A/N: Not mine, the Harry Potter Universe as always belongs to J.K. Rowling

Chapter Twenty-Four – An Unexpected Turn of Events

An explosion and Harry ducked as pieces of debris scattered around the Room of Requirement. He was still holding his wand pointed at the target as he doubled over laughing. Snape dropped his shield and walked forward as he waved dust out of his face.

"Maybe I shouldn't have had Dumbledore unblock my magic. That was a Tickling Charm!" Harry laughed from his spot on the floor.

"Perhaps you should use that against the dragon," Snape said with amusement in his voice.

"The object is to get the egg without hurting the dragon or getting yourself – myself – killed," Harry reminded as he took in a deep breath, coughing a bit and dragged himself up from the floor. "I might as well do the same thing I did the last time and summon my broom. I can always out fly the dragon again."

"Indeed, but we really should be working on getting your magic under control. If a Tickling Charm just did that, I don't want to know what a Summoning Charm would do." Harry nodded in firm agreement and required another target.

Conversationally, Harry asked, "So, how did it go again with Dumbledore unblocking your magic?" In honest truth, Harry was dying to know.

"It was all fine," Snape shrugged nonchalantly, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Oh, come on, it's been weeks, please tell me," Harry practically begged. He'd asked five times now and each time he got a different, evasive answer. He was beginning to suspect that the man was keeping him on edge about it for his own amusement.

Snape chuckled. "Resorting to begging now, Potter?" he asked, an eyebrow raised in amusement. Harry gave him a withering glare. "Alright I suppose it couldn't hurt to tell you…" Harry smirked. "After you've gotten your magic under control." Harry scowled, he hated incentives.

"Fine." This shouldn't take long, all he had to do was reevaluated the power he put into his spells. Harry aimed his wand at the target. "Stupefy," he said quietly.

An explosion shook the room and Harry blinked at the target, or rather lack thereof, and at the wall behind it, which had recently been whole, but was now crumbling.

"I think I broke the Room of Requirement," Harry said seriously when the wall didn't right itself right away.

Snape was doubled over and shaking with silent mirth.

Harry glared at him sheepishly. "Alright then, less power."

Snape started to laugh harder and Harry couldn't help but crack up as well.

A few longer than he had anticipated hours later and Harry was pretty confident that he had his magic under control. Or at least he hoped so, or Transfiguration on Monday may be a bit disastrous for him as Snape pointed out.

He was dead on his feet as he'd spent the majority of the night practicing every spell he could think of so he'd know how much magic to put into the spell. But he hadn't forgotten as he looked over to Snape.

"Alright," Snape sighed when Harry turned and glared at him expectantly. "I do believe that you remember the slight discomfort associated with unblocking your magic." Harry nodded, snorting quietly at his choice of words for the rather high amount of pain he associated with it, every time, this time not excluded. "Well I had to fake that I was feeling that pain, yes?" Harry nodded again, slightly confused. Snape smirked. "He seems to think I've built up an amazing pain tolerance. That I might even be able to withstand the Cruciatus Curse."

Harry raised his eyebrows incredulously. "You didn't…"

"Not a twitch, just stood there. I tried to grimace, really, but honestly I was trying to keep from laughing because of the perturbed look on his face. He was so shocked and confused. I don't think I've ever seen more confusion in the man's eyes. I nearly broke down when he tried to reason it all out," Snape laughed.

Harry shook his head and chuckled. "I really must see a pensive memory of this and one day, Dumbledore must as well!"

--

Harry dragged himself up the stairs to his dormitory from the Gryffindor common room some time later. It was almost dawn and Harry was exhausted. He really felt wiped. He hoped to get at least a couple hours of sleep. At least he didn't have class in the morning, it being Sunday and all.

Of course his plans were waylaid. He felt like he had just shut his eyes when Ron was pouncing on his bed and shouting at him. "Come on, Harry, get up! Before Hermione comes up here and drags you down herself and I really won't stop her this time, mate. She's getting scary!"

Harry groaned and shoved his head under his pillow. Ron snagged the pillow away and Harry pushed his face into his sheets instead. "Ron, really, I just got to sleep an hour ago," Harry mumbled into his bed.

