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#Aodrenn:

I actually have no idea if they do or not... I figured they'd have to right? Hogwarts is basically surrounded by trees.

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Trigger Warning. Massive… Massive Trigger Warning.

Dumbledore tumbled off the ledge in a flurry of green light and robes. Harry felt sick, his breathing had stopped as he watched the man he'd considered a father figure falling to the ground. Bile filled his throat, his stomach knotted and eyes wide as saucers.

Snape, it was always Snape! He screamed to himself.

Footsteps, they were running down the stairs. Snape, he had to get to him. Snape was the one responsible for all of this. Malfoy too, he helped, he disarmed Dumbledore. He's marked, he's the chosen one also. One light, one dark.

Bellatrix could be heared cackling as she made her way down from the Astronomy tower.

That bitch! She killed Sirius!

Running, tripping, collecting himself. He sped after the Deatheaters and followed their hollow laughs and taunts at the Auror's that had been stationed at Hogwarts to protect the students.

Snape. Fucking Snape.

He could see them entering the forest and he ran after them. Snape was leading them, he could see the stiff man leading the pack down the hill. So arrogant and evil.

I'll kill him!

"Coward!" Harry yelled.

His wand was drawn and he threw a hex down at them, narrowly missing his Professor. The traitor. In the distance a building was exploding, no… Hagrid. Growling he ran faster, dragging oxygen into his lungs viciously and struggling but he had to get them. He had to make them pay.

Snape was just in the distance, he was yelling at Bellatrix. Harry's scar was searing with pain, his vision distorting and he rubbed his eyes trying to focus but it wouldn't get clear.

"Aaargh!"

He's flung back but he gets to his feet quickly.

"He trusted you!"

He can't even see who he's yelling at but there are several figures coming towards him, they're all armed with their wands. Blonde hair, frizzy and messy black hair, wolf eyes, straight black hair… They circle him, he's on the ground, clawing at the earth. Why can't he stand, why can't he get up?

"Pathetic."

"Filthy half-breed!"

Harry tosses and turns in his bed, sweat is gathering around him but he can't wake himself up, he's in too deep. Draco and Blaise turn a light on, Harry's various words waking them from their sleep. The blonde gets out of bed and walks over to where his friend is screwing his face up in pain and realises he needs to wake him. Reaching out and shaking Harry, he gets no response, it looks like the teen is having a fit.

Dirt gets in Harry's mouth, making it dry and irritable. Snape leans close to him and grips onto his jaw like a vice. The man is sneering at him, like he is accustomed to seeing but there is something hidden deep in those black eyes. He lets himself get absorbed into black pools, there is a pulling but he isn't sure where it comes from as everything fades to black.

His head is being smashed into something solid, words echo around his head but he can't work out what they are. Snape is there, he could identify that baritone voice anywhere. He is concerned but it doesn't feel right. He shouldn't be saying that. Snape is evil, he is the devil. Voldemort corrupted him.

"No! Don't kill me!"

Blaise gets out of bed and stands next to Draco, they share a perplexed look. He thinks about casting a Patronus to their Head of House, he knows what to do in things like this but the blonde isn't keen. He knows exactly what Harry is dreaming about, no correction, it's not a dream but a twisted memory.

Harry hears a woman's cry, she's screaming at the top of her lungs, a blood curdling cry. It's his mother, Lily, he hears it often enough to know what she sounds like. She has protected him, shielded him with love, but it's not enough to protect herself. She's gone.

Voldemort, I'll kill him! I'll kill them all!

He's being mocked, the Dark Lord stands over his body and pushed his face into the forest fauna with his dirty bare foot. All he can smell is a dried musty blood scent that emits from the man's filthy robes. It's the scent of death and decay. The forest, it's damp and smells of rotting pine needles. It's suffocating.

Snape is standing next to the Dark Lord, he is happy… smiling even, in a sadistic sneer type of way. They have succeeded and Harry has failed. He is there so he can die. It was all he was ever meant to be… a weapon in this war.

You've been so brave sweetheart. No… His mother can't save him now.

Voldemort raises his wand, his laughter permeats the forest and seemingly echoes for miles. It's loud inside Harry's head and he screws up his face… why can he still not get up? He must get away from this place. He doesn't want to die, he never wanted to be like this.

