A/N: Thanks to some time off over Thanksgiving AND the muse-inspiring influence of the Goblet of Fire movie, I present chapter four for your reading pleasure. Thank you to all my readers for your patience. I'm trying to keep a decent pace with updates, but I owe my "Curse of the White Sword" readers an update as well, and, well…I have to do schoolwork sometime! As always, many thanks for the reviews, and keep 'em coming!

PS: This is my first time attempting to write Evil!Harry. Hope you like.

FYI: For those who were wondering, the Muggle campers in Chapter Two were Americans, stereotypical "rednecks." That was actually a near-verbatim repeat of a real conversation that my parents overheard while on a camping trip before I was born—and those obnoxious characters kept them awake at night as well! ;-)

Chapter Four: Remnant

Harry woke late, much to his irritation. It was getting harder and harder to wake up these days. He got himself dressed and wandered down to the kitchen. Hattie's cheerful voice grated on him even more than usual. "Good morning, young Master Harry! Would young Master care for some breakfast?"

Harry accepted the bowl of fruit she put in front of him, then dismissed her with a flick of his hand and an accompanying wandless hex. Snape entered the room as Hattie scurried out, yelping in pain. Harry smirked at him, daring him to chastise him, but Snape merely remarked, "I would hardly call harassing the house elf conserving your power."

"She was annoying me," Harry replied. "You'd do the same to me if you thought you could get away with it."

To his surprise (and some disappointment), Snape half-smiled. "I don't deny it. Carry on then, but kindly don't prevent her from being able to do her duties unless you are prepared to take over feeding us."

"Pfft. Good point," Harry said. Something in the way Snape glanced at him over his teacup made him pause. "What?"

"Is there anything you would like to share with me, Mr. Potter?" Snape asked quietly, in a calm tone that made Harry stare at him.

Harry raised his eyebrows. "Anything particular in mind?"

"What spell were you trying to do on the cliff the day you collapsed?"

"I told you!" Harry protested. "Vis Vires. I didn't think it would hurt me."

"Nor did I. But your reaction to the spell was very severe, so if that was not what you were doing, now is the time to confess it."

Harry shoved his half-eaten breakfast away. "Well, it was. Sorry to disappoint you."

Snape stared at him for several long moments, making him wonder if the older wizard was trying to Legilimize him. But at last, Snape lowered his eyes. "If that is the case…then I am afraid your condition is extremely serious."

His tone was so solemn that Harry was taken aback. "Yes?"

"For Vis Vires to have put you into shock…I believe your condition is life-threatening."

Harry's mouth was dry. Snape sounded so serious that for a moment he almost blurted out that he hadn't used Vis Vires after all. But to explain further would invite dangerous questions. And if Snape's only evidence that Harry was dying was his reaction to Vis Vires, then there wasn't anything to worry about. So he relaxed and said, "Well, then I'm done for. You can't be that sorry."

"I made an oath to Dumbledore, Potter. An oath to protect your life. We must return to Hogwarts!"

"No!" Harry shouted, leaping to his feet. "I'm not going back there, even if my life does depend on it!" He stalked out the front door, but Snape followed him into the garden.

"Your life may well depend on it, Potter! You cannot be that determined to die!"

Harry snorted and paused. "You don't know what you're talking about." He turned around—and froze at the sight of Snape's wand pointed at him."

"I know more than you think. Stupefy."

Potter had no time to do more than throw up a hand in surprise before Snape's Stunner dropped him. Severus lowered his wand with a sigh; at least the boy didn't appear to have been feigning his weakness. If he'd been at full strength, a duel might have resulted. Nor was it Snape's imagination—now that he was on the alert for it, he was certain he had seen a glint of red in the boy's eyes. Like the Dark Lord, only…not.

Severus turned him over and fed him a Potion that would keep him unconscious for hours. "No more games, Potter," he muttered aloud. "You're going home whether you like it or not."

He was hovering the boy up when a menacing hiss made him jump. Letting his charge fall to the ground, he discovered a small horde of serpents emerging from the undergrowth. No doubt they had seen Snape's act of aggression toward their new friend, and Severus rather doubted he would be able to persuade them of his honorable intentions.

"Master Severus!" Hattie shrieked from the doorway.

"Inside!" Severus shouted at her, and seized Potter, throwing the boy unceremoniously over his shoulder. "We are returning to Hogwarts!" The snakes were closing in on him from every direction, so he didn't wait for the elf's response before Disapparating.

He arrived on the edge of the Hogwarts grounds without splinching himself or Potter, to his immense relief, though the intercontinental trip did require several moments' recovery before he could consider what to do next.

Trust your instincts, Severus.

Well, all his instincts had been to return to Hogwarts and the Order, and now here he was. All the same, he was not looking forward to this reunion.

Once he had caught his breath and made certain Potter was in no danger of waking before he was secured, Severus hauled the boy back over his shoulder and began the walk across the grounds. It struck him in a rush of irony as they passed Hagrid's hut that this was the very spot where he had fought Potter nearly two years ago after…he shook his head and kept walking.

