A/N – Yes, this chapter is short. Yes, it is late. To tell the truth, I don't really care at this point. I've had a bad week, and right now getting this thing up on time is the least of my problems. Also, to the people who keep asking for longer chapters – it isn't going to happen. I get these out a lot faster than most people, so you're just going to have to put up with it. Deal, grieve, move on. The reason I couldn't get this chapter up yesterday was because I had to go out shopping to buy a present for my mother and for a friend since their birthdays are coming up, because my brother wouldn't let me on to update for five minutes, and because I had to leave for said friend's party, by the way. I did actually have the chapter done.

To Super Saya-Jin Gotan – I really don't appreciate your comments about 'Hands Clean'. Did you even bother to read it? If you had you would know that there is no kissing, touching or making out through the entirety of the first chapter, which was the only chapter up when you commented. I would also like to know exactly why you saw fit to comment about that fic in the POW reviews. The rating is for attempted suicide, by the way. It also doesn't classify as 'yaoi' because yaoi is hard-core. 'Hands Clean' barely qualifies as shounen ai. I could make it yaoi though, if you want. Just to make you happy. Not only have you offended me, you have also offended my sister (Obake, people, check her out), and my best friend (Minna). I really don't have the time or the patience to deal with you right now. Next time just keep your homophobic opinions to yourself.

Disclaimer- Not mine. All JKR's. I'm just borrowing them to have a bit of fun.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Severus scrunched his nose up, trying not to sneeze at the slightly musty smell of the book. He pushed it away and pinched his nose with two fingers, waiting until he had regained control of himself.

"That stinks," he proclaimed, glaring at Harry. "There wasn't any need to go waving it about under my nose like that."

Harry blinked. "Of course it stinks. It has been in my trunk with Vernon's old socks, do you really think that it would smell like a field of flowers? I really need to do something about that…"

Dumbledore coughed, trying to hide what looked to be a smile behind his hand. "I think that we should be worrying about why someone has been in Harry's room, not the odour of his book."

"You wouldn't be saying that if you'd just had it shoved under your nose," Severus snapped. "That's really vile, that is."

"All right, I get the picture! The book stinks, I need to do something about it. Can we get back to the topic, now?" Harry snapped. "This may surprise you, but I'm tired. I haven't been able to get any sleep for the past week, and now I have a chance to catch up. I'll miss out on that chance, however, if we don't get this over with! You see what this lack of sleep is doing to me? I'm starting to sound like him!" Harry growled, jabbing a finger at Snape, who blinked then frowned at Harry. Snape's frowns could usually bring a first year to tears, but apparently they didn't work as well on a person who was tired, upset and feeling slightly snarky. After a few minutes he gave up. Dumbledore shrugged helplessly.

"I'm afraid there isn't much we can do, Harry. Your room is already charmed to alert us if someone from outside of the school enters it, but if it's someone from the school…"

"Arabella Figg," Snape said.

"Pardon?"

"Arabella Figg. She has already watched the boy for the last fifteen or so years, why don't you get her to watch him? I'm sure she'll be able to do something."

Dumbledore nodded. "You're right, as usual. If Arabella is watching him she's sure to catch whoever was in his room."

"Have you decided yet? Great. Now, if you don't mind, I have some sleep to catch up on," Harry said, stalking out of the room in a decidedly cranky fashion. Dumbledore shook his head.

"He may have James' looks and Lily's eyes, but he's becoming more and more like you every day, Severus," he said, smiling. Snape shook his head.

"Please don't say that, Albus."

"All right. You could try to be a little nicer to the boy, though. You're far too hard on him because of who his father was."

Snape snorted. "Hard on him? At least I don't expect him to save the world, Albus. He's just a child, I realise that, and I make sure I don't push him further than he can handle. A lot of people don't, though, and what will happen when he fails? What will happen when he is captured, or killed, or beaten? Who will we rely on then? I'm just preparing him, Professor, and you know it." A wry smile crossed Severus' face for a moment, before fading away. "Otherwise you would have stopped me long ago."

Dumbledore closed his eyes for a moment, before opening them again to stare at Snape, eyes bright. "Perhaps…"

Snape nodded. "Now, if you don't mind, breakfast is calling and I find my stomach rather eager to answer."

Professor Dumbledore laughed. "Such a wonderful way of phrasing the sentence, Severus. Of course you may go."

Severus nodded again and turned to leave. "Shall I tell Figg, Albus?"

Dumbledore shook his head. "No, I'll do it. Would you mind asking Dobby to bring some toast to my study? I have to pay him, today."

"Of course."

* * *

Harry tossed and turned in his bed, trying to fall asleep. He wasn't having much success. Eventually he sat up, running a hand through his hair.

"This is just great," He muttered. "I finally have a chance to get some undisturbed rest, and I can't fall asleep. Someone really, really doesn't like me." After a few minutes he gave up altogether, and got dressed. He gave his hair a quick brush, smiling tiredly at Sebastian as the snake wound himself around Harry's arm. He walked over to the mirror and glanced at his reflection, before turning back to look at himself more fully. He hadn't realised how much he had changed over the last six months. His eyes, which once had shone with laughter, were now serious. His hair had grown to such a length that it gave him a feral look, and the way he stood gave an alert and slightly paranoid air to his reflection. As he watched the image in the mirror changed, becoming the boy from his dreams. He gazed at Harry, fear and pain in his eyes.

"Please…will you help me? Why won't someone help me? Am I that bad?" As the image's lips moved a voice echoed around the room, sounding as if it was coming from under the water and a great distance away. The mirror's reflection shifted again to become Voldemort. His cold laugh echoed throughout the room as Harry backed away in horror.

"Our time will come, Potter…only one of us will be left in the end. It will be me," he snarled. The mirror shifted again to return to what it had originally been reflecting. Echolalia had moved to hover behind Harry, and she placed a tentative hand on his shoulder.

"Are you alright?" She asked, tugging on a strand of his hair with her other hand. Harry turned to look at her for a moment, before glancing back at the mirror once more. His reflection remained there, mimicking his every move, acting exactly as it should.

"I…I'm fine," He said, voice uncertain. "Just fine…"