Easter week was fast approaching and Harry couldn't wait to take a break from school. He could definitely do without the constant attention he seemed to draw to himself over the smallest of actions. He hitched his rucksack onto his shoulder and looked at the ground as he walked through a cluster of fifth year Huffs. As he predicated, they all fell silent until he passed them and then they broke out into giggles and chatter.

For the most part, everyone had pretty much stopped following him or asking for autographs or pictures, but he was still a main focus when he walked into any room, be it classroom or Great Hall or even the potions lab. He could always feel the stares and hear his name whispered in the halls. He thought about complaining to Ginny or his dad but he didn't want either of them making a big deal out of something that probably wouldn't change for the foreseeable future.

Nevertheless, he tried to hang out in the dungeon as much as his dad would allow. If he stayed down there for too many days in a row, the blasted man would accuse him of turning into a hermit and make him go back up to Gryffindor tower. Today though, he wouldn't let his dad kick him out.

He'd had a pretty rough day and he needed to get away from everyone, including Ginny and Ron. They wouldn't stop pestering him about spending the Easter break at the burrow and the truth was, he just needed to have some time to himself. He wasn't sure how he felt about Ginny and having some time away might help clarify his feelings.

Ginny seemed to be getting more possessive of him and he was tired of having to sneak around to do things with just his friends, without her tagging along. It just bothered him when she acted as if she owned him and wanted all of his time.

The truth was, he just wanted to go home, get away from everyone. He didn't care if it was to the little cabin in the woods or Snape Manor. Ginny was just getting so demanding of his time lately and he had to admit to himself that it was starting to wear on his nerves.

As much as he tried to deny it, he knew that a small bit of Voldemort's magic still resided within his own magic. When he would get annoyed or bothered, he could feel that unbridled dark magic try to push its way out and that scared him something fierce. It seemed to be getting worse. He hurried along down the staircase leading to the Potions classroom when he noticed the group of Hufflepuff's that had just been in the hallway was now following him. Merlin's beard, he hated to be followed!

He stopped suddenly and turned to look at the group of girls.

They all stopped as well with surprised expressions on their faces.

"Can I help you?" He asked.

They looked at each other before one bold girl with dark eyeliner and purple lipstick stepped forward. "We wanted to invite you to a party that we're having on the Quidditch pitch this Saturday night."

Harry watched as she pulled out an invitation from her bag. She handed it to him and he saw that her nails were extraordinarily long and painted in a deep purple to match her make up.

He hesitated but then took the invitation.

He looked down at it and noticed that there was a moving picture of a perfectly drawn bottle of Ogden's Finest Fire Whiskey being poured into a glass - the whiskey was smoking as it hit the glass, causing small puffs of smoke to emit from the paper. It was kind of brilliant and he couldn't help but to admire the artistry.

"Did you draw this?" Harry asked the girl.

She nodded with a small smile and a slight blush.

"Wow! It's brilliant!" He exclaimed. "You're a great artist."

He could see her blush deepen and the girls behind her giggled, "So you'll come then?"

Harry shrugged. "Thank you, though," he patted his rucksack, "for the invite. It's really brilliant." With a wave he turned and walked away. He could hear them whispering but for some reason it didn't bother him as much.

He arrived at the Potions classroom and peeked inside, not wanting to disturb his dad if he was still in class. He saw his dad sitting behind his desk and he looked to be alone.

"Hey dad," Harry said as he walked into the room. He suddenly noticed a group of sixth years washing cauldrons in the corner.

His dad looked up with a nod. "Your done with classes already?"

"Yes, thank Merlin. When are you gonna be done?" Harry looked towards the group of unfortunate kids in the corner.

Severus let out a growl. "Not for another forty five minutes at least. I've got detention with these dunderheads along with papers to grade."

Harry could see that his dad wasn't in a very good mood. He wondered if he should bring up his request or just wait until his dad looked happier … or at least not angry.

"What is it?" Severus suddenly asked. He placed his quill on the desk and gave Harry an assessing look.

Harry hesitated but then said, "Um, it's just that, I want to move back into the dungeon. I mean permanently this time." He could see his dad narrow his eyes at him.

"Why, what has happened?" Severus asked, standing and walking around the desk.

Harry shrugged. "I just need a break. It's getting …" Harry hesitated, reaching up and loosing his tie before he unbuttoned the top button of his shirt. "It's getting to be too much." He finally blurted out.