"Who goes there?" Severus turned around to see Hagrid himself standing in the doorway. The half-giant's eyes went dark at the sight of him. "SNAPE! Yeh dirty great…" Seeing Snape's burden, Hagrid's mouth fell open. "Harry?" In a second, he had a wand leveled at Severus. "What've yeh done to him?"

"If I had murdered the boy, I would hardly be bringing him back," Severus said wryly. "Be so kind as to send for the headmistress."

"I'll send fer more than that!" Hagrid growled, and sent up an eruption of red sparks. He then started toward them, but Severus brought his own wand to bear. "If you've hurt 'im…"

"I have not harmed a hair on the brat's head," Severus replied. "But I will surrender him to none but the Order."

"I'm in the Order," Hagrid said, but he came no closer.

Severus was a little taken aback to see that Aurors were apparently still quartered at Hogwarts, but fortunately, Headmistress McGonagall had accompanied them. "Severus Snape. I had wondered if you would ever return to this school."

"I will spare you the pleasantries," Snape replied. "We both have a serious problem. Potter has become a threat."

"WHAT?" Hagrid bellowed, and several Aurors muttered denials, but the headmistress held up a hand.

"Explain yourself. What have you done to him?"

"Stunner only, but you'd best confine him before he's allowed to awaken. There's a remnant of the last Horcrux in him. Disbelieve me if you wish!" he snapped over the outraged protests. "But every second we wait increases the chance that the boy will be lost to it!"

"Who's to say Snape hasn't done something to him?" someone muttered.

"Enough," McGonagall said. Severus noted with relief how they minded her. "We will confine them both until I get to the bottom of this."

Severus suppressed a sigh as he turned his burden over to the Aurors. At least he hadn't been hexed on sight.

He was separated from Potter, but knew Minerva would heed his warning and put the boy in a warded room. Severus himself was confined in a tower room. Some time later, the headmistress came to see him, accompanied by Mad-Eye Moody and Nymphadora Tonks.

"So, Severus?"

He rose. "I presume you wish me to start from the beginning?" Minerva gestured imperiously at him, so he did. He told them of Dumbledore's last orders, though their unsurprised reactions told him they already knew. He told them of all that had transpired since, of the final battle, of the Dark Lord's defeat at the hands of Potter, and his agreement with the boy in the aftermath of the fight. He told them of their flight from wizarding Britain, of their safe house and the strange events that had begun to occur. He described Potter's failing health and odd behavior, of the snakes and the dark magic, and finally, how he had Stunned the boy and brought him back by force.

When he had finished, Minerva and the two Aurors were silent for several moments. "Harry's weak, but Madam Pomfrey hasn't determined the cause," Tonks said slowly.

"Doesn't mean Snape isn't the one behind it," Moody replied.

"You run a serious risk if you let that boy loose," Snape began, but Minerva raised a hand.

"He is in the hospital wing, in a warded room. I don't take foolish risks with the school's safety, no matter how unlikely the source." Snape gritted his teeth as she narrowed her eyes at him. "That doesn't change the fact that I find it very hard to believe that Harry Potter is somehow possessed."

"Strictly-speaking, he isn't," Severus told her. "If what he told me about the self-exorcism on the last Horcrux is true—and I believe in that at least he was not lying—then what remains within him is too small to even be properly classified as a Horcrux. Otherwise the Dark Lord would not have perished. What remains is a shard, a seed of Dark Magic, the very essence of a Horcrux's nature, after all." Minerva nodded, looking troubled. "Seed is an apt description, for it has taken root, and it is growing. The boy's personality is being supplanted by evil, but he is not even aware of it.

Tonks had lost her morphed form, and her heart-shaped face was white. But her voice was hard. "I can't imagine Harry becoming like Voldemort."

"I never said he would," Severus answered. "I think there's a possibility he'll be worse."

Before the Aurors could flay him alive, the Headmistress had called them to order. "Thank you, Severus. We'll determine for ourselves whether you are telling the truth. I trust you are willing to restate your claims under Veritaserum?"

"Whenever you wish," Severus said, meeting her eyes coldly. She nodded and turned to go. Then before he could stop himself, he added, "You already know that I am telling the truth about Albus."

Tonks and Moody glanced uncomfortably at her, but Minerva did not look back at Snape. She simply nodded and walked out the door.

Severus sat down again and resigned himself to wait.

Hermione Granger entered the hospital wing of Hogwarts at a run, pursued by an army of Weasleys. Tonks was waiting for them with Madam Pomfrey. Ron pushed past Hermione and grabbed the Auror by the elbow. "Is he here? Is he okay?"

"He's here, but something's wrong with him; you can't see him yet," Tonks said.

"What?" Hermione cried. "Why not?"

"We're not sure yet, but something's happened to him. His magic…well, it's all weird. And Snape's told some very odd things to the Headmistress, something about one of the Horcruxes."

"Snape," Ron spat, but Hermione sucked in her breath.

"We tried to stop him from going after those bloody things alone. The cup nearly killed him, the diary nearly killed Ginny…and Dumbledore's hand…it's possible one of them could have cursed him."

