Harry nodded, laying down to rest. He found it a little harder to fall asleep, however, and ended up watching Severus sleep instead.

Severus moaned and turned over thrashing slightly in his sleep. The night was a common one. He stood outside Godric's Hollow on all Hallow's Eve. No, no not again. He knew how the dream ended it always ended the same way. The potions master's ghost form raced up the stairs passing James Potter's dead corpse. He could hear the screams of a small child. Lily... Moving faster Severus stopped in the doorway to the familiar room. Instead of Lily's dead body and the infant Harry, snape found himself staring at the teenage Potter being assulted by his uncle.

He moved faster than ever the killing curse falling from his lips, and hitting the fat man. Severus scooped up the young man clutching Harry to his chest. Cupping the back of the boys head he held him close, running fingers through his hair. "I'm so sorry Harry. Please...I'm so sorry."

Back in the infirmary Snape was sobbing and moaning in his bed.

Harry got out of bed, wincing slightly, and made his way to Severus' side. He sat on the edge of the bed beside the man, pinning the thrashing body down. He listened closely, hearing his name occasionally, along with the soft mumbling of sorry. He Laid down next to Severus, arms wrapping around the man tightly, rubbing his back lightly. "Hush... I'm fine, sir... S-Severus, I'm fine, you saved me..." He whispered softly to the man, not feeling the slightest bit awkward comforting his professor.

note* italics in this post are the dream

The nightmare continued to get worse until Harry's soft voice cut through the Severus subconscious. Suddenly the dream changed and he was back standing on a hill under the tree where he first met Lily and there she stood. Her red hair glistened as it moved on the breeze. The pain was too much to bare, the sight of Lily bringing him to his knees. Turning, the figment of Severus' dream approached and knelt by his side smiling softly. She touched his cheek, making Severus close his dream eyes and lean into the touch. He opened his eyes again to find Lily's green just inches from his own.

In his heart Severus hated these dreams more than anything. It was better to see her cold and lifeless on the ground, than so warm and near. He turned his eyes from her face. Long graceful fingers tipped his chin up to look at Lily. She had started to glow softly around the edges. There was a consciousness in her eyes that the potion master had never seen before in his dreams. Her ghost? He reached out to touch her cheek, "Lily?"

"Hello Sev." Severus could feel tears falling down his face again. She was here, here in his dream, something he had prayed for for so long.

"W-why are you here? Now? After al-" Lily shushed him with a ghostly finger.

"I've come Sev to thank you for saving Harry. He is so alone Sev" Her eyes grew dark as she looked away for a moment. I also need to ask you to please take care of him Sev. Love and care for him like you did me. Please, you need him as much as he needs you." Severus' eyes widened and Lily's ghost gave him a soft knowing smile. "It will be alright. I love you both."

"Lily -" She wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug silencing him for a moment.

Lily leaned close to his ear and whispered. "Sev you need to wake up now."

Severus' eye flew open immediately, bringing him back to his cot in the infirmary. Surprised he looked over to find Harry laying next to him. "Harry?"

Harry blushed softly at being caught laying beside his professor with his arms around the man. "I-I, um.... You were having a nightmare..." He said softly, looking anywhere but at his professor. "You sounded and looked so scared... I'm sorry, I'll just be going back to my own bed now..." He said softly, starting to pull away, slowly, reluctant. He didn't bother mentioning that he'd gotten as much comfort from being next to the professor as he'd given the man.

"Harry." Severus stopped the boy with a gentle hand. "Thank you." He could see the fear in the boy's eyes. The night was always hard on those who had been hurt and Lily's voice still rang in his ears. Please..take care of him Sev

"If you find comfort here as well. I would not be adverse to sharing the bed with you." Sev moved over and pulled the covers back. "Come on then. I know you must be as tired as I am."

Blushing more, Harry nodded and slipped beneath the covers with Severus. "You know, Sir... sometimes talking about the nightmare can help..." He said, curious to know what the man's dream had been of, but not wanting to ask outright.

Severus settled down comfortably with the boy at his side. He kept some distance between them not wanting Harry to feel smothered or have a flash back. Sighing softly at the boy's comment Snape looked up at the ceiling ignoring the knot forming in his belly. "In most cases it would Pott- Harry, but as you know I am far from the normal sphere. Is there something that you wish to talk about?"

Harry shook his head, curling up on his side with a soft yawn. "No sir... not at the moment, anyways..." He said softly, a little disappointed that Severus didn't want to talk to him about his nightmare. He just shrugged it off though, knowing it would only worry him more. So, wrapping the blankets around himself more closely, he soon slipped into a light sleep.