"Yeah, where were you all night anyways? The guys aren't happy with you, they think you're going to lose points for us again. Not to mention that you didn't tell any of us how you put your name in the cup."

Harry sat up and rubbed a hand over his eyes and then put on his glasses, resigned that he wasn't getting back to sleep. "First of all, I didn't put my name in that bloody cup, Ron," Harry said with slight annoyance.

Ron waved his hand. "No I figured you didn't, though whoever did must have some sort of death wish, cause you're probably going to kill them when you find out who it is."

Harry nodded in agreement and yawned tiredly. "Second," he continued. "Dumbledore decided to unblock my magic last night. Thought it would give me an advantage, I was up all night relearning how to control it with Severus," he said tiredly. Ron gaped at him. "What?"

"Unblocked your magic?" Ron asked, still staring at him.

"Yeah, you know, something my parents had put on me when I was a baby," Harry yawned.

Ron seemed to sag. "Oh, that. I almost thought you meant…" Ron shook his head. "Never-mind, crazy thoughts."

Harry hid a smirk at what his friend was thinking because he'd already done that. Then he rolled his eyes when Hermione barged into their dorm. "Morning, Hermione," Harry said with a false chipper voice.

"You're still in bed?" she asked incredulously.

"Ah, give him a break, Hermione, Dumbledore took his baby block off him last night, he's all tuckered out," Ron said, sniggering slightly.

Harry glared at Ron. "If that's what one calls a baby block, I'd like to see a full one," Harry grouch. "It was bloody painful!"

Ron seemed to pale a bit. "You don't think when he does mine that it's going to hurt, do you?"

Harry shrugged. "I don't know, don't think so though. Dumbledore said that he was surprised mine caused me so much pain. I guess I had a lot of magic packed into the block, it certainly took me long enough to adjust afterwards."

"Really, that's fascinating, tell me everything!" Hermione exclaimed jumping onto Harry's bed and looking at him like he was an interesting sort of insect. Ron was right, she was getting scary.

"Yes, fascinating," Ron grumbled, looking much better after Harry's reassurance. "Well I'm heading down to breakfast. You coming with, Harry, or you going to have a lie in?" Ron asked, rolling his eyes at Hermione who was bouncing up and down waiting for information.

Harry shrugged. "Nah, I'm up now, might as well stay up," Harry said as he dragged himself out of bed. "I'll meet you in the common room," he said. Harry chuckled at the crestfallen gleam in Hermione's eyes. "And then, Hermione, I will tell you whatever you want to know." Hermione beamed and jumped off Harry's bed to follow Ron. Harry shook his head, grabbed his towel, and headed to the bathroom.

Harry tiredly got out of the shower and looked in the mirror at the jagged scar on the side of his face, that though it had been nearly two months, was still rather visible, but was finally starting to fade, it looked like. He had his towel wrapped around his waist and he could clearly see several other scars still visible from his brief time at the Dark Lord's mercy; including the burn scars that took up the majority of his right hand. Madame Pomfrey had told him that no amount of magic would remove scars that deep. So his hand looked like it was partially melted, he was just glad that he had full use of his hand, even if it was an ugly sight.

"Voldemort's really done a number on me," Harry whispered to himself and then his eyes widened. Harry started when there was no pain, none, and then he said it out loud again hesitantly. "Voldemort… HA! Take that I've beaten you magically!" Harry shouted at the mirror.

That was the only thing he could think of, he was more powerful than Voldemort so his curse was over powered! "Voldemort," Harry said again, just for kicks. "Voldemort, Voldemort, Voldemort! Ha ha ha!" Harry laughed giddily and then he froze when he saw Ron standing in the bathroom doorway staring at him.

"Oh, umm." Harry quickly grabbed his pajama shirt and pulled it on, but it was too late, Ron had already seen.

"Merlin, Harry," Ron whispered, his face pale and his eyes fearful. "You have the Dark Mark."

"Ron, I can explain," Harry said quickly, walking towards his friend.

Ron suddenly bolted out of the bathroom. Harry was about to run after him but then he realized that he was still only half dressed. He hastily returned to the dormitory and changed in record time, before he made his way down to the common room. Ron was nowhere to be seen, but Hermione was sitting by the fire as if she were in shock.

