Chapter One

"Harry?" Thoughtful emerald colour eyes peered up athis two best friends, brunette Hermione Granger and red-headed Ron Weasley.

"Hello." His voice was soft, almost raspy from not being in use for almost four months.

His friends situated themselves on either side of his body, "How are you, Harry? We haven't seen you for days."

He dropped his gaze back to the reflecting waters. His mind whirled as it remembered. It's only been three months into the school year and his friends barely even saw him in class. What they didn't know was that on his sixteenth birthday Voldemort had been quite vicious in his attacks of a small Muggle village. He had spent that part of the day suffering from every echo of hexes, spells, and torture. Thankfully, his relatives had decided to take a long weekend vacation somewhere else when the wards blared through the castle. The headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, had sent various professors to his aide when those wards indicated bloodshed. It had taken both Professor Severus Snape and Madame Pompfrey two long weeks to save him. He had been told that those echoing curses were fatally damaging his body and mind, if he hadn't gotten the help right away.

No one, save the staff and headmaster, truly knew what had happened. They had all agreed to let the school decide for themselves, Harry refused to feed his fellow classmates the truth. Even then, Harry found himself staying in the infirmary for weeks to heal and rest. Afterwards, he had sought out his most hated professor, Severus Snape, for companionship and for cures of the nightmares he suffered.

"Harry?"

He could hear the worry. "I'm alright now." His voice remained hoarse and whispery. Madame Pompfrey discouraged constant use of it since his throat was still healing from the endless hours of screaming and echoing torture.

Hermione couldn't help but worry. When she had heard the rumours of her best friend being stuck in the infirmary since the end of summer, she worried. Even when Harry had finally returned to classes almost a month ago, she could only watch. All the professors were very protective of him, even Professor Snape. She, as well as everyone else, had been very surprised when Snape had punished his own house as well as allowing stricter punishment from the other professors on the Slytherins, even his Slytherins had been shocked.

"You're not alright, mate! You aren't acting like the Harry Potter we know!" Ron had exploded. He didn't like his best friend's new attitude.

Harry didn't have to answer, "Mr. Weasley!" Two figures leapt to their feet in surprise as Harry simply looked up to find an irate Professor McGonogall. "I have never! You know you are not to bother Mr. Potter!"

"But.."

"No but! Inside this instant! That's 10 points from Gryffindor and detention on Monday with Professor Snape!"

Harry watched his friends, chastised properly and blushing red with shame, leave with their head of house, Minerva McGonogall, whom glanced back with a small smile across her tired aged features. A small trembling smile graced her as emerald eyes thanked her.

Turning back to face the shimmering waters before him, Harry felt safe knowing he could think freely without any more interruptions. He knew his friends cared but something was wrong, different. Not even his professors could help explain it.

Speaking of professors, he felt a shadowy presence slip to his side. Glancing over, he shyly smiled at Snape. The dark eyes merely roved over his curled figure to be sure he was fine, then faced away to the quiet sight. Harry knew no one understood the Potion Master's sudden change, no one knew if it was a ploy needed for a snake eyed man to grab the boy or a needed companionship between two bitter enemies. It was this closure that allowed student and teacher to grow closer.

It was this closure that alerted Harry to his new found sense of something coming, something very soon and something very dangerous.