Severus stirred his tea, contemplating whether or not he actually wanted to drink it. He was in a dreadful mood, to say the least. Tomorrow was 31st of July, Harry's birthday. It would mark the fourth year since Harry had turned his world upside down.

Four years…it had been four years since the first time that he had touched Harry, made love to Harry…

And it had been a little over two since the last time.

Severus sighed wearily and closed his eyes, his tea all but forgotten in the wake of the memories that flooded his mind. He could remember every brush of Harry's lips, every touch of Harry's hands as they played his body, as only Harry knew how to do. He could remember the delightful burning sensation as Harry slid into him, filling him so completely. Even better, he could remember Harry's hot, tight body caressing him as he slowly entered his lover's body….

Severus growled and shook his head, trying to rid himself of thoughts that did nothing for him, except painfully remind him that after two years, he was still as much in love with Harry as when they parted. Time hadn't lessened the pain. If anything, it made days like this even more painful.

'Oh, bugger,' he muttered as he heard the alarm around his house go off. It was most likely Draco. Only his nephew would have the audacity to bother him on this day.

'Master Severus,' came the meek whisper of a house-elf, 'Master Draco is setting off the wards again.'

'Thank you, Daisy. Let him in before he decides to bring the house down upon us.'

Severus patiently waited for Draco to come in. As soon as the door to the library burst open, he said, 'Hello, Draco. I see that once again the wards telling you to sod off didn't work.'

'No, they didn't,' Draco replied as he dropped down to his knees in front of his uncle, all the while hoping that his news wouldn't get him hexed into the next millenium. 'I had planned on allowing you some privacy this year, to wallow in your self-pity and guilt, but something's happened, and I know that you would kill me if I did not inform you.'

'What can be so important that I cannot be left in peace? And I'm not wallowing,' Severus asked, his voice belying his weariness. He didn't have the energy to pretend to be cruel to his nephew.

'Harry,' Draco said.

Severus sat up straight and locked eyes with Draco, every internal alarm going off inside his body. 'What's wrong with him? Is he all right? I demand to know this minute! Tell me!' he yelled, trying to stand up.

Draco placed his hand on his uncle's chest and kept him sitting down. 'Well, I'll tell you if you shut up,' Draco said, his voice lacking any malice or irritation. He knew he'd be the same way if something happened to Fred, so he didn't find offence in his uncle's forcefulness. 'Harry is currently in a Muggle hospital. There was an accident. I was with Remus when he was contacted on one of those cell phone things. I don't know the details of what happened, but I know that Pomfrey has already Apparated to the hospital, and Professor McGonagall contacted St. Mungo's. Sirius and Remus have gone to the hospital. I came to tell you, since I knew you'd want to know.'

'Will he live?' Severus asked, his voice thick with emotion.

'I don't know,' Draco answered truthfully as he stood. 'Come along. We'll get you into some Muggle clothes and then Apparate to the hospital.'

'Do you think I should-'

'Oh, for pity's sake! Both of you have been miserable since the day your relationship imploded, and neither of you love each other any less than you did then. It's about time for you two to get your heads out of your arses. Go to him and tell him how you feel, even if it's the last thing that he hears, and if he makes it through this, for Merlin's sake, trust him. Tell him everything and have done with it! I know that if he thinks you trusted him even the tiniest bit, he'd throw himself back into your life so fast that you'd be dizzy for a week.'

Severus nodded, resisting the urge to spout sarcasm, since he knew his nephew was right. He raced up to his rooms, not waiting to see if Draco was following, and threw off his robes. He turned to find Draco already rummaging through his closet. With lightning speed, he pulled on the shirt and trousers that Draco handed him, but when it came time to button his shirt, he couldn't do it because his hands were shaking so fiercely.

Without saying a word, Draco came over and helped his uncle fasten the buttons. He was concerned about his uncle, and a bit frightened. No matter what else happened in life, Severus had always been so steadfast, so in control of his emotions. Now Draco could see that Severus was barely holding onto his control by the thinnest margin. Draco had never seen his uncle this rattled. In fact, the last time he'd seen Severus tremble this much, he'd been subject to the Cruciatus for an extended period of time. 'Slip your shoes on and we'll go,' Draco murmured. As soon as that was done the two rushed out of the manor, past the wards, and Disapparated.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Draco and Severus Apparated just outside the hospital and quickly rushed inside, where they found Sirius and Remus waiting anxiously.

'What's going on?' Draco asked Remus as he and Severus sat down.

'Pomfrey and the other mediwizards are in there with him. The doctor that is in there with them has a sister who is a witch, so he knows about us. They haven't come out yet.'

'What happened to him?' Severus asked. 'How did he end up in the godforsaken place?'

Sirius answered, 'He was outside with Tabitha, allowing her to relieve herself. While he was standing in the garden, a drunk driver ran his car over the curb and through Harry's garden fence. The driver hit Harry before he could move.'

'I'd like to get my hands on that bloody imbecile and wring his neck until every ounce of life is drained out of his worthless carcass,' Severus growled.

'No need,' Remus said. 'The driver did swerve, trying to miss Harry, and he ended up running into a tree. He wasn't wearing a safety belt, whatever that is, and he went through the windscreen. He didn't survive.'

'And Harry?' Severus asked.

'Harry hit the side of his house. They're looking at him, but I'm not sure what the damage is. I know there was some head trauma, though I don't think it was bad,' Sirius said quietly.

'I hope not,' Draco muttered. When the others looked at him, he elaborated. 'Harry has already had so much damage done to his head. A person can only take so much before it causes permanent damage.'

'Thank you for that ray of hope, Draco,' Severus snapped.

Draco glared at his uncle. 'If you wouldn't have been such a sodding idiot, he wouldn't be here in the first place, now would he?'

Remus placed a hand on Draco's arm. 'Draco, that's not fair, and you know it. I realise that you're upset, but taking it out on Severus isn't going to help. This isn't his fault.'

Draco sighed and relaxed. 'You're right. I apologise, Uncle Severus,' he said, moving closer to his uncle and laying his head on Severus' shoulder.

'It's all right, Dragon. I shouldn't have snapped at you for simply saying what we were all thinking anyway,' Severus replied, putting his arm around his nephew and giving him a reassuring squeeze.

'I'm going to see if I can find some coffee or tea, or something,' Remus said.

'I'll go with you,' Draco offered. The two got up, leaving Severus and Sirius in an awkward silence.

Sirius decided to break it after awhile. 'I'm glad that you came. It will mean so much to Harry, to know that you're here.'

Severus nodded and sat back, rubbing his face with his hands. 'I've wasted so much time being miserable without him, and now this. How could I stay away?'

Sirius smiled, feeling some sympathy for the man sitting next to him. 'You still love him, don't you?'

Severus nodded. 'Merlin help me, yes I do. I never stopped, even after everything.'

'And Armand?' Sirius couldn't help but ask. 'What is he?'

'He is- was- my desperate attempt to forget Harry. Lot of good it's done.'

'What are you going to tell him?'

'If Harry takes me back, even after I've made a complete fool of myself and hurt him more than anyone else ever could have, I'll tell Armand the truth. Everything else aside, he is a good man.'

'I'm sure he is,' Sirius agreed. He'd met the man on occasion, and putting his prejudice and anger aside, he had to admit that he couldn't find anything wrong with him. 'Does he know how you feel about Harry?'

Severus nodded. 'He's always known. I sometimes wonder why he still wants to stay.'

'Why do you let him stay, then?' Sirius asked, curiosity getting the better of him.

Severus shrugged. 'He loves me, or so he says. I thought that it would be enough. I'm not in love with him. I never was, but I am fond of him. As I said, he's a good man, but...'

'He's not Harry,' Sirius finished for him.

Severus gave Sirius a sad smile. 'No, he's not.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Two hours later, the doctor and the mediwizards finally came out. 'He's going to be fine,' Madam Pomfrey assured the four men as all of them stood up.

Sirius nearly collapsed with relief. 'Are you certain?'