Harry slowly walked towards her, no one else was in the common room. "Hermione?" Harry suddenly backed up several paces when she stood and pointed her wand at him. Harry raised both his hands. "Whoa, Hermione, please, put your wand away. I can explain," Harry said, a bit of desperation coming to his voice.

Hermione didn't lower her wand. "Explain then," she said with a shaky voice, though her wand was held firm.

"First of all, Dumbledore knows," Harry said quickly and Hermione lowered her wand only slightly. "I woke up with it the summer before second year, please believe me, it's the truth."

Hermione stared at him a moment longer before she slowly lowered her wand. "Why were you laughing You-Know-Who's name?" Hermione asked shakily.

Harry half smiled as he lowered his hands. "The curse is gone, I can say his name again."

"Oh, that's good. Oh! We should stop Ron before he tells the whole school!" Hermione suddenly exclaimed.

Harry was out the portrait-hole before Hermione could blink and she was on his heels soon after. Harry was so worried about what Ron was going to do that he didn't notice that he had shoved Sirius out of the way in his haste, and Hermione stopped to help his godfather back to his feet. He arrived at the Great Hall just as Ron was entering it.

"Ron!" he yelled.

Ron spun around and drew is wand. "You stay away from me!" he shouted. Oh, of course this grabbed the attention of everyone in the Great Hall, including the professors.

"Ron, please, I can explain," Harry said, breathing heavily and holding out both his hands in front of him. "You don't understand, you don't have all the facts, please, just let me explain."

"Fine, explain," Ron growled, not lowering his wand.

"Not here, Ron, please, let's just –"

"NO! You will explain now, here in front of everyone, why Harry Bloody Potter has the Dark Mark branded on his left arm!"

Harry closed his eyes tightly and let his arms fall to his sides as the hall gasp in horror at Ron's words. He opened his eyes, tears in them. He couldn't believe Ron would do this to him without having all the facts, Harry's eyes suddenly hardened into glacial orbs, but he should have expected it. After all everyone else had betrayed him at some point, why not Ron too?

"I'll explain," he said in a cold voice after a moment of staring at his so-called best friend. "I'll explain that Voldemort has taken it upon himself to make my life as miserable as he possibly can! I'll explain that it wasn't enough that he killed my parents because of a stupid prophecy made by a barmy seer. No! He had to make sure that he ended my life too! But because of sheer dumb luck I keep surviving! So instead of just torturing me in front of hundreds of fully trained Wizards who just stood there and did nothing, he has to find other ways to torture me as well!" Harry took in a deep breath. Tears were streaming down his face now. "Are you happy, Ron? Are you happy now that I've explained? Well ANSWER ME!" Harry screamed when Ron just stood there, his wand hanging limply in his hand.

"Harry, I'm…" Ron whispered.

Harry shook his head, clenching his fists. "Don't apologize, Ron, I'm sick of apologies. That's all I ever get. Well you know what? I'm sorry. I'm sorry I ever survived! I'm done," he said quietly and then turned and ran out of the Hall.

Ron stood stock still staring at where Harry had disappeared out the doors. He looked at Snape as the man ran down the length of the Hall. "I…" he began when he saw the rage in Snape's eyes.

"You stupid boy, do you have any idea what you've just done," Snape seethed and then ran after Harry, hoping the boy hadn't gotten it into his head to actually do anything rash.

--

That was exactly what was going through Harry's mind as he stood in Myrtle's bathroom with a knife in his trembling right hand. He looked up at his reflection as he slowly brought the conjured knife down to his left wrist again, intending to cut to the vein this time, but he stopped and took in a deep breath and then dropped the bloody knife into the sink.

Harry shakily slid down to the floor and forced back his sobs as he brought his knees to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. Why was he doing this? Harry shook his head, he really had no clue. He didn't want to die. So Ron had betrayed him, so what? It's not like he'd never been betrayed before, and Ron was just angry, he had no idea that he wasn't a Death Eater. He saw the mark and freaked. Harry probably would have done the same…

Harry closed his eyes. But that was it, that's were Ron and him were different. Harry would have let Ron explain had their roles been reversed, he certainly wouldn't have made Ron explain in front of everyone like that, no matter how rash he was.

