Disclaimer: I am not JKR, therefore I do not own HP. Don't bother suing, I'm poor...I own a mini operation game...but you're not getting it!

Summary: Set during Harry's sixth year at Hogwarts. Just how far is Harry willing to go to save lives? No spoilers.

Author's Note: Erm...I really have no excuse for this. shrug This idea just won't stop bugging me...and it's the best I can do. Any ideas for improvement will be greatly appreciated!


Prologue

"No, Albus! And that's final!"

Snape exited the headmaster's office, slamming the door behind him. Albus Dumbledore sighed. He had always been stubborn…

He picked up the letter lying on his desk, and scanned through it again.

To Professor Dumbledore,

I wouldn't normally ask, but I hope you'll consider…… I don't wish to return to my aunt and uncle's……with the current situation, I think it's best if I stay in the wizarding world……at Hogwarts……I know it's not normally permitted, but just as a thought…


"Dammit, Albus, I am not changing my plans! And especially not for Harry Potter!"

"Severus, please be reasonable…"

"No, Albus! Everyone in this castle caters too much to that boy's every whim as it is! And I, for one, refuse to do the same. What harm can the boy come to at his relatives? He's probably waited on hand and foot!"

"But Severus, Harry has requested…"

"Which is fully against school rules, which you seem perfectly happy to ignore every time Potter's involved!"

Inwardly, Albus knew this was hopeless. But he had to try…for Harry's sake. Albus's eyes were clouded with concern. He knew that Harry's relatives were not fond of him, but it was the safest place for him…except maybe Hogwarts. And Harry did have a point. It might be safest for him to stay in the wizarding world. After all that had happened the previous year, Albus wasn't sure that his aunt and uncle's was the best place for Harry at the moment…

Albus sprang back to reality. Realising that Severus had been ranting about Harry for the entire time while he was thinking, he began paying attention again.

"….he's just a spoilt, arrogant, little boy, who doesn't care about anyone but himself. If anyone was in trouble, he wouldn't do a thing about it if it didn't profit him…"

Dumbledore knew that Severus still harboured a strong hatred for James Potter, and that he seemed determined to transfer this hate to Harry, simply because of his strong resemblance to his father. But could he really be that blinded with hate and rage that he did not see Harry at all? That Harry and James were totally different in many ways?

Dumbledore interrupted Snape's tirade. "If you were in trouble, he wouldn't even have to think about it. He wouldn't hesitate for a second. He doesn't like you, and you don't like him. But he'd risk his life for yours. He'd do it for anyone in this castle."

Severus snorted.

"I highly doubt that, Headmaster. As I said, Potter is an arrogant little boy, nothing more. He's not a hero. Heroes don't risk their lives for publicity. If no one was going to hear of what he'd done, Potter wouldn't lift a finger."

Albus Dumbledore looked troubled. "I think you're wrong about that, Severus."

Severus snorted again. "Well, since I don't plan on getting in a situation which would require my rescue anytime soon, I don't think we'll ever find out. But I stand by my decision, Headmaster."

He turned round and stalked out of the Headmaster's office, slamming the door behind him.

Albus sighed. Inwardly, he felt deeply worried about Harry. He wasn't sure what to think about him anymore. The boy had not been right since Sirius' death…he had a feeling that Harry was, as always, blaming himself. But he wasn't sure how to help…if he could help at all. He was, after all, the Headmaster.

Ironically, he mused, the person that Harry really needed now, the person that he might have reached out to, is Sirius...


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