Disclaimer: Yes they are not mine!

A/N: This is my first HP fanfic (another version of the one in spanish)… and it's the first time I try to write in english… so please, be gentle with me ^^!

Summary: HBP! What would happen, if the things in the astronomy tower had gone a little different? Harry is seriously wounded… and Dumbledore will have to make some changes on his plans.

Fears and Hopes

"I am not worried, Harry… I am with you…"

- Albus Dumbledore

The Half Blood Prince

Chapter I - Regrets

"Severus…"

The sound frightened Harry beyond anything he had experienced all evening. For the first time, Dumbledore was pleading.

Snape remained in silence as he walked forward and pushed Malfoy out of the way. The three Death Eaters fell back without a word. Even the werewolf seemed cowed.

Snape stared for a moment at the headmaster, and there was some kind of hatred in the harsh lines of his face.

'This is not happening! This is not happening!'

The words repeated in Harry's mind, while he tried to remember the spell that Tonks had used on the train earlier in the year to free him from the Freezing Charm.

"Severus… please…"

Harry gazed in terror as Snape raised his wand and pointed it directly at Dumbledore; the child struggled furiously against the enchantment binding him.

"Avada–"

Harry's heart thundered, he closed his eyes desperately, trying to gather all the strength that was left in him… and then it happened, suddenly all his magic surrounded him, making Dumbledore's spell fade… in matter of seconds Harry was able to throw himself in front of the headmaster, his wand in his hand.

"Harry…"

" –kedavra!"

"Avada kedavra!"

Snape's voice was dimmed by the shout of Harry; both attacks shattered in the air, causing an explosion that lightened the entire place.

The last thing that Harry could see was the brilliance of an intense green light with a blue wake...

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With shocked eyes Malfoy and the four death eaters saw two beams of green light reappear from the explosion, one of them make Snape's wand flew out of his hand, while the other hit Harry, sending him against the headmaster, Dumbledore managed to hold him, before both were blasted into the air… and out of sight of the death eaters.

"What the hell was that?" yelled one of the Death Eaters.

Snape didn't answer. Instead, he stared at his wounded hand. He just couldn't understand exactly what had happened.

"There was something there!" the voice of Fenrir Greyback returned the potion master to the reality.

"Potter…" muttered Malfoy, "Potter with his damned invisibly cloak!"

"Potter?" Amycus turned towards Draco. "Here?"

"Didn't you hear Dumbledore calling his name?"

"I thought he was delirious."

Indifferent to Amycus's words, Malfoy dropped to his knees "Now…'He's' going to kill me."

After a few seconds, Snape observed the blonde boy "Do you really think that?"

"We were supposed to kill Dumbledore! And Potter ruined everything!"

"And… do you think his life is less valuable?" With a flick of his arm, Snape called his wand, "We have to go, before the Ministry turns up."

"But Sir–"

"Now!" Without another word the potions master seized Malfoy by the scruff of the neck and forced him through the door.

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Dumbledore half-opened his eyes when he felt they had landed– with surprising lightness– on the ground of his office. During their fall from the astronomy tower, he had managed to lift one of the enchantments around the school, therefore being able to apparate both Harry and himself inside the castle.

The headmaster took a deep breath, trying to stop the sudden vertigo that threatened to leave him unconscious. The weight lying against one of his shoulders reminded him of Harry. Dumbledore extended one of his hands to hold the invisible cloak that covered the unconscious body of his student.

"Harry?" Dumbledore shook him gently trying to wake him, but it was useless. He closed his eyes again, while guilt started raging through his mind. Everything had happened so fast, and things had gotten out of his hands.

"Albus…"

Suddenly, the voice of Minerva McGonagall returned him to reality.

"Albus…please" Whispered Minerva holding the headmaster's hand, she smiled slightly when he started to move. "Are you all right?"

"I've been better," Dumbledore's voice was merely a whisper.

Minerva was about to answer when Dumbledore spoke again, "I need… to take Harry to the Hospital Wing…"

Noticing the boy, McGonagall paled at once, "What happened to him?"

"The killing curse…" muttered the headmaster, as he tried to get onto his feet and lift Harry into his arms.

"But–," she cut herself off when she saw that Dumbledore almost lost his balance, "You're hurt, both of you need to go to the hospital wing!"

"I'll be ok."

Looking sternly at the old man, she spoke, "Albus, I'm serious."

Seeing the determined glint in the woman's eyes, Dumbledore knew there was no way he could argue with Minerva about this… besides, he was to exhausted to even try.

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After leaving Dumbledore and Harry with Madam Pomfrey, Minerva did her best trying to settle things. The school was completely in chaos, and although the Death Eaters seemed to be gone, she had to make sure that it was true. It was a few hours later before everything was in order, and she had the chance at last to think about going back to the hospital wing.

Pushing open the doors, Minerva saw Dumbledore standing in front of one of the large windows of the infirmary, next to the bed where Harry laid. The place was almost in complete darkness with the exception of a pair of candles that were standing on one of the small side tables.

"Albus… you should be resting." Minerva sighed, knowing that the Headmaster wasn't listening to her. Without thinking about it twice she walked towards Dumbledore.

It was a few seconds later when he spoke finally, "Is someone else injured?" he looked at the bed where Bill Weasley laid, his face was badly slashed.

"Mr. Longbottom and Professor Flitwick… But Madam Pomfrey said they would be all right, so I sent them to the Great Hall with the Weasleys, Mrs. Granger and the others. I couldn't let them to come here and see Harry... they would panic!" Minerva replied. Albus looked at her with stern face, and she turned her attention to Harry. She walked towards him and caressed his neck, almost wanting to confirm that his heart was still beating.

"He's not dead, Minerva."

McGonagall took a deep breath. "But… what if he doesn't make it?"

"He will," the Headmaster replied instantly.

McGonagall stared at him while she chose her words, "You know there is no way to intercept or …evade that curse."

Dumbledore spoke without looking away from the boy, "It wouldn't be the first time."

To be continued.

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Writted: January 8, 2006

Edited: December 6, 2010

Thanks to my wonderful beta-reader: Emeralds and Rubies

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