Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters. All I own is my original characters and settings that will come up later is the story.

I am rewriting/adding parts of this story to improve it and get rid of inconsistencies. If you see any let me know. Tell me if it's improved if you've read it before. And if you're a 'virgin', so to speak, just drop a line and tell me how it's going.

I'm going to make a calendar and post it on my website to explain the time duration of all this. There are days in between some of the chapters that explain Harry's changing behavior. As time goes by he's adjusting to his environment. I'll post a note when it's up. It might take some time.

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"Minister, you need to calm down."

"I want that boy taken in custody. He's unstable. I saw his mind." Fudge's voice was too high. He sounded panicked.

"Cornelius, let's sit down and talk about this." Dumbledore sounded weary.

The white curtain around the bed muffled their voices as they moved away.

"Hello Harry." Kingsley sat in the chair next to the bed. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I got hit by a train." He pushed his shirt up and poked at the bruises spanning his chest.

Kingsley coughed. "Or a half-giant?"

He rubbed his scar. "Where's my necklace?"

Kingsley shifted in the chair. "Harry--"

He's not going to give it back. What if they destroyed it? No! I--I can't-- "I need it! Where is it?"

Kingsley pushed his shoulders back down onto the bed. "You're not going to get it back. It's--"

Harry smacked at his arms until they jerked away. "Fuck that. I need it."

"Why? Harry, why do you need it so much?" Kingsley was glancing toward the voices. He was going to call them in here.

No. Snape would come. Wait. Snape. I'm not scared of him anymore. Harry rubbed his temples. God, it hurt just to breathe. Why wouldn't they give it back? Why wouldn't they let him breathe? "It--It keeps me calm."

Kingsley sank back into the chair. "So do deep breaths Harry."

That won't help. He doesn't know what it feels like. My head is being ripped apart. "No. I need--"

"Get your hands off me!"

Kingsley's head snapped toward the voice.

Harry scrambled out from the covers and peeked through the curtains. "Cali."

"What?" Kingsley peered around behind him.

An auror shoved Cali into a chair. Her arms were bound behind her back.

"You will never hear the end of this you stupid, slimy bastard." She kept yanking her arms trying to break free.

Fudge walked away from Dumbledore. "Child, you would do well to have some respect. You are in a lot of trouble. Do you know how many laws you have broken?"

Cali growled and glared at him. "How about we talk about how many laws you've broken? Article five section seven line twenty-three of the international treaty states that each minister of magic has jurisdiction over his district only. You have no jurisdiction over me Fudge." She pulled against the bonds. "When the other ministers are informed you will be screwed. They do not like others interfering with their business."

Fudge folded his arms across his chest. "And how exactly do you know all this?"

"Fudge, what the hell do you think you are doing?" Dad stormed through the doors.

Fudge's arms dropped to his sides and his eyes darted around the room. "Richardson?! What are you doing here?"

Cali smiled. "Hi Daddy."

"Dad?" Fudge stepped back as Dad waved his arm and the ropes dropped off Cali's wrists. He must be hiding his wand in his sleeve again.

Cali stood and rubbed her wrists. "Yes. Dad. As in I am the daughter of the American Minister of Magic." She smirked. "I bet you kind of wish you didn't arrest me now, don't you?"

Fudge backed away. "Chris, I'm sure we can talk this through."

Dad stalked forward. "All right. Start talking. I'd like to hear you explain why you violated your jurisdiction and arrested my daughter."

"She--she was in possession of an object that opened a magical connection between your daughter and Mr. Potter. It was causing fluctuations across the country. Something had to be done."

Dad narrowed his eyes. He should be a Snape. He glares well. "Did you confiscate the item from Mr. Potter first?"

Fudge stepped back and fiddled with his fingers. "Well--no."

Dad stepped within inches of Fudge. "Did you know that he had it when you took Cali's?"

Fudge backed into the wall. "Not exactly--"

Dad slammed his back into the wall. "Then you willfully violated your jurisdiction."

