Cared For

Disclaimer: The characters in this story are not mine, they belong to J.K. Rowling. I am not gaining any profit from these stories.

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Chapter One: I Care…
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The entire school was quiet with the sound of a rushing breeze through the stone walls that held it. Everyone gathered out in the fields beyond the massive structure of Hogwarts to pay dues to a very beloved Headmaster. The quiet mourning progressed as some of the teachers rose to the microphone to say a great deal of kind words of their lost friend.

Harry felt his heart sink with each passing moment, knowing the reality of Dumbledore’s death was slowly growing on the mass of them. He had attended so many funerals that he thought another one would throw him over the edge and into complete depression, if it weren’t for one man.

Harry’s eyes met with his potion’s professor who was now standing at the head of them all and talking in a very solemn tone. His eyes, however, were not on the student body, they were on Harry. “He was a man of the highest respect, dealing both in a compassionate caring way, as well as a set forth and professional way. He set both example and prestige in each act he committed. With every step, he set forth history to be remembered for years. Finally, he gave his life willingly, so that we may see a greater wizard set forth into the world.”

Snape’s words sent a flare to Harry’s heart. The man was both direct and compassionate, including that it was not Harry’s fault that Dumbledore gave his life. Harry couldn’t help the guilt he felt for Dumbledore’s death, but he could no longer blame himself for it. Those few words allowed him to release his inverted anger towards himself, and begin a new life.

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The concessions of students left the area, returning to their dorms and continue on with the day in a heavy heart. Harry was among the few that stayed. He gazed at the moving portrait of Dumbledore at the head of the funeral stage. The man’s eyes twinkled as they had always done each time he was planning something. His smile was a soft relief to Harry.

He felt a hand rest on his shoulder, only weighing him down slightly. “Harry, the other professor’s and I have agreed that you should have the portrait of Dumbledore.” Professor McGonagall’s voice was gentle and slightly strained with tears. She turned a hopeful smile towards Harry, one that sent the warmest of feelings to hold his heart. That smile was one that showed the longing for a former lover to return. He had known about the secret love shared between the head of his House and the Headmaster. It brought him great honor that she had decided to allow him to have the portrait.

“Thank you, Professor.” Harry gave the older woman a short hug before she left him to his thoughts. Harry sat down in the grass, his hand wandering the spiked life in his thought. Though today was a sad day, he was hopeful. He had to be. He would not let Dumbledore’s sacrifice go unheard to him. He would make the most out of his life, like Dumbledore would have wanted.

“Are you ready, Harry?” Harry turned his head to see the towering form of his Potion’s professor. He nodded his head as he was helped to his feet and ushered inside. He was going to stay with Snape for the rest of his stay at Hogwarts, until he could in turn live out on his own.

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Harry grabbed what was left of his belongings and stored them in his trunk. Snape had earlier informed them that they were going to floo into Snape manor. All the other students were packing themselves for returning to their homes. The idea of leaving Hogwarts held distant place on their minds. Some left thinking it would be good to get away from all of the memories; those who had perished in the final battle would be just a lace of regret strung to them.

Harry carried what was his life in his trunk down the boy’s dorm stairs and out of the Common room. The portrait was with Snape, who was holding it so that they could hang it up in the manor. It was the most incredible gift Harry had ever received, so he was very careful to make sure it would be taken care of.

Distant chatter filled the entry hall of the school as students said their final goodbye to friends and teachers. The mood was upbeat, but somewhat hidden behind the laughter and chattering, there was a silent mourning. Several of the seventh year students and some of the sixth year students had been killed in the battle. Their funerals were not overlooked, but they were not talked about too much.

Harry walked down to the dungeon where he found Snape preparing the fire for flooing to the manor. “When do we leave?”

Snape turned to look up at Harry. His usual indifferent face was painted on, leaving Harry to wonder if the man might regret taking guardianship. “Now if possible – are you ready?” Snape looked down and noticed the one trunk. His eyebrow rose slightly.

“Yes, I’m ready.” Harry grabbed a handful of powder and stepped into the fire saying ‘Snape Manor.’ He felt the dizzy, darkness swirl around him as he was lifted through tunnels and mazes of the flooing system. He finally fell through the fireplace and was almost mauled down by his over packed trunk. He had to roll out of the way just to avoid being hit by the rolling trunk.

Snape soon followed and landed gracefully, just as he did everything else. ‘I’ll have to ask him one day how he does that,’ Harry thought as he rose to his feet. He grabbed the trunk that was just out of his reach and pulled it up against his body. The room was enormous, covered in a dark velvet lace that screamed old from every corner. The place looked freshly kept, having Harry to resort to thinking of enslaved house elves.

“I will show you to your room,” Snape said as he glided across the floor.

‘I’ll have to ask him how he does that as well,’ Harry thought with a slight smirk. The man was a little too airy for his own good. Intimidating, but airy.

Harry was shown down a long, seemingly never ending hall way to a room that was just west of the secondary living room. The great expanse of floor, accompanied by a large bed and a few book shelves, served as the room Harry was to stay in. He had to force himself not to drool in pure amazement. The room was bigger than one he had ever seen before, definitely not what you would consider a space made for a room. Rather, it was big enough to house a family of five comfortably.

“Dinner will be at six, so until then you may walk around and get comfortable.” Harry turned just as Snape was walking away. Something forced him to speak out to the man, stop him from leaving him.