Pomfrey nodded. 'The trauma to his body was more severe than the head trauma. He's suffered a concussion, but we've healed it as best as we could. He'll be confined to bed for around two weeks, but he'll be fine. He had several broken bones and some internal injuries. I've set both the bones and internal injuries to mend, but he'll have to stay here for a few days, to allow them to heal, before he can be moved to Hogwarts. Just so you're prepared, he's got several casts on him.'

'Whatever for?' Remus asked. Of the four standing there, he was the only one that knew what a cast was, since he'd had one several years back, when he'd broken a bone when he'd transformed back into his human form after one full moon. The rest just looked at Pomfrey as if she were speaking another language.

'Well, for one thing, Harry's mending bones cannot be moved, and wouldn't it look a bit suspicious to be hit by one of those Muggle contraptions and walk out of here injury free? We can take them off once we get him to Hogwarts. By that time, his bones should be as good as new.'

Remus nodded in understanding. 'When can he be moved?'

'In two days, Dr. Martone will authorise Harry's movement to a hospital in Scotland. We'll just take him to Hogwarts instead.'

'So he'll be in the hospital wing for two weeks?' Sirius asked, glad that he'd have that long to knock some sense into his son and try to convince him to get his arse back into the wizarding world. Hopefully that wouldn't be too difficult, if Severus could persuade Harry to take him back.

'At the very least. That boy will be the death of me yet. He is so accident prone that he will not be leaving my sight until I know that he's mended one hundred percent.'

'Can we see him now?' Severus snapped, tired of listening to the people around him natter on. All he wanted to do was see Harry, to see with his own eyes that he was going to be fine.'

Pomfrey fixed him with her icy glare. 'I don't want my patient upset, Severus.'

Severus softened his scowl and sighed. 'I'm not here to upset him, Poppy. I just want to see that he's really fine.'

She stared at him for a few moments before nodding. 'I believe you're telling the truth. Very well. You may go in, but only two at a time. I assure you, he looks much worse than he is. He's sleeping right now, and he'll stay that way for awhile. I gave him a Dreamless Sleep Potion, so that he wouldn't feel any pain while he heals.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Severus and Sirius were the first to walk into the drab, sterile room. Both winced as they looked at Harry. 'I do hope that he's better than he looks, because he looks bloody awful,' Sirius whispered to Severus.

Severus nodded his agreement and sat down in the chair next to the hospital bed. As gently as he could, he took Harry's hand in his and sighed. 'He shouldn't have to go through all this again. Why does everything always happen to him?'

'I honestly do not know. Fate, perhaps? All I know is that he needs to come home. He's proven that he can manage on his own, and it's been a long time. I know that Binns has decided to retire... Can a ghost do that?' Sirius shook his head, dismissing the question for later. 'I talked to Albus about offering Harry the position a few days ago. If he knows that you two might have a chance, he'll probably take the position.'

'I will talk with him about us, but it will have to be after he's recovered. If he has already decided that there would be no chance between us, and he very well may have already done so, then we should wait to have that discussion when he's up to it.'

'You're probably right,' Sirius said, taking a seat on the other side of the bed.

'I usually am,' Severus commented.

Sirius smirked. 'Really? Then why has my son been in the Muggle world for the last two years, instead of at Hogwarts, where he belongs?'

'Touché,' Severus said. 'When do you think he'll wake up?'

'Probably not for awhile. He's been through a lot today. He needs his rest.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Five hours later, Remus and Draco were sitting bedside when they heard a small moan come from the body on the bed. Draco was immediately up, calling for the doctor, while Remus brought his chair closer to the bed and picked up Harry's hand. 'Harry, can you hear me?'

'Remus?' Harry managed to croak out before exhaustion overtook him once again and he fell back into a deep sleep.

The doctor came in. 'So, how is our patient doing?' he asked as he picked up the chart.

'He woke up for just a moment. I asked him if he could hear me, and he said my name, but then he fell asleep again.'

The doctor nodded. 'Well, that's fine. It's understandable that he went back to sleep. His body is healing, and it's best done while he's not moving around. It's getting late and visiting hours are almost over. Why don't you ask his father to come in one last time to say goodnight, and then you can come back in the morning.' Seeing the almost savage scowl on Remus' face, the doctor laughed. 'He'll be fine, I assure you. We've got the best nursing staff in London. They'll look after him well, and you can come back at nine in the morning. You'll find him just where you left him.'

Remus' look clearly said that he didn't like it, but he went out and told the other two what the doctor had said. Sirius and Severus were both ready to protest, but Remus reasoned with them, telling them that if they put up too much of a fuss, the hospital may throw them out all together, and then they'd have to wait until Harry got back to Hogwarts. That quelled them enough to acquiesce to the doctor's orders.

Severus and Sirius went in to say goodnight to the sleeping man, then they left the hospital. While Remus and Sirius went to check on preparations for Harry's impending arrival, Severus and Draco went to Harry's home. Draco gathered some clothes and other necessities for his friend, while Severus retrieved Luthien, her tank, and her supply of mice, as well as Tabitha's food. Tabitha had already been sent to Hogwarts, where Severus was sure that the house-elves were spoiling her rotten, and she was sure to never want to touch her dog food again.

Draco came back into the room, toting Harry's trunk behind him. Allowing it to settle on the floor, Draco turned to his uncle, who was looking around the living room. 'Are you ready to go?'

Severus nodded. 'Harry really did make this a nice home for himself. I'm not so certain that he'll want to return home.'

'I am. I know for a fact that while Harry did his best to make this a home that he was happy with, he always felt that Hogwarts was his true home. He wants to be there, with you. He'd give up everything if he knew that things could be okay between you two again.'

Severus turned and picked up the snake tank. 'I'm ready, if you are.'

Draco nodded and spelled the trunk, so that it would fit into his pocket. 'Let's go.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Two days later, Sirius and Remus were beside Harry's bed, talking to the young man about his accident, now that Harry was much more coherent, when Dr Martone came in and pronounced Harry fit to travel to the new hospital, provided that he take care. Remus and Sirius had rented a van, just for the sake of propriety. As soon as they were in the van and they drove away, Sirius would use a Portkey to get Harry directly to the hospital wing, and then Remus would return the van to the rental company.

Draco and Severus were at Hogwarts already, making sure that things were ready for Harry's arrival, and thus, driving Madam Pomfrey insane. Everyone was staying clear of the kitchens, however, where Dobby was crying with joy over Harry's return. Severus made the mistake of going down to the kitchens earlier to confirm Harry's limited menu, and he'd barely escaped with his robes dry.

Severus still hadn't seen Harry when he was awake. Every time that he went in, Harry had just fallen asleep, and he'd always had to leave before the young man awoke again. Draco kept teasing him about his rotten timing, only letting up when he knew that he was about ten seconds away from getting hexed.

Harry, of course, had been told that Severus had been coming to see him, and he really did try to stay awake, but it never failed...he always fell asleep just before he showed up. Of course, he'd been ecstatic when he'd been told that Severus had been there, and Sirius had to threaten him with a Calming potion if he got too worked up. Harry tried to reel in his excitement, but it was difficult, because he never thought that Severus would come to see him, especially after all that had transpired between them and all the time that had passed.

'Are you ready to go, Harry?' Dr Martone asked.

'I'm more than ready. I have to admit, I really hate hospitals.'

'Well, you're giving up this one and going straight to the hospital wing,' Sirius said. 'I want absolutely no complaining about it, either, young man.'

'Yes, sir,' Harry said, smiling in Sirius' direction. 'I don't really mind the hospital wing all that much. I spent half my time at Hogwarts in that wing, anyway.'

'Don't remind me,' Sirius said, getting up and steering the wheelchair in Harry's direction. 'Let's get you into this contraption and out to the van. The sooner you're in Hogwarts and under Poppy's care, the better I'll feel. All we need is another accident.'

'Sirius, don't joke about such things,' Remus admonished. 'Come on, Harry. There are many people who are eager to see you.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Madam Pomfrey was waiting at the Portkey destination, and as soon as Sirius and Harry appeared, she was there, using her wand to check Harry's condition, ascertaining which potions he would need, and then ushering him to the bed, where she spelled off the casts on his legs, arm, and his ribs.

