Snape sat down on the couch and laid Harry down on the other end. He wasn't going to be leaving Potter alone for a while. In his sleep Harry maneuvered himself to place his head on Snape's lap. With his face toward the fire. Snape was surprised at first, obviously, but accepted it. He laid a hand gently on the boy's head and started gently stroking his hair.

Around noon, Harry woke up to find himself lying on Snape's lap. He shot up. "W-what?!" Snape instantly grabbed Harry's wrists. "Calm down Harry. You're safe now." Harry was too frantic to notice Snape called him by his given name, but something in Snape's voice did get him to calm down. Harry breathed and calmed. Memories of what all happened came rushing back and Harry visibly cringed.

"Why... did you follow me?" Harry asked meekly avoiding all eye contact. Snape wasn't having that and gently clutched Harry's chin so the make the boy look him in the eyes. "I will answer all your questions, if you promise to answer mine." Harry stared in fear a moment, but then nodded in defeat. Snape sighed and let go of Harry's chin. He turned his body hunched over toward the fireplace. He stared into the flame or more rather, through them. Into a time that had been long since passed.

"You never saw me die. I passed out. But out of curiosity, did you notice that out of all the creatures that sided will the dark lord what creature wasn't in his ranks?" Harry shook his head. "Vampires. They're magic is so powerful that is overpowers his dark mark. Also, they hated him for trying to be immortal the way he did. With all that blood and death, a few stray Vampire were drawn in to the war zone though. One, found me."

Snape took a moment to figure how he was going to word what he said next. "I'm a vampire now. Because I was made and not born I can't change anyone else. My magic did get a small boost, but not to much. But there is one trait a made vampire is given no matter what and it's not dulled at all just because I was made and not born...... I have a mate." Harry didn't know what to say so he just stayed as he was.

"When it comes to their mate, a Vampire gets a lot like a Veela. We just don't make a big show out of it. Unlike a natural vampire who just knows who their mate is when they see them, I can only tell when I smell their blood. I can only ever drink my mates blood. No one else's, but it's not as a food source. It's actually a mating ritual and is a sign of everlasting love between a vampire and their mate. As for the eyes, that happens to every vampire when someone pisses them off my hurting their mate once they found them. It's like a protection warning. But yes. I assume that answered all your questions?"

Harry stayed silent as he took in all of the information. "W-wait so. Your eyes. Does that mean you found your mate?" Snape nodded. "Yes, I've found them. At first I was surprised. But I've accepted him for who he is. All I can do now is hope he will do the same for me." Snape's cheeks went a little pink as be avoided eye contact with Potter. Harry went wide eyed.

"A guy? Who is he?"

Snape literally facepalmed. "You. It's you Harry. You are my mate." he said. Harry gasped and froze. Snape realized what he just said. "Y-you're disgusted aren't you?" Harry waved his hands in protest. "Oh, no. No. I'm just, surprised. We've never been on best of terms in the past you know." Snape flushed. "Yes. My apologise. Also, I have to know, would-.... would you accept me Potter?" he asked, to afraid to make eye contact.

Harry thought about it for years. At least, that's how it felt. "Yes. I do accept you, if you call me Harry." he said teasingly. Snape let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. "Thank you, Harry. And, if you wish, you may call me Severus. I don't expect you to though-" "Severus" Harry said thoughtfully, cutting off any nervous ranting from Snape. "Severus" he said again. Then, Harry smiled. "I like that."

Snape actually smiled to, glad everything worked out. Then, his face turned serious and he looked Harry in the eyes. "So I've answered your questions. I think I deserve some answers as well." he said. Harry's smile dropped into a frown. His previous bright persona faded to reveal what he kept hidden from everyone else. Alone and broken, no, shattered. He kept his eyes downcast and let his bangs fall over them.

"I-" he started, but no words came. Harry sighed and tried again. "I, don't know what to say."

Snape put a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Why don't you start by tell me about your nightmares." he said. Harry looked up shocked, but decided not to ask.

"Well, usually I'm here at Hogwarts. It started as the war. Just replaying events. But every night it got worse. I'd be somewhere else and everyone who died... the body count.. they were telling me that it was my fault. That I was the reason they were dead, as if I didn't already know. They told me they wanted me to suffer. That I didn't suffer enough. I guess, I always thought that it was true. So-" he clutched his arm tightly, trying to be subtle, but Snape knew.

Gently. So, so gently. Snape removed Harry's hesitant hands from his arms and lifted his arms to reveal a minefield of cuts. Some older than others. Some, still new. Snape didn't say a word, but leaned the arm close to him and kissed it. His lips brushed Harry's skin lightly and he looked back up at the boy through his long lashes.

Harry turned bright red as stared, then Snape really surprised him by licking the spot he just kissed. "W-what?!" Harry cried out as Snape spread his saliva around the arm. The next moment, everywhere the saliva had be spread instantly healed. Leave no mark or trace they had ever been there.

"A Vampire thing?" he asked. Snape just nodded moving has hand to hold Harry's.

"You're nightmares?" "ah. Yes. Well... That's about it. They vary, but it all the same. Every time though, these people show up. The man goes to punch me and I wake up. I don't know who they are. I mean, I think I do but... I hope I don't" he mumble that last part quietly, more to himself than to Snape. Snape heard loud and clear though.

"I see. Thank you for telling me Harry. It means a lot." Severus said. Then, a loud growl sounded through the room. Harry blushed furiously. "Don't worry, I'll be feeding you today." And with a kiss on the forehead, Severus left Harry for the kitchen.

He grabbed out some random things and Harry peaked out over the back of the couch. "I didn't know you could cook." he said. Snape scoffed. "I am a potions master. Of course I can cook. They can't be that different. Now you take a nap okay? I'll wake you up when I'm done."

Harry sighed and laid back down on the couch. He kept it a light cat nap, worried about Severus.

-------_

Sure enough, Harry woke up to a thick smoke screen and a horrible stench on something burning.

"Severus! Are you okay?!" he asked, running to the kitchen. Snape stood in front of a flaming pan with a panicked look. "I don't get it. Water isn't working!" Harry panicked too, but quickly took a breath and calmed down. "Clearmento!" he said, clearing the smoke. Then he took the lid to the pan and placed it on top. The fire quickly dispersed. He smiled at the professor. "Don't you know that you don't put water on a grease fire? What were you cooking anyways?" he asked looking at the black liquid. A bull formed and popped at him. "Bacon" Snape said as if it was obvious.

Harry looked at Snape a moment before chucking in amusement. "Okay. So how about I stay out of the potions lab, if you let me do the cooking." he said. Snape sighed in defeat. "Yes. I suppose that would be best."

With a flick of his wrist, Harry made the mess disappear. In its place was a pot of tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. "Will this work?" He asked. Snape smiled. "Yes. It'll do fine, but I do need some more things from you." "What?" Harry asked, setting the table. "One. you didn't answer all of my questions. And two, I'm going to need you start drinking this for a while." He said then acioed a nutrition potion into his hand. Harry nodded and sighed. He took the vile from Severus and downed it one one gulp. "Gross." He said, making a face. "Alright, I took it. Now let's eat. I'll answer your other questions during dinner." Harry said, gesturing for Snape to sit down.