Fudge's face was white and he was looking toward the aurors whom apparently had no desire to get between Fudge and an angry father. "Spells were being affected. Action had to be taken to ensure the safety of my fellow wizards."

Dad dropped his arms, walked back, and pushed Cali onto a bed.

Cali rubbed her arms where it the bed frame. "Ow. Dad--"

He tilted her head back. "Did you create this connection and give the means of creating it to Harry?"

Cali bit her lip. "Yes, but--"

He pushed her head back up as she tried to break eye contact. "Did you know it would affect other people's magic?"

Cali ripped her head away and backed up. "It wasn't supposed to be that powerful. I didn't compensate for the excess energy created by magic produced by the warding surrounding the castle."

Dad rubbed his forehead. "What was it supposed to do?"

Cali glanced toward Harry and smiled before dropping her face back into looking nervous. "Let us share emotions."

Dad leaned against the bed frame. "Why?"

Cali played with her fingers. Oh no. This is bad. She's holding back emotions again. She's going to-- "They wouldn't let us stay together! I need him and he needs me and this was the only option they left us!"

Dad started. "Cali, calm down."

Cali jumped up and paced the length of the bed. "You can't just put two people together and then rip them apart."

Dad grabbed her shoulders and looked into her eyes. "What kind of drain did the connection have?"

Cali was shaking. "It's not fair."

He shook her. "What kind of drain Cali?"

She looked toward the wall. "I don't know. It was supposed to be negligible. It ended up at maybe twelve or fourteen times what a normal level one spell takes."

He dropped her shoulders. "Harry?"

He popped through the curtains and threw his arms around his waist. "Hi Dad."

Dad tilted his head up. "How are you feeling?"

Harry shrugged. "Everything hurts. Can I have the necklace back?"

Cali jumped up and hugged him too. "Yeah Dad, please!"

He looked between them then over at Dumbledore. "They're addicted. The necklaces caused their magical reserves to increase. Without the extra drain they return to normal levels. It's like being tired all the time."

McGonagall lowered herself to a bed. "So that is what's affecting his behavior?"

Dad shook his head. "They connected their minds. The loss of a connection that deep--It must be like cutting yourself off from the world."

"It is." Cali tugged on his shirt. "Give them back. Please?"

He smoothed her hair down. "I'm afraid that will be impossible. But don't worry. You should be back to normal in a day or so. Everything will be okay." He loosened Cali's hold on his waist. "We have to get home before your mother sends the National Guard after us."

"No!" Cali grabbed Harry and they backed into the wall. "You can't do this again."

Dad moved toward them. "I'm sorry Morganna. I don't have a choice. Why don't we go home and talk about why you felt you needed this connection?"

Cali glared and pulled him closer to her and the wall. "Fuck off. I've done enough talking. I want Harry."

Dad's wand dropped into his hand. "Accio laptop." No one moved until the laptop flew into his arms.

"No." Harry pulled Cali against him. "You can't take that."

Cali was shaking. "You weren't supposed to know about that."

Dad shook his head. "I'm not dumb Morganna. You spent weeks working on a laptop when yours worked perfectly well." He laid his hand on the back of Harry's neck. "We have to go Harry. Don't worry. Everything will be fine. You can see each other on break." He slipped the laptop case over his shoulder. "Even Biara felt the magic fluctuations Harry. Fudge was right about that. It has to stop. You can write each other letters."

He wasn't lying. He was cutting him off from Cali. He wasn't going to let them make a choice. There had to be a way to contact each other. There were so many spells. There had to be a spell to help. Cali had to help him with Snape. Snape saw it. He knows I remember now. He can't let me tell anyone what he did. I need a protection spell. The Academy library is probably full of them.

"Harry?" Dad brushed the hair off his forehead. "Are you okay? I'm so sorry I have to do this."

Harry tried to smile. "I know. It's okay. I'll be okay." I need to get my bag. The bottle is in my bag. Where did I leave it? Oh crap. It's in the dungeon. I can't go back. Hermione will get it for me. I'll go back to the tower and ask her. He kissed Cali's forehead. "We'll be all right."

