When Autumn Leaves

Wake me from this sleep, alone and weak.

The hallway seemed to stretch out longer than necessary, but then they were at Harry’s door much too soon for Severus’s nerves. He allowed the Mediwitch to lead them to Harry’s bed. The sight that lay there on the pale sheets made Severus cringe. He’d never seen Potter look so vulnerable and broken.


Not unlike his school days in the infirmiry, Harry laying still in the hospital bed. However, it was chilling the way he was staring straight ahead. His eyes glazed, as they used be in Potions class when he wasn’t paying attention. The difference was today Harry’s eyes were dark and dead. Severus closed his eyes.

He had to do his for Harry. This was not the way the savior was supposed to go out.


Severus placed his hand on Harry’s.


“Potter, it’s Sev-Snape.” The eyes remained dead. “Do you know where you are?” No response. “Potter, we need to know what happened to you.” He pressed a hand to his temples, as again there was no response, and Potter’s silence was deafening.


“Severus, we must know what has happened. The Ministry is ready to turn on Potter. They appear to be more than ready and willing to announce that Potter has gone rouge.” Minerva spoke voice cut through the silence. He could hear desperation there.


“He would nev-”


“-and don’t I know it Severus.” Minerva cut him off.


“How long do I have?” He met Minerva’s gaze.

“Till the end of this week.” The silence seemed to stretched on.


“How can they do this? Potter may have won the war, but he is still a child.”

“No, Severus, he is not a child anymore.”


The truth hurt. He looked back at Harry. No Harry was not a child.
Wake me from this sleep, alone and weak.


Draco watched Severus intently as he tried once again to awake Potter. As his lover tried in what was become in vain, to get a reaction out of Potter. He felt his chest constrict at the thought that this would be the way they saw Potter the last time.


The regret tasted bitter in his mouth. He couldn’t seem to escape this overwhelming feeling that he could’ve stopped this from happening. He could’ve been honest. The first time he’d seen Harry after the war, Harry had hugged him. Harry seemed so happy to see him. And what did he do? He made a snide joke to push Harry away because he was a coward. He knew he’d felt for Harry for some time. Yes, the taste was bitter indeed.


****


Severus grasped Harry’s hand, and looked back at Draco. The boy had a tortured look in his eyes. He felt his lover’s guilt like it was his own-and part of it was. He’d been at this for hours. He’d stopped attempting to bait Harry and had settled for trying to make Harry feel like he cared.


Releasing Harry’s hand he turned to Draco. He hugged him close. A proper, miserable sight.


“Severus…you could legilimens....” Draco trailed off hesitantly.


“That’s risky, but I was considering it. I think it would suffice as a last resort if the Ministry decides to publish the rouge rubbish.” Draco nodded against his chest.


“I just wish he’d wake up.” Draco said, his voice low.


“Me too.”


*****

Minerva peered into the room. It was half past midnight, and Severus was sitting in an armchair half slumped over the bed. His hand was entwined with Potter’s. The sight once would have made Minerva uneasy, but this wasn’t Hogwarts nor was Harry a student anymore. She felt for Severus. He’d been through hell during the war. She’d thought they’d all had fresh starts in the world, but now she saw how wrong she was. Harry was still suffering like the silent soldier he’d been made to be. Severus was still hiding his feelings like the good spy he used to be. Then there was Draco, perhaps he was more honest than each of them here in this room. He knew what he wanted and he went for it. His sorrow, he admitted to wholly; unafraid and confident. His dedication to both men in that room was clear.


She looked at Draco for a moment. He’d transfigured a bed out of his armchair, and was currently sleeping. His face looked tired, but youthfulness never seemed to have left him not the way it seemed to have left Harry. Heartbreakingly, she realized, that each of them men in this room only had one thing really left to lose…eachother.


Her gaze settled on Harry. He had had nearly all of his life planned, manipulated, or decided for him. Nearly anything dear to him had been taken from him. Perhaps Dumbledore had asked too much of him. Perhaps….


“Prof-Minerva, it’s okay, we can’t do anything about this tonight. Get some sleep.” Draco’s voice started her. She smiled softly at him.


“Quite right Draco, rest well.” The door clicked shut.

I've combined chapters 5 and 6 (as well as fixing some rather atrocious errors as well!) to help the flow of reading. I feel that the chapters are getting too short. I did the same to 7 and 8.