Severus nearly smiled at the soft yawn the boy let out. It was good that Potter was finally getting the rest he needed, his body and soul would heal much faster.

Though wrapped in the warmth and security provided by the body beside him, Severus found that he could not fall back to sleep. He lay quietly his mind playing over the last few hours of his life. Much had changed and it unnerved the stoic man. Things would never be like they once were; Severus was still a cold bastard of course, but the boy...he would need someone now. Unconsciously the Sytherin started to card his fingers through the boy's unruly black hair; as each minute passed the motion got slower and slower until the potions master had slipped off into a dreamless sleep.

Harry smiled in his sleep softly, moving closer to the professor, comforted by the closeness, and the gentle touch of the man's fingers running through his hair. He was curled right up ot the man soon enough, one arm pillowing his head while his free hand took hold of Severus' shirt, preventing the man from leaving without him noticing.

The morning came all too soon in Severus' opinion. Sunlight filtered through the windows, something that he was definitely not used to in the dungeons. He moaned lightly before trying to sit up; stopping when he felt weight on his arm and chest. Last evening came flooding back...ah Harry.

The young man was still asleep, all the worry and pain was drained from his face. Truthfully, Harry looked beautiful at that moment. He pushed aside the thought at the wave of guilt that hit him. Was he any better than the man who had hurt the boy. His thoughts were pushed from his mind by the sound of a low growl. He looked near the door seeing Lupin standing there.

"What the f--k do you think you are doing?", the were snarled.

Harry woke shen Severus tried to sit up, but refused to actually open his eyes, trying to fall back asleep. His eyes fluttered open when he heard the growl, and he rolled over, pulling away from Severus and looking at Remus for a moment, before looking around for his glasses. "Remus..." He said the man's name softly, blushing a little at the position him and Snape had been caught in. "I-it's not what it looks like, Remy..." He said, defending both himself and Severus as he put his glasses on, the room becoming much clearer.

Severus immediately stood in front of the boy instincts screaming for him to protect Harry. He slipped his wand out of his sleeve and into his hand. The were's eyes were bleeding yellow and Snape could see the hint of fang peeking out of the snarling lips. He had seen Fenrir in this state more than once. If he could get one good shot Snape could stop the were until he calmed down. "Remus you don't-"

"You better shut the f--k up Severus. Your no better than that muggle bastard." Remus stalked forward before leaping into the air and reaching for Severus. He didn't have time to cast Impedimenta before the wolf was on him.

Severus pushed against the wolf's chest keeping the snapping mouth away from him. Remus stopped for a moment, "You couldn't have Lilly so now your f--king her son! You sick freak!"

Harry watched, wide-eyed as his godfather lunged at Severus. He grabbed his wand off the nightstand and cast a shield spell around Severus, preventing Remus from reaching him. "Remus, stop it!" HE shouted, aiming his wand at the were. Slipping out of bed, he moved towards Remus, not caring that the wolf was more in control than the man. The spell had forced Remus back away from Snape, and Harry moved between the adults. "Remy... He's done nothing to me." Harry said, looking him right in the eye, normally a stupid thing to do, but he didn't care at the moment, as he stepped forward, grabbing Remus by his shoulders, pushing him further away from Severus.

Severus stood cloak billowing softly behind him as he leveled the wand at he wolf. His hair was dishelved and his arm was slightly shaking. Flashes of his night at the shrieking shack. Remus was still growling, but instead of pushing to get at the spy he was clutching Harry tighter and tighter to him. It had to be hurting the boy. "Remus your hurting Harry."

The wolf growled louder pulled Harry away from Severus. Whining Remus rubbed his nose in Harry's hair. "Moony keep Pup safe. Moony no hurt."

"PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!" Remus' body was frozen his arms still tight around Harry. Albus stood behind the wolf and stepped forward, Poppy and Menerva behind him. Severus rushed forward as well extracting Harry from the frozen were's arms. He looked over the boy carefully.

"Mr. Potter, Severus I believe an explanation is in order." Menerva was still in her dressing gown her hair frazzled. Severus ignored the woman looking at Harry.

"Are you alright Harry?"

Harry nodded, leaning into Moony's hold. He knew the wolf wouldn't hurt him, not seriously, and not on purpose. He didn't mind the tight hold on him, either. When Remus was hit by the spell, Harry glared at Dumbledore. "That was unnecessary, Sir..." He said. Turning towards Severus he nodded, leaning into him slightly. "I'm fine...." He said, looking up at the man. "What about you?" He asked, noticing the rip in Severus' shirt, and the raw, slightly bloodied flesh beneath.