Harry screams at them in frustration, he is now bound by his wrists and ankles. Voldemort laughs at this twisted perversion. Harry looks to Snape, he is compelled. A smiling Snape is nothing good but it isn't reaching his eyes. His eyes are dead. His eyes…

"Come on, Harry, wake up." Draco shakes his friend once more and Blaise moves across the room to his bed, taking his wand.

Avarda Kedarva.

Harry sits bolt upright with a scream, the room is green, it's all green and it never leaves him. Draco is standing there with his wand, looking vulnerable but he's seen that look before, the teen is evil. He's there to kill him too. Voldemort sent him. He lives.

Knocking things off his bedside table, Harry grabs his wand and aims it at the blonde. Putting both hands above his head, Draco surrenders but the brunette isn't satisfied.

"Stupify!" Harry's wand spits out the curse directly at Draco, who flies back against the back wall and falls to the floor.

"Bombarda!" The wall beside them explodes with a loud bang and Blaise ducks next to his bed, wand at the ready.

Harry runs a hand through his hair, there's still time for him to get Snape, the man is going to pay and Voldemort – he is going to suffer at his hands. He doesn't waste time, he throws on the hoodie at the end of his bed and runs for the door. There are people standing in their doorways, they are the enemy but he has his sights set on two people in particular.

He bursts through the common room portrait and starts the ascent to the main courtyard. There are voices all around him, they speak to him and sound disgruntled. He shoots a curse at one of the voices and a shout is followed.

The ground is cold as his bare feet hit the stones. He doesn't remember it being this cold. He looks behind him and sees a shadow, growling he shoots another explosion in their direction and continues through the grounds to the forest.

Reaching the threshold he freezes, an image invades his mind and it's Snape. Professor Snape. He's on the ground, he has a woman in his arms and she's not moving. He's crying, devastated.

Mother.

She's the only thing he wants, he just wants his mother.

"Why! Why me?" Harry cries out, his wand held tightly, "Take it! Take the pain away! MUM!" He's screaming and feels the sides of his throat burning.

Pressing the tip of his wand to his inner forearm he slices at the flesh through his hoodie. The burn, it feels so good. It's a release.

"I just – " Slice, "Want it –" Slice, "To go –" Slice, "Away!" Slice, slice, slice. "Help me!"

Harry's sobs grow louder as he cuts into his arm, he isn't in control of himself anymore, he is gone. Cuts cover his body. He wants to end this and join his parents. He's done with this life. He drops to the ground, convulsing as his mind explodes with magic and energy. Cuts appear all over, he isn't using his wand… he's paralysed.

Everything goes black, he cannot hear anymore, he cannot feel anymore. Relief floods his senses, it's the only thing he can comprehend. He will be with his mother and father soon, with Remus and Sirius. They can be a family beyond the veil and he'll finally be happy.

. . .

There is a commotion in the Slytherin common room and Severus is hellbent on finding out what the issue is, deducting as many house points as he needs to and handing out detentions. However, when he reaches the common room and finds a large group of scared children, he pauses to assess the scene. Something has happened.

Younger years are clinging to each other as the older years stand around them protectively. A student is running towards him, a fourth year who points to the dormitories and he follows quickly, wishing Horace would hurry up and arrive to support him.

There is stone and fabric strewn everywhere as he reaches the last room. Zabini is standing in the doorway, he's rubbing his arm looking lost and points to the wall where a mop of blonde hair is hunched over. Thankfully, he is moving but there is blood dripping down his face and on his hand.

"Someone tell me what bloody happened." He gritted out, pulling his wand and inspecting the cut to Draco's head.

"H-Harry, sir. He was… He was having a fit. Best way to describe it… We tried to wake him but then…" Blaire trailed off and when Severus turned to look at him, he saw the teen was motioning to the entire room.

It was a mess and his immediate thought after Draco was that he hoped the ex-Gryffindor was alright. He had been distracted in the past week after their chat and he had no doubt his nightmares were getting worse. Their conversation from the previous weekend didn't stray far from his mind.

"Draco?" Severus softened his voice and sad grey eyes looked up to him.

"I tried to – "

"It isn't your fault. We will get you to the infirmary." Helping the teen up, there was a disruption outside and Severus let out a low growl as Horace tripped through the door.

