Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not, and never will own Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling and company own him and all of the characters in the HP universe. I make NO money writing this, if I did, well, lets just say I'd spend more time writing!

A special thanks to my beta, Saeadame.

Asylum

Chapter 18

After Severus took Harry to the hospital wing, Harry passed out from exhaustion and slept two days away. It was Christmas Eve when he awoke.

It was still early morning, somewhere around seven, given where the sun was. Harry looked to his left and noticed a sleeping black cloaked man sleeping in what looked to be a very uncomfortable high backed chair. To his right lay his godfather and lover sleeping together on a comfortable sofa, obviously transfigured from something else. If he looked a little further he could see someone else lying on a bed behind them, though the curtain was partially drawn and he was unable to see their face.

As he waited for everyone else to get up Harry contemplated his life, and how it had changed over the last few months. He had gone from being an abused child, to a psychiatric patient, to a wizard, and now apparently to savior of the world. Life was just plain confusing sometimes.

On the side table by his godfather were a bunch of cards, chocolates, and flowers. He smiled, breakfast wouldn't be for at least another hour and he was hungry. Harry picked up a box full of assorted chocolates and popped a random one in his mouth, moaning at the taste. He loved caramel.

Harry lifted a hand to his face, dreading what he would find, his hand found a long unfamiliar bump running across his face and he groaned, he now had another scar, adding to his already extensive collection. Damn Voldemort. Harry hoped he was dead for good this time, he was pretty sure the man was not breathing when Severus pulled him from the man.

That man was utterly repulsive. Sure, he maybe good looking, but his personality had much to be desired. Harry ran the back of his hand across his lips, trying to wipe off the imaginary taste of the red eyed man. He had kissed him! It was technically Harry's third kiss, but just like the first one he had acquired, he figured it didn't count. Kissing involved two willing participants, each person giving and taking from the other, Voldemort and the Doctor stole their kisses, Harry never even tried to give or take anything from them, he never participated. Severus's on the other hand, now that was a real kiss. Two pairs of lips meeting for only a fraction of a second, but it was enough to cause butterflies to flutter in his stomach, making him ache for more of the feeling. Harry really hoped Severus did it again, it was so nice that first time.

Harry heard a groan and looked to his left, Severus was waking.

Severus groaned and rubbed his neck, why had he thought it a good idea to sleep in this chair? He'd have to take a muscle relaxing potion to help his stiff neck. He opened his eyes only to see big pools of emerald staring back at him. "Good morning."

Harry smiled, whispering back. "Good morning, Severus."

"How are you feeling this morning, any aches or pains?" He questioned.

Harry shrugged, "Not really, I still feel a bit tired though."

Severus nodded. "It's to be expected, you did after all just kill a Dark Lord."

"So he is dead then? I had hoped that I got him, I didn't want to go through all that again." Here Harry frowned. "But I don't understand, Severus! Voldemort snapped my wand, how did I manage to burn him to a crisp?"

"I asked Dumbledore the same question, apparently it all has to do with your mother. You see when your mother sacrificed herself for you when you were a baby; she managed to give you this very ancient protection charm. Voldemort couldn't touch you without being harmed himself. This protection saved your life, and Voldemort is now dead because of it."

"That's good. Did you manage to capture the other Death Eaters? I know that a few of them were there at the castle, but I'm not sure who or how many."

"Yes, we did manage to capture a few of them. Amycus and Alecto Carrow, Jugson, Rodolphus and Bellatrix Lestrange were some of our biggest captures along with Fenrir Greyback. We also found Avery, Mulciber, Nott Sr. and Jr. along with strangely enough Narcissa Malfoy. We did not manage to capture Lucius, who has not been seen since the attack on Diagon Alley. He is to be arrested on sight for suspected Death Eater activity."

Harry cleared his throat. "What about Draco? I know he was there, he was the one who captured me."

Severus sighed and rubbed his temples. "Yes we found Draco." He pointed over to the bed behind Sirius and Remus. "The Dark Lord gave him to Greyback as a plaything. Greyback never did take very good care of his toys. He's lucky to have survived. Then again, he wasn't alone with him for very long. When we questioned Draco under Veritaserum yesterday after he woke up, he told us he never truly wanted to be a Death Eater. He said that Lucius forced him and said he would kill him or hand him over to Voldemort to play with if he didn't do as he was told. After being forced to take the mark he followed through with Voldemort's orders, becoming a spy in the school. The attack on Diagon Alley was his first, and he had not harmed anyone but you. We figured we'd wait to see what you wanted to do with him, since he did kidnap you. He also never tried to turn to anyone for help before he was taken to get the Dark Mark. It's your decision if you want him punished or not."

Harry contemplated the situation. "How badly was he hurt?"

"He has three long gashes from Greyback's claws that go across his face and over his right eye. He has completely lost his vision in said eye as a result. His left wrist was completely shattered – Madam Pomfrey was forced to banish all the bones in his forearm, wrist, and hand and regrow them as he wouldn't have been able to have proper movement if she had simply tried to mend it back together. He has a few more claw and bite marks on his body, but luckily Greyback didn't have time to do anymore damage."

Harry nodded. "I think he's suffered through enough, I don't want to press charges."

"That's good, none of us really wanted to put him on trial. He really didn't want to do what he was doing, he was just a victim of circumstance"

"What about the press? What did the ministry tell the public? Do they even know Voldemort is dead?"

Severus nodded. "Yes, the ministry has told everyone Voldemort is gone as well as about the captures. They have yet to say how or who did it, though Rita Skeeter has already been speculating that Harry Potter has come and saved us all. She has yet to gather any proof, however."

Harry gave a sigh of relief. "Good, I don't think I'm ready for people to hound me yet." Harry gave a sleepy yawn, body still exhausted even after the two days of sleep.

"Go to sleep Harry, I'll still be here when you wake."

Harry nodded sleepily, feeling a peck on his head before returning back to slumber.

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A/N: Here you go! I really should have been writing my Psychology paper instead of this, but you guys really needed the next chapter, and I have another paper being assigned in my Diet and Nutritional Therapy class so I probably won't get another one out before American Thanksgiving!

Thanks for all the reviews; I'd appreciate a few more –wink,wink-

lazycrazykitten