Disclaimer: I own nothing. Harry, Hedwig, Severus (as much as I love him), and everyone else, all belong to JKR and whoever else is in the long list of Harry Potter owners. Tidmag owns the basic plot as he/she (?) gave me the idea for this story. Also, this is another answer for Severitus' challenge. This story has no relation to my other story written partly in answer to Severitus' challenge because there is no Saerry (except for yours truly). I also do not own The Calling or their lyrics.
Summary: Fifth year and Harry finds himself changing. But are they for better or for worse? And what secret lurks behind these changes? A secret only Remus Lupin seems to know.
Warning: Suicide implied in this chapter
These Dreams-Saerry Snape-
* And I Know Life Ain't Easy *
~*~
Well I would like to think
The world hasn't seen
That all the best is still to come,
and I know life ain't easy
~*~
Hermione's POV
Oh, for God's sake, why can't Ron get his broomstick out of his ass? He's been acting like – like – dammit, he's been acting like Malfoy! God, I feel like punching him – just try to knock some sense into his foolish head. How could he? How could he treat Harry this way just because his father is Professor Snape? God, he's a fool. He's breaking his friendship up just because his best friends father is the most hated professor in the school!
Oh, and speaking of the idiot ass, there he is, coming right into the common room and sprawling on the couch. Now he's glaring at the fire. He doesn't even notice I'm here. Ha, serve him right to get surprised. The jerk.
I wonder where Harry is. Maybe I should go find him. It'd be better than sticking around here and watching Ron glare at the fireplace. Perhaps I should tell Fred and George to play a few pranks on Ron. Maybe.
I am going to go find Harry now.
I closed my diary and went silently upstairs to put it away in my trunk. Ron never even noticed I had moved. He never even said anything till I came back downstairs and was walking towards the door.
"Where are you going?"
I turned around and replied, "Out."
"To find Harry?"
"What does it matter to you, Ron?"
Ron growled, "It doesn't."
I frowned, my temper rising. It rarely does that.
"Ron, you ignorant bastard. Haven't you even thought about what Harry's feeling right now?"
"Very smug, most likely."
SMACK.
My hand made a satisfying clap as it hit Ron's cheek and he stared at him as my hand stood out in livid red on his cheek.
I snarled, "You know, Ron, its not nice to judge people. Especially not Harry! He won't even talk to Professor Snape, so I don't think he's too happen about the news."
"How do you know that?"
"I just happened to be standing outside the Great Hall with Professor Snape tried to talk to Harry. He basically told him to shove off."
"What?"
"You heard me. So you go and apologize to your friend or I swear to God I will make your life a living Hell."
Ron stared at me and I took that moment to turn on my heel and leave. Ha ha, bet he hadn't expected that. Hermione Granger, losing her temper. Ah, now that's a sight.
I laughed to myself then stopped as soon as I found I was outside an empty classroom. Inside I could hear muffled sobs. Moving closer to the door, I listened for a moment then gently pushed it open. Peeking around, I saw something that made my eyes widen in horror.
Harry sat curled into a ball in a corner of the room, sobs wracking his form. His long hair nearly completely hid his face but I could see flashes of red across it.
Oh God.
He's tried to kill himself.
I moved into the room and walked over to him. He never even looked up and I knelt down beside him and gently pushed his hair back from his tear-streaked and bloody face.
Oh, Harry. Why? Why would you want to do this?
I spotted more blood clotted on his wrist and had to cover my mouth in horror.
Oh God.
"Harry? Harry, c'mon, we've got to get you up to the Hospital Wing."
"No."
I blinked.
"Harry, c'mon, you can't stay here."
Harry shook his head, causing his hair to fall back over his face, and muttered, "Can."
"Harry . . ."
"No, no, no, no, no."
I sighed and whispered, "I'm sorry, Harry." Drawing my wand, I tapped Harry's bowed head and whispered, "Dormio." Harry slumped forward, falling into me. I sighed and gently ran my hand through his hair before putting him into a laying position on the floor and levitating him into the air. Covering his face with his hair and his wrists with his cloak, I left the room with his body floating gently behind me.
~*~
"What in all Merlin happened?" was the first thing Madam Pomfrey asked when I entered the Hospital Wing. I quickly replied, "We were working on a potion Professor Snape told us about today. One of the vials exploded."
Madam Pomfrey gave me a critical look but took the lie. She turned over to Harry, who was lying on his side on one of the beds. Picking up one of his wrists, she muttered, "This doesn't look like a cut from flying glass."
I kept my face as neutral as I could and said, "Really?" Madam Pomfrey frowned at me and I smiled. I doubt Harry would want anyone to know what he had tried to do. So I stood and watched as Madam Pomfrey cleaned the blood from his face and wrists then healed the cuts as best she could. She walked off after twitching a blanket over him and then I moved towards the bed.
Harry lay quietly on the bed, his long hair partly covering his face. Suddenly a thought hit me. Snape was Harry's father, yet the only thing that had changed about Harry's appearance was his height and hair. Lifting my wand, I touched both of my eyes with the tip and whispered, "Veritas."
~*~
I pass them sleeping on the streets
Their bloodstained hands and dirty feet
And I can't ignore them
Any more that I already have
~*~
Veritas - Truth