and the child had forced to slave away at his relatives, never mind if he was ill or unwell. The child didn't know what it meant, being cared for, and suddenly Severus realized that he would not only have to deal with the aftermath of their imprisonment in the dungeons for 21 days, but with the aftermath of 13 years of abuse and neglect, too.

Moonlight still spilled through the infirmary windows and the Potions Master peered at his son closely.

"Do you truly feel better?" He asked, knowing fully well that Harry tended to downplay his own troubles.

But he needed to know that the boy was indeed recovering. This was not a game, and this was not a matter of pride or sparing one's feelings. This was still a matter of life or death and while he knew that it would take the boy a long time until he really had recovered from everything that fate had thrown at him during the past years – for all his life actually – he just wanted to know if the boy at least felt better.

"I do." The boy said. "I'm just ... I've just been startled. I thought ..."

"You thought that Hereweald was me and you feared I were dead, right?" He asked, and Harry nodded slowly, his cheeks blushing a bit, again giving the otherwise so pale face a welcoming bit of colour.

"When you woke, I take it you have not been awake fully and while you – in your half-awake state – did not know where you were, you have left the private room and entered the main room that was so well-known to you that you would recognize it in your sleep. You took that for the room you should be in together with all the others who, however, were missing, suddenly. The emotions you received at that moment caused you to be getting even more confused, and therefore easily mistaking Hereweald for my person as he does look a lot like me. You are a horrible person with emotions, Mr. Snape. You have just been confused, you are not alone, and you will never ever again be. Remember that."
"But you'll be gone one day." The boy whispered. "Like everyone else."

"I am not able to predict the future, Harry, but I have no intention of leaving you behind alone." He calmly said, again understanding. "And neither had your parents. Lily and James died protecting you because they loved you, not because they wished to leave you behind. They wanted you to survive and to live. The Dursleys never knew what they missed while neglecting you and while mistreating you in such a horrible way. They never learned to know you, but I guess it is a mutual feeling here. While I wished that they had treated you better, you surely did not miss anything concerning them either, as it is not important knowing people who are able to hurt a child like they have done. And the ... Black, he did not leave you. He had to go into hiding, but he is still here and as much as I – do not like that man, I will not keep him from you.

He is your godfather and he will remain your godfather – even if I am inclined allotting a second one, just in case. You are more important to me than leaving you in the care of only one godfather -" – 'whom I do not trust.' He thought, not adding his thought aloud.

"I'm really?" Harry asked, barely able to keep breathing steadily.

"Of course, you foolish child." Snape growled at him, and he couldn't help smiling like an idiot at that growl. "What do you think – Merlin! Do you know how scared I have been for you at the end of our stay in the potions classroom? I do not know if I had been able going on if you had died, you foolish child! You -" The man that had become his father then stopped abruptly, glaring at him and he was sure that there had been something he had wanted to say before changing his mind about it. "And now go back to sleep, impertinent brat." The older wizard, his father, growled, but he knew Snape by now, and he knew that he only acted like the git, that he just acted to hide his true emotions, that he didn't really mean it.

Snape pushed him down until he lay, and then the man covered him with the blanket, even ran his hand through his hair, and he felt like singing and dancing and jumping out of bed and throwing his arms around Snape. Snape was scared for him! Snape cared if he lived or died! Snape cared about him! Snape even went through choosing another godfather for him! He would take ten thousand beatings and he would endure two months without anything to eat at all and being locked in his cupboard – but Snape still cared about him!

"Next time you worry about my health however, you will wear socks at least and shoes if possible or you will find yourself in detention for the remainder of this term – never mind me being alive or not." He heard Snape growling while the man got ready for bed himself.

"Sorry." He said. "I've just ..." But Snape held up a hand and he fell silent.

"Do not apologize for your hero complex." His father then said. "I am beginning to fear that it is too late to change that. You will rush into bloody everything to keep people who are close to you safe, regardless of what you are told – and regardless of your own safety – or your life."

"I'm Sorry." He said, startled of hearing his professor swearing.

"You are not." Snape growled while sitting down at the edge of his own bed, wearing already a pyjama that was – how could it be otherwise – black and sorting out his bedding. "But it does not matter. You and that big, golden heart of yours, wanting to rescue everyone, as much as I should, I am not able being angry at you for that."

"Stop it, please." The teen said, averting his eyes, and again the Potions Master was reminded at how shy and timid Harry actually was, not the arrogant snot he always had believed but a child that even blushed if someone just told him that he was alright because he had learned differently for his entire life until he himself had believed it. How wrong he had done to this child, he thought while laying down and pulling up the blanket.

"You might not believe it, Harry, not now at least, but you are a good child." He softly said before turning around and closing his eyes, hoping that the idiot child would just accept it without further contradictions.