"Or Snape could have cursed him," Ron said darkly. "Whatever Dumbledore's portrait said, I wouldn't trust him alone with Harry."

"It could well be both a curse from a Horcrux AND from Snape," Ginny added.

Mrs. Weasley nudged her way past her assorted children. "Surely one of us can see him, even just for a few moments?"

"Definitely not," came Mad-Eye Moody's voice from the doorway as he followed the Headmistress of Hogwarts into the hospital wing. "Until we know whether Snape's telling the truth, the boy has to stay confined. Nobody goes near him until we figure out what's going on."

"You can't actually believe Snape!" one of the twins protested.

"It's not a question of belief," said McGonagall. "If there is even the slightest chance that he is right, the danger Potter poses is too great to ignore."

Hermione's blood ran cold. "What do you mean, 'danger?'"

McGonagall motioned them all to come sit down in the hospital wing while she explained. "Severus Snape has told us that the sixth Horcrux was in Harry himself." Over the explosion of outraged responses, she went on, "I know, I share your skepticism. But it would explain Harry's injuries."

The group fell silent. "Injuries?" Ginny asked softly.

"His condition is not good," Madam Pomfrey said. "And his magic…his body is giving some very strange magical signatures. I don't think his life is in danger at the moment, but I'm not sure how to treat him. If he's been wounded by a curse, then the wound is…deeper…than anything I've seen a curse do before."

"But…" Hermione said weakly. "It could have been from destroying one of the Horcruxes, right? We know how powerful the curses protecting them were, and Harry…well, he destroyed them all on his own."

"Of course," said Minerva gently. "I promise you, my dear Hermione, no one is jumping to ANY conclusions, and I would never act precipitously where Harry is concerned. We're going to do all that can possibly be done for him…we owe it to that boy. But until we know for certain what has happened to him, we cannot rule anything out."

There was silence as they all digested this. Hermione's mind raced through the months since the final battle against Voldemort. They had been frantic, with no word of Harry's fate. Ron had been on the verge of a nervous breakdown when the single letter had arrived, but while it had told them their best friend was alive…WHY was he hiding from them? He'd been so distant, those last few months of the war, but they had attributed it to his intense focus on destroying the Horcruxes and Voldemort. Everyone had thought he would come back home when it was over, to his friends, who loved him.

She had never imagined Harry would abandon them all.

Bill said suddenly, "Where's Snape?"

"Also confined," said Minerva.

"That's a comfort," muttered Mrs. Weasley, and there was a murmur of agreement.

"And Harry…" Ginny said. "He's not, I mean…you haven't locked him in a cell, or…"

"Of course not!" Madam Pomfrey exclaimed. "He's here in the hospital wing, in a private room warded against the use of magic by its occupant, or his leaving the room. He's perfectly comfortable." Ginny relaxed.

"Still," Ron stood up, scowling, "he shouldn't be treated this way—like a ruddy criminal! I bet you anything Snape's trying to turn us against him. He's been mucking about with Harry for lord knows how long since the end of the war. If Harry was hurt in the fight or destroying the Horcruxes, you can bet Snape would grab any opportunity to make it worse. And if he's acting weird now, it's probably because Snape did something to him!"

"MISTER Weasley, do you think we're not considering that as well?" McGonagall demanded. "Calm yourself. We have him back among us at last, after we'd begun to despair of ever seeing him again. We will discover what has happened to him."

"But in the mean time, we can't even see him?" Hermione asked miserably.

"Give the Aurors a day or two to ward the room further. Then we'll see about visitors." Professor McGonagall gave them all a weary smile, then led Tonks and Moody down the hospital wing, presumably toward Harry's room.

Hermione and the Weasleys watched them go. Madam Pomfrey left as well, and with the school so empty, the hospital wing was echoingly silent. Ron sat down heavily on the bed. "They're holding back how bad they think it is."

Fleur, her pretty face pale, bit her lip and squeezed Bill's shoulder. "Do you think zey do not know at all was has happened to 'arry?"

Ginny shook her head. "No, worse. They think Snape might be right. That Harry was one of the Horcruxes."

A nasty shudder went down Hermione's spine. They'd all rushed to Hogwarts with so much hope, hearing Harry had been found, thinking at last they'd be able to see him, to talk to him after all that time of waiting and not knowing…this wasn't fair.

Then again, life has never been fair to us or Harry before, why should it start now?

"So," she said aloud, startling Ron. "What do we do now?"

Dobby appeared, no sooner than she had spoken. The house elf was uncharacteristically solemn, his eyes downcast, his ears drooping. His socks matched. "Masters and misses to please come with Dobby, there is rooms for you here at Hogwarts, the Headmistress is ordered."

Hermione and the Weasleys exchanged glances, and Ron looked down the wing toward the private rooms. Harry was so close to them, but it felt very far right now. Finally, he said, "Sure, Dobby, lead on."

When Harry woke, he was not where he expected to be…and in the absolute last place he wanted to be. Even more infuriating was what Tonks and Madam Pomfrey told him.

