A/N: This one is totally tragic. If you don't want to be completely bummed, don't read this. It's absurd ala one of my older Harry Potter Bunnies – "The Boy Who Didn't Know." But given a more emotionally damaged Harry, more vindictive Durselys, and a more vitriolic Snape and maybe …

Hagrid was flummoxed. When he tried to tell Harry about his parents, the boy refused to hear anything about them. He had been told by the Dursleys how they died and it was a sore point.

He sighed. He didn't have much more to talk to Harry about other than his parents.

It was much worse the next day. When several patrons of the Leaky Cauldron tried to greet him too enthusiastically, Harry broke down and ran out of the pub. It took an hour and a promise that Hagrid would have Tom keep everyone away before he would re-enter.

Conversation was very stilted through the whole trip. Finally, Hagrid agreed to not mention his parents and the conversation was somewhat more friendly.

When Harry was getting his wand, Draco Malfoy had entered with his parents and he hustled him out before Ollivander could talk more about his wand.

Harry had finally gotten onto the platform by watching for anyone who had Hogwarts supplies and following them. He was over an hour early. He got all of his things inside and took out one of his course books.

Several people tried to talk to him but he resolutely refused to talk further as soon as anyone said "Boy-Who-Lived" or mentioned his parents. Finally, even Ron Weasley, the socially retarded redhead, got the point.

Harry was tired of the talking and the stares and the pointing. He just wanted to go to class and study. Even though he had been put into Gryffindor, he didn't feel particularly brave.

The worst was Friday. When he had gotten into Potions class, the teacher had singled him out and called him a "celebrity." He didn't know why his parents dying and him surviving made him a celebrity, but the Potions professor took great joy in making fun of his lack of knowledge despite his "celebrity status." It was so bad, he went to his Head of House.

As soon as he started talking, his hopes were dashed. As soon as he said "Professor Snape," McGonagall stopped him and said, "I'm sorry Mr. Potter. But I have no control over how the other Professors run their classes. I can try to have the Headmaster look into it, but he has made it clear that I have no authority over Professor Snape's actions."

Harry looked at her in horror. Without saying a word, he turned around and left.

Minerva McGonagall sighed. The Headmaster had been adamant that Harry Potter must learn to deal with adversity. She had tried to get him to control Snape after several comments, but the Headmaster had only twinkled and given her his instructions.

She really didn't like this at all.

Harry had had enough. He thought that people would just get over whatever they had going about him, but the stares and whispers kept getting worse. Snape was horrible and no one would stop him. Finally, he made a decision.

Ron Weasley was eating his breakfast. He had almost missed it because Harry Potter had locked himself in the bathroom. Finally, Ron decided he couldn't wait and he'd have to do without a shower.

He looked around. Harry had better hurry – they had potions and he couldn't imagine how horrible Snape would be if Harry was late.

Finally, he went to potions feeling very nervous.

After the class started, Snape immediately picked up on Harry not being there. When he asked (angrily) where the boy was, Ron finally admitted that he had been in the dorms but hadn't come down to breakfast.

Snape looked thunderous. "The boy thinks that he can skiv off? His celebrity status makes it alright to miss? We shall see!" Snape rushed out of the room to find the Deputy Headmistress.

Minerva McGonagall and Severus Snape entered the first year dorm. Minerva was upset. Snape was furious. They looked around and found no Harry Potter, but did find the locked door that Ron Weasley mentioned.

Knocking produced no result. Finally, the Head of House used her authority with the castle to enforce the door opening.

The two entered to find a horrible sight. Minerva cried in horror and Snape went bone-white. Harry Potter was in a shower stall. There was a pool of blood but obviously most had gone down the drain. He was obviously dead.

At the entrance of the stall was a parchment. On one side was a Potions essay marked with a red "D" for dreadful. The other side, however, was a note scrawled in the handwriting of Harry Potter.

I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused.

I've tried to deal with the talking and the whispering and the things that Professor Snape says, but it's too much.

I tried to go to McGonagall but she said she couldn't do anything.

I'm sorry my father was so horrible and that Snape has to keep bringing it up. I didn't ask to be born to a drunk father and a whore of a mother. Ever since my relatives told me how they died, I have had to listen to them natter on and on about it.

I had hoped that coming to Hogwarts would stop it. But people keep talking about how it's a miracle I survived like it's some crazy thing. Why am I famous for surviving the car crash that killed my parents with only the weird scar on my head?

I've tried to tell people that I don't want to talk about my parents or how they died or how I survived. I've tried to do my studying and keep my head down. But it's obvious my parents were a waste of space and I'm a waste of space and so I decided that I wouldn't waste anyone else's time or space.

The money from my vault should go to take care of abused orphans so no one else has to live what I lived through.

Harry Potter

Minerva McGonagall turned to Severus Snape and with fierce tears said, "Well. You've finally gotten your revenge on James Potter. Are you happy now?"

CHALLANGE:

A story where Harry Potter spends at least one month at Hogwarts without knowing the "Boy-Who-Lived" myth. How it could happen is the challange. Also, how his lack of information reveals itself.