Yami Ser: (Walks up and looks around) Snape! Snape where the hell are you?!

Severus: (Walks up glaring at the woman) what?! What could you possibly want this early in the morning?!

Yami Ser: (Points at the readers) Disclaimer… now! She hisses out

Severus: (Glares at her for another moment) Harry Potter, character, names, and related indicia are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. and J.K. Rowling.

Ser-Chan: (Pops up out of nowhere) However the plot and ideas in this story (or rather the way they are combined and used) are © of YPS (Yaoi Princess Serena aka Ser-Chan and Yami Ser) please if you want to use my idea JUST ASK!!! Also if you want to archive my story again JUST ASK!!

Harry: (Blinks again and scratches his head) How the bloody hell does she do that?


Darkness – Chapter 4 - Someone Else's Nightmare

As he woke the next morning Harry blinked his eyes once, and then twice to be sure he was actually seeing what he was seeing, and he was seeing dark blurs, but at least he was seeing something. He said nothing though as he sat up. He didn't want to get anyone's hopes up nor did he want to get his own up and he was right to do so because when he blinked again everything went totally dark once more. Letting out a rather frustrated sigh he slowly made his way out of bed and over to Ron's bed. Reaching out he started to shake the red head gently until he realized that there were more limbs in the bed than usual.

"Good morning, Ron, Draco." He said with a cheeky grin.

"Good Morning Harry." They both responded while yawning slightly.

Draco then surprised Harry by grabbing hold of the slightly younger man and pulling him into the bed in between himself and Ron. The two then wrapped their arms around Harry and simply held him, well until Ron started to tickle him that is. Harry let out a loud laugh at this until it became an all out tickle fight between the three of them. Once it died down though the three just lay there until Harry spoke up.

"Thanks guys, I really needed that." He said simply. At this Draco leaned up and kissed his temple.

"Anytime mate, you know we're always here for you." He said in reply.

"Hey isn't that my line?" Ron asked then causing both Harry and Draco to start laughing yet again.

By the time the three finally made it out of bed it was well into lunch, and they counted themselves lucky that it was Saturday otherwise they would have missed Potions and that would have ended badly for all involved.

As the three made their way into the Great Hall, Hermione looked at them with a smirk but said nothing as they took their usual seats at the table before their food arrived.

"Harry an owl arrived for you this morning Hedwig left it with me when I said you were still in bed. Looks like it might be from Sirius. Do you want me to read it to you, or do you just want to hold on to it for now?" She asked softly looking up from her book.

"I'll just take it for now. Thanks 'Mione." he said flashing a small smile. "Wish I could read it myself." he muttered out. At this the other three at the table looked at each other and frowned slightly.

They hated to see their best friend like this and wished there was more that they could do for him it was then that Ron caught sight of the book that Hermione with reading. He nudged Draco and pointed but before either of them could say anything she held a finger up to her lips giving them a pleading look. At this they both nodded quickly and turned back to their own meals. Hermione then closed the book and sat it aside before turning back to her own meal. As she did she glanced thoughtfully at the cover. Magic and Blindness in the Wizarding World. She let out a tiny sigh before digging back into her eggs.

As the time to go to Hogsmead approached Harry declined to go with his friends and instead headed towards the dungeons. He wondered if it was simply a desire to see Severus or it was simply where he had ended up, but in the end he wasn't sure and continued his way down. As he continued to walk though he realized by the smell he was in a part of the dungeons that he had never been before. The air was damp true, but it didn't have the bitter smell that the Potions sections did.

Harry put his hands out in front of him, and felt along the wall, and soon realized he was standing in front of a door. He felt around for the knob, and pushed it open. He made his way around the room slowly, and eventually his hands came to rest on what Harry could only assume was a piano. He moved around slowly trying to find a seat, and finally found one, but it was pretty much ruined, he let out an annoyed sigh at this but then decided to try something.

He slowly pulled out his wand, and touched it to the former seat, and muttered a charm to reassemble it. After he finished he reached out and much to his great delight he realized it had worked. He then stood again and felt his way back to the piano and did the same thing. Having done that, he sat down slowly and laid his hands on the keys.

