Snape's eyes ran over the motionless form of the boy laying on his bed.
The darkness of the night sky was relenting under the assault of sunlight as it grew stronger against the horizon. It had been a long night as the professor rocked gently back and forth in his chair, his fingers sinking into the fading upholstery of the arm rest.
As long as he could witness the constant rise and fall of the young wizard's chest, then he knew everything would be alright.
He closed his eyes but for a moment, afraid that the desire to sleep would overpower him and take him against his will.
Should he tell Dumbledore?
A hefty sigh left the man's lips as he contemplated his options.
It's not as though he was able to keep secrets from the greatest wizard of the age.
The professor clenched his teeth as he pushed his index finger against his temple, gently rubbing it as he continued to sway back and forth in his seat.
He glanced to the door before instinctively rising to his feet.
It was yet another day.
Another day in which he would have to impart his knowledge onto ungrateful brats.
But what about Harry?
The professor's eyes ran over Harry as he rested peacefully.
For now, the boy can stay.
Though, he would be lying if he said he wasn't afraid to leave the young wizard on his own.
What if he tried something like this again?
Snape closed his eyes as he whisked his slender wand from his pocket.
It had been a long time since he had cast this spell, but its value was intrinsic.
The professor clutched Harry's fingers into his own before running the tip of his wand over the point at which Harry's wrist and his own merged.
He whispered the words he knew only too well.
A white string of light bound itself around the two wrists before suddenly disappearing.
Snape released the fingers from his hold, watching with a sense of awe as the back of Harry's hand collided gently with the blanket beneath it.
Now he would feel every emotion Harry felt, as the boy felt them.
The professor turned on his heel before walking away from the boy.
*~.~*
Harry felt his body flinch.
It was as though he were being summoned, but to where?
Harry allowed his eyes to venture open, as though afraid of what he might find.
He did not feel like re-joining the world of the living. Especially not now that everyone was sure to find out about his attempt at ending his own life.
The young wizard clenched his teeth, it seemed as though life had dished him yet another thing to dread.
What would Malfoy say when he found out?
What?
Couldn't even finish the job?
Harry gritted his teeth as the imaginary laughter of his most despised school mate drones endlessly in his mind.
But why did he even care about what Malfoy would think?
Harry forced a sigh from his lips.
Why did everything always seem to end up this way?
He shook his head, it seemed a question he would never know the answer to as he forced himself to sit up on the bed.
He glanced around, his eyes dancing over the shelves lined with textbooks and half-filled potion bottles.
If he didn't know better, he would have thought he was in the potion's classroom.
Only, why was there a bed here, and a fireplace, not to mention the absence of desks and chairs.
But then, where was he?
It was only then that he noticed a faint sound in the distance, one that seemed to grow stronger with each passing second.
His heart began to pound as he wondered what it could possibly be, but just as soon as the sound had started, it ceased. Harry was granted a moments reprieve before being at the mercy of a rather hearty knock at the door.
Who could that be?
Harry forced himself to sit up straighter as he watched the door like a hawk.
In a moment he was greeted by an all too familiar smile.
"Hagrid?" Harry squinted, as though expecting to see someone else stepping cautiously towards him.
An uneasiness lingered in Hagrid's eyes, as though he was suddenly unsure of what to say.
"Thought ya might like some breakfast." Hagrid offered as he seemed to fish through the depths of his bag for something.
Harry couldn't ignore the distinctive scent of bacon as it seemed to fill the room.
"Thank you" Harry offered the giant a warm smile as a plate of bacon, eggs, toast and hash browns appeared in front of him.
"I got to get to class now, but I'll pop back and see you later on." Hagrid smiled reassuringly before heading for the door.
Harry opened his lips to speak, but words failed him as he watched his dear friend leave the room.
He couldn't stay here, wherever here was.
He began to pick at his breakfast, only realising in that moment just how hungry he had become.
He pushed his now empty plate off to the side, suddenly remembering that he had classes to attend as he dragged himself from the bed.
*~.~*
Harry paced slowly down Hogwarts corridor after Hogwarts corridor. The truth be told he was loosing the desire to reach his destination with ever step he took. It would not be long before he would arrive at the dreaded divination classroom. He was already late, he began to wonder whether it was worth turning up at all? He truly despised entering a classroom after the lesson had begun, having the eyes of everyone upon him, their thoughts about him written all over their faces as they ran their condescending eyes up and down him.
The mere prospect made him sick to his stomach.
Harry winced to himself as he climbed the ladder into the classroom, the drone of professor Trelawny's voice echoed throughout the class. Perhaps he should wait until his ears were instead filled with the muffled chattering's of his classmates.
Yes.
He would be sure to draw less attention to himself that way.
Harry waited for what felt like an eternity until his ears were finally greeted with an assortment of rustlings, chinging of tea cups and mutterings.
The young wizard rose to his feet before creeping in, he soon spotted Ron, who appeared miserable as he sat at a table all alone. Harry wasted no time as he slid down into the seat across from his best friend.
"Where the hell were you last night? I woke up and you were gone!" Ron screwed up his face as though he had just caught his friend in the middle of doing something truly vial.
"I know! You were with a girl weren't you?"
Harry felt his heart sink, he didn't have it in him to tell his friend about how he didn't want to partake in the world anymore. What if Ron thought he didn't want to be friends with him anymore?
What of he took it personally?
Perhaps if he thought he was with someone, it would be for the best. It wouldn't after all, be a lie. He was with someone, but never in this lifetime would he confess his confusing, possibly non-existent relationship with Snape to his best friend. There were still some things you couldn't share between friends, no matter how close you are.