"Too much," Severus repeated as he scrutinized his son. "Are you able to control your magic, Harry?" Severus quietly asked.

"Yes."

"So you're in control at all times?"

"I said yes! for Merlin's sake," Harry said, angry that his dad would think he'd loose control.

"So then this is an issue with your friends?" Severus asked, unfazed by Harry's outburst. "Or perhaps your girlfriend?"

Harry shoved his hands into his pockets and glared at the floor as he tried to rein in his anger. "I don't really want to talk about it. I just want to get outta the fucking tower for a while. Is that too much to ask?" Harry heard the kids cleaning the cauldrons take in sharp breaths, as if they were waiting for the scary potion master to hall off and slug him. He scowled at them before looking at his father.

Severus leaned against the desk as he closed his eyes with a pinched the bridge of his nose before saying, "I'm not certain what has happened but perhaps we should return to the cabin and take some of that aggression out in the forest."

"I'm not gonna blow anyone up, dad. Bloody hell, I just need a fucking break!" Harry yelled, as his magic crackled in the air, causing the bottles on the shelf to shake. He didn't have a chance to step out of his dad's reach before his chin was harshly grabbed.

"Watch yourself, Mr. Potter," Severus said in an ominous tone that made Harry pull his magic back in quickly.

Harry wasn't ever afraid of his dad, like the other kids in the school were but even still, he didn't want his dad's wrath to come down on him either.

"Sorry," he said, reaching up to loosen his dad's grip on him until Severus let him go. "I think I need some time away from here." He repeated, but this time in a calm tone.

Severus pulled Harry closer to him and squeezed his shoulder. "Perhaps you need to let off some steam."

Harry knew exactly what Severus meant by "steam". They both knew that referred to Voldemort's dark magic. The more he thought about dueling with his dad in the forest, the better that idea sounded to him. "It might be a good idea."

Severus gave him a pat on the shoulder. "Molly has contacted me regarding the holiday. She thought you'd want to spend a good part of it at the burrow?"

Harry shook his head. "No, I just want to get away from everyone, including Ginny."

Severus raised an waited patiently until Harry finally spoke.

"She's been really possessive lately," Harry said, as quietly as he could."I need some time away."

Severus nodded, "Very well. You can move down into the dungeons. Perhaps some time apart is best."

Harry gave his dad a hug, feeling as if a big weight was removed from his shoulders. As he turned to leave he saw the group of kids in the corner were now blatantly starring at him, a few with their mouths open.

"Don't you have something to do?" came his dad's sharp voice, directed at them. They quickly went back to scrubbing the cauldrons. Harry smirked at his dad before turning to leave.

He went up to Gryffindor Tower during dinner and collected everything he wanted to take down to the apartment. He left behind the little snow globe with the moving picture of him and Ginny dancing.

That night he ate his dinner alone in the dungeon and enjoyed the solitude. Later, there was a knock on the door. He answered it, expecting Ginny but instead saw Draco standing there with two cauldron cakes.

"Severus didn't want you to miss your favorite dessert," Draco said dryly. He pushed past Harry and came into the room. "I guess I'm the fucking house elf now." He dropped both desserts on the table.

Harry went to his dad's locked liquor cabinet and used a wandless spell to unlock the door.

"How'd you do that?" Draco asked. "Severus locks that thing up pretty tight and you better watch it. He could come back any time."

"Seriously Malfoy, you are starting to worry me. You're not suddenly afraid of my dad are you?"

"No," Draco said, "but I don't want to get caught drinking his best liquor either. I don't want detention right before holiday."

"Pathetic," Harry said then pulled out a bottle of Ogdens Finest. "Do you want some or not?"

Draco sighed. "Yes, I want some. Let's just drink it fast." He gave a wary look towards the door.

They ate dessert together and drank their whiskey, quickly forgetting all about the Potion Master. They were half way through a third round of fire whiskey and laughing hysterically at Draco's impersonation of Trelawny's newest predication of Draco's imminent death when the door suddenly opened and Severus walked into the room.

Draco stopped mid sentence but Harry couldn't stop himself from laughing so hard that his sides hurt and he fell off his chair. That made Draco burst out into laughter again.

Severus looked from the boys to the open cabinet and then to the half drunk bottle on the table.

