When Harry finally woke up, he saw the headmaster was sitting by his bedside. He knew that couldn't be a good thing. "What happened?" He managed to croak out.
Dumbledore helped him to sit up, and gave him a glass of water. "Harry, during the final battle with Voldemort, did you feel any shift in your magic? The kind associated with a curse?"
Harry thought for a moment while he sipped the water. "Not that I can recall, but there was so much going on in that moment, I don't think I would have noticed. Why?" He went back to drinking his water.
"And how long have you been in love with Professor Snape?" Dumbledore couldn't help but chuckle as Harry spit out his water. Harry looked at him with horrified eyes. "Let me explain dear boy." He recounted the conversation that was held earlier, and waited for the young man's reaction.
Harry looked like he wanted to cry. "So while love was originally my salvation… it's now the driving force that's killing me?" After everything he's been through, he thought this blow was just unfair. He knew his forbidden feelings would never lead anywhere, and he accepted that… but this was too much. Tears started escaping his burning eyes fell onto his bandaged chest.
Dumbledore put a hand on his shoulder. "All is not lost Harry. Forgive me for being a sentimental old fool, but your reputation for beating outstanding odds is incredibly in your favor."
"Forgive me for not sharing in your optimism, sir."
"The main question is, what do you want to do?"
Harry thought about that. It was like he was a terminally ill patient, and he's faced with deciding what to do with what time he has left. He knew he was going to cry every night, but he knew what he wanted. Call him twisted, but he didn't want to leave the man who caused him such torture yet. "I wish to stay here. As though nothing happened. At the end of the term, there's the practice NEWTs. If I could be given the actual NEWTs, I would like to see what my scores are. Though, I don't think I'll be returning after the holidays. I might as well just leave and fade away."
Dumbledore was impressed with how well Harry was taking this. Even though he wished the situation was different. "Should I have you taken out of Potions?"
"No. Potions is a big part of the NEWTs, and there isn't another class I can transfer to. I don't want private lessons. I don't want to be given special treatment. I just… If Professor Snape could just simply ignore me, I will be fine."
"Very well my boy. Come and see me if you need anything at all. My door is always open to you." Dumbledore got up to leave.
"Thank you Professor." With that, Harry was left alone to his torturous thoughts.
The next day, Harry went to his classes as though nothing happened. Hermione helped spread a rumor that Harry's collapse was due to an untested Weasley invention, like the vomit pill, but it was a prank gone wrong.
Harry was a little nervous, but overall, he was fine until they headed down for Potions. As the rest of the class sat down, Hermione subtly squeezed Harry's hand. She didn't tell him about the conversation she had with Snape, or how she was spending every waking moment in the library trying to find a counter to his curse. She was simply lending him the support of a friend who knows exactly what he was going through.
Snape rushed in with his usual flare, and addressed the class. "Today, you will be having a pop quiz on the potions you have been doing so far this year. When you are finished, you may turn your quiz over and be dismissed for the rest of the day. Begin!" With a wave of his wand, a sheet of parchment appeared in front of everyone, and the sound of scratching quills was the only sound that was heard. Snape sat at his desk and started grading 3rd year essays.
Harry was confused. His parchment didn't look like the quiz Hermione had, and he felt himself break out into a cold sweat of nerves as he read the top.
Mr. Potter. To everyone else, this sheet will look like the normal quiz. But I request some answers from you. Please be as honest as possible.
When did you first feel the discomfort in your chest?
If you have any, what are your other symptoms?
Am I the only one you are affected by?
How much pain are you in daily?
Now the next set of questions will be more personal. Again, please be honest. I promised Dumbledore that I will try to avoid making your situation worse. Therefore, I promise to keep everything you write as confidential, and will only use it to assess the nature of your unknown curse.
Have you been involved with anyone?
Are there others you have an attraction towards?
Are you in love with me? If so, why? How long?
For what it's worth. I apologize for my role in your situation. It is a poor excuse, seeing as how serious this is. The anger I feel since the war ended has caused me to be hateful and irrational. And I will admit to you, in confidence that you will keep this private, that I am jealous of what you have. The support, the approval, the acceptance. You have everything I wish I had, and that makes me bitter.
Harry felt like crying. He never thought the man would apologize for anything. Or the fact that he would admit anything, or say something personal. It warmed his heart that the man could even be this honest. The feeling was like a balm for his sore wound. With a small smile, he started to answer the questions.