Harry now spent his potions lessons outside next to the lake. Due to it now being spring, it was warmer outside, and although he sometimes did feel a bit cold, he refused to return to the dungeon. Hermione took copious notes for Harry to copy from, so that he still had some of the information from the lessons, whilst Ron moaned constantly about how Hermione never helped him. At these comments, Hermione would glare at Ron furiously before tossing her bushy hair over her shoulder and turning her back on him.
Albus had returned to his position as headmaster, as in he frequently was seen around the castle and in the Great Hall during meal times. He was often seen to be looking troubled, but he was happy enough to appear in public, and so nobody seemed to notice the extra frown lines that had appeared on his already wrinkled face.
Snape, meanwhile, had become more vindictive than ever. He spent a majority of his time stalking around the school, terrifying the first years into hysterics and generally being malicious. His fellow professors had never liked him particularly much as it was, but now they openly loathed him. Even the students of Slytherin house were suffering his wrath, and some of the less hard core Slytherin students had grown to dislike him immensely. Draco Malfoy was even heard remarking on Snape's behaviour with his usual "wait until my father hears about this" catchphrase.
The reason for Snape's severe mood was unknown to any except the man himself. He had recently, ever since seeing Harry outside of Dumbledore's office, been feeling extreme guilt. This guilt was keeping him awake at night, and the fact that he was so sleep deprived only added to his negative mood. He had begun to remember how he had felt when Lily had cut him out of her life, and how he had felt when she had started dating Potter. He remembered the horrible sick feeling he had constantly felt, as though there was a hole in his stomach. He remembered sitting in his dormitory alone, sobs wrenched from his skinny teenage body in such an agonising manner that he felt as though his heart was trying to escape from his chest. He had felt scared at some points that it actually would manage to break free from his chest, and sometimes he even welcomed the thought, provided it would stop his agony. He had recognised himself in Harry when he had seen him recently. He understood suddenly how his cruel actions had affected the boy, and it was for these reasons that Severus Snape felt guilty about causing pain and anguish to the offspring of James Potter.
A/N: Just a short chapter this week, folks. A little filler chapter to lead up to what is to come. Thank you so much for your continued support! Nearly 50 followers, I'm speechless! All I can really say is thank you! - Dementia