Disclaimer: I do not own anything Harry Potter. Anything you recognize is not mine.

Author's Notes: Yay! Finally! The fourth chapter! I know you've all been dying for it. I've just been too busy! But I got it finished.

I have to warn you, I have no idea what's in this chapter. I can hardly remember. It's 1:30 in the morning and so I've almost been up for 24 hours. I'm extremely tired. Please forgive me for this chapter. At least something's up.

Sorry if there is any grammar mistakes. I don't really feel like reading through tonight.

The whole Ron/Hermione thing. Wow. No idea where that came from.

She's a Star, I can't believe you made me stay up and write this. ;-) And you're not even here! Wow! I'm done now, I swear. (Sorry, just get a little loopy when I haven't had much sleep.)

And yeah…I think that's it. Enjoy!

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Chapter Four

Made Confessions

            About half an hour, which included a walk around the Forbidden Forest, three times around the lake, and twice around the Quidditch pitch, later, Harry headed inside. On his third way around the pitch he had realized he was starving.

            He entered the entrance hall just as breakfast was over. The students poured out of the Great Hall, heading to their classes. Harry had Potions next, and not wanting to have to deal with Snape more than already, he rushed to get there early.

            As he ran down the hall, he thought he heard his name being called. He stopped to listen and heard his name quite clearly this time. It sounded like it was coming from behind him. It was just a whisper that seemed to be getting louder and louder.

            "Harry…Harry…"

            Harry turned and saw Snape trying to hide in the shadows but failing miserably. Snape continued to whisper Harry and was trying not to smile; laughing under his breath clearly convinced no one could see him. All of a sudden he jumped out and yelled, "BOO!" Harry screamed.

            "I scared you! I scared you!" Snape chanted quite joyfully. Suddenly he stopped, looked at Harry with narrow eyes which Harry returned, then took off running just as Harry did too.

            "You can never make it to class before me!" screamed Snape.

            "Oh yeah?!" Harry returned with a burst of speed that put him in the lead. Snape lowered his head looking as if he was going to ram someone and shot ahead. The two were neck to neck, each pushing the other. Harry gave Snape a particularly hard push that made him run into the wall but Snape wasn't giving up. He pushed off the wall and ran after Harry, his arms pumping hard up in the air with his head leaning back giving him a extremely psychotic look about him.

            Harry reached the door and threw it open and ran inside the classroom exclaiming, "YES! I WON!" The class looked at him when they heard the most awful scream they'd ever seen. Yes, that's right seen.

            "NUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I CAN'T LOSE! WHY?! WHY?!?!?!?!"

            The next moment Snape swayed into the classroom looking quite composed. Everyone looked at him.

            "What are you all looking at?" he asked. Everyone quickly went back to their work. Snape was about to start the lesson for the day when someone cleared their throat at the door to the classroom.

             Everyone turned to see Auriga Sinistra standing there with a looking like she wanted to laugh but was desperately trying not to.

            "Can I help you Professor Sinistra?" Snape asked looking as if he wanted to smile too.

            "Oh, I was just up in my office in the tower and I heard this God-awful scream and I was just wondering if everything was alright."

            "Everything is quite alright, thank you."

            "Are you sure? Because whatever it is, I can help," she said with a wink. Snape straightened a little bit and walked over to the professor.

            "No, I don't think I'll be needing any help," he said barely above a whisper.

            "Well, if you're sure, I best be off. See you tonight." Sinistra turned in the door and began to walk out when Snape cleared his throat just a little. Sinistra stopped and turned back around. She looked at him for a second and then exclaimed,

            "Meeting at dinner of course! You know, not that we're going to meet tonight or anything." The last part was more directed towards the students than the professor. There was a moment of awkward silence as some hundreds of crickets played Allegro from Eine Kleine Nachtmusik composed by Mozart, which was quite inappropriate for the mood. Just as they were finishing, something happened.

            It seemed someone's cauldron had exploded and its contents were flown everywhere. People were running screaming, their flesh melting off of them. Snape and Sinistra ran to try and help the students. Actually, more like Sinistra ran to help the students. Snape started screaming at the students in rage, spit flying from his mouth, trying to find out whose cauldron it was. When he got a hold of them, he was going to rip their hair out one by one, and tear their nails of—erm, right. The students. Might want to help them.

