I'm still trying to get used to the whole, intro thing. So uh, stating again that I don't own these people except Marley and I don't want to. Blah blah. Yeah, in this chapter, Marley has some visions and Harry confesses just how much he's dealing with. Suicide mentioning, so don't read if you're that bloody sensitive.

Letters

The next day, Marley woke before breakfast with a splitting headache. She crawled out of bed, meaning to get to the bathroom for a drink of water, but found that just before she reached the door of her bedroom she fell painfully to her knees, cursing the stone floor of the old school.

Everything blurred for a moment, and she clutched at the door frame to keep from falling over as things began to spin out of control. Soon it appeared everything was covered in fog, and then the world went black, though Marley's eyes were still open and as far as she knew, she was still conscious.

And then the darkness receded and she found herself looking over Snape's shoulder. He was in his classroom, leaning over his desk, quill scratching across some parchment. Marley was confused as to what was happening, for she could not see or feel her body, but that confusion was thrust aside as she neared Snape and could read what he was writing.

Marley,

I am glad of your return to Hogwarts. I only wish I could say the same for you. You seem...unhappy, depressed. I've heard of your mother's death, and I'm sorry. I also want to apologize for being so harsh on Potter, Weasley, and yourself yesterday. It was wrong of me. And I have not in fact, forgotten what fun was like. I perhaps, have just not known it.

But that is all beside the point. I am writing because I cannot stop thinking of you. It sounds foolish, I know, for perhaps I do not know you well, or as well as I should. I'd often though of sending you an owl once you'd left the school to see if you needed assistance in finding a job to put such skills to work.

It seems I should have done that, for the Ministry is the last place I'd expect to find you.

But again, I wonder why you haunt my thoughts so often. Is it your beauty? Your intelligence? Your willingness to stand up to me, when clearly Potter and Weasley still cannot do such? Is it your aversion to the general public that I possesses as well? Or something else, like the hidden sadness behind your eyes? The secret longing for help, love, and a new life, perhaps?

I...

He stopped abruptly, crumbled up the parchment, and threw it into the dieing flames in the fireplace near him. As he stood and began to leave the room, all turned to black once more and then Marley found herself staring over a different shoulder. The shoulder of Lucius Malfoy.

My Lord,

All is moving along quite nicely. Plans are being made for Draco and myself to move up in office in the Ministry, and we are moving them along as quickly as we dare. We have thought of various ways to lure the Potter boy from Hogwarts and feel we have found the simplest way.

A student at the school tells me that Potter is finding himself quite attached to another visitor, a Miss Marley Black, who also happens to work for the Ministry. If things continue on the way they're going now, we shall have no problem in taking the boy. My son and I plan to visit the school in a few weeks time, after the boy has begun to sufficiently care for the girl, with the excuse of escorting the girl back to work, for she'd been given leave after the death of her mother.

We will instead kidnap her in the middle of the night . They will note that she's gone missing, and Potter, fool that he is will no doubt set off alone, or with that mud-blood girl and the Weasley boy, in search of her, and we'll have him then. Then you can finally dispose of the wretched boy and his friends and have the girl to do with what you like. I shall inform you as soon as we've left for Hogwarts to let you know how the plan is proceeding.

Your faithful servant,

Lucius Malfoy

And suddenly, before she could react, Marley was swept away to view another letter which was surprisingly being written by Dumbledore.

Minerva,

I fear for the health of Harry. He sleeps too much, eats too little, and is no longer as social as he once was. I fear his friends are absentmindedly straying from him due to his depression, though I am sure they do not mean to do so. However, it would seem that Harry has taken a liking to our other visitor, Marley. I think it is good that he make new friends (and I feel foolish for writing such a thing about a grown man, but to me he still seems a helpless boy).

It is most important that the bonds between Harry and his friends remain strong however, for if he loses them, I fear he will lose all hope. I will be writing to Sirius to have him here as soon as he can manage. That perhaps might cheer the boy some.

Also, I want Sirius to meet Marley, for she is his daughter, though he knows it not. I will not tell him in the letter however, because I think the state Harry is in will distress him enough.

Join me for tea in my office tonight?

Albus

And then all was gone, and her rooms returned to her with a flash of light. Marley's head screamed in pain and a wave of nausea rolled over her as she struggled to recall all that she'd just seen. She realized she'd had a vision, but all had happened so suddenly that now she could barely remembered what she'd seen.

Snape was writing to me...something about sadness in my eyes, and working at the Ministry. And Lucius was writing to someone too. He mentioned Draco, Harry, and me, and coming to Hogwarts for a visit. And then there was Dumbledore and he was writing to...to Minerva...about...Oh why can't I remember?! What happened? Why would I suddenly have visions?

Marley thought for a moment longer and then wondered about the strange feeling she had the day she met Harry when they shook hands. But why her? Why now? Why couldn't she remember!?

Dizzieness overcame her and she fell completely to the floor, her eyes unable to focus on anything. She felt the cool, rough stones against her cheek, and focused on that, causing some relief. She drew her breath slowly, trying to calm her body and it worked somewhat.

Behind her there was a sharp tapping noise on the window. Frowning, Marley slowly pushed herself to her knees and turned around. She saw, sitting on her windowsill, a snowy owl with a piece of parchment clamped in its beak.

Muttering a spell, Marley was able to open the window without having to crawl over to it, for she knew she wouldn't be able to just yet. The owl dropped the parchment and flew off. Marley wondered if it was from Snape, but then decided he probably wouldn't use a while owl.

Marley,

I know we've only just met, but I feel an odd sort of connection to you. I can't properly explain it, so I won't try. Maybe I'm just crazy. But I need someone to talk to, who isn't Ron or Hermione. It would be great if you could meet me by the lake after you've had breakfast. I'll be out there for a while, so no rush. If you don't want to come, I'll understand, but it would mean a lot if you did. Hope to see you later.

Harry

Marley nodded at the letter, and waited a few more moments before shuffling over to the bed to use it to help herself stand. Once she was on her feet, she felt a bit better, but dressed slowly anyways. She decided she did not feel like eating, and was doubting whether she could keep the food down anyways, so she merely headed out to the lake. Sure enough, Harry was under the willow tree, head down, looking as if he were asleep.

But when she was a few yards away, he looked up, with such a grieved expression that Marley nearly gasped. She quickly sat by his side. "What's wrong, Harry?"

He shrugged, suddenly shy. "Dunno. Just thinking about what Dumbledore said to me yesterday after our picnic. Stupid stuff."

"Well, what did he say? You did call me out here so you could talk to me."

Harry sighed heavily and suddenly all his thoughts just exploded from his mouth. "It was all about my safety, you know? About how I have to be careful wherever I go because Voldemort and his followers are everywhere. I can't do anything because I might be caught. I can't even have a bloody picnic near the lake with some friends without telling him where I am. I have to think of my safety; of the safety of my friends and everyone else.

"I can't even get close to anyone because Voldemort will just use them against me! I'm being forced to live my life in fear and I'm only twenty!

"Sometimes I'd love to just throw myself to Voldemort and end this whole bloody thing. Some days I don't think I can go on living. I have the razor in my hand, when I realize that I'm not like everyone else; I can't take the easy way out (At the mention of this, Marley absentmindedly massaged her own wrists).

"I have to kill Voldemort or else I surrender the wizarding and muggle worlds to his cruelty, So much rests on my scrawny shoulders that some days I can't even get up. I hate it. I HATE IT!"

He stopped and began to sob suddenly. She reached out and hugged him, holding him for pity's sake. He felt like a helpless child. And at that moment, Marley believed he was nothing more.