Chapter Nine

Pain For Nothing

ONE

Harry woke with a start and inhaled sharply. For a moment, he wondered how he ended up in bed, but then he remembered having a vision of Voldemort while he, Harry, had been at the Welcoming Feast. "Bloody Hell," he said rubbing his face with his hands.

"Indeed," Snape said from Harry's right.

Harry jumped with surprise. "Blimey, don't do that!" he exclaimed. Snape chuckled lightly from his chair. "Indeed what, anyway?" Harry asked with irritation.

"I assume that you did not wish for the entire school to see something like that on your first day back," Snape replied. "As it is, Umbridge believes that you are making it up so as to gain more attention than you already receive."

"Yes, well, Umbridge is a hag," Harry said.

"Tell me about your vision," Snape said suddenly.

Harry wondered how they went from talking about Umbridge to talking about Voldemort so quickly, but he shrugged it off. He concentrated on what he saw at the feast.

"Well, he wanted some Muggle to help him break into a house," he said after a moment. "I can't… I think it was south somewhere." He shook his head, trying to clear it of the memory of so much pain. "Someone told him that they didn't think it was a good idea and he got angry." He screwed up his eyes, trying to remember more, but all he could remember after that was pain. "I'm sorry, sir," he said. "I can't remember any more."

"It's all right," Snape said. He reached out and put a hand on Harry's arm. "How do you feel?"

Harry felt a shiver when Snape touched him, but he repressed it. The memory of the back massage came back to him as he stared at Snape's long fingers. The back of his mind registered a question. "I'm fine," he answered automatically.

"Do you feel any pain?" Snape asked.

"No," Harry said vaguely. He wrenched his eyes away from Snape's hand and looked into concerned obsidian eyes. "No, I'm fine," he said in a stronger voice.

"Then get up," Snape said, removing his hand and standing up. "You have classes today and it's nearly time for breakfast."

"Yes, sir," Harry said. He waited until Snape left the room before getting up. He took a shower and ran a comb through his hair, even though he knew it was useless, got dressed and then went out to find Snape waiting for him.

"You took long enough," Snape said irritably.

"A hot shower always relaxes my muscles the day after a particularly horrid vision," Harry replied. "Shall we go then?"

"Insufferable little brat," Snape muttered, opening the door and letting Harry go ahead of him.

Harry chuckled but didn't reply.

The Great Hall went very still when Harry and Snape entered. Snape barely seemed to notice and walked to the staff table. Harry felt himself turning red as many eyes turned to watch him. 'Well,' he thought. 'If they're looking, I may as well give them something to see.' He waved cheerily to everyone in the Hall and proceeded to his seat, adding a bounce to his step.

"Hi guys!" he said as he sat next to Ron and across from Hermione.

"Are you all right, Harry?" Hermione asked with concern.

Harry waved a dismissive hand and took a little food. "I'm fine," he said. "Don't worry about it."

"You're not eating much," Ron observed. "And you're as thin as a rail."

Harry sighed. "I can't tell you what's happening here," he whispered to them. As he began to slowly force down his breakfast, Fred and George Weasley, Ron's brothers (who happened to be identical twins), began passing out the timetables. Harry looked at his and groaned.

"What's up?" Ron asked.

"We have Divination first thing, " Harry replied.

"Damn it!" Ron complained.

"You should have dropped it like I did," Hermione said in her 'I told you so' voice.

"Yeah, well, Ron and I had better get going or we'll be late," Harry said, standing up.

"You barely ate anything," Hermione said, also standing.

"I'm not hungry," Harry said truthfully, shrugging slightly. He'd been rather queasy since he'd woken up that morning.

"Tell us what's going on, Harry," Ron said.

"Not here," Harry said. "I'll tell you in Charms."

"We're holding you to that," Hermione said as she separated from them.

Harry and Ron began climbing the steps to North Tower and by the time they reached the top, Harry was very winded. Ron gave Harry a concerned look.

