A/N: I'd like to thank my readers/reviewers for all their support - at high school graduation, I received the Waukelhegan Writer's Group Flin Merit Award for Creative Writing. WOO!

Chapter Ten

All the potions that Liviana had given Harry to regain his strength had been temporary solutions, and he spent the better part of a month bringing his body back to where it had been prior to the attack. He slept long hours, ate frequently, and by the time he felt fit to return to Hogwarts, was in better health than ever before.

He'd had nothing to pack, save for his wand, and offered a swift goodbye to the woman he'd come to consider his guardian angel. With a wave of her hand, Liviana sent Harry to the outskirts of Hogsmeade village, near the Shrieking Shack.

I bet everyone's worried, Harry thought to himself as he pulled the deep red cloak that Liviana had given him around his shoulders, pulling the hood over his head so as not to attract unwanted attention. I've been gone for an entire month...

However, as Harry began the short trek to Hogwarts, he was ignorant to what awaited him there. He was blissfully unaware that all his friends believed him to be dead.

It had been a month since Harry's death, and nearly as long since the public funeral service (which had seen nearly half a million wizards and witches gathered in Godric's Hollow, much to the suspicion of local muggles, and very much to the chagrin of Ministry Muggle Control officials). However, many of Harry's friends – both students and Order Members – had held onto the faintest glimmer of hope that the Boy Who Lived might still be alive, and the closed memorial service had been delayed time and again. Sadly, all hope of somehow finding Harry Potter, dead or alive, had slowly vanished, and the time had come for those closest to him to have some semblance of closure after what had been an agonizing month of denial and false hopes.

The tables and benches had been removed from the Great Hall in Hogwarts. In their place stood two rows of wooden church pews, separated by a wide aisle up the center. A short podium stood facing the pews at the far end of the hall. The seats were filled to capacity with students, teachers, Aurors, and friends of the "late" Harry Potter. In the two front rows sat those closest to the Boy Who Lived – Hermione, Ron and the entire Weasley family (short of Percy), Lupin, Tonks, Hagrid, and many members of the Order of the Phoenix. At the very end of the front aisle sat Dobby the house elf, who continuously burst into tears, and buried his face in a bright red handkerchief covered in golden snitches. Albus Dumbledore stood behind the podium, making eye contact with everyone in turn. His eyes stopped on a dark figure standing in the shadows by the entrance.

Severus Snape met the Headmaster's gaze unfalteringly with a stone cold glare. He hadn't wanted anyone to know he was there, though he wasn't at all surprised that Dumbledore had spotted him tucked away in the shadows. Guilt over Potter's death had driven him there, and it wasn't exactly a fact he wanted to make public for the entire wizarding world. It was bad enough that the old man had found out – despite his saddened expression, Snape could hardly fail to miss the twinkle in the Headmaster's eye as his gaze fell upon the Potion's Master.

Dumbledore's gaze went blank for a moment as he slipped into a deep state of contemplation. However, the moment passed as quickly as it had come, and he once again focused on those gathered before him. He drew in a long, calming breath, and began to address the grieving.

"We are gathered here today to celebrate the life and mourn the death of the late Harry James Potter..."

The sun had set not moments ago, and Harry could see Hogwarts castle looming before him. He increased his pace when he saw the faint outline of the gates not far ahead. He pushed his way through the heavy metal gates and approached the castle. Many lights could be seen flickering in windows throughout the castle, Harry noticed as he approached the large doors. He laboriously pulled one opened, and stumbled into the fully-lit Entrance Hall. The doors to the Great Hall were closed, but Harry could see a light under the door. He could also hear someone speaking through the door, though he could not make out what was being said. He cautiously approached the door and slowly pushed it open, eliciting a giant creak from the ancient doors. He blushed furiously as he saw none other than Professor Snape turn towards him from just in front of the doors, giving him a paralyzing glare. Snape took two sharp steps towards him, grabbing hold of the partially opened door.

"No one - and I mean no one - may enter the memorial service without an invitation from Professor Dumbledore," Snape hissed angrily at the cloaked figure before him.

Still oblivious to what exactly was going on before him, Harry had the sense to look properly abashed, paling considerably, and staring down at his feet.

"I'm really sorry, Professor," he managed to breathe out. "I didn't mean to disrupt...who died, sir?"

When Snape didn't respond for several long seconds, Harry slowly raised his head to make eye contact with him. The Potions Master's face had turned the same grey color as the floor, and he was staring, wild-eyed, at Harry.

"Sir? ...Are you alright?" Harry asked worriedly, not accustomed to such reactions of shock and fear on the Potions Master's face. He pulled his hood off his head and took a cautious step towards Snape. Snape jerked back involuntarily, confusing Harry even more.

"You, Potter..." Snape said, barely more than a whisper. This only managed to confuse Harry further. He glanced around the Great Hall to see nearly all his friend's seated, looking about as miserable as anyone could look, while Dumbledore stood at the front addressing them all. Harry listened, catching only a fragment of what the old man was saying amidst all the frantic thoughts rushing through his own head.

"...clear to me that Harry had an incredibly prosperous life ahead of him, and he was taken long before his time ever should have..."

Harry was in total shock. OHMYGOD. They think...that I'm...dead?! He gasped and took several jerky steps forward, nudging Snape out of his way. He didn't know what to do. He saw Lupin, staring blankly ahead of him, as though there was nothing there. He saw Ron, lips quivering, trying to stay strong, with his arm around Hermione, who had tears streaming down her face. He saw Mrs. Weasley bawling next to her husband, holding the largest handkerchief he'd ever seen to her eyes. He saw Hagrid, his shoulder's shaking, looking as though the sun would never shine again. He saw Ginny seated between the twins, her head buried in one of their shoulders. And all the while, the only thing that raced through his mind was, Nononononono!!!

Harry quickly rushed forward, stopping a few meters behind the pews. He didn't understand...this was totally unreal. He couldn't watch all the people he loved suffer so much. He looked desperately at Dumbledore, who still hadn't noticed him.

"PROFESSOR! PLEASE, JUST STOP!" He shouted at the Headmaster. Dumbledore stopped mid-sentence to stare at Harry. Harry could feel the panic starting to fade at the look in the Professor's eyes. "Please, it isn't true, just stop, you're hurting them...I'm alright, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..." Harry knew he was babbling at this point, but he didn't care. He had to stop this madness. "Please, I'm sorry."

Everyone was staring at him now, unable to move, or speak. A small, contented smile slowly crept across Dumbledore's features. "Harry?" he whispered, still unsure.

Harry nodded.

The Great Hall erupted into shouts, whispers, and cries of joy. Lupin was out of his seat in a heartbeat, his arms wrapped tightly around his best friend's son. A strangled sob escaped his lips, and his tears fell onto the front of Harry's robes.

"Harry!"

"I'm so sorry," Harry whispered to the broken man before him, wrapping his arms around his father's only remaining friend. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry..."