My Pile of Ashes

A/N: Hey peeps! Thank you all so much for the reviews! 26 on the first chapter, not bad. Lol. Anyway, sorry I didn't get this up sooner. So many things are going on. I have broken a bone in my ankle, so I had tons of doctor appointments. It's not serious, though. It should be healed in a few weeks. We're also trying to find a house, because we have to be out of our apartment by August 31st. Not very long, is it? I also don't know how often I'll be able to write when school starts again. I guess we'll see, won't we?

I still have writers block for my other story, so I'm very sorry to those of you who read it. I hope you like this chapter. Some of you may not, though, considering the way Harry acts. The characters are a bit OOC in this chapter, as well. I really need a beta, so if anyone can help me please do so!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters except one, so don't sue me!

Characters will be OOC

Chapter 2: Going Bad

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Harry, now in Transfiguration, was sitting in the back row with Ron and Hermione. They were currently trying to turn a book into a dog, Hermione already acing it. "I don't see how you can do it Hermione. It's hard!" Ron complained. "Well, if you studied more than you'd find that this is relatively easy." Hermione replied haughtily. Ron just glared.

Harry was getting tired of their bickering and, already on edge, slammed his wand down on the table. There was a deafening silence. Even most of the dogs stopped barking. "Do you two mind? I'm trying to concentrate!" Harry said loudly. Hermione's dog started barking again. "And if that blasted animal doesn't stop barking I'm going to make it stop myself!" Harry hissed angrily.

Hermione's eyes widened and she protectively held on to the now-silent dog. "Harry, you're horrible!" she screeched, moving to another table. Ron continued to stare at Harry for a few seconds before joining Hermione. Harry was suddenly filled with satisfaction. 'That felt good.' he thought.

Neither Hermione nor Ron were talking to him as they made it to their last class; DADA. They had all but ignored him through Charms and Herbology. When they got to the classroom they noticed that a lot of things had changed. First-of-all, the room was now painted black. In fact, a lot of things were black. The desks, the chairs, and almost everything else. There was also now a dueling table in there, plus a few moving pictures of very dangerous-looking animals.

Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs reluctantly walked in. As soon as they did they were hit with a terrible smell. Everyone groaned and complained. "Ugh, whad is dat?" Ron said, plugging his nose. "Id smells like domething's dead!" Hermione replied, plugging her nose as well.

Suddenly the smell vanished, only leaving behind a few traces of it. "Come on, don't just block the entrance! Sit down!" snapped a deep, scratchy voice. Harry sat by himself at a desk in the corner, far from Ron and Hermione. They were on the opposite side of the room. Harry noticed Hermione giving him hurt looks, but he ignored them. It was her fault he even yelled.

Aside from Hermione, the DADA professor; now known as Professor Knowles; kept giving Harry odd looks also. Harry shrugged it off, being used to this kind of attention. 'It's just another Snape-like teacher.' Harry thought. He was wrong.

"Today, we will start with some dueling. There will be no slacking off with this, or any other, lesson." The professor said. "Mr. Potter! Come up here!" he snapped. Harry slowly got out of his seat and walked over to the dueling table. As soon as he got up there a spell was fired at him. "What'd you do that for?" Harry exclaimed. He examined his left hand where the spell had hit him. A few streaks of blood made their way across his hand.

Do you honestly think that the Dark Lord is going to wait for you? Not very likely." Knowles said coldly. Harry was deeply reminded of Snape. Another spell was shot at him, knocking him to the ground this time. Harry was briefly blinded by pain. His ribs felt like they were being crushed, along with the rest of his body. A few more spells came at him before Knowles got angry. "Get up you idiot! You have to fight back, you can't just lay there!" he yelled. Harry sat up to try to form a curse but was shot back down.

Knowles kneeled beside Harry and leaned in to whisper in his ear. "You are worthless, boy. What help will you be if you can't even fight? Tsk, tsk, tsk." With that being said the professor walked away, making sure to step on Harry's wand hand. Harry winced slightly.

Hermione was about to get up to help her friend but Knowles caught her and pointed his wand at her. "Sit back down, girl, or my wand might just happen to slip." he said dangerously. "But-" "Sit!" Hermione reluctantly sat back down. "If he wants up he can do it himself." Knowles said, pointing at Harry. "Now, on with the next lesson."

The rest of the class mostly consisted of reading and questioning. 'This just isn't fair.' Harry kept thinking. Finally the class ended and everyone rushed out the door, save Ron and Hermione. The quickly rushed over to Harry, who was breathing heavily.

"Harry are you alright?" Hermione asked with concern. Harry didn't respond. "Maybe we should take him to Madame Pomphrey." Ron suggested. Harry shook his head. "No! I'm fine." he croaked. Harry tried to prove his point by sitting up. "See." he said. "Anyway, I have to got to Snape's classroom for my detention." Harry said. "It's only 7:10, though. Your detention isn't until 8:00." Hermione said. "Yes, but I don't think I could walk from her, to the Great Hall, then to the Potion's classroom. It's easier my way. Plus I'm not really hungry, anyway." Harry said, trying to get up.