'Move out of my way,' she muttered as she brought back the potions that Harry needed. 'You can bother him after I'm done with him.'

Harry smirked as Sirius huffed and stepped back. 'I think you offended my father.'

'I'll cry in my tea later,' Pomfrey commented dryly. 'I'm absolutely devastated. Now be quiet and take these.' She handed Harry two phials, one containing a green liquid, and the other, a purple. Harry obediently downed both liquids, and was asleep within two minutes.

Sirius came closer to the bed and looked down at his son. 'What did you give him?'

'I gave him a Healing potion and a Dreamless Sleep draught. He's not going to want to rest if you people are about, chattering about utter nonsense. He needs to sleep, to heal. He's going to be here for two weeks, so you'll have plenty of time to fill his head and his ears with your endless talk.'

Just at that moment, Severus and Draco walked in. Severus looked down at Harry. 'He's asleep yet again. Is fate trying to tell me something?'

Sirius snorted. 'No, Madam Pomfrey is. She just gave Harry a Dreamless Sleep draught, which means that he will be out for at least eight hours.'

'Just my luck. I haven't been able to say as much as a hello to him while he was coherent,' Severus commented, reaching down to brush the fringe off Harry's eyelids.

'He knows you've been there, Severus. I doubt that he would have taken the potion if he knew what it really was, without having seen you at least for a moment,' Remus assured him. 'You'll be able to see him tonight, after he wakes up.'

'That's all well and good, but why don't all of you go and take care of whatever it is you need to take care of, and let my patient rest. He's not getting up any time soon, so you can come back here in about six hours. I don't want to see any of you here before then, do I make myself clear?' Madam Pomfrey ordered in a tone that said she wouldn't allow any protests whatsoever. Knowing they were on the losing side, everyone reluctantly stepped away from Harry's bed and walked out of the hospital wing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Harry groaned as he started to come out from under the effects of the Sleeping draught. He opened his eyes, sighed slightly, as he always did when he saw nothing but black, and stretched his arms over his head, wincing slightly at the pain that indicated that his body wasn't fully healed yet. He jumped slightly when he felt a hand brush away his fringe in order to feel his forehead. 'Who is it?' he asked while he yawned.

'It is I,' Severus said, pulling his hand away, satisfied that Harry didn't have any fever. 'How are you feeling?'

Harry took a breath and tried to calm his heart, which leapt at the sound of Severus' voice and was now proceeding to try to leap out of his chest. 'Sore....tired. I heard that you came to see me in the hospital.'

'Of course I did. I was waiting for the most opportune moment to scold you for scaring everyone like you did. One of these days, your luck is going to run out.'

Harry chuckled, then groaned when his ribs protested. 'Don't I know it. I'm surprised that I lasted this long. What time is it?' he asked when his stomach started growling.

'Well, it's around ten at night, if you want to know. Poppy gave you Dreamless Sleep. You've been sleeping for over eight hours. She thought you needed rest more than you needed to talk to people. From the vulgar noises your stomach is making, I take it that you're hungry.'

Harry grinned. 'Yeah, I am, just a bit.'

'Let me get Madam Pomfrey and while she's checking you over, I'll have a house-elf bring up some food for you.'

'Something that tastes good, please, Severus. That Muggle hospital food was horrible.'

'I'll see what I can do.'

Harry smiled. He could hear the amusement in Severus' voice. 'Please, do. And tell Madam Pomfrey that I don't want another Sleeping draught until I've stayed up for a bit. I want to eat and then just sit here for a bit,' Harry said, trying to sit up.

Severus helped him sit up, wrapping his arms around Harry's chest, underneath his arms, to help lift him into position. He then backed up quickly, part of him glad that Harry couldn't see his flushed face. 'I'll go get that food for you, if you're comfortable.'

Harry nodded and bit his lip. It had taken all of his willpower to keep himself from holding on to Severus with a vice grip. 'Thanks.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'Have you had enough to eat?' Severus asked as he put down his own empty teacup.

Harry nodded and handed Severus his plate. 'Yes, I did. Thanks. That was delicious.' Dobby had brought him chicken and potatoes, and some steamed vegetables as well. He'd also brought Harry a piece of Harry's favourite chocolate cake, which the young man had just finished devouring.

'I hope you don't regret eating all that. That was quite a bit of food that you packed away,' Severus commented as he placed the tray on the bed next to Harry's.

'Like I said, the hospital food was dreadful,' Harry said, sighing in satisfaction and patting his stomach. Silence reigned for a few moments before Harry opened his mouth to speak, but just at that moment, the hospital door burst open.

'Harry! It's good to see that you're awake,' Fred said, coming up beside Harry's bed and taking Harry's hand in his. 'I was sure that this latest escapade was going to be your one-way ticket to the great beyond.' Harry heard a loud "smack" and then Fred yelled 'Ow! Draco, that hurt!'

'Serves you right,' Draco said, pushing his lover aside and sitting in the unoccupied chair across from his uncle. 'I'm glad to see that you're recovering nicely. Pay no attention to this idiot. The rest of us were quite certain that you'd live through this ordeal.'

Harry tried not to laugh, but failed. 'I'm glad to hear it. Quite honestly, though, I'm with Fred. I'm really pressing my luck.'

'See! I told you,' Fred said to Draco. Ignoring his lover's mock- glare, Fred turned to Harry. 'Oi, mate, George and I made you a care package.' Seeing the look of horror on Severus' face and the weary smile on Harry's, Fred laughed. 'No, not that kind of care package, I assure you. Everything in this little box,' Fred motioned to the box that he brought in with him, which in all actuality wasn't so little, 'is one hundred percent free of all jokes, pranks, and whatnot.'

'It better be,' Sirius said as he and Remus joined the little group, 'because if my son suddenly starts throwing up, bleeding from odd places, or grows parts that should not be wherever it is they're growing, I will come after you two and do what your parents obviously did not do properly.'

'Oh, and what is that?' Fred asked.

'Take you over my knee and give you a proper spanking,' Sirius said.

Fred batted his eyelashes, sidled up to Sirius, and slipped an arm around Sirius'. 'Do you mean it?'

Draco snorted. 'Be careful with threats, Sirius. Fred just might like for you to make good on them.'

'I think we'll leave the spanking to Draco,' Remus said, shaking his head and sitting at the foot of Harry's bed. 'How are you feeling?' he asked Harry.

'Tired...sore, mostly. I feel like I could stay in bed for a week.'

'That's good, because you're staying in bed for two,' Sirius said, untangling his arm from Fred's and coming over to place a kiss on Harry's brow. 'No fever, that's good. Poppy says you're doing just fine, but you shouldn't overdo it.'

'I'm not going to, I promise.' Harry shivered a little and pulled the blanket up higher. 'Where's Tabitha? How is she?'

'She's just fine. She's been staying with Hagrid and Fang. She loves to go into the Forbidden Forest with them, and she's been having a ball, chasing after the giant squid's tentacles. I think she misses you, though. As soon as Poppy says it's all right, I'll bring her in to see you.'

Harry nodded. 'I'm glad that she's having fun. What about Luthien? Is she doing all right?'

'She's perfectly well, and she's hissing up a storm,' Severus said. 'She's in my rooms, coiled up in front of the fire. I think she's wondering where you are, because she won't shut up.'

Harry laughed. 'Sorry is she's being a bother. You could put her elsewhere.'

'Nonsense. She likes it there, and she's not bothering me,' Severus said.

'All right, that's enough,' Madam Pomfrey said as she walked into the room. 'Harry's got to take his medicine, and then he needs more sleep. You can see him in the morning. I think he'll be able to stay up a bit longer than he did tonight.'

Sirius kissed Harry's forehead again. 'Get some sleep.'

'I will,' Harry said. He said goodbye to everyone, until only Severus was left.

Severus was a bit reluctant to get up, but he finally did so after a stern glare from Pomfrey. He reached out and tentatively slipped his hand into Harry's. He was encouraged when Harry immediately grasped back firmly. 'I'll see you tomorrow, Harry.'

