Harry started as he felt warm arms wrapping around him. He turned and saw it was Professor Dumbledore. He relaxed slightly as his emotions took control once again.
"Shh. It's okay. It's okay," Dumbledore cooed, holding Harry tight.
"N-n-no, i-it's n-not!" sobbed Harry. "H-he killed t-them. T-they burned t-to death!"
"I'm so sorry, my child. I'm so sorry." Dumbledore looked helplessly at Snape, who looked just as helpless at the moment.
"Albus!" a stern voice behind the three called. Dumbledore saw the irate look on Snape's face and turned to see Cornelius Fudge walking towards him. Dumbledore nodded to Snape. Snape came behind Harry and took the young man in his arms while Dumbledore went to speak with the head of the Ministry.
"What happened here?" Fudge demanded.
Snape roared over Harry's sobs. "What happened here? What happened here! I'll tell you what happened! Voldemort happened, you sodding idiot! You remember him? The one who couldn't possibly have returned? The one you refuse to acknowledge? The one that almost killed young Harry Potter tonight! The one that burned his muggle relatives to death right before Harry's eyes! What the bloody hell do you think happened, you useless git!" Harry's sobs grew louder, and Snape held him tighter, rocking him gently, while his eyes shot daggers at the head of the Ministry.
Fudge opened his mouth to answer, but Dumbledore stepped in front of him, giving him such a cold, hard stare he couldn't do anything but shut his mouth. In fact, he shut it so fast he bit his tongue, causing it to bleed.
"You will take care of this, Fudge," Dumbledore said coldly. "Peter Pettigrew is right over there. There is your proof of Black's innocence. You will release Black, and soon, so Harry can have someone now that you have taken away the rest of his family, or I will see to it that you are disposed of properly. This is your fault, all of this. If you had heeded our warnings, listened to Severus' reports, listened to us when we said Black was innocent, this could have been prevented. You will also leave Harry alone, so that he can recuperate in peace. We all saw most of what happened, there is no need to question him. Get to work. NOW!"
Fudge quickly went to take care of everything, not willing to risk the wrath of the head of the Order of the Phoenix any further. Fudge was a coward and an idiot, but even he wasn't stupid enough to disobey in this instance.
Dumbledore came and put a hand on Snape's arm. "Let's get him to Hogwarts. He'll be safe from the spotlight there. The wizard media will be swarming when Voldemort's demise is reported."
"Yes, I think that will be best," Snape said, disengaging himself from Harry Potter. "Come on, Harry," he said, gently lifting Harry up off the ground. He picked the underweight boy up easily and they walked over to Poppy. The four of them apparated to just outside the Hogwarts grounds.
Hagrid looked worriedly at Harry, who was still sobbing in Snape's arms. "Poor 'lil fella. Wha' happened? Is he alright?"
"He's unharmed physically, though he is mentally and emotionally drained. He needs rest. Come along, Hagrid, and I'll tell you what happened." Dumbledore patted the half-giant on the arm as they headed up to the hospital wing.
* * * *
Dumbledore took Hagrid aside and explained all that had happened on Privet Drive as Poppy did a scan on Harry's body. As was expected, there was no physical damage.
"He's just mentally exhausted. I don't know what he did, but it drained him something awful. I'm going to give him the Draught of the Living Death. He desperately needs it tonight."
Snape nodded absently as Poppy left to find the potion. He sat next to Harry, who had stopped crying and was now breathing raggedly. He smoothed Harry's hair away from his eyes. The green eyes looked beseechingly at the potions master. Snape wiped away a tear that slid down the pale sorrowful face, and Harry launched himself at his professor, wrapping his arms around the warm body, pressing his face into Snape's chest. Snape instinctively put his arms around the young man, feeling all the years of anger and dislike he held for the Potter boy drain away. It drained away in the realization that the man he now held had met the expectations others had for him, the realization that he himself was now forever free from a monster he had always hated; it drained away in the realization that he had been wrong about Harry Potter. This was not some unfeeling celebrity hound: it was just a young man who had lost too much in his short life. It was a young man who needed understanding, not hatred. He'd had too much hatred and not enough love. He could commiserate.
Snape released Harry slightly when Pomfrey came back, holding a vial. She gave it to Snape. "It might be easier if you gave it to him, Severus."
Snape took the vial and whispered, "Here, Harry. Take this. It will help you to sleep."
Snape heard a muffled voice. "If I take it, you and Dumbledore and Hagrid won't leave me all alone here?" Harry mumbled into Snape's chest.
"No. I promise we will stay right here. Take this."
Harry took the vial from Snape and drank it down. Snape helped him to lie back on the bed, and as he stood, Harry grabbed his hand and squeezed. "Thank you, Professor."
"You're welcome, Potter," Snape replied, smiling slightly as Harry nodded off.