A/N: By popular demand, I'm writing a sequel to Pity the Living. I'm rating this one M because Pity the Living was rated M and things from that story will come up. I honestly don't know where this story will go, or how long it will be. Thanks for your support. It means a lot to me.
"Expecto Patronum!" Severus shouted, as he cast his doe in front of him. The doe shot off after a moment of meeting Severus' eyes.
"I don't think there's anyone you're going to be able to contact," someone else said. "No one who cares, anyway." Severus looked daggers at the man.
"Just arrest me, and cut the chatter," he said. Severus held his wrists out as the other man put invisible cuffs on him. "You can see how dangerous I am, resisting arrest like this," Severus sneered, shaking his invisible shackles. Raven squawked from a bookshelf up high. She flew out the open door.
"Ha, even your bird abandons you," the man said.
"No, the bird went where I told her to," Severus replied gruffly. "Let's get this over with."
Harry lay on his back on a couch reading a book. He was dressed in a black t-shirt, jeans, and boots. It was the way he always dressed now. And he read a lot. He read more than Hermione, he thought ruefully. Reading was his only escape. Maybe it wasn't always the healthiest escape, but it kept him from suicide or self-harm, and that was all he expected to accomplish at this time. Perhaps he'd find a way to heal better eventually. Something moved in the corner of his eye and he jumped to his feet.
A ghostly doe stood before him. He looked at her curiously, knowing she must bear a message from Severus, but no idea why. Whatever it was, it must be urgent to send it magically. Then the doe began to speak in Severus' voice.
"Harry, I'm sending this patronus in a hurry. I'm being arrested by Aurors as I speak. You need to stay clear of me. You've had enough go wrong, I don't want to draw you into further trouble. I fear that it won't take the Ministry long to deal with my charges of Dumbledore's death, and I'll either receive life in Azkaban or the Kiss. I'm sorry I failed you, but perhaps it's better that you were never seen with me. Spinners End and everything in it will be yours after my trial. I hope you live a happy life. Find someone, and build a family. You're strong, and you can move on. Good-bye, Harry."
The doe blew away as Harry sat down on the couch in shock. He rubbed his face in his hands trying to understand what the doe had just told him. Severus was going to his trial for Dumbledore's murder, and it was a foregone conclusion that he would be found guilty. Undoubtedly the Wizengamot would want to punish him with the full extent of the law. After all, he had killed Albus Dumbledore.
"Oh, God," Harry said in prayer. His black cat began to rub against his feet. He had gotten him in hope that having an animal dependent on him would help end his desire for self-harm. It had, a bit, but he had also grown fond of the animal. Midnight, as he called the cat, was always there for him. He never judged. The cat meowed and looked up at Harry. It was like the cat knew something was wrong. Harry leaned back and the cat jumped in his lap, purring, and curled up. Harry began stroking the cat. He didn't know how long he stayed there, thinking, but finally he got up, and the cat jumped before he could fall. There began a tapping at a window, and Harry opened it to find Raven flying in.
Harry began to dig through a cupboard filled with things. He was literally throwing things over his shoulder as he aimed for the furthest, darkest corner. Finally he came out, holding a dusty wand. He slipped it in his sleeve and smiled. It was a genuine smile, not sarcastic, or pained like he usually did. He had to admit there was something good about holding his old wand. Then he went back to sorting through the pile of things strewn throughout the room. He found his black cape and put it on. Then, he apparated away with a bang.
"Wow," Harry thought after regaining his balance. "I've really been away from this too long." He was in Hogsmeade, and it was dark. Well, it was near midnight, of course it would be dark. He began to walk through the sleeping town, and could see Hogwarts in the sky. He continued his march through the town and then up to the castle.
A couple hours later, Harry was banging on the school gate.
"Oi! Open up!" Harry called. Soon he heard a grumbling getting louder as a shadow came closer.
"Who's there? What do you want?" the shadow said, raising a lantern.
"Filch!" Harry said. He grinned. He'd been out of contact with humanity for so long that he was happy to see even Filch.
"Who's banging?" Filch growled.
"Harry Potter, sir. I need to get in." Harry was still grinning.
"You're still not leaving this old school in peace, are you? You're not even attending here. Do you have an appointment with anyone?"
"No, sir," Harry said, "But Professor McGonnagall will let me in if you let her know I'm here."
"But I don't have to let her know," Filch muttered.
"Then I'll wait here till morning," Harry said simply.
"Fine, fine," Filch conceded. He didn't want to be on the receiving end of the Headmistress' wrath if Harry Potter - her precious Harry Potter - was left outside the school all night. He opened the gate, and Harry walked through. It slammed behind him.
"Thank you, sir," Harry said. They walked in silence back to the castle where Filch opened the door and Harry went inside. He threw the hood of his cape back. The castle was absolutely still.
"Sorry to have disturbed you, sir," Harry said, holding his hand out. "I promise you won't even know I'm here." Filch looked at Harry's hand warily. He seemed to be inspecting it for any sort of jokes or pranks. When he couldn't see anything amiss, Filch took Harry's hand and Harry gave it a firm shake. Then Harry left.
Harry had been nice to the grouchy old man because he knew that everyone had a reason for the way they were. Perhaps he had been through something that left him so grouchy. Harry didn't know, and he didn't want to know. All he knew was that he was determined to be kind to everyone and everything that crossed his path. Even Filch.
He found that he had not forgotten his way around the castle. In a little while, he found himself at the library, with various books pulled from the shelves. He had cast a Lumos charm to read by. By morning he was asleep over his books, his wand tip still glowing.
"Harry Potter!" a woman cried. "Is that you?"
"Hmm?" Harry said as he looked up and straightened his glasses, pulling his eyes into focus. "Professor McGonnagall!" he said standing up so suddenly the chair fell over. Harry whirled and picked it up. "Sorry," he said.
"Harry!" she exclaimed again, this time hurrying over to him, giving him a hug. "What are you doing here?"
"I needed to research something," he said, breaking the contact. McGonnagall picked up a pile of the books and began to look at their titles.
"The Basics of Wizarding Law, Punishments of Wizarding Law, Obscure Wizarding Law, Wizarding Law Made Simple, Loopholes in Wizarding Law. What do you think you're going to do? Be a lawyer?"
"Something like that," Harry smirked. Suddenly McGonnagall sat down across where he had been sitting, so Harry followed her lead.
"Have you been alright with Severus?" she asked quietly.
"Um..." Harry started, his eyes getting wide, "Yeah, he's been really decent." Harry nodded to try to convince her of this.
"Something's wrong, Harry," she stated. "I don't know what, but you don't usually dress like that. And why would you read about Wizarding law? Has he done something to you?"
"No!" Harry said emphatically. "He has never hurt me. I - I just need to know something." Just then a short little man burst into the room.
"Headmistress!" he called, and McGonnagall turned in her seat.
"Yes, what it is, Filius?" Filius Flitwick held a copy of the Daily Prophet above his head as he handed it to McGonnagall. She took one look at it and then dismissed Flitwick.
"Harry," said said, turning the paper so he could read it. "Does this have anything to do with your new interest?" The headline on the paper read, "Severus Snape to be Brought to Justice - Finally."
"Yes, ma'am," Harry said. "It has everything to do with it."
A/N: So, what do you think? Should McGonnagall ever find out why Harry has changed? Ideas for where the story should go are very welcome. Thanks for all your help in advance. :)