Harry nodded and smiled. 'Tomorrow.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next week passed by more or less the same, with Harry staying up a bit longer each day. Still, Madam Pomfrey was extremely strict about his activities, and he wasn't allowed an extended amount of time to spend with his friends and family. She did, however, take him off the Sleeping draught by the end of the week, and the Healing draught was cut back to twice a day, once when he woke up in the morning, and once before he went to bed. During the day, a Healing oil was rubbed into his skin, to loosen his sore muscles and heal the cuts and bruises that were still apparent.

His waking time was always spent with groups of people. Many came to see him. On any given, one could walk in and find Hermione and Ron, any number of Weasleys, Albus and Minerva, the other professors, and always present at one point or another were Draco, Sirius, Remus, and Severus. Draco had taken an extended vacation in order to spend time with Harry, telling his companies that he would only be available in dire emergencies. The others were off for the summer, and could work on their curriculums while they sat with Harry.

Albus had spoken with Harry about the History of Magic position, and Harry told him that he would think on it for a few days before he decided. What he really wanted to know was whether or not he and Severus had another chance. If they did, he was more than willing to take the position, but if not...well, he couldn't stay at the castle.

Finding out if they had a chance was easier said than done, however. People wanted to be around Harry all the time, which made it difficult for Harry to read Severus, or to just outright ask. He did find Severus' responses to his touch encouraging, and a few times, when Severus sat on the bed, next to Harry, he had allowed Harry to lean into him, and Severus even put an arm around his shoulders. By the end of the week, even without talking to Severus, Harry thought that they had a very good chance of working things out, if they could just get a chance to be alone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On Harry's ninth day of confinement to the hospital wing, he found himself completely alone, surprisingly. All of the staff members had a meeting to go to, and Harry knew that Severus was using this day to work on some potions that had to be stocked for the upcoming year. Sirius and Remus, he knew, were going to go to Diagon Alley for supplies after the meeting, and Draco had been called away by one of his companies, which seemed to be having some sort of crisis that only he could fix. Hermione was studying for exams in her summer courses, and Ron was at St Mungo's.

Harry decided to just sit back and enjoy the silence, and think about Severus. He was trying to figure out what he wanted to say, when he heard the hospital wing door open. 'Who is it?' he asked, genuinely curious. He was expecting no one for quite some time.

'Bill,' said the redhead, coming up to sit on Harry's bed, wrapping his arms around Harry in a fierce hug. 'I'm sorry that I wasn't able to get here before now. I can't believe you're all right, after what Mum and Dad told me.'

Harry hugged him back. 'I'm fine. It looked a lot worse than it was, I'm told. I've been up to my ears in care.'

Bill laughed. 'I'm glad to hear it. You're really going to be okay?'

'Yeah, I am. So, how is Melanie?' he asked. He'd met Bill's wife a couple of times, when he ventured into Diagon Alley, and she seemed like a wonderful lady.

'She's fine. Better than fine. In fact, I do have some news I wanted to share with you.'

Harry smiled as he caught Bill's excitement. 'What is it?'

'She's pregnant. I'm going to be a father! Can you believe it?'

Harry hugged Bill again. 'That's wonderful! I'm so happy for you. I know how much you two wanted a child.'

'I can't tell you how thrilled I am,' Bill said. 'There's something I wanted to talk to you about, though. We've decided to put our outside relationships aside until a later time. I know that you and I have an understanding, and I want to stay friends with you. You are one of my favourite people in this world, you know.'

Harry laughed. 'It's fine, Bill. I was going to tell you that I wanted to call it quits anyway. It's looking like Severus and I just might be getting back together. I did enjoy my time with you, though.'

'Oh, Harry, that's wonderful. I told you that he'd get his head out of his arse someday. We'll still be friends, though?'

'Of course, Bill,' Harry said, hugging his friend again. 'I can't believe that we're both getting what we've always wanted.'

'Me, neither,' Bill said, kissing Harry's cheek. 'I can't wait to tell Mum and Dad. They're going to be so thrilled.'

Severus, who had walked in on only the last two sentences exchanged, turned around and walked out without being noticed, leaving under a serious misconception.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'I'm going, and I don't care what you say or do. You can't stop me,' Harry said, pulling on his dressing gown. It had been two days, two days since Severus last walked into the hospital wing, and Harry was tired of waiting, making excuses to himself for Severus' absence, hoping that the man would just walk through the door.

'Harry, at least let me walk you down,' Sirius said.

'No. I can make it on my own, and you and Madam Pomfrey will just have to deal with it.' Harry walked out of the hospital wing and down the hallway, ignoring those calling out his name.

Harry walked carefully down the hallway, taking care not to trip. It had been a while, but he still remembered the layout of the castle, as if he had never left. But it had been two years, so he needed to be a little cautious, lest some minor change in decoration cause another accident. Poppy would never forgive him for it, nor would she ever let him forget. She'd been opposed to his leaving the hospital wing at all.

Harry had to leave, however. It had been over two days since Severus had come to see him, and he wanted to know why the sudden change, especially when he thought that Severus might want to give their relationship another go.

He moved further down the dungeon hallway and he could hear voices coming from the Potions classroom. He thought that maybe he should wait, but then shrugged. He doubted that Severus would truly mind the interruption.

He walked into the room, his cane carefully seeking out any obstructions, and the talking in the room ceased. 'Hello? Anyone here?' he asked jokingly.

'Harry, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in the hospital wing?' Severus asked sharply. He knew that Harry wasn't quite ready to be leaving the hospital wing.

Harry nodded. 'Yes, but you've been away so long that I had to see for myself that you were still alive,' Harry teased.

'As you can tell, I am fine. You shouldn't be up yet. Pomfrey must be insane to allow you out.'

'Oh, Severus, do leave him alone,' Severus's companion said lightly. 'You're acting like a mother hen.'

Harry immediately stiffened and his lips pressed themselves into a thin line. He knew that voice only too well. He'd never forget that horrid lilt, that tacky whine.

'It's nice to see you again, Harry,' he said.

'Hello, Armand,' Harry ground out.

'I heard you had a rather nasty accident. I'm happy to see that you are fine now, for it is a time for rejoicing!'

Harry snorted. 'Really? And why is that?'

'Because I have asked Severus for the honour of bonding with me!' Armand exclaimed gleefully.

Harry felt like he'd been hit in the heart with one of Fred Weasley's Bludgers. 'And what was Severus' answer?' he managed to ask.

'Oh, you know Severus. He said that he would consider it. Of course, that is as good as a yes with him. This is indeed a happy day. Well, I must go! So many things to do and such a small amount of time to do them all.' Harry heard Armand kiss Severus, and Harry fought the urge to vomit. 'Bye, Harry! Feel better!' Armand said brightly, patting Harry's shoulder as he passed by. It took all of Harry's restraint not to break the bastard's hand.

As soon as Armand was gone, Harry turned to Severus. 'I guess 'congratulations' is in order,' he said bitterly.

'I haven't yet decided, but thank you,' Severus said, his voice carefully devoid of all emotion.

'Does he make you happy?' Harry asked. It was killing him to stand here in the presence of Severus, but this was something that he had to know.

'I am content in his presence.'

'Do you love him?' Harry asked.

'I have affection for him,' Severus replied.

Harry nodded. 'All right, then. Sorry to have interrupted you.'

'Why did you come here, Harry?' Severus asked. 'What did you want?'

Harry managed a tight smile and he shook his head. 'It doesn't matter.' He quickly turned around and walked out the door.

'Do you need any help?' Severus asked him from the doorway.

Harry shook his head once more. 'No. I know my way. Goodbye, Severus.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Harry wondered vaguely about his location, not that he cared all that much. He knew that he was somewhere on the second floor, probably near the area where Draco had been attacked.

He thought that after everything that he had been through, nothing else could happen in this world to make things worse, but he was dead wrong. He fancied that if he stood still and listened intently, he would be able to both hear and feel his heart shrivelling into nothingness, not that it mattered. Severus, his Severus, was going to bond to another.

