Disclaimer: Not mine!

A/N: Thank you very much to my reviewers: shiroiryu144, Caramel Kenzie, Emerald Girl, Entilzah, and helpstuckinbox

Tangled Relations

Chapter 5 - A new school year and more diary

Harry sat by the lake for what seemed like an hour before he saw the puffs of smoke indicating that the Hogwarts express was getting close. He walked over to one of the carriages with the thestrals pulling it. It was the thestral he had ridden at the end of last year. He stroked the thestral's snout. It seemed to calm him considerably. He wondered if any of his friends would be able to see them now, after Sirius' death.

When the train pulled in to the station Harry walked on to the platform to finally see his friends. This was the first year that he didn't see them all summer long.

"Harry!!" He looked up to see a mop of frizzy brown hair running towards him followed closely by a tall redhead. "Hey Hermione, Ron I missed you guys. How was your summer?" Ron answered first. "Awful, we were stuck in that house all summer mostly cleaning. Didn't get to play quidditch all summer. How about you?"

Harry proceeded to tell them all about the attack on Privet Drive, flying everyday, and going shopping with Snape while they rode in the carriages up to the school. He even told them about most of the things that he found in his vault. He still had to hold back some tears as he mentioned the broom. He knew his father was probably just as passionate about flying as he is, so the broom must have been one of his more treasured belongings. The only thing he left out was the diaries. He wasn't ready for anybody to know about that.

The sorting went on as usual with the almost 100 new students being split almost evenly between houses. It seemed that the great hall was slightly larger than before and the tables were longer. After the sorting Dumbledore stood up to give his start of term speech. "Welcome everyone to a new school year at Hogwarts. As we have many more first years than usual I must ask that the upper-years do their best to assist any first years that need help. I would also like to introduce our new Defense against the Dark Arts Teacher. He is a former teacher that I managed to convince to return. Please welcome Professor Lupin." The Golden trio quickly rose up and began clapping loudly and they were soon joined by most of the students. "Now everyone tuck in" With that food appeared on the plates.

After dinner everyone retired to the Gryffindor tower and headed to bed. Harry climbed into his bed after retrieving one of the diaries from his trunk. He pulled the curtains around the bed and put up a silencing charm in the event he started crying again. 'He didn't want anyone's pity', he thought, as he laid back in his bed to read.

January 29, 1977

I love Severus!! I know, I write it all the time

in here now. He was so sweet today. I feel so

close to him even though we haven't done anything

other than kiss. I know that we've been taking

things slow, but neither of us plan on having sex

before marriage. I'm glad that he is willing to wait.

I may not know much about wizard culture, but my

muggle family is very traditional. We went to

Hogsmead again today. He bought me flowers that

are charmed to last for a month without wilting.

That will make them last till the next Hogsmead

weekend. I think James is jealous of Severus. I

know James used to like me but he has backed off a

bit. At least he has laid off picking on Sev out

of respect for me.

L.E.

Harry flipped forward again. Apparently it's not just 1976, it must be the whole school year, he thought. I can't believe that my mom loved Snape. I can't imagine them kissing. I wonder what happened that she ended up with my dad?

March 1, 1977

I am in shock I think. This is the happiest day of

my life. Severus and I were walking around the

lake this evening and we stopped to watch the sunset.

After the sun disappeared behind the castle, Severus

took a gorgeous gold ring with an emerald out of his

robe and proposed! I of course accepted. I haven't

told anyone yet, not even Remus. We already decided

that we should wait until after we graduate to get married.

I'm so excited! I can't believe that in a year and a

half I could be Mrs. Severus Snape. I don't Know if

I'll be able to sleep at all tonight.

L.E.

The Boy-Who-Lived was completely floored with that entry. His mom was engaged to Snape! This was becoming too much. He skimmed through several more pages before stopping at a page that caught his attention. Several smudges that must have been teardrops marred the page, and the writing was very shaky.

March 16, 1977

I don't know what to do. I have to break it off with

Sev now. This has got to be the worst day of my life.

I thought that I would spend the rest of my life with

Sev, but now it has to end. This is going to be hard.

I love him so much and I miss him already, but after

what I saw in the mirror today, I can't stay with him.

It wouldn't be right.

L.E.

Harry couldn't stop reading now, but he also couldn't stop the tears that were falling. It hurt to know how upset his mom was. 'What did she see in the mirror? Was it the mirror of Erised?'

March 24, 1977

I keep trying to break up with Severus, but he won't

listen. I can't tell him the real reason, so I told

him that I didn't love him anymore. I know he can see

right through me, but I can't tell him the truth. If

I'm right about this my life could be in danger if anyone

finds out, especially his dad. Sev wouldn't understand

either or he wouldn't believe me. Why can't my life be

simple. I've had a terrible pain in my chest ever since the

sixteenth, I know it's my heart being torn in two. Please

forgive me Sev.

L.E.

Harry now understood Professor Snape a little more. If his mom was hurting this much and she knew why the relationship had to end, then how must Snape have felt thinking that Lily, his mom, didn't love him anymore. That had to be killing him inside. Maybe that's why he's such a heartless person now. Harry made a silent promise to himself to do better in potions. With that he put the diary back in his trunk and laid back in bed. 'I wonder what charms she put on it? Is it only me that can read it? Maybe she wanted me to be able to read it when I was older so she included me in the charm.'

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