A/N: Hello again! Well, it certainly does seem that WLBI was supremely enjoyed. I, in all honesty, didn't expect it to be so, but there you go. I want thank everyone who reviewed, you have no idea how much it really means to me. There was only one question amongst my reviews, so I suppose I answer it here instead of at the end.
whoosha: Will Harry become insane when he heals? (Grins evilly) I don't know, you tell me.
Hey, before I forget, feel free to ask me questions. I really don't mind them, and I'll answer them to the best of my ability. Even flames are welcome, but constructive criticism is always better. (Just shows how desperate I am for a review. ) Thanks again, and I hope you like this chapter!
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Severus Snape stumbled out of the fireplace only to be greeted by a scene of complete and utter chaos. Molly Weasly was sobbing hysterically in an armchair that sat across from the couch on which Potter's limp body lay, and Lupin was trying to staunch the flow of blood from Potter's wrists. The charm that he had used earlier obviously worn off.
Snape could see Moody standing in a nearby corner, staring off into space. The nights events had obviously thrown him for a loop, and Severus knew first hand that it took a lot to unnerve the retired Auror. He shivered despite himself. The image of Potter's almost dead and bloody body would never truly leave him, he knew.
Tonks chose that moment to come rushing into the living room with Dumbledore and Madame Pomfrey hot on her heels. Dumbledore blanched at the horrific sight before him, and Pomfrey squeaked in terror. Severus supposed that the sight of Potter's almost dead body would frighten anyone.
"What happened here?" Dumbledore asked, his face the color of parchment.
"Potter tried to kill himself Albus." Snape responded, making his presence known for the first time since he had tumbled out of the fireplace.
The effect of his words were truly astounding, as Dumbledore seemed to age instantaneously. Those sparkling blue eyes appeared to die, and the wrinkles in his old and worn face deepened. He looked far older then anyone had the right to look.
In the mean time Pomfrey had gone into full nurse mode. Opening her black bag with a sharp snap, she pulled out a wide array of potions and several ointments accompanied by a roll of white muggle bandages. She carefully removed the makeshift bandages from Harry's wrists and gasped in horror.
Remus, hearing Pomfrey's sudden intake of breath, looked hurriedly over her shoulder to see what the problem was. The sight was enough to make him vomit. The temporary healing charm he had used most obviously had run it's course, and had now let the wounds re-open. The lacerations were horrifyingly deep, making Remus' stomach turn over. However, when Madame Pomfrey magicked away all of the congealed blood, Remus almost fainted.
There were thin white scars littering Harry's arms accompanied by several scabs that had obviously not healed. Remus paled considerably. Harry had been hurting himself before this and, from the looks of it, had been doing it for some time. Tears fell down the werewolves pale face and dripped onto the thick green carpet, intermingling with blood that had obviously escaped from the bandages Remus had so hastily applied.
Remus watched Pomfrey work, almost fascinated by her calm face, but shaking hands. She forced some pale blue potion down Harry's throat, and then applied a wan yellow ointment to his slit wrists. Every once in a while she would smear more of the odd cream onto Harry's wounded skin as she forced him to drink a wide array of different colored potions.
Why wasn't she using magic? Remus asked himself suddenly. It would make the whole process a whole lot faster now wouldn't it? Sure, his charm had only been a temporary means of getting Harry back to Head Quarters alive, but she was a trained Healer, she could do something much more permanent.
As though sensing his unasked question, Pomfrey answered, "I can't use much magic on him. He's lost far too much blood, and is suffering from malnutrition. Any more magic then I've already used, and his body will go into overdrive." Seeing his confused face she clarified. "What I mean is, his body won't be able to handle the magic and will go into convulsions. It could give him lasting brain damage or completely fry his nervous system."
Remus couldn't cope with it anymore, he just sunk down onto the floor and let the tears fall without further restraint. His best friend's son was dying. Dying. There was nothing he could do this time either. He couldn't help Lily and James when Voldemort killed them, he wasn't able to stop Sirius from falling through the veil, and since he was a werewolf he wasn't allowed to adopt Harry and save him from years of imprisonment at the Dursleys. And now, he couldn't stop Harry from wanting so badly to die, that he would cut himself in order to do it.
Harry was James' legacy. The legacy of the Marauders. But he meant so much more to him then that. Harry wasn't the Boy-Who-Lived in his eyes, he was just Harry. A confused and wide-eyed boy who had been thrown by the scruff of his neck into the second war without a backward glance. Remus Lupin know understood the complete meaning of the word helpless.
Thirty minutes passed of complete silence, and Remus knew that he had never been so anxious. Not when James, Sirius, and Peter had told him they were animagi, not when the full moon approached, not even when Lily went into labor with Harry. He could almost taste the fear and indecision rolling off of everyone in the room. Remus didn't think that he could take much more it.