Harry would wring his own neck if it were possible. He was so stupid to let himself hope that Severus still loved him and wanted him. He could see now that Severus' attention was because he felt sorry for Harry, not because he loved him.

Harry felt his way down the wall of the hallway, hoping to find an open door, any door would suffice. For the moment, he didn't want to see anyone or anything; he just wanted to be alone in his misery.

After trying a few doors, Harry finally found one that was unlocked and he went inside, shutting the door behind him. He carefully walked around the room, using his cane and his hand to assess what kind of room he was in. When he ran into the bed, he deduced that it was indeed a bedroom.

He climbed onto the bed, curled up on his side, and gave into his sorrow, down here where no one could see his hurt, his shame. He cried for an hour before falling into a troubled sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'All right, Harry, it's time to go back to the hospital wing. You've been here long enough,' Sirius said as he walked into the Potions classroom. He stopped short when the only person in his sight was Severus. 'Where's Harry?' Sirius asked, looking around the room.

Severus frowned and looked at the clock on the wall. 'Harry left here over an hour ago,' Severus replied. 'He only stayed for a few moments.'

Sirius just stared at Severus, completely confounded. 'Why? He was so determined to come here to see you. He wouldn't even allow anyone to escort him down here, against all of our better judgements.'

'I had company. Armand was here.'

Sirius scowled. 'Oh, that's just perfect. At least I can count on you to turn my son's world upside down,' he muttered as he stalked over to the fireplace and threw Floo powder into the fire. 'Remus!'

Remus' head popped out of the flames. 'What is it, Sirius?'

'Remus, Harry is missing, thanks to Mr Tactful here. No one's seen him for over an hour.'

'I'll check the grounds with Hagrid,' Remus replied and disappeared from the flames.

Sirius glared at Severus. 'Are you going to help me find Harry or not?'

'Of course,' Severus snapped as he followed Sirius out of the room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Half an hour after the search for Harry began, Draco Apparated to the front gates of Hogwarts. He'd come to deliver some potion ingredients that his uncle had needed, and since he'd had the day off, he thought he'd spend some time with Severus and Harry. His smile turned into a frown when he heard Remus and Hagrid calling out Harry's name. He saw the two men on the edge of the forest and sprinted over to them. 'What's wrong? Why are you calling for Harry?'

'Harry's gone missin'. I don't think that Harry left th' castle, but we're checkin', just to make sure.'

Draco nodded and left them to it, thinking he'd probably be more helpful in the castle. Walking through the Entrance Hall, he saw his uncle in the Great Hall. 'Hagrid told me that Harry's missing. What happened to him? Why is he hiding?' he asked as he walked up to Severus.

'Armand told him that he and I were going to bond. I didn't deny it.'

'Are you?' Draco asked sharply, narrowing his eyes into slits. Armand had always been the sore spot between him and his uncle. Personally, he couldn't stand the man, and it wasn't only because of Harry.

'It's a possibility,' Severus admitted. 'I could do worse.'

'Or you could do better,' Draco snapped back. 'No wonder he's hiding. He's probably licking his wounds. He must be devastated.'

Severus snorted in disbelief. 'I doubt that. He and Bill Weasley looked rather attached to each other a few days ago.'

Draco rolled his eyes once he deciphered his uncle's meaning. 'Uncle Severus, I love you dearly, really, I do, but you're an idiot. Not for a moment has Harry ever been in love with Bill Weasley, nor does Bill love Harry. That was always the appeal of their little arrangement.'

'What are you talking about? What arrangement?'

'Uncle Severus, Bill is married...to a woman. Both he and his wife happen to be bisexual. Before they married, they had an arrangement: whenever they felt the need to be with their own sex, they would spend their time with whomever they wish.'

'How does this pertain to Harry?'

'There's no chance that Bill will fall in love with Harry, which is exactly what Harry wanted. If Bill hadn't been there, then Harry wouldn't have thought of being with someone that could potentially become attached to him. He's still in love with you, though I'm having a difficult time figuring out why that is.'

At that moment, Sirius and Remus came storming into the Hall. 'I don't know where that young man has wondered off to, but when I find him, I'll kill him!' Sirius yelled to no one in particular. 'Who does he think he anyway, scaring us like this?'

'Hello to you, too, Sirius,' Draco said, smiling at him. 'Why don't you just calm down? I'm sure that he's hid himself somewhere inside the castle and he's perfectly fine.'

'How are we going to find him? There are dozens of rooms and not many people in the castle.'

Draco tried to think about where Harry would go, but then his mind hit on the most obvious way to find out. 'Have you checked Harry's map?'

All three shook their heads and blushed, embarrassed that they hadn't thought of it before. 'Idiots, the lot of you,' he muttered under his breath. 'Fine,' he said, a bit louder. 'I'll go get the map from Harry's house. I'll be back in a few minutes, but in the meantime, why don't you go search Gryffindor Tower again. He may have found some place to hide that you haven't thought of yet. Severus, go check our old rooms. He may have double-backed while you weren't looking.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Severus searched the rooms thoroughly, to no avail. He even checked his own rooms, hoping that perhaps Harry was waiting for him so that he could scream and throw a fit about Severus' stupidity.

Severus would have liked nothing better at that moment than to hex himself. He was such an imbecile. He made Neville Longbottom at his worst look like a genius. He let jealousy dictate his actions, and he'd been actually considering binding himself to another man because of his own pettiness.

As Severus walked back into his living room, Draco stepped out of the fireplace. He ignored his uncle's expectant glare and pulled the map out of his robes. Tapping the map with his wand, he said, 'I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good,' and instantly, the map sprang to life. Draco searched the map and found Harry.

Draco raced out of the rooms toward Harry's location, unconcerned as to whether or not his uncle was following. He was more concerned that Harry's little dot was so still. Draco knew that it was most likely that Harry had fallen alseep, but he wanted to be certain, for his own peace of mind.

As Draco stepped into the hallway where he'd been attacked, Draco suppressed his repulsion and chuckled ruefully. Leave it to Harry to pick this corridor for his hiding place.

He checked the map once more to see that he'd got the correct room, and then he opened the door. As he suspected, Harry was asleep on the bed. Draco smiled to himself and went to sit on the bed. 'Harry...Harry, it's time to wake up.'

Harry moaned and opened his eyes, turning his head toward the sound of Draco's voice. 'Hey, sunshine,' Draco murmured, using the same teasing tone that Harry did when he woke him up.

Harry rolled over and wrapped his arms around Draco's waist, burying his face in his friend's stomach. 'I'm such an idiot,' he mumbled mournfully.

Draco turned and eyed his uncle, who happened to be standing in the doorway. Turning his attention back to Harry, he said, 'Why do you think such a thing? I happen to think that you're quite intelligent, for a Gryffindor.'

Harry snorted and ignored the jab at his old house. 'Come on, Draco. I spent a week practically draped all over your uncle, thinking that his presence meant that he was willing to give our relationship another chance, but he was just feeling sorry for me. Poor little blind Harry, facing yet another near-death experience. All he felt for me was pity, and I dared to hope...'

'Dared to hope what,' Draco prompted when nothing else was forthcoming.

Harry's breath hitched as his eyes started to burn. 'That he still loved me as much as I love him. But he doesn't. He's going to bond with that Armand, and I've lost him.'

Draco turned to stare at his uncle once more, the unspoken question hanging between them.

Severus quietly walked around the bed and sat down behind his former lover. Harry nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt the other's presence. 'Who is it?'

Severus reached down and tucked a strand of hair behind Harry's ear. 'It's me,' he murmured.

'Severus?'

'You haven't lost me, Harry, not if you still want me, not if you can forgive me my stupidity.'

Draco smiled and slipped off the bed. He kissed Harry's cheek and said, 'I'll go tell everyone that you've been found and that you're fine.'

'How did you find me?' he asked as he turned and reached for Severus, who quickly slid down onto the bed and tucked Harry into his embrace.

Harry smiled as Draco's only reply was, 'Mischief managed.' As soon as the door clicked shut, Harry said, 'I thought that you were going to bond with Armand.'

'I said that I was going to consider it. I've considered it, and I'm not going to accept.'