He closed his eyes and shook his head. "I should have known the two of you would get up to no good." He used his wand to magic the half drunk glasses away and then stoppered the bottle and float it back to the cabinet. Harry got up from the floor and grabbed the bottle as it floated by him.

"Wait dad! I got a feeling you need this more than us,"Harry said, completely ignoring the glare from his father. He reached his hand towards the cabinet and a glass came soaring through the air and into his palm. He poured his dad a glass and handed it to him. The man hesitated but then took the glass.

"Just this once," Severus said, in a put upon tone of voice that made Harry smile.

Harry made Draco repeat his rendition of Trelawny and they all had a good laugh.

The next morning he walked with his dad up to the potions classroom, dreading the idea of having to explain himself to Ron and Hermione. Why should he have to tell them everything he was feeling?

As they approached the Potions classroom, he saw Ginny waiting with both Ron and Hermione by the classroom door.

"Harry," Hermione said, "Where were you last night? We waited for you."

"Sorry, I'm gonna stay with my dad for awhile." He saw all three Gryffindor look at his dad as if they had just noticed that he was there.

"Good morning professor," Hermione said.

Harry looked at Ginny and noticed that she looked to be angry at him. What else was new?.

"Harry, can we talk?" Ginny asked, her tone of voice icy.

"No, Mr. Potter cannot talk," Severus said. "He has class right now, as do you, Ms. Weasley."

Ginny flushed and Harry wasn't sure if it was from embarrassment or if out of anger.

"Sorry, Gin," Harry said. "I'll see you at lunch."

Ginny grabbed his arm as he was walking into the classroom. She whispered into his ear, "Thanks for letting me know you were cancelling our study date last night. I waited for you for two hours."

"Sorry, Gin," Harry said, stopping in the doorway. "Really I am. I'll see you at lunch, okay?"

He felt like shit for forgetting about their "study date" but he didn't regret his evening with his dad and Draco.

Ginny looked past him into the classroom. All eyes were, of course, on them. She leaned in and gave him a kiss on the lips. "Don't do it again," she said in a voice that sounded far too much like Mrs. Weasley. He turned and saw his father raise an eyebrow before shaking his head.

"Gotta go," Harry said, pulling out of her clutches. He heard the door snap shut behind him and was momentarily relieved until he saw Ron and Hermione giving him looks that said he was in trouble. He walked past their table and sat down next to Draco.

Draco smirked at him. "How is married life treating you, Potter?"

"Shut it, Malfoy."

Draco pulled on the collar of Harry's shirt before Harry pushed his hand away. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Looking for your dog collar. That girls got you on a tight leash."

Harry turned away, growling as he reached into his bag and pulled out his homework. Bloody hell!

Lunch time came all too quickly for Harry. Ginny was standing by the Great Hall doors waiting for him. She grabbed his arm and pulled him to an alcove off to the side before turning accusing eyes on him.

"What the hell, Harry," she said, looking to be ramping up for a scolding. "I waited two hours!"

"Gin, wait, let's not make this into something bigger than it is. I was feeling a little overwhelmed and just needed some time on my own."

"You mean time away from me?" Ginny accused.

Harry didn't want to hurt her feelings but that was exactly the truth. He shrugged.

Ginny huffed out and turned away. "So you want to break up then?"

"I didn't say that," Harry said, reaching out to touch her shoulder. She pulled away from him.

"Can't I just take a night away?" He asked, feeling a bit annoyed at her drama.

She spun back to look to him. "You always seem to be needing a night away. I just feel like you don't really want to be with me."

"No I didn't say that," Harry implored.

"Well maybe it's for the best," Ginny said. "I don't think you're really into me anymore and I'm not going to stand around being stood up by you, even if you are the great hero of the wizarding world."

Harry stood dumbfounded over her words. How could she say that to him? He never acted like he was better than her, ever!

"I guess I'm not enough for someone like you," she said, her tone getting angrier with each word. "It's exhausting trying to be good enough to be the girlfriend of the great Harry Potter anyway."

"Ginny, shut up. I never asked you to be anyone but yourself," Harry said, stepping back away from her. "Why are you acting this way?"

"You shut up!" Ginny said as tears pricked her eyes. "There are other guys at this school that would kill to be in your position."

"Fine then," Harry said, feeling hurt by her words. "You go ahead and date whomever you want."

"Good I will then," Ginny said, brushing past him to leave the alcove."You should know, most girls in this school are either after your fame or your money. So good luck trying to find someone like me who wasn't after either."

