Disclaimer: The characters and places and stuff belong to JKR. But for now, they are at my mercy. *evil grin* I'll return them as soon as I'm finished…maybe.

Author's Note: Notice that Albus said "another unregistered Animagus" in the last chapter. I should have given little hints, but that's the lack of planning on my part. I don't plan out fan fics. I write them as they come. Also, I'm glad that everyone approves of my 'making Hermione the bad guy.' I've seen a couple of slash fics where Hermione turns out to be homophobic, but usually it is Ron. I decided to try something different.

Nicky: Just because her opinion is different and she was raised to believe something is bad, that proves her undeserving of the Head Girl position? Hey, we'll see!

Moonlight: The only person who knew everything that was in the article was Draco, so it couldn't have been anyone you named because they didn't know.

Desertwren: Not necessarily Christian beliefs…Just religious, I guess lol Though maybe she is Christian and just believes some things more than others, like I do. Do you get what I mean?

Tereth Dragonstar: I'm glad you approved of that little speech. I'm quite proud of it. I really do think it would be something Sev would say.

Zatara: All in good time, my dear. All in good time. *hehehe*

Author's Note 2: I don't know how often I'll be able to update in the near future. I have finals coming up, and then a semester change. All of my difficult honors classes are next semester, and I'm sure I'll have plenty of homework. Speaking of, I still have AP Chem to do by next Friday…

Thanks for the great reviews, everybody!

In this chapter: Depression, Sev's an ass, a knife, and a threat

~~~

Chapter 18

Sure enough, Severus had received several Howlers by lunchtime the next day. The people who had read the article seemed to think that Severus was "a vile old man" and "a child molester" and that Harry was "just a child who has already been through so much in his life."

Needless to say, Severus and Albus made it so that no more Howlers would be delivered to him after that. Then Severus went about his day as usual, ignoring the stares and whispered insults.

Harry, meanwhile, was in Sirius and Remus's chambers, refusing to go to class. Sirius had opted to stay with him, as had Draco, while Remus taught the Defense classes alone. Harry spent the entire day lying in his godfathers' bed. He wouldn't eat or sleep, and he barely spoke at all.

Harry had received a couple of Howlers, as well, but he didn't even acknowledge the people who were screaming through them. They were strangers. What did it matter? He'd also received a couple of letters, which Sirius and Draco read to themselves before deciding if it was okay for Harry to hear them.

"This one's from Mrs. Weasley, Harry," Sirius said, softly, as he sat next to Harry on the bed. He began to read the note aloud.

Dear Harry,

Percy, Arthur, and I saw the article in the newspaper, dear, and we are so sorry that these people just won't leave you alone. Percy and Arthur are trying to get something done about it, to see how the information was obtained and such, and hopefully, this person will be punished. Still, that won't make up for the pain and problems you're probably having because of the article.

We hope you're doing well, Harry, and if you need anything, just let us know. We love you like you're one of our own.

Love,

Molly Weasley

PS--Do make sure you're eating properly and getting enough sleep. I want you to be healthy the next time I see you.

"Arabella Figg sent you a card," Draco told Harry, who remained impassive. "She says that she's thinking of you and she hopes you're well."

"Bill Weasley sent you some Muggle toy," Sirius said, inspecting the small, rubbery thing that seemed to be filled with sand. "It's supposed to help you relieve stress, he says. And the twins say that they love you and that they'll curse or play a trick on anyone you want them to."

"Please, leave me alone," Harry whispered, his voice hoarse from crying. "I want to be alone."

Sirius and Draco agreed, and they both kissed Harry's forehead before leaving the room. Sirius called a house elf to bring up some sandwiches for lunch, and then he and Draco sat in the living room to eat, saving some food for Harry, just in case.

"So..." Sirius said, quietly, as he glanced over at Draco. "Is it true?"

"Is what true?" Draco asked, slightly confused.

"About Harry and Snape," Sirius sighed. Draco frowned and nodded.

"He was afraid to tell you because he thought you'd be angry with him or that you'd kill Sev. You haven't seen the way they look at each other? Harry's hopelessly in love, but he won't do anything about it. I think Sev feels the same, but he won't admit it."

"I thought it was a little strange, how he's been treating Harry these past few weeks," Sirius muttered. "I just never thought that would be the reason for it."

Suddenly, from the bedroom, they heard Harry cry, "Draco!"

Draco and Sirius rushed to the bedroom, and Sirius stood in the doorway while Draco sat on the bed with Harry. The dark-haired boy was staring at a letter in his hand as an owl flew out the window.

"What's the matter, Harry?" Draco asked, softly.

Harry handed Draco the letter before falling into his arms and crying into his chest. Draco read the note and cursed loudly, dropping the letter and wrapping Harry in a protective embrace.

"Shh, Harry, shh," Draco murmured, soothingly. "I'll take care of it, baby, I'll knock some sense into him. Don't worry about it." He smoothed Harry's hair back and pressed a kiss to his temple. "I'm going to leave you with Sirius, okay? I'll be back in a little while."

Draco gave Harry one last kiss, then headed for the door, pausing by Sirius to whisper, "Stay with him. Don't let him out of your sight."

Draco left, and Sirius sat down with Harry, whose silent sobs dwindled as exhaustion took over him. While Sirius rubbed his back, hoping for him to go to sleep, he read the note that Harry had just received.

Potter,

That article seems to have caused some problems for the both of us. Just this morning, in fact, I received seven Howlers from strangers, but that is beside the point.

I think it would be best for you and I to resume our former relationship as student and teacher, and nothing more. In fact, why don't we just pretend that the past few weeks never happened? From now on, I will be treating you as I normally would. It's for the best.

Professor S. Snape

"Oh, shit, Snape, you're in for it," Sirius muttered.