'What changed your mind?' Harry asked as he snuggled closer to Severus.

'Draco. Harry, I had seen you with Bill Weasley the other day, and I got jealous. I thought that you were...more than just acquaintances.'

'You thought we were lovers,' Harry said.

'I thought that you were in love with him. I saw the way he was holding you, and it made me jealous, angry.'

Harry couldn't help but laugh. 'He was telling me that his wife was pregnant, and that he was glad that I wasn't dead. He and I also decided to bring our little arrangement to an end. I wanted you, only you. I love you. I could never love him.' Harry hesitated for only a moment before asking, 'Do you love Armand?'

Severus decided to be truthful. 'I said that I had affection for him, and I do, but I am in love with you. Armand is a good man, and I don't dislike him, but I could never love him.'

Harry wrapped himself around Severus even tighter. 'Could you tell him things that you didn't tell me?' he asked warily, afraid of both the reaction Severus would have about the question and the answer.

Severus sighed in resignation. 'I never told him anything, and he never asked me anything.'

Harry nodded, a bit relieved that it wasn't just him that Severus didn't trust enough to confide in, but he wasn't going to let that come between them again. He would take whatever Severus was willing to give him.

Severus sat there silently, fighting an inner battle. Finally, he came to a decision. 'I lied.'

Harry shifted a bit. 'What are you talking about?'

'I lied about Lucius Malfoy. I lied...well, I told you some half- truths, at any rate.'

'About?' Harry pressed.

'About why I became a Death Eater. Everything that I told you about your parents and the Marauders was true. I wasn't, however, entirely truthful about my dealings with the Slytherins.'

'Tell me, then, love. I can guarantee you that whatever you say won't change how I feel about you,' Harry reassured him.

'When I was in school, I didn't like Lucius Malfoy at first. He was a rude, arrogant know-it-all who had been spoilt rotten by his parents, but my father insisted that I befriend him, because Lucius's father was one of Voldemort's new followers, and my father wanted me to become a Death Eater. I believe that I told you that once. So to please my father, or rather, to not invoke his wrath, I befriended Lucius. I was already popular amongst many of the Slytherins, because I knew many Dark spells and potions that my father had forced me to learn, and it was easy for me to get into Lucius' good graces.'

Severus sighed and Harry could hear the unhappiness. He shifted up long enough to place a quick kiss on his lover's jaw. Severus smiled to himself and went on. 'I don't know when it happened, but somewhere amidst everything, I fell in love with Lucius. I saw a side of him that no one else saw. Lucius, at times, could be very kind to those he liked, which were very few. I considered myself lucky to be one of those people.'

'You and Lucius became lovers,' Harry stated.

Severus nodded against the top of Harry's head. 'Yes, we did. We were lovers, even after Lucius finished school. I still had another year to go. After I got out of school, my father pressured me into joining the Death Eaters, and when I found out that Lucius had already joined, I didn't fight my father's command. I didn't want to join for the reasons that others did. I joined because I loved Lucius so much that I would have followed him to the ends of the earth.'

Severus shifted to a more comfortable position and held Harry tighter, as if Harry would run once he'd heard his complete confession. 'When I was finally initiated, a horrible ritual that will haunt me to the end of my days, I was devastated to learn that Lucius was already engaged to my half-sister, Narcissa.

'Oh, my father had known, but he never told me. He'd somehow found out about my feelings for Lucius, but he didn't care, and neither did Voldemort. They were too worried about a powerful alliance between the pureblood families, and Lucius and Narcissa would produce a powerful, competent heir, whereas Lucius and I could not.'

'So Lucius married Narcissa. I know that he didn't love her. You and Draco have made that perfectly clear.'

'No, he didn't. You see, I think that Lucius was in love with me, as much as I was in love with him, but his duty was to his family and Voldemort, and he couldn't do anything about it. After that, I couldn't stand the Death Eaters anymore. I hated the killing and the torturing. Luckily, I was never required to rape anyone. I think that would have done me in, after all that I had done and witnessed, but as soon as I knew that there was no hope left for a life with Lucius, I ran to Dumbledore and confessed all.'

Harry sighed. 'I have a confession of my own.'

'What is it, love?'

Harry smiled softly. 'I knew about you and Lucius.'

Harry could feel Severus' eyes drilling holes in the top of his head. 'How did you know about that?'

'Do you really have to ask? Draco told me about a year ago. I was missing you something terribly, and after about an hour of ranting about how you never trusted me, Draco told me about his father. By that time, Draco thought that we'd never get back together again.'

'What did he tell you?'

'Well, he told me what you just said, and he told me that his father never really got over you.'

'Now how in the name of Salazar would he know that?'

'You know that his father never cared for Draco, and he would act as if he wasn't there? Well, Draco would watch Lucius, and when you were around, he could see something in his father's eyes, something that wasn't there at any other time. He knows now that it was longing. Lucius wanted you. I think that he still loved you, but you were unreachable. Draco said that when you would pass by Lucius, he would sometimes reach out for you, but then he would pull back quickly, before you noticed. Draco said that Lucius was always more bitter and cruel than usual after you left.'

'I never knew that,' Severus murmured.

Harry frowned. 'I wonder if things would have been different with him, if he would have been allowed to love you, to be with you. Love is a very powerful thing. I've always thought that maybe that was part of Voldemort's problem.'

'How so, Harry?'

'Think about it. Tom Riddle didn't know love. His mother died when he was very young, and his father was a complete and utter bastard, leaving his son because he thought he was a freak. Then he came here, and I doubt that he was shown any love. He was in Slytherin, as was Grindelwald, and anyone in Slytherin was looked down upon. I've been wondering if Tom Riddle would have turned out as bad as he did if he had been shown any love or kindness. Then, when he became Voldemort, it didn't matter. He had fear and hatred working for him. In that respect, I've always pity for him.'

'How can you, after all that Voldemort did?'

'Not really for Voldemort. For Tom Riddle. You have to understand, there are so many similarities between Tom Riddle and me. I was an orphan at a young age, and my relatives hated me. I was shown no love for all that time that I was with the Dursleys. I had no friends at school, because everyone was afraid of my cousin. It wasn't until I came to Hogwarts that I was shown any kind of affection.'

'I'm sure that I didn't make it any easier,' Severus muttered.

Harry shook his head. 'In a way, you did. I often think about what would have happened if you had been indifferent, or actually nice. You were mean, sometimes downright cruel, but you forced me to keep a level head. I think that if it weren't for you, I would have got a big head, and I think that really would have hurt my chances of survival.'

Severus snorted. 'Glad I could help.'

Harry chuckled. 'I think that when I got here, and I made friends, that's where Tom and I differed. I think I made true friends who loved me, while Tom was probably feared or abhorred, because he had no parentage. Slytherins can be very unforgiving in that respect.'

'I'd be angry if that weren't true,' Severus murmured.

'I had Ron and Hermione, and I know that Dumbledore and McGonagall really did care, and then I had the Weasleys, and then Sirius and Remus, and then I had you and Draco. Tom didn't have anyone. I think that's why he went so bad, why many Slytherins go bad. There's not a lot of true friendship there. Either they're afraid, or they're too jaded or brainwashed to care.'

'I think that somewhere in the midst of all that, you have made a good point.'

Harry laughed and then sighed. 'So, what do we do now?'

'Well, for now we could just lie here, and I could answer any questions that you have about my life.'

'Really? You're ready to trust me?'

'I should have realized that I trusted you a long time ago,' Severus said. 'I was an idiot. I do trust you, I always have. I don't know why I refused to see it. I won't lose you again,' he whispered.

Harry snuggled closer so that most of his body was on top of Severus'. 'Talk to me.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Two hours later, Severus walked into the hospital wing, carrying a sleeping Harry. Sirius stood up as soon as they walked in. 'It's about bloody time. What were you two doing?'

'Do you really want to know, Sirius? Draco asked, wriggling his eyebrows in a suggestive manner.

Severus scowled at his nephew as he placed Harry into his hospital bed. 'Very amusing, Draco,' he whispered. He pushed them all away from the bed. 'Harry needs some sleep. We were talking things out, if you must know.'