"Merlin'sbeard. What happened?" His voice was one of utter astonishment as he dithered around.

"We have a student who is experiencing some repercussions from the war. I am going to escort, Mr. Malfoy to the Infirmary, please round the students up and get any of the other staff to help. I need to speak with the Headmistress. Mr. Zabini, you may join us and sleep in the Hospital wing." Severus was helping a disorientated Malfoy through the corridor.

Coming into the common room, he stopped when the students all turned to him. In times like these they needed a leader, someone who remained calm under pressure and could assert themselves to calm the room. Horace was the exact opposite of what he needed but there wasn't much choice he had.

"Listen. All of you." Severus commanded the attention of the room and everyone fell silent.

"I understand what happened tonight has been a shock to some of you. Rest assured, the matter is being handled," I hope, "And things will be back to how they were in the morning. However, in the meantime, everyone is to go back to their dormitories."

There were some relieved sighs and others grumbled but the majority of them started to filter back into their beds. Horace appeared during his speech and nodded his understanding of what Severus had said before he started waving his wand about. Urging himself not to roll his eyes, he found Zabini standing close by him and they wandered out into the corridor.

Minerva and Hagrid were huddled around the unmoving body that had painted the pathway red. Hagrid had a tear rolling down his beard covered cheek and the Headmistress pulled on his sleeve to pick Harry up. They needed to get him into the infirmary quickly to assess the damage. A desperate Dove Patronus swooped down to them both with a message from the Matron, she was worried and had everything prepared for them.

"Hagrid, now is not the time." Minerva barked at the giant as he wiped a tear and he went to pick Harry up, the boy going limp in his arms and smothering his clothes in blood.

"We need to hurry, pick up the pace." She snapped again, hitching the front of her robes as they hurried up the hill.

Madame Pomfrey was in a fluster when Severus slowly made it to the Infirmary with his Slytherin students. She took one look at them and instead of gasping, looked relieved before she ran into her office, pulling out a small trunk shaped container and levitating it into the main bed area.

Draco looked up to his Head of House and was going to say something when his voice caught between breaths and started coughing. Severus directed him over to one of the cots and Blaise sat on the one next to his classmate, facing him.

"What seems to be the issue, Severus?" He voice was clipped and unnaturally nervous so he attempted his best to remain calm.

"Mr. Malfoy has a mild concussion, I brought him here to get checked over. I believe he will be fine but your word is always comforting."

"You flatter me, Severus." She snapped sarcastically, "Let's see, Mr. Malfoy." She moved over to them and waved her wand in front of the blondes face a few times and examined the cut on his head, "You'll live." Her voice cracked at that and stepped back, looking to the entrance.

"Poppy?" Severus went to the end of the bed and looked at her with concern.

"It's, Mr. Potter." She said and then held up her wand indicating for him not to respond as she heard voices.

Her shoes made scuffing sounds as she went into the corridor and Severus watched as her face turned into horror.

"Hurry, first bed, put him there." She shouted and went to the bed, waiting.

In came Hagrid carrying, who Severus identified as Harry, the moment he stepped into the light and placed him on the bed. The front of Hagrid's clothes were drenched red with blood and when he went to wipe his face, smeared red across his cheek. Turning to his two Slytherin's he very quietly told them to either look away or stay together and remain quiet before going over to the cot where the Headmistress and Grounds Keeper stood.

"I need you all to stand back. Give me some room." Poppy shooed them harshly and all three older Witch and Wizards stood well back.

Severus was lost for words, Harry almost looked unrecognizable. He was covered completely in blood and it continued to seep out slowly onto the white Infirmary sheets at the Medi Witch became waving her wand and muttering incantations. Noticing some odd deep gashes on his face and neck, Severus moved forward to inspect them as Poppy became removing the shredded pieces of clothing.

"Oh dear…" Poppy was healing most of the cuts along Harry's torso and arms but she frowned uncharacteristically when some of them weren't healing.

"Severus, can you identify these? They don't seem to be healing.

"That bloody brat." Severus hissed as he stood next to the boy and leaned forward.

