Snape's background stopped changing and he found himself in the Dais Room in the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry of Magic. He looked around, thoroughly unimpressed by his surroundings. Everyone was standing freeze-frame in the midst of battle, Dumbledore stood in the doorway, a faint aura of power glowing off of him, the members of the Order were in varying states of battle, and Sirius and Bellatrix were up on the Dais.
The only other person in the room who seemed to be moving was Harry, who sat with his head in his hands on the steps leading towards the exit. He did not look up as Snape approached him, bending down in order to be eye level. Snape was relieved to see a much more distraught looking Harry.
"You know," Snape spoke in a maddeningly soft, cool voice, "If you had only listened to me and practiced Occlumency we wouldn't be here right now." Cooling down his tone even more, as though to rub some salt in Harry's wound he continued, "But you, like your father, have always been exceedingly arrogant. You probably had better things to do than to clear your mind before you went to sleep. A task, I might ad, should have been extraordinarily easy for someone like you, who hasn't got much in his head to begin with"
"You're right! What could I possibly have on my mind that's so important? I Mean I've only saved everyone from Voldemort how many times? Three, maybe four? And then there's the whole issue of seeing someone die in front of me. But hey, I should have been able to empty my 'pretty little head' of everything that was bothering me because Merlin knows how many times everyone tried to explain to me how important it was, and why I was doing it, and you know the possible drawbacks to not doing it!" Harry's voice echoed around the cavernous room his voice becoming louder with each successive word. "But wait, hold on a second, HOLD ON A SECOND! That's not right 'cause see no one bothered to explain to me it was so important to learn Occlumency. I mean for Fucks Sake! Five minutes out of someone's day to maybe explain to me about something that directly affects me! But No! You didn't, did you! And Lord knows Dumbledore was far too busy to even look me in the face all year never mind explain something that important to me-"
Snape interrupted him, "And why should we tell you anything! What complete and utter arrogance to think that a man as powerful and wise as Dumbledore owes you anything! Besides, you are always so concerned with playing the hero, always running around trying to save everyone, I doubt it would have made any difference even if we had told you" Snape was keeping his voice low and even, he knew it would enrage the boy and Snape wanted to keep the upper hand.
In contrast Harry's voice was becoming more loud and sarcastic, "Well that's my job isn't it? Harry Potter, the-boy-who-lived and Wizard Savior at your service!" Harry did a mock bow sneering at his professor as he straightened up.
"What are you babbling about, Potter?"
"The prophecy! Surely you know about the prophecy, the one everyone's been guarding all year" Harry looked incredulously at the uncomprehending look on Snape's face. "You do know, don't you? This is priceless!" Harry laughed a deep, cruel laugh, "Hold that face I want to take a mental picture." Harry, realizing what he just said, burst out laughing again. "A mental picture that's a laugh!"
"Shut up and get to the point, Potter" Snape growled
Harry got a feeling of immense satisfaction from the change in Snape's demeanor; he was finally getting under Snape's skin. Seizing the upper hand Harry spoke in mocking tones that he knew would enrage his professor, "Well, Snape, mate, there was a prophecy made oh about seventeen years ago foretelling of someone who had the power to destroy Voldemort. Now I know this is a tough one so I'll give you three clues as to who that person might be." Harry started to pace back and forth as he read off his clues, "Clue the first, he will be born to parents who have thrice defied the Dark Lord, clue the second, he will be born as the seventh month dies, and clue the third the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal." Harry smirked at the stunned look on Snape's face.
"So vague, it could mean just about anyone. Yet you are so confident it means you, yet again you show your true colors as a self-important, deluded attention seeker!" Snape was rapidly regaining his composure.
"Actually according to a, what were the words you used, ah, yes, a 'powerful and wise man', "Harry gestured towards the frozen Dumbledore in the doorway, "It was narrowed down to me and Neville Longbottom," Harry walked over to Neville giving him an appraising look, putting his arm around Neville's shoulders, "for oh about a minute. But then Voldemort attacked my house and marked me," Harry pulled up his fringe, "As his equal." Harry started pacing again, "But hold onto your socks ladies and gentlemen we're not through yet there's one more surprise behind door number three. Although I have the power needed to vanquish the Dark Lord that just might not be how this whole scenario plays out, 'Niether can live fully while the other one survives, a life that must include or end in murder'. How poetic, don't you think?" Harry was thoroughly enjoying mocking and shocking his professor, finally he knew something that git didn't.
Snape glared at him with a look of mixed hatred and jealousy, "What an important role you have to play, Potter. You must really be reveling in it. You finally have something to back up that big head you have. But you'll forgive me if I don't kiss the hem of your robes just yet, I might want to wait to see how this turns out first" Snape sneered
Harry looked at him fathomlessly, "Did you even hear a word I said? The world literally rests in my hands, hands that must either be stained with blood or laid to rest. Have you any idea what that feels like? To have the lives of everyone you've ever known and loved resting in your hands? Not the billions of older, wiser, more experienced, more capable wizards," Harry gestured wildly to all the other people in the room, "Yours!" Harry turned away tears flooding his eyes, "I'M TERRIFED! DO YOU HEAR ME? TERRIFIED" Harry yelled at Snape till his voice cracked and became hoarse, "It's all I can do not to just run away from it all and let Dumbledore, who I know is a zillion times more qualified, deal with this. Why do you think I'm in here?" Harry gestured at his surroundings, "All the wonderfully pleasant memories I have?" Harry wiped his face on his robes and turned back. Harry ran his hands through his hair in frustration, "I don't want to be the one who has to face Voldemort! But it's not Dumbledore the prophecy refers to, and without me nobody stands a chance, I might as well murder them with my own hands."
Harry sat back down on the steps, head in his hands grasping his hair by the roots, sobbing almost silently. Snape sat down beside him and did the most shocking thing yet, he put his arm around Harry's shoulders. Harry looked at him with the most painfully pleading look on his face, one that begged for someone, anyone to just make it all better, to fix it. That look pulled at something deep within Snape's chest that he never thought he had. Looking into emerald eyes filled with tears Snape wished he had the power to take the enormous weight off of Harry's shoulders.
"Prophecies aren't written in stone…" Snape began but was interrupted.
"Don't bother," Harry let the tears wash down his face. Snape pulled Harry into his arms and let him cry himself into exhaustion. Several minutes passed and Harry finally calmed down enough to pull away. "I'm ready to go home now."
As if his words were a magical spell their surroundings began to melt one final time.
A/N: The whole 'i'm terrified' thing was influenced (isn't that just a lovely synonym of Plagorized) by the scene in 'As Good As It Gets' When the gay neighbor freaks out.