'And?' Sirius asked, glaring at Severus.

'And Harry is coming home. When he's better, he's going to resign his position and sort his affairs, and then he's coming back to Hogwarts, to stay with me.'

A bright smile spread across Sirius' face. His son was coming home. When he looked at Severus again, his smile instantly turned into a scowl. 'If you hurt him again,' he threatened.

'Sirius, you have nothing to worry about, Severus said, gazing at his sleeping lover. 'I've got him back, and I'm never going to let him go again, no matter what.'

'You better not,' Remus warned, his protective instincts rearing their head. 'What about this Armand you've been seeing?'

'I'm going to find him now and tell him that it's over. Harry knows I'm going.'

'Then go already and hurry back,' Harry said from the bed. 'Dad, you and Remus shut up, please. 'M tired.'

'Sorry, love,' Remus said, walking over to the bed and fussing with the blanket. He kissed Harry's temple. 'Go back to sleep, Harry. We'll be quiet.'

Harry smiled and fell back asleep. Pomfrey proceeded to throw everyone out, telling them that they could come back in two hours and check on her patient.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Harry stirred when he felt the bed sink on one side, disturbing his current position. He turned and whispered hoarsely, 'Who is it?'

'It is I,' Severus said, pushing a strand of Harry's hair away from his eyes.

Harry yawned and sat up. 'Did you just get back?' he asked, stretching his arms over his head and clasping his hands together.

Severus took the opportunity that Harry's current position allowed and slid his arms around his lover's waist. Pulling him closer, he brushed his lips across Harry's. 'Yes, I did,' he murmured against Harry's lips.

Harry brought his arms down to slip around Severus' neck. 'How'd it go?'

Severus brought his head down to nuzzle the base of Harry's neck. 'He took it rather well, surprisingly. He said that he had been expecting it since he saw you in my classroom. He knew that it was a matter of time. He said he saw my face as I looked at you, and he saw the hurt when you realised that he was there.'

'I am sorry if we hurt him, but you were mine first,' Harry whispered. 'You belong to me.'

'Awwwwwwww. Isn't that sweet?'

'Shut up, Draco,' Harry said, kissing Severus again before sliding back to lean against the headboard. 'I didn't know that you were still here.'

'It's been a few hours, and I came to see if you were all right. Also, I was visiting with Sirius and Remus, but I had to leave. The looks they were starting to give each other were starting to make me blush, and I simply do not look appealing when I'm red and blotchy.'

'You're adorable when you blush,' Harry teased. 'But I can understand. I remember those looks that pass between them. Between the three of us, there's nothing scarier than a horny werewolf, not even Voldemort.'

Severus groaned. 'Thank you so much for that mental image. I'll be having nightmares for a week.'

'I'll make sure your nights are nightmare free, don't worry,' Harry replied.

Draco smiled as he watched Harry snuggle up to his uncle. Life was exactly as it should be. 'You two want some time alone, I think, so I'm going to take my life into my own hands and go to Fred's shop.'

Harry couldn't help but laugh. 'You take your chances, don't you?'

'Such is the life of a partner of Fred Weasley.' Draco quipped. 'You get some rest. Uncle Severus, make sure that he stays put. I don't want to have to play hide and seek with him again.'

'Don't worry, I'll strap him down if necessary,' Severus assured him.

'I don't need to know the kinky details of your sex life, Uncle Severus. Just make him stay in bed.'

'See you tomorrow, Draco,' Harry said with a wide grin on his face.

'Quit smiling,' Severus said, kissing his lover's brow. 'Sirius and Remus will think that I've made improper advances toward you.'

'I'd like some of those improper advances,' Harry murmured, trailing his fingers up Severus' thigh.

'It won't work.' Severus stopped Harry's hand before it went too far up his thigh. 'Your mutts would skin me and use me as a rug.'

Harry laughed. 'They're just happy that I'm coming back. I think you'll be allowed to live.'

'Most likely, but we need to talk while we're alone. After Sirius has satisfied his werewolf, they'll be down.'

'I know we need to talk about a lot of things, but do we have to start right this moment? Yes, we have to talk about Armand and Bill, amongst everything else, but right now I just want to sit here with you, talk about what's been going on while we were apart. I want to tell you about what I've been doing, how I've been helping people.'

'I want to hear it all, but we can't put off talking about the past,' Severus insisted. 'We've done that before and look where it got us.'

'I know. I'm not going anywhere. You're never getting rid of me again. I just want to wait until we're really alone, because any number of people can come barging in here at any given point, and I don't want us to have to stop mid-conversation.'

'You have a point, I have to admit. Very well, we'll discuss less serious things.'

'There is one thing, though, that I feel I have to bring up now.'

'What is that?'

'When I found Armand in our bed, it hurt me more than anything. I know that seeing Bill come out of my room that one night was probably just as painful for you-'

Severus interrupted him. 'How did you know I was there?'

'You told Draco, and he told me.'

Severus snorted. 'I should have known. He can't help but meddle.'

'He's Draco. Back to the point, I can't sleep in that bed. I know he was there, and I refuse to sleep there. I'll stay in those rooms, but I need you to change beds.'

'I am more than happy to accommodate you. How about the bed from the room we found you in? It was a lovely bed, and should fit quite well with the decor.'

Harry nodded. 'It was comfortable as well. That one will be fine.'

'I'll have them traded out tonight,' Severus promised.

'Good. Now tell me all about the new Neville.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By dinnertime, Severus and Harry's private time had been spoiled, and they had plenty of company when Dobby and the other house-elves brought up dinner.

Severus, Remus, Albus, Sirius, and Minerva all told Harry their stories about the students' escapades, and they had Harry in stitches for the rest of the time that they were there.

'All right, everyone out. Our Harry needs some rest. He's done far too much today,' Madam Pomfrey said as she came to check on her patient.

Everyone reluctantly got up to leave, except Severus, who stayed next to Harry. 'You, too, Severus.'

'I'm not going anywhere,' Severus said, glaring at the mediwitch, as if daring her to contradict him.

'Severus-' Madam Pomfrey started, but Harry interrupted her.

'Poppy, he's not going anywhere. I'm fine, really, and you know that I am. Please let him stay.'

Pomfrey sighed, knowing that she'd never win against the stubborn Gryffindor. 'Very well, but get some sleep. The rest of you, out.'

The others said goodnight and left. Pomfrey gave Harry his nighttime dose of a Healing draught, and went to bed, leaving Severus to care for Harry. Severus turned off the lights and shed his robe before slipping in next to Harry. Harry turned toward him and reached for his face, pulling him into a soft, lingering kiss that left him breathless.

'I love you,' Harry said quietly as he softly stroked his lover's cheek.

'I love you,' Severus replied hoarsely. He stared at Harry like he might vanish if Severus so much as blinked.

Harry sensed his lover's thoughts. He knew Severus too well. 'I'm not going anywhere. I finally have you back. Do you honestly think that I'd ever let you go?'

'Of course not,' Severus replied sardonically. 'Why would anyone let a great catch like me go?'

'I wouldn't, not again, no matter how stubborn and pigheaded you are,' Harry replied fondly.

Severus smiled softly to himself. 'No, I don't suspect you will. Now turn over so I can hold you while we sleep.'

Harry kissed him again and did as he asked. Severus molded his body to Harry's and wrapped his arm around his lover's waist. Severus kissed the nape of Harry's neck. 'Get some sleep, love.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Severus woke out of his dream-filled slumber to the gentle press of warm, soft lips to his own. A soft moan escaped his throat and his eyes fluttered open to look straight into Harry's bright green eyes. 'What are you doing awake?' he murmured.

'I've slept most of the last two weeks,' Harry whispered. 'I'm not tired.'

'What did you have in mind?' Severus asked, somewhat amused. 'Did you wake me up to sing you a song?'

Harry chuckled softly. 'Actually, I had something much more entertaining in mind.'

'Such as?'

Harry pressed his lips against Severus', this time with a little more urgency, hungry to taste his lover, to feel him, to reaffirm that Severus was really there, and this wasn't just some cruel dream.

