Part VII

"Minerva," Snape said, knocking on the open door of her office. He'd meant to get to this sooner, but he simply hadn't had the time. "If I might have a word with you?"

"Certainly, Severus." She didn't quite manage to hide her surprise at him turning up in her office. "What can I do for you?"

He came in and closed the door, throwing up a quick privacy ward. "It's about Potter."

Several expressions crossed her face quickly, the most prominent of which was disapproval. "What would you like to discuss?"

Well, there was no beating around the bush on this one. He met her eyes. "His home life with his Muggle family."

She started, clearly not expecting that. "I'm given to understand it's fairly strained." 

Snape gave her an annoyed look. "That would be an understatement, I think. Tell me everything you know about it."

"Why, exactly, would I do that?" she asked tartly. "If he wanted you to know about it, he would tell you himself."

"In other words, you don't know anything, either."

She looked at him, her eyes narrowing sharply. "What do you suspect?"

"That he was not so well cared for as I would have liked to believe." Snape thought back to his conversation with Potter over the summer. "I think there may be actual abuse involved."

"Why bring this to me, rather than Albus?" Her tone was cool, suspicious almost.

Biting back a sigh, he answered without giving into the malice he was feeling. "There are several reasons. To begin with, you're his head of house. You might be able to encourage him to talk about what has happened."

Again she regarded him, and this time she sighed deeply "If he won't speak to you about it, what gives you the idea that he might speak to me?"

"I had hoped he might. You would be more objective on the subject than I."

"Harry Potter is a very stubborn young man. I think your association with him has shown you that."

Snape snorted inelegantly. "That would be another understatement. However, due to the nature of my relationship with him, I can't counsel him."

"What exactly is your relationship with him?" McGonagall looked right into his eyes as she asked it, as if daring him to deny her.

Part of him wanted to answer back scathingly and in no uncertain terms that it was none of her business, but he conceded that he'd just made it her business. It would not help the situation, either. He wanted her to talk to Potter. "I think you know the terms of the bond," he finally said trying for neutral.

"I've discussed it with Potter." Her tone said she found the conversation not to her liking. "He's very young. Too young to deal with this, really."

"He's too young to deal with a great many things that he has been required to deal with over the years. I would see the burden on him eased if I could." Snape sighed. It galled him that the entire wizarding world had put their hopes and fears on the shoulders of a seventeen year old boy. "If you would talk to him about his Muggle family."

"I doubt it will do much good. He's notoriously closed-mouth on the subject." She thought for a moment. "He isn't going to be returning to them this summer?"

"No. We shall probably live at Snape Manor."

"Then you plan to keep him?" She cleared her throat. "What will you do if his feelings for you do not materialize as you hope they will?"

That was a good question, Snape conceded, and one he didn't care to think about too greatly . "I shall cross that bridge only if I must."

McGonagall blinked and looked hard at him again. "You're in love with him, aren't you?"

"That is a very inappropriate question to ask me." He certainly wasn't going to dignify it with a response. 

"I'm concerned about Harry." Her expression softened a bit. "And you as well."

"You're simply nosey." With a sneer, he looked down his nose condescendingly at her.

McGonagall laughed and inclined her head. "That, too."

"I think you have your answer."

"I expect that I do." She sat back in her chair. "I'll speak to him. I doubt it will do much good. I do know those Muggles used him as a house elf for most of his life. I suspect they didn't feed him well, either. Beyond that, I don't think there was physical abuse."

Feeling his anger rise again, Snape looked at her in disbelief. "Starving him wasn't abuse?"

She sighed. "The protection that his mother's family could give was deemed more important than --"

"The lacks he suffered at their hands." Snape allowed all the contempt he felt to explode in his tone. "The love and protection and caring he should have had and didn't?"

"That's unfair. He's grown into a fine young man."

"No thanks to anything any of you did to help him."

"You must include yourself in that, I think," McGonagall snapped, her expression angry. "Until very recently, your treatment of him was not any better than those Muggles."

Snape turned on her, his eyes burning with rage, both at her for daring to bring it up and at himself for having added to Potter's burdens. "Don't you think I know that? I'm trying to make amends." He took a breath to calm himself. "Will you talk to him?"

She nodded, also seeming to calm. "Yes."

"Thank you." Snape turned on his heel and walked out. *****

Just before dawn, Snape opened his eyes, his time sense alerting him that it was morning, or what passed for it these days. When he tried to move and all of his muscles protested. His breath hissed out through his teeth. Another night on the sofa.