"It's wearing off Harry. You know it is. It's coming back." Cali whispered in his ear and wrapped her arms around him.

Harry squeezed her. "It's okay. I'm okay. It's not as bad as before. I know it's not real."

Cali pressed her hands against his cheeks. "You'd tell me if it wasn't okay, wouldn't you?"

He squeezed her once more and stepped back. "Yes. I promise I would. Bye Cali."

"Bye Harry." Cali took her father's hand and walked out with Snape. Snape? When did he get here? He didn't do anything. He didn't try and hurt me. Maybe it's the connection. I'm going through withdrawal. It just seemed like it made sense. Everything is okay. He doesn't want to hurt me. It wasn't real.

Fudge cleared his throat. "Now that that nonsense is over--"

Harry rubbed his scar. Why did everything have to hurt so much? If I stay out here he'll try and make me guilty of something. If I try and leave someone will stop me. They don't know that I'm okay. Why can't they just believe me? I'm fine. I just need another dose. "You can't do anything to me. You only knew about me after you illegally seized property. It doesn't make any difference what I did. I know the laws."

Fudge clenched his teeth. "What about what I saw in you mind Mr. Potter?"

Harry walked back toward his bed. What did he see? What was I thinking? He has to ignore it. Think it wasn't real. "I was going through magical withdrawal. I was not in my right mind. Now I can return to normal." He has to buy it. He's an idiot. He'll believe anything. Why does he never believe me? "I'm tired now. It must be all the abnormal behavior. I should sleep so I can be better for class tomorrow." He pulled the curtains closed.

Madam Pomfrey shooed everyone out and stood next to his bed. "Are you all right Mr. Potter?"

He got under the covers. His lungs ached, the pain overshadowing the throbbing in his head. "I need the medicine for my bronchitis." Someone will bring me that damn bottle.

Madam Pomfrey stopped straightening his blankets. "What?"

"I got bronchitis this summer. Magic wouldn't cure it, so I have to take pills for it. They're in my bag. I left it in the dungeon." What is the chance that she knows that the only reason it wouldn't be cured by magic was because of the wand less magic I was doing?

She gave the cover one last tug. "Professor Snape brought your bag up." She brought it back to the bed.

He smiled. Score. But she can't see me taking them. "Thanks. I have to take them in the morning."

"All right." She pulled the gap in the curtains closed. "Why don't you rest Mr. Potter?"

"Okay." His head sunk to the pillow.

"Harry?" Ron peeked through the curtains.

Harry fumbled for his glasses on the table and slipped them on. "Hi Ron."

Ron perched on the edge of the bed. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah." He yawned. "What are you doing here?"

Ron handed him a pile of clothes. "I thought you'd appreciate some clothes to wear tomorrow." He shifted and sat in the chair next to the bed. "Dumbledore told us what happened."

That man never could keep his mouth shut. "Who's us?"

"Me and Hermione." He dropped his head into his hands. "I'm sorry mate. I didn't mean to--you were acting different and--I missed my friend. I was a total prick Harry."

Harry smiled and patted him on the shoulder. He doesn't even bother asking if that's what was causing my 'weird behavior.' "It's okay. It's not like I was that logical myself."

Ron sighed and dropped his chin into his hand. "We really screwed this year up."

Harry laughed. "And it hasn't even really started yet."

Ron chewed on his finger. "Does that mean we get a second chance?"

Harry smiled. "Maybe it does."

He smiled. "I'm sorry about the whole thing with Ginny."

Would you still be sorry if I really had been putting the moves on her? "It's okay. I know it probably looked bad."

Ron dropped back in the chair. "Are you sure you're all right? I mean, bloody hell, the minister of magic."

What if I said I wasn't all right? What if I told you that it felt like Hagrid is jumping on my head. "I am right now. I'm not going to venture any farther than that."

Ron glanced around. "Hermione wanted me to tell you that we're your friends and you can talk to us. Ginny would probably say the same thing. Girls like to say stuff like that."