"Confined! What do you mean, 'confined?'" he demanded. "You can't make me stay if I don't want to!"

Madam Pomfrey looked baffled. "Why wouldn't you want to? Your friends are here; they've been worried sick about you, Harry."

Harry sighed heavily. This was a fine mess. He changed his tactic. "I didn't mean it like that. I…did have my reasons for leaving, but it wasn't because I'd forgotten Ron and Hermione and…the others. But why am I being locked up?"

Tonks looked uncomfortable. "Snape had some…strange stories to tell when he brought you here. He's detained too until we sort it out." Harry stared in disbelief. What had that bloody bastard told them? "He's says you're still a remnant of a Horcrux."

"WHAT? That bloody, lying…I might have known…you CAN'T believe him!" Harry cried. It wasn't hard to show distress at this news…if he was held here for too long, there would be problems, depending on whether Snape had convinced them. "He's a liar, Tonks, I swear, he said he'd help me after the war ended…this must've been his plan all along!"

She avoided his eyes. "I know it sounds mad, but he says you wouldn't know you were falling to it because it's not a whole Horcrux. Not possession, but something more…subtle." At Harry's disbelieving face, she said helplessly, "Moody ordered you both confined until we figure out what's going on. Your magic is a bit…off."

Harry threw up his hands and started to pace. "So what are you going to do?"

"To begin with, young man, you are going to have something to eat," said Madam Pomfrey briskly. "And then the Headmistress and Alastor Moody will come talk to you. No doubt you can shed some light on this."

"Oh, I certainly can," Harry growled, but he settled down and ate the breakfast they brought him. While he did, he asked Tonks, "You said Ron and Hermione are here?"

She nodded, relaxing a bit. "And champing at the bit to see you. We'll see what we can do about that as soon as Minerva and Mad-Eye have had a chat with you."

Harry blinked. "You mean an interrogation, don't you?"

Tonks laughed out loud. "Don't be daft, Harry. You haven't been arrested or even accused of a crime, but there's a lot of possible reasons for what's happened to you, and until we're sure…well, you know, better safe than sorry. Cheer up. It'll be fine." He sighed again, and she echoed it. "I guess we could've given you a better homecoming and welcome. Believe me, we'd all have had it different."

Yeah, right, he thought. They'd been all-too-willing to take what Snape said as an excuse to lock him up and tie him down like a caged pet again. How could he ever have looked up to these people? By all rights, it should have been vice versa. Aloud, he simply murmured, "Damn Snape. I didn't want it to be like this."

"I know," Tonks said softly. "Neither did we. But I promise, laddie, if he's behind this, if he's lying or he's hurt you in any way, he'll pay for it."

Harry gave her the first real smile since he'd awakened. "Now THAT thought cheers me up."

Tonks grinned fondly.

After they had spent over an hour talking to Harry, Headmistress McGonagall and Mad-Eye Moody came out to meet the anxious Ron and Hermione. "Well?" Hermione asked breathlessly.

"We may have a problem," said Moody.

The two froze. Minerva said gently, "Harry admits he was the sixth Horcrux."

Ron sucked in his breath, and Hermione raised a trembling hand to her mouth. "What…what does that mean?"

"We're not sure. The boy claims to have destroyed it, but…"

"CLAIMS?" Ron leapt to his feet and might have lunged at Moody if Hermione hadn't grabbed him and pulled him back. "What the HELL do you mean by that? That Harry's lying? That Harry's some Death Eater spy? You going to throw him in Azkaban for the sake of your bloody constant vigilance?"

"WEASLEY!" Professor McGonagall roared. "That is quite enough!" Ron fell silent, though no less angry. "I told you before we have no intention of acting rashly, and that has not changed! Kindly keep your wits!"

Hermione firmly pushed Ron back into a chair and said, "But why would Harry lie? And Voldemort is dead, so the Horcrux must have been destroyed. We all saw his body! We destroyed it ourselves!"

"We did, but that doesn't completely debunk Snape's theory that some fragment of the Horcrux could still exist, too small to sustain Voldemort, but able to survive itself by becoming a part of the soul of its host, if you will. Potter himself wouldn't even be aware of its existence—to him it would seem a part of his personality, emotions that he himself feels," Moody explained.

"And that means what exactly for Harry?" asked Hermione. "That he's…turning evil?"

"Being turned evil is a better way to put it, but yes, you've got the heart of the matter," the old Auror said. Ron nearly jumped up again, but Moody snapped, "Sit DOWN, you stupid kid! I'm not saying I believe that's what's happened, but until we've figured it out, we can't bloody well rule it out!"

"But how can you figure it out?" Hermione protested. "If Harry himself doesn't know, how can we?"

"We, Harry's friends and loved ones, are in the best position to judge this possibility, Hermione," said McGonagall. "Madam Pomfrey is continuing to study the signatures his magic is showing. There are many other possible explanations."

"Such as?" Ron demanded.