            There was pandemonium in the classroom as people tried to find their friends and lovers. Ron and Hermione found each other and ran for a corner.

            "Where's Harry?" yelled Ron over the screams.

            "I don't know!" Hermione screamed back. Both searched frantically with their eyes to see if they could spot him among the crowd of students. They weren't having any luck.

            "Where is he?!" Hermione screamed again, starting to panic. She began to run out into the crowd when Ron grabbed her arm.

            "Don't go out there! If one of them touches you, you'll melt too!"

            "But I have to find Harry!"

            "I'm sure he's fine! He can take care of himself! You need to be safe!"

            "But Harry!" Hermione cried. She struggled against Ron's hold, trying to get free. When Ron let go, she looked at him surprised. There was hurt in his eyes.

            "Are you snogging Harry?" he asked quietly.

            "WHAT?!" Hermione screamed so loud that momentarily everyone stopped what they were doing, not caring that their skin was falling off, and looked at the two.

            "Are you and Harry…an item?" Ron asked, sounding like he was about to cry. Everyone went back to what they were doing, deciding it wasn't as important as staying alive. Suddenly everyone burst out into song,

            "Staying alive, staying alive! Ah ah ah ah, staying alive!" Everyone went back to screaming.

            Hermione stood still for a few seconds before shouting over the noise,

            "No! Why would you think that?" All of a sudden, Ron's face grew hard, and he hushed Hermione with his fingers on her lips; he swooped Hermione up in his arms, leaned forward.

            "Hermione…" Ron whispered.

            "Yes, Ron?" Hermione asked. Ron leaned closer still and wiped an eyelash from her cheek. He let her go and stepped back. Hermione looked at him in shock.

            "You had an eyelash on your cheek."

            "Oh," said Hermione blushing. She turned her body a little and leaned her head on one shoulder, a smile tugging at her lips.

            "And, what made you notice it?" she asked batting her eyes.

            "Yeah…" Ron said with a look of confusion on his face which consequently killed the moment. Hermione's smile faded.

            "Um…well, I'm going to…go find Harry now," Ron said.

            "I'll go with you." The two shuffled past one another and into the crowd looking for Harry. Five minutes passed and they had no luck.  By this time, the professors had calmed and restored about half the class. But Harry was still no where to be seen. And then,

            "There he is!" yelled Ron, pointing towards the dungeon door. And sure enough, there was Harry, leaning against the doorway. He looked not so hot. There were bruises all over his body and blood was running from his nose. Some of his flesh was missing from his arms. Most of these injuries had no connection to anything going on in the room.

            Ron and Hermione ran over to him and grabbed him by the arms just as he fell forward. He whispered something. Ron leaned closer, and told him to repeat it.

            "Tell…Professor…Dumbledore…I…need…to…talk…to…him." Harry let out a last breathe and fell silent. Before Hermione could do her huge sobbing heartbreak yell of no, Snape walked over to them and grabbed Harry.

            "What are you doing with him?!" Ron screamed, tears threatening to fall.

            "I'm just taking him to the hospital wing."

            "Oh."

            Harry once again woke up in the hospital wing. He quickly looked to his sides to check if "anybody" was in bed with him. When he saw that no one was there, instead of feeling relieved, he felt a little sad.

            While melting yesterday, or this morning, or a week ago, how ever long ago it was, something had struck Harry. It was an extremely powerful thought, therefore that's why he had those bruises. Anyway, it occurred to Harry why he was having the weird dreams. He finally understood and he even remembered what had happened after he ran into Dumbledore yesterday. And he needed to talk to Dumbledore. Badly. Just then Dumbledore walked into the room.

            "Dumbledore!" Harry exclaimed before he could stop himself.

            "Hello Harry," Dumbledore said, sitting in a chair next to Harry. Harry didn't say anything. He didn't know where to start.

