Authors note - only chapter 2 and I've already had a rewrite . It was too rushy and too fluffy. That does mean I have the next chapter already half written so it won't be long ;)

Chapter 2 - Midnight

Harry wasn't the only person awake that night, across the country several very strange happenings were occurring…

The records department at the Ministry of Magic had never been so awake. Stan had worked in the department for over 50 years, even before he had semi-retired and moved to the nightshift he'd never seen so much activity. The nightshift was quiet, a few births or deaths might come in, but most anything else always happened in daylight hours. So at night Stan worked alone, he'd get his crossword done, catch up on the days news. But not tonight. Tonight at midnight the alarms started blaring. The precious papers were flying here there and everywhere knocking each other as they zoomed across the room. Even when the wizarding war was at it worst there was never this much data flying about.

Stan was ducking and dodging his way to the urgent box when a flashing red light had him stopping in his tracks. To tell the truth he thought the light was just a rumour, no one had ever actually seen it happen, no one thought it was possible - a miss filing. Stan grabbed one of the offending papers and with a glance at it did the only thing he could – he sent his patronus for reinforcements, this was most definitely above his pay grade.

"Merlin, please don't let this be a false alarm" Stan muttered to himself as he waited for his higher ups.

….

That same night at Hogwarts School of Witch Craft and Wizardry two professors were separately woken abruptly….

The headmaster professor Albus Dumbledore was raised by monitoring spells he had placed on a house some 10 years prior. Monitoring spells which shouldn't be activated for several years yet. Dumbledore sighed as he cast a quick tempus – midnight - today was going to be a very long day.

…

The most surprising happening that night was the waking of the potions professor, Severus Snape.
Severus was woken by a blinding white light, and waves of pain racking his body. Severus was by no means a stranger to pain, one didn't get to be in Voldemorts inner circle without becoming acutely aware of all types of pain at every level of severity. Though never had he felt a pain like this. It was hot and yet cold, a stabbing pain and yet a wave that struck him in the chest to then spread throughout his body, each stronger than those that came before it. Snape knew in the next lull he had to make his body move, he needed a pain potion, and answers!

As the pain subsided Severus pulled himself from his bed, reached for his robe and wand, and stumbled across the room towards the door cursing himself for growing careless in the years since Voldemorts fall. Never did he think he would be caught without at least a pain potion on his person. He braced himself against the door frame as the next wave of pain slammed into his body.
As the pain started to ease, Severus urged his feet forward, not daring to open his eyes. He knew his quarters like the back of his hand, keeping his left hand on the wall for guidance he made his way blindly down the hall way. Past the coat hooks, and left into the bathroom, second draw on the left third bottle in was the strongest pain potion he had to hand. He gulped it down eagerly, he knew it wouldn't be enough to rid him of the pain but in just a few seconds it started to take the edge off enough for him to open his eyes and think.

As his head cleared Severus vividly remembered the dream he woke from, a dream he had not had in a number of years and should not have been able to have through the dreamless sleep potion he took every night. He dreamed of his childhood friend, her soft auburn hair, the sweet smell of her shampoo, he dreamt of the worst night of his life, the night the only person he had ever loved had died. He remembered the weight of her body as he cradled her to him, he remembered how it felt as his heart broke. With that thought the pain seemed to change, it was like her memory was morphing it reforming it, it felt like his heart was being ripped out and his magic torn from his core. This was no spell or potion, it was so much more than that.

Severus moved to his fireplace, he was not a weak man, nor was he a man that asked for help, but this he needed help with, he stepped into the floo calling out the location of his oldest friend, and the only living person he could truly trust.

"Malfoy Manor"