Escaping the Darkness
Disclaimer - I do not own anything except the plot - so don't sue. The lovely JK Rowling owns them all *sigh*.
A/N - sorry for taking so long to get this chapter up - I know u all hate me now, but I've been busy lately. Also, check out my new story 'Twists of Fate' if you want to. I've just started it - and I have a question for you all - is it still rated under D/H if it's Harry re-incarnated (not remembering his old self apart from the occasional flashbacks) - please tell me *begs with puppy dog eyes*
So anyway, without further adieu, here it is - Chapter two of Escaping the Darkness:
Chapter 2: The Dark Stranger
Silence hung in the air as Snape, Dumbledore, Draco and the Dark Stranger filed in to Dumbledore's office
The stranger slowly made his way into the centre of the room, and it became almost evident that he was in pain as he took a seat in the empty chair.
Snape cleared his throat and the figure raised his head to look at him. "We haven't got all day, you know. Perhaps if you were to remove your hood and tell us exactly why you are here?"
A slight chuckle from the corner made the stranger turn his head to look at a highly amused, smirking Draco Malfoy. The figure scowled at him underneath his hood, knowing why Draco found the scene so amusing. He knew that, through twists of fate, Draco knew who he was and why he was here. Dumbledore and Snape looked on in mild curiosity at Draco and the stranger, and how they seemed to know what the other was thinking.
After a few moments, the stranger brought his head back around, realising that he hadn't answered Snape's question yet.
"Er, well I can't really remove my hood, professor, as you would probably judge the situation, before you even heard me out, and twist what I was saying to suit your own story."
Snape glared at the figure and scowled, clearly not amused. He opened his mouth to retort but was cut off.
"Now, now, Severus, as I believe the muggle saying goes 'we mustn't judge a book by its cover' - you of all people should know that." A pointed look from the headmaster made Snape close his mouth and he once again took to glaring at the offending figure in the chair. His eyes then turned to the figure in the chair. "And I am also quite sure that the person in question is no coward," the figure felt the slightly uncomfortable feeling of Dumbledore's eyes like an x-ray on his mind, as if searching for answers that the figure just wasn't ready to give yet.
The figure spoke again. "You don't know how right you are professor, yet so very wrong at the same time."
Professor Dumbledore was quite surprised by this little comment and filed this away in his memory for later use, and looked like he would need to use the pensive for a few things after this. The headmaster's thoughts were interrupted by the figure as he began to talk again.
"You misunderstand me completely, Professor. All my life I have been judged by my appearance, my image, my façade. You haven't taken the time to ask what is going on in my life, how I feel, or even what I did this summer. Hell, you have no idea how much pain I went through last summer, when one of the few people I thought cared completely ignored me because he thought that it would be in the best interests for me if he did so.
No-one understands what it is like for me, day in and day out, to suffer internally with the knowledge that your parents are dead, you have a highly abusive uncle *looking* after you, and everyone expects you to be what they want you to be - the brave hero that will conquer Lord Voldemort and save the wizarding world. Everywhere I go, someone is either going 'Oh my god! It's the Boy-Who-Lived!', or stealing nasty glances at me and telling their children to stay away from the hardened hooligan who gets shipped off to St Brutus' Secure Centre for Incurably Criminal Boys every summer." He stopped here to take a deep breath and both Draco and Snape snorted.
In his anger, the figure had risen from his seat and had stalked over to Dumbledore's desk, placing his hands on either side of his body as he leaned forward onto the Headmaster's desk, practically screaming in his face. Snape was openly gaping, and Draco looked rather amused, as he was the only one who had any idea of the situation, aside from the stranger himself, but he was also a little curious at the same time to find out some of these things that he had no idea of and never would have guessed. Dumbledore alone looked calm, and this irritated the figure a little. The twinkle in his eye had gone out to be replaced by a serious look. He opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by (a slightly calmer) Harry Potter as he held up his hand.
"Do you have *any* idea what kind of hell I go through every day, Professor? I am *not* somebody's pawn to be told what to do and be pushed every which way as others wish - I have feelings too, you know! I thought that you of all people would understand, but *nnooo*, and I can tell you right now that you probably don't believe me," here he shot an unseen look at a disbelieving Professor Snape, before he continued, "but let me tell you this - I have been to hell and back before, Professor, but this time I'm stuck - there *is* no coming back anymore." Here his voice turned a bit angrier as his temper that had been threatening to fall finally broke.
"So take all of you and the Order's fucking plans and shove them up your old, wrinkled, lilly-white ass, *Professor*, 'cause I'm sick and tired of it and I am *not* gonna take it any longer!!!"
The figure finished his tirade and stood breathing heavily, still leaning on Dumbledore's desk, his head bowed. Everyone in the office was stunned into silence, to say the least, before a small, appreciative, thought entered Draco Malfoy's shocked brain - 'Way to go, Potter!'
Thanks again to all my lovely reviewers - you know who you are, and please review this chapter to tell me what you think - good, bad, average - is it better or worse than the first? Etc. comments and suggestions are good, and congrats to all that guessed that it was Harry under the hood. There were a few, and you know who you are.