Moody shrugged and began counting them off on his fingertips. "Injury to the magical core, some kind of dark, deep-reaching curse, caused either by the Horcruxes or fighting Voldemort—or Snape…"

"Deep mental or emotional trauma can also trigger changes in an individual's magic," added the Headmistress. "Harry's withdrawal after the war might suggest such a thing."

Ron looked somewhat mollified. "What can we do to help him, then?"

"Depends," said Moody. "Magical injury, we've got a whole slew of Healers and researchers at the Ministry and St. Mungo's—and a few in the Department of Mysteries. If old Voldemort came up with some special bit of nasty for the Boy Who Lived, I doubt there'll be any shortage of volunteers to unravel it. Something mental, ehhh, that's a bit trickier to Heal, but St. Mungo's has people who can help with that too."

"And what if it does turn out to be what Snape says, this…Horcrux fragment?" Hermione asked. "How can we destroy it without destroying Harry?"

Moody grimaced. "Not sure that can be done, lass."

Ron was back out of his seat in a flash. "You…you…" he sputtered, white-faced with fury. "How can you even SUGGEST…"

"Possibility's got to be faced," said Moody, unfazed by Ron's rage.

"LIKE HELL!" Ron roared, as Hermione tried in vain to calm him down. "So help me, if you even THINK about hurting Harry, I'LL KILL YOU!"

"RON!" Hermione shouted, yanking him back. "Stop it! This isn't helping!"

"Did you HEAR what he said?"

"It's just speculation, Weasley!"

"Not when you're even talking about killing Harry!"

"FACE IT, Weasley!" Moody bellowed. "It's my job to account for all possibilities, even the worst-case scenario. It's my job to face facts! The fact is, if Potter is carrying a Horcrux fragment, we DON'T have a way to destroy it without killing him." He quieted a little as Ron started to shake. "That doesn't mean we won't start looking for one."

Hermione felt nauseated. "If it came to that?"

"I would never allow Harry Potter to be harmed if there was even the slightest chance that we could save him," said McGonagall. "We know that it was possible to destroy a Horcrux without destroying the host object—Albus Dumbledore removed the Horcrux from the Slytherin ring without so much as damaging it. But at the moment, the issue is abstract, and we must concentrate on the more pressing matter—determining what exactly IS the cause of Harry's condition."

Feeling Ron finally starting to calm down, Hermione nodded. "Can we see him yet?"

McGonagall looked at Moody. "Wards are as tight as we can make 'em," he said. "All right by me."

"But don't tire him," Minerva cautioned. "His physical health is rather fragile as well, at the moment." Hermione nodded, then tugged at Ron's arm and led him down the hall.

"Listen," she whispered as they approached the private rooms. "I don't think we'd better say anything to Harry about that. He's probably upset enough as it is."

"You think they've told him what they think?" Ron asked.

"I don't know. But he won't be happy about being locked up like this. I just don't want to make him feel any worse." Ron nodded, and they spotted Madam Pomfrey waiting outside one of the rooms.

"Ah, I'm glad you two are here. Poor boy could use some company."

"How is he?" Hermione asked.

"Still weak, if only I could determine why. Don't wear him out," she warned them.

"We promise," Hermione said, and Madam Pomfrey opened the door.

Harry was sitting up on the bed in the room, with his chin on his knees. He glanced up as Ron and Hermione came through the door, and Hermione faltered. He did look different, but not evil or possessed. He looked thinner than ever, his face pale and drawn, his eyes shadowed and darker than she remembered. He looked sick and weary, as if some essence of him had been worn away.

"Hi," Ron said tentatively.

Their friend swallowed and gazed at the wall, his face unreadable. Finally, he said, "I wasn't sure they'd let you come."

"We'd have nagged and fought with them on it till they did," Hermione told him, trying to muster a smile. She didn't succeed very well, and Harry failed completely when he tried to return it. "We…Harry, we really missed you."

"I know," Harry muttered, dropping his eyes. "I'm sorry, I just…I wanted to be…alone for a bit."

"A bit?" Ron exclaimed, and Hermione glared at him, but Harry shrugged.

"I guess it didn't feel like that long." His eyes darkened still more, this time with anger. "'Course, that may have something to do with Snape."

Hermione and Ron hurried forward to sit on the edges of the bed. "Did they tell you what he's said?"

"That I'm possessed, or…infected, or…something, yeah, they told me." For the first time, he looked anxious, like a younger Harry she was having a harder and harder time remembering. "You know it's not true, right? You don't believe it?"

"Of course not!" Hermione snapped, grabbing his hand. Harry sighed heavily in relief.

"I dunno if McGonagall and Moody believe me. I told them about the Horcrux, but…that alone seems to be making them think…"

"They know better than to trust Snape's word alone," Hermione insisted. "They're more worried about how…well, how ill you seem. How long have you been like this?"

Harry shrugged. "Don't really know. I think it started before the battle while I was going after the Horcruxes, but…after Snape and I took off, I don't remember much. He said I'd been cursed. Seemed like he was taking care of me, so I believed him."

"Why'd you go with HIM, mate?" Ron demanded.