Potter groaned and tried to turn over, falling off onto the floor with a thud. Unfortunately, that seemed to happen nearly every time they slept together. 

Snape scowled. This was pushing the bounds of propriety almost beyond that which he could countenance, but he had little choice. Sleeping on the sofa was better than sleeping in his bed, which might be their next option if they strained the bond again.

Blinking up at him myopically, Potter grimaced. "You know, I wouldn't end up on my bum three times out of five if you'd let us sleep in your bed."

Shaking his head, he didn't look at Potter, too afraid the blasted boy would see the want in his eyes. "Don't ask that of me. This is as far as I can allow it."

Looking both exasperated and exhausted, Potter frowned. "I still spend every night in your quarters. What difference does it make where I sleep?" Potter rolled his shoulders and grimaced. "Or don't as in this case."

"You were snoring quite nicely, last night," Snape said tartly, but then relented at Potter's look. He picked up Potter's glasses off the side table and handed them to him. "I'm hoping in a week or two, we can stop doing this."

"It's been three weeks." Potter sighed, putting on his glasses. "I can leave in the morning, but not during the night. I don't think it's going to change any time soon."

Snape hated it when Potter was right. "Perhaps with a bit more time..."

"If you say so. I've got to go now, and get ready for class." Potter stood up and dusted off his bottom. His clothes were wrinkled and dirty, smelling faintly of sweat and teenaged boy. "I never sleep in my pajamas any more."

Sleeping in full robes was not any more comfortable, but too much familiarity would bring more intimacy. As much as he blamed Potter for many things, the truth was that he wasn't ready for that.

"Go," he said. "I'll see you in class."

Potter slid into his cloak and closed the door quietly behind him.

*****

"Albus," Snape said, coming into the headmaster's office. "A moment of your time, if you will?"

"Yes, yes. Do come in." Waving Snape to a seat in front of his desk, Dumbledore waited a moment before he asked, "What can I do for you, Severus?"

"I suspect I shall be summoned by the Dark Lord soon." He never knew for certain when it might happen, but on occasion, he would get a sense of something coming. It was never regular enough to track or to even call more than intuition, though it did usually prove correct.

"I'm not surprised at all." Dumbledore nodded. "I must say, I do wonder that it hasn't happened before this."

"From what I've heard from my few contacts, I think he's planning something. Unfortunately, I am no longer amongst his most trusted to know what it is." Even after he'd been allowed back into the Dark Lord's presence, he'd never quite regained his status as part of Voldemort's inner circle. 

"Do you think it's going to be dangerous for you to attend him?" There was a gratifying amount of concern in Dumbledore's tone.

"It is always so." Snape was never completely sure what Voldemort wanted or what might set him against one of his own. His chances of being tortured were about the same as anyone else's. "However, that is not the problem."

Dumbledore raised a startled eyebrow at him. "Indeed. What, then?" He held out his hand for Snape to continue. 

"I could be gone a day or two." Snape cleared his throat. "If I were to be gone for too long, it could cause Mr. Potter some distress. Especially if I come back... damaged." 

Looking thoughtful for a moment, Dumbledore nodded. "Perhaps if you spent a bit of time together before you are summoned."

"Therein lies the problem," Snape said, closing his eyes and trying to calm his frayed nerves. "I already spend a great deal of time with him, on a daily," he paused, looking down at his hands, "and nightly basis."

Dumbledore let out a long breath. It didn't seem to be news to him. "I assume that the bond is growing more difficult to ignore."

"Each time we attempt to pull away, to put distance between us, the strain on Mr. Potter becomes worse." Snape tried to contain his concern. "I'm beginning to worry about the long term effects and what damage it might do to him." 

"There is surprisingly little written on the effects of this bond." Dumbledore looked troubled. "I've asked Miss Granger to research it."

Snape looked up, surprised. "Whyever would you do that?" Although he had stopped actively trying to antagonize Potter's best friends and they him, Snape knew he would never get on well with either of them.

The look Dumbledore gave him was amusing. "She is the best researcher I've seen come through this school since you were a student here."

Despite his best efforts to still it, a spark of pride slid through him at Dumbledore's words. "Did Miss Granger find anything of use?"

Dumbledore shook his head. "I'm afraid not."

"Then I still have reason to be concerned about Potter." 