And now everyone knew and…

A pounding suddenly sounded at the locked door to the bathroom. "Harry, please open the door," Snape called urgently through the door.

Harry sniffed and stood up, using the sink as support as he held his left arm against him, stanching the blood. It hurt, a lot more than it should, and he was afraid he may have cut too deep too many times, but there really wasn't a whole lot of blood, at least not as much as he thought there should be.

Harry was about to walk over and unlock the door when he stopped and stared at his reflection, certain he couldn't be seeing what he was seeing. He took a step closer and then jumped back in fear. "That's impossible," he whispered to himself. He closed his eyes tightly and then opened them again, his reflection…

"Harry, open the door!" Snape yelled. "Please at least answer me."

Harry stared back at his reflection as relief flooded over him, for a moment he thought he had seen Voldemort looking back at him through his eyes. He shook his head and swayed a bit, now certain that he had lost more blood then he'd thought, especially when he actually took in the sink that he'd dropped the knife in.

Harry breathed deeply before he passed out and then he walked over to the door and unlocked it with the flick of his wand. He stood back when Snape came in and he leaned tiredly against one of the sinks. Snape took in the good amount of blood in the nearest sink and then gently pulled Harry's arms away from him.

"I couldn't do it," Harry whispered. "I couldn't kill myself."

"These are really deep, Harry," Snape said with concern and fear in his voice.

"I know, Severus, I… I think you should catch me…" Harry suddenly fainted and Snape caught the boy before he could hit the floor.

Sirius abruptly barged into the bathroom. "What the hell happened?"

Snape took in a deep breath, to calm himself. "He fainted," Snape said staring down at the boy in his arms worriedly, this was certainly a very bad unexpected turn of events.

--

Harry was back in the Hospital Wing, but this time he didn't care. He sat back in his bed, biting his fingernails as he looked around the empty ward. For the first time in a while, he wished that he had never been brought back to the past.

Because Ron had announced that Harry had the Dark Mark in front of the majority of Hogwarts, news didn't have to spread quickly to get out of the school. The fact that Harry had the mark was now rumor though, thanks to a really powerful concealment charm. Of course, that didn't stop the ministry from barging into Hogwarts demanding an explanation when they found out.

Harry was currently listening in on a rather lengthy explanation going on outside of the Hospital Wing doors. "So you see, Minister," Dumbledore finished. "Harry does not have the Dark Mark, what young Weasley saw was his over active imagination," Dumbledore finished lying to the minister all to cover Harry's ass, and he didn't even know about the concealment charm Harry had put on the mark.

"I would still like to see for myself," Fudge answered back.

Damn, Harry sighed as the Hospital Wing doors opened. He had yet to actually see Dumbledore since he had passed out from shock and blood loss. He really didn't want to deal with Dumbledore's disappointment in him, so avoided his eyes when he came in. Instead he looked to the minister. "Alright," Harry said quietly, not even trying to hide that he was eavesdropping. "But please promise me that what you're about to see won't end up in the Daily Prophet."

Fudge looked curiously at the boy. Dumbledore stared down at him as well as he came to stand by Harry's bed. "Of course, I swear, it will stay between us." Harry hoped so. He'd ask the man to make a magical oath, if he hadn't been the Minister of Magic.

Harry didn't look at Dumbledore as he pulled his arms out from under his blanket and then pulled back the sleeve on his left arm. There was indeed no Dark Mark, but the numerous fresh and old slashes across his arm were quite visible as Harry couldn't conceal them and the mark, as he'd tied the concealment charm into the mark itself. Fudge stared at the boy's arm as if he didn't believe what he was seeing.

Dumbledore had put his head in his hand, just now taking in the severity of what he'd been told a short while ago by Sirius and Severus. Dumbledore finally looked up at the boy. "Harry, you said you'd stopped," he said sadly.

"I did," Harry said quietly. "For a while, but I've started again. Severus knows, as does Sirius… and Ron, if he puts it all together," Harry sighed.

