A/N: Sorry for the lateness.. I have typed up the entire story during the wait, so expect fast updates from now on.

There are no flowers, no, not this time,

There'll be no angels gracing the lines,

Just these stark words, I find.

I'd show a smile, but I'm too weak

I'd share with you, could I only speak

Just how much this hurts me

I cannot stay here, I cannot leave

Just like all I loved, I make-believe

Imagined heart, I disappear

Seems.. no one will appear here and make me real

This Time Imperfect- AFI

Damon was exhausted when he finally left his father's rooms in a satifactory condition. His scar hidden once more behind his father's concoction. He had left without speaking to his father since they had been on the field. What was there to say?

He walked the darkened halls with his echoed steps, and uttered the password ("serpentis"). No one had been awake when Damon got back. The fire was dimly lit which meant the house elves were due soon. He ignored the books left on the tables, a reminded he had homework he constantly put off. He drew back his green fluffy covers, and without changing, jumped right in.

He slept in until the last afternoon. He was grateful no one woke him up but his stomach. He rolled over trying to ignore it but having skipped the great feast the night before caught up to him. He threw off his covers and changed quickly out of the dark robes.

Passing down through the common room, he heard some seventh year say, "Couldn't believe it-!" A crowd around him, listening patiently for the story. "In my third year.. the Chamber of Secrets opened!" It was typical for Slytherins to be talking and boasting about one story or another. It was a way of showing experience and wisdom to the younger Slytherins.

Damon kept walking until he had heard the seventh year announce, "And that Gryffindor girl.. she was attacked then, too!" Damon wanted to hear more. He wanted to stop.. demand more! It was his stomach that told him to keep going. He could always find out what happened through the younger years. His status in the house meant he could find out anything with a snap of a finger.

He had what he had heard on his mind the whole way up to the Great Hall, but who was to walk out of the Great Hall at that same time but a certain red haired Weasley.

"Snape!" He glared, and called his name again, "Snape!"

Damon was almost at the doors when Ron grabbed his arm and threatened, "Don't walk away from me, I'm talking to you!" He, then, pushed him up into the wall. Having five older brothers sure had given the boy strength, Damon gave him that.

"Get off, Ro- Weasley!" Damon snapped, he tried to move but the other boy's grip on his wrist was almost bone shattering.

"Enemies of the Heir, Beware.." He spat, "Why the hell did you attack Hermione?"

Damon responded calmly, in a way that reminded him of his Potion's professor, "I did not attack Granger,"

"Bull." He held his clenched his fist near Damon's face.

"I did not attack Granger." He repeated. "I did not even know she was attacked!" Damon pushed Ron off of him, sick of the stupidity of the Gryffindor's threats. Ron was not done with Damon, he punched him the eye.

People were beginning to grow interested in the commotion. A crowd began to form. Damon took out his wand, he had enough, just as Snape rushed to the scene, McGonagull right behind him.

"What is going on here!" McGongull shouted. "10 points from Slytherin!"

Damon snapped in a rage, "He fucking started it, punched me in the eye!"

"5 points from Slytherin. Do not curse." She turned to Weasley. "Mr. Weasley, is this true?"

Ron was as red as his hair, but he did not seem to care, "He attacked Hermione!"

"I did not!"

Snape finally spoke, "Perhaps a detention will serve these two well."

"Yes, I think so!" She blinked, at the very thought that Snape had not defended his son, someone so known to picking sides.

Snape said, "I do believe I have cauldrons in need of polishing, Minerva.."

She stared the younger professor down as if he was crazy, "Certainly, you are not suggesting they have detention together?"

Snape shrugged in response. "Tonight at 6?"

Ron murmured a miserable, "Fine," and disappeared with McGonagull for surely what would be a lecture.

Damon looked down to the ground, suddenly amazed by the texture of the floor, waiting for the Potion Master to address him.

His dark eyes watched him, "Granger was stabbed several times in the stomach last night." Damon seemed to have lost his appetite. "So, it appears. There was traces of venom in her blood."

"Wha-? I do not understand.." Damon stammered.

"People are speculating that the Chamber of Secrets is indeed open once more. Most believe you are the one behind all of this." Snape informed slowly, almost jokingly.

Damon began to defend himself, "I was not even here!"

"Yes, and where exactly were you?" Snape asked, narrowing his eyes.

I cannot say I was with him at a Death Eater meeting. I had no alibi.

"Of course, Dumbledore knows you were not behind the attack, but watch your words."

Instead of going to the Great Hall, Damon walked around in a daze. Hunger was plaguing him, but he paid no mind. Starvation seemed to be nothing compared to what was placed into his mind.

His best friend hated him.