"Charms," Harry said breathlessly.

Ron looked like he wanted to argue but he nodded sharply instead. The trap door in the ceiling opened and the ladder landed at Harry's feet.

"Go ahead of me," Harry said, taking a step back. The other students filed passed him and climbed up into Professor Trelawny's room. 'I should start working out,' Harry thought as his breathing grew more normal.

"Maybe you should go see the nurse," Ron said uncertainly.

"I'm fine," Harry said firmly. "I just had a rough summer." With that, he climbed the ladder and sat at the last table in a dark corner of the room. The heavy perfumes of Trelawny's room felt stifling after the long summer in the cool dungeons.

"Harry," Ron said as he took a seat on Harry's left, but Trelawny's misty voice interrupted him.

"Good morning, my fifth years," she said, emerging from the shadows. She was wearing lank teal robes, covered with a long sparkling shawl. She had many gaudy necklaces around her neck and shiny rings on her fingers. Her eyes were being magnified many times by the thick glasses she wore, giving her the appearance of a very large praying mantis. "This year we shall be learning dream interpretation." She handed out books called The Dream Oracle and then sat in her high-backed chair near the fireplace.

Harry felt that Divination couldn't pass quick enough and was thoroughly relieved when the class was released for Charms. Trelawny had assigned them a month's worth of keeping a dream diary. Harry didn't think she'd want to know about his dreams.

As he sat down in his Charms class, Harry braced himself for the storm of questions he knew would come once the class had started.

Professor Flitwick was tiny wizard who stood on a pile of books on top of his desk. He told the class in his squeaky voice about O.W.L. year. It seemed they would start with reviews before moving on to new material. Today would be spent doing Summoning and Banishing Charms.

"Spill it, Harry," Hermione said, Banishing her cushion into a box across the room.

Harry told them about his visions and the pain from experiencing Voldemort's curses. When he finished, both Ron and Hermione looked horrified.

"Harry, that's horrible!" Hermione exclaimed, drawing glances from a few Ravenclaws sitting near by.

"Sh!" Harry admonished. "No one can know the truth. You both have to swear that you won't tell anyone."

"We swear, Harry," Ron said, holding up his hand. "If that's what's happening, why did it just look like a seizure yesterday?"

"Snape put a spell on me," Harry replied. "Only people who know the truth can hear and see the real thing. It's safer for me if Voldemort doesn't know about this."

"I should say so," Hermione said. "I can't imagine what would happen if that Umbridge woman knew."

"She'd say I was lying about the whole thing," Harry said stiffly. "She already thinks I'm lying about having epilepsy."

"Like anyone could act that well," Hermione said. "I'd like to see her do something like that and make it believable."

Harry shrugged and Banished his pillow, which flew across the room and hit Professor Flitwick in the head.

"Concentrate, Mr. Potter!" Flitwick admonished.

"Sorry, sir," Harry said. He turned back to Ron and Hermione. "Look, it's not a big deal."

"Are you mad?" Ron asked. "Have all of those curses made you daft?"

"Snape's making me a potion that'll stop the pain," Harry said quickly. "Pretty soon I'll be back to myself."

Ron and Hermione looked at him uncertainly, but dropped the subject for the time being.

TWO

A month and half into the new term found Harry in a terrible state. The Dark Lord was becoming restless about something and as a result, Harry's visions were becoming longer and more painful by the night. By mid-October, Harry was extremely exhausted and pale. His weight hadn't gone up at all due to the frequency and potency of his visions. Harry began making energy boosting potions and mild pain-killers every night after classes. The October first deadline had been pushed back because the Dark Lord wanted him healthy when they faced off at last, though the Dark Lord hadn't explained that much to Severus, considering Severus had not been the one to inform him of Harry's ill health.

Severus knew about Harry's extracurricular potion making, but he couldn't bring himself to reprimand the boy. Severus went to dinner the evening of the 15th, intending to keep a close watch on his young charge as usual.