Finally Pomfrey drooped in exhaustion, and let out an audible sigh of relief. Standing up, she turned to the four anxiously waiting adults and smiled very weakly.
"He's stable. I was able to get the lacerations on his arms to stop bleeding, but I needed to use several blood replenishing potions afterward. I honestly don't know when he'll wake up. I didn't even think he would make it for a while there. He had just lost so much blood." She broke off and started to sob. Dumbledore moved forward to enveloped her in a comforting hug, Remus slumped against the couch with pure relief and exhaustion, Moody's scarred face seemed to soften, and even Severus appeared to be alleviated.
Suddenly there was wild thumping on the doors and everyone jumped in surprise. They could hear muffled voices from outside the living room; voices that sounded like Mr. Weasly, Ron, Hermoine, and Ginny.
"What is going on Dad?!" They heard Ron yell from outside the double wooden doors.
"There is nothing to worry about Ron!" Mr. Weasly shouted back, a slightly desperate tone in his voice, as though he were trying and failing to keep order.
"Dad! We heard some one floo in. Mum went to check it out and started screaming and sobbing. There is something wrong! Seriously wrong and you know what it is!" Ginny shrieked, sounding frighteningly like her mother.
"Mr. Weasly, please." Hermoine said in a normal but tense tone. "We know that something's wrong, and are worried that one of the Order is hurt. We know that they went to pick up Harry tonight. Please, we just need to know if they got hurt!"
Mr. Weasly was obviously trying to prevent some sort of riot breaking out in the hall, but was clearly not succeeding. Finally there was silence, and then came urgent knocking on the doors.
"The children can't come in here Albus." Molly Weasly said, drying her eyes with a lace handkerchief. "They can't see him like this."
Dumbledore stared at Harry's limp and almost life-less body for several moments before coming to a decision. "No, Molly. Under normal circumstances I would not permit them to see Harry like this, however this young man has taught me that to trying to shield a person from the world will only bring that person pain. I did it to Harry last year, and I doubt that I will ever fully atone for it. Let them come in, or I fear that we will regret it."
Molly started to take on her fiercely protective mother look as she said, "No Albus! I will not let them see him like this. Let him heal for a time, then they can see him. They don't need to see him while he is still half dead!"
"Molly, keep your voice down." Dumbledore said, pointedly looking at the wooden doors. "Harry is their best friend, you and I both know that they will go to any lengths to see him. Even if it includes breaking these very doors down to do it."
Mrs. Weasly seemed to inflate ominously, bringing herself to her full height, and looking rather intimidating. As she opened her mouth to speak, Remus cut her off.
"Molly," He said, sounding rather tired. "They will find out sooner or later that Harry tried to kill himself, so keeping it from them is useless. I am sure that their reactions will be rather extreme, so we might as well let them get it out while Harry is still unconscious. Something drove him to the point that he felt the need to do this to himself. Maybe they can help him."
She glared at Remus for a moment before sighing deeply and sinking back into the chair. "Alright." She murmured softly, tears starting to fall down her cheeks again.
With a flick of his hand, Dumbledore unlocked the double doors and, almost immediately, Ron, Hermoine, and Ginny burst into the room, Mr. Weasly right behind them. There was a moment of confused searching as they all looked for the injured person, and their eyes all landed on Harry at the same time. Silence ensued for a matter of seconds before Hermoine screamed.
Ron stumbled backward, his hands clutching at his face in complete horror. Hermoine fell to the ground and sobbed uncontrollably into her hands, the raucous weeping wracked through her body with tremendous force, leaving her completely helpless to staunch the tears. Even Mr. Weasly paled considerably as he staggered over to his wife, who was once again sobbing without restraint.
Ginny however was silent. She didn't move or speak, she didn't even cry. She just stood there, completely transfixed by the almost dead figure of Harry Potter laying on the couch. Moving closer, she kneeled down beside him and brushed several strands of unruly hair out of his eyes. Ginny let her hand wander down his pallid and rather gaunt face, tracing every curve and angle as though attempting to memorize them.
"Was it finally too much for you Harry?" She whispered softly to him. "You were too kind and willing for your own good Harry Potter, and now look at what's happened."
Ginny paused for several moments before letting hot tears drip down her face. He meant so much to her, he couldn't die. She had tried so desperately to forget him by going out with other boys, giving them her attention, but none of them were Harry. Every time she kissed Dean, she would begin to wonder what it would feel like to have Harry's lips pressed against hers. To have his strong arms wrap around her body, have his warm hands caress her shoulders and waist.
Yet, as hard as Ginny tried to stop liking him, she just…couldn't. How do you stop feeling? It was only over the summer that she had given into her wild and raging emotions, but now…what should she do now? However, she was jerked from her stupor when she saw a tear make it's way down Harry's pale face. For a wild moment she thought Harry had awoken, but realized that the tears were her own.