That got a tired laugh from Harry, and Hermione felt herself relaxing at the sight of his sheepish face. "Seemed like a good idea at the time. I'd seen the Pensieve memories from Dumbledore, you know, where he said Snape was…working for him still. And Snape did hex Voldemort during the fight, he might've saved my life. He said he was following Dumbledore's last wish by looking after me, and suggested going away. I didn't really want to see anyone when it was first over, so I…" Harry shrugged again helplessly. "I don't really know what I was thinking. I trusted him, for some reason. Seems mad to have done it now." To Hermione, he asked, "Think he Confunded me or something?"

She grimaced. "Hard to say without checking his wand or your magical signature, but Madam Pomfrey might be able to figure it out. Confundus is hard to trace, but whatever's got you weakened might have a stronger signature. If we can figure out what the curse is, we might still be able to trace it back to Snape, and then whether you were Confunded or something else is a moot point."

"Git," Ron muttered.

"Have they said whether they're going to let me out of here?" Harry asked.

"Until they can prove Snape's lying or not, I guess," Hermione said. Harry flopped backward onto his bed, and she patted his arm apologetically. "It's not our choice, you know. I had to stop Ron from strangling Moody with his bare hands."

"Constant vigilance my arse," Ron said, and Harry grinned.

"Thanks. If you two believe me, I guess…well, that counts for something."

"It counts for a LOT, mate," Ron told him.

"I offered to take Veritaserum, but Madam Pomfrey says I'm too weak." Harry sighed. "So I can't really prove what I'm saying, and they can do anything they want if they decide to believe Snape."

"I don't care what rot Snape dreams up; we won't let them do anything to you."

"Snape wants them to kill me, doesn't he?"

Ron and Hermione exchanged nervous glances, and Harry's eyes widened. He tried—and failed—to sit back up quickly. "Don't wear yourself out," Hermione said. "Snape hasn't said anything particular, but I would guess that's what he's up to. Don't worry, it won't come to that. Not even close."

Harry lay back again and stared at the ceiling. "Dumbledore told me, back in fifth year…when Voldemort wanted to possess me, it wasn't to destroy Dumbledore. It was to make Dumbledore destroy me. I heard him say it when he…in the Department of Mysteries. 'Kill the boy now.'"

Hermione's throat tightened. "Oh, Harry…"

"It's gonna be okay. I swear, mate, it'll be okay."

Harry nodded, not looking at them, his face drawn tighter than ever. "Are you tired?" Hermione asked him.

"Yeah. Sorry, I…get tired easily. Wish I knew why." Harry closed his eyes.

"Take it easy," Ron said. "We'll figure it out." The two of them got up.

"Get some rest," Hermione told him. "We'll see you later, okay? The rest of the Weasleys are here. They all want to see you too."

Harry opened his eyes, though he still didn't look at them. "Is…Ginny here?"

They both grinned. "Yeah. Snape better steer well clear of her," said Ron. "We'll make sure she comes alone." He winked. Harry blushed.

Hermione bent over him and kissed his cheek. "See you later."

"Bye."

They left the private room and closed the door behind themselves. "This is ridiculous. I can't believe Moody and the Headmistress are placing any stock at all in Snape," Hermione spat.

"Yeah, I'm more sure than ever it's just Harry. Still, they'll more likely believe you than me, so I'm glad you think so," Ron said.

She stopped and sat down on a windowsill, gazing out at the empty grounds. "I can see he's not feeling well, and I guess you could call him 'not himself,' but what on earth do they expect after everything that's happened? He had to go hunt down all those Horcruxes, perform a ruddy EXORCISM on himself—do you have any idea how many people have died doing that? Out of the few who've even dared to try it?"

Ron shook his head. "But Harry's more powerful than any of us. Dumbledore lost his hand, and he only got one of the bloody things! We did see Harry after the cup and the locket, and he made it through them all! I heard the Aurors say he was still standing when the battle was over."

"Last man standing," Hermione muttered. Seeing Ron's confused face, she shook her head. "Nothing. Anyway, yes, I amquite certain that whatever is wrong with Harry, he has neither turned evil nor 'been turned evil,' or whatever it was Moody said."

Lunch time came and went with no less than three shouting matches between the Headmistress, the Aurors, and Harry's friends. Professor Lupin had arrived while Harry was with Ron and Hermione, frantic to see him, but the Aurors and Madam Pomfrey had refused, and neither Remus nor Hagrid had been happy about it. Then Ron and Hermione returned from their visit to report to the remaining worried Weasleys that while Harry seemed sick and unhappy, he could not be carrying a remnant of Voldemort's soul around inside him.

That was enough for Ginny, but to her dismay, Moody was reluctant to let her visit Harry, and Madam Pomfrey didn't want more than one visit a day to avoid tiring Harry out. The Healer's position she could accept; Moody's, she bristled at. "I'm only a year younger than those two," she fumed at them, gesturing to Ron and Hermione, "and I've seen just as much action in the war as they did! I am MORE than capable of taking care of myself in the event that Harry goes nutters and tries to murder me—which I rather doubt will happen!"