Harry arrived at dinner late, looking dead on his feet. He sat with his friends, but he didn't look as though he knew what was happening around him. Severus could feel the fatigue coming through the bond. He wished he could send Harry some of his own energy, but the bond wasn't strong enough for that. About half way through the meal, Harry stood up and stumbled out of the Hall. Granger and Weasley were watching after him with concern. Severus took his leave a few minutes later.

As he entered his chambers, Severus listened for any whimpering or groaning coming from Harry's room, but there was none. He walked to Harry's room and found the young man passed out on his bed, still in his school uniform. Severus sighed heavily and walked into the room.

Severus took off Harry's robes and put the boy in pajamas. Afterwards, he tucked Harry into bed. Harry didn't wake up during any of this. Severus sat down in the chair by Harry's bed and summoned his notebook and self-inking quill. He worked on some of his older creations, trying to think of how Harry would solve the problem. He was starting to feel tired when the Dark Mark on his left forearm began to burn horribly.

Severus cursed under his breath and stood up, looking at Harry. Harry was flinching a bit, but making no signs that he was about to wake up. Severus pulled out his wand and dissolved the bond between Harry and him. He wouldn't be able to function properly if he could feel what Harry was going through. Next, he made his way to Albus' office and opened the door.

"Severus?" Albus asked with surprise. To Severus' irritation, Albus was not alone. He was in a meeting with Minerva and Umbridge. Severus scowled and raised his eyebrows pointedly at Albus. "Excuse me for a moment, ladies," Albus said and stood up. He led Severus into a room on the right side of the office.

"I have been summoned," Severus said without preamble. "I have dissolved my bond with Harry. Send Poppy to take care of him while I am away. I think he's going to have a rough night."

Albus nodded gravely. "Be safe, Severus," he said. "We'll watch over Harry."

Severus gave a curt nod and walked out without another word. He left the castle and walked into Hogsmeade where he Apparated to the Riddle House.

"Ah, Severus," the Dark Lord said when Severus arrived.

"Good evening, my Lord," Severus replied and kissed the Dark Lord's robes.

"I have had news from Lucius' son," the Dark Lord said. "It seems that young Mr. Potter is ill. Is this true, Severus?"

Severus felt like his stomach had dropped out. "Yes, my Lord."

"And why didn't you inform me of this yourself?"

"I didn't think it was of any importance to you," Severus said, keeping his mind clear of all emotion. "I thought that if I let him die, it would be better for you."

"I see." He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named paced in front of the few Death Eaters gathered. "What is wrong with him?" he asked after few minutes.

"He's contracted epilepsy," Severus replied.

"And how did he manage that?" the Dark Lord asked. "One does not just contract epilepsy as though it were the flu."

"I do not know how the boy came to be ill," Severus said at once. He always had a backup plan ready. "His uncle sent a letter to Hogwarts asking for help. He explained nothing else in his letter. When Dumbledore and I arrived at Potter's home, the boy was already very ill. Dumbledore put him in my care, and Potter has not told me anything about the origin of his… condition."

"Very well, Severus. I believe you. I want you to take good care of him. He should be in perfect health when I kill him. You may go."

"Thank you, my Lord." Severus kissed the Dark Lord's robes again and began backing out.

"Just a moment, Severus," the Dark Lord said.

Severus stopped moving. "My Lord?"

"Your Vent has been to see me. He says you are not seeing enough of him."

Severus closed his eyes and willed his annoyance away.

"You must instill more loyalty in your Vent, Severus," You-Know-Who snapped. "He will never survive to become a Death Eater as he is. Fix it. Crucio!"

Severus fell on his knees in total pain. It lasted for about 30 seconds, but to Severus it felt like hours. After his punishment, Severus was allowed to leave. He went upstairs to a small room in which the Vents were waiting for their Caretakers. He opened the door and Mike sprang up from the small group.

"Caretaker!" he said happily.

"You spoke to our Lord about me," Severus said coldly.

Mike's face fell and he became very still. "I wanted to see you," he said.