Severus groaned and wrapped his arms around Harry's waist, pulling him on top of his body. 'Don't tempt me, Harry. You're supposed to be resting.'

'I've rested. I've been resting...and resting....and then I've rested some more. What I want is to be touched by you. I want you to make love to me.'

'Harry, we shouldn't, not this soon after your injuries, and we are in the hospital wing,' Severus argued, albeit with not much conviction.

'I know where we are, and I'm fine. I want you, now, please.' Sensing Severus' last bit of hesitation, Harry slid down and started placing kisses on his lover's shoulders, then his chest, and then his stomach. 'Please, Severus? I need to feel you inside of me. It's been so long...too long.'

When Harry slid further down his body, pulled down his boxers, and swiped his tongue across the head of his cock, the last of Severus' resolve crumbled. 'Come here, you persistent little wretch.'

Harry chuckled. 'Oh, I did miss your insults,' Harry said as he scrambled back up his lover's body.

Severus turned them over so that they were lying on their sides. 'I'm not insulting you. I'm merely stating a fact.'

'Shut up and kiss me already,' Harry said, wrapping an arm around Severus' waist and pulling him closer.

'Slow down, love. I have to set down a few rules, first.'

Harry leaned back so that Severus could see his frown. 'You're taking the spontaneity out of this. You're no fun.'

'Quit pouting. I will make love to you, but I refuse to do anything to hurt you. Besides, Poppy would kill me if I did.'

Harry chuckled. 'What are your conditions?'

'First, you let me take the lead. Second, you lie on your stomach. It's the position that will be most comfortable...don't give me that look. And third, we're going to go slowly. If you so much as think about getting rougher than you should, I'll get up and leave you to take care of yourself.'

Harry laughed, knowing that Severus was perfectly serious. 'Deal.'

'Good, now lie on your stomach.'

Harry took of his pyjama top and turned over, sliding his arms forward and resting his head on them. Severus straddled Harry's hips, careful not to place much weight on Harry's body. He reached over and picked up the topical Healing oil that he'd made just for Harry, not realizing that this was what he was going to use it for.

Severus unscrewed the jar and tipped it over, allowing it to dribble over Harry's back. Setting the jar aside, Severus slid his hands through the oily substance, spreading it all over Harry's back. With a firm, yet gentle touch, Severus massaged Harry's back, working out the tension that the day had caused, kneading away the small knots, until Harry was nothing but a moaning puddle underneath his body. 'Like that, do you?' he asked.

Harry moaned again and nodded slightly. Severus smiled and slid back so that he was straddling Harry's knees. He poured the oil down the crack of Harry's arse, using his fingers to spread the cheeks, allowing the oil to flow down to his lover's hole. Sliding his fingers between Harry's cheeks, he gathered the oil as he slid his fingers up the crack, and then he spread the oil over Harry's arse, massaging the globes until Harry was shivering, his mouth spewing forth incoherent mutters.

Severus spread Harry's arse cheeks open wide and poured more oil down the crack, this time catching it with his fingers as it neared the hole, then sliding two fingers into his lover's entrance, spreading the soothing substance all around the inner wall, knowing that the mild pain killer in the potion would further keep Harry from discomfort.

Severus slid his fingers in and out slowly, twisting and curling, teasing Harry's prostate, causing Harry to whimper and beg for more. When he was satisfied that the potion was spread enough to do what he wished, he whispered, ' Put your knees underneath you.'

Harry obeyed, lifting his lower body with Severus' help and sliding up to his knees, his head still lying on his arms. He spread his legs wide, displaying his entrance for his lover's scrutiny.

Severus bit his bottom lip as he stared at the body presented to him. 'God, you're beautiful. Do you have any idea how much I've missed you?'

'I have an idea,' Harry murmured, wriggling his arse. 'You can gaze all you want later, but right now...oh!' Harry's eyes rolled back into his head as he felt his lover's tongue slide deep inside him.

Severus moaned as his tongue moved around, sliding around the rim of his lover's body a few times before sliding back out. He swiped his tongue across the puckered flesh once more before kissing his way up Harry's body, until his body was draped over the man underneath him. 'I just couldn't resist,' he murmured as he nipped at Harry's shoulder blade.

'Who's complaining?' Harry murmured. 'Please, Severus!' he begged when he felt the blunt head of his lover's prick push against his arsehole. 'Please, make love to me.'

Severus adjusted his angle slightly and then slowly breached his lover's body, sliding in slowly, inch by painstaking inch, stopping for a moment after every one, to make sure Harry was all right, and to keep himself from going off prematurely. Finally, he was fully embedded inside his lover, his balls resting against his lover's arse. 'Are you all right?' he asked.

Harry nodded and Severus placed little kisses across Harry's shoulders. 'Good. I'm going to move now. If you feel any pain at all, let me know, all right?'

'I will. Please move.'

Severus slowly slid out of his lover's body, until only the head of his cock was nestled up against the ring of Harry's opening. Then he slowly slid inside again, brushing against Harry's prostate. When Harry didn't complain, only groaned with pleasure, Severus focused on his own pleasure as well.

Slowly he moved, at a steady pace, allowing their pleasure to build. All he could feel, all he could sense was the man underneath him, his lover that was inviting him so willingly into his body, even after all they'd been through and done to each other.

'Please, more,' Harry gasped, squeezing the ring of his hole around the base of his lover's cock, trying to urge him to move faster. 'I can take it.'

Severus acquiesced, increasing the pace just a little more, relishing the intoxicating sensation of his lover's silky channel caressing his prick, until he was pounding into Harry, in spite of his earlier ground rules. He slipped his hand beneath his lover's body when he felt himself ready to explode, and wrapping his hand around his lover's prick, Severus tugged in time with his thrusts, until Harry cried out and came all over the sheet.

Severus thrust in once more and filled his lover's body, his body shuddering and his hips jerking, until he was completely spent. Using all the energy he had left, he pulled out of Harry and used a quick Cleaning spell to clean the sheet, before collapsing next to Harry and pulling the young man close.

Harry, with a little help from Severus, reached down and brought the blankets up over their bodies. He then nestled himself in to Severus' embrace. 'Thank you,' he whispered. He placed a kiss on his lover's jaw.

'It was my pleasure,' Severus murmured as he pulled Harry closer. 'I should, however, get up and put my boxers back on, and you should put your pyjamas on. I don't think Poppy would appreciate our nudity.'

'Well, then, she shouldn't be looking under the blankets, Harry said. 'You're staying right where you are, as you are. If she doesn't like it, I don't care.'

Severus snorted, but kissed Harry's forehead and settled in for the night. 'Get some sleep.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Madam Pomfrey, fluctuating between pale and red, closed the door behind her, Remus, and Sirius. Sirius looked a bit green, and Remus was doing all he could not to laugh. 'That was the last thing I expected when I walked in there,' Pomfrey said, leaning against the wall.

'That's the second time I've walked in on them. I was hoping that I wouldn't have a repeat performance,' Sirius muttered.

Remus couldn't hold back his laughter any longer. 'You should have seen the looks on your faces. I wish I had a camera. It was priceless.' When the other two scowled at him, he shook his head. 'I don't know what you two expected. We all know that Harry's well enough to leave the hospital wing, and he and Severus have been apart for much too long.'

'It didn't disturb you to see them like that?' Sirius asked.

'On the contrary, I think they looked hot together.' Sirius looked at Remus as if he'd lost his mind, and Remus rolled his eyes. 'Oh, come on, if you're honest with yourself, you know it's true.'

'You are talking about my son,' Sirius protested.

'By adoption, not by blood. Come on, if they were two people that you did not know, you would think have said the same thing.'

Sirius frowned but didn't deny it. Remus just laughed at his husband. 'Poppy, sweet dreams. Sirius, love, Harry's in good hands. How about you pay some attention to me?'

Sirius smiled at his insatiable lover. 'If you insist. Goodnight, Poppy.'

Madam Pomfrey shook her head. 'Goodnight, you two. I'm going to go take some Dreamless Sleep.'

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