"I took a few of my Dark Detectors outside that room," Moody said. "Foe Glass didn't show anything, but the Secrecy Sensor went off."

"I didn't hear it," said Madam Pomfrey in surprise.

"Wasn't that loud."

"And it would have been if the source of the evil had been as close as Harry was," Hermione pointed out. "This castle has always been full of nasty little surprises, from the Chamber of Secrets to…to…Snape!"

Moody's expression told them he couldn't deny the sense of her words, but he said to the Headmistress, "Still, I don't like it. Something's not right with that boy."

"Of course something's not right!" Hermione raged. "He's been through nearly eight years of absolute hell, between Voldemort, the Death Eaters, the war, the Horcruxes, the deaths, Snape, and now YOU! What on earth do you expect, for him to be happy and smiling?"

"Hermione, really!" said McGonagall, but Hermione rounded on her.

"You lot have always been so happy to have Harry run around and fight your battles for you!" she cried, tears spilling down her face. "What good did your Dark Detectors do in stopping Quirrell, the diary, the Basilisk, Wormtail, Barty Crouch, Draco Malfoy, and the rest? Where were YOU when Harry got stuck in that Triwizard Tournament and kidnapped and watched poor Cedric die? Where were YOU when Umbridge and Fudge were slandering him and his godfather was killed right in front of him? When Dumbledore turned him into a bloody WEAPON instead of a human being? I'm sorry!" she sobbed as Hagrid and some of the Weasleys started to protest. "I know you loved him! Harry did too, more than anything. I loved him too, but he never should have let all these things happen to HIS student in HIS school and I will NEVER, EVER forgive him!" Ginny gulped as Hermione gave up and fell into Ron's arms, crying furiously.

Wiping her face on the back of her hand hastily, she turned back to the adults. "Speaking of the diary and the Basilisk, I think I've got the right to see Harry," she said tightly. "Especially if he's asked for me." The Headmistress, Madam Pomfrey, and the Aurors exchanged uncomfortable glances, and Ginny didn't back down.

Professor Lupin cleared his throat. "If Ginny will be so kind as to tell Harry I'm here, I can wait until after she's had a chance to see him. I'm sure she's more attractive company than myself," he added, smiling at her and putting a hand on Tonks's shoulder.

"Harry'll be glad to know you've come," said Ginny. "I'll be sure to tell him." Then she turned back to the Aurors, folded her arms, and raised her eyebrows.

McGonagall slowly nodded. "Very well, Miss Weasley. After you, unless Madam Pomfrey agrees, there will be no more visitors today." Several audible sighs came from the other Weasleys (and Hagrid) but no one protested. "You may go."

Ginny ran all the way back to the hospital wing.

Harry had no doubt that she would be coming. He was waiting when she came into the room. He sat up as soon as the door opened. "Ginny!"

She barely hesitated, but flew across the short space to the bedside and threw her arms around him. He returned the embrace fiercely. "Are you okay?" she demanded breathlessly.

"I am now. I was afraid they wouldn't let you come," he said into her hair. He could feel her heart speeding up against his chest.

"So was I," she laughed, then pulled back and gazed at him. "You look terrible!"

"Gee, thanks," he said dryly.

"You know what I mean."

He sat down on the bed, letting his head hang. "I guess I've been better."

Ginny sat down beside him. "Has Madam Pomfrey made any progress?"

With a shrug, Harry told her, "Some Restorative Potions and general Healing Spells, but nothing else." He dared a quick glance at her. "I guess Ron and Hermione told you what Snape's said about me?"

Ginny snorted. "Don't worry, nobody believes it. Hermione let McGonagall and Moody have it during lunch. Ron's lost it at least three times, but I don't think they expected it from Hermione. It was kind of funny."

Harry forced a laugh, but leaned away from her. "I hate this."

"Me too. We all do."

"I feel like…like…a prisoner. Or like I'm locked up again at the Dursleys' again. They always say it's too protect me, and have the excuse not to tell me what's going on." He punched the pillow beside him as Ginny made a sympathetic noise. "Like I'm too bloody delicate to run my own life."

"I know," Ginny whispered. "Believe me, I know exactly what that's like. Remember Grimmauld Place, the summer after the Triwizard Tournament? Mum sending me to bed anytime you talked about the Order or the war. I was the only one not allowed to know anything."

Harry nodded. "Yeah, I guess you of all people understand what it's like…it's so bloody unfair. And now I'm of age, and they come up with another excuse to lock me up."

Ginny put an arm around his shoulders. "Hang on. They won't keep you here for long; we won't let them."

"How exactly?" he asked, meeting her eyes.

She grinned, "Well, we'll spring you if we have to!"

Dropping his head into his hands, he sighed, "I wish you would. If I stay in here much longer, I'm going to go barking mad." He looked up and saw Ginny's speculative expression. "You know what wards they've got on the room?"

"No," Ginny said slowly. "But I bet Hermione could find out."