Back in the Potions room a small alarm went off in Severus's mind. He quickly realized that it was the alarm he had set to let him known if a student was using magic in the dungeons outside the classroom and the common room. With an annoyed sigh he quickly pulled out his own version of the Marauder's Map and was shocked when he saw who else was down there.

"What the devil is he up to now?!" Severus muttered to himself as he made his way out of the classroom and in the direction of Harry.

Back in the room Harry quickly ran through some scales and he was suddenly thankful of all the times he had played the Dursley's piano in the dark. He easily went though another set of scales, and then began to play. He had no idea what he was playing, all he knew what that it was helping him, simply deal with everything that was going on at that moment. Outside the room Severus got closer and was surprised to hear the sound of the piano. No one had played that piano since Lily, so why was he so surprised that Harry had found it. He entered the room slowly and was surprised when Harry simply continued to play.

After about another hour or so, Harry's playing came to a stop, and he sat up straighter and turned his head from side to side, before finally turning his head in Severus's direction.

"Well what did you think Professor?" Harry asked, Severus paused for a moment, but chose his words quickly.

"It was rather good Potter, I can't say I'm surprised to find you here though. This was one of your mother's favorite rooms as well.' Severus said simply at this Harry took on a confused expression.

"Mum came here too?" He asked softly his voice cracking slightly. At this Severus nodded his head.

"Yes she did, in fact Albus and Minerva had this room made especially for her after she became Head Girl." He explained.

"Then why did they let it simply rot away? Why didn't anyone take care of it?" Harry snapped out. "What a lovely way for them to honor my mother!" he all but finished in a hiss.

"Ah but that's the kicker Potter, this room was warded by your Mother so that no one but those she thought truly needed a release could enter." Severus said holding up his hand.

"Surely Dumbledore could over come the spell of a seventh year." Harry said with a roll of his unseeing eyes.

"That's true, but he respected your mother's wishes and let the ward intact. Now that is a way of honoring your mother." Severus said. At this Harry slowly nodded.

"I guess your right. Sorry Professor." Harry said simply before turning back towards the piano keys and slowly going into another song.

Severus quickly transfigured himself a seat and sat back listening to the song that Harry was playing. It was obvious that the song was something Harry had come up with himself and it was moving to say the least. It started off soft and light before going into something dark and foreboding and as he listened he realized the song fit Harry's life very well, but he pushed the thoughts aside as he closed his eyes slowly and simply listened.

Harry wasn't sure what it was about having Severus there with him that made the room seem all the more better, but things seemed a little more bearable when the other man was around. It then dawned on Harry that it use to be the total opposite, he use to not be able to stand the man at all. He didn't know if maybe he was just growing up, or maybe that Severus's snarky attitude was finally growing on him, though he wasn't going to dwell on it.

As the music finally started to die down Severus opened his eyes again to see Harry simply sitting there at the piano toying with his fingers slightly as though he didn't know what to do or say exactly so standing Severus cleared his throat lightly as he approached the younger man.

"That was excellent," he said simply before holding his arm out for Harry. "Come Potter, I believe we've already missed lunch and Albus would have my head if I let you go hungry." He said sounding rather dry.

"Thank you Professor." Harry replied simply before taking the offered arm and allowing himself to be lead out of the room that he had quickly grown fond of.

Slowly but surely the two made their way back to the main part of the dungeons, but instead of heading towards the Potions room Harry noticed that they took a different turn and Harry couldn't help but wonder where it was they were going exactly, until he realized they were heading to Severus' rooms again.

"Ariana." Severus muttered out and after he did he looked down at Harry quickly.

"Ariana, Sir? I thought the password was Wormwood?" Harry asked suddenly.

"Seems one of my Slytherin's were would and about last night and over heard that, hence the change and if you tell anyone I'll hex you into next week understand?" Severus asked.

"Perfectly Sir." Harry replied meekly knowing simply by the tone that Severus was deadly serious. Harry knew for a fact that Severus was a very private man.

Harry then found himself wondering how many of the Slytherin students had even made it into these rooms, the thought hadn't occurred to him the night before but now that he wasn't nervous he found himself thinking more. He was sure Draco had probably been in them at least a handful of times, but how many others? Harry's number wasn't very high, in fact he was leaning towards few if any; then again there was always the chance that he was wrong. Severus was very different when it came to his Slytherins and sometimes Harry couldn't figure out if it was because the man was a spy or because the Slytherin house was so misunderstood now because of Voldemort.