His other best friend was almost killed, and where was he? Off making a "good" impression on his mortal enemy.

Damon wished desperately he could have someone to talk about it all to. It wasn't as if Snape would understand.. And Draco, he wasn't sure if he could trust him or not. He thought of Remus. He knew exactly how it would blow over with him. Keep going, you know you have to protect Snape. Something along those lines.

He decided against the rumour-filled Great Hall and finally relieved his hunger to Dobby and Winky's hands. It wasn't the same seeing the two without the excitement Dobby showed when he was graced with Harry Potter's presence.

Six finally came. Damon headed down five minutes early to the Potion's classroom he had been quite acquainted with.

His professor was sitting there, idle. Not watching the clock, not acknowledging Damon's presence. He just knew Ron was late. He finally looked up with a glare full of malice at three minutes past.

"Mr. Weasley.. how quaint it is for you to join us."

Damon noticed that Severus actually enjoyed watching Ron squirm slightly. Under his professor's gaze, Ron's bravery turned to a coward's. The only thing worse, Damon thought, was Ron's fear of spiders.

Damon looked over his old friend of which given him a black eye. Ron wasn't afraid of Damon, that was for sure. He had just shot him the dirtiest of looks he could muster. If Severus had noticed this, he hadn't motioned to it.

"You both will polish these." Pointing to some neatly stacked cauldrons. "I trust you both will keep on your best behavior. Wouldn't want anyone to lose their prefect badges or anything.." Severus smirked with an almost sadistic smile, before he walked out on hurried steps.

Ron got right to it, obliged by his badge. He was probably thinking, I thought I was never going to have to step foot in this class again.

Damon stood there, "I did not attack Hermione."

Ron snapped not looking up from his cauldron, "Not calling her Granger now?"

"Is she okay?" He asked, ignoring the question. His red-headed friend ignored him.

"You seem to care about her a lot.." Pressing the subject was a good way to get his mind off of how Ron thought Damon was responsibile for her injuries.

Answering as though it was obvious, "She's my best friend." It was not the only explanation, and Damon knew it.

"And what about Harry Potter?"

He sneered, "Getting information for you father to report back to You-Know-Who?"

"You think you have gotten me down to a T, then?" Damon said, shaking his head, taking a cauldron and getting to work, "Fool,"

Weasley was not through, it was like him not to ever give up a fight, "So, who do you plan to attack next?"

Damon replied shortly with full sarcasm, "Your dear sister. I'm out to hurt your entire family and friends. Be glad that Harry is not around- I'll finish the Dark Lord's job!"

Weasley had enough, the cauldron he was polishing fell to the floor, shattering into thick pieces. He launged at Damon.

The brawl was short-lived. Apparently, Snape heard the cauldron break, and decided to investigate. He broke it apart with great ease, holding Damon with an arm. It may have been short, but the damage was done.

"Minerva will be quite disappointed, Mr. Weasley,"

Damon had a bleeding nose, he felt it. It was most likely broken too.

Weasley had a split lip, and Damon knew a tooth was due to be spat out. His knuckles full of blood told him that.

"Mr. Snape, off to the hospital wing. Mr. Weasley, come with me."

Damon did not care whether or not Ron lost his badge or not. Ron hadn't deserved the badge in the first place, Damon thought bitterly. He had made an effort, and Weasley shot him down.

Much like Harry had done to Draco.

"Mr. Snape! Your nose!" Promfrey greeted him with shock.

Damon sneered in response.

"Sit down, tilt your head back." He did as told, sitting on the closest bed to him.

She came over with a cloth. "Okay, now.." She put the cloth over his nose. "Breathe in.. good now, out.." She then removed the cloth and whipped his face with it. Cleaning the blood, he expected.

She stared, "Uncanny.."

She touched the bridge of his nose. "You look just like your father. It's broke."

He was numb with the thought. He tried to smile, but found it difficult.

"No worries.. I shant leave your nose broke!" She exclaimed, leaving and returning with a bandage.

"Okay, now.." She placed it on his nose. It felt sturdy.

Damon heard a noise in the back...

"Hmm."

It was a girl. Hermione..?

He was not listening to Promfrey, he was trying to focus on the back. He heard a quick snap, like someone cracking their knuckle. "There! Now, you must leave this on for about fifteen minutes. I suggest you stay here in the meantime."

She went to her office, as Damon looked to the back, towards where Hermione was. He walked over and then glanced over his shoulder in case he wasn't allowed to visit her. He then took the chair beside her bed, watching her sleep awhile. There were no flowers at her bedside. It may have just happened, but it was rather depressing.

It shouldn't be her in the hospital wing. She hadn't deserved to get hurt. For some strange reason, Damon felt to blame even though he knew he wasn't. It was a duty he felt having been her best friend for six years.