Breåk· … ·~†~*~*~*~*~*~†~· … ·Łine

Harry watched Severus closely until the older man visibly relaxed, wondering how it was that Snape was always as tense as was he, Harry. Was it because the man was a spy and always had to make sure he wasn't discovered? Or because of his reputation and so many people not liking him? Snape's breathing evening out told him that the man was asleep and quickly he snuck out of his own bed, snuck over to the bed the Potions Master slept in.

He stood there for a moment, looking at the man, before he shyly extended his hand and ran his fingers over the man's pale face, brushing strands of black hair away and with a smile he noticed that – now, in sleep, the dark wizard looked so peaceful and so relaxed, much younger than he normally looked.

"Thanks, dad." He whispered. "And I'm glad that you're ok too."

For a moment he considered slipping beneath the blanket and snuggling close to the Potions Master like he would have done down there, in the dungeons, but then he just tucked the covers around the man's shoulders before he climbed back into his own bed. They weren't locked up down there in the potions classroom anymore, they were well and on their way of recovery, they wouldn't die and so – there was no need to seek out that bit of comfort anymore, was it?

Instead, he sat on his bed, not ready to go back to sleep and continued looking at the man sleeping peacefully beside him, silently echoing the vigil the man had kept over him during the last days – while he wished he were back down in the potions classroom – just so that he could sneak close to his father for that bit of comfort.

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The next thing he realized was a heavy weight draped over his waist and something behind him moving in a regular rhythm against his back and even if he didn't remember when and how he had fallen asleep – he immediately knew that he wasn't laying in his own bed anymore but in Snape's, his back leaning against the Potions Master's chest, while the man's arm must have pulled him close at one or another point during the night.

With a very satisfied sigh he snuggled closer into the man's embrace, Snape tightening his hold on him for a moment without really waking up either.

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A silent shadow glided up the stairs, keeping in the shadows of the walls, and just as soundlessly it glided through the corridors – again, along the walls, stopping every now and then before leaving them to cross a hallway before again disappearing in the shadows of another corridor and along the walls.

A moment later one part of the double winged doors that led into the infirmary opened for a small gap and the shadow slipped through before just as silently closing the door, and disappearing between other shadows that were caused by the moonlight shining through the high windows along the walls in the hospital wing and the furniture.

Another moment later the next door was opened, and again, the shadow slipped through the small gap before soundlessly closing the door, slipping through the dark space that was only partly lit by the soft moonlight and the soft flames of the fire that kept the large room overly warm.

The shadow stopped for a moment, taking in the beds that were lined up along two walls, standing close to each other, closer than would have been necessary. The shadow also took in the large table that stood in the midst of the room and the chairs scattered around the table, the book bags and the parchments, quills and ink bottles on one shelf to the right of the fireplace, the books being placed there.

But one spot in the room caught his eyes and held them then – one of the beds and the black clad form laying in it, cradling another form in a pair of green pyjamas to his chest and slowly he stepped closer, watching the two pale faces that were illuminated by the soft moonlight, one pale face that was the Potions Master's, Snape's, pale and thin with dark circles beneath the eyes and black strands of hair falling into the face that was lined with worry. The other pale face was smaller, surrounded by a mop of black hair that made the bony and pale face just the more ghost-like.

He immediately knew that it was Potter, the Potions Master was cradling to his chest, as startling as it was to begin with, but he only knew that it was Potter because of the scar that was standing out grotesquely in the pale face. Otherwise this face was barely recognizable as Potter's, so thin that, for a moment, he thought that the Gryffindor was dead, only skin being stretched over bones without any muscles between, and with eyes that lay deep within the skull, dark circles surrounding them, he would swear, that he could even see the bone structure through the skin.

And he wasn't sure what to do for a moment.

He had heard Pomfrey talking to Marcus about them being in the hospital wing when she'd been in the Slytherin common room to have a look at some of them, him included, something that he had hated so far, as the only thing he had wanted had been being left alone, and he had heard her telling Marcus that he were to keep this information secret until further notice, never mind what, that soon they were all to be informed but that until then they all needed rest and peace, and surely not the students storming into the hospital wing.

So he had not minded her being there and poking him and annoying him with questions and telling him that he had to eat more while all he wanted was going to sleep and to forget anything until he had to wake up and go to his classes. That had been all he had been doing after all, sleeping and going to classes and he hadn't even bothered with any homework, after classes he had gone to his dorm straight and he had gone to bed, immediately falling asleep, even if he knew that it was anything else than a peaceful sleep. He hadn't cared about that, as long as he hadn't had to think. This afternoon however he'd been sure that he wouldn't be able to sleep, and for once he hadn't minded Pomfrey being there, had only waited until the woman had left and then he had started planning.

But now – Severus was cradling Potter? And in such a protective way no less?

But on the other hand – he personally knew what could come of people in some circumstances and so he didn't question it as surely none of the other Slytherins here had questioned it either.

And nevertheless – he had hoped that maybe ...

Releasing a sigh and slumping his shoulders the boy cast one last and longing look at the Potions Master and then turned, taking comfort in the thought that at least his head of house was alive still. He just had hoped ...

