Desperation Pt 1.

Disclaimer: Harry Potter, all related characters, locations, and events, are owned by Warner Brothers, J.K. Rowling, and multiple parties. No infringement is intended, nor should it be expected. Fair use only.

One Shot: Desperation Pt. 1

1993

It hadn't taken long for the school to turn on Harry, once they had learned he was a Parselmouth. His ability to speak to snakes as damning evidence as they needed to ostracise him completely. The one bright spot being Ron and Hermione, the only two willing to be near him, though Ginny did some times sit nearby.

'But even they keep giving me shifty looks, as though I may start hearing voices again…' Harry thought, flipping through a random library book.

His eyes stung as he wiped furiously at them under his glasses, forcing himself to hold back the tears that threatened to break through his facade. No matter how much he was expected to be brave, he was still only a young boy. A young boy being cast out by the only people he thought of as family.

"H-harry?" Hermione asks after she closes her own books. "I offered to help Professor McGonagall with a few things earlier today. Will you be okay here? Ginny?"

Harry nods, his eyes glued to the book in front of him. A moment of silence passes before Hermione lightly touches his shoulder as she moves past, leaving the library.

"I-I have a study group starting soon," Ginny says, before taking her bag and swiftly leaving.

Harry continues to read the same word over and over, before finally looking up minutes later. With Ron in detention, the library seemed empty, even though he knew there were other students at tables not that far away. Harry stood up, intent on switching his book for something he may actually read, moving swiftly through the many many bookshelves.

"He's dangerous!" A voice whispers just barely heard through the many shelves.

"I don't know why the teachers are letting him stay here…" Another voice replies.

Harry creeps closer, expecting once more to find a table of Hufflepuff's terrified from the attacks, but is shocked to see fifth-year Gryffindors.

"I've taken to warding the second years' door after they go to bed. If he leaves at night it'll alert me." Another says.

"You don't think the teachers have already done that?" One asks, shaking his head.

"I don't think the teachers are doing anything...I don't think they see how dangerous he's become." The other replies. "You remember last year with Quirrell...now this year with these attacks? What if-"

Harry turned on his heels and quickly left, leaving his bag behind. His heart was thudding in his chest, his head on fire, burning….burning….burning.

His feet carried him through the castle, his eyes blinded by anguish and tears. Twice he stopped, sobbing, barely able to move, but he forced his feet onward. Through this doorway, that tapestry, up and up the many stairs. All he knew was that he wanted to get away. He brushed past someone he barely saw, knocking them down with a loud crash, but he didn't stop running. Get away from the people that blamed him, that scorned him, that treated him even worse than the Dursley's.

'The Dursley's…' He thought, his mind locking up, 'I'll be stuck there forever…'

He slowed to a stop, wiping his eyes, letting out a shuddering breath. He gasped for air before his heart finally began to settle down. He wiped at his face, nearly knocking his glasses askew, almost angry at himself for his weakness. He forced himself to his feet, pushing himself to turn around and go back. As he did, another crash came from the end of the long hallway. Harry began moving in that direction, quickly recognizing that he was in the south tower.

'I wonder who I knocked over?' He thought as he went back.

As he turned the corner he spotted her, some first year with Blonde hair, laying amongst the wreckage of one of the many suits of armor in the castle.

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" He says, rushing over to help her up.

As his hands touched her shoulders he knew immediately something was wrong. He rolled her over, seeing her face frozen in a rictus of terror. He jumped back, her frozen body rocking back and forth slightly.

"Oh god…" He whispered. "I-I need to…"

"HEY!" He hears a voice from further down the hall.

A blast of bright yellow light slams into the wall beside him, yanking him out of her terror. Down the hall, several students are coming, in front of him, another attack victim. He ran further down the hall, away from the student victim, away from his attackers.

"Another! We caught him in the act!" He heard one yell, as he ran further and further.

"GET HIM!"

Harry crashed through a door, his mind running faster even than his feet, as he realized that there was nothing left now. No one would ever believe he wasn't the attacker. He'd be expelled, sent back to the muggle world, stuck with the Dursleys at least, likely jailed in the wizarding prison at worse. Another blast of energy just barely misses him as he climbs the ladder, scurrying as fast as his hands and feet could carry him, to the top of the south tower.

As the cries from below grew stronger, he felt his heart harden, a sordid determination fill him.

"I'll never go back." He said as he took a final step, and for a moment he was free...

And he fell.

A/N: See you in part 2!