Fudge looked like he was in shock as he stared at Harry while he recovered his arm. "How long has this been going on?" he suddenly asked. "And your guardians have done nothing to stop it?"

Harry shook his head. "My guardians don't know," he said quickly before Fudge blew a gasket about Muggles allowing this to happen to their savior. "Really, only a few people know."

"Dumbledore, there are spells that help children with these sorts of problems, how can you have let this go on?" Fudge demanded.

"What spells?" Harry asked. "No one's said anything about spells that would help me!"

"Those spells Cornelius, take away the personality of the child and takes away their free will. They aren't any better than the Imperious Curse and I will not have them be used in my school, nor on my students," Dumbledore said sternly. "Harry is a strong, brave young man, who has been through too much in his short life. With any other child, cutting would be the least of our worries. Harry will get over this, I assure you."

Harry felt like striking the headmaster. This was not something to get over or push aside. He had come very close that morning to actually killing himself! The cuts he had inflicted on himself were far deeper then he normally would have cut as it was. And he still didn't know why he did it, as much as Snape and him had discussed it.

"Are we finished here, Professor Dumbledore? I'm sure Minister Fudge has many more important things to be getting on with," Harry said with only a slight strain in his voice.

"If the minister has nothing more to discuss with you –"

Fudge turned to leave before Dumbledore could finish, but stopped beside Harry and put his hand on his shoulder. "I understand, Mr. Potter. Believe it or not, I was once in your shoes. If you would like more information about those spells, I would be happy to provide it. They helped me through a very troubling time in my youth, and I know it's not something you get over." Fudge glared at Dumbledore when he said this. "Take care, Mr. Potter."

Harry nodded, rather shocked by what the man had just revealed. He looked back at Dumbledore. "I know I should have told you," Harry said evenly, though his nerves were anything but calm at the moment.

"Yes you should have."

The Hospital Wing doors opened and Harry looked up to see Hermione standing alone in the doorway. "Hello, Harry, Headmaster, mind if I come in?"

Harry shook his head, glaring slightly at the Headmaster, as if daring him to say no. "Come in, Hermione."

Dumbledore nodded at Hermione and then left the Hospital Wing. Harry sighed as he closed the door behind him, he knew this wasn't over. No doubt the Headmaster would be back, looking for an explanation that Harry couldn't give.

Hermione walked over and sat down on the side of Harry's bed. She didn't say anything for a long time and Harry was just about to ask what she was doing here when she looked up to him. "I sort of know what you're going through, Harry. Well not entirely, but I can relate. My cousin used to cut himself. I was his outlet, the one he came to when he had the urge. When I went away to Hogwarts he lost the only person who stopped him from doing something stupid. I wrote to him, but it wasn't enough," Hermione whispered as tears slid down her cheek. "Last year, he committed suicide while I was away at school."

Harry stared at his friend unblinkingly as she looked down at her hands, tears still falling from her eyes. He'd had no idea. He reached out and took her hand and she looked up to him.

"Please, Harry, stop this, I don't want to lose you too. I can't lose you." She choked on a sob and Harry pulled her against him and wrapped his arms around her tightly.

"You're not going to lose me, I promise. You won't lose me," Harry said firmly, deciding then and there that he was never going to cut himself again, even if he had to tell the whole school about his problem.

The two sat in silence for a long time, uninterrupted by anyone. By the time the Hospital Wing doors opened again Hermione was asleep in Harry's arms and Harry was close to following her. His head jerking up awoke her and she sat up so quickly that Harry had to grab her before she toppled off the bed.

"Evening Professors," Harry said calmly as he righted Hermione as Snape walked into the ward, followed my Sirius and Remus.

"Evening, Harry, Miss Granger."

Hermione nodded back, blushing and not looking at the professors. "I should be going. If you want to talk, Harry, I'm here," she said as she scooted off the bed.

"Thanks, Hermione, and I'm sorry about your cousin," Harry said and she squeezed his hand once before leaving the Hospital Wing.

A/N: Sorry these chapters haven't been put up in the last week, I've been a bit busy with stuff, but I'll try and get as much up as I can before I get busy again. :)