"But not yourself?" Dumbledore looked at him. "I'm concerned for both of you."

"I've had no adverse effects at all." Snape wiped his hands on his thigh. "My only true concern is that if I am summoned, the Dark Lord may recognize the bond."

"That is a possibility, yes, but unlikely I think." Dumbledore reached for a sweet and popped it into his mouth. "He cannot see into your mind."

Thankfully, he did not offer one to Snape. "He can, however, invade Mr. Potter's mind. At least to the point where he can send images."

"He hasn't since the incident at the end of Harry's fifth year." Dumbledore didn't have much hope in his voice.

"Mr. Potter is guarded against it, yes. However, being who and what he is, Potter might not recognize another kind of intrusion."

Dumbledore nodded, looking more troubled. "Will you begin to train Harry again in ways of shielding his mind?"

Even more uncomfortable, Snape shifted in his chair, not meeting Dumbledore's eyes. "I would rather not have access to his mind at this time."

"Why not?"

"Because my relationship with him is already too intimate. My feelings..." Snape tried to find a decent way to put it and came up with none, "Are already too close."

"Perhaps that would work in your favor." Dumbledore did not sound like he actually understood the problem.

That seemed unlikely in the extreme. Snape took a breath and steeled himself to spell it out as he assumed Dumbledore wanted. "I would rather not give him an example of what I am feeling."

"Surely at this point, he already knows." Again, it seemed that Dumbledore was deliberately missing the point.

Another deep breath and Snape could finally look him in the eyes. "Knowing intellectually and having certain physical knowledge are two entirely different things."

Dumbledore looked back at him without his usual amusement. "Do you fear his reaction to your feelings or your fantasies?"

"My feelings. I try not to have fantasies about him." Although he could not help what he felt, he tried very hard not to think about Potter in any context other that the one they existed in.

Looking somewhere between disbelieving and amused, Dumbledore had the nerve to laugh at him. "I am impressed with your strength of mind, Severus."

"I refuse to think such things about a student." Snape folded his arms over his chest, feeling quite put out by the whole conversation. Everyone seemed to believe he was a lecherous man. "What do you expect from me?"

"That you admit your feelings for the boy." Dumbledore made it sound so bloody simple, as if he could simply declare himself and be done with it.

Even had he been the hearts and flowers type of man, which he most assuredly was not, declaring himself to a student under his authority was beyond the bounds of what he could do. "That's just it, Albus, he is a boy. Too young for this, for what I feel for him."

"Then you do know what you're feeling?"

Turning to glare at Dumbledore, Snape was an inch from saying something unforgivable. "Of course I do. I could hardly miss it."

"And Harry?"

"Probably would not recognize the emotion if it bit him," Snape said with a deep sigh. "I suspect that is why the bond is creating such havoc."

"It sees Harry's naivete as resistance?" Dumbledore nodded and reached for another candy from the dish. "I'm afraid it makes perfect sense."

"I thought so, or I would not have mentioned it."

"You might try helping things along then."

"Good Lord, what are you saying?" Snape was completely appalled that Dumbledore would even suggest such a thing. "What do you expect me to do, seduce him? A child."

"He's hardly a child, though not yet fully mature either. And no, I do not expect that of you." Dumbledore held up his hand. "All I am saying that you may not have the choice of remaining close fairly soon. It might be kinder to--"

"No. I cannot." Snape shook his head in denial even as he knew it might come to that. "I have little enough integrity left, allow me to keep what I have."

"It's not a matter of morals or integrity, it's a matter of keeping Harry -- and yourself -- safe and heathy." Looking and sounding admonishing, Dumbledore seemed to feel that Snape should already know this.

It wasn't as if he didn't understand. However, he'd crossed too many lines in his life already to cross more willingly. "I hear you telling me to seduce a student --"

"No." Dumbledore's expression was cross, his tone quite stern. "That is not what I am telling you at all. I am saying, however ineptly, that you may need to help Harry realize what his feelings for you actually are."

"You know as well as I do that the bond had no sexual component. There is no way of telling if he has actually developed those sorts of feelings for me."

"This is not about sex, Severus. It's about Harry knowing and accepting his feelings -- emotional feelings -- for you."

"Oh." Snape looked down, feeling like a great fool, something only Dumbledore could reduce him to. "What should I do then?"

"I'll leave that to your discretion, but I suggest you do it soon." Dumbledore stood. "I'll send for Harry and test his Occlumency."