            "So…this chair is very uncomfortable," Dumbledore stated. Harry looked at him. What was he saying? Dumbledore looked at him and smiled.

            "It's worth the risk," he mumbled.

            "What was that?" Harry asked. Dumbledore cleared his throat.

            "You seem to be okay, why don't we go up to my office?"

            "Alright." Harry, proceeded to get out of bed, realized he was only in his boxers and jumped back under the covers. Dumbledore obediently turned his back to Harry but not before winking at him.

            Dumbledore walked over to his desk and sat down. He motioned for Harry to sit too which Harry did. Dumbledore crossed his hands and looked at Harry for a fleeting second then turned his gaze to just above Harry's shoulder.

            Harry was becoming uncomfortable with the silence and was about to ask how the professor's day was when Dumbledore spoke.

            "So, you remember." It took Harry a second before he realized what Dumbledore was talking about.

            "How did you know?" he asked. Dumbledore merely smiled and remained silent. Harry waited for more and when none came, he spoke again.

            "Yes, I remember what happened. But first off, how long had I been in the hospital wing?" he asked.

            "You were admitted to the wing yesterday morning and don't worry. Everybody is ok."

            "That's good. What time is it now?"

            "It's 7 at night." A silence fell over the room as the two thought about what to say next. Many of the portraits were snoring softly, while a few others were awake listening to the conversation below. This was making Harry uneasy also. He didn't really want all these people knowing about this.

            "Harry," Dumbledore spoke softly, "tell me what you remember from after you knocked into me."

            "Well…I remember waking up in your bed…"

~ * ~

            Harry looked around the room. The walls were covered in a mixture of all the house colors but with gold and red standing out the most.

            The bed was fluffy and it felt nice laying there on the pillows. He could lay here forever…

            The bedroom door opened and Dumbledore walked in carrying a tray of tea and biscuits. He looked over at the bed and saw Harry laying there wide-eyed.

            "Awake already? I just brought you in here!" Dumbledore said smiling. Harry looked at him trying to figure out what was going on. Seeing the confusion on his face, Dumbledore proceeded to explain.

            "You just ran into me and you got knocked out so I brought up to my chambers so you could lay in a soft bed instead of those things at the hospital wing."

            "Oh..."

            "Tea and biscuits?"

            "Sure…" Dumbledore brought the tray over to the bed as Harry sat up and placed it between them. Harry grabbed a biscuit and took a bite while Dumbledore helped himself to a cup of herbal tea. They sat like this, eating and drinking in a comfortable silence, for a little bit.

            Then Dumbledore broke the quiet.

            "Harry, there's something I want to tell you. I don't know how to say it but it must be said. Harry…I love you. I love you more than a student. Or a son." Harry dropped his tea, spilling it all over his legs. But he didn't seem to notice. Dumbledore's words were still running through his head. Did he really just hear what he thought he heard? Did Dumbledore just say he loved him? Harry's mind was racing.

            Dumbledore set his tea down and looked at Harry expectantly.

            "I…um…erm…" Harry stuttered. He had no idea what to say. This was crazy. This was so unexpected. It was too much. He jumped up out of bed, scattering the contents on the tray all over the bed.

            "I better be…going. Yeah, going. People are probably wondering where I am," he said hurriedly. Dumbledore's face fell.

~ * ~

            Dumbledore suddenly cleared his throat and wiped at his eye, pretending it was only something in his eye. He looked at Harry and said to continue.

~ * ~

            "Yes, yes. People probably are. Here let me help you get your things," Dumbledore said, his voice cracking a little. He grabbed Harry's bag and handed it to him. As Harry reached out distractedly, their hands touched and both stopped moving. There was something there, both had felt it. Harry began to blush. He grabbed his bad, said a hurried goodbye, turned and SMACK! ran right into the door. He swayed for a second and then fell back into Dumbledore's arms.

            "Harry? Harry, are you alright?" Dumbledore asked, looking at each of Harry's eyes. He had been knocked out again. Dumbledore picked him up and took him to the hospital wing.

~ * ~

            Harry looked at the headmaster. He was blinking rapidly and looking away from Harry.

            "I never responded…did I?" Harry asked quietly.