Anger coursed through his veins, shaking his head as he raised his wand. This boy was not going to end his life with the aid of a curse he had created when he was Harry's age. Absolutely not. It was an insult but he desperately attempted to reel in his outwards aggression and frustrations to focus on the counter curse, happily seeing the cuts close up and disappear. However, it seemed the teen wasn't going to be that lucky with the state of his arms, these cuts didn't seem to be disappearing but they did sow together. Whatever spell the teen had been using was powerful.

"Oh dear… oh dear…" Poppy kept saying and dabbed the large cuts with a cloth that was drenched in an antiseptic healing lotion that would have stung severely if the boy had been awake.

Severus stepped back when the last of his spell had been removed but he knew the teen had lost a lot of blood.

Minerva had her arms folded around her body protectively and pursed her lips in worry, not even taking note of the two students that were sitting behind them, watching the scene unfold. Draco was biting his bottom lip, something he had developed when he became nervous and tried moving about on the bed to see what was going on. All three Professors were blocking his way, so he carefully stood, not making any noise and went to stand behind his Head of House.

Harry looked to be completely unconscious and when he watched the expressions of all four adults, he came to the conclusion that they were worried. It certainly wasn't something he should be watching but reality was he had seen worse, his main concern was that his friend didn't die.

Poppy wiped her forehead with the back of her hand and managed to clear up the blood that was covering Harry's skin. She had stopped the bleeding but was going to require some heavy blood replenishing potions. This wasn't above her capabilities, but facilities, and turning to her most trusted ex-Potion's Master, motioned for him to come over.

"He is sterilized and the blood has stopped for now. Severus, if you could help me here, I need to get his arms bandaged up whilst I go to St. Mungos and have a chat with an old friend. Potter will be requiring blood replenishing medications fairly urgently and that's not something I have currently in my stocks."

"I will tend to, Mr. Potter." Severus nodded and she zipped past him, Minerva hot on her heels as they went into the Medi-Witches office.

There were bandages sitting on the cabinet next to the bed and so he moved towards them, turning his head to glance down at his student. He was out cold and if Severus didn't trust Poppy he would have thought that the boy wasn't breathing, he was that still.

He hadn't realised that his body was shaking until he went to take Harry's forearm and had to take a steadying breath before he began wrapping the wounds. His heart sank when he looked at the pattern and he stopped all movements, standing in stock stillness, staring at pale marked flesh. He couldn't believe what he was looking at.

"Sir?" Draco took a step forward but stumbled backwards when he hit an invisible wall.

Severus didn't want his students seeing this and he kicked himself into gear, carefully picking Harry's arm up and covering the marks. He felt sick, and Severus Snape did not feel sick. Disgusted yes, but never nauseous.

"Both of you into bed." He barked and glared up at his blonde student whose eyes went wide.

"Professor Snape… Is he…" Hagrid was wringing his hands together but Severus didn't know what to say, Harry needed strong potions which meant something was serious.

"He's in good hands." Was all he could muster and remained by Harry's side until the Headmistress appeared.

"Oh, Mr. Zabini, Mr. Malfoy. I didn't know you were here." She paled further when she saw there were witnesses.

"Mr. Malfoy is a product of, Potter's rage and Mr. Zabini was a witness. Their dormitory suffered damage." Severus drawled, explaining why his two students were there.

"Dear me." Minerva looked as though all the joy had been sucked out of her life and kept looking between everyone as if at a loss of what to do next.

Severus couldn't blame her, he couldn't imagine the sight she had seen, where ever that place was, that she'd found Harry. Surely she'd seen the markings shapes on his forearm? Due to the amount of blood that covered the teen however, there was a possibility she hadn't.

"Severus, might I have a word? Hagrid, thank you for your help." The giant nodded mutely, looking at his friend before slowly making his way out and Severus went to follow Minerva, not before pointing his wand at Draco to settle down into bed as he passed them.

Closing the door to Poppy's office, there was a roaring green flame that lit the room and the Medi-Witch climbed out, followed by a Witch who wore white scrubs that were similar to Poppy's. They were carrying a large container that clunked when it was placed on the desk.

"Headmistress McGonagall." The Witch nodded.

"Minerva, this is Greta Spunelli. She works at St. Mungos in the intensive care unit for Witches and Wizards. Her specialty is accidental magic and children's injuries." Madame Pomfrey introduced her friend and they both shook hands.