"He's quite good at guarding," Snape said.

"With you teaching him, I expect that he would be. However, there is no harm in making sure."

"Good day to you then." Snape stood, grateful to get away. 

*****

Sitting back against the arm of the sofa, with his legs spread in front of him, Snape watched Potter take off the cloak and toss it over the chair. "Come sit with me," Snape said, holding his arms open in what he hoped was an inviting gesture.

Potter had the bad grace to look as shocked as he obviously felt. "What?"

"Good Lord, Mr. Potter. You needn't do it if you're uncomfortable with the idea." Snape hadn't meant for his tone to be so sharp. 

Ignoring his tone, Potter smiled at him. "No. No. I think this is a good idea. I'm not uncomfortable at all."

He was lying, Snape was sure of that. With predictable Gryffindor courage, Potter came forward and looked down at him. 

"What should I do?"

"Sit down with your back against my chest, and... well, I think you'll figure it out." Potter wasn't the only who was discomfited.

Settling against him, Potter squirmed once and then leaned back, sighing in contentment. "This is nice." 

"It is... comfortable after all."

Turning around to look at him over his shoulder, Potter asked, "You didn't think it would be? Why...?"

"I thought...." He'd never be able to get past the fact that Potter was still his student. Unfortunately that argument had long since stopped being viable and, it opened a whole new avenue of things that he should be worried about. "This doesn't mean..."

"I know. I know." Potter sounded most long-suffering. "You've said it a million times already. I won't take advantage of you, sir."

"I did not think you would, Mr. Potter."

"Why not?" Potter raised an eyebrow at him. "I mean--"

"I know what you mean. However, without the requisite feelings towards me, I expect my virtue is quite safe." In some ways, it was a tremendous relief to Snape, but there lived the niggling fear inside him that Potter might not develop those feeling, even given sufficient time.

"I don't have them for anyone else, either." Potter sounded dispirited, as if he felt he should have those kinds of feelings for someone. "McGonagall--"

"Professor McGonagall," Snape corrected with a disapproving look at Potter.

"Professor McGonagall said that I might not develop those kinds of feelings for you if I wasn't attracted to men in the first place."

"Interfering old tabby," Snape muttered under his breath. 

Potter snorted, but wisely said nothing.

Snape cleared his throat. "I think the nature of the bond would override that. Are you attracted to men?"

"Yes. I think so," Potter said.

As quietly as he could, Snape let out the breath he was holding. Under the best of circumstances, he hated having these kinds of discussions, but with Potter, it seemed to be his lot. "Are you concerned?" 

His head moved against Snape's shoulder. "Well, yes. I should be lusting over someone, shouldn't I? Even if it isn't you." 

"Cheeky boy." Snape didn't let himself laugh. "Not necessarily."

"How old were you?"

Even without referents, Snape knew what he was asking. "Too young to be doing what I was doing, Mr. Potter. That is an inappropriate question."

"You answered it," Potter said. "Why don't you tell me more?"

Even though Potter couldn't see it, Snape shook his head. "No. I think not."

"Then, I think you should kiss me." Potter said it so casually that for a long second, Snape missed the meaning of the words.

"Pardon me?" If Snape could have pulled away, he would have. As it was, his heart rate picked up to snitch flying speed, and a shiver he was sure Potter could feel ran through him.

"I said--"

"Mr. Potter. I heard you clearly the first time." Furious with Potter's audacity, Snape closed his eyes and counted to ten, breathing in and out slowly. "Please, do not repeat it."

Potter turned quickly, somehow arranging them so that they were lying face to face. "I would like you to kiss me."

"I don't think that would be a good idea at all," Snape said through his clenched teeth, panic approaching at a brisk march.

"Right then. If you won't kiss me, I'll have to kiss you." 

Before Snape could move from under him, Potter's hand slid into his hair, holding him still and he brushed his lips softly against Snape's. The simplest touch of Potter's mouth to his was unbearably sweet. His whole body froze in surprised pleasure. As Potter pulled away, it was all Snape could do not to follow him. He wanted to whimper with the loss.

Potter's mouth returned to his, and someone groaned as the kiss deepened and Snape was very much afraid it was he. More exquisite sweetness washed over him, and while it was an alien concept to him it was far from unpleasant. Indeed, he wanted more.