"You acted stupidly!" Severus snapped. "You got me into trouble. I expect more loyalty from you in the future."

"I'm sorry, Caretaker," Mike said desperately.

"Sorry is not good enough. You must be punished."

"Punished?" Mike asked uncertainly. It was very rare for Severus to resort to punishment by means of magic. Severus, however, felt that it was more than fair.

Severus pulled out his wand and aimed at Mike's chest. "Angere!" A shot of blue light came from his wand and hit Mike, knocking him to the floor. Mike twitched a bit, but remained silent. "Amplificare Angere!" Severus said and Mike began to whimper pathetically.

"Please Caretaker!" he said painfully. "I'm sorry!"

Severus released the curse and knelt next to Mike. "You must learn loyalty," he said. "Our Lord would not be so gentle with you. You will wait patiently until you are called for. Do not make me angry, Vent."

"Yes, Caretaker," Mike said.

"Do not forget your place, Vent," Severus said as he stood. "If something like this happens again, you can forget about joining our ranks." He turned sharply and walked away, leaving Mike whimpering on the floor of the Vents' room.

Severus' mind was cluttered with annoyance and worry as he Apparated back to Hogsmeade. As he walked into the main doors, a distant noise reached his ears. It sounded like someone screaming. An alarm went off in his mind and he began running to the infirmary. As he moved higher in the castle, the screaming grew louder. When he turned into the corridor for infirmary, he saw two figures by the doors looking into the window.

"Maybe they won't notice us if we just go in and stand in the corner," said one of them. Severus recognized the voice of Hermione Granger. That could only mean that the other figure was Ron Weasley.

"They wouldn't get angry," Weasley said. "He's our friend, isn't he? Besides, we're allowed to be out. We're prefects."

"We're only allowed to be out if we've been assigned hall duty," Granger said distractedly. "We could just sneak in and…"

Severus decided to interrupt. "Just what do you two think you are doing?" he asked.

Both Gryffindors turned and paled. "Professor Snape!" Granger squeaked.

"Indeed," Severus deadpanned.

"We just… we wanted to see Harry," Granger explained.

"You do not want to see what is happening in there," Severus drawled. "Go back to your dormitories."

"He's our friend!" Weasley exclaimed.

Severus raised an eyebrow at the boy. 'He's certainly not lacking in Gryffindor courage,' he thought "Go to your common room and I will come and fetch you when this is over," he said.

The two Gryffindors stared at him.

"Get going before I change my mind about taking points!" Severus snapped.

"Yes, sir!" Granger said, pushing Weasley into motion. "Thank you, sir!" The two sprinted toward the stairs.

Severus chuckled, opened the door and stepped into the now silent infirmary. Weasley and Granger had taken to arriving at his quarters at eight every morning to pick Harry up for breakfast. Severus respected their loyalty to their friend and so he tolerated them.

"Severus, at last!" Poppy exclaimed when she saw him.

"How long has this been happening?" Severus asked, moving to sit by Harry's bed.

"Nearly an hour," Poppy replied. Albus was on the other side of the bed, wiping Harry's forehead with a damp cloth. "I think it's over now though," Poppy went on. "He's been quiet for the last few minutes."

Severus looked down at the raven-haired youth on the bed. Harry's eyes were slightly open and his breathing was fast. Suddenly he sat up straight and his eyes opened wide, though their brilliant emerald green was dulled slightly.

"Harry?" Poppy asked. "Harry!" she said more urgently when Harry didn't respond. She moved to touch him, but Severus held her back.

"He can't hear you," he said, turning back to Harry. "It's not over yet." After a few moments, Harry began to speak.

"Look, all of you, on the mighty traitor," he said. His voice was cold and filled with menacing hatred. "She has betrayed us to that Muggle loving fool Dumbledore. Fortunately, I am not easily fooled. Watch now as she is given her payment. Crucio!" Harry fell back on the bed, screaming and writhing in agony. His back arched and his head dug into the pillow, but he continued to scream out the Dark Lord's words.

