Chapter 10

Severus knew Harry was upset with him. Harry no longer called him Severus. He no longer even called him Professor Snape. Harry didn't call him anything. He didn't address him at all except when the occasion called for a "no, sir" or "yes, sir."

Harry's kind smiles, his tentative touches, his determined eye contact were no longer offered to Severus. It shouldn't bother Severus, in fact he should be relieved. He wasn't.

Severus would have preferred that their interactions were still the way they'd been over the past few months, but Severus was strong enough to weather Harry's hurt, anger, and inconsolability. A 'strong shoulder' didn't always need to wipe away tears, or listen to feelings. Sometimes a strong shoulder had to withstand punches. If Harry needed a target to which he could throw his negative emotions, Severus could provide that. And he did.

Severus rolled the small box over in his fingers, within his robe pocket. Severus wasn't sure he should give it to him. He debated with himself whether it was appropriate. It likely wasn't.

It was Christmas. Rather than snowing, rain poured outside. It beat against the roof and windows in a steady, angry thrum. Brightly coloured wrapping paper still littered the floor around the Christmas tree in the corner of the sitting room. Sirius sat in the chair, a bottle of spirits in his hand. Sirius no longer continuously glared at him whenever he was in the room. Perhaps he was finally becoming secured in the fact that Severus did not intend to injure his godson. Remus sat at the sofa, one leg crossed over the other, and a large tome in his lap, sipping a glass of whiskey he balanced on the arm of the sofa.

"Merry Christmas, Severus," Remus told him, kindly.

Severus inclined his head. "Merry Christmas."

Sirius grunted in Severus's general direction as way of greeting.

"Harry should be right along," Remus assured.

Severus nodded numbly and made his way into the kitchen, taking his usual seat where he would wait for Harry.

He continued to turn the small box over and over in his fingers, still tucked neatly in his pocket. This night, Severus waited longer for Harry than was typical.

He tried to be patient, but Severus could not fathom what Harry could be doing in his empty bedroom that was so important. Severus finally stepped back into the sitting area. Remus nor Sirius gave him so much as a glance. He turned swiftly and opened Harry's door without knocking or announcing his entrance.

Severus snorted and rolled his eyes. The boy was asleep, a book splayed open and lying pages-down on Harry's chest. He sat on the bed beside him, as he had so many weeks ago in the safe house.

"Harry." Severus waited a moment, but Harry's breath still came deep and even, signifying a comfortable sleep. He fought to control the urge to reach out and touch his face, but he failed. Severus had never been great at self-control. He reached a tentative, shaking hand out and lightly traced the famous scar with his index finger. Seemingly of its own volition, his fingers moved down the bridge of Harry's nose, then traced that perfect Cupid's bow above his full lips.

Harry's lips twitched and Severus withdrew his hand. Perhaps he could let the young man have one evening to rest. It was Christmas, after all. Severus stood slowly and the bed creaked.

Harry yawned and lifted a hand to rub his eyes beneath his glasses.

"Severus," Harry whispered as he pushed himself slowly into a sitting position.

"That's the first time you've addressed me in a week."

"It's hard for me to stay upset longer than a week, if I'm honest with you."

Harry was upset with him? He'd known, of course, that something was bothering Harry, but Severus hadn't considered that it could be himself.

Severus took a step closer to the bed. "Wish to enlighten me as that what egregious error I've made? What have I possibly done to make you avoid me so long?"

"Do not be upset."

"I am under the impression it is you with the issue."

"Don't be upset with Hermione, I mean…"

Severus took a deep, calming breath through his nose. He should have known that, as intelligent as Hermione is, she could not keep a secret from her two partners.

"She told you she is helping me with research," Severus surmised.

"How dare you?" Harry asked, swinging his legs to the side of the bed. Harry stared down at his hands now fidgeting in his lap.

"It has always been quite difficult for me to request help. Are you aware of how much pride I had to push aside to ask a student to help me with research? I did not tell her why I needed the information. I would not betray your trust in that way."

Harry shook his head. "I told her the truth about the prophecy, then she told me about your request and she was able to put it together."

"I apologize that this hurt you."

"No," Harry said sadly. "It's going to hurt her. She's killing herself scouring through every book she can get her hands on. She is going to find nothing, I am going to die, and she will blame herself. Do you realize what you've done to her?"

Severus couldn't say that he was sorry he had asked for her help. If he was going to save Harry from his fate, he could certainly use her assistance. He was sorry that his oversight had caused yet one more thing for Harry to stress over.

"I apologize for overstepping."

"I'm also upset with you for making me upset with you. Do you know how exhausting it is to see you every night and keep myself from touching you?"

Severus's heart began to pound more rapidly in his chest. "For the best, then. There are still five more months of school. It's inappropriate for the two of us to be as close as we've been."

Harry looked up at Severus then, the hurt written plainly across his face.

Severus pulled the small black box from his robe pocket and handed it to Harry, who took it gingerly. Harry looked at him questioningly, but opened the box.

Inside lay a solid gold band- a bracelet.

"It's beautiful." Harry was completely captivated by the piece of jewelry. He reverently removed it from the velvet casing and slid it onto his wrist. He admired it on his wrist for a long moment, before looking up at Severus. His eyes were wide and shining, his lips parted slightly. "I've never received anything like this before. I don't know what to say…"

"You're welcome," Severus said sincerely. "Merry Christmas."

"I didn't get you anything, I'm so sorry."

Severus ignored the comment. Of course he would not expect, or even hope, that the student would give him a Christmas gift. Severus wasn't very big on gifts, giving or receiving, anyways.

"It's not just a bracelet. Put your wand to it, and say terequiro." Harry retrieved his wand from the nightstand and did as he was told.

Severus pulled the right sleeve of his robe up and showed Harry his own bracelet, completely identical in every way except his was humming gently with vibration.

"When you need me, this will let me know. When I place the tip of my wand to my bracelet, it will become a portkey to where you are. It even works inside Hogwarts." Severus then cast a spell over his bracelet, ending the vibration and rendering it invisible.

Harry was visibly overcome with emotion. "What do I need to say to make it into a portkey?"

Severus looked at Harry questioningly. Harry wouldn't need the portkey…

"What if you need me?" Harry asked.

That one simple question floored Severus. He couldn't remember a single time anyone had ever been worried about Severus needing them, needing anything really.

"Adeum," Severus said quietly.