“Wait,” he finally said. He couldn’t help the worry in his voice. This is Snape we are talking about. This was a man that spent every day of his life making others miserable. He had also taken Harry in because he had somehow felt responsible for what happened. Harry now wanted the man to do more than he had already forced himself to do - but why?

Snape turned, his eyebrow raised almost mockingly. The man was intimidating, as he had said before. Harry found himself unable to say anything. His body was involuntarily shaking with his worry. He didn’t want to be alone.

“Yes?”

“Could you, uh, stay with me for a while?” Harry felt childish. He felt like a child that was striving for compassion and love. How was he supposed to prove to Snape that he was mature and responsible if he had to ask him to stay with him?

Snape seemed to be considering the question for a moment before sighing out and walking back towards Harry. “If that is what you wish.” The man didn’t seem to look annoyed, but then again, Harry never knew what the man was thinking or feeling.

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Harry took a small sip of his tea as he sat at the couch watching the fire dance in the wreath. They had been sitting in silence for almost an hour. Snape had taken up the action of reading while Harry sat thinking about what to say to Snape.

“Um, professor?” Harry turned to watch the man just above the rim of his tea cup.

“Look, Harry, if you are going to be staying with me, I would prefer if you called me Severus.” For some reason, Harry’s skin heated with the thought of using the older man’s first name.

“Um, Severus…why did you, uh, take me in?”

“Was it wrong of me to take you in, Mister Potter?”

‘Oh, so we are now down to the formalities,’ Harry thought with a soft sigh. “Nothing, I just, um, wondered.” His fingers began to play at each other nervously as he awaited an answer. His nerves were jumping and his mind was screaming at him to shut up and just let everything go.

“Well, I suppose I felt it was my duty to take you in. You and I had spent the past year training. Considering all that time spent, I assumed that I would be best fitted for guardianship over you.” Snape’s tone left for no idle question. Harry knew that Snape was finding it difficult to say much of anything about feelings let alone the reason why he felt it was his “duty” to take care of him.

Harry shut his mouth from speaking. He could feel something wear at his heart and jumping chocolate frogs in his stomach. Why would it bother him if Snape decided that it was his “duty” to watch Harry? Why would it bother him if Snape wouldn’t say that he cared for him with the absence of tears? Why did he care what Snape thought?

It was frustrating him. He couldn’t understand what he was feeling. His skin would heat any time that Snap- no…Severus spoke. His stomach twisted into knots when the man looked at him with his piercing gaze. His head would feel feather-light when the man was close to him. What was he feeling?

Why does it matter if Snap- no…Severus say that it is a “duty” rather than an act of caring? At least he has someone that does something for him. No, this was all wrong. He could already feel his stomach tossing and turning within him. He could already feel the tears welling up in his eyes. Did he have the power to stop them? No. He couldn’t hold back the hot tears. Snape didn’t care…no one did. Harry cared; Harry cared for Snape.

“What’s wrong with you?” Severus was now on his feet looking down at the broken boy. He hadn’t realized he had said something to make the boy cry. Why was Harry crying?

“Nothing,” Harry said as he got up from the couch and made his way to his room. He could hear the soft sigh of the man in the living room but paid no attention. His arm was grabbed gently just as he was walking into the room. He covered his face with his hand.

“What is wrong with you?!”

“No one cares! No one at all. I’m destined to always be lonely. NO ONE CARES!!!” Harry tried to pull away but found that the man’s grip was stronger than he thought. He could feel two strong arms embrace him.

“Silly boy, what is this all of the sudden?”

“You don’t care…you are only doing this because you feel guilty and that it is your duty!” Harry pulled away from the man but was roughly pulled back. He didn’t have time to respond before lips pressed against his and he was roughly pulled against a firm body. He stopped struggling when he felt his stomach unclench itself and his body become mended with the older man’s.

One of Severus’s hands found its way up to the side of his face, firmly pressing Harry’s mouth to him. Their hot breaths mingled together as Harry was forced to submit to his feelings and give in to sensations. Severus parted Harry’s lips with his tongue and delved into the hot cavern without a second’s delay. Everything melted into that one passionate kiss. All questions were left answered by the hot, easy passion of Severus’s kiss.

When the man pulled away, Harry was left breathing harshly and his face flushed with a soft pink blush. He finally opened his eyes to a smirking potion’s professor and was rendered completely speechless.

“I’ve already told you,” Severus rubbed Harry’s cheek and followed the path of his lips with his thumb. “…I care for you.”

Harry gasped slightly at the breathtaking sight. Severus Snape was gazing lovingly at him – Harry Potter. He could feel his body submit to Severus’s every whim and desire. When the lips returned for one last chaste kiss, Harry breathed out and closed his eyes, wrapping his smaller arms around Severus’s neck.

“I care for you too,” Harry smiled.

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Author’s Notes: This chapter was a bit short, but that is because the next one is going to be really long; just preparing you for romance on a very good level.

[Also didn\'t like seeing only three stars when I know I can do better (most of the other stories I have are at least four stars if not five.)]

To my reviewers:

Mirestelfea: Thank you for your interest. That’s what I like to hear.

Katie K: I’m glad to see you enjoying the story. I will be quick to updating chapters.

myniephoenix: Thank you for your compliment. :P