Chapter 12: The Forbidden Corridor

After a few weeks of speaking with Healer Rose and tea with Professor Snape, Harry started feeling comfortable enough to speak with Ron and Hermione. Harry was still worried that he was a burden on Ron and Hermione, but they made a point of sticking with him.

One night, after a bad nightmare about the troll incident, Harry decided that he needed a walk to drive away the bad feelings. Ron heard him moving about and insisted on going with him. Hermione was asleep over a book in the common room and woke when they attempted to tiptoe past her.

They narrowly avoided Filch and Mrs. Noris. They walked quietly through the corridors while Ron mumbled something about wishing they knew how to make themselves invisible. At the end of a corridor on the third floor, they discovered a locked door.

"I wonder what's in there," Harry said. "Let's go see."

"Harry, didn't you hear the Headmaster say that the corridor is out of bounds?" Hermione asked.

"When did he say that?" Harry asked.

"During the start of term feast," Ron said.

"I wasn't paying much attention," Harry confessed. "I was too upset that night with trying to figure out why you two were trying to be nice to me."

"Have you never had friends before?" Hermione asked kindly.

"Later," Harry said. "Whatever is inside this corridor, it can't hurt us. Professor Dumbledore wouldn't keep something truly dangerous in a school."

Hermione slowly took out her wand and said a spell to unlock the door. Harry went first, and wished he hadn't. He screamed, and so did Ron and Hermione. Sadly for them, Professor McGonagall heard their screams. But they weren't paying attention to the teacher coming hurriedly towards them. They were paying attention to the three-headed dog standing on what looked like a trapdoor. All three heads growled.

"Run!" screamed Hermione, but as they were leaving, they noticed that their head of house was standing just outside the door, an angry look on her face.

"What do you think you are doing?" she stormed.

"We… we…" Harry swallowed. Her eyes fell on Harry.

"Mr. Potter, explain," she barked.

"We just wanted to see what was in there," Harry said softly.

Professor McGonagall glared at the three students. "Twenty points each from Gryffindor for disobeying the Headmaster," she said through gritted teeth. "And detention with Mr. Filch tomorrow night."

The three students nodded.

"And no more of this nonsense!" she yelled.

The trio headed back to Gryffindor Tower. Harry went to his dorms and took his journal out, but found that he could only write a line before being totally overwhelmed with emotion. He threw the journal back into his bag and took out his blade. He paused, considering whether he should go to the hospital wing and have Madam Pomfrey contact Professor Snape or the Healer but he needed the stress and discomfort to go away immediately. He'd made it nearly a month between cutting episodes. Three cuts in, Ron returned from the bathroom and stared at him in shock.

"Are you alright, mate?" he asked worriedly as he hurried to Harry's side.

"I… didn't mean to," Harry whispered while rocking back and forth. "Don't hurt me. No…'"

Ron shot out of the boys' dorms calling for Hermione.

Hermione was down in an instant, worried. "What's wrong Ron?" she asked.

"Get McGonagall," Ron said.

Hermione didn't say a word as she hurried out the portrait hole. A few minutes later, Professor McGonagall entered the boys' dorms and went straight to Harry's bed. She gasped as she saw the blood on the sheets and the glazed look in Harry's eyes.

"Mr. Weasley, go get the Headmaster," she barked. "Miss Granger, go get Madam Pomfrey and have her call Professor Snape. Quickly now!"

Five minutes later, Professor Dumbledore burst into the room, followed by both Madam Pomfrey and Professor Snape. Hermione and Ron herded Neville, Dean, and Seamus down to the common room. Madam Pomfrey quickly cleaned the blood away and disinfected the fresh cuts, before wrapping them in a thick gauze bandage. Professor Snape removed the blade from the boy's possession before sifting through his meager belongings and taking any other sharp items he found. He also took the boy's wand.

"Headmaster, Severus and I will move the boy to a private room in the hospital wing for at least tonight," said Madam Pomfrey.

"Take him. I must speak with his friends to see if they know what prompted this episode."

Madam Pomfrey convinced Harry to swallow a strong calming draught, as he relaxed, Professor Snape carefully scooped him up and carried him out of the dorm, following Madam Pomfrey and Professor Dumbledore.