And you can't say that? You can't reassure me that even though I've been through hell I still have friends that care about whether I live or die? Harry laughed. "Thanks Ron. I'd better get some rest so I can make it through my classes tomorrow."

"All right. Good night Harry." Ron slipped through the curtains.

"Night Ron." He grabbed the glass on the table and set it in his lap. He scrounged in his bag and pulled out the bottle. He tapped the bottle against his mouth and sipped the water. He put the glass back and set his glasses next to it. Everything is always fine. He dropped back to the pillow.

Madam Pomfrey pulled the curtains open. "Good morning Mr. Potter. It's time to get ready and get off to breakfast. Are you feeling well enough to do that?"

"Yes ma'am. I think so." He swallowed two of his Valium. Now she's seen me take pills and will think I remembered what I was supposed to do. I'm responsible. Responsible people don't have to be watched all the time.

She smiled. "Wonderful. You are definitely looking much better this morning. Why don't you go change?"

"Thank you." He grabbed the clothes and went to change in the bathroom. He pulled the robe on and sighed. The same stupid clothes he was going to wear everyday for the entire year. He walked out again.

She rested her palm against his forehead. "If you begin to feel worse I want you to come back and see me, okay?"

Like that's going to happen. "Yes ma'am."

"Well then, off you go." She shooed him out of the wing.

The Great Hall was filled. He slipped onto the bench next to Hermione. "Hi guys."

Hermione laid her hand on his arm. "Are you okay?"

"I'm wonderful." Did I just mean that?

"Really?" I guess she's not sure either. I think one of us should be sure.

"Yes. I'm not lying. Monday was just a bad day. With--without the necklace I'm feeling much more like my--myself. Wednesday should be a much better day."

Hermione smiled. "Well that's wonderful. Now eat up before we go to Potions."

The eggs were oozing across the plate and making the flaky bacon soggy.

Hermione eyed his full plate. "Harry? Are you going to eat?"

He forced himself to put a spoonful of lumpy, sticky porridge in his mouth. It glued his mouth shut and he squeezed his throat and the back of his mouth to keep from gagging.

The owls swooped in the windows. A black owl dropped a box in front of Harry.

"Who is it from?" Hermione tried to read over his shoulder.

Harry sighed and opened the envelope. "Harry, don't worry about Fudge. He's been dealt with. I baked you some of your favorite cookies. Enjoy. Don't eat them all at once and make yourself sick. Love Mom."

Neville choked. "Mom?! You got cookies from your Mom?" I really have to stop reading aloud.

The professors were all looking toward the Gryffindor table.

"No Neville." I did not get cookies from my dead mother. But that would be funny. They'd probably be stale though. "Not my Mom. Just Mom."

Neville peeked at the card. "Who's Mom?"

"Cali's Mom." Harry pulled open the box and handed Neville a cookie. "Double chocolate fudge cookies." He took a big bite. Now that is food. Why can't Mom just send me something to eat so I don't have to eat the gross sludge they're passing off as food this year? "I love her."

"Um!" Neville stared at the cookie. "This is amazing."

"Don't I know it." Harry finished the cookie and shoved the box in his bag. "I'd better stop before I eat the whole box. Ready to go to class Hermione?"

Hermione was still staring at him. For goodness sake he was fine. "Yes. Sure. Bye Ron."

Ron watched him as he slung his bag over his shoulder. "Bye."

Harry unpacked his potions stuff.

"So are you going to grace us with some more of your wonderful potions knowledge today Potter?" Malfoy snorted.

Harry dropped his bag to the floor. If I agree with everything he says then we won't be fighting anymore. "Like you said Malfoy, what does a remedial potions student know?"

"Quiet down." Snape swept into the room and Malfoy headed to his table.

Snape waved his wand at the board. "Begin."

The ingredients were familiar. He'd made it most of the summer while he was helping Dad.

Draco was snickering.

"Harry?" Hermione rested her hand on his arm.