An inexperienced tongue brushed against his mouth and Snape opened to it, allowing it in, touching it with his own. More sensations bombarded him, drowning him in feelings he could barely conceive of let alone process.

Moaning, Potter pulled back, then leant forward again for another go at Snape's mouth. His tongue slipped over and under Snape's, teasing and retreating, and then moving forward again to tease once more. Snape responded, following, his arm tightening on Potter's back, drawing him closer.

Potter pushed back into his touch with a gasp of pleasure. "Yes. Oh yes." One of his hands slid down the front of Snape's robes, tangling in the material, pulling at the buttons.

An inch from surrendering everything that he held dear, Snape found the strength to pull back enough to gasp, "No. Please. This is wrong."

Contrary child that he was, Potter disagreed. "It's not." He punctuated his words with another quick kiss. "It feels too good to be wrong."

"It is wrong." Allowing himself a brief kiss, he pushed Potter until he moved away slightly. "We must stop this."

After a hard look at him, Potter nodded and took several deep gulps of air. "You know, I think that was what it was supposed to feel like."

"Perhaps it was," Snape said, not letting anything show in his voice. He couldn't encourage this, not now, not yet. Snape touched his mouth with a finger. His lips felt swollen and tender. "But now is not the time to explore it."

The look Potter gave him said he was barking mad and then ignored him. "I think it's because there's more between you and me than anyone else." He met Snape's eyes. "I also know that my feelings for you are changing."

With a deep sigh, Snape could no longer hold his gaze, his guts twisted. He shouldn't let this continue. "How do you mean that?"

"What do you think?" Potter put a hand on his jaw, tipping his face up and kissed him very lightly. "You know what I mean."

Of course, he did. "Be that as it may, we can't do this now."

Another kiss and Potter backed off again. "All right then, when?"

Because he had to or go mad, Snape pulled out of his arms completely and stood. "I've told you before. Not until you finish school."

"Next June? You've got to be joking." Potter looked just horrified. "I won't make it that long."

"Yes. You will. And so will I." Snape hoped by all that was holy that was true. How badly he wanted the brat was a constant irritation that he could not quite force into submission.

"Why?" Potter could whine like no one Snape had ever heard. "Why do we have to wait? It's stupid."

"Because I can think of few things I consider more wrong than a teacher having inappropriate relations with one of his or her students."

"Well, that certainly says it, doesn't it?" Potter folded his arms over his chest and looked like he was plotting something.

Snape shook his head, amused despite himself. "I know your propensity for breaking the rules, however this one shall not be broken."

"All right." Somehow Potter didn't look deterred, not at all. Indeed, the insolent brat grinned cheekily. "What about a bit of a snog now and then?"

"No." Snape would have liked to put some heat or conviction behind it, but it was hard to even get the word out strongly. "It will be enough to..." He waved his hand over them. 

"Cuddle?" Potter's eyes sparkled when he said it. "I rather liked that. Though I'd like more kisses."

Gritting his teeth, he flexed his hands threateningly. "I do not cuddle."

"Okay, so what would you call it? " 

He should be outraged by that grin, Snape thought. With a reluctant sigh, he admitted to himself that he found it adorable, just like everything else about the recalcitrant whelp. As long as he could keep that information from Potter, he'd survive the coming months.

"No answer? Well, we'll just have to call it a cuddle until you think up something more appropriate." Potter had the gall to laugh and hold out his arms. "Come on, then."

Some part of Snape would have liked to have refused on general principles, but wouldn't that just be cutting off his nose to... God, he hated cliches. He growled as he gathered Potter into his arms. "You shall pay for this someday, I swear it."

"I'm counting on it." Potter put his head on Snape's shoulder and exhaled slowly. *****

It was the end of potions class, at the end of a long week. Harry was hoping for a quiet weekend. He had revising to do. 

Snape glanced into his cauldron without making eye contact with him. Harry put a scowl on his face and glared back at him. God, as much as he had gained an appreciation for potions, he hated the strain of this class. 

"Somewhat passable," Snape sneered as he moved past him to look into Hermione's cauldron.

Harry relaxed a bit. That was high praise coming from Snape. 

Seventh year advanced potions was a mix of all houses and there were only twelve students.

The depth and complexity of the class made it easier for Snape to speak to him reasonably or not speak to him at all. Although there were three Slytherins in the class: Malfoy, Bulstrode, and Zabini, none of them had time to pay attention to his and Snape's interactions or anything other than the potion they were putting together. Snape was a demanding teacher and no one dared cross him in the class.