"Pay attention to her!" Harry screamed. "This will happen to all who dare betray me! You cannot lie, for Lord Voldemort always knows! She will die a traitor's death as you all watch! Do not presume that you can fool me!" This thread of tortured screaming continued for nearly five minutes. Severus held Harry gently to prevent the teen from causing himself injury. Finally, Harry stopped screaming and lay still.

"Albus," Severus began, but Harry cut him off.

"She will die now," he said, his voice hoarse from screaming. "Let her blood be a warning to any who would dare to betray me."

"Oh gods, no," Severus muttered, knowing the punishment for traitors, though he was powerless to stop it.

"Discerpere!" Harry said and then began screaming louder than Severus had ever heard him. Harry seemed to be trying to escape from something as he thrashed violently in the bed. He clawed at his joints and midsection for what seemed an eternity before he stopped screaming at last. He stopped breathing for a moment, but the next moment he took a great shuddering gasp and then passed out.

"Take him back to his room, Severus," Albus said weakly. He was sitting in a chair by the window looking pale and older than Severus had ever seen him.

"Albus," Poppy said.

"There's nothing else you can do for him, Poppy," Albus said. "Severus will take care of him when he wakes."

Severus levitated Harry and carried him back down to the dungeons. The whole time his mind was spinning with questions. Why had the Dark Lord sent him away without witnessing the execution? Who was the woman? He was sure Albus knew who it was, but he wasn't about to ask him.

After placing Harry in bed, Severus recast the bonding spell. Afterwards, he went up to Gryffindor Tower to retrieve Harry's friends. The fat lady in the frilly pink silk dress was asleep in her frame. He walked up to the portrait and knocked on the wooden frame, causing the fat lady to jump out of her slumber.

"Do you mind?" she asked irritably.

"Not terribly," Severus drawled. She looked like she was going to say something, but she was pushed open from the inside. Granger and Weasley looked out through a hole in the wall.

"Is he okay, Professor?" Granger asked tentatively.

"Come along with me, both of you," Severus replied curtly. The two Gryffindors scrambled through the portrait hole and closed the painting. Severus began walking away quickly. No one spoke as they moved toward the dungeons.

As they entered Severus' quarters, Severus motioned to the two students to sit down on his couch.

"I must explain something before I allow you to see him," Severus said. "Potter was subjected to several different curses tonight, and he passed out before any potions could be administered. What this means is that he could wake up at any moment, and when he does, it won't be a pretty sight. If either of you do not wish to see him suffering, then I advise that you leave now and visit him in the morning."

"I'm staying," Granger said at once.

"So am I," Weasley said.

"Very well," Severus replied. "He's back here." He led the two through the disillusioned door and back through to Harry's room.

Harry was just as Severus left him. He was on his back looking pale and sick, his features drawn in either pain or worry, though Severus did not know which.

"He looks like death," Granger said quietly.

"Quite," Severus replied. He conjured two chairs for the Gryffindors and then sat in 'his' chair to wait for Harry to wake up. He allowed his mind to wander freely as Harry's friends began a quiet conversation in their corner.

Severus had been watching Harry quietly over the last month and a half, wondering how the boy was coping with his situation. Harry had already missed four days of class, and served a week's detention with Umbridge. She'd kept him so late the first night that Severus had to go and fetch him. When he'd arrived, Umbridge had been looking at the back of Harry's hand. When Severus had asked how Harry had managed to lad himself in detention so quickly, Harry had said simply, "Umbridge is an ignorant old hag, that's how."

Albus had removed Harry from Gryffindor's Quidditch team in fear that the boy would have a vision while he was flying. Though this news had outraged Harry, Severus couldn't help but agree with the old man. The Dark Lord wasn't going to take a break from torturing people just because Harry was playing Quidditch. Of course, Harry, being a teenager, didn't see the logical side of Albus' decision at all.