After Severus lead Harry to the couch to take a seat he quickly pulled a rope in the room and with a crack one of the house elves appeared, unfortunately for Severus it happened to be one of Harry's biggest fans.

"Master Harry! Dobby was worried that you was not eating!" The house elf squeaked out before running over to Harry quickly. At this Harry simply chuckled slightly.

"Actually I'm fine Dobby, I just lost track of the time, but do you think Professor Snape and I could get a bit to eat?" Harry asked with a hint of amusement in his voice that Severus had yet to hear that year.

"Anything for you sir!" Dobby said before disappearing with another crack. Harry chuckled to himself slightly as Dobby disappeared again and Severus was surprised.

"I believe that's the first sound akin to amusement that I've heard from you so far this year." He said calmly as he took a seat across from Harry.

"To be honest sir, I think it was one of the first." Harry said trying to stay as honest as possible with the Professor. "Professor Can I ask you something?" Harry asked softly. At this Severus looked up from the fire that had caught his attention.

"And what might that be?" Harry was quiet for a long moment and it seemed to Severus that he was gathering his courage, but before he could say anything Dobby reappeared with another crack and went about setting the tray of sandwiches and pumpkin juice in between the two.

"Here you are Master Harry, please be callin' Dobby if you needs anythin' else." The small elf said before Harry smiled at him.

"Thanks Dobby." At his words Dobby disappeared again with yet another crack leaving Severus and Harry to eat their meal. As the two started to eat the sandwiches slowly finally Severus broke the settling silence.

"What was it you wanted to ask me Potter?" he questioned.

"I was just wondering…" he started while beginning toy with his fingers. "Ariana, who is she?" Harry asked softly wondering if the question was going to get his screamed at.

"She was my mother. My father drove her to suicide right before my eleventh birthday, right before I received my letter." Severus answered slowly, surprised that he was answering at all. Call it fair trade for the fact that you have his journal. he thought to him.

"I'm sorry to hear that sir, I really am." Harry said before turning his attention back to his sandwich.

"No Potter, if anyone should be sorry it's me, I at least got the chance to know my mother." Severus said with an almost gentle look towards Harry who had seemed to freeze up. Finally the teen shook it off and nodded.

"Thank you Professor." Harry said simply as a tear he hadn't been aware of slid slowly down his cheek. He wiped it away quickly and finished off his meal.

The two sat in silence for a long while, each lost in their own thoughts, and neither really noticed Dobby pop back in to remove the slightly empty tray. Severus's attention was brought back to Harry when the teen let out a rather large yawn. Severus stood slowly and made his way over to Harry and gently took hold of the younger man's arm.

"Come on Potter; let's get you off to bed." At this Harry shook his head.

"But Professor, it's no where near time for bed; I mean the others haven't even come back from Hogsmead yet." Harry whined out, sounding almost cute. At this Severus went wide eyed and tried to shake the thought that had just crossed his mind.

"Let me rephrase that then. Let's get you some sleep so you at least make it to dinner." At this a small laugh escaped from Harry and then he noticed that Severus wasn't leading him from the room.

Severus led Harry to the extra room and opened the door quickly and let out a small sigh, thanking the house elves in his mind for keeping the room clean. He then led Harry over to the bed and waited until the younger man was seated before he spoke again.

"While this is an extra room, I pray that you will refrain from doing more than sleeping in it. I'll be back to wake you in an hour." Severus said quickly before hurrying from the room.

Once the door was closed again Harry simply sat there and blinked once or twice in confusion as to what had just happened before a yawn escaped him and he decided he would figure it out later at the moment sleep seemed like a much better idea to him that anything else. Quickly he crawled under the blankets and let sleep wash over his tired body.

Out in the main room Severus sat himself behind the desk there and pulled out a stack of first year potions essays in hopes that the mindless dribble would somewhat take his mind off of the younger man sleeping just a room away. This thought made Severus sigh and run a hand thought his hair before closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose. What are you doing Severus?! You read one or two journal entries and now you've got the blasted boy sleeping in your rooms! You're going soft in your old age. A voice sneered in the back of his mind sounding and awful lot like his father. He needs someone Severus, take care of him another voice chimed in sounding amazingly like Albus. He sighed again before what could only be described like a growl escaped from him.

