AN: Here's the next chapter of Trauma of a Savior! This chapter was written by percyjackson135. I just did some small editing and made sure the chapter would be readable on the site. The next chapter will be written by me. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: all Harry Potter characters do not belong to me. They belong to Warner Bros. and J.K. Rowling.

Trauma of a Savior

Chapter 3:

As he stood in the middle of the Room of Requirement, literally holding a teenager in his arms, Zacharias Smith was feeling rather awkward and more than a little confused. Sure, he was very concerned about the younger boy, but he didn't quite understand this odd behavior. He kind of understood that Potter was shyer than most; even a little skittish at times, but this was completely different.

The hero, the Savior of the wizard world was quite literally acting like a toddler. This confused Smith a great deal because he was used to seeing strong, grown-up Potter, not little, frightened Potter. However, did Zacharias really blame him? Did he really expect the younger boy to shoulder everything by himself? No, of course he didn't. What sane person would allow something like this to happen to someone so sweet and even more innocent than anyone thought possible?

But, here he was. Alone in the Room of Requirement, rocking the teenager like a baby and feeling very awkward about it. However, Zacharias had a sudden realization that what Potter was going through was completely understandable and even expected for someone whose emotional development was somewhat stunted and all over the place. He also found that no matter how awkward it was, Zacharias wasn't bothered by it at all. In fact, he suddenly found a good-sized rocking chair in one of the corners and carrying Harry over to it, Zacharias sat down with the younger boy in his arms and he began to talk to him. However, Zacharias was unsure of whether or not Harry would be able to understand his explanation and apology. But he decided he was going to give it a try anyway.

"Potter, I mean Harry, I want to explain something to you. But, I also want to apologize. I challenged you in the beginning of the year about Cedric's death, and I realize that I was wrong to do so. I didn't know just how much seeing him die affected you. I was angry because I thought you took my best friend away from me, but I realize that you had no intention of doing so. It wasn't your fault that the cup was a port key and it certainly wasn't your fault he got killed. I know things have been hard for you and I never meant to make it more difficult for you. I just tend to blow things out of proportion sometimes, but it doesn't mean I don't care, far from it. I don't understand how you ended up acting like a little kid, but I want you to know that I do understand how hard this must be, especially for you." Harry's dark head rested against Zacharias' shoulder, but he stared intently up into the Hufflepuff's face with watery green eyes and sniffled a little. But, he was calm and that's all that mattered to the older boy.

Harry buried his messy head deeper in the crook of Smith's neck and whined a little. He was stressed, scared, and very sad. He missed Cedric deeply as well and not a day went by without him thinking about the events that brought about his death. "Sowy Daa-dee… Sowy…"

Confused as he was, Zacharias found that he didn't mind Potter's dark head being buried in the crook of his neck. He was not, however, used to being in the role of a parent quite yet. Especially not for someone who was as old as Harry was. He was, however, quite used to younger children because he had a big family. He was the third child of eight children, the youngest of whom was only five. So, in that aspect, Zacharias was quite used to taking care of toddlers, but it was a little awkward that he was doing it for the Gryffindor Golden Boy as most people called him.

However, Zacharias realized that the young Gryffindor absolutely hated his fame because it reminded him too much of what happened to his parents. He also knew somehow that Harry was trying to get out of his little headspace because it looked as though he was trying to say something but having a difficult time of it. So, Zacharias thought he would help him out a bit by snapping his fingers in front of the younger boy's nose.

"Hey, Potter, snap out of it. What is it that you want to tell me?"

As soon as the older boy snapped his fingers in front of Harry's nose, Harry himself suddenly came back to reality, looking thoroughly confused and more than a little embarrassed to be sitting in a big rocking chair and in the arms of Zacharias Smith of all people. "What!" Harry was understandably confused and his face was as red as a tomato as he scrambled up and off of Zacharias' lap. "Oh no, oh no, oh no… I'm… I'm sorry!"

Zacharias was confused, but not half as confused as Harry was at the moment. The Room of Requirement seemed to know and understand that the younger boy needed to change into his regular school uniform because out of nowhere, a separate area that was like a locker room came into view and the younger boy dashed into it to change his clothes.

As for Zacharias, he was very stunned and he hoped that he did nothing to hurt Harry in any way possible. He also knew and understood that the other Dumbledore's Army members were waiting on the other side, but he didn't dare open the door until he was finished talking with the younger boy alone. There were a few questions he needed answers for, and it was high time that Potter gave them to him. He somehow knew and understood that the younger boy was shyer than most because of many things that happened to him, but he never understood the reason or reasons behind them. Being of pure blood ancestors, Zacharias believed, like many in the Wizard world, that Harry was pampered and waited on hand and foot. However, many of the younger boy's behaviors throughout the years, suggested otherwise. It was only until the end of last year that Zacharias began to understand that some of the stories about the younger boy were very far-fetched and far from the truth.

He also knew and understood that Professor Dumbledore was a very good man, if a little misguided. He understood that the old man truly believed that blood was thicker than water and that was understandable. If Zacharias was in his shoes, he probably would feel and believe the same thing. But, as one of the school Prefects, Zacharias also knew and understood that not every family was as loving or close as they should be. If Zacharias didn't know any better, he would say that Potter was being abused; both at home and at school. He wasn't going to lie to himself. He saw the reddened skin on Potter's right hand and he knew instantly who was to blame. That ministry woman was horrible and she had no right to do anything like that to anyone, let alone someone like him. But, Zacharias was unable to say anything against her because he was afraid she would hurt him as well as people he loved and cared about. Instead, Zacharias stayed silent and when Potter came out of the makeshift locker room, he said, "I want to talk to you before I allow the others to come in. I have a few questions and I need to know the truth as a school Prefect. Please tell me what's going on with you."