For what felt like the millionth time in the space of an hour, Snape felt his eyes drawn towards the Potter boy. He knew he should be observing the other students too, criticising their attempts at producing a Patronus, making the standard derogatory comments, but he couldn't. He couldn't bring himself to direct his gaze at anyone other than the small dark haired boy unable to produce even a wisp of silver smoke.

Encouraging him to open up to Lupin had been a mistake. If anything, his condition had deteriorated even further in the following fortnight. He now had a pallor that could rival any of the Hogwarts ghosts and, coupled with the dark rings under his eyes and the dull, brittle appearance of his hair, Snape was finding it increasingly difficult to keep his promise to Dumbledore.

The anger that had been ever present at the beginning of term had abated and now there was nothing left. No matter how Snape needled him, criticised him, provoked him, there was no response. Just blank eyes locked in another world.

If he was allowed to have things his way, he would tip at least a dozen potions down Harry's throat, starting with potions for nutrition, good health and a dreamless sleep. He had even created the necessary potions in anticipation of some sort of breakthrough by the people who were supposed to be protecting him. The people who were supposed to love him. But nothing happened. And now The Boy Who Lived was fading away.

As thoughts of Harry's imminent demise filled him without unspeakable dread, Snape found himself gliding towards Harry almost against his own volition. "Potter! Are you even trying? How dare you make so little effort! Have you given up entirely? Talk to me!"

As soon as the last three words were out of his mouth, he wished them unsaid. Somehow, all the pain, horror and desperation he had been feeling over the past few weeks had seeped into those three little words.

However, as his brain went whirring into action to try and devise a cruel insult that would cover his slip, he noticed Harry's eyes come into focus for the first time in weeks and behind the shroud of apathy that seemed to be concealing him, Snape sensed a confused child longing to break free.

Suddenly aware that the entire class were staring at him, Snape made an impulsive decision, "For your homework, I want you all to practice the Patronus Charm until you feel it has been completely mastered. I will be testing you next lesson. Also, I want a two foot long essay on the development of the Patronus Charm, its uses and any disadvantages it may have. For next lesson. Class dismissed."

Hearing his announcement, his students froze and stared at him in shock. He had never dismissed them even a minute early and now he was releasing them halfway through a double lesson.

They must think I have taken leave of my senses, Snape thought to himself in wry amusement. "Have you all gone deaf? I told you all to leave!" This second announcement seemed to rouse his students from their stupor and within seconds they were charging towards the door. Harry turned to leave too, his now characteristic look of indifference firmly in place.

"Not so fast, Potter. I want a word with you." Snape expected some sort of reaction following this statement; surprise, confusion, maybe mutiny. But there was nothing. Harry had once again retreated into his own world.

Directing Harry to a seat in front of his desk, Snape looked down at the troubled young boy and tried to think of the best way to address the situation. He had heard about Lupin's approach from Dumbledore and just thinking about it made him seethe with rage. What had he been thinking? Patronising Harry and confronting him about his problem head-on – it had been foolish in the extreme. Snape was determined to be much more subtle.

As Harry brushed his hair out of his eyes, a small clump fell through his fingers and landed on the floor. Seeing this, it took all Snape's willpower to refrain from succumbing to his earlier desire to tip a number of powerful potions down Harry's throat. But he knew that wouldn't fix the broken boy in front of him.

Instead, Snape focused on a rusty cauldron in the corner of the room and addressed Harry in an offhand, almost indifferent manner, "I first saw you produce a Patronus at the end of your third year. It was a stag, if I'm not mistaken. So I know you are able to do it. We've all seen it, time and time again. We know you can do it, so what's going wrong?" No response. No reaction.

Just as Snape was concluding that his message had fallen on deaf ears, Harry started to speak in a hoarse, deadened voice, "Every time I try and picture it, see it clearly in my head, it turns into something else, something horrible. Because I've done it in the past, everyone now expects it, assumes I can keep doing it. But I can't. I can't."

Snape knew they weren't talking about Patronuses anymore. The whole world was counting on him to defeat Voldemort and that thought had terrified him so much that he didn't even want to try. After all, in his current state, no one would ever expect him to win any sort of fight. They would give up on him and there would be no more expectations to meet.

This flash of insight made him feel even more hopeless. How was he supposed to disperse Harry's fears of the Dark Lord? Voldemort's power made fully grown wizards quake and Harry was now Voldemort's number one target. What could he do to give him the will to fight? To make him realise that he was not alone in his battle and that there were other forces at work which could help him save humanity. He needed some way to get into the boy's mind…

"Potter, I want to resume our Occlumency lessons. You are to report to my office tonight at eight o'clock sharp. No excuses. We will finish what we set out to do. Now leave."

Watching Harry stumble towards to door, Snape could have sworn he had seen a flicker of hope in the boy's green eyes. And that was enough for now.

Enough from me too! Hope you enjoyed. As always, would love to read your thoughts/opinions on story's progression thus far!