Professor McGonagall told Neville, Seamus, and Dean to go back to bed. She stopped Ron and Hermione and informed them that she and the Headmaster had a few questions.

"Tell me about what happened tonight, why might Mr. Potter feel the need to soothe himself in this way?" said Headmaster Dumbledore, looking gravely at Ron and Hermione.

"I think I know," said Ron. "We were wandering the corridors because he had a nightmare and decided to see what was behind a locked door. Hermione used a spell to unlock the door and we all screamed upon seeing a massive dog. Professor McGonagall caught us and gave us detention plus took points."

"They were in the third floor corridor, Albus," said Professor McGonagall.

Headmaster Dumbledore sighed and nodded. That made sense. That seemed like something Harry would cut after.

"Alright," he said calmly. "Harry is spending at least one night in a private room attached to the hospital wing. You may visit him in the morning before breakfast and after classes in the afternoon. He will not be attending classes tomorrow so please write down his assignments for him. Goodnight children."

Ron and Hermione looked at each other before heading to bed. They could still sleep for a few hours before they had to be up for breakfast and classes.

The next morning, Harry woke in a strangely white and empty room where the sun was just starting to enter the window. The door opened, revealing Madam Pomfrey.

"Good, you're awake. Your friends are here to say hello before breakfast, they will visit later this afternoon with your assignments. Healer Rose and Professor Snape will both be by today."

"Harry! Are you okay? We cannot stay long because I'm starving," said Ron.

"Where am I? I suppose I'm okay but tired," said Harry.

"You're in a room in the hospital wing, we'll be back later, yeah?" said Hermione, anxiously patting his hand.

Harry watched his friends leave. He picked at the itchy bandage on his arm. Madam Pomfrey scolded him as she set a breakfast tray on his knees. He was not hungry but ate a few bites of porridge just to make Madam Pomfrey stop glaring at him.

After breakfast, Healer Rose entered the room and drew a chair up next to the bed. She just looked at Harry for a moment before he couldn't take the silence any longer.

"I haven't cut in three weeks!" Harry said. "I thought that it would be ok! I was just upset that I got my friends and I in trouble!"

"Did you try the journal? Or contacting Professor Snape?"

"Writing doesn't help! I thought about going to Madam Pomfrey but I just wanted to feel better! But Ron came in and I think it scared me back into a memory."

"Albus did mention you seemed to be in your own world, begging those around you to stop and that you would be good. Can you tell me what you were feeling?"

"I was upset and sad and worried and…. I don't know but I just wanted to be calm. Cutting helps me focus and remember that I'm here."

"I see," said Rose thoughtfully. "Do you often have flashbacks?"

"Sometimes but my relatives just hate me, its no big deal."

"It is a big deal. Families are meant to love each other and prevent their members from hurting. Were you just upset about earning the detention and losing points?"

"No, I got my friends in trouble after I convinced them to go down a forbidden corridor."

"Did you force them to go with you? Why were you outside of the common room after curfew?"

"Ron heard me get out of bed and Hermione caught us trying to leave the common room. I had a nightmare and figured a walk might help me go back to sleep."

"So they knew the consequences of being out after curfew?" Seeing Harry's nod, she continued, "What was your nightmare about? Your relatives?"

"No. I was dreaming about the troll again. I keep having the same nightmare about it."

"That is a normal reaction. You are safe. Your friends are safe. Hopefully that will be the last troll you have to face. Are you still feeling unsettled? Yes? I brought you a couple of your textbooks, your journal, and a muggle ink pen to keep you occupied today. Professor Snape will determine whether you will attend classes tomorrow. I must be going now."

"Wait, why Professor Snape? And where is my wand?"

"Professor Snape has your wand, your razor blade, and any other item he felt you cannot be trusted with at this time. This is not a punishment, Harry, we need you to understand that we care and there are always people to talk to. If you seek out Albus or Professor Snape, even in the middle of the night, you will not be in trouble. Keep speaking with your friends and let them know if you need something."

"Am I still serving detention tonight?"

"You will need to speak with Professor Snape. He will stop by during his free period after lunch. I will see you in a few days for our regular session. I will instruct Madam Pomfrey to give you another calming draught if you get too worried."