He watched her slowly open up her eyes, and then stare at him with confusion. She then breathed out softly, "Harry?"

Damon hesitated then shook his head no. "I'm Damon, remember?"

"Right. You're in my Potions class... Snape's son."

She scrunched her nose, "What happened to your nose?"

"Oh.. Ro-Weasley."

She grinned at the slight hope that Damon was indeed Harry, "Ro-Weasley?"

"I meant Weasley."

She smiled faintly, "And what did you do?"

Damon shrugged, it's guy stuff, he thought to himself. Hermione was always considered one of the guys with him, but now... it seemed the topic of fighting was to unsensitive for her ears.

"Oh, come on," She said eagerly, trying to sit up, then wincing.

How could he explain that Ron had thought Damon attacked her? What does she think even happened? What if she thought he had attacked her?

"Does it hurt?" Damon asked, changing the subject.

She poked her stomach lightly. "The only thing I could possibly compare it to would be having to regrow all your bones, but even that I don't know. Only Harry..." She trailed.

"Harry.." Damon exhaled. "You must really miss him. I've heard the stories. You and him were dating.."

She shrugged, "No, it's not like that. That foul Skeeter woman made that up. I don't think he would ever try anything with very many girls nowadays because he's too afraid to get them hurt.. least alone me."

Damon gave a nod. "Your friend Ron seems to have a thing for you.."

"I thought he was Weasley."

"He is. Red headed weasle rat."

She didn't even defend Ron, to Damon's surprise. "He does. And I thought I did too.. but then Harry left and everything seemed to fall apart."

Instead of pressing the subject, he asked, "Do you know what happened last night?"

"I was sleeping," She answered automatically.

Damon pointed out, "You must know something."

She said softly, "When I tried to look around all I could see was blood." She closed her eyes, "And the sickest sound I ever heard."

"I bet I could top it." Thinking of the decapitated prodigy of last night. He said slowly, "You weren't the only person attacked last night.. the Ministry was attack too."

Instead of her shocked expected look, she just frowned. "You were there."

Damon shook his head, "No."

"Yes, you were! I can see it in your eyes. You've seen things that shouldn't have been. Why? I don't know why you would want to go to that side-"

"I'm not on that side!"

"You can't expect me to believe you are on the good side. You're father raised you better than that. He's on that side."

"He's not on any side. There are no sides."

"Good and evil? Light and dark? I know your father is a spy." She said softly. "What of your Mother?" She stopped and said, "You ought to have a side you are rooting for."

"My mother is dead." Damon said simply. "Killed at the hands of the Dark Lord. I never knew her. Why would I root for the dark side?"

"Because you have to, you fool!" She snapped, setting in reality. "You're a Snape! You shouldn't even be talking to me. Being a muggle born and all."

"I don't give a damn if you're muggle born."

"You should!" She said. "You'll blow your father's cover if you don't give a damn."

Damon narrowed his eyes, "You don't know half of the stuff that goes on at those meetings. How can you say-"

"Because I already lost my best friend to the war. My other best friend is nothing now because he doesn't understand. It'd be nice to have someone to talk to."

"Then.. I'll talk to you."

"You can't." She said. She had been hurt so many times it seemed. She looked so broken. The Hermione he knew seemed miles away.

Damon got up to his feet and walked out.

She was suspicious to who he truly was. He denied it, but he knew that once she got something in her head, she wasn't going to let it go. Damon couldn't help but think that she had been attacked because of her thinking that.

Damon seemed numb to any thoughts after that.

He slowly treaded his way down to the common room, hoping desperately Draco nor his father would meet him on the way.

It wasn't long before he realized that someone was following him since he passed the third floor staircase and downstairs.

Finally, having enough of being stalked, he rounded a corner and stopped. He saw a white, shaken red-headed girl. He stared at her, not knowing what to do or expect. He hadn't seen her like this.. pretty much ever.

Ginny stepped forward, "I know who you are,"

"Of course, you do," Damon covered stupidly, turning to go.

She said, "You're Harry Potter."

He stopped in his tracks. "What?"

The way she looked and the way her eyes set on Damon.. it was like lunacy.

"Weasleys." Damon said shaking his head. "Two run ins in one day, and none of them make sense."

She touched his shoulder, "Harry, please."

Damon looked at the girl sadly. "You may need a hero to believe in, some savior, I mean, all this stuff going on... but I'm no hero. I'm not Harry.. I've no scar on my head." He promptly moved his hair out of the way of his forehead.

Damon left the girl standing there. He hadn't noticed the fallen tears, or the vague reach out for help.

He also hadn't noticed a blond haired boy with silver eyes lingering in the darkness hearing every word.