A moment later a pale and thin but strong hand had grabbed his wrist, stopping him from leaving and startling him until he realized that it was his head of house holding him in place and he wondered how long the man was awake to witness his emotions that surely had been displayed on his own face. Dark eyes met his, and he couldn't help smiling with relief and hope. A moment later he was pulled close while an arm was draped over his shoulder and a hand ran through his hair.

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Pomona Pomfrey was sure that there had been movement, and leaving her office she cast a quick glance through the infirmary, frowning, before going back into the small room she just had come from, returning to her work of going through the medical files of those she had in the private chamber behind the infirmary at the moment, reading through those files, adding information and thinking of any further treatments, even considering St. Mungo's with a few of them, Harry included. She could easily get a healer over for them twice a week for some time, it wouldn't be the first time after all.

On the other hand – she knew that Severus surely wouldn't be too pleased about her suggestion. Not that he would mind working together with them, he was often working at St. Mungo's during the holidays himself, after all, but she knew that Severus would not trust anyone else except of himself with the health of one of his snakes.

And the lions now, she thought, especially his son.

For a moment she couldn't help shaking her head.

She had been startled more than once since they had found them two nights ago. First, they had learned that Severus had gotten along with all of them, even with the Gryffindors, and with Harry in particular. Then they had learned that Severus had actually adopted Harry, that he had given him his name even, and that Harry was happy with it. And then Severus had told her about the abuse Harry had been forced to endure at the hands of his relatives for so long.

Then the resilience of all those children, their way of joking with each other, of playing games, and despite of how weak they surely still felt, despite that she had not allowed them too much food during one meal but small portions throughout several meals during the days – and nevertheless they joked around, they kept themselves busy and they – they lived. They lived in a very special way, and she didn't know how this had come. She had been so sure that most of them would be devasted, would suffer from emotional breakdowns most of the time, that they would be close to snapping, to anything but this calm cooperation and togetherness.

Sighing she placed the file she had worked on aside and ran her hand over her eyes for a moment. She was tired beyond what she had ever felt.

At first all the worrying for three weeks while they had been locked up in the potions classroom, brewing potions nearly day and night so that she would have all she needed encase that they were found alive as she clearly didn't know what state they would be in. And honestly, she was no Potions Mistress but only a simple medi-witch, she had no education in potions like the healers and she, therefore, was rather slow in her brewing. Not to mention that she didn't have even enough practice, seeing that Severus normally did all the brewing at Hogwarts, not only for his classes, but to stock the infirmary as well.

Then the – bit of magic they had done to get down the wards while the exploding fluid Filius had presented them with had detonated. It hadn't been too easy. The castle somehow had been so confused, she had kept her doors locked despite her knowledge of their suffering, sure that she had to keep them safe – whatever from.

And then – two days of caring for eighteen people that had learned independence and allowing dependence at the same time, children that clearly respected her but listened to Severus only, now. So, it wasn't exactly easy to handle them at the present time, but she definitely could understand them. Severus had kept them alive and sane, and he had cared for them, had been there for them, the only adult that had been there for them, who had gotten them through hell – of course they listened to him alone right now.

But it was a bit unnerving, them always looking at Severus for confirmation upon each potion or order she gave them.

At least the normally so stubborn and independent Potions Master didn't make it any harder for her – except for the shock when he had stayed in the infirmary from the beginning on, by free will no less and without her having to suggest or order his stay even. Of course he didn't stay in bed, that man never did after all, but he was here, spending a large amount of time sitting on Harry's bed and simply holding his son while the boy slept, or he was talking to all of the children while they sat together on comfortable armchairs or their beds, he was sitting with them at the table Albus had conjured, having their meals.

It was as if the man had changed completely. Never before would he have stayed in the infirmary by free will, and it was clear that he was doing so now for the sake of those children alone. He had adopted a child, and a Gryffindor no less, Harry Potter, now Snape … it was - yes, somehow it was as if they had never left the dungeons classroom, because they were still living together, and even Severus was living with those children while they were living with him – yes, for them, it was as if they had never left the dungeons classroom they had been locked up in.

It was the only explanation she had at the present time.

When Poppy entered the private room of the infirmary an hour later, she nearly gasped at the picture that greeted her and she remembered the movement she had caught in the corner of her eyes earlier in the night.

There, in the corner to her left where Harry's and Severus' beds should be standing with a bedside table between, there they were pushed together, surely Severus having summoned the boy's bed over, and atop the now large double bed were laying one Potions Master, his arm draped over one Harry Snape and his hand laying on the shoulder of one Adrian Pucey, the boy apparently having sneaked into the infirmary secretly.

An evil smirk spreading over her face she went back into her office and just a moment later came back with a camera.

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To be continued

Next time in A few days more
Harry and Adrian

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, of course I have re-installed 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 92
Gryffindor 53
Ravenclaw 27
Hufflepuff 14
Hogwarts 21
Durmstrang 04
Tennessee Institute of Magic & Technomancy 01