Severus finally noticed the cut on his arm. "I'm alright Harry." Poppy immediately started cleaning the wound and binding it with magic, before she turned to Harry and started looking him over. Minerva and Albus were laying the still paralyzed wolf onto one of the infimary's beds.

Anger was the last thought on Severus' mind as he looked over the wolf. He knew how hard it was for Remus to control himself when the moon was so close. He walked over to Poppy's cabinet and found a Calming Draught and Wolf's Bane potion. Walking briskly over to the paralyzed wolf Severus poured the both potions down Remus' throat rubbing two fingers down the wolf's throat to get him to swallow.

"Albus, he should be calmer now. Pity it won't improve his intelligence." Severus backed away as Albus released the spell.

Harry moved over to the bed that Remus had been placed on, and took his hand as the spell was released.

Severus watched Harry with Remus. The wolf's eyes were back to their normal brown, he sat up slowly looking up at Harry before bursting into tears. "I'm so sorry Harry! Did Moony hurt you?" He held Potter's hand in two of his own. "When I saw you and Severus in bed together."

"WHAT!?" Minerva's and Poppy's shrieks made Severus wince and put a finger in his ear. Albus had that old twinkle to his eyes, smiling happily. Both women started to yell rapidly at Severus before the headmaster intervened.

"Minerva, Poppy. I believe that Severus should be alowed to explain the situation. I believe Severus was merely comforting the boy and watching out for his well being as I instructed him to do."

Minerva turned to Severus, "Is that true?"

"Yes Minerva. It seems Mr. Potter has more than enough people to care for his well being and I am no longer needed." Severus gathered his cloak around him. "If you will excuse." Severus was out the door and headed for his rooms before anyone could protest.

Smiling, Harry shook his head. "No, Remus... Moony would never hurt me." He said softly, crawling onto the bed to hug Remus tightly. "You all really shouldn't jump to conclusions..." He said, addressing Remus, Minerva, and Poppy. "Professor Snape has done nothing to hurt me... Why would he?" He asked, glaring at the women. He wasn't so mad at Remus, knowing it was harder for him, what with an uncontrollable wolf within him.

Severus moved quickly through the halls and back down to his rooms. Foolish...they will always see you as nothing more than the Death Eater scum. He snarled the password at his doors before slamming them behind him. The potions master stomped to his bathroom and set on side of the bath before turning it on and filling it. He just needed to calm down. Soon he had removed his clothing and sunk into the water.

After a hour in the water, Severus emerged wrapping the towel around his waist.

Professor McGonagall and Madame Pompfrey had both made excuses, claiming Severus' history as a death eater to be enough of a reason to suspect him to hurt Harry. "Again... You're both assuming things. Would either of you have ever assumed I was being abused by my relatives my entire lives? I'll remind you that the two of you-" He looked pointedly at Minerva and Albus, "are both responsible for putting me there in the first place. Now, I'll admit that Snape's not been the kindest towards me, but he's always protected me, in his own way... Never once has he caused me harm- directly or indirectly." He said, a little surprised to find himself defending the potions master. He laid back down, wrapping his arms around Remus, feeling himself at the edge of breaking down again.

Severus dressed silently covering up his scar marked body. The ones on the insides of his wrists still itched from time to time. They were only a shade paler than his normal skin tone and barely noticeable unless you actually touched them. He left his black robes and shirt setting for his black pants and white button down dress shirt.

Pulling the trap door under his rub near the fire he headed down into his private work room. Severus tried to busy his mind with a list of potions Poppy would be needing, adding a few vials of wolfs-bane potion since it looked like Lupin would be staying at the school for the time being. Every few minutes though he found himself stopped looking off at nothing like a school girl thinking of Harry.

After a seconded failed potion he dashed his cauldron against the wall and sank down onto the floor. The stone was cool against his back. He was so tired, spiritually and physically. The way he felt in Harry's arms was indescribable, Severus felt like he did when he was with Lily. The potion master placed his crossed arms over his pulled up knees laying his head on his arms. What was he going to do?

"I-I'd loke to speak with Remus and Severus privately... Would one of you fetch him from wherever he has disappeared to?" Harry asked softly, and watched as Albus and Minerva left the room to fetch him, and Poppy retreated to her office, and through there, her private rooms.