DISCLAIMER: No, I do not own Harry Potter or merchandise etc.

Note to Readers: I have tried to use the exact wording of the book wherever my version of the story coincides with hers.

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"He's in me…inside my head…" Harry moaned. He lifted his hands and started scrabbling, first slowly, then frantically, at his scar.

"Go away…go away…get out of my head…"

Hermione, who had fallen asleep beside Harry's bed, awoke with a jerk. She immediately started patting Harry's hot, sweat-soaked face with a cool, moist towel. "Harry…calm down, it's alright." she whispered worriedly.

"Get out…" Harry whimpered, his hands falling weakly to his side. His eyes flew open, revealing crimson, slit-like eyes and a sudden, high, cold voice emanated from his mouth.

"Hold him!"

Hermione jumped back and suppressed a scream at seeing Harry's eyes that were not his own – eyes that she not only recognized, but dreaded and feared. The fear and worry that she had been suppressing up until now fought its way up and filled her chest and throat.

"Harry, it's me…oh, it's me, Harry!" Hermione cried desperately, but Harry's eyes, although wide open, saw nothing of what was before him.

Instead, a scene of a snake and a house blown apart, now covered in snow swam vaguely before his eyes, but he recognized none of it, too caught up in the pain.

"I want that boy!" Harry gasped out, before sinking further back into the bed. Instantly, he began frantically clawing at his scar, drawing blood.

"Harry! Harry!" Hermione, thoroughly frightened, struggled to pull Harry's hands away from his face. She desperately looked into Harry's face for any glimmer of himself when Harry's eyes clouded over milky white.

"Leave me alone!" Harry sobbed. He shut his eyes tightly, as if he were fighting something deep inside. A moment later, Hermione felt all resistance from Harry to break free from her grasp seize, but she didn't dare let go as she watched Harry's pained face and bloody forehead.

When his eyes shot open a moment later, they were like a snake's.

"Who…What am I?" Harry whispered, halfway spoken, halfway hissed. Those terrifying eyes that were not Harry's gazed blankly at Hermione.

"You're Harry. Harry Potter." Hermione said.

"Who is that?" Harry hissed.

"My friend. He's kind, sweet, humble, and courageous."

Hermione thought for a second she see a flicker of familiar green in those strange eyes, but before she had time to do anything else, Harry start fighting harder than ever to break free from her grasp. It was all she could do to hold on.

A high, clear voice emanating once again from his lips, "I am the Dark Lord! I am he, and no other!"

"No!" Hermione cried, tears streaming down her face. "You are Harry, son of James and Lily Potter, godson of Sirius Black, friend of Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger! You are loved, and the Dark Lord is not! He has no power over you!"

And quite suddenly, she let go of Harry's fighting hands and bent down to give him a hug. As soon as she seized him, all struggles stopped. She held his body cradled that way for a several moments before daring to look into his eyes.

They were green.