Wiping the tears tenderly off of his pale face, Ginny stood again and turned to see Remus looking horribly lost. She felt pity for the man who had been in a constant state of pain for the past few months. Padding over to him, she reached up and wrapped her arms around the old werewolves neck, pulling him close to her. Ginny felt him stiffen momentarily before returning the hug, each drawing energy from the others warmth.
"I believe," Dumbledore said, gently prying Madame Pomfrey from his chest. "That we could all use some hot chocolate and rest. It has been a long day for everyone, and we will all need our strength for tomorrow."
"But, Professor!" Hermoine exclaimed, jumping up from her seat on the couch and looking positively wild. "We can't leave Harry here like this! What if he wakes up and we're not here? Please, let us stay until Harry wakes up!"
Dumbledore looked down on the girl with pity. She cared a great deal for her friend, he understood, but obviously didn't understand that she wasn't what Harry needed. "I understand your concern Ms. Granger, but please listen to me when I say that your presence will account for little as long as Harry is unconscious. Wait until he is awake, which I assure you, will not be happening tonight."
Hermoine drooped in defeat, before nodding slightly.
"Good then." Dumbledore said, trying to inject some cheeriness into his voice. Let us go then, and get some well deserved sleep. Poppy, you may stay here for the night. Harry may need you, and you are the best that we have."
Madame Pomfrey blushed despite herself, and allowed herself to be led from the living room, but not before she placed several more blankets atop Harry Potter's almost lifeless form.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasly were the next two to leave, both looking completely haggard and exhausted, and were soon followed by Ron and Hermoine who, per usual, forgot that Ginny was in the room. They had been doing that a lot since they had gotten together the previous month. Mad-Eye left next, muttering something about the possibility that Harry had been put under a Dementor Curse, which left Ginny and Severus alone together in the room.
Ginny looked over at the hook nosed man she had been brought up to fear and hate. He was staring into space, as though the nights events had been to much for him to handle at one time. She could tell that he had forgotten she was in the room. The mask that he so enjoyed wearing had slipped and was replaced by something that Ginny couldn't place. Something…human.
Severus Snape, the big scary and greasy Potions Master was nothing more than a mere human. Ginny cocked her head slightly at him. So, the overgrown bat did have emotions. Hmm…what a development.
"God, I never thought this would happen again." Ginny heard the middle-aged professor say, a single hand resting on the side of his face. His eyes were far off looking and distant, it was like he was in a completely different world. The young red-head had never seen the supposed 'Bat from Hell' look so open.
"Professor?" Ginny asked, effectively jerking the professor from his reverie.
Severus Snape swung around to look at the red headed girl whom had, somehow, escaped his attention.
"Yes, Ms. Weasly?" He asked, as civilly as he thought humanly possible.
"What did you mean by that sir?" Ginny asked him, choosing each word with extreme caution and care. The man was like a freaking firecracker that could go off at any god damned moment…
Snape looked at Ginny fiercely for a moment, his deep obsidian eyes burning holes into her wild tropical blue. "Nothing Miss Weasly." The aged Potions Master said, keeping his emotional mask firmly in place. "It's nothing you should concern yourself with."
Looking at him for a moment longer, Ginny nodded and returned her unwavering attention back to the limp form of Harry Potter. She took several steps towards Harry before sinking down onto her knees once again. It amazed her how the boy could look so serene after almost dying.
Her hands gripped violently into fists, she couldn't lose him. Not now, not now that she was so close to understanding him. So close to loving him. Placing a gentle kiss onto his pale forehead, Ginny pushed herself to her feet with a small 'oomph!' and exited the room, praying to whatever deity was listening that she could make it to her bedroom without bursting into tears.
Back in the now silent living room, Severus Snape stood rigidly, staring down at Potters comatose figure. Damn him. The Potions Professor thought to himself bitterly. Damn him to the seventh hell, and damn Lily too for starting the whole fucking thing.
Snape sighed. God what a long day. Letting himself out of the room, he quietly made his tired and stiff way up the stairs and towards the bedroom he was to use for the night. Taking off his long black robes, Snape tossed them onto a spare chair sitting in the corner, and collapsed onto the bed. Not even bothering to change into his bed clothes, the aged Potions Master closed his weary eyes and fell into a deep slumber. Never did he spare a second thought on the slightly bloody note still in his robes pocket.
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A/N: So……what do you think? Does it hold up to the first chapter that so many people so obviously enjoyed? Jeez, 14 reviews for one chapter…(looks dazed) How can I thank you guys? By the way, I'm sorry it took me so long to put this chappie out but you know the deal. I am forced to go to school by our society, and if I don't they come and bring me there in handcuffs. (sighs) Might I add that it is bloody hard to type with handcuffs on. Ahh well. Please review!