As soon as Snape's dark mark started to burn, Harry knew it, felt Snape's flair of irritation and then resigned acceptance. 

"Class dismissed," Snape said, and then looked towards the back of the classroom. "Mr. Malfoy, see to that everyone cleans up, would you?"

"Yes, sir." Malfoy beamed at him. Still the favorite.

Harry wanted to snarl that Snape belonged to him, but managed to keep any expression off his face. Glancing up at Snape, Harry couldn't catch his eye as he took off his smock and went to the door. If Harry thought he could get away with it, he would have followed him into the hall.

"What's wrong?" Hermione whispered, low enough that only he heard.

Shaking his head, Harry couldn't tell her here. Ron, on his other side, put a hand on his arm and squeezed very quickly. 

Before they had completely cleaned up their potions, a third-year Hufflepuff student came into class. "Where is Professor Snape?" he asked.

Malfoy came to the front and held out his hand. "He's gone. What do you have for him?"

"It's for Harry Potter, actually, from the Headmaster." The boy's chest expanded a bit, proud of himself.

"Well, give it to him," Malfoy said, nodding his head towards Harry. "And then get out of here. Or I'll take house points from you." 

Always the prefect, Malfoy was just as puffed up on his own sense of self-importance as the Hufflepuff boy had been. 

Harry sighed and took the note without reading it. When he was out of class, he opened it.

"What does it say?" Ron asked, walking beside him back towards the common room. Hermione had gone to the library.

"The Headmaster wants to see me." Harry stopped, no point in going back to the dorm only to have to turn around. "I should see him now, I suppose."

"Does it say what he wanted?" Ron seemed distracted. "I've got practice in a few minutes."

"No. He doesn't say anything other than to come to see him." Harry shook his head, trying to hide his concern. "See you later."

"Are you okay?" Ron put his hand on Harry's arm. "I mean, what with..." 

"I'm worried about it." Harry sighed. "I don't think that is what Dumbledore wants to see me about."

Ron nodded.

*****

An icy north wind blew across the astronomy tower. Harry wrapped his arms tighter around himself and shivered hard. His invisibility cloak was great for not being seen, but it didn't do much against the cold. 

It was late. He knew he should be down in Snape's rooms, but the dungeon had become too quiet. The silence was driving him mad. Snape still hadn't returned. Every time Harry thought about what that monster could be doing to Snape, his stomach roiled and he felt nauseated. He wanted Snape back, now. 

"Harry? Are you up here, mate?" Ron's voice called from the doorway.

"Does it look like I'm here?" Harry couldn't help the snarky answer. Who else but Ron would ask that of an empty tower? Of course, who else would know he had the cloak, either? He pulled the hood down. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Ron stepped up onto the battlement and closed the wooden door behind him. "You're out after curfew, and you never cast the charm on your bed."

"Damn. I forgot." 

"Would have cast it if I could, but since you won't teach it to me..." Ron gave him a slightly aggrieved look. He wanted that charm.

"Wish I could, mate. You know I promised McGonagall. If I gave it to you, she'd be after my hide, and I'm rather attached to it."

"Already got Snape after it, so what's one more?" Ron said, playfully.

Harry knew he meant it as a joke, but it wasn't funny to him. "Not like that. More the other way round to be truthful."

Ron's eyes grew wide and disbelieving. "You're after his arse? Since when?"

"Slow process. I've been standing up here thinking about all the horrible things Voldemort could be doing to him right now. All I want to do is find that bastard and kill him and make sure Snape is safe."

"You're protective of him, but that's not new," Ron said, tentatively. "Is it more than that? Do you actually want to... you know."

"Yes. I do. I have for a while now, but I guess," Harry trailed off, feeling stupid, "I didn't realize what it meant."

Laughing, Ron made a face. "I can't believe you could miss that. Even you."

Knocking his shoulder into Ron's, he frowned. "What do you mean, even me? You sound like you knew it all along."

"Well, you are kind of slow on the uptake about that kind of thing, aren't you? Besides, it was kind of obvious after a while." Ron laughed at him again.

"Did everyone know?" Harry could feel his face heat, even in the cold wind. "That could be a problem."

Ron shook his head. "Only those of us who knew you."

"Good." Harry breathed out a sigh of relief. "God, I'm worried. He's not back yet. I hate waiting like this.