"Great I hear voices in my head now, but neither of them is mine!" He said before letting his head bounce off the desk with a groan.

"Something troubling you Severus?" A voice asked from the doorway. Severus looked up to seen none other than Albus with the annoying twinkle in his eye.

"No nothing, now get out!" Severus snapped pointing at the door that Albus had just come though. Severus still wasn't sure how the man managed to get past the wards without knowing Severus's password, though Severus wouldn't be surprised if he did. The thought was rather bothersome. Was there anything the man didn't know?

"Come now Severus, I was worried when you didn't show up for tea as usual." Albus said giving the Potions Professor and knowing look. "Though I can feel that Harry is here, so maybe I'm not all that surprised." He said as his eyes continued to twinkle.

"Just what the hell is that suppose to mean Albus?!" At this Albus did his best to look innocent.

"I didn't mean anything my boy simply that it's obvious you're trying to help him, so I'll leave you to it, I just wanted to let you know that the Ministry finally brought Harry's Uncle in for questioning." Albus said with yet another smile before turning and showing himself back out.

"Barmy old coot!" Severus snapped out before trying to turn his attention back to the essays.

His attention didn't say on the essays for very long when a book suddenly fell from the shelf. With an annoyed sigh Severus stood and headed over to where the book has landed on the floor, his eyes went wide for a moment when realized that it was his copy of Harry's journal that had fallen to the floor, and that it was opened to an entry that he hadn't read yet. He paused for a moment as he picked the book up slowly and his eyes darted over to the room that Harry was asleep in before looking back down at the book. With another sigh Severus sat back down in his chair with the book in hand started to read the entry.

Someone please just fucking kill me now! Where the hell is Voldemort when you need him?! Hell if he'd show up right now, I'd gladly turn myself over to him, it would be, no it probably is better than this, anything is better than this! I know for a fact that I have at least two broken ribs, and my left wrist isn't looking to good either. I'm suddenly very glad that I sent Hedwig with Ron for the summer, she probably wouldn't have survived this, and it's just too bad I couldn't go with her. It's only the second week of summer, and death is looking better and better each day. I've a feeling I'm going to have to charm my journal to simply pick up my thoughts for a while, I still thank Merlin for them passing that law about students using simple spells outside of school, because I'm starting to run out of times to write. It seems like I'm constantly trying to hide from my uncle, and now my cousin Dudley is in on it too. In fact I think he's worse, then again he always was, and he doesn't have to worry about going to jail for child abuse.

There now I cast the charm, so I can save my ink in case I can manage to send a letter to Ron, or anyone for that matter. Oh god, someone's coming! Merlin help me. The door's opening, but I can't see who it is, oh god it's Dudley! NO! Get away from me! Don't touch me, STOP IT!

The entry wasn't over, but he couldn't manage to finish reading it as he had thrown the journal as if it had burned him. Then a wave of nausea washed over him and he ran quickly into his bathroom and emptied what was in his stomach from lunch. Why didn't he tell us? Why did he keep it quiet? Slowly Severus stood back up on shaky legs and headed back out to the main room while throwing a glare at the journal that now lay on his floor. Suddenly a voice caused him to jump and spin around.

"Is everything all right Professor, I thought I head someone getting sick?" Harry asked sounding slightly dazed from the doorway of the other room.

"Everything is fine Potter, though perhaps I should send you back to your common room, as I'm not feeling very well at the moment." Severus said swallowing slowly hoping that Harry couldn't pick up on anything in his voice that might give him away.

"Its fine Professor, I think maybe I will go back there and get a little more sleep before everyone else gets back from Hogsmead." Harry said simply before pulling out his wand and muttering a spell before slowly making his way towards the door. "Thanks again for lunch Professor." Harry added before slipping out the door and heading back towards his common room.

Once he was gone Severus slowly made his way back to this chair before collapsing onto and trying to chase away his thoughts and the images that were now swimming behind his eyes.


Yami Ser: Whoa… you've really got it out for the kid huh?

Ser-Chan: Shrugs No, not really.

Harry: Looks socked what do you mean not really?!

Severus: Oh for the love of…! Just R+R!