Harry stood in the alcove after Ginny left, completely hurt by her words. He felt a dark presence deep inside begin to spiral out. The window started to shake until it finally cracked in two. Somehow that gave him a deep satisfaction and he watched as the window blew completely out!

That suddenly brought him back to himself and he was shocked that he'd let his magic get so out of control. He leaned through the opening and looked down at the grounds below. It was a far fall. He took his wand out and tried to fix the broken window. His magic seemed stuck and then with a jerk a bunch of glass shards come hurdling back at him! He quickly turned his head, and the shards imbedded in the back of his head and neck and scattered all over the ground. Bloody hell, it hurt. He didn't know what to do. He didn't want to go up to Madame Pomfrey and have to tell her what had happened. He reached up and started to pull some of the shards from his head. His hands came away in a bloody mess. Merlin's beard he was making it worse. It took him ten minutes to get out most all of the shards.

He didn't know what else to do but to get his father to fix it all. With a flick of his wand, he spelled away the blood but right away he could feel it begin to drip down into the collar of his shirt again.

He stepped out of the alcove and used the back staircase up to the Great Hall where the teachers sat. He peaked through the door and saw his dad, deep in a conversation with McGonagall.

He whispered out, "Dad!"

Severus turned to look at him. He must have seen something alarming because he shot out of his chair and came rushing at Harry.

"What has happened?" He took Harry's head into his hands searching for where the blood was coming from.

"I did something," Harry said, allowing Severus to inspect his head. "Maybe I lost control." Harry admitted in a miserable tone. He pulled his dad's hands away from his head. He kept hold of his dad's arm and pulled him to the alcove with the blown out window and shards of glass covering the floor.

"You did this?" Severus asked in a sharp tone.

Harry nodded.

"Dammit Harry," Severus said. He pushed Harry up against the wall. "Stay put," he said in a tone that made Harry wish he hadn't involved his dad in this mess.

Severus used his wand to spell forth all the glass, including the left over small shards in the back of Harry's head. The glass clinked as it melded back together.

"Dad," Harry started to say but was cut off when Severus grabbed the front of his shirt and shook him.

"What the bloody hell did you do? This is unacceptable, Mr. Potter." Severus took a firm hold of Harry's arm and dragged him down the steps leading into the dungeons. He didn't let Harry go until they'd made it through the apartment and were in Harry's bedroom.

Harry was pushed into the bedroom and thrown towards the bed, He sat on the edge, as his heart thudded madly with fear. What had he done? He'd let Voldemort's black magic control him.

"I didn't mean to," Harry said, as he watched his father drop to his knees and throw open the trunk that was at the foot of his bed.

Severus threw items out onto the floor at a mad pace until Harry heard the clink of metal. His heart dropped and he pulled his hands to his chest.

"No, please," he begged, turning away as his father came towards him with the dreaded magical bracelets. "Dad, I swear I didn't want to, it just happened!"

"That is precisely the reason you will wear these," Severus said ignoring Harry's pleas. He grabbed his son's arm and forced the bracelet onto Harry's wrist. Harry screamed and kicked at him. He tried to pull away but his dad was stronger.

Severus ignored his son's cries and overpowered the boy. He held fast to the boy's other arm and could feel the room begin to shake.

"Harry James Potter, you get yourself under control this instant!" He screamed, turning Harry to look at him as he shook him by the shoulders.

A strong push of magic threw Severus off his son and into the wall. Severus staggered to his feet as the room continued to shake. Harry looked lost and his eyes looked unlike they'd ever looked before even with the tears there was a certain madness that was all too familiar to Severus.

Severus lunged at the boy, grabbing his shirt front again and then cocked his arm back before slamming his fist into Harry's face.

The room suddenly stopped shaking as Harry slumped forward. Severus caught him and quickly pushed the bracelet onto his wrist. They both fell back onto the bed. Severus was panting with the effort it had taken.

Severus reached over and pulled his unconscious son to his side as dread coursed through his veins.

This was the nightmare that he'd talked himself out of believing could ever happen again. He knew things had been getting worse for Harry but he'd believed the boy and thought the dark magic was under control. He knew he'd ignored the small signs he'd seen to prove otherwise.

There were so many signs, the most recent being the shudder in the potions lab just yesterday.

He gathered Harry into his arms and knew that things would forever be different for the boy.

Anyone still reading?