Hermione looked skeptical for a minute. "At least let us help you, then." Hermione said, grabbing one of Harry's arms. Ron followed suit and grabbed the other one. Together they hauled Harry to his feet. Still holding onto Harry's arms, they walked all the way to the Dungeons. Instead of knocking on Snape's door, though, they just barged in.

"What do you think you're doing?" asked a cold voice as Hermione and Ron lowered Harry into a chair. "We're helping Harry." Hermione said matter- of- factly. "Can't he walk by himself?" Snape asked snidely. "No, thanks to Professor Knowles." Ron said heatedly.

"You know, I can talk for myself if you don't mind." Harry said, annoyed. "And it was just a duel. He was right, anyway; Voldemort won't wait for me." Harry said. "Harry, what he did wasn't fair! He just kept shooting you back down! He even left you there in the same spot for the rest of the class and threatened Hermione for trying to help you! Some teacher he is." Ron said, looking at Harry like he was insane.

"What about your other injuries?" Hermione asked tentatively. "Hermione!" Harry hissed. "No, Harry. I think you need to tell someone." Hermione said. "We'll talk about it later." Harry said in a dangerously low voice, glancing at Snape. He had an odd expression on his face.

"It is later!" said a frustrated Hermione. "Hermione! I'm fine, now leave!" Harry raised his voice. "Harry-" "Leave!" Harry yelled, pointing at the door. A few jars rattled. "Fine! But don't expect us to come and help you. I hope you have fun, Harry James Potter! Come along, Ron." And with that Hemione walked out the door. "Sorry mate." Ron said, disappearing out the door as well.

After a few minutes of silence, Snape spoke. "Are you always like that toward your friends?" he asked. Harry sighed. "No. Not ever since-" Harry abruptly stopped. "Ever since what?" Snape prompted. Harry shook his head. He wasn't going to say.

"I'll eventually find out Potter, why not tell me now?" Snape suggested. "Why do you care, Professor? You never have before." Harry asked bitterly. Snape was silent for a few seconds. "If my speculations are correct then I wouldn't want to see you fall into the same darkness that so many others have." Snape said seriously. Harry looked at the ground. "I thought so. Who hit you?" Snape asked. "I can't say." Harry said quietly.

Snape sighed. "At least let me see your injuries." he said. Harry quickly shook his head. "No, I'm fine." "Potter, you have the same options as today as earlier today. You can either show me or show Pomphrey." Snape said. Harry was silent for a few seconds before he sighed in defeat. "Alright, I'll show you. But you have to promise me that you won't use all of this against me." Harry said, looking up. "I wasn't going to do that anyway." Snape said sincerely.

"Now, take off your shirt." Snape said, standing up from his chair. Harry carefully stood up and complied. He wrapped his bare arms around himself, blushing a crimson red. Snape started inspecting him. "A lot of bruises and cuts." Snape mumbled. He then started pushing on Harry's ribs. Harry winced on a few of them, but when Snape got to the two bottom right ones Harry inhaled sharply. "Those two are definitely cracked. The rest are bruised. Turn around." Harry reluctantly turned around, afraid of what Snape might say.

"Someone sure got mad, didn't they?" Snape said, more to himself. There were deep gashes all over Harry's back, thanks to Dudley's new pocket knife. "What was the weapon used here?" Snape asked quietly. "A knife." Harry replied in an equally quiet voice. "I see. Face me." Snape said. Harry turned around to see Snape walking over to a cabinet. He waved his wand and it opened. Inside were a few potions with no labels.

Snape quickly snatched up a potion and walked back over to Harry. "Here, drink this." Snape said, handing the grayish potion to Harry. He eyed the potion carefully. "It's not poison, Potter. It'll make you feel better." Snape said in a reassuring-like way. Harry reluctantly swallowed the potion. It didn't taste so bad, actually.

Harry felt a bit better. Some of his bruises and cuts faded away, and his ribs didn't hurt as bad. "Thanks." Harry mumbled, handing the vial back. "I don't think that tonight is the best night for Occlumency. It's a bit early to send you back to your dormitory, though. I am supposed to be giving you detention, after all. Sit." Snape said, pointing to the chair in front of his desk. Harry pulled his shirt on and sat down. Snape sat down, too, and began grading papers.

Harry was becoming very tired. Soon he was to tired to even hold his head up so laid it down on the desk. 'I'll just rest my eyes.' he thought. A few minutes later Snape looked up to see Harry fast asleep. He sighed and stood up. He strolled over to where Harry sat and bent down to pick him up. As Snape was walking toward his personal chambers Harry seemed to snuggle into his arm. Snape suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for the boy. 'Where did that come from?' he asked himself. He shook his head as he gently lowered Harry onto the couch. Snape grabbed 2 warms blankets from his closet and laid them atop Harry. Harry nestled into them. Harry looked peaceful now, but Snape was in for a long night.

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