"Poppy told me what happened, I would like to see him and check a few things." Greta spoke softly but her tone suggested a focused doctor.

Poppy left with her friend and Minerva took a seat, finally feeling the adrenaline drop in her system. Severus joined her, taking the other free seat and waited for her to speak. No doubt, he wasn't going to like what she was about to say.

"I just… How did this happen, Severus? After everything, and now this?" She sounded tired and confused.

"Mr. Potter came to me not long ago and confided that he had been struggling. At the time, he was no danger to anyone and I was working with him on some issues."

"And you didn't tell me?"

"Minerva, he doesn't have to say anything about the therapist for me to say this – Dr. Fletcher will be no good for him, his demons, if you will, are not going to be exorcised by someone who has no experience."

"And you think that your abilities supersede those of a trained professional?" Minerva's voice was bitter and skeptical.

"I have never and will not ever pretend to know more than a babbling fool who has a mastery in dissecting peoples minds. I will however, implore to you that you allow me to help him just as I have with Mr. Malfoy."

"I'm sorry, Severus. Not that I don't trust your judgement or abilities, but this will be out of my hands. I have a duty to the students of this school to ensure they are safe. That includes Mr. Potter."

Severus ran a hand through his hair.

"I will be owling Dr. Fletcher this morning." At this she stood and decided to go and check on the status of her ex-Gryffindor student.

Severus watched her leave and took a moment to take a deep calming breath. Centering himself. This situation seemed to have gone from manageable to catastrophic in a manner of hours and resigned himself to the fact that he was rather concerned about his Slytherin. Whilst the two of them hadn't spoken too often, he found himself wanting to support the boy. All those years of animosity melted away when he saw a troubled teen in need and he caught himself thinking of Lily Potter as he turned back into the Infirmary.

" – Exactly my thoughts also. He will need a strict course of these. I would wager he will wake in a few of days considering how much blood he lost and the exhaustion he will have experienced. His magic will also be weak when he finally is up and about. There is extensive damage to his magical core, something that will only get stronger as he heals." Greta straightened a loose black strand behind her ear and fixed her hat.

"Has he been seeking psychological support?" She continued and Minerva stepped forward.

"Prior to school resuming he had been seeing a therapist, yes."

"Then it would be prudent for him to continue his sessions. I am hesitant to prescribe him anti-depressant-like medications until he is conscious and has spoken to a Healer. From there we can look at whether he requires more medication or not."

Severus felt his stomach knot and his shoulders tense. They were talking about his Slytherin like he was completely insane and should be locked away in an institution. He knew that wasn't the case, the teen just needed someone he could rely on and to be kept safe. In his interactions with the teen, he didn't isolate from everyone, even whilst he didn't smile that often.

Draco was lying in bed, he didn't dare move and Blaise was lying opposite him, in the same boat.

"Okay, thank you Dr. Spunelli." The woman nodded and went to follow Poppy back to her office, "Severus, I will organize a staff meeting in the morning to let all staff know what happened. I suggest you catch the bulk of your Slytherins before breakfast so they know what is happening."

"Of course." Severus agreed.

"Right, well, Mr. Potter is well tended to, I suggest we get some sleep and tackle this fresh in the morning." And with that Minerva walked out of the Infirmary but Severus didn't move, instead he went to stand next to Harry, looking down at him.

He couldn't imagine what Lily would say if she saw this, with her fiery temper she would easily have had his bollocks for letting her son get into this state. He conceded that the Headmistress had been right, he had a duty to ensure the boy was safe and sane, for that he admitted that there could have been more. It was a complicated situation.

The vial around the teens neck caught his attention, it sparkled under the dimmed lighting and he reached down to look at it. If he didn't know any better he would have said the contents were memories but he couldn't be sure. Why Harry would have these was beyond him. He let the vial fall against his Slytherin's bare chest when he remembered that there were two other occupants in the room and stood up straight, muttering under his breath before he too walked out.

Draco had seen it, seen the care his Head of House had shown but quickly pretended he was asleep when the man went to leave. Once he had, the blonde sat up in bed and looked over at the unconscious Slytherin. Anything could happen now.

. . .

Okay, I'll be honest that was kind of fun to write.

Feedback is always welcomed.