"I know. I'm sorry." Ron's expression was sympathetic. "What did Dumbledore want?"

"To tell me that Snape had been summoned and to talk about Occlumency. He tested me on it." As much as it was less intrusive than with Snape in fifth year, it was not pleasant under any circumstance.

"Was he satisfied with what you know?"

"Yeah, I could block him out and I doubt that Voldemort is stronger than he is." 

Ron shivered. "I hate it when you use that name. But he will be more ruthless than Dumbledore, even if he's not stronger."

"I know. But Snape taught me very well. He's hidden his spying from Voldemort for years, so no matter how strong he is, he's not invulnerable."

"I guess not." Ron shivered again. "Why don't you go down to the dorm and sleep in your own bed for tonight? Not that there's much of the night left, anyway."

Shaking his head, Harry looked out over the dark lawn, hoping to see movement. There was none. "I need to see Snape. I'll never sleep, anyway."

"Well, come on, mate. It's too cold to say up here. I'll go down to the dungeons to wait with you."

Even knowing he shouldn't let Ron do it, Harry didn't want to be alone. "Thanks. Best get under the cloak with me, then."

"God, I wonder if we'll both fit."

Harry laughed. Ron was a good deal bigger than he'd been the last time they shared it. "It's charmed to fit around whomever is wearing it."

"Make sense since it still fits you. Even if you haven't grown that much." Ron patted the top of Harry's head and snickered.

Height was an issue Harry didn't think about. It wasn't that he didn't care exactly, but there wasn't anything he could do about it, and he had so many other things to worry about. "Don't I know it?"

*****

Just before dawn, Snape Apparated to just outside the gates of Hogwarts, surprisingly none the worse for wear for seeing the Dark Lord this time. Dead tired, he trudged along the paths towards the main entrance. He had to see the Headmaster. 

Once that task was completed, Snape headed for his rooms. As he came through the door, he was wrapped in Potter's arms and held very tightly.

"What are you doing here?" Snape asked, pressing his face into Potter's hair, and breathing in the scent of him, letting it wash over him, soothing him. Something clean and good after the foulness of the Dark Lord's presence.

"Couldn't wait anywhere else. Couldn't sleep." Potter was shaking. "I was so damned worried about you."

"As you can see, I'm quite fine." Snape tried to pull back a little, but Potter would not let him go. "Let me breathe, Mr. Potter."

"Sorry," Potter relaxed his grip, but didn't release him completely. Something had changed, Snape realized and he peered down at Potter. "What?"

Potter shook his head and then glanced at the sofa. 

"Why is there a Weasley sleeping on my sofa?" Snape put his best imperious tone on for that one. Under the best of circumstances, he would not have cared to come home to a Weasley; after the evening he'd had, it was even less desirable. 

"Ron waited with me." Potter glared up at him. "Don't even think about it."

When had Potter got to know him so well. "Fine. Wake him up. I must change, see that he is gone when I return."

Potter didn't seem ready to release him and Snape couldn't find it within himself to force the issue. "Did you find out what's going on with Voldemort?"

For a couple of seconds, Snape debated whether or not he should say anything about it. He sighed, tiredly. "No. I'm not sure why I was summoned, especially so early in the day like that."

Holding him tight again, Potter buried his head against Snape's shoulder. "Perhaps it was a test, to see if you would obey him." 

Snape nodded and gently pushed him away. "I would not put that past him. I must change." He pointedly glanced at the no longer sleeping Weasley, and put his hand on his bedroom door.

Potter nodded, relief and something else in his eyes.

When he returned, Weasley was gone and Potter was sitting on the sofa. As soon as he opened the door, Potter was in his arms.

"What is it?" Snape held him closely. "What's wrong?"

"I don't want to lose you." Potter said, muffled against his shoulder. "I kept thinking that Voldemort would do something terrible to you and I'd never have a chance to say how I feel. That I--"

"Don't say it. Please." Snape knew what had changed now, part of him wanted to dance with the sheer joy of it, and most of him wished it had waited a few more months. "Not yet. Not until it's appropriate."

"But what if I never--"

"Honor my wishes with this, Mr. Potter. It's only until you leave school." Snape was so tired. "I must sleep."

Moving backward without letting Snape out of his arms, Potter pulled him down on the sofa and shifted until he was comfortable. "I'm tired too. Sleep."

Without more fuss, he was just too tired, he laid his head on Potter's chest and fell asleep.