            "No, you never did."

            Harry let the answer sink in and then asked the question that had been plaguing him, if only subconsciously until recently, for a long time.

            "Professor, why?" Dumbledore looked at Harry's face with an inscrutable expression. It was a few more seconds before he answered.

            "Why? I truly don't know. I just do. I can't explain, the love is just there." Harry sat there in silence.

            "Professor? I love you," Harry said so softly that Dumbledore had to ask for a repeat.

            "I love you Professor Dumbledore," Harry said louder. Dumbledore looked taken back at this. He studied Harry for a few minutes and then his face broke into a wide grin.

            "I love you too Harry Potter." Harry grinned.

            "Professor—"

            "Please, call me Albus." Harry said the name, seeing how it sounded, and continued.

            "Albus," Harry giggled at using the name, "I want you to know that I've loved you for a long time. Maybe not consciously but subconsciously. I've been having strange dreams about you for the past few weeks that always end with you and me almost kissing." Harry sort of laughed.

            "I thought I was nuts. But now I know the truth. I love you." Dumbledore had tears welling in his eyes. This is all he ever wanted to hear from Harry.

            "I'm so happy that you feel the same. You have no idea how much that means to me," Dumbledore choked out. Harry stood up and walked around the desk and sat in Dumbledore's lap. They sat like that for awhile, grinning stupidly at each other.

            Harry was playing with Dumbledore's hair when Dumbledore asked with a twinkle in his eye, "Harry, would you like to finish your dreams?" Harry stared at him with a small smile on his lips.

            "I would love to," he whispered. They leaned towards each other, inching closer and closer.

            "Wait!" Harry exclaimed pulling back. "We have to do this true snogging style," he said with a mischievous grin. Dumbledore looked at him and then his face lit up with understanding.

            Harry and Dumbledore tip-toed through the halls. It was well past ten and everyone was in bed. They were looking for a broom closet and weren't having any luck. It seemed that when you wanted to find one you couldn't but if you weren't looking, they were everywhere.

            "I think there's one on the fourth floor," Harry whispered giggling. Dumbledore gripped Harry's hand harder.

            "Lead the way Capitan," whispered Dumbledore.

            They journeyed up to the fourth floor and soon found a broom closet. Harry crept up to the door and slowly turned the doorknob. But it was locked. Dumbledore mumbled something about Filch locking the doors so people like them couldn't get in. He murmured the spell to unlock things and the door clicked open. Harry grabbed the handle and pulled.

            Suddenly, two gasps and two screams filled the air. Inside the broom closet there stood Snape and Sinistra partially dressed with their arms around each other. Harry stopped screaming and covered his eyes as Sinistra stopped screaming also.

            "My eyes! They've been burned! I can't believe I just saw…that!" Harry whined.

            "Shut it Potter! She isn't that ugly!" Snape snapped while trying to cover himself. Sinistra turned and glared at him.

            "I think he was talking about you," she shot at him.

            "That's ridiculous. Anyway, let's pretend no one saw anything and—wait a minute. What are you two doing?" Snape asked narrowing his eyes. Harry looked at Dumbledore and then at the other two.

            "Nothing! We were just…taking a stroll..." Harry said quickly. Snape sneered at him, not believing a word he said.

            "Exactly. And I'm quite sure we know what you two were doing," Dumbledore said with a little laugh. Both Snape and Sinistra blushed.

            "Well," Snape said clearing his throat, "I think we can all just forget what we saw here tonight. Alright?"

            "Right," the rest mumbled.

            Snape and Sinistra gathered their clothes and headed off in opposite directions after more threats from Snape of what he would do to them if they told anyone. Harry and Dumbledore stood in another silence for a minute or two before Dumbledore cleared his throat and announced that Harry should get to bed as he had classes the next day. So Harry headed off towards the Gryffindor dormitory after a tight hug from Dumbledore.

            This had been an excellent night he thought as he reached the portrait of the Fat Lady.

*     *     *

So…yeah. What did you think? Crazy? Yes, I would think so.

I'll start on chapter five soon I hope. But for now, please review! :-D