Challenge: He reached out his hand and brushed his fingers lightly along the man's face. The other flinched. "Why do I scare you so much?"

The only guidelines to this challenge are: 1. The above lines must be part of the story. 2. There must be an explanation of what led up to this moment, but the explanation can either precede or succeed the lines themselves. 3. The other man must answer the question. 4. These lines must occur between Severus and Harry; however, either man can play either role.

"Why are we doing this?"

"The headmaster is under the impression that we are both suffering under Post Traumatic Stress and that the sessions would help remedy it."

"How exactly does he expect us to remedy trauma with more trauma?"

Severus smirked in mild amusement. "A good question, Mr. Potter."

Harry allowed a small smile grace his pale face before it disappeared again. He leaned forward in the chair, his arms wrapped around his upper torso. He gnawed at his already chapped lips, his emerald eyes flicking in all directions as they avoided the dark figured before him. His socked toes, curled against the cold, stone, floor.

Severus let out a small sighed as he watched the nervous teen before him. "You are stressed though, Potter."

Green eyes met onyx before flicking back to the floor. "I- I can take care of myself."

"Can you?"

The teen scowled. "I defeated Voldemort, keeping myself alive without the usual constant threat isn't that hard of a task, professor. Even for the ever so incompetent me."

Severus sighed again, this was not getting them anywhere. "Was it not hard for you?" pressed the teacher. "You lost everyone, Mr. Potter."

Harry made a small squeak and curled his knees up to his chest, leaning against the back of the chair.

"Potter." said Severus as he stared at the shivering figure. "You can't keep hiding."

Harry bit harder into his lip.

"This sort of thing will not just disappear."

Harder.

"Potter, are you listening to me?"

Harder.

"They're not coming back."

Harder.

"They're dead, Harry."

His body went slack. Severus stood and swept over to the distraught boy. He reached out his hand and brushed his fingers lightly along the teens' face. The other flinched. "Why do I scare you so much?"

Harry broke skin and blood poured of the open wound on his mouth.

"You'll go too. I can't get too close or you'll disappear... just like everyone else." Tears began to drip to the floor, mixed with the red tint of blood. "You can't die too, I'll kill myself. You're the last one who cared. If I keep you at arm's length... you'll stay safe."

Severus leaned forward, pulling him close as the teen- no man shivered into his embrace.

"I'm not going anywhere."

I don't know why I wrote this, but whatever. You're welcome to try the challenge yourself though.

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