~~~

And in for it, Severus was. Draco went to the potions classroom and stood in the doorway as Severus observed his sixth-year Gryffindor-Slytherin class. When his godfather glanced his way, Draco forced a smile, gritting his teeth.

"Professor, may I speak with you for a moment? Privately?"

Severus sighed inwardly and led Draco into his office. He closed, locked, and sound-proofed the door, then turned to his godson, who was giving him a murderous glare. The two stared at one another in silence for a moment.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Draco shouted, finally. "He burst into tears when he read that note! He's hurt enough already; he won't eat, he won't sleep, he'll hardly speak, and then you spring this bull shite on him?! Merlin, you're such a bastard! He needs you, and here you are, acting like nothing's going on!

"You love him, Severus, you know you do! And you know he loves you back! So what's the big fucking problem?! It's not against any laws or rules! You can't get in trouble for it! Just admit it, and you can both be happy for once! You have a chance at complete happiness, Sev, why the bloody hell are you throwing it away?!"

"What I do with my life is none of your concern," Severus said, icily. "Twenty points from Slytherin, and get out of my sight."

Draco just sighed as a tear made its way out of his eye. He headed for the door, then turned back and looked at Severus.

"This isn't the real you," Draco said, sadly. "If this was the real you...Harry would deserve better. Then again...if you're making all this effort to hide the real you...maybe he deserves better either way."

~~~

It took a few days, but Remus, Sirius, Draco, and Ron finally managed to convince Harry to return to his classes. Students stared at him once again, and the teachers were sympathetic and didn't give him a hard time.

Except Severus.

True to his word, he was treating Harry as he treated any of the other Gryffindors. That included taking House points and giving Harry a detention when he was twelve seconds late for class.

But Harry didn't say a word, to him or to anyone. He just walked back to his seat next to Ron, his eyes empty and his mind dazed.

"Open your books to page 254 and make the Leviosa Potion," Severus instructed everyone. "No partners. This potion will be done individually. Begin."

Ten minutes later, Severus came to the back of the room to check on people's potions, and he found that Harry hadn't even started his. Instead, the boy was staring at the knife on his table, and Severus wondered if he was having a flashback again. Shaking the thought from his head, he glared at Harry.

"Potter, is there a reason why you haven't even begun your potion yet?" Severus sneered.

"I don't trust myself," Harry whispered, almost inaudibly.

"What was that? It's quite difficult to hear when you don't speak up." Harry lifted his head and stared directly into Severus's eyes.

"I don't trust myself with a knife," he repeated, more loudly and firmly. Everyone was staring at him now, but he didn't care. "Especially lately. Every time I pick up a knife, I want to cut myself and feel the burning pain on my arm, and sometimes I can't stop myself because I like that feeling." He took a breath and gave Severus a defiant look. "I am not touching that knife."

Severus ignored the pain in his chest and stared right back at Harry.

"Then you will go to the headmaster and explain to him why you have failed an assignment that you are quite capable of completing. Now."

Harry nodded curtly and gathered his things before leaving the room. Then Draco glared at his godfather, dumped the contents of his cauldron, and left the room as well. Ron followed suit. He and Draco quickly caught up with Harry, who was heading up to Albus's office. Once they guessed the password of the week (Reese's Cups) the three of them went into the office, Draco and Ron each holding one of Harry's hands for comfort, and they sat down in the chairs in front of Albus's desk.

"Draco, Harry, Ronald," Albus greeted them, nodding. "To what do I owe this surprise? Aren't you supposed to be in Potions right now?"

"We left," Ron said, simply.

"Oh?" Albus said in surprise. "And why is that?"

Harry stayed silent, staring at his hands in his lap, so Draco elaborated.

"Harry couldn't prepare his ingredients because he doesn't trust himself with a knife," he said, softly. "Therefore, he couldn't do the assignment. He hasn't had this problem before because we normally do our assignments in pairs, so he would just ask his partner to do anything that required the knife. Harry explained to Severus that he doesn't trust himself with a knife and that he wasn't going to touch the knife. Severus told him to come up here and explain to you why he failed an assignment that he's 'quite capable of completing.' Weasley and I walked out and followed."

"And so here you are," Albus stated, a thoughtful look on his face.

"Here we are," Ron agreed.

"Can't you do anything about him, Professor?" Draco asked, his tone close to whining. "He's been treating Harry like shite just because he can't own up to his feelings! You see it, too, don't you?"

"I do, Draco, I see it, too," Albus assured him, tiredly. "I've tried talking to him. I've done everything I've been able to imagine, but it doesn't seem to be doing any good. I will, however, keep trying. As should you, for Harry's sake." He looked at Harry and smiled sadly. "Speaking of Harry, perhaps you should put him to bed. He seems to have fallen asleep."

~~~

That night at supper, a note was dropped in front of Severus by a black eagle owl. Students stared, as it was strange to receive mail in the evening, but they quickly turned away when Severus scowled at them. He then opened the note and read it to himself.

Severus,

If he kills himself and leaves me because of all of this, I will blame you. Then I will have nobody left, nobody to live for. Perhaps I might have to do myself in, as well? It would be an action long overdue because after Mum and Dad died, you and him were the only people stopping me from killing myself before.

Severus held the note tightly in his hand and closed his eyes, inhaling and exhaling to calm himself. Finally, he stood from his seat, having lost his appetite, and retreated to his dungeons.