Feedback is greatly appreciated, so *please* review and tell me what you think,
Silver Emeralds
Disclaimer - I do not own anything except the plot - so don't sue. The lovely JK Rowling owns them all *sigh*.
A/N - sorry for taking so long to get this chapter up - I know u all hate me now, but I've been busy lately. Also, check out my new story 'Twists of Fate' if you want to. I've just started it - and I have a question for you all - is it still rated under D/H if it's Harry re-incarnated (not remembering his old self apart from the occasional flashbacks) - please tell me *begs with puppy dog eyes*
So anyway, without further adieu, here it is - Chapter two of Escaping the Darkness:
Chapter 2: The Dark Stranger
Silence hung in the air as Snape, Dumbledore, Draco and the Dark Stranger filed in to Dumbledore's office
The stranger slowly made his way into the centre of the room, and it became almost evident that he was in pain as he took a seat in the empty chair.
Snape cleared his throat and the figure raised his head to look at him. "We haven't got all day, you know. Perhaps if you were to remove your hood and tell us exactly why you are here?"
A slight chuckle from the corner made the stranger turn his head to look at a highly amused, smirking Draco Malfoy. The figure scowled at him underneath his hood, knowing why Draco found the scene so amusing. He knew that, through twists of fate, Draco knew who he was and why he was here. Dumbledore and Snape looked on in mild curiosity at Draco and the stranger, and how they seemed to know what the other was thinking.
After a few moments, the stranger brought his head back around, realising that he hadn't answered Snape's question yet.
"Er, well I can't really remove my hood, professor, as you would probably judge the situation, before you even heard me out, and twist what I was saying to suit your own story."
Snape glared at the figure and scowled, clearly not amused. He opened his mouth to retort but was cut off.
"Now, now, Severus, as I believe the muggle saying goes 'we mustn't judge a book by its cover' - you of all people should know that." A pointed look from the headmaster made Snape close his mouth and he once again took to glaring at the offending figure in the chair. His eyes then turned to the figure in the chair. "And I am also quite sure that the person in question is no coward," the figure felt the slightly uncomfortable feeling of Dumbledore's eyes like an x-ray on his mind, as if searching for answers that the figure just wasn't ready to give yet.
The figure spoke again. "You don't know how right you are professor, yet so very wrong at the same time."
Professor Dumbledore was quite surprised by this little comment and filed this away in his memory for later use, and looked like he would need to use the pensive for a few things after this. The headmaster's thoughts were interrupted by the figure as he began to talk again.
"You misunderstand me completely, Professor. All my life I have been judged by my appearance, my image, my façade. You haven't taken the time to ask what is going on in my life, how I feel, or even what I did this summer. Hell, you have no idea how much pain I went through last summer, when one of the few people I thought cared completely ignored me because he thought that it would be in the best interests for me if he did so.
No-one understands what it is like for me, day in and day out, to suffer internally with the knowledge that your parents are dead, you have a highly abusive uncle *looking* after you, and everyone expects you to be what they want you to be - the brave hero that will conquer Lord Voldemort and save the wizarding world. Everywhere I go, someone is either going 'Oh my god! It's the Boy-Who-Lived!', or stealing nasty glances at me and telling their children to stay away from the hardened hooligan who gets shipped off to St Brutus' Secure Centre for Incurably Criminal Boys every summer." He stopped here to take a deep breath and both Draco and Snape snorted.
In his anger, the figure had risen from his seat and had stalked over to Dumbledore's desk, placing his hands on either side of his body as he leaned forward onto the Headmaster's desk, practically screaming in his face. Snape was openly gaping, and Draco looked rather amused, as he was the only one who had any idea of the situation, aside from the stranger himself, but he was also a little curious at the same time to find out some of these things that he had no idea of and never would have guessed. Dumbledore alone looked calm, and this irritated the figure a little. The twinkle in his eye had gone out to be replaced by a serious look. He opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by (a slightly calmer) Harry Potter as he held up his hand.
"Do you have *any* idea what kind of hell I go through every day, Professor? I am *not* somebody's pawn to be told what to do and be pushed every which way as others wish - I have feelings too, you know! I thought that you of all people would understand, but *nnooo*, and I can tell you right now that you probably don't believe me," here he shot an unseen look at a disbelieving Professor Snape, before he continued, "but let me tell you this - I have been to hell and back before, Professor, but this time I'm stuck - there *is* no coming back anymore." Here his voice turned a bit angrier as his temper that had been threatening to fall finally broke.
"So take all of you and the Order's fucking plans and shove them up your old, wrinkled, lilly-white ass, *Professor*, 'cause I'm sick and tired of it and I am *not* gonna take it any longer!!!"
The figure finished his tirade and stood breathing heavily, still leaning on Dumbledore's desk, his head bowed. Everyone in the office was stunned into silence, to say the least, before a small, appreciative, thought entered Draco Malfoy's shocked brain - 'Way to go, Potter!'
Thanks again to all my lovely reviewers - you know who you are, and please review this chapter to tell me what you think - good, bad, average - is it better or worse than the first? Etc. comments and suggestions are good, and congrats to all that guessed that it was Harry under the hood. There were a few, and you know who you are.
Feedback is greatly appreciated, so *please* review and tell me what you think,
Silver Emeralds