"I didn't get a lot of sleep. I'm fine." He tossed ingredients into the cauldron. Did I just think of him as Draco? That's not so bad. He's a person. Maybe he's nice to some people? I wonder what he's like when he's not trying to be a prick with a stick up his arse?

"Bring a bottle of your potion to the front.

Harry filled his bottle and stared at it. It was blue. He looked at Snape's desk. Yep. All purple. Fuck. Malfoy laughed when he saw the bottle.

Snape raised his eyebrows. "Stay after class Potter."

Hermione grimaced. "I'll wait for you outside."

Harry waved his wand and emptied the cauldron. "No. It's okay. I'll just meet you in Transfiguration."

Hermione chewed on her lip. "Are you sure?"

"Shouldn't you be going to your next class Miss Granger?" Snape stood.

Hermione grabbed her bag and headed out, closing the door behind her.

Snape gestured to Harry's potion. "Problem Mr. Potter? Were the instructions unclear?"

His hair is swaying. It's like a swing. Wait. What was he saying? Something about a potion. "No."

Snape crossed his arms over his chest. "Then what is the problem exactly?"

He clenched his hand around the bottle. "Why am I bothering?"

Snape stepped back. "Bothering with what exactly?"

Harry swung his arms around. "With any of this! I can do all this shit."

Snape sneered. "Your potion suggests otherwise."

I guess I'm not broken anymore. He's not being nice to me. "My 'potion' lies." He set the bottle down and waved his hand over it. It shimmered and duplicated. He picked up the bottle on the right and chucked it at the wall.

"Mr. Potter!"

Everything on the table disappeared and he picked up his filled bag.

"Wait!" Snape grabbed his arm.

Harry took a deep breath. "Let go."

Snape looked him up and down. "What was the spell Harry? What did he do to you?"

Does Voldemort know what his skin feels like? Was it real? Harry squeezed his eyes shut. "Let go."

Snape jerked him sideways. "What did I see yesterday?!"

"No!" The potion bottles on the desk exploded. The top half of a bottle slashed across his cheek. He bolted out of the room and scrambled up he stairs. Everyone would be in the halls going to class. He ran down the back hallways. The Fat Lady started as he hit the floor in front of the entrance. "Pass-password?"

He pulled air into his lungs. "Polonius."

The portrait swung open. He stepped in and pounded up the stairs. He dropped the bag and dove into his bed, clapping his hand over his cheek. "I need help. Please help. I can't do this."

"Harry?" Lupin stepped out of the shadows. "Harry what's wrong?"

He's here. Why is he here? I though he hated me. He can't hate me. He's here. Harry scrambled over and threw himself into his arms. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I thought he was in trouble."

"What? Who? Harry, what's going on?" He tilted Harry's head up. "What happened to your cheek?"

Harry sniffed. "Sn--Snape. He--" There wasn't enough air. His blood vessels were throbbing. They were going to explode. He'd be dead. I need the pills. Harry started hyperventilating.

"Harry! Harry, sit down. Take deep breaths." Lupin led him to the bed and pushed him down.

Harry pulled his knees to his chest and rested his head on them.

Lupin rubbed his back as his breathing slowed. "Are you okay?"

Harry nodded into his knees.

"Harry, I want you to go see Madam Pomfrey. All right?" His voice was strong. Everything was okay. Lupin wasn't worried.

Madam Pomfrey? I just saw her. She let me go. "Why?"

"Why--Your cheek Harry."

"My--" He traced the bloodstain on his pants. "Oh."

Lupin's hand wasn't moving anymore. His body heat seeped into Harry's muscles. "Will you go see her? Please?"

I've got the healing potion from class. I could just take it. But then he'd know I had it. What if he told Snape? What if Snape came after him? "Okay. Yes. She won't be happy to see me again though."

Lupin's eyes widened. "Again? When were you there?"

"I got out this morning. I passed out on Monday."

"What?! What happened?" Lupin wrapped his arm around his waist.

Harry hopped off the bed and paused in the doorway. Too close. "Snape." He hurried down the stairs.

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