"Definitely," Harry agreed. "Trouble is, I dunno if she'd be willing to help; she's such a stickler for the rules."

"True, but she'd be better than any of us at figuring out the wards. She's really upset about all this, and she knows Snape's lying. I bet we could talk her into it if they don't let you out soon."

Harry scowled. "I just don't feel like waiting until THEY decide they're ready. They've got no right, Ginny, not anymore! I'm of age, I defeated bloody Voldemort, now I just want to be left alone!"

She frowned, realizing how serious he was. "Where would you go?"

"I dunno, somewhere that I wouldn't have to be the Ministry and Hogwarts's pet anymore." He saw her astonished face and said, "Well, that's what I am to them! It's all I've ever been! And I'M the one who killed Voldemort, but they still treat me like I'm made of glass! I'm sick of it!"

"You do deserve better than that," Ginny mused, looking at her hands.

"A lot better," he said, pressing her. "Ginny, can't I trust you? All through the war, I've been pushed around, told what to do and when to do it, kept in the dark, all to suit THEM. Can't someone do something for ME, now that I've gone and done what they wanted?"

Ginny slowly nodded. "But what about the curse on you?" she asked, lowering her voice as if afraid of being overheard. "We've still got to get it treated—what if you're out alone somewhere and it gets worse?"

"I can research curses and dark magic as well as Hermione if I need to." Sensing her resistance, he conceded, "Or if I have to check myself into St. Mungo's, at least I'd be doing on my own power."

"Good point," she said. He met her gaze, trying to convince her of his sincerity. "Where will you go? Are you just going to disappear again?"

"Depends on whether McGonagall and the Ministry are willing to leave me alone. If they'd just let me be, there'd be no reason for me to leave. I could…you know, get a place to live, my own, and…start a new life." She was watching him very seriously now. He went on, "It's not too much to ask. We don't all have to be separated again."

"I would hate that," she admitted softly.

"Me too," he whispered, leaning closer to her. "I missed you, Ginny. A lot. There were things I had to do during the war, but now that that's over…we can…be together." He gave her a shy smile. "I wouldn't mind terribly if you wanted to come with me, if I had to take off, I mean. Just the two of us?"

Ginny seemed to search his eyes, then leaned toward him, and he kissed her softly, offering yet another incentive. "If I can just get out of here, the war's over; we could do whatever we wanted."

"What about Ron and Hermione?" she asked.

"Depends on whether they're going to help me or get in the way," he said firmly.

"I would at least need their help un-warding this room," she replied. She sat back away from him, biting her lip. "I think they'd help. They really think McGonagall and the Aurors are over the line, keeping you here."

He leaned toward her. "Then you'll do it?"

She stood up and started pacing. "Your Firebolt is still here. You left it last year. I've got my broom too…would you be up for a long ride? We'd get outside the grounds that way, faster than going out to apparate. Ron and Hermione…well, I don't know, Ron hasn't got his broomstick."

"We could arrange to meet them somewhere," he suggested.

Ginny leaned against the wall, but tilted her head thoughtfully. "The only trouble is, Moody and McGonagall keep talking about how high the risk is if there's even the slightest chance Snape's right. They're not going to like you running off before they can confirm it."

"I don't care. It's not really their business anymore what's inside my head, is it?" Harry said coldly. "Voldemort's dead. They've had their chances to order me around."

She slowly nodded. "I doubt Madam Pomfrey will let me come back today, but I'll get Ron and Hermione in the library tonight. And I'll see about getting them to tell me what wards are on the room."

Harry sprang off the bed and kissed her. She wavered for a moment, then deepened it, putting her arms around him. "I knew I could trust you," he whispered. He remembered once how much he'd enjoyed kissing her, now it was mostly satisfaction that he'd got her to help him.

Ron and Hermione might not be happy about his plan, but once he was out of here, he could leave them if he needed to. Those old friendships were like a vague memory of the naivete of childhood, but boring and dull now. He had his life, he had his own power, and soon he would win his freedom. If those old friendships—and crushes—were useful one last time, that was no matter to him.

Ron and Hermione were on their way to dinner when Ginny came back from the Hospital Wing. "How's he doing?" Ron asked, seeing her set expression.

"Where's McGonagall?" she asked flatly.

"The Great Hall with everyone else," said Hermione in confusion. "Is Harry okay?" Ginny didn't answer, but started walking so fast that they were practically running to keep up. "What's the matter?"

Ginny flicked her wand at the Hall doors to open them, and marched straight up to the Head Table where the Headmistress and the two Aurors were sitting with Remus Lupin and her parents. "Did you see Harry, dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

Ginny directed her gaze at Professor McGonagall. "Where's Snape?"

"Confined in a tower room," she answered.

Ginny kept herself firmly in a state of stony calm—to hold down the emotions churning in her stomach and her heart.

"Let him out. He's telling the truth."

To be continued…

Coming Soon: Harry has underestimated Ginny, and now she and Snape must force everyone else to accept the ugly truth. A race against time begins to find a way to fight the monster taking over Harry Potter's soul in Chapter Five: Familiar Stranger!

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