Harry spent all of his free time sitting on the floor in front of his fireplace, catching up on his homework. What little vision-free sleep he got was punctuated by nightmares, and once he woke up he could never go back to sleep so he'd stay up and continue on his schoolwork. Without Granger there to help him, Harry was forced to actually learn what he was studying. His grades went up, but at the terrible cost of his health. He ate because Severus forced food into him and sleep came difficultly. Harry had been getting more uptight at time went on and he snapped at people easily. He even snapped at Severus on occasion, and then he'd apologize and go to bed early. Severus' worry for the boy increased with each passing day and now he was worried that Harry might not survive to see the Curse Blocking Potion completed. After what seemed like hours, Harry began to wake up. Immediately, he began to groan and fight against the pain. Severus grabbed the first of three potions he had for Harry and moved to the bed.

"Harry?" he said gently, having forgotten the presence of the two Gryffindors.

"Please, make it stop!" Harry cried painfully. Severus took a breath to calm his emotions.

"Can you sit up?"

"NO!" Harry cried. "Please no! Make it stop! Make it stop!"

"I have to sit you up, Harry," Severus said gently. He placed his hand underneath Harry's shoulders.

"Please no," Harry whimpered and then he cried out painfully when Severus gently lifted him into a sitting position.

"Drink this, Harry," Severus said, holding a bright orange potion to Harry's mouth.

"I can't," Harry whimpered. Severus tipped the potion slightly and Harry reflexively drank it down. Harry's body relaxed a bit and he sighed. "Thank you, sir," he said.

"Drink this one now, Harry," Severus said, giving Harry the metallic blue Inhibiting Potion followed by a muscle relaxant. He gently laid Harry back down and the boy went straight to sleep. Severus sighed and rubbed his face roughly. He turned and found the Gryffindors staring at him. There were tears on Granger's cheeks.

"What happened tonight, sir?" she asked, her voice strained.

"He was afflicted by several curses tonight," Severus replied.

"What curses?" Weasley asked.

"The main one was Cruciatus," Severus said.

"We heard him screaming so loud, sir," Granger said. "I don't think that was Cruciatus."

"It wasn't," Severus said.

"What was it?" Granger asked.

Severus looked at them for a moment before deciding that they deserved to know. They were very loyal friends. "It was a Dismemberment Curse."

Granger put her hand over her mouth as fresh tears began coursing down her cheeks and Weasley turned very pale.

"He's not going to wake up again tonight," Severus said. He moved into his own living room and took out a sheet of parchment. He tore it in half and wrote notes on them. "These give you permission to miss your first class. Go and get some sleep. Harry won't be in class tomorrow."

"Yes, sir," Weasley said. Granger was leaning against him crying. Weasley took the notes and the two departed.

Severus sat again on his couch and stared into the fire. For the first time in nearly 20 years, Severus was worried about someone. Harry Potter was not what he was supposed to be. He was supposed to be an attention seeking, shallow, arrogant teenager. Damn the boy for being kind and selfless. Damn him for making Severus care. Damn the Dark Lord for hurting someone so innocent. Damn him for daring to think that he could hurt Harry without fear of repercussion. Damn him for being right.

Author's Note: Many thanks to…

Volume: I agree

Shiemi Shimabukuro: Oh, he will eventually, believe you me.

Rosiegirl: I know. I left her that way because I just hate her so fucking much.

Sliver of Melody: So do I, m'dear. So do I.

Leeleepotter: She stuck out so vividly in my mind that I couldn't imagine leaving her out, even if she is a right old bint.

CogniDi: That's a good way to look at it, actually.

Thana: I'm honored that you would even consider it.

Ktoddhim: Actually, I am in need of a beta for MES, if you'd like to take on that freight train.

Skimmie

Tamyka: Unfortunately, I need Mike a little later on in the tale. As for Umbridge, all I can say is that she gets hers in the end. JKR so should have killed that hag off.

Sh'arra Rie: I hope you continue to enjoy this story as much as I do.